"Wow. A lady now, huh? Unexpectedly wiser than the previous men they sent. I love it. But aren't they tired? Cause I fuckin am..." Haiya's target playfully spoke in a hush but raspy and certain voice as his face move so close his warm breath just grazed her bare face in the middle of the night.
In the tall dark room surrounded by the glass walls where Haiya's target resided, her loaded pistol was smacking her bare neck it sent shivers down her core. How she was pinned down on the cold tiles was almost unreal. How her target became the upper hand was nearly unbelievable she was rendered speechless and unmoving. But thinking how she became the prey was futile. In the spur of the moment, all she focused was how will she turn the table because she just underestimated her target-and her intuition last night. She felt he had something in his eyes but she didn't bother to investigate more. And the fact that, this man, Hans Devereaux, could kill her if he wanted, sparked a tinge of fear she felt only twice in her damned life.
In silence, Haiya relaxed herself, calmed the increasing small beats racing in her heart and thought of the wisest way to get out of his grip. She was sensing everything in the night. His controlled breathing told her he was either pro at calming himself in dire situation or he wasn't afraid even affected a little bit.
But she's lost in thoughts. Never in recent years had her plans been flipped. She almost felt a tinge of legit dread at her current expression inside. Has she been so confident of killing that she became so stupidly careless now? She asked her mind.
"Well, are you exhausted already? C'mon, fight back, my lady." He grinned in the night.
Haiya stayed silent. The shock was still present. She's trying to break free from his iron arms while she was remembering.
In the midst of the burning situation, she closed her eyes and quickly replayed what happened earlier. What mistake did she made to end up here?
Then when she opened it, she had her answer .
The young scheming man in front of her, by the calm expression on his overall reactions earlier when he saw her, was no ordinary man.
Her instinct last night was right. He's definitely had a sinister aura with him even when he's smiling brightly to Haiya now.
Her calculations on getting to her target's life is just fine. She didn't exerted effort but it should be enough to kill a normal target. However, her situation and how she was cornered proved that she just met someone on her league. As she gathered her strength, she calculated again.
She needs to be careful. She's certain her target could just kill her if he wanted and he could be at par in close fight with her. Plus, he just had her gun.
She finally landed her mission. A night where he seems fast asleep. She thought she could just kill him as he sleep but she was amazed when she was in a second unable to move. The dark concealed both of their face but both auras were so strong it filled the wide room. The man seems used to it, he wasn't even surprised a bit. Which says he was expecting it. He's wide awake.
And this answers Haiya's question earlier in her mind, why are there no guards if he is a big shot in the underworld. It was because he didn't need them.
Just earlier, they fought fiercely in par with each other. He seems just equal to her. Now, as he silently assessed her while he was amazed a lady was sent to kill him, Haiya found her chance to kick his knee. She faced him immediately as he winced in pain. Swiftly and smoothly as an air, she move close to him to finally punch his face but she was met with the sound of a gunshot.
"You seem to forgot one thing? I have your gun in my hands."
Psycho.
He was faking the pain in his knee just to lure Haiya and she didn't realize until he attacked her with her own gun. It was so close. He was teasing her. He knew their ability gap. The fact that Haiya felt weak in front of him, she was suddenly enraged instead of being afraid in the moment.
She didn't know but it must be her pride being stepped on that infuriated her. She doesn't want to be treated as a joke or a soft lady. Never. She focused her hearing and harshly evaded his attacks. Luckily, she only slide one bullet on her gun so it was already empty after that one. Without further breathe for air, she attacked him. It was like a dance, him and her, their hands and feet meeting at the middle. But every meeting of their body was fire and ice. He was strong and Haiya was swift and quick.
Then in the dark as they fought, he finally ended their close fight with her pinned down again,but now in his soft bed, her face pressed on he softness of it while her hands forced on her back with the man's arms pressed hard onto her back locking both her arms.
They were both trying to catch air they didn't mind earlier while fighting.
He tried to question her. "Who's so stupid to sent a beautiful lady into the den of a monster?" As he inhaled oxygen but he was met by silence.
Haiya still tried to escape his grip, but Hans hands was so fast Haiya only felt the wind that followed as he scanned her body from her butt to her stomach then reach her boobs which was tightly clothed but she felt goosebumps all over her body from the touch. Although his intentions was to examine her for weapons, she felt a slight tease along with it. She immediately rolled down to get away from his hands. But when she tried to position herself in a defense move, Hans was already pushing her into the wall, her arms raised above her head with her breast pressed on the cold wall while the man was just as pressed on her back she could feel his tight hard chest and something between his legs pressed into her butt.
They were both tall. But Hans was three inch taller than her. And everytime Haiya tried to move, Hans pressed his body more until Haiya was flattened by the wall anymore she couldn't move. Her face to her right side just meeting Hans'. They both try to catch their breath in the dark night again. Both chest were moving rhythmically in unison for air.
