Episode 5

"Mandemus, it's getting colder." I heard Mexica commented again. Right, she was stuck on the rooftop last night. How did she manage to keep her temperature up?

"I'm... co...ming..." I exhaled and I could feel my body reacts slowly. I couldn't take a step anymore. The only thing that could save me is gripping my hand on the steel of the ladder. If I'll loosen my grip, probably I will die in concussion in my head.

"Mandemus, you're too slow. If you can't do it, why don't you just summoned your men? You have a lot. You don't need to get me by yourself. I don't mind." She said in irritation. Yeah, she's just cold that's why she said that. I kind of feel guilty for being too slow.

And I kind of feel bad and sad... because she didn't remember. She didn't remember that I have fear of heights. Instead, she keeps on telling me to be fast and to get her on that damn rooftop.

She was and has always been irritated with my existence. I'm used to it.

"Are you still there? Hello?" She asked in annoyance. I couldn't speak anymore. My breathing hitched. My head swirls and my vision blur. Still, I step the last steel of the ladder and offered my hand for her to help me get up.

But no hand touched it.

"Mex...ica," I whispered.

"Are you crazy? What if I'll fall?"

"Just get... my... hand..."

"I don't want to help you. This is way too childish, Mandemus. I know you're planning something."

"I'm not... so get my hand now and we'll go down..." I didn't know I still could speak.

"No. I know you're planning something."

"Set aside your stubbornness this time, please. Get my hand."

"And why would I do that?"

"You're so childish."

"No. It's you."

I couldn't speak anymore. My body is now sweating hard, so with my hand. I'm afraid it will slip if I will put it on the roof for support to my body.

I'm out of breathing.

"Sir? Are you okay?" I heard Justin asked below. I didn't dare to look at him because if I'll do, then I'm not going to see Mexica again.

"Do you want me to go there instead?" He asked again. The only thing that I could do to reply is to shook my head off.

Fuck. It just works worsens the spinning of my head.

When I was about to grip the small part of the roof for support of my body, the ladder swayed and the only thing that comes next to my mind is my body is now swaying in the middle of the air, while hands gripping hard on the roof.

I heard a loud shrieked after that. How I wish it was Mexica but no, it was my workers down below.

When I look at the blurry face of Mexica, I want to convince myself it wasn't the expression I saw.

She looks hopeful. She seemed to think that this is a good opportunity to eradicate me from life. She doesn't seem thoughtful to help me. Instead, she looks at my hand. I know my veins is nare bulging because of my hard grip.

A sweat drops coming from the side of my eyes down to my jaw. Minutes passed by, she was still looking at my hand that could lengthen my life as of now, in this stake.

To think that it is an absurd idea, I didn't know it will happen. Mexica suddenly stand up and stomp her feet on my hand. Hard. The excruciating pain feels like a volt that starts from my hand down to my body. It electrifies me.

There's a loud yet silent sound in my ears when she did that. I became deaf to the surroundings. I didn't know who called me, who screamed, who wants to help me, all of the sounds became unclear. But I couldn't care more.

The only that hurts the most is her, the woman whom I cherished the most before until now, wants me to die. She wants to torture me as much I want to protect her.

I came to my senses when I fell on a soft and bouncy-ball of a cushion. So the fire department came way too late. It just didn't hurt me physically. I also experience the feeling of being hated by someone whom you cared the most.

And it's Mexica.

●●●

A pair of emerald green eyes was the first thing I saw when I woke up. "What are you doing?" I asked Justin in irritation.

He looks shocked and embarrassed. "I apologize for my ."

I didn't care about his remarks. "Where's Mexica?" I asked. When I was about to sit, my hand stings. Fuck.

The feeling when you felt the pain reminds me of what truly happened. Why would you call that woman who was planning to kill you in that situation? My inner conscience barked.

Oh shut up! My heart responds by pushing too much blood that palpitates me again. A beep was heard in my room. I look at the heart monitor beside me. It's true, my heart rate increased again.

I looked at Justin when he didn't respond. "Where's Mexica?"

Before he could answer, fear enveloped me, "Did she ran away again!" It's not a question, it's a statement.

"No, Sir. She locks herself in her room."

"Get your shit on with the CCTV monitoring to her whereabouts and if I ever hear the news again that she went missing in her room without anyone noticing, I will kill you first."

"Copy that." He answered and looks at me weirdly.

"What are you staring at?" I barked.

"Mandemus, are you crazy about her?" He asked in irritation.

Mandemus. Did he just call my first name?

"Justin," I warned. "Where is your professionalism? It is still office hours."

Justin is my first friend I've encountered when we moved to China. Both of his parents died when he was still young. In high school, no one dared to talk to me because I'm American. Poor Chinese people, they don't seem to study hard in their English class.

Justin is the only friend I've got as we came from the same race. He's black, no one wants to befriend him because of his cold and strong expression always. We became friends when both of us fought for our taekwondo class. Surprisingly, he beat me and that's our friendship started.

"You almost died there because of her. You tried saving her but when the tables turned and you were in danger, she didn't help you!" He stated the fact.

He continued. "And now, the first thing you will ask me when you woke up is Mexica's whereabouts? Dude, stop acting like an idiot."

Okay, best friend mode on. Justin is caring at all times especially when it's about me. He was the only family left to me, so with him. When my parents were still alive, they always treat Justin as their son that I almost thought he was the real son, not me.

One day, he promised my mother and father that to repay their kindness, he will protect me even if it will cost his life. He is willing to do that. He will always be a loyal friend and a bodyguard.

"Stop asking," I answered and scratch my back. This is irritating to think.

"What do you like about that prostitute?" He asked that stopped me for a moment.

I glared at him. "Say it again."

"A prostitute will never be your type. You told me that you don't want some dirty shits in Underworld even if it's a black market. You were clear before about these things. You hate women who sell their bodies and soul. Your type is those woman who was pure and innocent. There are a lot. I can even give them to you. Or you could pick those women in Shanghai. Have you lost your mind? Or does that woman taste better in bed?"

Before I could stop myself, I punched him in the face, hard enough that his right cheek swollen. The color pitch black is visible. "You don't know her."

He spitted blood and wipe his lip using her hand. "Really? You'll punch me to escape the truth?"

"It's not the truth!" I shouted back. My blood boils and what he said makes sense, I knew that. I'm not blind. It's impossible for a woman not to get touched inside a ginsaeng or prostitute house for years.

She's already stained.

And I hate sinful women.

The reason is, I fuck them in bed.

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