Chapter 6: Narcissistic

The man's hand on my arm immediately fell. They stepped back but stopped when continuous thunders echoed in the sea. I got startled too, but I stood still on my position and fixed my eyes on the man in front. He's just standing there, no weapons, and eyes glowing in the midst of darkness. He didn't just look dangerous. He looked lethal. The look in his eyes screamed bloodshed. The thought of what he could do in anger made me shiver.

Even if I've only known him for a few days, I know what he's capable of doing. He can save someone in the brink of death, but he can also send someone in hell. He's ruthless and only cares for his own benefit, but at that moment, I was thankful that he came. Even if he's just doing this because he wants me alive until that time, I felt warmth for some reason.

I'm going crazy, I think. Who knows he's the one causing all these troubles, right? What if all the misfortunes happening to me is because he is around me.

"They hit you?" Helion asked so silently, looking at my face. I'm sure the hard slaps left some bruise in my cheek. I can even taste blood on my bottom lip.

I remained silent. I'm sure he already knows.

He walked slowly, precisely. In each step, it was accompanied by a loud roar of thunder and strong wave.

This man... he is so powerful that pissing him off means suicide. 

"Who hit you?"

I couldn't speak. I feel so cold and I can feel myself slightly shivering. Instead of answering, I went to the girl and helped her stand.

"I will take her inside," I said and led the girl to the stairs.

I don't know what he's going to do with those men. I bet he would kill him. There's no doubt he can do that after all. But I still hope that he won't. Maybe a little suffering would do. It's just, I'm not used to so much violence, so I better not ask him later what he did to those men.

After I took the girl to her cabin and have her friends attend to her, I went back to my cabin to change my wet clothes. I got wet earlier because of the big wave. When I went out of the bathroom on my pajamas, I saw Helion sitting on my bed.

I stopped on my track. "How did you know that I was in trouble?"

"You should have called my name as soon as you sensed something was wrong," he said instead.

"And why would I do that? You already left the ship, so you won't hear me."

He hissed. "If I didn't come back to check on you, you could have been violated and killed by those bastards. See? I told you, didn't I? I had a feeling that you would be in trouble often."

"I think you are the cause of my misfortune." I shook my head and went to the sofa. I don't want to sit next to him. He's like a huge energy of bad luck. Who knows the ceiling will collapse suddenly because I'm sitting close to him. I can't take such big risk. I still have twenty-nine days, after all. I want to make my remaining time worthwhile.

"Hah! Look, woman. I was the one who saved you. If it weren't for me, you would have been dead. And now you are acting all arrogant, refusing to thank me? Unbelievable."

I sucked on my breath, trying to stay cool despite my growing annoyance for this man.

"Why would I thank you? You already own my life, right? So it's your job to protect it if you want to preserve it. Don't act as if I owe you anything."

He smirked and took the apply on the bedside table. He took a bite and leaned on the headboard of my bed.

"What did you do to those men?" 

He raised a brow. "What do you think?"

"Perhaps, did you..." I glanced on my fingers tapping my knee.

He chuckled so I looked at him again.

"What? Are you trying to ask me if I killed them?"

I drew a deep breath. There's no use in beating around the bush now.

"Did you?"

"Do you want me to?"

I hissed. "Why can't you just answer me directly? You are wasting both of our time."

"Nope, I didn't kill them." His lips then curved into a vicious smile. "Let's just say I did something to teach them a lesson. For what I did, I'm sure they will never regret the night they harassed you and that girl."

My forehead creased but I didn't ask what kind of punishment he gave them. It's enough that I know he didn't kill them. Death is an easier way out for such criminals. They need to suffer before they would be given such privilege.

"Leave. I'm going to sleep," I told Helion.

"Why were you still out in the middle of the night anyway? You are so careless."

"I didn't know that trouble was waiting for me," I simply said.

He stood up and looked at me seriously.

"If anything like that happens again and I'm not around, just call my name. I will appear right next to you."

I raised a brow. "And how is that possible?"

He lifted his hand and moved his finger with the golden ring. "I have that connection with you because of this. So better be a good girl and stay out of trouble. Remember that you need to pay me with your life. You need to live till the end of this month. Did you get me, Katherine?"

"I told you to call me Jace."

"I told you, didn't I? I like Katherine more. Your life is mine, anyway. I can name you whatever I want."

"Good for you," I muttered a soft curse at the end.

He hissed and looked at me while holding the door. "I heard that. Behave yourself, will you?"

"I'm behaving myself. Get out."

"Alright. See you in the morning."

"What do you mean-" Before I could finish, he's already out of the cabin and slammed the door close.

This annoying brute. 

True enough, I met him the next morning. He's waiting for me at the port. And you know what's the embarrassing part? It wasn't just he was there, he waited for me in the middle of the crowd while leaning on a luxurious Rolls Royce, on his black sunglasses, smirking at me as if he knew that I would be so annoyed. And to be honest, I really was. In fact, I wanted to kill him.

"What is this? What the hell is wrong with you, huh?" I said as I went inside his car to avoid the people's stares.

"Why? What's wrong? I just want to give you a taste of 'The life' since I know you've been living in the middle class all your life," he reasoned out and stepped on the gas.

"I don't need the life you are talking about. You just embarrassed me."

"My good looks isn't something to be embarrassed for, Katherine. You are hurting my feelings, you know that?"

"How can you say that when you don't even have feelings."

He smirked and just shook his head.

