He is here.
In the supermarket.
With me.
Waiting.
The moment I realized he was here, my mind exploded into shattered memories.
The night he broke into my house.
Kai.
The thugs.
Cold sweat slowly trickled down my spine.
"Calm yourself, Xeyer."
"It's nothing."
"He can't come."
"Calm down."
I murmured under my breath as I closed my eyes.
Comforting myself.
Convincing myself.
I took a deep breath.
Then another.
Slowly, I opened my eyes.
Everything seemed normal.
People pushing carts.
Chattering.
Shopping.
A child laughing somewhere nearby.
Normal.
Yet-
The gaze remained.
Watching.
Waiting.
I tightened my grip on the shopping cart and forced myself forward.
To continue shopping.
To act normal.
I probably looked calm from the outside.
But inside?
Everything was chaos.
Just like this busy mall.
Soon, I found myself standing in front of a rack of vegetables.
Fresh.
Green.
Tiny droplets of water still clung to their leaves.
I randomly picked a few different vegetables and dropped them into the cart.
One.
Two.
Three.
My mind wasn't really on shopping.
It was somewhere else.
Yet I continued moving through the aisles, stopping occasionally to inspect the vegetables.
And the meat section too.
Soon, my shopping was done.
I paid.
I packed.
I left.
Easy.
"Nothing happened."
I murmured to myself.
I looked forward and was ready to take a step.
Then-
I sensed it.
Someone.
Behind me.
Too close.
The moment I realise it, I spin around.
SWOOSH-!
My eyes widened instantly.
"YOU-?"
Helmet guy.
Tall.
Broad- shouldered.
Masculine.
Standing right behind me.
"Nothing happened?"
He said , looking down at me.
Calm.
Strong.
...
Familiar.
Then-
His hand moved towards the helmet.
No rush.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Then he pushed the dark visor upwards.
Dark grey eyes.
Thick lashes.
Narrow, cold and sharp.
Yet, for a split second-
Warmth flickered in them.
Then it disappears.
As if it never existed.
"Yes."
He said.
I may not be able to see his face, yet-
I know he is smiling.
"It's me.Kai."
He finished and my breath got stuck in my throat.
Kai.
My name- nickname.
It echoed in my head.
Only one person called me by that name.
My body trembled after hearing it, not from fear but from anger.
My eyes remained locked on his.
BADUM-!
BADUM-!
BADUM-!
My heart was beating so loudly that I could hear it, even in this mall, full of people.
I wanted to throw a punch right on him so badly but my body didn't respond to me.
I was only able to clench my hands in a tight fist.
He slowly bent forward.
Measured.
"You are so stubborn."
He said through the helmet.
"I warned you , didn't I."
His voice was deep and husky.
"...?"
Out of nowhere,he draped an arm over my shoulder.
Yet-
I did nothing.
I only stood there.
Rooted in one place.
For a few feconds, neither of us said anything.
These few seconds felt endless.
Like drowning in cold water while remaining painfully aware of it.
Li Feng.
He was probably at the restaurant by now.
Too far away.
Hoping for his return was useless.
"Come with me."
He whispered.
Chills ran down my body as he forced my body to move.
CLICK-!
CLACK-!
We took different small steps at first.
Afterwards, our pace matched.
I knew I coudn't do much so I only walked with him without questioning him about anything.
Because, some parts of me know he won't answer directly.
I lowered my head and gazed at the shiny white marbles.
CLICK-!, CLACK-!
CLICK-!, CLACK-!
I could only hear the sounds of our shoes stamping on the floor .
We were far from the crowded area.
The noises had already faded before I could realise it.
Soon he stood in front of a door.
So I stopped.
I lifted my head to know where we are.
Restroom.
We are in front of a men's restroom.
"Why bring me here?"
I asked, my voice deeper than usual.
I asked him the question even after I perfectly knew what was going to happen when we get inside.
"You know , don't you?"
He said .
"Why bring me here?" I asked, even though I knew exactly what was going to happen when we got inside.
"You know why, don't you?" he said, slightly tightening his grip on my arm.
My head automatically turned toward him, giving him a dark look.
He was still smiling, which made me furious. He was enjoying this, I knew it.
"Come on, don't give me that look," he said.
Silence.
I was ready to go inside, but then I remembered—
Vegetables.
The vegetables were with me. I couldn't take them inside.
What can I do?
I stared at the bag of vegetables in my hand, then at the restroom, then at him.
Freaking asshole.
"What?"
"Vegetables."
He sighed.