While Haiya tried to escape again, he held her in place and whispered in her ears, "You're quite a lady, love. How fascinating. I'm actually disappointed with the men race. At least you could last an hour than the previous ones. "
Haiya stayed silent when suddenly she felt his hands traveling in her body again. She flinched and all she could do was flinched in his touch. This is the second time someone was able to touch her as they pleased.
"So maybe they sent you so that I could enjoy myself? Ah what a gift!" His warm breathe touched her ear on her right side. And it made her dug holes on her palms as it contradicted the coldness of his voice amidst the playing sound of it.
Then next, he was slowly sniffing her neck as he rest his free hand on her waist moving it up and down like he was teasing her.
Haiya felt the outline of his hardness pressing on her butt that she nearly panicked but she kept her emotions on control. Her mind's in turmoil. She pushed back onto him, hard against the wall but his body was like a wall itself.
The man was already nibbling her ears.
His free hand massaging her right breast as she stood unable to escape.
His breathe started to become ragged as he moved faster, his hips started moving pressing him more into her.
Then suddenly when she was about to push her butt so he could loosen up, he stopped. He removed his stone grip and let it fall on his side. He calmed his heaving chest as he move his mouth away from her ears. And with authority on his cold-laced voice, he said, "Leave. Now."
Haiya was hesitant. She didn't fully trust the man. But his next words made her move.
"Leave or I'll fuck you right here and now. I don't care if you're a professional assassin. You're no match for me, you very well know that. "
Haiya noticed how his hands balled into a fist. He was controlling himself. For the first time, Haiya felt something different just seeing him control his urges. He sounded like one minute and he'd changed his mind. His eyes were dark as the night. It was what Haiya had internalized. But she didn't forget what the guy looked like when she hastily escaped. He was looking at his feet, face down like he regretted abusing her arrogantly.
When Haiya went to her usual spot in the city, the rooftop, she realized he was the first mission she wasn't able to finish. She knew it wasn't because she was incompetent and weak but because he was more than a perverted guy. She was certain he was trained well. Like her. But more deadly he doesn't even felt any bit of hesitation and fear.
Now, he thought of what will he tell Yviro. It was the first time she failed she felt a deep anxiety. She's not yet strong enough. Not yet trained enough after all the near death experience. The deep feeling of not finishing her mission made her think hopeless, for a moment. However, she thought of why she was training. And she stood up and left with a decisive eyes. No way in hell she would give up because of that one failure.
~
She walked to Yviro's office, unashamed of her first failure. He was sitting encoding something on his computer. He looked old obvious small wrinkles in his whole face. Afterall, he was already 40 but there's something in his face that was untouched-so fresh like he never aged in emotions.
loved. He has a clean military cut, a crooked nose, deep depressed looking eyes so visible amidst the eyes glass he wears but horrifying stares that only Haiya felt warmth looking at him despite it.
In his age, he still had a well-built healthy body which Haiya doesn't knew how does he keep it because most of the time, he's drunk and wasted but always alert, she thought.
She sat in the chair in front of him, like a patient in line, waiting to be medicated by her doctor. She was used to the dark eerie ambiance of his room which felt comforting to her she didn't know why. His room was filled with books, and things she wasn't familiar with because she didn't care about material things aside from a pistol gun she saw once in his table. She kept looking at it before like she was infatuated by it. Yviro noticed it and bought her one, the same design and caliber.
The roommirrored his personality, dark, secretive, messy but amidst all of it, it enveloped Haiya's soul. She felt warm whenever she entered it.
"I failed," she spoke with no introduction, no hint of being bothered by her revelation, when he doesn't notice her for almost an hour.
She easily achieved what she wanted. His attention. He turned his whole body on her, scanned her face in habit which for the nth time gave Haiya a feeling of warmth. She actually felt nervous when he finally looked at her. What will he tell her?
"Why?" He tilted his head to the side, scrutinizing her expressions like he could get any. If there is something so bizarre about Haiya, it was the fact that her expressions were well-hidden inside her thoughts and not her face. However, he insisted on finding it on her eyes and for the first time he did.
She didn't respond but the way her eyes diverted after his question hinted him why.
"How?" This time she looked at him directly. And for the second time, it showed deep in her dark eyes.
She could not accept it. She felt degraded by her defeat.
"He was...he was a professional."
She finally spoke in sigh.
"And are you not?," he asked which felt like he was doubting her abilities.
"I-I'm not sure."
"Then how are you still breathing life?"
She look at his eyes, his deep but shallow brown eyes.
"He let me go."
She didn't know but the room felt heavy all of a sudden.
"You didn't create a way to escape, you were spared? How extremely shameful!"
There she have it. His words.
"Or did you, by chance, spare his life out of pity?"
"Have I ever done that?"
He was speechless. But something clicked into his mind.
"Wait, hold on," he was confused for a second.
"What was the name of the man you have to assassinate again?"
"Hans Deveraux."
"Hans Deveraux. Hans Deverau-shit," he looked surprised at her.
"Tell me, are you hurt? Did you, by any chance, came in contact with his knife or drank any liquid he gave?"
She was surprised also of his reactions.
"No, I don't think he has a weapon when I landed on his apartment."
