Nine days

Alicia could feel it. She could also see it in his eyes. What he just said was the ultimate decision. No, a decision was actually an understatement. It seemed to be a purpose that he must fulfil at all costs. And no one… and nothing could change his mind.

Definitely it was because of their connection right now, but she just could tell for sure that he had been preparing for this his entire life. For so long, he had been waiting for this. Like this had been his main goal in life all this time.

And it suddenly stung. Hard. And Alicia winced a little.

For a long while, they just stayed there, holding onto each other's gazes. Not saying anything, not moving and almost seem to be not breathing.

He was the first to give in and had his eyes flutter close. "Don't… " He choked out.

"Don't what?" Alicia asked him back, pretending not to know.

"Don't look at me like… that." he uttered in a breathless and a little tight voice.