Divine & Wicked: The Wounded Souls (Book3)

•》Chapter XVI: "Unexpected Deal" - Part2《•

"How old are you?" he asked while slicing his pancake.

"Twenty two. I guess I'm older than you." she answered.

"Just three years and a half." he replied.

"What else do you do aside from hanging with your camera?" he asked.

"Sleep and eat." she answered.

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" he asked.

"I don't need one. I don't really like boys around me." she answered without looking.

"Oh, that hurts." he replied in a calm tone.

"I mean, not you. Your case with me is different. I just don't feel like I'm going to fall in love with someone right now. Maybe because I'm pretty focused with my dream that's why I can't get myself a man, but I'm totally fine with that." she explained.

"I see. I guess, people have different perspective in life, huh?" he commented.

"How about you?"
She returned the question to him.

"Me? ...Well, I already have two beautiful girls with me. I guess I'm pretty satisfied with that." he answered.

Melissa quickly gave him a shocked look.

"Two girls with you? Seriously?" she asked.

He nodded.

"You're more than I expected." she told him.

He smiled.

《••○••••••◇••••••○••》

At night, Ark accompanied Melissa until she gets home.

"Are you still going to show up tomorrow?" she asked.

"You're deadline is tomorrow. Of course you'll see me." he answered.

"Are you not really going to give me an extension?" she asked while pouting.

"Tomorrow... deadline... Now, get in... I also have to leave now." he said in a firm tone.

That night, Melissa felt hard to sleep thinking about what's going to happen to her if she will not get another convincing photo for the replacement.

That moment as well, she thought about her little time with Aris. Though she's bothered, she smiled when she recalled his gentle approach with her.

《••○••••••◇••••••○••》

The next day, Melissa felt a little disappointed when Aris didn't show up. She was sitting on a swing in a nearby park staring at the ground.

That day, she found no good photo. She began to imagine the mess she will have to face the next day. With that in mind, she felt dispirited.

While in deep thoughts, sounds coming from sirens filled the air. She quickly stood up thinking it was an opportunity.

She didn't waste time and ran. She took a cab and instructed the driver to follow the police cars.

In few minutes, they arrived at commotion. It was a bank robbery and the bandits were holding hostages inside.

Melissa immediately hopped off the car and ran near the scene. It was nearly night.

She held her camera ready and looked for a good position. When she realized there's no chance waiting for her in a far spot, she decided to find a closer angle, but before she could move her feet, gunshots rose in the air.

She quickly ducked and crawled behind a car. When the shooting stopped, she lifted her body slowly and peeped through the car's hood. She saw one of the robbers holding a hostage in front of him while pointing his gun at the person's head.

Melissa took that chance and went closer. When she reached the police's perimeter, she placed herself behind a white van and began to take pictures.

When she felt unsatisfied, she looked for a higher position. She was tensed, but she could feel strong kick of desperation inside her. With that, she climbed up the van and crawled on its roof.

She positioned her camera and took more shots. She was too focused with what she was doing, she lost knowledge about the situation.

The robber swayed his gun again while pressing the trigger. Bullets flew in different directions. Melissa heard a loud clang near her arm. She was frightened, she quickly ducked and covered her head.

Then all of a sudden, a grip came on her legs and pulled her down.

"Ahh!" she screamed.

While breathing heavy, she opened her eyes.

"You're one crazy, stubborn woman, aren't you?" Ark told her while carrying her in his arms.

"Aris..." she mumbled while looking straight at him.

Ark put her down gently.

"How did know I'm here?" she asked.

"That's not important. You could have killed yourself, didn't you realize that?" he scolded her.

He looked both pissed and anxious.

"This is my last chance before you erase my memories. I cannot miss this." she insisted.

Ark sighed.

"Alright then, since I'm involved here I'll help you." he told her.

"Really?" she asked with a smile.

She seemed had already forgotten she almost died few minutes ago.

Ark gave her a nod.

"That's great, be my look out." she told him.

She then lifted her one foot attempting to climb back up the van's roof, but Ark held on her waist and pulled her down.

"Are you kidding me? You're not going back in there. Come on, let's find another spot."

He grabbed her hand and took her in a dark alley.

To be continued...

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