The 4th CRIME

Chapter 9

"What in the..." I began as I looked out in the hallway and seen Mr Kim standing with a newly purchased bicycle, a wide smile on his face as he beamed at me. 

"You said that you can't ride a bicycle and I thought that I could teach you." 

"Are you a moron?" I asked him as I looked at the bicycle and then back at him, "I'm not getting on that thing." 

He shook his head, "come on, Natalya. The school's empty, it's just us, a bicycle and an empty hallway. Let's have some innocent fun and finally get you that riding lesson." 

I looked at the beautiful bicycle, gnawing at my lower lip as I doubtfully looked at him and the bicycle, "I don't know," I admitted softly as I looked down the long hallway and saw no one in sight. 

He held out a girly helmet, beaming, "just once. No one will ever know." 

I looked at his inviting face, sighing as I walked to him slowly, not excited for him doing this. 

"Not a word to anyone," I threatened as I scowled at the helmet and then slowly placed it on my head. 

I struggled to put it on and Mr Kim stood behind me as he held my braids for me and made them into an untidy braid to help fit the helmet on my head. 

"Remember, just pedal and steer, that's all there is to it," he said to me as I carefully threw my leg over the bicycle and sat down on the seat, my skirt reaching my thighs as I shook my head. 

"That's all, right?" I asked him, the nervousness finally showing in my voice. 

I didn't feel safe at all with Mr Kim like I did when I was with my father. My father calmed me down and was with me every step of the way. I know that my father taught me what I needed to know and taught me what would help me grow to become the person I want to be. 

It was shocking that me, a killer, a murderer and drug dealer: was scared to ride a bicycle. My legs shook as I placed my feet on the pedals and looked around nervously. 

"I'm here," Mr Kim said to me, his face near me as he looked me over, his hands on the handle and my seat. "I'm right next to you," he soothed and I nodded, nervously. 

"Don't let go of me," I told him and he nodded. 

I breathed in and then began to press my right foot harder as the bicycle jerked underneath me and I gasped as it wobbled, "I said don't let go," I snapped to Mr Kim and he chuckled, "it's not funny." 

"Just focus, it's really easy," he said to me as he began to move the bicycle, pushing it and my legs dangled on the side of it before I placed my feet on the pedal again pushing them.

This time it didn't jerk like it did before and I was steady because Mr Kim was holding me as he pushed me down the hallway. He took his time as he pushed me and with each push, his hand was holding mine over the handle as he spoke excitedly in my ear and it finally gave me the confidence to pedal a bit faster. 

"I'm letting go," he said to me and I shook my head quickly, "I'm letting go. You've got this!" He exclaimed as he let go of the bicycle and I squealed as I started to lose control and the bicycle jerked left and right as I tried to calm myself. 

"Why did you let go?" I shouted back at him, raising my voice at him for the first time- raising my voice within this building for the first time in my life. 

"You're riding a bicycle! You're doing it!" He clapped as he ran besides me and I smiled wide when I heard his words, indeed seeing that I was pedalling smoothly all of a sudden. 

"I am! I am!" I agreed with him, feeling myself grin as I looked at him, running next to me. 

That resulted in me losing control and the bicycle fell, taking Mr Kim with me as we fell into a bundle of mess and happy smiles. 

"Ow," I complained but my smile said otherwise as I lifted my head and looked at Mr Kim who was sprawled out beside me, both of us beneath the bicycle. 

"I'm so proud of you," he said to me, a gleam in his dark orbs that I stared into. His lips formed into a widened grin, those happy lines around his lips created a beautiful image of his true features. 

"Thank you," I said, laughing, "that was a lot of fun!" 

"You want to do it again?" He asked me, "that was just your first try." 

I nodded eagerly, jumping to my feet before he could get up and then chuckled at him as I lifted the bicycle off of him and he stood to the side. 

"Let's go at the same time," I suggested as I looked at him, "I mean, we're having fun right? You ride and I'll just be a passenger." 

"I don't think that's such a good idea," he said reluctantly as he looked at me and then the bicycle, "I don't think it'll be able to take the weight." 

I rolled my eyes, "just once, that's all." I said repeating his words and he chuckled, shaking his head before he approached me with his hands held up in mock surrender. 

"Just once," he repeated and then took the bicycle from me. 

He threw his long leg over it and I suppressed a comment about his length and the bicycle as I smiled up at him then sat in front of him, my body facing the lockers and his facing forward. 

