The Past: The Red-eyed Stranger

It grabbed my shoulders while making some incoherent sounds with his voice. The furious booming of my heart increased its pace just by hearing its voice even though I couldn't decipher any sense from it. It just was too sexy to hear. Deep and coarse but gentle and hopeful at the same.

 " I don't understand what you are saying. What language do you speak? English, I guess not. Then, French, I know French. Little and that's enough. I am a fan of Korean. I can understand, but speaking is just too hard, you know. Oh! Sorry. Back to you. I hope you are not one of those terrorists who kidnap and kill people, and you are now hiding from the police. Did you kidnap me for leverage? Please don't. I love my life and would like to steer clear of this stuff….."

  I started rambling on and on nonstop, and it covered my mouth with one of its hands. The other hand grabbed onto my shoulders. Then it slowly put both its hands on the temples of my head and hummed slowly.

 It's been a while, but the humming continued. Is this the slow torture they give people who come here that kills them? I think so. Maybe he is trying to kill me too.

  As the thought crossed my mind, I struggled to be free of its grasp. It tightened its fingers around my temples, and then I stilled again. "Shh.."

  A shiver flew through my whole body just by his shhh. Is this a shock day? How many times have I been stilled to my toes today?

"Shut up! " it said and chuckled loudly.

 I couldn't move. It was as if my body soothed itself with the vibration from its body through my hand that still was in contact with him and transmitted through my entire being. Because of that, I was melting.

 The heat produced between us somehow warmed my insides, making me giddy in response.

"Your thoughts are too loud, my minuscule dove. But I'm happy I made you giddy. Just a thought though, maybe you should stop calling me by 'it' when you know, you could always say 'he'. It would be easier for you."

Startled, I met its narrowing gaze. Tilting my head to the side,

 " As for your thoughts, you should have introduced yourself first rather than attacking me and kidnapping me here in the nothingness. I don't even know whether it's he or her. Maybe you are a girl with a hoarse voice. I'm not judging. And if you are a boy, then your manners suck. Just saying. "

 Even if it was dark, I could see his deep flaming red eyes that intimidated me for no reason. But the instant attraction I felt towards him was undeniable.

 "Woah! You do speak a lot. Care to tell me what you are doing in the Red Gryphs Mountain? "

 " Oh! I never knew the name. Anyway, instead of asking me, why don't you ask yourself the same? Maybe then, I will tell you. "

 "Oh! is that so? Then fine, I will tell you. Mam, I have lived here since I was a child in this nothingness that you say." he said, slightly bowing.

I sniffled a laugh. " What! Woah, you are lucky. That is the kind of place I dream of living too. So since my dream and your reality match, care to state your identity after our long, nicely put conversation? A name would suffice. Or would you rather me call you 'it'? That is ok with me too."

I could sense he was smiling. That made me smile in response. He brought his hand to my cheeks and caressed it so gently. Heat rose to my cheeks instantly and formed a red hue. He traced the baby hairs out of my sight and put them behind my ear.

 "You are quite a beautiful little creature, aren't you? Stubborn, cute, and attractive, I might add. I feel this strong pull towards you that I don't even want to stay away. I don't think I can anymore."

 He was talking to himself. His mouth was still. But I could hear his thoughts. Did he mean it? I never knew such compliments could beat your heart a million kilometers per hour.

 I wondered whether he also felt that thud-thud feeling that I was getting since the minute his hand touched me. Is he my destiny?

  "Oh please! Talk about big talk. You don't even know his name, and you are already at the point of fate and destiny. Just pull your fantasy to yourself and focus. He and you are having conversations, but his lips are not moving. Don't you find that disturbing?" The smarter part of me asked.

   "But you talk to me too, and when he talks, it's so calm that it makes me drown myself in it." I said dreamily.

" Dumb as always. I'm you. He isn't. Never has logically made sense to you. " my brain said, pretending to slap her head.

Can brains do that?

His chuckle pulled me out of my trance, and he met my confusing gaze.

"You do have a nice tete-a-tete with yourself. " he mirthfully asked.

 I looked at him, stunned. Oh, he heard those. Shit! So embarrassing. Was I thinking out loud? I really should bash my head somewhere.

 "Ummm….. How are you in my head?" I asked him.

"What do you mean?" His voice hinted at slight confusion but curiosity.

