If time could be reversed, let us not have met.
If there were Gods who would listen, please twirl her fate away from mine in the next life.
If there were punishment to be meted out, let them all befall upon me.
If the night fades away and dawn never comes, please tell her…
“I love you, forever and ever.”
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Holding her close, the smell of ripe peaches invades my senses. Her scent, I realized, intoxicated by the unique redolence. In the background, the violins drew their steady song as the piano flirts with the relaxed atmosphere. Softly, gently, a strange sensation of warmth settled over me with each step I took. After a moment, my curiosity got the better of me and I chanced a glance at the face of my new dance partner.
Our eyes caught hold of each other in that instantaneous glance and lingered just a second longer.
Looking away awkwardly, I was certain that my cheeks were flushed from the intensity of her gaze. Sleek dark hair, pouty lips, and a pair of striking pale grey eyes that revealed a slight tinge of silver… She had features that would have shamed many women on earth- especially her hands which reflected a pale luminous glow under the spotlight which was, in my opinion, perfectly sculptured. And yet, on this fateful night, I was lucky enough to have her for this romantic waltz.
She reminds me of a dark angel… and somehow… she seems familiar… like I’d known her somewhere from long before…
In my daze, I didn’t realize that the song had changed until I felt her withdrawing from me, presumably seeking another partner.
I don’t even know her name… If only…
“No!” A hoarse, almost desperate cry escaped from my lips. All eyes in the small establishment seemed to direct at me, some with irritation and others, a brief glance of nonchalance. Silently, I cursed but inwardly thanked my instincts for plunging me into this situation and forcefully making the decision for me. I saw her halt in her steps, spinning around gracefully and simply looking at me with polite confusion. Those hauntingly beautiful eyes expressed a flicker of interest as I moved nearer to her and boldly grabbed her hand.
“My most humble apologies for interrupting the music, ladies. Please continue.” Taking a gracious bow to everyone on the dance floor, I pulled the mildly surprised girl to the nearest table and sat her down on the plush seats.
“Yes? How may I help you, Miss…?”
“Athena. Athena K. Lavourigh. That’s my name.”
She crossed her legs beneath the sequined dress she wore and took drinks from a passing waitress. Relaxing herself visibly on the couch, she took a slow sip of the transparent liquor. Intrigued by her composure, I waited patiently for her reply.
“Well, Miss Lavourigh, I suppose you have some business with me after whisking my presence away from the dance floor?”
It certainly wasn’t the response I had foreseen. Had I been too optimistic if I’d wanted her to start some casual conversation with a seemingly rude stranger? Or to introduce herself?
“May I have the pleasure of making acquaintances with you?” I replied, after the briefest pause. “Perhaps I could ask for your name?”
Without any apparent warning, her face appeared inches away from mine as she leant over the small table, her gaze turning chiller by the second. “And why would you want to know me?”
Being the person I am, I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge… and this beautiful being here gave me one… right here, right now.
My own blood red orbs pored upon hers for a moment before I gave a slight smirk and closed the distance between us in a sudden quick motion.
Our lips met.
The taste of her… is far better than anything I’ve ever tried…
SMACK!
I pull back slowly, cheek still stinging from the slap the stranger had given me. Inclining towards my seat, I observed as she stood up and made to leave just like many others before her. The many others whom I had tried to seduce but failed in this very same place; it was like a déjà vu. Now, a weird feeling was blossoming within me at the thought that I might never see her again - and it bewildered me.
Forget it, Athena; she’s just another pretty girl.
Never in my dreams did I expect her to turn around, scribble something on a scrap piece of paper, and throw it towards me.
It read, “Thyra. Thyra A. Walter.”
The growing distance between me and her retreating back was imprinted deeply into my memory.
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If there were a million fishes in the ocean, I’m sure fate brought this special one to me.
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The night after was a restless one.
The streetlight seemed far too bright outside the window, the strong white rays piercing through the light material of the curtains. The wind was howling in the background, with the accompaniment of the constant pitter patter of rain that varied in strength as time dragged by. The violent sloshing against the window like someone up there was seriously upset had lasted for a prolonged period before it declined into soft, gentle strokes down the window panes.
Athena, Athena, Athena. Why are you pacing around the room when you should be out there picking up some poor lost souls trapped in the rain?
Halting in her steps, Athena flopped onto her bed, hands propping her head up as she stared at the silver hands of the portable clock on her bedside table.
What are you doing, lying in your bed and waiting for things to happen? This is so unlike you.
She closed her eyes, recalling the unique scent of peaches of the girl possessing the silvery grey eyes, and the soft velvety feel of lips against lips.
Thyra A. Walter… Thyra…
Her lips murmured the name of the girl occupying her thoughts; again, and again, repeating the two syllables.
Her name… rolls off my tongue so naturally… It’s almost as if my lips were made to say these words.
…… That’s right… this is so totally not like me.
