" So, Ms. White, huh? " he asked, ignoring her words.
" Lambert. Ok? That's my name... " she corrected. " You know, I just pissed an old lady whose son, a CEO of a conglomerate, doesn't even raise his voice to her. Which you probably know by now. isn't it?" she asked sarcastically. He just smiled.
" There, that answers my question." she sighed, " Well, at least answer my questions before I die in the hands of that old rag! "
" What did you just call her? " he looked at her in disbelief.
" Mr. T, don't try anything funny, you're humor sucks! " she said, laying back on her bed.
He stood there, seemingly insulted, ' What the hell? I've never received a criticism until date! '
" It was not humor, now, " he went to pull her off the bed, he smirked playfully,
" We have somewhere to go... "
....
Mel smiled as Mr. T had brought her to the top most deck of the cruise.
It indeed scared her but she trusted him. After all the suspicion? you may ask, nope, it's just that she is living with an ultimatum of her speech to the most respected elder!!!
" Maybe I'm just gutsy because I know I'm gonna die tomorrow... right on my birthday! " She mumbled to herself.
' There's a lot of possibilities! ' her subconscious sighed, agreeing silently.
" Whatsoever happens, I will not let you get hurt, " He said as he heard her words. " I promise princess. " he said, removing his creepy mask as it was already dark.
" I have a lot to ask you. When are you going to answer them? " she asked looking at the vast ocean, seemingly endless meeting the sky a long way from her.
" I figured. But, I guess, you're supposed to ask me if I want to answer them, instead of when I would answer. " he looked at her like a dejected puppy.
She chuckled, " Can't believe my own eyes now. Well, you look cute like this even if I can't see you very clearly. " She laughed at his reaction as he heard her words.
Disbelief, stupor, amazement all danced on his face. And at last he snorted escaping his daze, " Cute? That's what you say- CUTE? " he would've made a person's life- living hell, only if that person wasn't his princess...
He sighed, ' Will I ever get her to know my truth? '
It was the only question to which he knew the answer, very well, by himself... NO.
" Now, what did you want to ask me? " he asked looking at her, his face not giving away any of his emotions away.
She stopped laughing and got serious " Well, let start with, why would you give all of those to me? the docs? " she asked referring to the documents.
" Maybe because I like your dad as a cop, " he shrugged.
She glared at him and sighed
" That's it? " he asked looking at her expectantly, " What, do you have more? "
" Why bother to ask, when you know that you will never get an answer? " she shrugged and looked at the stars which lighted an entire path in the dark sky.
He smiled bitterly ' It's not that I don't want to but it's just that I'm not ready to let you know my truth so soon... or ever. Just know that, you must stay away from me... and me away from you. '
She rolled her eyes at his thoughtful face and chose to talk, " Why are you here? "
He looked confused at her words, " What do you mean? "
" Well, I know that the letter that you gave me was supposed to be a good bye, emo stuff. Then, why are you here, promising me that you would protect me but you want me to run away from you? What a bast*d! " she scowled.
" Would you believe me if I told you that I really didn't want my life to be like this? " he sighed and lay back down on the deck, facing the star-filled sky.
' Why do you expect her to believe it? It's not like she is going to understand is it? '
he thought and shook his head when she spoke.
She looked at him and frowned , " Why the hell do you think that I wouldn't believe you? And the question is, what would you do now if you are given a new way of life? Wouldn't you miss this, what ever you're doing now? And you're just young... " she shrugged and lay down beside him.
He took-in a deep breath to calm himself and smiled, " Well, if I didn't really know you, I would think that you were a wise person instead of a monkey who likes to get herself into trouble. "
She glunched at him, " Gee, thanks, that was lovely! "
He chuckled and sat up straight and smiled at her,
" Happy birthday, Princess! "
....
3rd deck-floor, corner room:
" I now know why you adopted her. " an old lady snorted.
" It's none of you're concern, you will not touch her. If you do, don't forget who owned what's yours now. " Erick snapped, " Mrs. Heike, never forget your place. I never forget, I guess you know that well. "
" Oh, very well Mr. White or do you still prefer Psych? " elder Mrs. Heike sneered.
" You sure dare to tempt me? " he glared at her and sighed, " Do you want me to smack you, like old days? "
" You see her in that girl, don't you? " she asked, ignoring his question. His replying smile did not surprise her.
