"Hell no," He spat.
"Hell yes," Scarlett countered, pushing against his chest to no avail, "You should stay away from me,"
"Why? Give me a reason I should stay away from you," Jasper demanded.
"I just don't want to see you anymore," she said, looking anywhere but him.
"You do know you're a bad liar,"
Scarlett blinked, "I'm not lying, I'm just telling you the gospel truth and now you should let go of me," she strived to be free but he wouldn't let her.
"You are not leaving here until you tell me the truth," He growled.
"I don't have any other truth, what more do you want to hear? Just leave me alone!" her temper was beginning to rise.
"Scarlett!" he boomed; practically yelling in her face.
"I don't want you to get hurt!" Scarlett screamed in an outburst, letting out the truth unintentionally.
There was an awkward silence.
"What?" Jasper was taken aback by that confession.
"I don't want you to get hurt because of me, Jasper," her eyes were filling with tears.
"What are you talking about?" he couldn't understand a thing. Why would he get hurt?
"I'm cursed, Jasper. I can't date a guy without him getting hurt. I thought you were different at first and that you've somehow broken the trend, but then when the series of incidents began to -"
"Wait a minute" Jasper raised his hand with the other one rubbing his temple, he was muddled by everything, " You're cursed? What's this bullshit now?"
"Jasper, if you keep on chasing after me, you're going to die," She said to him.
Jasper would have taken that as one of her lies but the way tears coursed down her cheeks told him otherwise.
"I don't get it, Scarlett. What makes you think I'll die because I'm dating you? That is bullshit, and I don't believe in superstitious fables," He tried to make her see reasons with her.
"This is not fables Jasper! This is reality and I know it's hard to believe but as an experienced victim, I'd advise you to stay as far as you can away from me,"
"I don't believe you, Scarlett. You're just trying to push me away,"
"What lady in her right senses would let go of you? You're smart, wealthy, handsome with a down-to-earth attitude, what more could I ask for?"
That comment drained the last strength in Jasper, he released her. Her words were right, what lady in her right senses would release him. Even if Scarlett didn't love him, the money should have attracted her.
"But I'm hale and hearty, nothing happened to me, I don't think you're cursed -"
"The bathroom incident where the water suddenly stopped running when it had just seconds ago; the electrical outlet burning when we tried to kiss plus the tree almost stomping you to death when you also kissed me; jasper, these are the signs,"
Thinking about it now, there was no way all this could be a coincidence but Jasper didn't want to believe it.
"Those are just incidents we have no control over, " He denied.
"No, Jasper. This curse is not child's play and it gets worse each time we try to get physical," Scarlett told him. It was becoming quite stressful going over this cycle.
It was quite different with Jasper, others never bothered to call her back after the first date, having gone through an awful experience that day. They simply conclude she was bad luck. Even If they did call, it was to say they hoped they never saw her again-this was the first time her trying to chase the guy off.
"So you're trying to say it happens every time we try to be intimate?"
"It gets worse," She corrected.
"Let's put it to a test then,"
"What?"
"See if something would happen if I do this?"
Before Scarlett could react, he had pushed her against the sink, tilted her head, and kissed her.
Scarlett's eyes widened, does this man want a death sentence or something? She used all her might to push him away, but her strength was no match for him.
He held her tight and with no space for escape, kissing her passionately. Scarlett panicked. But with time, when nothing happened, she surrendered to him, kissing him back fiercely.
Her hand threaded his hair, molding him closer as she kissed him deeper, their tongues dancing the tango. The fire blazing between them intensified, Scarlett lowered her defenses and forgot all about the curse until she felt Jasper flinch.
She pulled away, looking to the side to discover that Jasper was bleeding from his hand.
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed, pushing him away, "I said it!"
Jasper had cut himself with a knife that was on top of the sink. How did that appear? She had no idea - she was a clean freak who kept her stuff orderly.
He must have swept his hand against the blade unintentionally while lost in the kiss.
"A smart person would run away from me after encountering this," her tone was taunt as she placed his hand under the tap for the water to wash the blood.
"This is just an incident, nothing else," Jasper waved the matter away.
She snapped at him, "An incident that would soon claim your life!"
"I would not die, Scarlett," He tried to assure her but the girl shook her head stubbornly.
"I can deal with my heart breaking over and over again but I don't think I can face your parents and explain to them that their son is dead because of me - if something like that does happen,"
She let go of his hand and wiped the tears from her eyes, "I'm sorry Jasper. I really, really, like you but you have to let go of me. It hurts me so much that I cannot date a wonderful guy like you but I'll pretty much prefer you been alive but lose you, than losing you to death and bearing the guilt for the rest of my life,"
"Maybe, we don't have to get intimate and somehow work things out," Jasper still had hope.
Scarlett smiled wistfully, "You know that's impossible; we can't keep our hands off each other plus the fact I'm not risking your life here for a moment of pleasure,"
Jasper wiped his face with his palm, this was just too much to deal with in one day. This wasn't how he envisioned everything to go, he was supposed to get a happily ever after ending.
"It's time to say goodbye, Jasper," Scarlett reminded him. However when he made no intention of moving, she added, "Please,"
"I love you, Scarlett," He confessed, painfully.
"I know," She nodded, bursting into a fresh bout of tears.
Jasper drew her in for the last hug, his chin resting on her shoulder as she sobbed while his eyes grew misty. He drew in her scent, imprinting it in his memory - forever.