Beautiful✔

A/N: UNEDITED. MANY ERRORS FOUND BUT CERTAINLY AN ORIGINAL ☺ PLEASE DON'T SAY THAT I COPIED THIS OR ANYTHING JUST BECAUSE ITS A LITTLE BIT FAMILIAR TO ANOTHER STORY THAT YOU'VE READ. I'VE WRITTEN THIS DURING MY SECOND YEAR COLLEGE DAYS FOR FUN AND EXPERIMENTATION.

I RESPECT YOUR OPINIONS, THOUGH I HOPE YOU'LL ENJOY THIS SHORT STORY.

Stopping at a run-down town was the last thing on his mind, but he couldn’t ignore it either because it’s been an eternity since he last saw humanity along the road he took. And another hour of an agonizing urge to want to burn his throat with some booze and drink the whole night in.

Taking off from his bike and stood in front of an old bar with visible dust and cobwebs surrounding the wooden building. Making it more ancient than it looks, as he steps on the first platform and the wooden stair creaks loudly like it would burst out in seconds because it could no longer hold his weight.

Every step makes him want to run away from this bar because it’s like going inside a cursed and haunted house for no reason, though the excitement and longing for that booze made his throat drier like the Sahara desert.

Peace of mind… what would he wanted right then was just a peace of mind from all the chaos of this world. And of course, a whole year stock of booze to ease down all of his worries and wash them away until he’ll get sick from all of it and die but just like every belief that they utter to humanities ears that there’s salvation.

Unfortunately, that salvation for him didn’t come his way yet and this makes him suffer more than he ever should until his dying breath. And now that he does wish for that day to come... death, because for him it’s his only salvation here on Earth.

Blast! That only wish to meet his Creator didn’t come to be. Until now, he’s still breathing and kicking which made it more to become a reason to be released from this so-called walk of life that the gods, God or fate that cared for him. Whether it will be by hook or by crook. He doesn’t care, just so his sins will be forgiven. That his sins which weighs more than gold could ever scale would be buried six feet or maybe twelve feet underground with him. Away from humanity, away from life itself.

After an agonizing millennium which only took five minutes from where he took off from his bike to get to the old, rusty, and creaking front door; he finally made it inside.

The inside was not much but not bad either. The bar looks old but clean and modest. It has a second floor and it offers food just like a restaurant from the look of their menu section from the table he sat. If it weren’t for its sign that says ‘Jerry's bar’ at the top of this building, he would’ve mistakenly said that this is a restaurant.

Although it would not be that bad to rename this old bar and add ‘restaurant’ with it including renovation and much more cleaning. This building might attract more customers from the road like him and of course, even residents throughout town.

‘What the heck?’ he thought. It’s none of his business. He shouldn’t care that much. It’s not his place to say it nor to be because he’s just passing through this town that is so ancient making it almost a town full of ghosts. Besides, he should not care at all because he’s a stranger; no more, no less.

“What would I get ya handsome?” a feminine voice disrupts his chaotic mind. He looked up and saw a woman who might be in the middle of her twenties. She’s not bad to look at though she needs some exercise in order to get in shape. ‘Shit!’ he cussed at himself because he had started again. It’s not his place to have an opinion like that.

He forced a smile in front of her, but inside was the turmoil of emotions that are waiting to burst free. “A beautiful woman like you would just get me a simple booze,” he said and she laughed.

She smiled. “It seems so simple but that ‘a booze’ isn’t just any booze I bet?” she asked and he gave her a smug smile then winked.

“I think you know the usual then,” he said in a suave voice.

She smirked then stretched her left hand on the table and slowly leaned down. “Oh? I do know that that ‘usual’ will get ya to ya deathbed in no time. I can tell, ya haven’t eaten anythin’ in days. Lookin’ at ya, a wanderer, searchin’ for somethin’...until ya die and still; ya haven’t yet searched for that somethin’,” she said in a low, almost cold but teasing voice which made his body tense up and his blood circulate faster; making his heart pound hard like he ran a deadly marathon.

“A handsome man like ya would be a great loss to the world...because they wouldn’t have the chance to see ya face unless someone would take a bold step to dig up ya grave and take pictures before ya handsomeness fades away. To be completely forgott’n that ya ever lived once here on Earth,” she said; making her eyes gleam like she knows him more than himself.

Like she’s looking directly at his soul and watching how his life turned out after he was born. Her brown but dark and deep eyes succumb him to a spell that can’t be broken unless she breaks it herself. She stared at him for a minute then straighten her posture and took out her notebook and pen. “So! What could I get ya handsome?” she said in a cheery voice just like the last time...like the scene earlier never happened at all.

