SURPRISE II
Mischa greeted her with a big grin plastered on her lips. Sumire couldn't answer immediately as she had a heavy feeling loaded in her chest. Something isn't right, something is missing and something is confusing her.
"You didn't look so good," Mischa added when she noticed the beautiful maiden looking dull and stunned to speak, who just stared at her, and stood like a statue.
"I'm not feeling well, " Sumire responded, forcing a smile. She was not in the mood and did not talk to anyone for days. Sumire isolates herself most of the time in her home and in the set. She was heavyhearted about what happened between her and Mort.
"Since you're feeling not okay, let's postpone the shopping we plan," Mischa said, pretending to be sad and turning her back on the maiden, which alarmed Sumire.
She immediately pulled Mischa's hand and flash a smile. "Wait Mischa, let's do it today as we promised."
Mischa's face lit up and her eyes sparkled with joy. Sumire just chuckled because, like her, she is also spoiled and a brat in the family. She loves shopping. Mischa took Sumire's hand and pulled her towards her car.
Boarded on Mischa's purple sports car on their way to the famous shopping mall, Mischa can't help but smile from ear to ear. When they arrived at the place, the two of them wears big black glasses and masks to hide their identities, sashaying down the place like a model. Well, Sumire is a runaway model. The swarm of shoppers can't help but turn their heads in them. Sumire treats and spoiled Mischa dearly. Even though the young lassie chooses expensive summer apparel from the dress emporium, the maiden doesn't care as long as she makes Mort's sister happy. They ate at an expensive restaurant that Mischa chose herself. Bolts of loud laughter and teasing filled the restaurant with only the two of them occupying the entire place. The restaurant's staff continued serving them with their specialty. Their loud burping didn't escape from the derisive look of the elites watching them from afar.
It was like Sumire went back to being a teenager when she was with Mort's sister. She used to be like Mischa in her teenage days. She felt satisfied and enjoyed Mischa's company.
"Do you know anything about the Viccini Auction House?" Sumire asked after drinking a glass of cold water. Mischa raised her head and her cheeks puffed up like a squirrel. Her mouth is full of food which makes Sumire almost burst into laughter. 'She's too adorable...'
"Yes-shh." Mischa shortly replied. Sumire was still waiting for what she was going to say, but to her dismay, Mischa continued munching her food.
"Tell me," Sumire persuaded her.
"It's an auction house," Mischa responded in a matter-of-fact way making Sumire looks stupid.
"That's not what I mean. Why this place doesn't exist according to the agents?" Sumire asked as Mischa stared at her for a short second.
"About that, you have to be my brother's betrothed wife before I tell you the whole thing," Mischa replied that Sumire sighed deeply in her seat, resting her face on her palm, and turned her gaze away outside the glassed wall.
"We're not on good terms," Sumire confesses that Mischa slightly frowns and later eyes widen, nodding one after another like something flashed into her mind.
"Ah, that explains everything. He's been grumpy these past two days," Mischa said, murmuring to herself. She knows her brother's behavior so well. "And oh, he killed someone." The young lassie added and was stopped after realizing what she just said.
"What do you mean he killed someone?" Sumire turned to her, brows met at what she heard.
"No, what I mean is he kicks not kill. He kicks someone's car." Mischa dithered and Sumire's serious gaze peruse her face as if scrutinizing her words made the teenager nervously laugh.
"I see," Sumire said in relief. She thought Mort really killed someone. Minutes of awkward silences reigned between them. Suddenly Mischa broke the silence.
"Do you still like my brother?" Mischa asked in a serious tone which make Sumire stop.
The flash of them arguing inside his office came to her. Despite what happened between them, she still deeply loves him. She didn't know if Mort would reciprocate her feelings or if this is just a one-sided love. That argument ended no good and there was no communication between them for two days. She needs to cool her head down first. She can't stand Mort being numb and impassive. It's like the man was born deprived of emotions.
"Of course," Sumire responded after two minutes of silence. Mischa was relieved and clutched her chest. She thought Sumire no longer liked her older brother because of her sudden silence.
"Thank God! Because I don't want my brother to be a kidnapper." Mischa uttered what supposed to be in her mind and remembered the scene in her brother's office where Mort slick off his hair in surly and looked troubled. He walked menacingly back and forth against the glassed wall as Klauss, Laurel, Narco, and the twins stood silently and watched him. His ominous aura overwhelms the place.