" Well, that boy seems to be protective of her. That's quite unusual. " she continued.
" I was surprised too, I never thought that he would defend her, like that... " Erick chuckled and turned serious, " That guy sure has some skills. Are you sure that he is not involved with you? "
" Brenden? Nah, he isn't there. " she answered truthfully and thought for an other second, " On second thoughts, let me check with Amory after we get back. "
Erick nodded, ' The last thing he wanted was his grand children entering that world! '
" Ok, then mate, I'll get going. " she said and walked out not before adding, " That girl's got a very bad mouth! "
To which Erick laughed and shrugged it off. " Well, you're saying that because she hit the nail at what's true! "
....
Top most deck, corner:
Mel smiled and her eyes teared up, lightly.
" Why am I not surprised that you know that? " she chuckled as she wiped the tears off her face.
" Oh, don't look at me, it's embarrassing. I never cried! " she flushed and faced away from the grinning guy.
" Ok, I get it. I'll not look, just give me your hand. " he pulled her hand and put something on it. " There you go. " he smiled as he finished.
She looked at the bracelet with a single sapphire charm hanging off it. She looked at it with adoration and frowned. " I can't accept it. " she said, with a low voice, not to hurt him.
He looked at her, stupefied, ' Didn't she like it? I bet it's to her liking- small, cute, classic and blue!!! Did he miss something? Was it too cheap? '
" Why, don't you like it? " he asked, panicking internally.
Looking at his concerned face and words Mel really wanted to laugh, but she held in,
" Um... no, it's just too costly, to be honest. "
He sighed in relief, " All my years I've never really spent my money. It doesn't cost a lot. But it sure is of a great value to me, almost like a part of me. So, you will have to accept it. Please... "
She hesitated, " But... "
It sure was hard to part with!!!
" No buts, It's yours. Now, what do we do, birthday girl? " he asked looking at her.
The breeze blew a few strings of her brown locks to her face as she smiled looking at the bracelet. She looked heavenly, her brown eyes glowing, her face flushed, a little mature charm on her face highlighting her features. Just then she looked at him, their eyes locked...
" What is it that you like in me that you keep coming back? " she asked, casually.
He smiled and shrugged, " YOU. "
' Wait! Did I just accept that-? Nah, I like her, there's nothing is not to like. Isn't there? '
" What about you? You don't seem to push me away as a sane person would. " he asked.
" Maybe the adrenaline rush that you give me each time we meet, the mysterious feel around you, the danger that you emit or just the plain pain in your eyes, that you tend to hide... " she said seriously.
He frowned , " Do you have someone whom you, like? " he asked hiding his fears in himself.
She smiled bitterly , " Yeah, I guess. A person whom I never would be with. Someone whom I can never stay along with. A person whom I never should've met. "
He quieted down, " It's Brenden, isn't it? "
She was surprised to hear that, " How do you know Brenden? "
' Here we go, that answers my question! * scoff * Did you really think it was you? YOU? At least not the real you! ' he snapped himself.
" We work together. " saying that he got off the deck. " Come it's time we go back down. It's quite late now. "
She looked at him, ' What the hell is wrong with him? Why do I feel so bad if he frowns? What the hell!!! I guess I like this guy more than Brenden, but I guess it's just my abnormal thoughts. Yes, of course! Brenden's my crush but Mr. T... is my friend? Best friend, maybe? '
' Really Melanie, is that all? ' her subconscious glared at her.
' Yes! That is all. ' she nodded and followed after him.
" Here, " he said holding her cabin door open.
She smiled and got inside, " Do I get to see you tomorrow? " Deep yearning clearly audible in her voice.
He looked at her with no expression on, " No, I'm leaving tonight, " and added as she frowned, " Well, you first need to figure out your messed up thoughts and life. Go out, explore, learn to love yourself first... before you love another! It's just puppy love that you're in with that guy, nothing more! It'll pass... " saying that he shut the door, leaving Mel alone in her cabin.
She shrugged off his words, all that she could hear was:
' GO OUT , EXPLORE... '
She frowned wondering about their encounter.
Did he really mean what he said? What does he mean by my messed up thoughts and life?
Why would he give me this bracelet if it really meant a lot for him???
Who the hell is he, like really?