He blinked thrice at her who just keeps smiling freely at him like they’ve known for years. This friendly and inviting aura creeps him out. He cleared his throat, which didn’t felt dry anymore.

“Then a beautiful woman like you would just get me a simple burger with fries,” he said and she laughed.

“And don’t forget the booze,” she teased while leaving to get his order in the making.

What did he just do? It’s like he sold his soul to the devil.

That woman screamed danger like no other. Unlike any other woman, he had ever experienced in his life. That eyesore, cake-faced women aren’t like her who matters the most are their bodies, money and lastly, men like himself whom she described as handsome.

A few minutes later his food came with two bottles of booze. He looked at her like a child that longs for more milk from the soft and plump breasts of his mother. She just laughed at him and tapped his shoulder gently.

“There, there. Don’cha worry handsome! The others will follow after these,” she said then exited herself after winking at him.

He inhaled deeply and sighed like he lost a gamble that he put all of his money into it. What is he doing anyway? It’s like he lost his touch on women just like that after he met her. And by that meeting was just a few minutes ago. Like in that single eye contact she knows who he is like she’s been by his side throughout his thirties.

That’s impossible. It will be irrational and a disbelieving theory that she bewitched him in some way. An irrational theory indeed to believe that either she’s a witch or demon which just possessed her plump body. Ridiculous.

Though, what other theory could he possibly think? Another note is...her name-tag only has one letter and it’s in capital.

D.

“Here ya go handsome!” D said and put down on the table six bottles of booze.

“Thank you beautiful,” he said and she laughed.

“Why’d ya always call me beautiful?” D asked.

“Why do you always call me handsome?” he retorted back and she smirked.

“Because ya are handsome,” D said.

“You are also beautiful,” he replied and they both laughed.

“What an interesting name,” he said and she giggled.

“My name is long so I short’n it to D,” she said and he smiled.

“Still, it interests me to know the name of this woman who calls herself ‘D’ according to the name-tag,” he said and she smiled back.

“Well, let’s see if ya could do it. If ya can say my name after hearin’ it once, then ya earn a prize from me,” D said with a smirk playing on her lips.

He furrowed his brows. “Then it’s really that hard huh? Hmm... all the more interesting to hear about it. If I can and actually did it. What’s my prize?” he asked and she smiled smugly.

“Well, let’s see… I don’t know,” she said while tapping her forefinger towards her chin. “What do ya want anyway?” she asked after a minute. Giving up.

“How about a kiss from the beautiful D herself?” he asked which made her dumbfounded.

He laughed at her expression then took a sip towards his third bottle of booze.

“Ya kiddin’ me right?” she asked. Looking at him like a madman on the loose.

He just shook his head with a smug smile and took another sip.

D arched a brow. “We’ll see,” she teased and he nodded. His smug of a smile intact on his lips.

“Demarqueshasfine,” she said then laughed hard seeing the change in his expression.

“You’re kidding me right?” he asked and this time she’s the one who has a smug smile on her face and slowly shook her head.

He sighed. “What a troublesome name you have,” he said and she smirked.

“Well… I am troublesome at a dangerous level,” she said.

He laughed. “I knew it when I see troublesome women like you,” he said with a mocking voice.

D arched a brow and smirked. “I also see wanderers who wander… just to find troublesome women like me givin’ them a fit ‘bout life before their death beds. Makin’ them wonder ‘bout their lives even more than ever. Facing reality again after conquerin’ their delusions that life created,” she said and they both laughed.

“True, but unfortunately, you’re not going to give me a fit of life because I already had that kind of fit in life. That’s why I wander here and there and wonder how I would end up in my death bed earlier than planned,” he said and heard her whistle.

“A satisfied wanderer ya are… but I do wonder if ya really are satisfied with the result because it seems ya hurryin’ up the process of ya death. Leadin’ to stop at the farthest town on the endless road ya have taken where ya met the most troublesome woman ever throughout ya miserable life,” D said and winked.

“I better be goin’ handsome or else dad will have me earn an earful from him,” she said then went back to work even though the bar is slightly deserted with just a few people enjoying booze and late night dinners.

“A troublesome woman indeed,” he whispered then taking a sip as he sees her small and plump physique walking away and sashaying her butt. He knows that she’s teasing him… knowing that she can feel his gaze unto her like a sixth sense.

She really screams danger. A woman like her is no other. A dangerous yet endangered kind of species. How is she labeled as dangerous? She’s smart and witty. Like a lioness, taking time to watch their prey having a peaceful day of their life until it’s too late to know that they’re already been targeted and killed the second they’ve let their guards down.

