SHORT-LIVED HAPPINESS

NATHAN'S POV

I was happy seeing her face up close but there was still a tinge of looming sadness. She was before me but I could not have access to her. Because of the screen of my computer…oh no! Because we are miles apart and for me to get to her, I would need to use the air. It was all so painful and my heart could not just understand why I was allowing all this but my brain could!

If I should let my heart lead, my heart would stop on the way, because it would die because Martha could be killed.

She was smiling that peculiar smile of hers, that tugged and strung at my heart in various pleasant ways. As they ate dessert, I could see a drop of ice cream that was at the corner of her lips and I wanted to reach out to her face but once again, I was obstructed by distance. Marcus, of course, had the audacity to help her with it and the only thing I could do was…watch! My dad was excited by the atmosphere in the room and had involved me in the conversation, to know if Lily, who we have something on, has something on me. The girl did not act much differently, probably because I was not seeing her up close but I could see Martha's reaction. The screen definitely could not stop me from reading her eyes at the mention of my name. Whenever I hear the name ' Martha!',. I am instantly attracted. Whatever the person is saying, I am automatically interested. It was not the same for Martha though. As she heard my name, I watched her stare at a spot on the table where there was no plate for about five seconds before getting back herself and nervously tucking her hair behind her ear.

"Stay with me MJ! A little more time!"

I chatted with the executive in charge of Level Four Combatants and asked him if they had made plans on where the meeting for their training would be. He affirmed and I requested to see the drill for the location. It was just too simple for me and had no complex or strategic means to it - I found it quite boring and asked him if I could add a little touch to the code they had. He and his subjects agreed - like they could do any different - and I got to work.

I came up with the concept of the location for that day and I did not add a touch to the code they had before, I re-did the whole thing. Those recruits and their executives seem to be slacking off in Naylatan because I am not available!

I knew it was the text Martha had received and there was a very happier mood she was set into. She excused herself and went to her room and just like that, I could have no access to the face of my Milky Way.

The intercom informed all, that someone was at the gate and further findings showed that it was Ferran Jonathan. What he wanted was what I could not understand. I remember him being the only person to be an acquaintance to Martha in their recruit training system levels and they sparred together whenever they got the chance. Martha is very fond of him!

He came in looking bash and tried to mess with the Jordan brothers but they sure put him in his place. I gave a thumbs up to them when they did not tell him where Martha was when he asked and in fact neglected him. I did not like the broad smile that was on Mr James' face on seeing Ferran. I know he is beyond grateful that Ferran had saved Martha's life but that is all in the past. When I was still in Naylatan, I had also saved Martha numerous times, from some pretty accidents or clumsy incidents and never had I ever gotten such a reaction from Mr Jordan.

I guess Ferran might be the only eligible rival I can try to compare myself with in Martha's dad's heart…painful!

Martha comes down from the stairs a little leapy and Ferran rushes to hug her but once again, the Jordan brothers save the day…rescuing my heart. They were like a wall that could not be moved and I could not see her face until she stubbornly separated them with her hands. After some more bickering, Martha goes up to get changed. Possible outcomes on what she might wear and how good she would look in it started to run through my mind. Am I a pervert for watching her like this? Would I be considered a stalker?

I hoped she would not wear something like what she wore, the time I kissed her in the ring. It took everything within me not to have her there and most times, sitting alone and missing her for the life of me in Fijex, I wished I had not turned away from her like that on that day.

I was doing it for her own good but she was hurt in the process, so it definitely was not good. My selfishness had caused it!

I remembered how slowly her lips had tortured me, how her eyes had widened and sparkled when I pinned her hands above her head. My warm body from the spar was burning hot in a matter of seconds because of our proximity. I can never forget her eyes even if I lose my memory. I think they are in the untouchable and titanium shielded parts of my mind, memory and heart.

Not the time Nathan! I snapped out of my thoughts when Martha came down from the stairs. Martha comes down in a grey hoodie and grey joggers. She looked amazing especially with her hair tied high up and her neckline quite visible. That neckline I definitely want my marks on and imprints on!

The coffee I was drinking stopped making sense to me that instant and I wanted it to be replaced with a bottle of vodka but the fear of missing something important from Martha had me transfixed. Vodka would surely relax my antsy nerves!

Martha was soon out of sight much to my disappointment and I was stuck with my dad and Mr James' movie and their comments in crucial moments of the movie that had to do with the Two Faced Man being in trouble. Martha's dad would sometimes call Lily, to ask what she thought of the man.

They were done with the movie and wanted to move on to the chess game when Michael's phone rang. My attention was not really on him as I concentrated on the chess board but it soon changed when he asked, "so where are you now Martha?"

Martha? Now that interests me!

"We'll be there soon!" said Michael before hanging up.

Everyone in the living room had their eyes on him as he turned around - they were impatiently expectant because it seemed like something had happened.

"So, I would have just called my dad and brother to say this but I know you all care about Martha and…" said Michael and I was like, "just get to the point boy!"

"Martha and Ferran were attacked!" blurted Michael. My heart rate increased and I grasped onto the edge of the table. Did they get to her before I was even able to do anything?

"What do you mean by attacked?" asked Mr James as he sprung up to his feet.

"Some person had come and purposely slammed into Ferran's car, till he ensured that their car was sent into the ocean and not…everyone, chill at this because she is kind of fine now…Not before, the assailant threw a bomb on Martha!"

"Fuck!" The curse word flew out of Mr James lips fast. "Where are they now?"

"The bridge that connects Wild Read and Dawn Crust cities" said Michael.

"They are in Ocean Dark?" asked Marcus.

"Yes they are. We need to go to them now!"

Everybody hurriedly picked their things and wire whatever was needed before getting into Mr James and my dad's car. They were soon in the hospital and my joy knew no bounds when I saw her stand on her feet on seeing her family. She is alive! She is well!

Maybe not well because ever.strong Martha ran towards her dad, who hugged her. He was visibly shaken and I heard Martha's cries. It felt so sad!

Who had done this to Martha! The person was in for a treat!

I minimised and spent five minutes before I successfully hacked into a camera that is in a streetlight on the road. All I could see for the day was a lone car that stayed for a while on the side of the road before it rode away. There was something odd because there was a time the camera was not recording and that explained that it had been tampered with.

Wow! Is it on already? Was the attack for Ferran or Martha? I hoped the lad would survive. I definitely did not want him to die because he was the only combatant level member of hers that talked to her. The others possibly felt that her being where she was, was due to nepotism!

I deduced something then.

The person that had come to attack was sent and it was not because he held a personal grudge against either of them. The street light that he had hacked was a very inconspicuous one in the network and should not be easily discovered but it was and that means the attacker was not just a person. The attack was from an organization that has a high ranking technology that could detect hidden and coded cameras.

I went to check on my Martha when I was met with Mrs Jonathan throwing her purse at Martha and some seconds later, Martha passing out.

I could not sit still any longer at this point!