Femme Fatale

Chapter 24: The One That Got Away

Seaof likes me but he can’t just say it out because he’s my professor, that’s what stopping him to confess his feelings for me, aside from the fact that he’s timid. He’s the man I must marry but I won’t initiate because I really don’t like him as a man in the first place, I only need him for vengeance.

As for Suho, I admit, I have a crush on him. During the first week of September, we always see each other every day except for Sunday. On the second week, we haven’t seen each other during the weekend. Third week, we only bond for every other day, and Papa Justin told me that Suho did it for me to miss him when I don’t see him for a day. I must say that it’s pretty effective for me, I do miss him because I’m used to be with him now.

He continued to see me every other day on the fourth week, which I figured out that I’m going to see him thrice a week because of his tactic. Saturday morning, even if Papa Justin didn’t tell me exactly what Suho is thinking, I just know that he’s up to something.

“How did you know there’s a music fair here today?!” yelling at Suho because of the loud music playing

“A friend of mine is performing, he invited me to watch him sing.” Suho yelled back at me

“When will he perform??” watching the band on stage while blending in with the crowd

“Probably last, so his performance will be on evening, do you want to have dinner first? Let’s just come back here after sunset.” leaning on to me

“Yeah, let’s eat first, it’ll be hard for us to get out later.” moving out from our spot that separates from the bigger crowd

“What do you want to eat?” walking me to the food stalls at the concert grounds

“Hmm … I think I’ll go for Kebab!” pointing at the stall with a long queue “I can smell it from here and even if I haven’t tasted it yet I can say it’s delicious.” sniffing the smell of chicken grilling on charcoal “How about you, what’s yours??” falling in line with others

“Same as yours, I absolutely agree that it smells delicious.” looking ahead “Do you mind if I take a look at the menu in front?”

“No, not all, tell me the name of the dish that brought us here.” giving him a slight push to walk forward to the front that makes everyone notice him

“Is he one of the celebrities invited?” people chattering “He’s so handsome!!” girls giggling at his presence that I completely understand why

A few minutes later after the commotion because of Suho’s visual, he returned to me with Kebabs on his hand. He initially went to the front to look at the menu but the lady who’s in the first line gave him a pass and had him ordered first before her.

“Here’s your Turkish Chicken Kebab.” handing me one of the Kebabs he ordered “One set is three sticks of Kebab.”

“Fair enough.” take one stick from the container “What’s unfair is your face, you always have everything easy because of your looks.”

“Huh?” chuckles “Let’s go over there.” pointing at the spot where people enjoying their meal

“We could actually eat this while standing.” having a big bite of my kebab “Mmm … this is really good!” eating with gusto while walking

“Can I have a taste?” pleading me with his eyes to give him a bite of my kebab

“Geez, here.” stop for a while to feed him “You may take it, just save the last meat for me.” watching him eat “You got sauce on your face.” wiping the sauce with my finger “Why? Why are you looking at me like that??”

“Are you flirting with me Nene?” smiling at me while staring in my eyes “You’re making my heart flutter right now.”

“Tch. I should’ve just let the sauce on your face. I won’t feed you anymore.” walking away from him before he sees my face turning red

“Wait, where are you going??!” chasing after me “We can sit over there!” grabbing my shoulders with his arm to turn me the other way

“Oh alright.” letting him embrace me as we walk to the spot he found (I don’t care anymore. I just want to enjoy this day with him.)

I’m not eating spicy food but I feel like I need cool air to calm me down. After we had our dinner, he even bought macaroons for us to share before we go back to the crowd and enjoy the concert. He left me before his so-called friend perform on stage, told me he’ll just talk with him for a while.

“YAAAAAAAAH!” crowd screaming when the famous singer appeared on stage and performed his hit song

Everyone is singing along with him since his first song and when the second song ended, he paused for a while to introduce his friend. The next thing I know, Suho is standing on stage and the singer passed the microphone to him.

“I can sing but he’s better than me so I leave the singing to him.” Suho making the laugh crowd “I’m only borrowing a bit of time from everyone to ask someone out.” looking at me “We met last month, she’s pretty, smart, and a girl who’s not afraid to show her true self. I may not know you for a long time but I want to know you better and be closer to you, more than just a friend who doesn’t have the right to get jealous with other guys who’s also interested in you because you’re not mine … so, I’m proposing to be your boyfriend.” walking towards me “Lee Nene …” reaching out his hand to me “I love you, please accept my feelings.” waiting for me to take his hand

“Kim Suho …” all eyes on me because of the spotlight “I …” took his hand as he lifted me up to the stage with him “Let’s talk somewhere private, please.” whispered to him while we’re walking to the center stage

“Thank you everyone for sparing me your time, I’m giving the microphone back to the star of the night!” he holds my hand firmly until we reached the back stage “Let’s go to Hyung’s dressing room.” locked the door after we get in to the room “I’m sorry, did I go overboard with my confession?”