Let alone that kind of feeling would not turn away when it comes to these circumstances. And he hates it, because the moment he let his guard down will be the biggest mistake of his life. Just that simple memory from the past had kept him on the road ever since.

Haunting him, keeping him on the run from something that’s been inside his body all this time and his soul in chains of guilt from his sins that’s not even his to claim. Yet, honest men like him are fools. Blaming themselves from whatever kind of sin that’s not theirs until they die from it.

He kept that thought away as he drank the last bit of alcohol of his fourth bottle and chuckled silently. Laughing like he had just heard a joke from a ghost beside him. An irony of encounter in his life. His sin which made his body ache in pain from his healed scars and his soul screams from agony.

“What kind of magic is this?” he whispered as he watched the beautiful D wiping tables a few meters away. She looked back at him then gave a grin, knowing that he’s been looking at her for the past few hours getting her plump body to work.

He has never had this kind of nostalgia before. His feeling of déjà vu made his skin perspire easily even though he can feel the cool wind from an open window a few tables away from him. The sound of bottles made him snap out from his meditation. Looking up was D smiling at him.

“Handsome, will ya stop bein’ creepy? Ya look like a psychotic killer,” she teased him then sat down and stole one of his booze.

He arched a brow. “I’m not a psycho and shouldn’t you be working?” he asked her and she just gave him a shrug then drank another gulp of alcohol.

“Ya didn’t deny it,” D said after a minute of silence.

“Deny what?” he asked while sipping his bottle.

“That ya are a killer although ya did deny the psychotic part,” she said saw him nod.

“So ya really are a killer?” D asked and he gave another nod.

“For hire?” she asked and he chuckled.

“No,” he said lazily and saw her full lips came to a pout which gave him another chuckle.

“Then what? Ya either too secretive or too lazy to explain,” she said and he sighed.

“Both,” he said and she put both of her elbows on top of the table laid her chin on her palms then sighed.

“Didn’t know that a handsome wanderer like ya would be borin’. What happened to the lively one earlier? Like ya have pulled a switch the second I’ve asked about the killer part,” D said; waiting for him to answer but all there was is silence.

He shouldn’t have said that because the moment he talks is like he’ll die from spilling everything here on the table. And besides, it doesn’t concern her in any way because it’s not her life, to begin with. A stranger like him doesn’t matter to a girl like her. And also, they’re both strangers; no more, no less.

“Ya really unfair ya know,” she said; breaking the veil of silence between them.

“How so?” he asked as he sipped his sixth bottle of alcohol. This many still wouldn’t make him drunk. He’s not a wuss when it comes to holding up his booze. It takes more than eight bottles of alcohol but since the woman named D took one, still, he doesn’t get drunk by it.

“Ya won’t tell me. Besides ya still, haven’t said ya name even though we’re friends,” D stated the obvious which made him smile.

“I thought I could get away from it. I know that your beautiful and smart but not this intelligent,” he said which made her scoff.

“So ya either sayin’ that to avoid what I’ve asked ‘cause ya name is also a secret or ya just want me to name ya handsome as long as ya stay here in order for ya to avoid in tellin’ me your secret?” D said. Slightly pissed off.

And she had struck another chord. It makes him guiltier but he can’t help it because it’s like she knows his nature inside and out.

He raised both of his palms in surrender. “Okay, didn’t expect that but yes. Both of them are correct. And I didn’t think that by asking your name would make us instantly friends,” he said and she chuckled.

“Well, it’s one of my rules to know more from strangers like ya. And ya no longer stranger to me handsome. We’re friends,” she said with a smile.

“Clavis, Clavis Malfoye,” Clavis introduced himself and she stretched out her hand. He took it then they shook their hands as they smile at each other.

“Demarqueshasfine M. Grande,” D said and he laughed which made her arch a brow.

“I thought that you were just playing when you said that you weren’t kidding,” Clavis said and she chuckled.

“Looks like I’m not after all,” she said and he laughed.

“True. But it’s really hard,” he said and she smiled.

“That’s why I shorten'd it to D but my dad calls me Ema,” D said and he nodded.

“Well that’s convenient but does he really have to name you a complicated one?” Clavis asked and she shrugged.

“Ask him,” she paused then smirked; “but then… ya have to pay a price,” D said and gave him a smile but he just furrowed his brows.

“Well, whatever that price is...I bet I won’t even have the luxury to pay it. Besides, that’s his reason to keep. I’m just a passing stranger,” he said and she chuckled.

“I told ya already. Ya no stranger to me,” D said and he smiled.

