Sakuno walked slower than usual, the cold biting her to the bones.
"Maybe it was too cold for a walk." Then Ryoma took off his own jacket. Underneath he wore only his tennis shirt. "Here, wear this too." He draped it over her shoulders. Sakuno sighed in relief as the warmth began to envelop her. She shot him a grateful smile.
"So, how long do you plan to walk?" sakuno asked.
"I don't know. I just don't like being in one place for more than one hour other than the tennis court."
"Understandable. So you want us to walk for one hour?"
Ryoma laughed. "If you want."
Behind them somewhere, the bushes ruffled. The pair of eyes took in the slender figure of the young lady. Then he looked at the rather masculine figure of her companion. He concluded that tonight's task was not going to be an easy one. He needed money. And he needed it now. But Sakuno had no money. Neither did Ryoma.
"Yeah, so maybe sometimes I like to hit people. It's completely normal you know, if you want to-" Ryoma turned to his side. Sakuno was no longer there. What happened? She had been right beside him all this while. Okay, this makes me regret not holding her hand!
Sakuno was held with one arm around her neck, the man behind her scrawny but tall. He wore a pair of frameless glasses, a black cloth tied around his head so that it covered his mouth. Sakuno was helpless. She had felt cold metal to her ear at first, so she stopped walking. Reaching up to touch her ear, her hand then encountered something heavy. Something dangerous. She prayed silently that it wasn't what she thought it was. Then in a flash, she was being held hostage by a crazy man. And the worst part? Ryoma was still walking, still talking to himself. She was afraid to speak, any sound and the man could shoot. Then, finally, Ryoma turned around. His eyes grew large and Sakuno mouthed the words, 'Help me.' The man behind Sakuno looked at Ryoma.
"Money. Now. Everything." He said to both Sakuno and Ryoma. Ryoma looked at the man and slowly said, "Sir, we have no money. We have nothing on our hands now, I swear."
"MONEY!" The man cried again, his voice breaking the once silent park. Ryoma slowly pulled a rolex watch from his pocket. He had gotten it for Sakuno. He was rich now, it wasn't like he couldn't afford it. He had planned to give it to her tonight. But now, it looked like he was not going to get the chance. Holding the watch out to the man, Ryoma urged him.
"Take it. It's worth quite a lot."
"How do I know it's not fake! All you youngsters nowadays, spending your money on fake stuff!"
"Sir, I assure you, this is a genuine, real Rolex watch. Check it if you want." Ryoma began to walk towards the man.
"Don't move! Put the watch on the floor." He changed the point of focus of his gun from Sakuno's head to Ryoma. Ryoma bent down and set the watch on the cold path.
"Move back!" Ryoma took a few steps back. Then a few steps more. The man approached with Sakuno in tow, his gun still aiming at Ryoma. Slowly, he bent down and Sakuno went down with him in an awkward position. He shifted the gun from his free hand to the hand that was holding Sakuno. His eyes still fixed on Ryoma. Then he whispered into Sakuno's ear.
"Make a move and I'll make you regret. I can see the fear in your eyes. It's really pretty. Don't try escaping now, and I won't harm you. And give me that cell phone." Sakuno pulled her cell phone from her pocket and handed it to the man. He took it from her and asked it's worth.
"I don't know. $500, maybe." Sakuno replied, trying not to sound so scared. Her voice was shivering, and the man grunted. Then he slipped it into his own pocket and set the gun down. For a split second, he took his eyes off Ryoma and reached down for the Rolex. And in a split second, Ryoma was in action, only one though on his mind. How dare he whisper in Sakuno's ear before me!
Ryoma catapulted from his position and took on full sprint. By the time the man looked up from the ground, Ryoma's fist came into contact with his nose. The man stumbled backward, releasing Sakuno. She ran from the man, thanking God that she was not killed. But the man was still holding the Rolex. Ryoma could not let him have it! No one took Sakuno's presents. When the man looked up his nose was bleeding.
"Damn you, kid!" KID! I am a mature man in my mid twenties, for goodness sake! Then the man realized that he was holding the Rolex. Not wanting to take any chances, he turned and ran, his long legs giving him an advantage. Ryoma took off after him, leaving a very traumatized Sakuno behind.
"Ryoma! Forget it!" She cried after him.
"Sakuno! Go back to the hotel and order room service or something! I'll pay!" He yelled back, and sprinted off after the man. A tear slid down Sakuno's face, because of gratefulness, and also because of fear. Fear that Ryoma could get hurt. Fear that the only guy she had always loved would never return to her.
