"What?" I asked angrily as I began to walk towards him.
"Yes." He said and nodded.
"And you are just telling me now?" I asked as I got to him, standing in front of him.
"I just noticed." He replied with a faint smile.
"Is that what you are supposed to say?" I asked with a frown.
He sighed very deeply and apologized.
"I am sorry."
"It's okay. Let's go in the right direction." I said to him and started to follow him like a lost sheep.
He brought out his phone and checked the screen.
"It's ten pm. I am not sure if we will be able to meet the train. Let's hurry because they will come for the last set of passengers by ten thirty." He said as he reached for my arm and pulled me along and began to run.
We started to race towards the railway, that is the right direction.
We got there immediately when the train moved with its doors already shut.
We got there late.
It was after the train had already carried its last set of passengers for the day.
What do we do now?
I brought out my phone and checked its screen for confirmation.
It's true, it's ten thirty-three pm.
Fuck!
"Shit! No!" Raymond exclaimed in disappointment as he hit his clenched fist against the wall four times. Twice for each word.
"So, what do we do now?" I asked curiously as I didn't know any word to say that could make him feel better. In fact, that was the only sentence that can make anyone in his shoes feel better.
"I don't know." He said, frustratedly and sat on the bare ground, leaning his back on one of the pillars that were covered with advertisement posters.
"How about we run?" I asked as I joined him and sat beside him without resting my back on any pillar because there was not enough room for me.
"That's a good idea but….." He paused without knowing what else to say to me.
"But what?" I asked curiously.
"I am just too tired to do that and besides, I need to save myself some strength for later Incase I need to fight my dad." He explained.
"So what should we do? Is there no other alternative?" I asked again. I am not helping matters, right?
"I don't know, let's just go back home." He said as he stood up and started heading back in the direction we came from.
"No, I don't agree. We can't just go back like this. What about your sister? She needs you, like right now, more than ever, so you have to do something to go save her, please." I pleaded with him and hoped he wouldn't oblige.
He stopped walking, turned to face me and asked,
"You think so?"
"Yeah," I replied to him with a nod.
"So what should we do then?" He asked as he walked back to me.
"Let's trek there," I replied with a smile.
"Trek?" He asked with his eyes wide open.
"Yup," I replied and started to walk towards the direction the train went.
"Okay." He said as he joined me, as we started to trek towards our destination.
We continued to trek for more than an hour and trust me when I say that, that was only one-tenth of our destination.
"Aren't you tired of walking?" Raymond asked as he was winded as squatted to catch his breath.
"No, not at all. Remember, I am a vamp." I replied to him and laughed softly.
"True talk. Wait for me." He commanded as he stood up and joined me by my side again.
"Do you want us to move faster?" I asked.
"Yes, of course. Why do you ask?" He asked.
"I don't know, but I have this very crazy idea," I replied to him with a smile.
"What is it?" He asked.
"Should I tell you?" I asked and laughed sheepishly.
"Yes, please." He said.
"Okay. Remember that I am a vamp and I can fly." I said to him,
"And so?" He asked curiously.
"I want to try it now," I said to him excitedly.
"Like now?" He asked and I nodded.
"No, now is not the time." He said.
"So, let's continue trekking," I said to him,
"Have you tried it before?" He asked and I shook my head.
"Are you meaning to try it now?" He asked curiously, scratching his head in total confusion.
"Yes," I replied and stopped walking.
"Okay. I will be right here, waiting for you to do your thing. Please, make it quick." He said as he walked towards the bus stop and sat on the bench.
I closed my eyes and tried bringing out my wings.
'EUNICE, FOCUS GIRL.'
I tried again with my whole might, opened my eyes and checked my back but nothing came out.
I inhaled and exhaled calmly and tried again and it worked this time around, it came out.
Yeah.
"I did it," I said and jumped excitedly, hopping around.
"That's my girl," Raymond said as he stood up from the bench and walked up to and stood in front of me.
"How do my wings look?" I asked Raymond excitedly.
"They are…. beautiful and they suit you. Come here." He said to me smiling as he slid his arms around my waist, pulled me closer to himself and hugged me tighter than ever.
"Thank you," I whispered in his ears after I hugged him back, resting my jaw on his broad and comfortable shoulder.
"You are welcome." He said as he withdrew his body from mine and kissed me on my forehead.
I smiled at him, looking straight into his eyes, as my eyes began to burn me.
"Your eyes are beautiful." He said to me,
"What is it? Are they looking unusual?" I asked and he just nodded without saying anything, smiling too at the same time.
"What is it? Tell me." I said and started to pout.
"They are red and looking hot." He said, teasingly.
Looking hot?
Which of the hot does he mean?
"Okay, thanks." That was all I was able to say to him.
