Assassin

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The instant our lips touched, fireworks exploded between us, sending my heart into a frenzy and John responded immediately by wrapping his arms around me, slightly pulling me up towards him. He kissed me back, our lips moving against each other’s gently but quickly. All the while tears streamed down my face; I felt so emotional at that moment – sad, happy, excited, hurt, everything.
After a few minutes John attempted to pull away for air, but I gasped and pushed myself onto him further. I did not want this to end.
We kissed some more, the firework between us never died down for one moment.
At last my lungs felt like they were going to explode from the shortage of oxygen, so I pulled away and we stared into each other’s eyes. John wiped away my tears again.
“I can’t do this John,” I told him, “I love you.”
“(Yn), although the rational part of me is telling me to stay away from you, I can’t help but fall for you,” he smiled bitterly, “I love you.”
I put my hands on his shoulders and pecked his lips, “I was scared that you’re not feeling the same…”
John hugged me, wrapping his arms around me tightly, “I’ve fallen fall you the moment I laid eyes on you,”
We stayed like that for ages, and John sighed. He held me at arm’s length, “So…”
“I don’t want to go. I can’t,” I looked down.
“That kiss we shared is the best thing I have ever experienced,” he said, “But I would rather not have it, because… Now I can’t let go too.”
“What should we do now?” I asked him.
“I think we can’t be separated anymore, being separated will just drive us crazy and it’s also very dangerous – maybe even more risky then being separated,”
“We’re meant to be; we should just stay together,”
“I think you should go home first; your family and friends must be worried to death,” John said, “And I will check on you regularly and meet me outside tonight, okay?”
I nodded, and John walked me to the town. He told me to go home alone once we were in the crowded market.
I walked home quickly, and I knocked on the door. Mother was the one who opened the door. She froze with her mouth opened wide once she saw me, and stumbled backwards. Father came into view, checking who was here. He nearly had a heart attack seeing me.
“(Yn)? Is – is that really you?” Father finally managed to stutter, shock written all across his face, and Mother’s face was pale as a sheet. Father came forward to support her.
I nodded, not knowing what to do, scared that taking things too quickly would frighten them.
“We thought you’re dead!” Father exclaimed, “Maria!”
“Yes, sir,” Maria the maid appeared behind my parents, and covered her mouth in shock once she saw me, “Oh my!”
“Bring (Yn) into the living room,” Father told Maria, and she shook her head slightly before bringing me into the living room.
Basically everyone that cared about me was in the room. Anna and Juliet, and even Alex and his family. To be honest, I did not really want to see Alex. I hoped John was here.
Everyone looked as if they had seen a ghost once they saw me. Anna even screamed and Juliet quickly calmed her down.
“(Yn) we thought – we thought—” Juliet began, and I just stood there, shaking my head.
“We’re so worried about you!” Alex said.
I nodded at him and sat down next to my parents.
“(Yn), tell us what has happened in the past days,” Father said quietly.
So I told them about my carelessness in the forest, and how I hurt myself by tripping over a branch and ended up giving myself a serious injury, and how an old lady stumbled upon me and brought me under her care.
“Make sure there is not a second time!” Father told me sternly, but I could see that he was very glad to see me safe and sound. I was relieved that they believed my story – except Anna and Juliet; they knew me too well. They had a suspicious expression on their faces when I told them I hurt my waist. And the instant I smiled unintentionally at how the old lady saved me, their change in expression told me that they had somehow guessed the whole incident.
“Yes, Father,” I answered.
“I think (Yn) must be tired,” Juliet said, when she caught Alex was about to say something, “We should go… But (Yn), would you like me and Anna to accompany you? You must have been very lonely in the past week.”
“I would appreciate it,” I smiled. I knew they were dying to know what had actually happened.
They went up to my room with me, and they sat me down on my bed. So I told them about everything in a low voice.
“I know that John is gorgeous and seems nice, but you have to be rational!” Anna told me.
“I know!” I protested, “But I can’t help it!”
“You shouldn’t have gone back to kiss him,” Juliet sighed.
“I told you – I couldn’t help it!” I said.
“Love has blinded you, (Yn),” Juliet said.
“You two will have to help me,” I pleaded, “The only way for me to meet him is to meet him secretly, and it is the best for us to meet at night, around dinner time, as the gangs are most unlikely to attack at that time, according to John.”
“We are not going to help you with that,” Anna shook her head, “You’re crazy.”
“It’ll only drive both of us crazy if we are forced apart!” I exclaimed, “You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
They fell quiet, and after a while, Anna finally spoke, “I guess you have a point; I know how powerful love is…”
“And from how you’re acting I can totally tell you’re very in love,” Juliet said.
I hugged them, “Thank you!”
“Did I say I have agreed to help you?” Juliet laughed.

When dinner time has passed, Anna and Juliet went up to my room with me, using the excuse of me being tired. Alex and his family were still here, as they had stayed for dinner.
“Okay, so (Yn), you’ll have to sneak out through the back door, right?” Juliet asked.
“Yes,” I said, and I looked out the window to check if I could see John; I could see nothing but trees and our quiet garden. But I could feel him outside.
“Are you sure he’s out there?” Anna asked.
“I’m very sure,” I said, “He has promised me.”
“I hope he’s worth the risk,” Anna sighed.
“How often are you going to do this?” Juliet asked, “Dinner time is the most difficult time for you to sneak out! We will run out of excuses one day for covering up for you!”
“Thank you so much for covering up for me and I hope one day we can find a better way to meet up!” I hugged them before opening the door quietly. Anna and Juliet would be in my room and when it was time for the guests to leave, they would tell everyone I was sleeping and it would be best for them to not disturb me.
I sneaked down the stairs silently and sneaked past the living room, heading towards the kitchen. I kept glancing back to check if the people in the living room had noticed me.
Suddenly I ran into someone, and I almost screamed.
“Whoa!” I gasped.
“Sorry!” it was Alex, and he seemed well surprised to see me here, “Weren’t you up in your room resting?”
“I – I—” I was trying hard to come up with an excuse, “I felt thirsty, and wanted to get some water.”
“Why didn’t you just ask someone to do it for you?” Alex pulled his eyebrows slightly together.
“Well, I wanted to move for a bit, that’s why,”
Alex looked like he did not believe me, “Alright,”
“And I guess I’ll take long, as I’m really thirsty,” I added, “You don’t have to wait for me or anything.”
He looked suspiciously at me.
“Now would you excuse me…” I walked past him, entering the kitchen. Luckily the maids had finished cleaning up and no one was here.
Once I was inside, I closed the door behind me, and relaxed my taunt pose.
“That was close,” I mumbled. I made sure Alex was gone before heading towards the back door.
I opened the back door and stepped outside, closing the door quietly behind me.
I walked a few steps away from the house, and suddenly a pair of arms went around me from behind.