"An agent earlier, your superiors called me to ask if I handed her a wrong mission and I said I checked it and it was correct but why are you the one who's handling such a serial killer?"
"It was supposed to be her mission, and not you. I must've accidentally exchanged the files, no."
He abruptly stood up and checked her vital signs. It was all normal.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"You are still young. You are not yet supposed to take S-rated missions. And the guy you just met was an S. They are not just dangerous, they're monsters. "
The way he said it disappointed her. So she was still an amateur.
"Then when will I receive S-rated missions???"
"Not now! You will never enter into these dangerous missions until I approved, you understand?"
"Wakaranai." (I don't understand.)
She stood up and walk towards the door.
"Stay here, Haiya! You're not having missions this week to check your health. He might have poisoned you."
She stopped on her tracks. Sighed.
Then she left. Mad and dismayed.
Meanwhile, Yviro called the agent who was supposed to be in charge of Deveraux.
"Ms. Wilheilm, it seems your missions were accidentally disrupted."
"I told you, boss. I'm too professional to be taking a P- rated mission."
"Would you mind to finish this one off, I'll immediately send the files."
"What happened to the one who accidentally had it?"
He went silent, for awhile. Then immediately said, "Hell." Then ended the call.
Assassins weren't supposed to get attached nor to even harbor feelings. However, Haiya grew up in his care, and it filled an empty void where someone left in his heart.
~
"Where's your billionaire boyfriend, Sharon?"
Kate asked while they cleaned the tables as they are already closed and are about to leave.
"Oh you know, he's busy with his business," she replied with a voice as irritating as her. Her face was stuffed with make-up that it was like a rainbow. It was no different with Kate, she also has her clothes so tight her boobies and butts are showing.
"Won't he pick you up?"
"Of course he will, he's just one call away to me." And they both laughed.
They were all five waitress but the others already left and it was their schedule.
Haiya was silently mopping on the other side and she was so concentrated with it she doesn't even notice her companions are gossiping about her. She was wearing a common tshirt and jeans paired with a sneakers. She actually didn't need money, it was all provided for her but she realized the change of settings sometimes eased her mind of overthinking and murdering.
"Do you think Haiya has a boyfriend?," Kate asked Sharon.
"She has a nice body outline, a nice face but she's way too creepy but so normal and boring. She looks stupid too and innocent. You know guys don't want boring and innocent, they want wild to do all the work in bed."
The both giggled in unison.
"C'mon let's ask her." Kate suggested.
"Hey Aya, do you have any boyfriend?"
It was just another name she came up with to hide her identity. And she was used to it so she turned when she heard them ask her.
With a certain and decisive eyes, she said, "I don't."
"See, she's boring!" Sharon acted as if she won a debate.
"Well, have you been fucked? Or are you still a blessed virgin," Sharon eyed her with mockery and she did not understand what she meant because she wasn't raise to be a normal romantic girl seeking for a dick now and then but she quietly understood her rude voice.
"What do you mean? Am I required to be fucked by everyone?" Haiya asked in two innocent eyes they didn't know if it was a sarcasm or truth. But deep inside they knew it was the truth that's why they're suddenly triggered and agitated by her words.
"Hmp! Well, let's see on Saturday, I was secretly informed they will inspect everyone on the restaurant who seems suspicious, after the killing that happened. And I heard that someone in her 30s living on her own was even jailed because she does not have any husband or family and she looks like a creepy criminal!"
What? With no evidences? She was jailed? Haiya thought and was bewildered she might be suspected of the murders that recently happened. She also realized maybe she was standing out so much by not having a normal life. Maybe they're thinking of her as a serial killer because she was silent, and she looks like a psychopath.
She had one decision. To leave the restaurant but where would she go again? She didn't wanna be locked up in her room with her thoughts. It was murdering her.
Besides, she came to like the average restaurant where she worked like an ordinary individual in this world, free of murder.
Where do I get a boyfriend?
Oh, there are many guys in the world. I'll just have to manipulate them into having a temporary relationship with me.
She went to her apartment, tired so she slept already. And didn't notice a message from Yviro.
They were living in the same building in different room numbers. And code was everything to assassins that even their rooms and everything they talk and whisper must be deciphered.
She woke up from a nightmare again, she tried hard not to be bothered. But she hugged her knees and kept chanting, 'It was just a dream. It was just a dream."
She snatched her cell phone and browsed the newspaper for crossword puzzles to ease her mind but after answering, she deciphered a message for her. It was the fifth time Yviro used the newspaper to sent her a message because he know she loves crossword puzzle. The crossword puzzle contained words such as matrimony, bridesman, lily of the valley, curiosity, caliber etc.
Haiya checked her cell phone and found numbers. Codes which she deciphered and Yviro was saying, "Get yourself a man. New Orleans is getting anxious of the sudden assassination."
How did he know? It was still a debated topic in Haiya's mind if she would seriously get a boyfriend but if it came out to be an order from Yviro, she doesn't have any choice, does she?
But for the nth time, where does she get one who will be in line with her necessities and preferences. Well, is there any guy who would want a relationship with a woman such as her.