Intimidating

Zannie kept her mouth shut. He was worried that Howie might be true to his threat.

‘Is that a threat? Keep calm Zannie. It looks very anxious. That won't kiss you.’

Her gaze was fixed on Howard's lips. His lips were indeed kissable. But he couldn’t have stolen her first kiss because she reserved it to Jacob.

She suddenly looked away. That was probably the signal for Howard to release her because his grip on both of her hands had loosened.

"You know what? you're an arrogant woman." Howard's seductive eyes narrowed.

Then, Zannie snorted a bit. She got the timing right and she started kicking on his private part which made his knees weak suddenly.

"What the—" 

He was succumbing to severe pain. Last thing he knew, he lost consciousness because of the kick he got from this kickass woman.

But Zannie was quite alarmed when she found out that Howard fainted because she kicked him hard. That's why she immediately rushed him to the medical team.

***

"Zannie, the doctor said, you trampled on his private part too much. If he hadn't been helped right away, he might have died."

Lucille bite her lower lip while looking at Zannie. She was one of the volunteers in Trias and a close friend of Zannie. She helped her because she panicked when Howard fainted.

Zannie on the other hand, looks so scared. She doesn't intend to kill people, it's just self defense. She even thought that Howie was just joking when he collapsed.

‘As far as I know, my kick is not that strong. I'm really sorry Mister.‘

She brushed her face. She even noticed Lucille was shaking.

"Who is that man? Don't you say that he tried to harass you because I really can't believe it."

Zannie sighed. She also clucked her tongue. 

"I also don't know who he is. I just found him in my room. Maybe he's really planning to take advantage of me."

"Well to be honest—he doesn't look like a predator. If I didn't have morals, I might lure myself to him," Lucille jokes.

"Even you? Lucille?" Zannie replied annoyingly.

"But maybe he's one of the new volunteers, maybe Jacob knows him? By the way, where is Jacob?"

"It's busy for sure. But wait—"

She thought for a moment. She recalled Jacob saying that someone would be picked up to undergo the evaluation. Could it be that the man she hurt and what Jacob refers to is the same person?

She bit her index finger while grinning apologetically. "My God, maybe that’s the person he’s talking about. My bad."

"What are you talking about?" Lucille whispered while asking.

Zannie shook her head. "Oh no. It's very embarrassing!"

"What's embarrassing?" her friend asked again, confused by her shocked reaction.

"Oh? There you are Jacob!"

Zannie was alarmed by what Lucille said, her man of her dreams is coming. Her eyes immediately searched for Jacob. Yes, he walked faster as he approached them.

"Zannie, I heard what happened. What's wrong with Mr. Howard?" Jacob asked in surprise.

She gobbled, looking at him seriously.

‘Turn off—what you did is a great turn off, Zannie.’

"Y-you know him?" she asked Jacob. The young man nodded softly.

"He's the one I'm referring to Zannie. You're going to evaluate him. I talked to his dad when he arrived yesterday. If we can change him, he's willing to send more help to other NGOs in this place. I guess we need him but here you are, you almost killed him." Jacob looks so upset, terribly upset.

"I didn't mean to do that. How come that he's in my room?" Zannie asked while shuddering.

Jacob sighed. "It happened already. What a kind of misunderstanding to begin with. All we can do is wait for the doctor’s examination. I hope he's okay."

“I’m very sorry for that, Jacob—”

Jacob simply shook his head. “Instead of apologizing to me, you should be the one to apologize to Mr. Howard.”

Zannie bit her lip for the nth time.

***

Howie was discharged at the clinic where he was brought. All he knew was that he was still raging with anger because of the woman he dubbed as ‘Killer Woman’. He did not think that a rare tiger was hiding in her sweet innocent face.

This adds to the reasons why his ‘supposedly’ vacation in Trias was annoying. A nurse guided him while walking outside. He saw the man who greeted him at the airport. He couldn't even remember his name.

"Mr. Howard, sorry for what happened."

It was Jacob who apologized even though it wasn't his fault. He was embarrassed, knowing that Mr. Fontabella lent a helping hand to people affected by the crisis before his son went here. Somehow, he should still make sure that he will be just as well despite the rudeness of the behavior.

"I'm sorry? I'm about to die. If I die, you’re just going to say sorry?" Howard asked sarcastically. The man in front of him should know how much pain it hurts to hit the genitals. They are both men. Period.

"It won't happen next time. It's my fault too. I forgot to say it's forbidden to enter another room because not everyone there is a man," Jacob explained.

Howard nodded. "Is that a woman? In fairness, her strength could match the strength of every martial artist."

"Please Mr. Howard, don't scold Zannie anymore. She'll also feel sorry for you."

"Zannie? That’s the name of a ‘killer woman’?"

"She's not what you think. She's kind. She's just scared because she's not used to seeing men."

"Man hater?"

"Maybe. All right Mr. Howard, get in the armored car." Jacob even pointed to the vehicle in question. Howard just winced at what he saw. "In that vehicle? Seriously? As far as I know, the users of that are just soldiers."

"The colonel gave me the privilege to use it temporarily. There are some weapons that will be needed."

Howard's eyes widened because of a sudden mixed emotion that he felt. First of all, amusement because it was the first time he would experience riding in that kind of vehicle. Second, fear because of the weapon loaded with that vehicle. He suddenly wondered what Jacob's job really was.

"Wait, are you a soldier?" he asked. 

Jacob showed a sly smile. "Aspiring."

"Like that? I think you can pass anyway."

"I hope so."

"How about Zannie? What’s her profession?"

"She's a volunteer. We've been friends before."

Howard nodded. "That's why when you speak, it's like you already know her and even defended her."

"Yeah, but despite her attitude, she's having a crush on a particular man here in the camp," Jacob revealed.

"A woman like her is still having a crush?" He was quite amused by Jacob's answer.

"Come on Mr. Howard. Get in the car. Can you do it quickly?" Jacob suddenly asked so that the conversation about Zannie would not spread further.

Howard nodded.

As soon as Howie opened the car, he was shocked to see what was in the driver's seat. He was still hesitant whether to ride or not. The driver is none other than the woman he cursed and detested for what he suffered earlier. She’s none other than Zannie.

“Hey? You? Are you really the driver in this car?” Howard asked out of confusion.

“Who else do you expect aside from Jacob?”

Howard was stuttered at that moment. Indeed, Zannie’s personality was kinda intimidating.