1 Assasination (I)

In a softly illuminated room resembling the opulent confines of a high-end hotel, a man reclining on the bed abruptly blinked his eyes open. He seemed momentarily befuddled before turning his head to find a woman lying next to him, her bare back exposed.

His eyebrows lifted in surprise as his hands moved instinctively. The woman's body flinched momentarily when his finger brushed against hers, but she remained still. His fingers delicately traced the woman's supple skin, tracing the contours of her body.

A subtle smile curved upon his lips as he registered the woman's soft, hushed breathing. He shook his head slightly, withdrew his hand, and rose from the bed.

He wobbled for a moment, a hint of irritation crossing his face, but he steadied himself and took a deep breath. His gaze shifted downwards, and he realized he was clad only in black boxer shorts.

His gaze flickered toward the woman on the bed for a moment before he began to stride purposefully toward the balcony. As he drew nearer, he caught sight of his reflection in the glass door. He stood at an impressive height, approximately 6 feet 2 or 3 inches tall. His visage was strikingly handsome, with fair skin, captivating brown eyes, and a head of tousled black hair.

His eyes narrowed for a moment, a subtle nod of acknowledgment passing over his features as he pushed the sliding door and ventured onto the balcony. His gaze ascended toward the obsidian sky adorned with shimmering stars and two moons, one white and the other a striking shade of red. He came to a halt, his hands resting on the balcony railing, and directed his gaze downward to behold the illuminated city below.

His fingers rhythmically tapped against the railing, his gaze fixed on the city sprawled beneath him, lost in the depths of contemplation.

While the man remained absorbed in his contemplation, the woman lying on the bed suddenly opened her eyes, a subtle hint of confusion flickering in her gaze as it drifted toward the man standing on the balcony.

She sat up on the bed, allowing her curly hazelnut-colored hair to cascade over her shoulders. Her gaze shifted toward the empty glass resting on the side table.

Her fingers curled slightly, her expression tinged with hesitation as her gaze moved from the empty glass to the man. It appeared as though she couldn't quite make up her mind about something.

She took a deep breath, her fingers gradually relaxing, and her eyes began to scan the room as though searching for something. Eventually, her gaze settled on her purse, placed beside the bed. She bent down slowly, retrieved the purse, and carefully opened it. With deliberate and minimal movements, she extracted lipstick and meticulously applied it to her red lips. Afterward, she placed the lipstick back into her purse, all the while making sure not to draw any attention from the man.

She took a deep breath, setting the purse aside, and swiftly covered her body with a white bedsheet. Clutching the sheet tightly with one hand, she used the other to support herself as she rose from the bed, moving gracefully and quietly toward the man.

With a deliberate pace, she stepped onto the balcony, her gaze unwaveringly fixed on the man's broad back. Her lips were pursed in contemplation as she gradually circled one hand onto the man's chest, resting her head gently against his back.

"Why are you here? Is something troubling you?" she whispered softly, her voice carrying a hint of concern as she pressed closer to him.

As he felt the soft hands on his chest and heard the gentle voice, the man retraced his thoughts. His lips curled slightly, and he straightened his back. His left hand tightened its grip on the woman's hand as he slowly turned around to meet the woman's blue eyes.

The man's gaze meticulously traveled over the woman's features, beginning with her hazelnut-colored hair, then to her delicate eyebrows, her captivating cat-like eyes, her graceful nose, and finally, to her slightly pouted red lips. Her face was nothing short of breathtaking with its perfect oval shape. She stood a head shorter than him. His eyes briefly dropped to notice her hand clutching the bedsheet tightly and then returned to meet her gaze as he shook his head in response.

"Nothing, I just wasn't feeling well," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of vulnerability as he replied.

The woman's pupils slightly constricted, but she maintained her firm grip on his hands. "Should we go see a doctor?" she inquired, concern evident in her voice.

The man shook his head, dismissing the idea. "It's okay now," he assured her, though his gaze drifted downwards to her other hand, which still clung tightly to the bedsheet.

"Shall we continue?" he inquired, his hand inching towards the bedsheet. However, the woman subtly avoided the contact and turned her gaze toward him.

She shook her head gently, her concern evident. "Not now, you need to take care of your health first," she said softly. Moving closer, she leaned in to kiss his lips tenderly.

The man moved his head closer to her, their lips almost touching, but just as they were about to kiss, he shifted his head slightly and whispered softly in her ear.

"Too bad, there won't be a second time," he murmured regretfully in her ear.