"Tell me. What do you want to do? It's better if you can give me a list of what you want to accomplish within your remaining days so I have a guide."

"No need. I will just tell you."

"Fine. What's the first?"

"I want to find a match for my uncle."

He looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Of all the things, you want to take care of your uncle's love life first? Don't you have more important things to accomplish? That's lame."

"I figured that if someone will help him recover when I'm gone, he will get over it sooner. Besides, I don't want to leave him alone. You think it's lame because you don't have someone you care for."

He didn't say anything for a few moments. I looked at him. He turned strangely serious all of the sudden as if I offended him or something.

"Can you do that?"

His eyes drifted to me and smirked. "Of course. I can do everything, can't I?"

"But I want to be the one to pick the perfect woman. I just want you to propose eligible women to me. I want it done as soon as possible."

"Why does it seem like I am just your subordinate? You know, you sound like a boss and I am just nothing but a mere slave."

I glared at him. "Don't exaggerate it. You told me that you are willing to do everything I want, right? You proposed it, so don't blame me."

"I'm not blaming you, Your Highness. Of course, I dare not," he said sarcastically.

"Such a prick," I muttered under my breath.

"Who allowed you swear on me, huh?"

I looked at him, acting innocent. "Me? I'm not swearing anyone."

He looked at me sharply. "I told you to behave. No profanities allowed."

Now he's acting like a decent man. I hissed inwardly and went out of the car as soon as he pulled over on our house's driveway.

"What will you be doing later?" Helion asked.

"Why, are you going to ask me out?" I asked in a flat tone.

He scoffed. "Just asking. Anyway, if you get yourself in trouble again, don't forget what I told you. Say my name aloud. Do you understand, my dear Katherine?"

I winced at the way he addressed me. "Don't make fun of me."

He smiled playfully. I just went inside to get some rest. I didn't have some good sleep last night because the ship wasn't steady. Although I love the scent of the sea and its scenery, I usually couldn't sleep for so long in a ship. I don't know why. Maybe the sound of the waves or the slight moving of the ship keeps me awake.

I told Nari to meet me on the coffee shop we usually visit that night. I couldn't tell her about my situation, but I can ask her about some things at least.

"What's up?" Nari asked. "Looks like something is bothering you all day. Did something happen yesterday? Did you meet someone on the ship, perhaps? Or maybe you had a one night stand with a handsome-"

"Stop it. That's not the case."

She made a face. "I thought you finally had a rendezvous with a handsome guy."

"Keep on dreaming, Nari. Dreaming is free, after all."

She shook his head and glared at me. "What is it you want to talk about, then?"

"If you have a month left in your life, what will you do?"

"Do everything I want? Hmm...  I will confess to my long time crush, have sex with all those hot guys I know, travel in the different places, eat all my favorite foods. Then I would also stop going to school. What's the use of going to the school if you're dying anyway? Then I will spend a lot of time with my family, then I will-wait, Jace, don't tell me..." she trailed off. The horror in her face told me what she was thinking.

"No, no. Of course not. It's just, I watched a movie last night and the story was the girl was sick and had only a month to live. It left me wondering. What if I was on her shoes, what will I do?"

Her face lit up and she laughed.

"If you were in her shoes, I suggest you should try getting yourself a boyfriend before you die. Experience love and happiness from someone else. You don't need to be so reserved, Jace. Try something new. Try to step out of your comfort zone. But then, even if you are not dying, I suggest you should still do that. You are legal and mature. There's no point in delaying things if you know how to handle them the right way."

I hissed. "You talked too much. You just want me to date."

She giggled and winked.

That night before going to bed, I scribbled on my notes. I listed all the things I want to accomplish before my time ends. It's not that complicated and I know Helion can help me do it.

The next morning, Uncle was already out for work when I woke up. I went downstairs to have breakfast but I suddenly tasted something sour somewhere when I saw who was leaning at the countertop in the kitchen.

"Why are you here this early?" I asked and went to the cupboard and poured myself a glass of water. 

"I figured you might need my help. Besides, aren't we doing the first thing in your bucket list?"

"Right." I nodded and poured milk on my bowl of cereals. "Have you already prepared some things?"

He nodded to the countertop. When I looked on it, I saw a folder.

"What's that?"

"Profiles of the most eligible women for your uncle. Born in middle class like what you want. They are the most decent."

I got the folder and opened it. It was true, what's inside are the profiles of women around Uncle's age.

"How did you get all of this information in just a day?"

"It's because I am Helion. I can make it possible."

I suppressed a smile and sat on the high stool. I looked into the profiles of the women while eating cereal. So far, all are good based on the information provided.

"You choose at least five or ten, then you can see them in person one by one so it's easier for you to decide."

"Alright, I will choose five," I said and continue eating.

"I marked the five I chose," I said after a while and put the folder back to the countertop.

"We can see them today so you can decide as soon as possible."

I nodded. "I will just change upstairs. You can wait for me outside."

I wore jeans and simple shirt and went out. Helion was already outside, playing on his keys. My eyes narrowed when I remember the car he brought when he sent me home from the port yesterday morning.

"Isn't that blue Rolls Royce your car? Now it's Aston Martin?"

He smirked. "I have many cars, Katherine. I love collecting beautiful ones. Let's say it's a hobby. You want one? Two? I can buy you the latest model of any brand."

What a filthy rich prick.

"I am amazing, I know." He laughed and went inside the car. I sighed and shook my head. I guess he has some sort of problem in his head. So narcissistic.