"You are always welcome." He said with a smile and successfully brought his face very close to mine and began to kiss me.
"I need these….I mean the red eyes because human night vision is fucked up. So, I need these to see clearly." I explained to him.
"Okay." He said with a frown, I think he was trying to understand what I just said or he was just making a funny face.
"Yeah," I said and shrugged at the same time and he just nodded, smiling, with his arms still around my tiny waist.
"Hold on tight," I warned as I then took flight and trust me, again, when I said we got to our final destination in under thirty minutes.
I brought out my phone to check the time and it was midnight.
Wow, it's my birthday.
I am on a rescue mission in the earliest hour of my twentieth birthday.
Wow! Just wow!
We got there just in time. No, I mean, we got there at the right time, when everyone else was fast asleep.
We landed inside Raymond's compound. We both fell to the ground, as it was my first time taking flight with my wings.
"Are you okay?" We asked each other in unison and laughed at it.
"Yes, I am. You?" I asked him.
He just nodded without saying anything, smiling at the same time.
"Okay, let's go," I said to him with a nod and a smile.
"Wait." He said to me, holding my arm.
"What?" I asked, looking into his eyes.
He smiled, cleared his throat and said,
"Happy birthday."
"Oh! Thanks." I said to him with a low grin.
He kissed my forehead and said,
"Let's go."
"After you," I said to him,
He walked past, looked over his shoulder and said,
"Stay alert and be vigilant."
"Okay," I said to him and nodded at the same time.
"Follow me." He said and started walking.
He led the way, while I followed him like a lost sheep.
No, I am not a lost sheep.
Even if I am a sheep, it's okay if he will be my shepherd.
Then, I will never be lost. He wouldn't want to lose me. He wouldn't dare.
We went to the back door of the house, and he put in the password and slightly pushed the door open.
The first place we entered was the kitchen, it was spacious, very modern and beautifully designed.
I wouldn't lie, it beats ours, I mean the one in my house.
"It's upstairs." He said and started climbing up the stairs, while I continued walking behind him.
We got to his sister's room door. He put in the passcode and gently turned the knob to open the door.
We quietly entered the room, while I gently closed the door behind me.
Thank God.
His sister is fast asleep in her bed comfortably.
He tiptoed towards her and kissed her head.
He gently tapped her and patiently waited for her to wake up.
She sat up, slightly opened her eyes and asked,
"Ray, is it you?"
"Yes. Are you alright?" He asked, concerned.
"Yes. Where have you been?" She asked with a broken voice.
"I …. I…. I have been with a friend who needs help." He explained to his younger sister.
"Okay. Grandma gave me something to give to you." She said to him, rubbing her eyes with both her arms at the same time.
"What is it?" Raymond asked her.
"It's on…." She stopped talking when she noticed my presence and asked her big brother,
Raymond smiled at her, looked at him and nodded.
I walked towards them and with a smile, I said,
"Hi."
"Hi, who are you?" Raymond's younger sister asked.
"Her name is Eun… Lady Eunice. She is the friend who needed help." Raymond said to his little sister.
"Oh, she is a Lady too." The little girl said.
"Yes, she is Lady Charlotte," Raymond said to his little sister with a smile.
Lady Charlotte?
Charlotte.
It's a nice name for a little girl.
"Hi, Lady Charlotte. I have heard a lot about you." I said to her with a smile.
"Same here and I have heard a lot about you too. I thought you were already dating my brother." Charlotte said and smirked at her brother.
Raymond cleared his throat and said,
"Uhm, Charlotte. Definitely, we shall talk about that topic later. I have to get you out of here first." Raymond said.
Thank goodness, he avoided falling into an awkward situation.
"Where are you going to take me to?" Charlotte asked his big brother.
"To somewhere more fun." He said to her,
"Be my guest," Charlotte said excitedly.
"Let's get your things ready." He announced it to her.
"Yeah!" She exclaimed excitedly and hopped out of the bed, walked towards her wardrobe, brought out her luggage, opened it and started arranging and putting clothes and other stuff into it.
"She is very beautiful, just like you, you are very handsome too." I whispered to Raymond, as I sat beside him, as we were both looking at his sister.
"Yes, she is. She is smart too, very smart." Raymond praised Charlotte.
"What did grandma give you to give to me?" Raymond asked.
"Is it okay, if I say it in front of her?" She asked her brother, pointing at me.
I can see that she hasn't accepted me yet. Maybe it's because she doesn't know whether we are dating or not.
"Yes, you can. As I have said before, she is a friend, a very close friend." He said to her,
"Like, your girlfriend? Are you dating already?" She asked her big brother curiously.
"Hmm. Ummmm. We…we.." Raymond stammered, scratching the back of his head.
"Don't lie to me." She ordered her elder brother.