Vincent

Five - The Unexpected Meeting

I frowned.

He let go of my tied hands as soon as three men in black came up the boat we're in. The first man to climb up was a short but muscular man. I could see it right through his tight clothes that he had a big body. The second one is a 6-foot dark-skinned man who also had a big build. The third is taller. My frown disappeared when I realized that they climbed up the boat according to their height.

I almost grinned.

"Otskaresama, Kimihiko-sama." They said in unison and bowed at Juliene.

Frowning again, I looked at Juliene, then at the three men, then back to Juliene.

He put his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "Koitsu wa doko da?"

He spoke in Japanese. The more reason I have to deepen my frown.

The shortest of the three replied. I did not understand it though.

"Hey!" A voice behind me shouted. I turned.

Nick Foreman looked pissed off in his ridiculous suit. His hair was pointing at all directions. The buttons of his yellow tuxedo were opened, showing his dark violet polo.

"Where the fuck are you taking us, huh?! And what the fuck is this place?!" Wrinkles appeared on his wide forehead. "Are you sons of a bitch Japanese or something?!"

"Sir, calm down." Said the woman whose hands were also tied up. She was wearing a black and white suit and a pencil skirt. Blonde. With freckles all over her face. "These people are dangerous. It's better to keep quiet."

"Tsk!" There was nothing Foreman could do but to click his tongue in frustration. He glared at the man holding his tied hands. "You little shits will pay for this!"

The man did not flinch. He just stared at him blankly.

I looked at the other two men. They both looked sad as they stared at their feet.

"Who are those?" I asked Juliene.

He turned his head to look at them. "Oh, them." He paused. "You don't need to know."

I stared at the two men. "Were they kidnapped too?"

Juliene didn't answer as we heard faint car engines. I turned my head to look at the direction. Two black cars were heading to the port.

"At last..." Juliene said. "They're here." He looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

He smiled, but his eyes didn't.

The two cars stopped in front of us. Audi on the left and Mercedes-Benz on the right. Two men in black emerged as Audi's doors opened. They both looked tall and thick. It's not that sunny, but the two wore black shades, and I didn't know why but I found that funny. The two men stopped beside the Mercedes-Benz. I narrowed my eyes to look who's the driver, but the tint of the windshield was too dark.

"What's taking him so long?!" Juliene shouted as he walked towards the railing. He yelled in Japanese, which I did not understand.

The Mercedes-Benz door finally opened.

Juliene let out an exasperated sigh and turned to me. "Let's go down." He grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the boat. He was walking too fast that I nearly stumbled at the stairs. Nick Foreman and the others followed behind us.

He dragged me in front of the Mercedes-Benz. Irritated, I glared at Juliene. My toes inside my shoes hurt.

"De?" Juliene spoke.

I turned to the direction he was looking at.

A tall man wearing a long, black coat stood before us. His black hair was carefully combed and slicked back. His broad shoulders made him look like no ordinary man. It's as if he was a god.

"What took you so long?" Juliene put his hands on his wait. "And please..." He walked towards the man and tiptoed. "Remove these fucking shades for Pete's sake." He removed the man's shades. Juliene's manliness was nothing compared to the man. He even looked like a midget. "It's not even sunny." Juliene said in irritation. "Looking all handsome like that! You don't have to!"

Juliene kept on blabbering, but my eyes were fixed on the man. When his shades were removed, his facial features became more pronounced. His high-ridged nose towers his red, thin lips. His jaws were sharper that before. And his eyes...

His beautiful, black eyes.

Black eyes...

Black, mysterious eyes...

Black...

"...Sandy!"

Our eyes met.

I gasped.

For twelve years, I'd always asked myself these: Where are you? What are you doing right now? Are you doing fine? When will you come back? Why did you leave me?

Do you still love me?

But hell, who would've think that the man I've been looking for -- yearning for -- for twelve years was standing right in front of me?

I wanted to speak. I wanted to say something. I really did, but my throat became dry and my mind went blank. I didn't even know what expression I was making.

Juliene's voice ringed in my ears. He shouted in Japanese, and the men behind us started to move. They dragged Foreman and the others inside a truck. The two men in black from earlier grabbed my arms and started to drag me, my gaze still fixed on him. 

He didn't even flinch nor react when our eyes met. It was like, he just stared at me for no reason. His face showed no emotion at all.

And it pierced my heart more than it ever should.

"Ah! Wait!" Juliene said, stopping the us. He spoke in Japanese again, but the two men released me. "Come." Juliene told me. "You're coming with us."

Juliene grabbed my arm and walked towards the Mercedes. He wore his shades and went inside the driver's seat. Juliene opened the door at the back and told me to get in. He slammed the door and went in front. He sat beside him.

"We're all set. Let's go."

He started the engine and started to drive.

Alone, I stared at him. I stared at his big hands as he held the steering wheel.

Memories started to flood my mind.

It made my heart ache so much I couldn't bear the pain. I averted my gaze outside. The scenery changed from the sea to the mountains. 

And somehow, the ambiance of the trees eased the pain in my heart.