“I didn’t see that coming, Suho, I …” (I like you but I can’t be with you!) “I’m sorry … I … I like someone else!” (It’s you but we can’t be together!)

“I don’t know what to say right now.” eyes wavering “I thought you like me too … that’s why I had the confidence to tell everybody that I love you.”

“I’m sorry if I misled you.” looking down on the floor “I like you …” raise my head up to look at him and he’s crying “… but only as a friend.” (I’m lying!)

“I understand.” wiping his tears “I think it’s too in dusty here, my eyes are irritated, I’m not crying because you rejected me.” trying to smile

“Yeah, I think so too.” tears falling from my eyes “I’m also not crying because I hurt your feelings, that’s not quite right, it sounds like I’m not sorry at all, what am I saying??!” trying to laugh it off “Do you want a hug?”

“Come here.” pulled me towards him and embraces me tightly “How can I not love you if your flirting with me??!” resting his head on my shoulder

“This is what you called comforting a friend not flirting with a guy.” patting his back “We can still be friends after this, right?”

“I don’t know, all I know is I don’t want to be just friends with you, but what else can I do but to move on.” push me away gently “I think it’s enough, if I hold you in my arms longer I might not able to let you go … whoever that person you like … he’s lucky to be love by you.”

“Suho … thank you for loving me and I’m sorry if I can’t love you back.” looking at his face who’s trying hard to smile at me

“You don’t have to be sorry, you’re making me pitiful, I’m Kim Suho, there’s a lot of girls who wants me to be their boyfriend, though I only want you to be my girlfriend, what I’m trying to say is, I’m being loved so you don’t have to feel guilty about me.”

“Who’s in here?!!” woman knocking on the door “Open up! I need to get something inside!!”

“We better go.” he walked right past by me “Can we hold hands even just for a show??” reaching out his hand to me

“Sure.” take his hand and hold him until we arrived at his car

He let go of my hand first after he gave it a squeeze. We didn’t talk throughout our transit until we finally arrived at my place. I don’t know what’s going through his mind when he silently drove me home but we keep on glancing at each other from time to time as if we’re talking with our eyes.

“If you don’t see me around at the campus, it doesn’t mean that I’m avoiding you, it’s just that I’m busy with my internship so I’m probably spending more time at the sea, you know I’m graduating in five months, right?” walking me to our door

“Yes, I guess I see you when I see you, thank you for everything, Suho.” kissing him goodbye on his cheek “I’m sorry if I let you down.”

“One more sorry from you and I’m going to kiss you back on your lips.” putting his hands on his pockets “Goodbye, Nene.” staring at me for a while before he turned around and get in to his car

I watched him go and I know I regret it for all my life. I like him but I use my mind instead of letting my heart win. It’s for his own good that he won’t get involve with my life because I’m still seeking revenge for the injustice death of my parents.

It’s already Sunday morning when I realized I haven’t slept a wink because I’m crying over the spilled milk. I went out to the kitchen and get something to drink to replenish the water that came out from my eyes the whole night when I saw the news on TV. A gang bombed a building that killed hundreds of people last night and now they’re in a building with hostages.

“Will they succeed to catch those rascals?” completely diverted my attention to the news

“Yes, but the police will capture them dead, these rouges already killed three of their hostages inside and they’re going to kill these two too if the police won’t listen to their demands.” Papa Justin watching the hostage taking crisis thoroughly “Wait … What??! What are you thinking right now?!!”

“I know I can’t fly and I don’t have super strength like superheroes but I can do something to help, it’s not far from here if we travel through water, I rather save people lives than keep on crying in my room for something that already done and over with.” ran to my bedroom and get everything I need every time I go for a mission “How many are those scoundrels??!”

“Seven, are you sure you want to do this?” he followed me to my room “I know you mean well but this is too reckless Nene, it’s daylight and a lot of people is watching, I don’t think it’s a good idea for hero time.”

