I glanced at my watch. If Asuka was able to solve the puzzle almost off-handedly, then she would've opened the small parcel right about now.
The parcel actually didn't contain anything fancy. Inside was a single red-colored bandana, with yet another note attached.
"Hey, sweetie!
If you're reading this note right now, then that must mean you've solved the puzzle I gave you. Wow, you're beautiful and smart. Hahaha…
Are you surprised that the small parcel that got you curious all this time only contained a single red bandana? Well don't get disappointed just yet, darling.
Place that bandana over your eyes. You can ask Oliver or Uria to help you tie it around your head. Afterwards, they'll lead you to the limo I sent for you, and the driver will drive you to me. Do not take off the bandana while you're inside the limo. I'll take it off for you when you get here.
I'll be waiting for you.
Irene, Landon, Olivia, Vince, Eleanor, Yolie, Oliver, Uria: The first letter of their names spell out the phrase that I will always whisper in your ear until the day I die.
'I love you'.
-Edo"
Chapter 10
It was now 7 in the evening. I was standing in front of my house as I waited for the limo to arrive. Every time I saw headlights coming this way, I felt my heart skip a beat. But it always ended up to be just another car.
When the limo finally arrived, I made an effort to look through the windows to see if Asuka was there. And of course, she was, with that red bandana placed over her eyes.
She looked beautiful on the red dress, even more beautiful with those matching earrings and necklace. Her hair had a few wavy curls on the ends, and her lips were redder than usual. She wore an excited smile on her face when the driver opened her door and told her that she had arrived. Carefully, she stood up, and reached for a hand that didn't exist. Her smile was still there, but I imagined she was wondering where I was. I smiled as I slowly walked towards her.
I didn't hold her hand yet. I paused to give a good look at her from head to toe. Her red high heels made her slightly taller than usual, but I was nevertheless still taller (thank god for puberty). The dress made her curves more… well defined. She looked so wonderful, that I felt that she could satisfy any man's erotic fantasy just by looking at her. God, just seeing her made me feel like I was suddenly put in an oven. When she tried to grope for me, I easily avoided her. She giggled.
"I know you're here," she said teasingly. I tried not to laugh. She continued to look for me.
"You look hot." I blurted out. She turned to my direction almost immediately.
"Hah! I heard that!" She said, running towards me. When our bodies collided, she grabbed my arm. "Gotcha!" she exclaimed. I chuckled.
"Why are you hiding from me?" she asked. I didn't answer. "Edo?"
"This isn't Edo," I said, lowering my voice, "This is a serial killer who assassinates hot women in red dresses."
She gasped. "Oh my! I better get out of here right now!"
"Yes, but I've got you," I said, "And you're mine. You'll never see the light of day… again!"
She giggled. "Hm… that could work, if you're cute. Are you… handsome, Mr. Serial Killer?"
"No, I am terribly ugly, like the Frankenstein monster… on drugs!"
"Really?" she laughed, bringing up her hand to touch my face. "You don't feel ugly… Let's see… are you a good kisser?"
"No, I am the worst kisser on the planet." I said.
"Really? Let's try that." She smiled, bringing her lips to mine. I instinctively closed my eyes and placed my hands on her waist. Her kiss was very erotic; lustful sensations literally spread throughout my body, especially down south.
When she broke off the kiss, I found myself feeling desperate. She sensed this automatically. "That's strange," she said, "you kiss pretty good." I was panting too much to say anything.
"Mr. Serial Killer?" she said innocently, "Are you alright? You sound like you've ran a thousand miles."
"I'm fine," I panted, "Any final requests before I kill you?"
"Yeah," she said, "Can you please take off this red bandana? My silly husband told me to put it on, and he promised me he'll take it off when I see him, but I'd rather you take it off for me instead."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because he's not around." She said simply. "Besides, if you're as ugly as you say you are, I'd love to see how you look like."
I chuckled. "Alright. But promise me you won't barf."
She giggled. "Okay. I promise."
I went behind her and untied her bandana. "Turn around." I whispered. She turned to face me. Her eyes examined me from head to foot. "Wow." she said.
"What?" I wondered.
"You're wrong," she explained, "You're not terribly ugly."
"You think I'm cute?" I asked.
"No," she said, "don't get me wrong. You're not terribly ugly… just ugly."
I laughed. She laughed too. Then she placed her arms around my neck. "But it's strange," she continued, "You look just like my sexy husband in a nice black tuxedo."
"Yeah, well," I began, "It's a very special day for me. You see, tomorrow is my 25th wedding anniversary, and I'm waiting for my wife. She was supposed to be here a couple of minutes ago, but you came instead."
"Mind if I take her place, then?" Asuka asked, "I mean, I am dressed for the occasion."
"Sure." I said, giving her a quick kiss. "What's you're name?"
"Asuka." She said, "And what's yours? Or do you want me to call you 'Mr. Serial Killer' all evening?"
"Edo Phoenix." I answered.
"Nice name." she complimented.
"Nice acting." I said.
"Nice gimmick." She said.
"Nice nickname." I said.
She arched an eyebrow. "Nickname?"
"Mr. Serial Killer?" I reminded her.
She laughed out loud. I smiled. "I love you." I said.
"Don't you have a wife?" she asked.
"Yup," I answered happily, "And she's smokin' hot."
"Then why are you cheating on her?" she asked.
"Coz you're hotter." I said with a smile. She giggled and took my hand.
"Let's go inside, shall we?" Asuka said.
"Let's." I agreed. We then walked to the house.
I placed my free hand on the door knob. I stopped to look at her. She glanced at me.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," I said, "just wondering how you'll react when you see-" –I opened the door- "-this."
Asuka gasped and placed her hands over her mouth. "Oh my god…" her voice was muffled, but I can still sense the shock in her tone.
Inside, everything was candlelit. The whole room was covered with rose petals. The dining table had all different kinds of food. I took out a small remote from my pocket and turned on the stereo, which played a very familiar song. She looked at me as the introduction played. I looked back at her.
"Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes," I began.
She laughed. "Oh my god, Edo… You really outdid yourself this time!"
"You ain't seen nothin' yet." I said with a smirk, as I walked to the living room. She followed me. I clicked something on the laptop on the living room table and turned on the TV. In an instant, the TV played the slideshow that I've been working on my laptop for almost the whole week.
The slideshow contained pictures of me and Asuka from when we were dating until present time. The pictures showed many different events: from Christmas to Valentine's, from New Year's to Birthdays, from candid pictures to casual pictures, and many more. When the slideshow ended, I faced her and took both her hands. She faced me. "Asuka, I know I haven't been the best husband, but I will always try to be… for you. I made that vow 25 years ago, and I'm going to keep it, because… I love you."
She looked at me with the most endearing eyes, trying to figure out what in the world happened to me. "Oh, Edo…" she said, "I love you too!"
For some reason, hearing those words made my heart sink. I never thought she'd say them again- in fact, I've never heard her say them for almost a year. I stared at her. I examined her smile. It was the happiness that I thought didn't exist anymore. It was there. It was really there. When she stared back at me, those beautiful eyes told me that she was in love with me again. It was such a wonderful sight for me, that I did something that was totally unexpected…
I cried.