"How can I take her to the yacht without kidnapping her?" Mort muttered to himself that did not escape from their keen hearing.
"Give her an invitation card," Klauss suggested that he was also stressed by watching Mort's strides to and fro.
"But she didn't want to see me anymore," Mort said as his hand clenched into a fist.
"She really said that?" Klauss asked, his face quickly lit up at the good news. A scene where no Sumire in his way made Klauss flash a satisfying smile.
"Yes." Mort's brusque but cold response made Klauss sigh in relief.
"That's the only sensible thing she's ever said. There's no point in surprising her anyway." Klauss said Mischa looked at him in disbelief.
"Ah, maybe that's the reason why she doesn't want to see you anymore because you're too old for her." Narco suddenly butts in and seated, placing his foot on the sofa table while the twin was beside him, playing quietly. Even though Lyric and Leroy don't seem to care around, they listen to them attentively.
"Sumire just said that because of the other man," Mort responded emotionlessly.
"Exactly. Her man is probably younger than you." Narco jeered him that Laurel rolled her eyes while eating the plate of cookies that Klauss took from the ground floor after she bossy ordered him.
'I'm her man.' Mort wanted to correct him. 'But he has a point,' Mort said to his mind, eyes darted on Narco. Trevor look like younger than him and Trevor's age was closer to Sumire. 'Sumire would likely to fall for that man, damn it.' With that thought, Mort drop the glass he was holding and it shattered to smithereens with strong force making Mischa and Laurel flinched in surprise from their place.
"What should I do, then?" Mort asked and Narco grinned at the thought etched on his mind.
"Leave it to me." With a lifted chin and an arrogant expression, Narco said full of himself. His gaze peruses Mort's appearance from the head down to toe.
"But how can I invite her?" Mort asked again, frowned. And it was Mischa who answered him.
"Leave it to me, brother."
Mischa snapped back and look at Sumire with a smile. 'I'm glad she still likes him...' she utters in her mind.
"Then come with me. I have something for you." Mischa said that Sumire smiled and nodded in agreement. They left the shopping mall with a full stomach and went to their parked car.
When they got inside, Mischa immediately started the car engine. Sumire suddenly yawned as she sat in the front seat next to her.
"You can have a nap, it's 2 hours driving before we get there," Mischa said and Sumire agreed and closed her eyes. She felt tired and drowsy all of a sudden. Mischa smirked when she saw Sumire quickly fall asleep. She played country music and start humming along with it.
Mischa drove the car all over the city to kill the time until 7 o'clock in the evening arrives. She drove to the exclusive port her brother owned where Mort was waiting. When she got to the place, Mischa parked the car right in front of her brother. The young lassie got out of the car with a triumphant smirk and walked towards Mort whose hands thrust on the pocket.
"Brother, here's your sleeping belle. Where's my reward?" Mischa said shamelessly and Mort gave her the black card without saying a word. The lassie jumping up and dancing caused much mirth. Her eyes shimmer with the card in her hand.
Mort immediately opened the car in the front seat and the beautiful maiden sleeping peacefully appeared in his eyes. 'She really is a sleeping belle.' A small smile curves his lips. His gaze had been drawn to her, magnetizing him. He lifted Sumire in a bridal style out of the car and took her to the luxurious yacht he owned that was docked in the lake.
Mort sauntered to the dock in the middle of the number of small lamps placed dipped on the railings that lit up his way. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky and the blanket of stars that stretched to infinity glowed like a thousand charms. The oscillation of the water reflecting the moonlight and the ceaseless serenade of the gentle zephyr wind was so quiet and enchanting. The scenery was as striking as paradise. It was impossible to feel anything but tranquility in a place that covered itself in pure beauty. The wind rushed and caress through the maiden's hair sleeping on his arms, swaying the trees back and forth nearby. When Mort was finally inside, the yacht sailed in the middle of the lake.
He was about to lay her down on the red lounger chair when Sumire suddenly woke up. Her eyes were half-open and eyelashes fluttered when her vision blurred the visage of the person holding her. Her fingers traveled every single corner of his face, very gently. "Wake me up from this dream...." she lowly mumbled. After a few seconds of adjusting her vision, Sumire's pupils quickly dilated and froze like a cold statue to see Mort.
"Where am I? Why are you here? Where is Mischa?" Sumire asked one after another and her eyes wander around looking for Mischa. Her heart hammered that she could hear its beating. She was even more surprised to find herself on an expensive yacht.
