:: A Surprise ::

Two days later -

The sight from the glass pane window is beautiful. My knees feel like jelly as I brace myself and stand up in the moving carriage. I took a few steps and then fall back down into the seat.

We are in a moving carriage of the Singapore Flyer. Still the same world, same time. But with Cullen's ability to move between countries without the need for a passport or a plane ticket, everything seems undoubtedly magical.

What surprised me further was that night, not only did nothing happen between us, but he appeased my desire with a playful massage. In the past, I did not know I was capable of such power, desire, or even emotions (particularly my jealousy, which had never been present in my past life). As much as I wanted to be his, he wanted to play it out a little longer.

"Where's the fun of it if I take you now?" he responded.

Man, after teasing me for long and making me say those words that embarrassed me deep within. I would have taken it out on him physically, but I was restrained by him then. I did not speak to him for one whole night after that, ignoring him as we slept on opposite sides of the room.

Then he surprised me with this trip to Singapore. Of course, I didn't have a choice when he whisked us there without no more than a few words of notice. Singapore was a small island in Southeast Asia, nicknamed the 'Little Red Dot'. According to the historical lecture by Cullen,  it was one of the places visited by Admiral Cheng Ho and deemed by the admiral as one of the most magnificent sights of the world he had laid his eyes on.

The first thing we did was to head right to Marina Bay and purchase a flyer ticket. Cullen promised it would be the best experience I would ever have. From the carriage, I could see the entire island. At night, he would bring me somewhere cozy so I could relax. However, considering how I liked the quietness and the fact that Singapore was a bustling little city, I was uncertain if his statement was right. 

The other thing I didn't seem to be surprised about was that Cullen had again adopted a new alias in our trip to Singapore. A dark black card with the name 'Cool Lo' in silver gleamed back at me. Cullen… Ku Lin… now Cool? Perhaps he could do with some help with names.

As soon as I had sat down in our shared seat, Cullen began laughing crazily, triggering my ire.

"I told you that you would lose in this bet!" His hysterical laughter rang through the interior of the carriage. I stared at him without saying a word. He had predicted cleverly that I would not be able to stand for three seconds before my knees would go all jerky and numb from the height of the carriage.

I, however, had endeavoured to prove him wrong. He just smiled charmingly and whispered in my ear, tickling my ear lobe with his tongue.

"Are you sure you will win?"

I huffed indignantly. Meh, this dude was full of himself!

In my past life, I had not been afraid at all standing at the top of the tallest skyscraper in Andophia City. How did I become such a scaredy-cat now?

The wager was that I would have to do what he wished of me for a day, and this day would be a day of his choosing. I gritted my teeth and accepted my defeat. I hope that he would not ask me to do something very very embarrassing.

"Sure, I'll go easy on you, as long as you call me darling," he taunted me coldly. 

I feigned that he had not said that word. How could I even imagine myself mouthing that word? I found it disgusting and clingy. I could not see myself in that position, even if I was considered a beauty. 

"I'll definitely stick to our wager," I say as if he had not made his offer. No way am I going to call him d..arling. I couldn't even pronounce that word in my head.

"Whatever suits you, my dear Shengyi," he said with a chuckle. The ride came to a stop, and he gallantly opened the door to assist me to exit the carriage. I look down at my princess-like fashionable dress and then back at his trendy attire. I have observed from the crowds in the area that we are a little too overdressed for the Flyer ride, yet Cullen doesn't care about the funny looks that we receive from passersby.

In my understanding, the citizens and residents of Singapore during this era seem to be more casually-dressed given the extreme heat of the tropical weather. They also tend to speak in shorter, simpler sentences. When in Andophia, do as the Andophians do! The same goes for Singapore, Indonesia, and whichever country Cullen plans to go to next in his endless travels.

It has been two weeks and is approaching three weeks since he brought me on this expedition. I still don't know what it is he wants to prove to me by bringing me along, other than 'educating' me with the wonders of the world I never knew to exist. What's next, is he going to bring me along on space travel among the stars?

