Mariana found herself walking through the park, the very place where Calum had promised to meet her. Her feet felt heavy, as if they were resisting her every step leading to him. Her red dress billowed in the gentle breeze as she walked. The atmosphere was eerily similar to the day before – a quiet stillness punctuated by the occasional passerby. Her heart pounded in her chest as she neared her destination, where she expected to see him. She couldn't wait to confront him, to unleash her fury, to make him understand the depth of her pain. She felt a surge of disgust, remembering how she had allowed him to comfort her, touch her, while he was aware of the true source of her suffering.
Her ponytail was slightly disheveled, but she hardly cared. She had stopped bothering herself with her appearance. She had a lot of things to worry about, which is why she only applied a touch of pink lipstick to her lips every time she left the house. Yet, even with her weariness and lack of sleep so visible, her beauty still prevailed.
She halted her walk, her gaze settling on Calum, who was sitting on the bench, seemingly lost in deep thought. She stood ten meters away, waiting for him to acknowledge her presence. Her emotions intensified, her breath starting to accelerate. She felt like she was losing air to breathe, even though it was so windy today.
Calum, with his head bowed, appeared to be lost in contemplation. He was wearing a white hoodie paired with black pants and sneakers. He glanced at his watch, checking the time. Maybe he was too early, which is why he couldn't see her yet. But it was almost 3:00 PM, and he was starting to worry that maybe she had forgotten or she just didn't mean what she said yesterday. And then his eyes met hers. Her vibrant red dress was impossible for him not to notice her that quickly.
He was so happy seeing her. As always, he was captivated by her beauty. His feet, like hers, seemed reluctant to move, but he forced himself to rise and walk towards her. His heart thrummed with a magnetic pull towards her, his excitement overwhelming him that he forgot to control himself, letting her name slip out in his mouth before he could stop it.
"Mariana..."
A slight smile played on his lips, though the happiness within him was boundless. He had spent the previous night consumed by anticipation, yearning for this moment. To see her again, to receive his daily dose of medicine to cure the sickness of missing her.
They stood half a meter apart, their eyes locked. His gaze held an immeasurable affection, while hers burned with hatred.
"How do you know my name?"
The question burst from her lips as she instinctively took a step back. She seemed to recoil from the closeness between them. It was like she was scared and knew that he was harmful.
He saw the fear in her eyes, the way she regarded him as a predator. Her retreat was a silent plea for protection, to protect herself from what he might do to hurt her. That realization hit him like a physical blow. It hurt for him to accept that she now saw him as her enemy, and in a way, she wasn't entirely wrong.
"Answer me!
Calum Bryant! "
Her voice, sharp and accusatory, echoed through the park.
He remained silent, both of them listening to the rustling of leaves in the wind. Calum wanted to explain everything to her, to unravel the truth. To let her know every detail of how he met her and how they had gotten separated. He wanted to shout and let her know that he was dying in love with her and so was she. But his courage failed him. He was trapped in a prison of his own making. He couldn't even take his eyes away from her, and that he nearly forgot how to blink.
After a minute of tense silence, Calum heard the click of gun locks behind him. He was surrounded by three police officers, and their weapons were pointed at him. Alton arrived, and he didn't hesitate to wrap his arms around Mariana protectively.
"Are you okay?" Alton asked, his eyes never leaving her face. She nodded, reassuring him.
They had already planned it, to get Calum arrested today.
Calum, never breaking his eye contact with Mariana, raised his hands. He had sensed the officers' arrival before she had, his instincts were sharp even in this moment. He was, after all, one of the world's most skilled assassins. And he never forgot that.
Mariana was disturbed by his gaze, his deep hazel eyes seeming to pierce her very soul. There was a different kind of intensity in his stare, a hint of contentment, as if he were thankful to see her.
The officers placed the handcuffs on Calum. As he was led away, he spoke, his voice barely a whisper.
"I'm happy to see you, Mariana. You always take care."
His eyes welled up, but he refused to let the tears fall. He managed a slight smirk and forced his gaze away from hers.
Mariana grit her teeth, it was confusing why she felt sorry for him.
Seeing him walked with that handcuff in his hands the heavy burden that she felt wasn't losing any weight at all, instead it became heavier than before.
"You bastard! You'll rot in jail!"
Alton's shout echoed in the park, but Calum didn't hear him. He chose to shut out all the sound in his surroundings, to focus only on the agonizing pain in his heart. It was unbearable to see her hate him so fiercely. The hope inside him was slowly deteriorating. He thought that he could get a chance to tell her how much he loves her. But it was gone with the wind. He was full of regrets. He should have taken the chance to let her know how he feels. Because right now, he might have known that she loves him, but she had already forgotten it. Her love was already replaced by pain and hatred, and he couldn't blame her for that. He wasn't her savior anymore, but her mortal enemy.
***