His arms came around me to the handles and I gripped onto the handles as well as he let out steady breaths, "this is a bad idea," he said as he looked down at me and I nodded, biting my top lip. 

"But let's do it anyway," I said and then looked away from him to the front. 

The bicycle wobbled under both of our weight and Mr Kim was struggling with getting the bike to move without it jerking in all directions. After a terrible, complaining 3 minutes start, we were off as we moved down the hallway and I began to get ahead of myself. 

So my helmet hit Mr Kim in the nose and we lost control yet again. This time though, I laughed loudly as he grunted when my helmet connected with his nose and squealed when the bicycle went right into the wall. 

"Now that," I began, "really hurt," I complained as I held my nose after banging my face against the wall when the bicycle collided into it, sending Mr Kim on top of my leg. 

The pain wasn't worth losing my mind over because I've experienced much worse, such as a stab wound from my brother, Czar during our many training sessions and even a bullet wound. But hitting my face against the wall was still a bit sore, more of an ache, but nonetheless some pain. 

I tried to move my leg but Mr Kim began to laugh, struggling to find his footing and move off me. I raised an eyebrow at his strangeness, reaching for the helmet and needing to take it off. 

It felt too hot and it was beginning to give me a headache. I don't know how this thing provides protection when it's so flimsy but tight and irritating. I hate helmets and I don't see the need for them. Of course my mum always says I'll see the need for them when I split my head into pieces on the floor and die. 

"What's so funny?" I asked Mr Kim as I rubbed under my chin, the part where the straps met. 

"Let me help you," he spoke, as he reached for the helmet and I swatted his hand away. 

"I don't need your help," I told him as I mentally rolled my eyes. 

"It won't come off if I don't help you," he responded, his hands back on the helmet and I let out a loud breath as I let him help me. 

I let out a breath of relief as the helmet finally was loose and off my head, Mr Kim holding it in his hands as he held it out to me and I shook my head, running my hands through my braids as I smoothed it down and untied my braids from the terrible thick braid he had made. 

"What happened today can never be spoken of," I said to him, finally coming back to my senses. 

"Oh, for sure," he nodded as he got off my foot and leaned against the wall in front of me, "I'm really proud of you though." 

I didn't reply as I adjusted the length of my skirt jumper and made sure I didn't look untidy. 

"You caught on really quickly," he commended and I glanced at him. 

"Can't you catch on really quickly that I don't want to talk to you?" 

"Why are you so snappy?" 

"Why are you so happy?" 

"Why can't I be happy?" 

"I say this with respect, Mr Kim, but you're annoying." 

"Just admit that you had fun today and I'll stop annoying you," he replied as he kept tossing the helmet up and catching it, irritating me even more. 

I wanted to stand up but I was feeling lazy and even if I were to stand up, where was I going to go. 

"Just admit it," he repeated, "just admit it." 

I ignored him, now deciding that it was best to get up and leave, "ok don't go," he stopped me as he dropped the helmet and held my hand, stopping me from standing up or even moving to a position where I can stand. 

I froze as his face was near mine and his body much closer than I would have liked it to be. I could smell his cologne, the musky scent and his hand was warm in mine. My hands have always been unnaturally cold and stiff or more so calloused but his hand around my wrist felt soft and warm. His hand covered my entire wrist, holding a much bigger portion than just my hand. 

Goodness, I don't know what got over me. I don't know what happened or what was going through my mind but one second my eyes were on his. His dark eyes, they looked so black- they were black- and were looking into mine. Transparent as always and showing his emotion which at the moment I couldn't define because I was lost in my own world. 

His eyes moved from mine, trailing lower and I knew he was looking down at my lips. As I've caught him once before but instead of rolling my eyes or smirking, something I would usually do, my eyes trailed lower to his lips as well.

I thought I seen them closer to me, I thought I felt myself move towards his as well. 

It's like his hold on my wrist took over me, took over my body and made me lose control as I held my breath. I don't know if time was moving slower or faster but I know that time nonetheless was moving, and it was bringing Mr Kim and me much closer with each passing millisecond. 

Until I could feel his breath on my face, above my upper lip as all I could see was just him. I blinked and my head snapped back sharply as I jumped away from him as though he was a snake about to attack me. 

I stumbled back, my back hitting into the sharp handles of the bicycles and Mr Kim held a look of confusion, panic and shock as he attempted to speak but I shook my head stiffly and jumped to my feet, turned and ran to the bathroom. 

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