"If you would like that, I don't mind, but we can't be out of our world too long," he tells me with a gentle tap on my shoulder.

"I thought you don't belong to any world," I mutter.

"Actually, I meant you. You are the one susceptible to contamination, not me."

  "Is the only risk of being away from my world too long contamination?"

"Hmm, there's this other thing." He pauses for a moment, and I wonder if there is something he is keeping from me. His lips don't move, and he appears to be pondering deeply on a question in his mind. 

"Cullen..." I begin. He holds me close to him and clears his throat.

"I don't know how to explain this to you, Shengyi, but I have been living in your world for quite some time. In other words, I've adapted. There might be a repercussion if I stay away from your world too long, but with you by my side," he smiles deviously and continues, "I am willing to take any risk for you."

I smile. When he was Cullen Fu, he constantly got on my nerves, but on the other hand, he was putting images in my mind of committing sinful acts with him. Now that I know his actual identity, I have come to accept the fact that I am attracted by him, Cullen. Devil Cullen, Demon Cullen, whatever he wants to call himself.

But how did he just learn to talk so smoothly?

Cullen extracts a rectangular object from his pocket. On a closer look, it is a book, but it is slightly different from the books I have noticed in my world. I vaguely remember the commuters in various countries in this world carrying similar items in their hands as they walked or took public transport. 

The cover of the book stated in bold, dark letters "How to win over a woman in 100 days". I look at him unbelievably. 

"You're a demon and can easily win over thousands of mortals, yet you need to do this?"

"But you're not one of those thousands of mortals," he whispers mischievously, cupping my cheek in his large hands. The smooth skin of his palms stroke my cheeks, inducing my body to warm with the heat transpiring between our bodies. He was so cold, but had the ability to make me feel..heated.

"What's special about me? You never exactly told me," I trembled. He lifts my chin and tilts my face at an angle so that we are staring right into each other's eyes.

His eyes are red, but not from anger, but rather, passionate. I inhale and exhale nervously, realising he is in fact, gazing into my eyes lovingly. Did he learn all this… from a book?

"There's no reason, it's just fate. You are special, don't you know it, Shengyi?"

"But like any mortal, I will just resign my fate to the heavens when I die," I tell him. "My soul will just dissipate and I will cease to exist. You probably won't even remember me-"

He cuts me off impatiently. "Shengyi, who said you are just like any mortal?"

His words made me stop thinking and instead peer at him in confusion. Would I be spared from a limited lifespan and mortal fate? Did he have a way of liberating me from death?

"Shengyi, I know you have questions you need answered. But there will be a time for you to know the answers. For now, I just need you to give yourself to me. One hundred percent. I will not allow for anyone else in your heart."

I shiver as he states the words, rather coldly. Whenever he gets jealous, his tone turns icy. But I am not any better. I too, only want him for myself.

"What about you? Will you be willing to only have me?" I gather my courage to respond to him firmly. I know I am strong and I need to be firm.

"Like I said before, it depends on your performance. If you want to win over me and not allow me to have any others in my heart, you have to work on it."

He glances at me cheekily. I pout and thrust at him a 'you gotta be kidding' glare. I turn from him and look at a corner.

"Angry?" he states what is evident.

What does he even think?

We are alone in the car parking lot, and we were standing in the spot where Cullen's rented car is parked. It was a workday, so aside from us, there were few visitors and cars. Cullen grabs me from behind when I least expect it, and embraces me with all his might.

I can't break free so I remain motionless. But the heat burning in my veins is more than I can handle. I am urged to turn around and reciprocate the hug he has presented me with.

He locks me against the back of the rented car and swoops down on my lips, kissing me senselessly. Above us, I can see a few sparks of light as a force field forms around us, cloaking us from view by any other person in the surrounding. My thin dress clings tightly to my body, damp from my sweat. His other free hand curls around my waist, supporting me as I am pressed against the vehicle.

[You are mine, Shengyi. You are only allowed to think of me.]

His words conquer me and I submit to this call of darkness and my own need.