Yeah.
He sighed.
His hand reached toward the bag, then he took it.
Finally.
Relief of some weight.
"Huhh-?"
He started dragging me with him, his heavy, muscled arm draped over my shoulder.
He is strong...
No!
He is terrifyingly strong, and the worst part- I can freaking feel it.
He might not look muscled with his hoodie on, but he is muscled,big-, strong and solid muscles.
Soon, we came back without the bag, cause he left it in a bench nearby , saying' No one will take it.'
And now, we are again standing in front of the restroom like idiots.
A few seconds passed, just staring at the threshold.
Motionless.
Not a care in the world.
I finally couldn't take it anymore and slowly reached for the cold handle.
As I touched it, shivers seized my entire body. I paused before slowly opening the door.
As soon as the door opened, we stepped inside.
"Ah-choo!"
The cold air hit me the moment we stepped inside.
A small sneeze escaped before I could stop it.
A low sneeze, barely audible, like a soft whisper.
Yet, he reacted to it and looked at me. A second too long, then he scanned the restroom,
He were alert.
For anything and anytime.
I don't know why, but it made me annoyed.
I closed the door without looking back. The restroom was empty and quiet, as if eagerly waiting for us to come in.
Clean and empty.
Suddenly, the weight on my shoulder disappeared, and I quickly created some distance between us.
A low laugh escaped his lips as he gazed at me again.
A bunch of questions rushed into my head. Exploding with questions won't help me anyway, so I decided to take it slow.
I steadied myself and started speaking calmly, as if everything were fine.
"R-Remove your helmet," I said.
He smiled.
I know he smiled, an evil smile, like a hunter ready for his hunt.
He slowly took a step forward.
In this empty room, only the echoes of our movements and conversation could be heard, and nothing more.
I didn't move an inch because I knew he wouldn't harm me.
But I still stayed alert, ready for anything, anytime.
"Why don't you do it yourself?" he offered, leaning forward as he spoke.
I flinched immediately.
Why lean forward?
Maintain distance!
"Do it yourself!"
For a second his smile faded, but it soon returned, as if it were never meant to fade. Always lingering on his face.
Always.
"Well, as you say," he said, and slowly started taking off his black helmet.
BADAM-!
BADAM-!
BADAM-!
My heart felt like it would pop out at any moment.
"...?"
He stopped.
He was testing my patience, and right now, it wasn't the right time.
I was almost at my peak.
"TAKE IT OFF!" I exploded.
His gaze lingered on me, and then, he wore it again.
He wore it again!
"TAKE IT OFF!" I yelled, and he again took a step forward.
Now, we are just a few inches away.
Too close, too close.
He is taller than me—almost three or four inches.
"Take it—" Before he could even finish, I recklessly seized his helmet and pulled it off.
I was at my limit, I couldn't control it any longer.
His lips twitched into a smirk.
His messy hair fell over his eyes, even more disheveled than before.
Yet, he didn't look annoyed.
He looked amused.
He changed a lot.
"YOU FREAKING SHIT! WHAT do you think you're doing here?"
I exploded. "Did you not have enough! Why didn't YOU DIE? Showing your shitty face after everything, DISGUSTING PIECE OF SHIT! "
He stood calmly as I exploded.
My hands trembled with anger, I tightened my grip on his helmet then released it.
SLAM-!
It hit hard on the floor, yet it didn't break.
"Welcoming me like this? ...No problem, I will take it ."
His lips curved in an amusing smile as his hand reached towards me.
Slowly towards my face.
It was just few inches away.
Before he could touch any part of my body , I recklessly smacked his hand.
Always smiling like a lunatic.
"Don't touch!" I warned.
"Have I not touched you before?"He asked as once again his hand reached for my face, but this time I didn't bothered smacking his hand, because I knew he wouldn't give up until he got what he wants from me.
Stubborn.
I clenched my hands tightly.
Waiting for his move.
My gaze locked on his .
Cold.
Narrow .
Deep.
With lots of secrets hidden behind.
His cold ,slim finger touched my skin gently, like a dried leaf ,thta had just fallen in the calm water.
Shivers ran down my spine, my mouth dried as his hand started moving.
He slowly started tracing my moles.
One by one.
As if ,making a new pattern.
First, beside my left eyebrow.
Second, under my left eye.
Third ,...
SMACK-!
I smacked his hand before he could touch my third mole...
On my lower lips.
The faint light in his eyes vanished.
Instantly.
As my hand smacked his away.
He surely didn't have expected that.