I gazed in awe at the plane I was seated in. The upholstery was in a rich coffee brown and all around, the smell of genuine leather assailed my nostrils. Everything screamed rich and classy, reminding me once again that Alex was way out of my league.I will not feel small, not now, maybe never. I am exactly where the universe wants me to be.I mentally gave myself a pep talk as I looked around and caught sight of Chito's smiling face. I was happy he was happy. I could also feel my face stretch impossibly wide in a smile. Truth be told, ever since we stepped into Alex's private plane, it had been bliss.Apart from the red sign which lit up indicating we use our seat belts, I didn't even know when the plane had lifted off the ground. Not until we were side by side the fluffy clouds, did I realize we were high up in the air. I gazed in wonder at them as we sailed past. If not for their colour, they could easily be mistaken for cotton candy.Chito noisily munched on some popcorn beside me
Three days. It took me just three days and I didn't want to go back, I wanted to stay here forever in Italy with Alex. Even Chito's attitude had somehow thawed towards me. We had fallen into an uneasy type of relationship where, whenever we went out for sight seeing, he would tell me to take a picture of him and I would oblige with a beatific smile.Italy was such a beautiful place with different interesting tourist attractions. The coliseum, an enormous amphitheater. It was the very first place we visited. The guides told us gory stories of how gladiators had to fight huge and scary beasts and how most times they didn't stand a chance as they were torn to shreds. I closed my eyes trying to imagine it and was pleasantly surprised to hear the guttural shouts of people urging the gladiators to come out, and the beating of the battle drums as they ushered them into the massive theatre.Chito's eyes bulged with awe as he took in the length and breadth of the gigantic coliseum with hushed
It had been one week of bliss since we arrived Italy. One week of laughter, fun and peace, and it didn't seem like we were leaving anytime soon. Not that I was complaining, on the contrary, I was only too happy we were still here. I caught the looks on the faces of females whenever we all decided to eat out or even go sightseeing.They were looks of envy and longing, and I soaked in them. I felt lucky I had snagged Alex. Alright, maybe that wasn't a good word, but what other word could I use?He and I were in some type of relationship, after all, plus he made it too easy to forget it was anything but a business relationship. He was caring to the point of me being hella suspicious. He was also very attentive and in tune with my needs which made me relaxed around him at all times. And then there were the jokes, premium jokes he didn't know did him a lot of favours in my eyes. And the way he took care of Chito as if were his own son, endeared me to him like crazy.Alex had told me to keep
"It's Mandarin.""What?" My brows jumped up as I turned to see Chito looking over my shoulder."I said it's Mandarin." He jerked his head to the desktop as he peered at the strange language on the computer."Oh, okay, I'll remember that, thanks." I nodded, my eyes raking over his healthy-looking features. His usually rough curls were now fixed into a semblance of style, and that smile had never left his face. For that I was glad."Welcome, sis." His voice faded as he walked away. I couldn't get over it. Chito, walking."Wait a minute, how did you even know it was Mandarin?"He stopped and turned round, pulling a hand through his curls and roughening them up. A slight frown inched across his face but it was immediately wiped away. "You taught me, you taught me all I know." He shrugged and gave me a lopsided smile before walking away once more.How was this possible? Just what alternate universe was I living in? I was able to not just speak and understand but teach Chito as well. Mand
Today is going to be a good day. A. I Ronga is going to be birthed, and everything will be fine. Life will be even better before Aretha and Exceva.I kept up this thought, like a loop, going on in my mind, but it did nothing to erase the tightness in my chest. This feeling, I knew, was borne from the actions of Mia. I just couldn't place it, but I knew she wasn't a hundred percent there. Yes, she was loving and attentive, but I had the distinct feeling she was just going through the motions.The signs were all over her face.It was in the faraway look in her eyes and the way her hand lingered on something for too long, instead of just picking it up and using it. Just yesterday, I caught her standing by her door, head averted towards the window, staring at absolutely nothing. At first, I thought she was looking at something outside but it turned out nothing was there to catch her attention.Nothing, except her thoughts.Was she having a mental breakdown because of those men she killed?
Sweat stuck to every part of my body as I ducked. My legs screamed in protest against the onslaught. Never mind my legs, my whole body ached from the back to back exercises and endurance training I had been giving it these past two weeks. I knew without being told it was paying off. My driving force was not because I was an assassin, that in itself was secondary. I didn't feel like one, but I could definitely get back in shape.The whole focus of my training was to kill the man who contracted me last. It's either kill or be killed, as my guardian had said.This whole thing still smacked of unbelief.How could I have been living a normal life one day, and the next, I woke up and my life had literally turned upside down?It's not like I didn't believe it, it's that life wasn't just fair. I spent more and more time at my other place, acquainting myself with it and -SMACK!My face stung. "Why'd you do that?"My guardian raised a brow and shook his head. "In a real fight, you would have b
I didn't remember what I was like before the accident, but I was sure I wasn't a flowery girl with hearts and unicorns spilling out of my eyes. From the guns and knives hanging on racks in my weapons place, I was definitely hardcore and gritty. Female assassins didn't wear dresses with sweetheart necklines or dinner dresses with pencil heels, not unless they were undercover and wanted to fool someone.No!Female assassins wore leather skin tight trousers and matching tops with combat boots. They had a tough demeanor and screamed hell. At least that's what my wardrobe at my weapons place showcased, so when my guardian gave me the contact of a certain man called Ben, he told me to look every inch like the assassin I was.As I stood at the entrance to his block of flats waiting for him to buzz me up, I looked down at the leather get up I had on and shook my head. I hoped the make up I wore wasn't too much.Had I preferred red or black lipstick before?Was I gothic oriented or did I like
"Wipe that smile off your face, sis, it's getting embarrassing the way you keep smiling when no one's talking to you, sheesh!"I glanced at Chito but I could see the corners of his lips were turned up. "Is that right? Instead of staring at my face, why don't you concentrate on your phone hmm? Isn't that what you teenagers do?"Chito's face widened with a sunny smile. "Say cheese!" He lifted his phone in the air and before I had the chance to say no, he had taken a snapshot of us.Pretty sure I looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. He grinned and showed his phone to me. Within the bright colours, he and I were boldly displayed. He looked like a different person altogether. Handsome, carefree and happy. I stared hard at myself, shocked at what I saw. Cheeks that were flushed pink, eyes that had an extra shine in them, and lips that were plump and slightly swollen from too many kisses.I looked like a blushing bride on her honeymoon. I closed my eyes and shook my head, on