"I mean, how can you read my mind? I was thinking, and you heard it. Do you have some kind of mind-reading ability or something similar? How can you even know what I was reasoning about with myself? "

"I touched you, remember. It becomes easier for me to hear you when I'm in contact with you. You can also hear me right. I mean, you should have. You are my ma... Umm...I see what you are trying to do. You have been feeling me since then and getting red cheeks. What's the matter?" he said, mimicking my confused face. I mean, I can hear the amusement in his voice. Bad guy. Humph.

 "What .. no... I wasn't feeling you or anything. Phhyyuuu... You are imagining things. Yeah, yeah, you are. " I blurted out, slightly embarrassed that he noticed.

 I didn't even meet his gaze, but then he held my chin with his forefingers and lifted my chin to meet his eyes.

"You are so adorable. Anyway, I don't have a name because I never required it. I have been alone here ever since ancient times. So the name is not my forte, I guess. "

'Ancient times' Really...

" Are you crazy? Names are so-so important. They define you. People recognize you through your name. You got to have one. "

" People usually don't cross me, but you did. So if you want, I will give you the privilege of naming me. Then, you can recognize me. That is ok, right?"

 Awww......He seemed so lonely and hopeful, looking at me through his rabbit topaz eyes that I couldn't deny his wish. Privilege, he says. So be it. I can name him. Oh! It's my first time giving someone a name. That is so cool.

 Let's think. I thought for a while, putting stress on my brain and going through all sorts of names that could match this handsome individual, which I assumed by his voice and eyes. In my mind palace, as Sherlock Holmes says, I searched through and through. And it clicked.

 "Asher"

 "Huh"

 "Your name.. Asher. Do you like it? I mean, I don't know about you, but Asher is the only name that stuck with me. So do you like it? If not, you can tell me. I can find another one.."

"Yeah, I like it. Asher. It suits me."

He stopped my bickering and looked at me with his blazing eyes that showed adoration and love ..? I searched him to find the acknowledgment in his eyes, and I couldn't stare away. His eyes seemed to talk, telling me about all the things he had gone through. All his struggles and dangers that he conquered. His strengths and his weaknesses. And the way his eyes showed kindness, affection, benevolence, and love? blew my mind away.

 We got caught in a moment that neither he nor I wanted to getaway. I could stay gawking at him all my life if I had to, and I would never be tired. He just was so good to be true.

"Maira"

Getting out of the moment that we were in, I turned around.

 I heard some faint noises in the distance, and it grew louder and louder as I tried to focus, and I could hear some familiar voices yelling my name, calling out for me.

"MAIRA, MAIRA"... It was the combined voices of the twins. I laughed at their twining chords. I looked back at Asher. Asher, I like the way it sounds. And then it hit me.

 I had no idea how long I was out here, in the middle of nowhere, away from my friends and our campsite.

 "Did you hear that? Those were my friends. I think when the twins couldn't find me in my tent, they panicked and searched for me. They kind of love me, you know. "

 The twins and others barked out my name again and again, but the prominent voice was Zen. That idiot also might have been woken by others to scout me out. I must have been missing for long, for them to be restless enough to search for me altogether.

 " Listen, I need to go. My friends are probably worried about me. If I don't go back, they might even call the State Air Force to gather a search party for me... Hey! Come on. I will introduce you to my friends. They are all welcoming. You don't have to worry."

 I was kind of excited at the thought of Asher meeting my friends. I felt as if I was introducing my boyfriend to them. oh!... oh! ...What the hell!!! ...Smacking my head at the disturbing but heart-throbbing thought, I met his dazed gaze.

Listening to me intently, he seemed lost in his world. Maybe he was weighing his options out. He has been out here all alone all this time. Why would anyone be cruel enough to do that to a child? He even survived. He was strong and brave.

 I looked at him, openly showing my appreciation for his presence. I was already attached to him in our short time here, our conversations warmed me from within, and I felt secure and safe with him beside me.

 He was looking at me with so much emotion that it became hard to identify all those individuals. Is it because he was always alone that he was thinking that much to meet my friends? Maybe he is afraid to get caught up, uncomfortable around people.

Living your entire life in this deserted mountain with no one around would do that to you. People even fear coming here. I wonder why?

.

.

.

.

***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***