On her way to her cabin, Lesley noticed how busy the surrounding was. Everyone was preparing to evacuate before sunrise. MNA already knows this location, so staying here is no longer safe or wise. A few groups were also assigned to look for Airah, who is still searching for her. She just hopes Ai is safe wherever she is right now.Entering the cabin where she was staying, she found food on the table. Dan probably left it. She peeked at it for a second and then ignored it. She was starving after looking for Bangs all day, but she really could not find her appetite. She is too sad, angry, and annoyed. So instead, she went straight to the bathroom and took a shower. After scrubbing her body of all the blood, soil, and other dirt, she heard someone knock on the door. She stepped out and only covered herself with a towel. And then she carefully peeked to see who was in front of her place at this time of night.Her eyes widened, and her heart beat faster when she saw who it was. She hastil
"Put your things in the car. We'll be leaving in a couple of minutes," said Dan to Lesley and Kieran, who had just finished packing their few clothes.7th Hideout has been compromised. MNA knows this place now, so they are no longer safe here. They are instructed to evacuate to the Main Hideout, where the mastermind behind the Crimson Clan is, Kieran's older sister, Catharina Kingsley."We're ready. We don't have much stuff. It's just clothes," Lesley answered Dan, standing at the door."Alright, I'll wait for you there.""Will you be driving our car?""Yes. Iston will come with us.""But," she scanned him worriedly. "Have your injuries healed?"Dan softly smiled. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Iston is a good doctor, and my wounds will heal quickly."She sighed in relief. "Ah, that's good to hear. Thank you for protecting me yesterday.""It's nothing. I'm just doing my duty."She smiled sheepishly. "Oh, right. But thanks anyway.""You're welcome," Dan replied before leaving.Lesle
"I see a diner ahead. It looks like we can stop there," Dan said. They decided to take a short break and parked their car at the diner. The four of them went down and chose a table near the door they entered. Fortunately, no one else was eating there at that time, so they felt more comfortable. They also bought Lesley medicine, and she felt better. "I'll check the engine and the tires. We are still a long way," Dan said after taking his last bite of food. "I'll help you," Iston offered, draining his glass of water. "We'll just call you when we are done," Dan added before walking out of the diner with Iston. Lesley glanced at Kieran. He is sitting across from her. She noticed he barely ate his food. He seems to have the same appetite as her, or the absence of it. "Thank you," she said, breaking the silence. "I was really embarrassed to say that I felt sick. I didn't want to be a burden." He stared at her for a few seconds before answering. "You're not a liability." She blinked a
Lesley slowly opened her eyes when she felt a gentle stroke on her cheeks. Kieran's smiling face greeted her. "Wake up. We're here," he announced.She sprang up and looked around. Iston and Dan just got out of the car, glanced at her for a second, and smiled. She rubbed her face with her palm. The last thing she remembers is Kieran offering to rest her head on his shoulder. She didn't realize she had fallen asleep on his lap. She quickly fixed herself, and then they got out of the car together. A dozen armed men and women appeared before them. Each had the Crimson Clan symbol branded on the part of their clothing or tattooed on their body. It was two letter C's surrounded by a thorny and bleeding rose.Even though the guns were not pointed at them, she did not lower her defense. Her eyes were alert, warily scanning the surroundings. They looked like they were in a huge, spacious underground tunnel. There wasn't enough light to see the corners, but she could tell the thick walls were
Lesley's group was sitting next to each other at the same table. Catharina was in the middle beside Kieran and Dan, while she sat next to Kieran and Iston on the other side.She looked around for Amanda and Patrick but couldn't see them anywhere. Another group of people grabbed her attention, and that was the four mutants who helped them escape from MNA. As far as she remembered, they were Jacoben's men.After a while, four women came to their table and brought them food and drinks."My God, Lanz! We need to catch up, big time!" Catharina exclaimed as if she couldn't wait to talk to her brother.Kieran smiled at his sister. "Yeah, I'm excited to hear how you managed to do all of these.""Well, I got a lot of help, especially from Jacoben. He's the one who told me about everything that happened. That guy just never gave up on you.""That's because he's a good man... which is also his weakness," answered the young man with sadness in his eyes.Catharina sighed. "Right. I feel sorry for
Lesley had been staring at herself in the bathroom mirror for more than a minute now, completely lost in her own thoughts. Her face was still a little wet from washing, and her hands were holding tightly on each side of the sink.She doesn't understand the emotions building up inside her. She didn't know where it was coming from, but something awful was weighing on her chest.She should be happy because she and Kieran have made up, and he is reunited with his sister. In addition to that, they are now in the Crimson Clan's safest fortress, away from the threat of MNA, and she can finally see Amanda and Patrick.But why does it seem like something is missing? She couldn't feel completely happy."Ugh... Les, what's wrong with you?" she groaned as she stared at her own reflection in the mirror.She was fine earlier. But now that she is alone in a quiet room, the noise of her chaotic mind is dominating.Something doesn't feel right, but she doesn't know what it is.She closed her eyes tigh
