My mind was already ripping through possibilities. And death was the last thing I wanted to hear. Gingerly, I reached to feel my heart. This little thing that pounding, the pulse that thud somewhere deep inside me, he said that it would stop.
That I would die. I mean, who was he kidding? Who was he kidding actually?
"Ha-ha, very funny," I rolled my eyes. "Jie Moshu, this is just your other tricks, right?"
"No, I'm not playing any tricks," Jie Moshu replied without breaking his gaze. "And I'm not joking."
Jie Moshu suddenly brought me back in front of the mirror. He said firmly, "You can choose not to believe me, but you can trust your eyes."
I didn't understand what he meant by that. To my surprise, his hand went to the side of my shirt. I could feel that he was about to lift my shirt up. My heart beat faster. Alarm spiked and tensed my muscles. Bells began ringing inside my head. Something was happening.
Or something was about to happen.
What was he up to? Trust my eyes, in front of the mirror? By any chance, did he mean 'that'? Shit. Shit, shit, shit. IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR?!
I WAS STILL A VIRGIN FOR GOD'S SAKE! DAMN THAT MANIAC!
My brain had yet to articulate the whole thing properly, my sixth senses was already kicking in. Before I had thought clearly about it, like programmed by an automatic reflex, I slapped him across the face so hard. And a split second later, I felt hurt because my palm stung.
Go, Huayu. Escape!
Quickly, I distanced myself away from that maniac Jie Moshu.
"What are you doing? You... You pervert!" I exclaimed with my eyes shut and hugged my own body tightly. "Don't you dare touch me!"
There was a complete silence from Jie Moshu, which surprised me—and as I took a peek with my left eye, I blinked in shock. What did just happen? Did I do it wrong? There was something odd about him. But I had to admit that his frozen expression was priceless. His jaw had tensed and his eyes were alert. He touched his red cheek where I hit him, then glanced at me. He seemed pretty much horrified, too.
What? What was this all about? Why did he just stand there all flabbergasted? Why did he look like I was the one in fault? It was his alright!
"You—you, don't act all innocent!" I stammered, "You're trying to do something bad, aren't you?"
He was in shock. All his body language was wretched—stiff and tense. He looked blankly at me for a few seconds. He sounded extremely confused as he raised his eyebrows innocently, "Wh... what are you talking about?"
I stared at him in disbelief. This was ridiculous. And I kept thinking, 'Is this some sort of joke? Is he going to act like that sanctimonious?' It was only a few moments later, I sensed the waves of dilemma was bouncing invisibly between us. I suddenly realized he looked as though he was unguilty of what I accused him of—
"Oh my god, you weren't thinking of that. Were you? Did you not?"
Jie Moshu opened his mouth but no sound came out. His eyes looked equally perplexed. He took a breath, then clamped his hand over his mouth as though he was thinking hard. Finally, he seemed coming back alive, all focused and regained his senses. "I... I didn't think of that," he ventured, his face all flushed, "it was my mistake, I apologized for intruding you."
I felt a sudden giddy wave of astonishment. Clearly I was the one who misunderstood the situation. Was I actually the one thinking dirty? Was I really misjudged him for doing that? But who wouldn't think of that when he was trying to lift my shirt? A strange guy, a strange taste of woman, and a strange behavior! Rush of familiar feelings washed over me. Guilt. Awkward. Shame. Oh God, I literally wanted to bang my head into the wall right now. Somehow I did wish to die for a little while—not in the actual way of dying.
I was trying to keep my chin up, but my cheeks were burning with embarrassment, which I attempted to hide with a cough. "Fine, then. What do you want to show me?"
"You can see your back in the mirror," he said expressionlessly.
"My back?" Unconsciously I twisted my arm behind my back after hearing him. My fingers fumbled awkwardly. "What about my back?"
"You... can see it for yourself," he blurted as he looked away, turning himself backward at me. He seemed barely to talk for embarrassment.
Okay, somehow I was feeling guilty for slapping him. But the fault was his! I mean, why would he suddenly scare me like a pervert? Why didn't he just tell me right from the beginning?—Well, I probably would have told him that he was crazy, and stormed off.
"Don't you dare have a look!" I warned him. "If you looked, then I'll never see you ever again!"
"I promise," I could tell that he grinned. He sounded so gentle that I kind of having trust issues.
"You swear?" I warned him like the millionth time.
"Or should I just leave?"
"Just stay." I snapped him. Honestly, it wasn't because I trust him, it was because I was too scared to face this alone. I peered at him who was standing back at me and froze like a statue.
I heaved a heavy and long sigh. Reluctantly, I faced the mirror again as I tore my shirt off over my head. As I shoved my hair to the front, I caught the reflection of my back, and I winced what was before me. Aside from my bra straps, my eyes riveted a bright rich color of purple hue flower petals were on my back. The beautiful unique vibe made me mesmerized to it—and as well a faint of eerie. It was as if there was an ever gentle breeze blowing, those deathly nightshade move briskly like they were alive.
