One-shot [English]

[1000 stars] - Valentines day

Phupha climbed the stairs calmly, but quickly enough. When he reached the seventh floor, he quickly picked the lock, before entering the room, which he knew was empty because of construction. He didn't waste any time, approached the windows, opened the bag he had with him.

Quickly, he took out the weapon, which was in several pieces, to mount it. He opened the window and looked through the viewfinder. For him, it was just another day, just another mission. The sight of his rifle passed over the heads of various passers-by, looking for his target.

He didn't know why he had to pull the trigger, or what the person had done. All he cared about was the money he would make once he pulled the trigger. He continued to go through all the people, before he found his target.

He was a young boy, dark-haired, with hair that fell over his forehead. He was sitting at a table, reading a book. The ambient noise didn't seem to bother him, he didn't look at anything around him, except for the words that must have been dancing before his eyes.

Attracted by something, the boy suddenly looked up. Phupha stepped back slightly, surprised that his gaze fell directly into her viewfinder.

The killer's heart missed a beat when he saw the large chestnuts. He swallowed hard before trying to concentrate again. He looked at the man through his scope. He smiled softly at his book, as if what was written there was beautiful, or funny.

Phupha ordered his heart to calm down, so that he could finally focus on the target, and his mission. This was not the time to dither and lose focus. A big contract was put on this boy's head, and he knew he wouldn't be the only one to want to kill him.

He looked through his viewfinder again. The boy was smiling, his eyes fixed on two children playing together. It was the most beautiful, sweetest smile he had ever seen. Slowly, the barrel of his rifle lowered as he lost all concentration.

He sighed, before putting his weapon away. Sitting on the dirt floor, he took his head in his hands.

- What the hell is happening to me?

He took several breaths before standing up. He quickly wiped his pants, before picking up his bag, and leaving the building. In the street, he turned his head, and met the eyes of his former target. At the same time, the boy turned his head and smiled politely. Surprised by his action, Phupha did not respond, lowered his head, and walked away, to get lost in the street.

In his pants, his phone vibrated. He picked it up, the number was blocked.

- Is it done?

- No.

- What do you mean? I thought you were a professional.

- Your information was wrong.

- Excuse me?

- You will be reimbursed. Don't call me again.

He threw the disposable phone in the trash without a backward glance. He knew he had made a mistake. Now the person on the other end of the phone would go looking for another killer. He had all the information he needed to track the boy.

He arrived home, and looked at the file. For the first time, he glanced at his first name. He never looked at the personal information, just where and how to find the person, as well as his photo to recognize him.

Tian.

He smiled as he reviewed the photo that accompanied the file.

He had never felt this way about a target, or about anyone else in his life. Outside of his particular job, he had a life like everyone else. He went to the gym regularly, had friends, and a part-time job to fill his sometimes empty days. He was a forest ranger in a protected area not far from Chiang Mai.

The next day, Phupha got up early and went to look for Tian. He knew he would be in a café before he went to his university.

Certainly out of habit, Phupha hunkered down in a high-rise building, sight in hand, to watch his former target.

He watched him order that same coffee, from that same waitress, with that smile on his face. Phupha was completely transfixed by her stretching lips and the white teeth that were showing. He didn't understand how he hadn't noticed it before. He had spent a week watching her, studying her habits, but not once had he looked at her.

Busy watching Tian, the hitman was disturbed by a reflection, which came from a building opposite his. He immediately turned his sights in that direction, looking for the person responsible. He then saw another man, with a rifle pointed at the café.

The likelihood of two people targeted by hit men being in the same place was low. He then fired, killing the killer with a single shot to the middle of the head. The explosion of the glass surprised a few people, but seeing nothing in particular, everyone went on their way.

Phupha looked back at the café, and sighed with relief when he saw that Tian was leaving safely. He quickly put away his equipment, before following him into the street. The cap pulled down over his face to hide himself. He didn't really need to keep him in his field of vision, he knew exactly where he was going, and how.

When he arrived at the university, Tian met his friends. Phupha stood back, turned on his phone, and watched him from afar. Suddenly, Tian looked up, and looked at him. The hitman kept his cool, pretended to observe the people around him, and then focused on his phone.

- Hi.

Phupha clenched his jaw, before looking up at the boy before him.

- Hello.

Tian watched him for a moment, before giving him a big smile, and continuing.

- Are you new here?

Phupha nodded, not really knowing what to say.

- I'm sorry, I noticed you because our class doesn't accept many people, and with your style, you get noticed quickly.

- I'm not registered yet. I'm just taking a look around.

- Oh okay. If you need help, or have any questions, don't hesitate.

- Thanks, uh...

Phupha pretended not to know the name of the boy in front of him, even though he knew every detail of his life, and at the moment, it was hard not to imagine putting him against the wall to kiss him.

- Tian. My name is Tian. What's your name?

- Phupha.

The two men shook hands, with Tian wearing a polite smile. Phupha was trembling with excitement and fear. It was the first time he was talking to her, and he didn't know what to say. What questions to ask when you already knew everything about the person?

- Uh... Well, I have to get to class. Maybe I'll see you soon.

- See you soon.

Tian greeted him one last time, before leaving on his own, to join his friends, and the classes. Phupha breathed out, not even realizing he had held his breath. He couldn't help but smile as he took his place at the top of a building. Tian was always by the window, and often spent long moments looking out, or drawing on his notebook.

Without even realizing it, a big smile had spread across his face. He was really in trouble. But he would do anything to protect the brown-haired boy, who was watching the birds.