What just happened? Lesley asked herself.Why can't she be happy despite all the good things that happened today? What is wrong with her?Her palms clenched, and tears fell uncontrollably from her eyes when she realized what was making her feel so heavy and discontented. She couldn't stop comparing Kieran to his old self. She even referred to him as Bangs earlier in front of Catharina by accident. It seems she is yet to move on, that the man he used to be is gone.The man who always longed for her and respected her. The man who will never force her and promised to wait when she is ready to give her first.She hugged herself tightly and sobbed. "Bangs... Bangs..." she bitterly called the name of the man she loved over and over again.She cried all night. She didn't know how long she was like that, but all her remaining strength drained until the lids of her eyes closed, and she surrendered to sleep. It was already noon when she woke up. If it wasn't for the loud knocks on the door, sh
Kieran couldn't take his eyes off Lesley, who was busy eating. They sat facing each other on her bed with their trays of food resting on their laps.His conscience is still haunting him for what he did last night. He is not used to being rejected by women. He always gets what he wants from them, freely and effortlessly. But Lesley was different from all the women he had met. He should not treat her as an easy girl. She deserves a lot more respect than he showed her last night. She is more precious and special.Even though she says that she has forgiven him and that they should just forget what happened, he is still angry with himself. It's hard to forget something like that.He gritted his teeth in silent fury. How dare he do that to her? She doesn't deserve that! What went through his mind and he did that?He also couldn't forget what she had said earlier about them being strangers. He wants to know what is going through the girl's mind and what she really feels.He was getting more
Lesley can hear her heart beating loudly inside her chest. Her palms clenched in nervousness as they stared into each other's eyes."I… I got very angry with you, and I was bitter… But I still love you..."She saw his face getting redder. She could feel herself slowly being swallowed by his gaze that seemed to penetrate deep inside her."How about the things you said before I left?" he asked in his low and deep voice. "Do you want me?"She slightly raised his eyebrows at this and pursed her lips."What do you mean?" she asked nervously.The atmosphere is getting hotter. She knew what he was talking about. But it was too embarrassing to admit now without the alcohol in her system."You remember it, right? Everything you said... and what we almost did here in your room," He brought his face closer to hers. "Lesley, tell me honestly... Do you want me inside you?"Lesley can hear the loud beating inside her chest as if she will have a heart attack at any moment. Only one person has the ab
"Why are we here on my bed? There's a table," Lesley calmly asked Kieran, who was comfortably eating on top of her bed, positioning himself in the middle while she was at the end as if she was the guest and he owned the space."Because eating is better when done in bed," he answered with a meaningful smile.Lesley understood the double meaning in his statement. She stared at his face flatly, initially wanting to refute him, but she decided just to ignore him. "Besides, this is where we used to eat. It's more comfortable. I promise I won't make a mess," Kieran added.She sighed. She agreed to talk to him tonight about their relationship, especially those things she said and acted when she was drunk.But is this the right decision, biting Kieran’s bait and letting him into her room?She stared at the tray of food resting on her lap for a few seconds and then at Kieran's food. She frowned, shifting her gaze to Kieran’s face."Anything wrong? Don't you like it?" he asked."I'm just wonder
Lesley stared intently at him for a few seconds before sighing heavily. "Fine," she finally agreed, walking to a table nearby. And then she started to put her things away. "Instead of moving on with each other, I messed with your mind again," she murmured, then looked straight at him. "This is my fault. I'm sorry.""No. It's not your fault!" He exclaimed, shaking his head. "It was me. I did this. If I hadn't asked you for that one last kiss, last night wouldn't have happened."She paused, frowning at him. "What are you implying?""I made you feel something in that kiss, and you can't forget me," he answered so casually.Lesley scoffed, shaking her head. "I don't even know what to say. Can you stop assuming?"He walked to her, slightly bending down to put his mouth closer to her ears. "You miss me… And you want me…."Lesley stepped back and glared at him. If only those stares could cut him, he would be in pieces."I'm being serious," he immediately said while holding back a grin. "But