“I can do this; I know we don’t have a solid plan but we can improvise when we get there.” heading out towards the sea

With Papa Justin’s power that also help us to detect if there’s human around, we safely get to the coast near the building where the hostage taking scene is taking place. Wearing a diver suit that everyone could have and my cat face mask, I successfully infiltrated the building without a fuss.

“Why do I look ridiculous with this costume and you look a celebrity who doesn’t want to be recognized by people??” noticed our reflection on the mirror while looking at the situation “I really should get a proper costume after this.”

“It’s not the time to think about your clothes.” he said “These people are experienced in killing people, be careful.”

“As if it’s my first time to kill the likes of them.” sneaking in to blend with the other hostages on the floor “Hey you.” talking with the teenager beside me “Tell the others to run at the back and not in front if they want to live, a man will lead you the way out.”

“You’re a girl what can you possibly do with seven of them??” teenager looking at my outfit “Not because you’re wearing a mask you can be a heroine.”

“Now you got me thinking if your life is worth saving for or not, it’s up to you whether you believe me or not, just don’t forget what I told you.” stand up and have my knife ready to stab bad guys “One …” stabbed the nearest guy at the back “Now run!” turn to the teenager “Six more to go.”

“Everyone, follow me!!” teenager shouted that triggered the rest of the gang

“You finally believe me.” throw my knife to the man who’s firing at will on me “Two … I guess being wet by salt water before I to action really helps.”

Charging forward to the other guys who are trying to shoot me dead. I don’t know if it’s my will to stay alive that makes me faster to move around and killed them or I’m being pissed that I let go of my first love because I’m a killer.

“Look what you guys made me do.” stabbing the last man to the heart.

I’m about to get off from the dead man’s body when I collected his soul but then a police officer shot my right arm. “Hey, I’m on your side!! Awww!”

“What happened here??!” police officer put down his gun as he sees the men lying on the floor

“Seriously, you shoot first before you ask?!!” standing up while pressing my gunshot wound “The hostages are safe at the back, and you’re welcome!”

“Wait, where are you going??!” police officer checking the bodies

“Why are you shooting me again if I run?” looking back at him “I’m tired, I’m going home.” walking away from him “Geez, is this how I’m getting paid?!”

“This is the second time you got shot.” Papa Justin pour herb water to my wound immediately “This will stop the bleeding for a while we can’t go to the water if you’re bleeding as a demi-human.”

“I should be more careful with the police rather than the criminals.” enduring the pain that is slowly fading away because of the herb

“He’s in shocked you can’t blame him, but criminals are more dangerous, you should be careful at all times.” looking at my wound that stop from bleeding

We went back home the same way how we get to the building. Even if my wound stop bleeding while we’re underwater sharks surrounded us like they can smell my blood. Though they’re friends to warrior type merfolk like me, they can attack me if I show weakness to them.

The next day, I took a leave from class because my body is too exhausted from action yesterday. My agility and strength weren’t usual like before and it’s taking toll on my human body, it felt like I’ve gone to marathon without any preparation at all.

Tuesday morning when I finally went to class even if my body still in slight pain, everyone’s excited to see me. Apparently, what happened on Saturday night at the concert spread in the campus, they all thought that Suho and I are officially in a relationship.

“What happened to you??” Hammond looking at me worriedly “You look like you need to lay in bed soon, do girls bully you because you’re dating Suho.”

“Oh, come on, not even you!” sits on my chair “I came here to study and not to answer everyone’s question with my private life.”

“Don’t tell me you did it yesterday??” smiling at me maliciously “Wow, you two are fast.”

“What the hell are you talking about??!” frowning at him “Gosh, I don’t even have an energy to hit you right now!”

“Suho filed a leave yesterday too, now you both returned to campus and you’re looking like that, can you blame me if I think that you two do it yesterday?!!” looking at me thoroughly “You should exercise more and eat healthy foods.”

“Enough of your crap!” lay my head on my desk “Come here.” gesturing him to come closer to me “I rejected him.”

“What??!” he shouted from shocked “Are you crazy?!!” lowered his voice again “I thought you like him too, why did you reject him?!”

“He’s too perfect for me, now get out of my sight, I want to rest while the professor hasn’t arrived yet.” pushing him away

“Wow, I can’t believe you did that, he’s the best man you can ever have but you still reject him.” whispering “Do you really like women instead of men?”

“Are you really my best friend??” throw my thick book at him “I can’t believe you’re asking me that question!”

“Because you said no to every girls’ dream, you’re so great Nene or should I say so hopeless.” returning the book to my desk “Are you planning to be alone forever?? I don’t know anymore what to do with you.”