Another silence poured towards their conversation, this time it didn’t make them giddy. It was a peaceful silence which hung throughout the cold air while they sip their own bottle of alcohol.

“So Clavis...” D started as he looked at her, “what did ya do before ya became a traveler?” she asked him then drank every drop of booze into her bottle.

He just looked at her as she grabs another bottle on the table.

“I was a soldier,” he said after a minute of watching her drinking his booze.

D just nodded and kept on drinking, understanding what he meant earlier.

“Bummer,” she said and he chuckled.

“Why would a hero like ya wander the Earth? What are ya so desp’rately searching for in life that made ya wander into nowhere?” she asked after another minute of silence.

“My salvation,” Clavis said and she gave a loud snort which made him look unto her with amusement.

“No offense but,” she started laughing and he just looked at her as she laughs then it slowly dies down; “sorry,” she said as she clears her throat.

“What I was tryin’ to say was...ya crazy!” she exclaimed as she looks at him and Clavis just shrugged his shoulders.

“Well I guess I am,” he said and D slowly nodded her head as she looks at some people who are getting up from their seats; drunk.

“And besides I’m no hero,” he said and this made her snap her head back at him.

“What do ya mean?” she asked him, now curious.

“I already told you I’m a killer,” Clavis said and sipped his half-empty bottle.

“Why?” D asked him.

“Why am I accusing myself of being a killer?” he said and smiled at her. “Because it’s the truth. I kill strangers from different countries just to protect our nation,” Clavis said as he looked at those drunken men who are daring each other. “And not only that;” he continued as he looked back at her “but also my comrades too,” he finished with while drinking straight his last bottle.

D just smiled. “I know,” she said then looked back at those drunken men who are stripping.

“The markings has ended,” he said as he’s also watching those drunken men fighting while they’re naked.

“What?” D asked him as she looked him questioningly.

“Your name,” he said as he looked back at her “it means ‘the markings have ended’,” he said then heard her chuckled.

“You knew that this day would come haven’t you?” she asked him and he nodded.

“They won’t let me go off that easily,” he said as he watched those drunken men collapse one by one. “Just because I came back with a few scratches doesn’t mean that I won’t slip out freely into their plans,” Clavis said and looked at D.

“True; they won’t let you off that easy,” she said as she twirled an empty bottle. “Meaning you’re too valuable to let go and they will do anything to keep you in their hands,” D said then looked at him.

“Too valuable to even hire an assassin in order to kill me huh?” he said with a chuckle.

“You’re my last mission,” she said as she stood up.

“Are you going to kill me now?” he asked her with a smile.

D laughed. “I didn’t know that you’re that excited. If I knew better I wouldn’t have put that poison inside those bottles for you to not feel any pain while enjoying your last drink of booze,” she said while walking slowly towards him. “Guess I was too considerate,” she said while stopping in front of him.

“I knew it when I see beautiful but at the same time troublesome women like you,” he joked as he took both of her hands into his then pulled her down; making her sit on his lap.

D laughed heartily. “You’re the first person that I know who keeps on flirting with his killer,” she said and he chuckled.

“Well I can’t help it if I’m being killed by a beautiful, smart and troublesome lady like you,” he said then brushed her cheek with his thumb.

“What now?” she asked him as his thumb explores her cheek.

“I want my prize,” he demanded as his thumb touched her lower lip.

D smiled. “Our deal was for you to say my name,” she said as she teasingly bit his thumb.

“Forget the name and just kiss me,” he said as she released his thumb.

“What an impatient and demanding man you are,” she said then leaned her head slowly.

“It’s a dying man’s only wish,” Clavis said as their lips touched. The kiss was a simple peck but he put his hand on her nape then began to suck her lips, attacking it like he’s on a battlefield.

As their pace dies down and their breath hitches up. They finally stopped and looked into each other’s eyes, memorizing others faces. “Goodnight handsome,” D said.

Clavis smiled at her. “Goodnight beautiful,” he said sleepily.

“De marques finem,” D said as she took her pocket knife then added another mark to her upper stomach. She crossed out the last D mark that’s at the upper level from her belly button, indicating that her mission has been finished.

She stood up, pressing a red button then walked out of the building. Her phone rang the minute she stepped out a few meters away from the building and she accepted the call.

“It’s done,” she said as a blast was heard from afar. Smoke and fire went ablaze into the night while she went inside a black truck.

“Good, your reward will be given after twenty-four hours. And all I want to say is that your country is proud of you,” a deep voice replied on the other side of the line.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” D replied as she started the car.

“Emma,” the man behind the phone said with emotion. “Come back home,” he said then called off.

D threw her phone away then looked at the road.

“I am home,” she said as she took off into the night.