Apollo & Luna

The Quiet Beauty

“Alicia, can you go to the pen and see how Bobo’s doing?” the old lady asked and her daughter didn’t need to be told a second time.

She noticed how the guest followed Alicia with his eyes until she was out of their sights, but there was no condemnation there nor fear. There was only plain curiosity.

“What do you think of my daughter?” she asked softly, startling the visitor.

“I-I…She’s beautiful,” he answered, which made her laugh.

“I wasn’t asking about her looks. I’m asking about what you overheard earlier,” she said which surprised the young man, and she chuckled some more.

“Yann Bouchard, this house is small and you are a big man. It’s difficult for me not to see you hiding behind the drawer in the hallway with me facing there.”

“Oh,” Yann muttered as he scratched the side of his head.

He had arrived while they were still talking and felt awkward about making his presence known.

“I’m sorry for that. I was about to come here when she suddenly spoke,” he said softly and she nodded.

“It’s okay. But I want to know what you think about what was said earlier?”

Silence hung between them for a while before Yann spoke, his forehead creased in a frown.

“I honestly don’t know what to think,” he answered sincerely.

“I remember being shot and everything. I heard her say to you too that it was the case. But I don’t understand why…” he paused, his frown deepening as he touched his chest where he felt the bullet go through.

“If I was indeed shot, and I do remember being shot, why am I not injured now?”

The young man looked totally lost and she smiled in understanding. Her time in this world was running out. She didn’t want to leave her daughter, but she knew she couldn’t protect her forever. If her assumptions about the boy her daughter saved were correct, that he was a good man, she hoped he’d be the one to replace her. The young man, after all, owed her daughter his life.

“I know you have a lot of questions. What happened to you was terrible. My daughter, Alicia, would take you back to town so you can contact your family. But if you can, please hear this old woman’s wish. Stay with us for a few more days and I promise you, your questions will be answered.”

Yann had never heard such a request before, but then again, he’d never been shot and mysteriously healed after a few hours either, and so he nodded. Besides, whoever had him kidn*pped wanted him dead. That person wanted not just a part of his possessions but everything he owned. He couldn’t yet show up back home to expose himself – not when he was still confused about so many things and the biggest of them was the enigma of his savior named Alicia.

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“What’s wrong with him?” Yann asked as he squatted next to Alicia.

He had been watching his savior for a while and noted her solemn – almost tearful expression as she caressed the pig’s side as she softly coaxed the pig to drink. The animal lay on the ground whimpering and the business tycoon had never seen such a pitiful sight. He had this urge to grab the girl and hug her for comfort, but he knew Alicia wouldn’t like it so he just resigned himself to sitting next to her.

“Bobo’s a girl,” Alicia said, not at all looking at him and Yann was disheartened.

He had this feeling that the woman didn’t like him and he was somehow saddened. Alicia was after all the one who saved his life – though until now he still had no idea how.

“She’s just very old.”

“I see,” Yann commented as he sighed.

A week had passed, and until now, he couldn’t understand the rationale of him staying here, though he wasn’t complaining since it helped him to sort his thoughts and set some plans. For example, as important as the guests were at the party, why was the security so lax?

Not to mention his own security.

He was someone who hated being surrounded by burly bodyguards, but he should have at least one or two who were always tailing him for safety. He was supposed to be always in their sight – so where were they that time?

Technically, his attendance at the party was a randomly decided upon one. But surprisingly, everyone seemed to know he was going to be there more than he, the person himself. He couldn’t shake the feeling there was some kind of conspiracy that went on.

So yes, staying here temporarily wasn’t a problem. He needed to know who wanted him dead after all, and he still hadn’t solved the puzzle of his miraculous survival, since Alicia wouldn’t answer him when he asked.

 Silence hung between them and Yann’s frustration grew. Alicia still wouldn’t talk to him much despite them sleeping on the same bed at night and waking up holding each other in the morning.

Yes, as bizarre things had gotten, he and the beautiful woman who had saved him shared the same bed each and every night albeit to only sleep. It was frustrating on his side however, as he woke up with a painful erection.

Being a beautiful creature himself, Yann was mostly immune to mortal charms. Any beautiful girl could strip naked in front of him, and he’d never even bat an eyelid nor care.

Alicia on the other hand was totally different. Not only were her looks otherworldly, she had this unique aura as well that totally attracted him like a magnet.

Being with her for a while, he knew that the girl’s beauty matched her soul. She was good inside out. Despite how horrible he noticed the neighbors treated the mother and child with their name calling and petty pranks, the two never retaliated – even though there were moments when he wanted to do it for them.

“It’s not worth it,” Alicia would always tell him so he’d drop the issue even at that time when he wanted to plant his fist against a neighbor’s face after the insult he threw at them.

“He stole your vegetables and he still had the gall to call you names? What injustice is that?” he complained one time, but still, he lost and didn’t confront the man.  

Another thing that confused Yann was the fact that Alicia seemed to be both happy and unhappy with his presence in their lives. Happy, because she treated him well – like he was already a part of their little family. Sometimes, he couldn’t help feeling hopeful that the attraction he had towards her was really reciprocated.

On the other hand, he thought she’s unhappy, because until now, despite her actions, she didn’t really talk to him much – like she hated talking to him at all. Like right now.

“I think I’m going inside and check if your mom needs anything,” Yann said afterwards as he stood up. There was no point trying to have a conversation when she’s clamming up.

As he walked back towards the house, Yann couldn’t help but glance back at Alicia from time to time. He was really in awe of her beauty – the images of her naked beneath him that first morning kept playing in his head, and he remembered almost taking her. He was so attracted to her that he had a hard time controlling himself that morning. If he hadn’t realized in time, he would have copulated with her already.

Yann was just a man after all, and it’s not surprising for him to want to hold someone as beautiful and warm as Alicia – the first girl who ever captured his heart.

He was thinking of this when Alicia suddenly stood up and met his gaze, her face as red as a tomato as if she’d heard his thoughts clearly and Yann found himself blushing too and so he turned away and hurried inside.

“Did she just read my mind?” he wondered.