“Mind your own business, it’s not like I’m asking you to find me someone.” turn my head to the other side and close my eyes for a while

Since everybody knows that Suho and I are dating, I need to clear the misunderstanding to another person who shouldn’t think like everybody else. But seeing Seaof being indifferent towards me, I just let him be until he realized the truth behind the rumors.

“Are you going to the Halloween Party this Friday night?” Seaof finally talk to me after being cold for almost a month

“Yes, how could I miss that? You also like Halloween, right?” talking to him casually

“So, you still remember that I like it.” touching the back of his neck “Are you going with Kim Suho?”

“I’m going by myself, why are you asking?” walking towards the women’s dormitory as he accompanied me after our class because I asked him about our lesson today “You heard the rumors about me and Suho, are you?”

“Well a lot of students are talking about it and a lot of rumors has been circulated every week, even us professors are all aware of it.” he replied

“I never been his girlfriend.” glance at him and see the bright expression on his face

“You mean you rejected his proposal??!” can’t hide his happiness that he’s smiling at my news

“I regret it, he’s the ideal boyfriend and I should’ve broken my life as a single lady, but I didn’t grab the opportunity to be his girlfriend.” teasing him a bit “Ha … I want to fall in love too … I don’t want to graduate college without having a boyfriend, I think I’ll accept the next guy who confess to me.”

“Will you accept him no matter what he may be as long as he confesses his love to you??” staring at me

“I think so, I always say no to others so maybe it’s time for me to say yes, if our relationship didn’t work out then we can break up, but how would I know if I don’t give it a try, right?” giving him an obvious hint “Is it too late to say yes to Suho, now??”

“Don’t go to him, let it pass, you shouldn’t regret of what’s already done, just move forward, I’m sure Kim Suho isn’t the last man who will love you.”

“You think so? Well, whoever that man is I hope he can go to me sooner before I chase after Suho.” provoking him to confess his feelings

“He’ll come to you; he only needs to muster his courage to tell you that he likes you.” we finally arrived at our destination “Have a good evening, Nene.”

“You too, thank you for walking me back to the dorm.” walks in to the dorm without looking back

Friday night, and it’s the Halloween party set up by the student council. A lot of people attended and of course because its Halloween, courage test is a must. We were grouped to ten including one professor according to the number we picked from the box. I picked the number same with Poseidon but when the girl beside me saw my number she pleaded to exchange number with me because she wants to be with him.

“Who’s in charge of group 19?” looking at the board “Geez, her number isn’t that bad at all, Don is really a magnet to every girl.” all members in my first pick are girls “Wow, they’re too obvious.”

“Excuse me, you’re in 19?” another girl approach me “I don’t think anyone in group 16 will change their number, I should at least be with Prof. Godeth.”

“Oh alright.” about to exchange my piece of paper with her but suddenly Seaof pick my paper

“You’re in my group.” Seaof looking at me “I’ll write your name under my group now,” writing

“Sorry.” I said silently to the girl “Is exchanging numbers to others prohibited?” turning to Seaof after the girl take her leave

“Not in the rules but it’ll delay the activity.” grab my hand and write the number 19 on it “You belong with me.”

“Do you say it to everyone in the group?” chuckles “It’s kind of cheesy, Prof. Godeth.”

“Is that so? Good thing I only said it to you.” smiles before he turns his back at me to go where the other members gather

“He’s getting bold now, I really hope you have to courage to tell me the truth.” muttering to myself as I follow him

“Alright, everyone we’re here for fun but it’s better if we win this race.” he’s on competitive mode while discussing the game plan with everyone “It’s not that we’re scaring everyone but you all know that our school has been established since 5th of November 1945, on Monday it’ll be the 34th anniversary of our alma mater, within those 3 decades a lot happened in this ground.” looking at everyone in the eyes “The reason everyone needs to move in a group, if you want to pretend that you’re brave and roam around on your own, you better think twice.”

“Is our campus really haunted, Prof. Godeth?” a girl raised her hand “You can hold my hand if you’re scared.” boy beside him reaching out his hand

“I think I’m good.” girl move closer to Seaof and hold to his shirt then other girls do the same as her “These girls, aren’t you ashamed of yourselves?!”

“How about you Nene?” another boy reaching out his hand to me “Don’t bother her, you might be scared than her.” third boy in our group

“I’m fine, where should we go first Prof. Godeth??!” can’t hide my excitement from roaming around the campus at night specially on the 2nd of November