Lesley groaned painfully from the sudden throbbing in her head as soon as she woke up, the effect of the few glasses of alcohol she drank last night. She doesn't feel like getting up with how heavy her body feels until something suddenly occurs to her. She sprang up, sharply inhaling while covering her mouth with both hands. Her eyes widened in disbelief, recalling the events of last night."No... No, no, no!"She grabbed her hair and shook her head, wishing it was a dream.'What have I done?!'She closed her eyes tightly, biting her lips. She bent until her forehead touched her knees, burying her face in shame. If only the ground would swallow her right now. How will she deal with Kieran now? She doesn't even know if she still has a face to show him after her actions last night. "Lesley, are you awake?"Her breathing hitched when she heard the voice of the last man she wanted to see today. Her face lost its complexion as she looked towards the door.She remembered that Kieran pro
"What… What do you mean?" Kieran asked, staring intently at her face. "You're asking me why it has to be the last kiss? Do you... Do you want more?"Lesley's heart was beating so fast that she could hear its deafening pounding.She could not take her gaze off Kieran's eyes, which were also fixed on her, even though she felt like she was melting to the ground.Her expression remained brave and confident even though her thoughts were getting tangled in her brain.'What are you doing, Lesley?!' she scolded herself in her mind.She can already see that she will regret this in the morning. But she can't do anything but continue what she started. And she couldn't stop herself either, as if she had lost control."What's wrong with that?" she continued.There flared a strange sparkle in Kieran's eyes. He was speechless for a couple of seconds before he could respond to her."D-Do you... Do you mean it? Seriously—"He suddenly paused when he realized something. He blew violently and shook his
"Can I kiss you one last time?"Lesley caught her breath at Kieran’s sudden request. Her heart rate doubled and she froze in place."Please?" he pleaded.She gulped as she couldn't take her gaze off his pitiful expression, especially his eyes that had turned gray.She slightly pressed her lips for a split second while trying her best to control the crazy beating of her heart.How can she say no to him with that kind of expression on his face? He looks pitiful, but at the same time, irresistibly adorable."Okay..." she answered absent-mindedly.Kieran wasted no time. He let go of her hand and stepped closer so that their bodies were almost touching. Then he cupped both of her cheeks gently while staring intently at her face as if he had been looking forward to this opportunity for a very long time.She held tightly to the hem of his black t-shirt and then closed her eyes as he slowly brought their faces closer.A second later, she felt his soft lips gently touching hers, and her heart
Lesley took her deepest breath and then looked ahead. She decided to go to the training grounds to warm up. Rio might be there now to start their new training."Lesley!"She scrambled to her feet when she heard Kieran's voice calling out to her."Lesley, please wait!"She ignored him until he finally caught up to her."I swear I didn't mean to eavesdrop," he said.She took a deep breath and slowly faced him."Don't worry about it. It doesn't matter," she coldly responded.Kieran just smiled, then he held out a clean towel familiar to her. "I wanted to give this back to you."She frowned. "Is it mine?""Yes. It fell on the training grounds the last time we talked there. I washed it, so it's clean."She stared at his eyes for a few seconds, and then she averted her gaze immediately as if burned by something she saw in them."Thank you," she said, almost choking on the word."You're welcome," he answered sweetly.Lesley stared at Kieran again, which seemed strange. He appeared oddly dif
The sun had not risen yet, but Lesley was already busy helping Avery inspect the food rations that arrived at the hideout every two days. She volunteered to help because she wanted to know something that would help in her plan."Are you only assigned to food?" she asked as Avery busied herself with several pages of paper containing lists of the rations they had received."Yep," her friend answered without looking at her."What about other things? Like guns and medicines?""We have other people for that. I was only assigned to food rations because eighty percent of it comes from our family.""I see..." she trailed. "How about the gadgets? Where do you get the gadgets?"Avery frowned and looked up at her."Gadgets? What do you mean?""You have a burner phone, don't you? I see some mutants using that.""Do you want one?"She nodded, stepping closer. "Yes! How can I get one?""Is there someone outside you want to call?" Avery asked suspiciously."No one," she answered quickly with a broad
The air-conditioning in the room was cold enough, but a drop of sweat still managed to escape Kieran's forehead. Since he woke up from a wet dream a few hours ago, his body still felt hot. He knew he had to release this heat. But he doesn't seem to have the energy for anything right now. He is too lazy to even get up.Kieran has been awake for a while now. But he hasn't gotten up yet. He rested his head in his hands as he stared blankly at the ceiling, recalling his happy memories with Lesley and intimate moments.He kept thinking about the sexy dream he had last night. He misses her in his arms, her lips on his, her perky breasts, and her hot wetness. He recalled how sweet those tasted, especially the heaven between her legs. But most of all, he yearns for her beautiful eyes that always look at him passionately, and her soft voice muttering words of love for him. Oh, how he longed for that.If he only knew that they would be like this, he would have shown more of how much he loves he