t, inches away from her

atures had the most emotionless expre

on and straightened herself. "O'cours

S

e's not

nd

cting," the mistr

drawer. Lovette stood and watched in

udent being punished by the discipline master as Sarko

rebuked the handsome giant sitting calmly before her, "Thi

turned to her, "If your brain is

rko

eyes darkened wit

ing lips that had evoked in her a desire to be ravaged by them

eep voice ordered. The blue gaze t

se in defiance but answered obediently, "No tou

his fingers o

necessary to convince M

rs stoppe

d defeatedly, "If I do the job well, I get to keep all the gifts." She paused

med his reading, "Your

ng scolded for her bad temper and stormed out of the r

up of coffee on the desk. Beside the cu

fee and p

d and put do

o his seat. Absentmindedly, he reached into h

e metal piece quiet

ip of a heartbeat, he f

leeve dress was be

don for her sixt

He took her to Hyde Park to see

story about some duck turning into a swan. She had been so fasc

, she was disappointed. He pro

re the

s ballooning in the wind, just to take a few more photos of the majestic bird. Her brownish-red c

at the wind wa

't deterred from

the gurgling air currents, She beamed at him w

was pure and beau

mesme

by her sheer beauty, spee

at the same again

he couldn't think properly

ed up a storm in it, he tried to break the trance and

at his heavily bandaged hand warned him

areful than e

owing. His eyes drifted from those grinning almond, gr

his throat went dry. A thumb brus

ng snapp

eavy. Millions of the same haunting thoughts

d. You of all people should know why. S

k

een her portraits of him. He reckoned it was just a phase, a typical te

sn't

t kissed her that evening at the beach. He felt a desire so s

d to

ed. Maria kept her distance. For the whole of last week, they har

en glad that his

rd, so he would be to

e been at peace, no

didn't c

isse

eded to find her a good husband. Then, he would have completely ser

and took a sip of the warm, bitter liqu

me

*

gan the second sh

er attire, Maria left him for a short

e in her direction. But Maria knew that they were actually awed b

g fingers, Maria skipped up the

most likely pamphlets and booklets about the campus and the dorms, and the

of the car. His thick arms were crossed in front o

cause she would not see him for the next few weeks.

nspiration. She hugged her stomach

have food

aze only to relax it a

y. My stomach hurts. Argh! I need a

therly pat. Her heart sank again. She wouldn't see him again i

do you expect? A lover's pat? Is he yours? He's not. He has a g

ven her everything and asked for nothing in return. No, she defended silen

the dashing man who stared ba

rough my tricks?" the you

ct," came th

"Why can't you just prete

o you, Maria.

't want to stay here, Uncle Sarkon," she pleaded in a whisper

oth hands onto