"What on earth is this?" I found myself asking under my breath. My fingers carefully touched the sailing petals. Never in my wildest dream did I imagine having a tattoo out of the blue.
Jie Moshu almost went to look, when my alarm instinct roared to life. I gave a high shriek that I couldn't even recognize, "I told you not to look back! You... you can just say it over there!"
"Those are ultimate beauty poison."
"Ultimate beauty poison? A tattoo?" I gazed at him, my mind-boggling. What kind of poison named 'ultimate beauty'? Was it indicated all the people who suffered that had an extremely beautiful faces? Me, an ultimate beauty? I couldn't help a snort of laughter at the thought of that. "What lame name is that?"
"How can you still laugh at this matter?" He turned to me, clearly he considered giving me a lecture.
"I said don't look around!" Impulsively, I threw my shirt that was on my hand. And a split second later, I found how idiotic my action was.
Ugh! Why did I have to throw my own shirt? Well done, Huayu. Now you didn't even have anything to cover. So much for body moved faster than the brain! My athletic reflexes. I rose my hand and set them covering myself. An edge of bitterness had crept to my nerves.
"Liu Huayu," his tone was gravely serious, "this isn't a joke. I'm not going to do anything to you, and I need to see how deep is the poison."
"Are you sure I can trust your words?" My mouth couldn't help twitching. "Well, you look pretty embarrassed right now to say something like that."
"Please take this seriously."
I admitted that I was a little sarcastic, but he didn't pick it up—in fact his dark eyes strained with a flare of crimson red.
"You need to trust me. I won't touch anywhere but your back. I promise." Jie Moshu's words sounded convincingly reassuring. He just wouldn't back off, would he?
I sighed. "No sorcery either?"
"No sorcery either." Jie Moshu replied to me like a parrot.
"Fine." I said, and turned my back on him. As Jie Moshu walked nearer to me, I found myself panicking and my stomach went all gnarly. I mean, this was different from swimsuit. Wearing like this it might as well had the same meaning as half naked, moreover to some strange guy watching, studying me. Insecurity had threatened to paralyzed me. I felt myself regretting already. So before I could change my mind, I blurted out: "Just be quick. Only look, no touching!"
"You have my word."
Solemnly, Jie Moshu scrutinized my back. I caught a glimpse from the mirror that he leaned forward. I knew that he was just looking... Oh, God. My heart was pounding, but I tried to remain calm. There was weird stillness in the room, and I didn't dare to breathe. I wanted to fast-forward this moment in my mind.
Just as my mind was busy panicking about Jie Moshu, a strange feeling suddenly rose up inside me.
THUMP! My legs felt unsteady at first and then they buckled. Pain shot through my muscles, and they seized, making me fall.
An arm slid around my waist, as his skin touched mine, it made me tingled. Who else if it wasn't from the notorious Jie Moshu. I was about to jerk his hand away from me, instead I dug my nails on his skin and held on. The unbearable pain that kept piercing inside made me let out a whimper between my gritted teeth.
I could feel my eyes watered from the pain. It hurt. Really hurt.
"Are you alright?" He held me in his arms, his voice was all worry and panic.
I opened my mouth to answer him—it was as if there was an invisible blade thrusting deeper in my heart, making me want to vomit from the phantom pain. I even forgot whether I wanted to mad at him or ease his worry. At last, I felt an enormous pang of hurt. Each time my heart thumped, each pain grew stronger. Mentally, I groaned as my grip tightened on his wrist. Jie Moshu went down on one knee, tried to alleviate some pressure because I was about to collapse.
He sucked in his breath. Apparently, seeing me at verge of tears was somewhat shocking to him.
"Huayu! Huayu!" Finally, I could look at him. He stared back at me with horror—and the faintest hint of fear. "Huayu! Can you hear me? Huayu!"
Instead of answering him, my hand pressed even tighter against his big forearm. Finally, I let out a violent, racking cough, and hot, sticky blood dribbling out of the edge of my lips.
"Huayu!" He kept on repeating my name. Surely, I was supposed to have been irritated by him—because I hate this devilishly good-looking maniac. But instead, his warm and firm hands felt nice. It was a stranger's hand.
The light in my eyes felt darker and darker, my sight became completely blurred before me. I was no longer seeing Jie Moshu's priceless worried expression. The thought of teasing him about it made chuckled. But a hot burst pain glimmered beneath my chest.
"Huayu! Huayu!"
His familiar calling for my name were the last that echoed in my ears. My own heartbeat pounded, and my consciousness was ebbing away. I was drained until the darkness was again consumed me.