Chapter 5
We had eaten our ice creams several minutes ago, and I'm just about to finish talking about my friends.
"They're great people." I smile at Desmond, and add, "I think you should meet them." Desmond chuckles and leans back against the tree.
"You sure? Because from the way you described your friend Taylor, I have the feeling that she'll think we're in some sort of a 'romantic' relationship." He uses his hands to make quotation marks at the word 'romantic' and I roll my eyes before facing the reservoir.
"That's true, but if we just act like the way we are right now, like friends, she'll eventually stop thinking about it..." I don't hear a reply from Desmond, and I look at him. He seems focused and suspicious, his eyes narrowed as he stares over my head and down the path. I blink and turn around to see the man in black from before, only now he's up against one of the trees, watching us from several meters away. I shiver at the cold stare he's giving us, and I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn around to see Desmond, his gaze still fixed on the man in black as he mutters,
"We gotta go." I blink, raising an eyebrow as Desmond gently grabs me by the arm and pulls me up to my feet.
"Huh? Why, what's-" He cuts me off, breaking his gaze, and his eyes meet my own.
"There's no time to explain. C'mon!" He pulls my arm slightly, and I hesitate, before nodding to him. We begin to run down the path, and I try my best to keep up with Desmond. I look back over my shoulder, and spot the man chasing after us, shouting something. I realize that he has a communication earpiece in his left ear. Who is this guy? After a few more minutes of running down the path that leads back to Desmond's motorcycle, I'm already panting. Desmond doesn't even look tired, I notice, and I realize that I'm falling behind. A swift wave of panic rushes over me, as I begin to think of what would happen to me if the man behind us catches up. I look back over my shoulder again, to see that the man is indeed getting closer. My eyes widen in fear, and I make a weak strangled gasp as I try to run faster. As if Desmond had heard my small cry, he stops and turns around with no hesitation at all, before runs back towards me. I blink in confusion as he stops in front of me, and I shriek when he practically sweeps me up in his arms in a mere flash. With one arm holding me up from behind my back and the other behind the knee joints of my legs, he begins to run again at that amazing speed again. I involuntarily blush, and I'm glad that Desmond doesn't see it as he continues to run down the path. I look past Desmond's arm to watch the man in black, and I realize that he hasn't been getting any farther away. He's fast as well? I look up at Desmond, but his narrowed eyes are trained on the path ahead. I look at the man chasing us, and then back at Desmond. What's going on? These two aren't even breaking a sweat!
Soon, Desmond's motorcycle on the street up ahead. A sense of relief washes over me as I spot it, and it only takes Desmond several minutes to reach the vehicle. He quickly, yet gently, places me on the back part of the seat, before making sure I don't fall over and handing me my helmet. I put it on my head as soon as possible, and Desmond immediately takes a seat in front of me, putting on his helmet as well. As soon as he leans forward to start the motorcycle, the man chasing us is only about ten feet away from us. I freeze in shock once I see his arm outstretched to grab at me, and I instantly wrap my arms around Desmond's middle in fear.
"Stop!" the man shouts. Desmond promptly revs the motorcycle to life, and we speed down the street, the man missing my jacket sleeve just by an inch. I squeeze my eyes closed as I press my head into Desmond's back, although it seems impossible due to my helmet. So I opt to tighten my hold on him, just to let him know how scared I am right now. He briefly takes his right hand from the handlebar, and places it over mine, lightly squeezing it for reassurance. We don't say anything the entire drive to my house.
* * *
I take off my helmet as Desmond parks his motorcycle beside the sidewalk, a few locks of my light brown hair falling into my face as I do so. I brush them out of my face, before stepping off of the motorcycle, right as Desmond removes his helmet also, but he stays seated. He stares down at his helmet with a pained and frustrated expression on his face. My eyebrows knit together in worry, and I gently place a hand on his left shoulder.
"Desmond?" I call softly with much concern. My voice shakes him out of his thoughts as he closes his eyes, bringing up a hand to grab the bridge of his nose, his teeth slightly gritted as he hisses softly under his breath.
"Don't worry about me, I'm okay." He lowers his hand as he looks at me, and things turn around as now it's his eyes that hold the concern and worry. "What about you? Are you alright?" I nod, but I shyly look down to the side, rubbing my right arm.
I then mutter, "Y-Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little shaken up, that's all..." I don't miss Desmond's nod, and we stay silent for a while, until I ask slowly, "Who was that man?" Desmond shakes his head, troubled.
"I don't know..." I watch him as he searches his mind for a solution, but he finds none, so I decide to say,
"Remember the day I bumped into you? And I was heading for the library?" He doesn't look up at me as he nods. I take a deep breath. "...He was there, that man." Desmond tenses at that, and he's silent as he disembarks his motorcycle. I watch in confusion as he steps up to me, and he bends over slightly to meet me at eye level. He takes hold of both of my shoulders, and I freeze at the serious look in his eyes, but I can see the care underneath them.
"What happened?" he asks slowly with a shuddering breath, as if he's afraid to question it. I blink, but I relax in his grasp.
"I was talking to Rebecca about finding books so I can find more about my ancestor," I began, "As I was talking to her, that man bumped came over and bumped into her, before leaving the library." Desmond goes silent again, and I add softly, "That's all..."
Suddenly he sighs, and he releases me as he mutters, "He must have heard that your ancestor was an assassin. That's the only explanation." I look down at this, my eyes softening.
"I'm sorry...I should have kept quiet about it, then this wouldn't have happened." I feel Desmond place a hand on my head.
"Don't worry about it." He laughs as he jokes, "I always enjoy a little chase." I keep my gaze at my feet, my eyes not brightening at all at Desmond's joke. "Hey..." He uses his hand to tilt my chin up, and he grins at me. "I don't want you to get all sad and disappointed because of what happened earlier. Who knows? That guy could've been after me." His grin widens at this, and I resist the urge to giggle. "So c'mon, smile. After I had such a great time today, I don't want to leave you with that kind of expression." His voice sounds so sincere and caring, and I try to fight down the warmth rising to my cheeks as I finally smile at my older friend. If possible, it seems his grin has gotten wider as he straightens up. "That's better." I laugh as I look up at him.
"Thank you, Desmond, for everything. I had a great time today, too." Desmond shrugs.
"No problem, kid." He glances to the right, and says with a nervous laugh, "I guess I should get out of here." I blink, before looking to the right as well, and I can imagine how wide my eyes are right now.
"T-Taylor?" There she is, standing against the gate of my house, her arms crossed and a knowing smile on her face. I stammer for a bit, before turning back to Desmond. "Um, y-yeah, I guess I'll see you later." He nods as he backs up towards his motorcycle, and sits on it. He places his helmet back on his head, and he revs the motorcycle to life, before looking at me. I can barely make out those dark brown eyes of his behind that eyeshield. He raises a hand in farewell.
"See ya, Renia." I nod, hesitantly raising my hand up to my chest to wave at him, knowing full well that Taylor is watching me anxiously.
"Yeah. Bye, Desmond." With that, he takes hold of the handlebar, and drives off down the street. I exhale in relief, before smiling at the spot Desmond used to be in.
"So, how much did I miss?" Taylor asks. "Because I know that there's more than what I just saw." I roll my eyes to myself, my shoulders sagging as I sluggishly turn to face my friend. I gesture to my house with my right thumb, sighing.
"Come inside," I agonizingly direct her, "I'll tell you everything..." Taylor nods happily with a wide smile, before skipping up the driveway to my front door and opening it. I lower my hand, rolling my eyes once again before following her into my house.