In a swift motion, she leapt up from the bed and removed her clothing that was foul with sweat. Chuckling at what she sees as her reflection, Athena entered the bathroom and prepared herself for a long night. After all, the night was still young.
Before she went out in the rain, a finger traced the cursive words of the name she had been thinking about, committing every single detail of the paper to her memory and pushing it to the back of her mind.
It’s time to visit my favourite source of information.
Athena had something more important to do than researching on a random girl she met in a bar.
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Felix R. Ford, short for Felix Rogan Ford, was tapping his foot rhythmically on the carpeted floor, following the drumbeats that the radio belted out. The messy mob of dark brown, almost black hair on his head seemed to dance in tune with his tapping, while blue eyes rolled in defeat as his best friend went into her room for the thousandth time tonight to change her outfit and make up. Waiting for a certain Thyra Walter was certainly a daunting task, something which no man without the patience of a rock could undertake. If the well-built businessman had not been drilled to remain patient and calm under any circumstances by his father from young, Felix would had have long gone on to the dance without his partner.
“Felix, how’s this look?”
Sapphire eyes glanced over, and he gave a low whistle of appreciation, hands rubbing at his cleanly shaven chin thoughtfully.
“It’s definitely enough to turn the heads of everyone in the room, milady. The white with purple suits you very well.”
Scrutinizing her own reflection in the full-length mirror, Thyra felt that she was finally presentable. Her pale complexion was perfectly complemented by the white, while the simple purple cuffs and lining brought out her grey eyes to the attention. Her dark hair was elegantly tied up, and the expensive heels completed the image of someone sexy but definitely not shallow.
“Looks like you’ve decided on this. Shall I call the chauffeurs and get the cars ready now?”
Felix rose up gracefully from the couch he lounged on, every movement like the commercial tiger he was. No one ever doubted or crossed Felix Ford in the business world, for each attack on him would incur repercussions that left you maimed like the big cat’s carcass after a kill. Such was his reputation that even the paparazzi steered clear of this young tycoon.
Right now, Felix the Tiger was bringing his equally cunning friend and business confidante Thyra Walter to an annual business ballroom event where he would start his hunt.
“Felix, promise me that you’ll leave one or two of those bigoted idiots for me later on.”
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Glasses thrown aside while he rubbed at his tired eyes, Gareth Darren Abel turned to face a woman dressed in a tight-fitting black jacket and leather pants who was poking through some of his files on the desk. He flashed her triumphant grin as a low hum of the printer sounded in the background, indicating that the registration had been completed successfully and was currently being printed out.
She chuckled at the prideful sea-green colour of Gareth’s eyes and ruffled his tousled strawberry blonde hair before landing a friendly slap on his shoulder.
“Hah! I knew you could definitely do it within half an hour! Guess I didn’t come to the wrong person after all. Thank goodness for the day I met you, for I can never make one of these to work for me the way you can,” she mused. “I swear that these gadgets and I can’t communicate.”
“Yeah, glad that you know that. I still haven’t forgotten the time where you nearly destroyed my newest hyper speed device from the last visit. Now, don’t forget the dinner that you’d promised me, or I’ll be pitching bananas at you till you remember.” He joked, “Or maybe I’ll hang garlic wreaths outside your apartment.”
A choke was heard at that statement, and she treated him with a dose of burgundy killer stares.
“If you dare pull that garlic trick on me, I’ll haunt you till your dying day with power shortages. God knows I avoid that stuff like a plague.”
“Ah, indeed, there’s certainly no greater fury than that of a woman’s wrath. I lament at my misfortune to have known one such as the all mighty Athena Lavourigh. All hail Queen Athena! Danger to all things mechanized.”
“Oh shut up, geek-boy.”
“Touché.”
Gareth picked up the document that was freshly printed, reading through it once to ensure the complete resemblance of it to the document he hacked into. Athena peered over his shoulder, trying to read the miniscule words in ink.
“All right, everything seems to be in order. I’d better keep this for you, just in case. By the way, you’re now officially a member of the higher society as a distant cousin of Felix Ford, and no paparazzi would ever dare look up into your profile for fear of that guy. And I’ve gotta add that he’s one hot hunk. Just look at his defined shoulders on TV!”
Athena rolled her eyes. There was no helping Gareth when he began his amble down the path of ‘I desperately need to get laid’ syndrome. Her slender frame stood up to leave, knowing that Gareth was long used to her disappearing on him while he was rambling on; she was starting to feel the effect of her hunger pangs.
However, a glint of silver from the windowsill caught her interest just as she was pulling at the straps of her helmet at the door and readying herself for the bike ride later on. A thought dawned upon her, and she retreated back to Gareth’s room.
“Hm? You actually came back?” he asked, surprised by her re-entrance.
“Gareth, can you help me find out the personal details of this woman called Thyra A. Walter?”
The lean blonde sighed in defeat and cracked his stiff knuckles.
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