She looked up and saw him looking at her deeply. 'And why do you look....different?' She added inside her mind noticing Mort's new appearance. His strong build with defined muscles hugged in his long sleeve black turtleneck. His short dark hair, which is normally slicked back is now loose and sexily messy and slightly covers his pair of green orbs. He even had a black piercing on his left ear, made him look younger than his age. With his massive frame, the hunk looks so hot, dark and sinful. Mort is the only man that exudes sexuality, intentionally or not, and sends her into overdrive. He looked jaw-dropping.
Sumire quickly gets down and Mort helps her stand while holding her small waist. Blushed heavily, she raised an eyebrow to conceal the elated feeling she felt. 'Oh Sumire, stop dawdling!' she reprimands herself. "Do you expect me to swoon because you look extremely handsome tonight?" and rolled her eyes.
"No," Mort said in a deep and husky tone making her face redden even more. Seeing Sumire flustered in red and adorable in his arms made him smirk.
'Narco's sense of fashion isn't bad at all. I should triple his school allowance.' Mort said in his mind.
"This is the promise I made at the Fireworks Festival," Mort added in a sultry tone and seductively smirked.
"I'm still mad at you." Sumire snorted and looked away but Mort hold her chin up with his thumb and made her face him.
"That's why I'll make it up to you." He said huskily.
New but a bit alarming. Sumire didn't know if she would be thrilled with the new version of Mort. There's something in him that she can't simply see. She stared into his eyes but suddenly, her stomach cutely churned which did not escape Mort's hearing.
"Let's eat first," Mort said and reach for her hand, and led her to the dining table where her favorite cuisine is prepared.
He pulls out her chair. She sits. He sits across from her. The only light is from a few well-placed candles. They eat in silence. Sumire gazes at him over her glass as she sips her wine. She knows he is watching her. After having their dinner done, Mort helped her up to the deck of the yacht and from there the fireworks display started to light up the night sky.
She runs to the edge of the yacht and climbs up the railing leaving Mort behind. The dazzling fireworks shot straight up before exploding, while others quickly shattered into thousands of sparks. The night sky suddenly became a sea of flowers, colorful. The fireworks are blooming beautifully reflecting on her midnight eyes and the serene water.
After the firework display, a parade of sky lanterns ascended to the heavenly black velvety sky, so magical. Seeing them released en mass, it’s lovely. Spotting the lantern bobbing like jellyfish off into the starry sky, Sumire can't help but smile widely. The horde of glittering ethereal glow of fireflies followed, dancing in the unseen current along with the sky lanterns that made the serene night in the middle of the lake even more paradisiacal and mysteriously captivating.
While the maiden was enjoying the scenery, Mort, both hands thrust on the pocket, watched her intensely from behind. His eyes cruise her long straight raven hair gently stirred by the wind revealing her delectable neck. And her long legs were exposed to his sight.
Sumire felt a sudden warmth wrapping on her back. With the familiar intoxicating scent, she knew it was him. Slowly, she turns around to face him. Feeling his eyes move over her. From her eyes to her exquisite nose, cheeks, and saccharine lips. The curve of her neck. Slope of her shoulders. Her chest. The tiny bit of cleavage just peeking out from her dress. Again, she blushes. Lost in the depths of each other’s eyes. She can feel his desire, he hers. But it is not lustful. Calm, gentle, controlled.
He puts his hand softly on her cheek and leans toward her. Mort bought his lips so gently onto hers. Her lips were warm and soft. They parted slightly, allowing his tongue to slip inside. Grabbing the back of her head, he deepened the kiss. Her hands were limp on his chest, and she felt lightheaded. His eyes were half-open in desire while hers were fully closed in pleasure.
Their lips remained sealed. It was like they couldn’t get enough of each other. They were devouring one another, drowning in each other. His hands were on her hips and crawled in her waist. His kisses traced the line of her cheekbone and his lips made a run for her neck, melting into her flesh, making her moan.
Drown in their passionate kiss, Sumire didn't realize an emerald necklace worth a million dollars was now glowing on her neck that Mort had prepared for her.
Sumire was the first to let go of their infinite and intimate kiss, slightly tiptoed from her position, and Mort's arms tightly hugged her waist supporting her. She looked up at him, straight into his eye.
"Do you have feelings for me or is this your pure infatuation." She asked, glancing at his lips, hoping he would confess to her.
"I can't tell." Mort honestly said. A moment of silence reigned between them. Under the glowing night sky and the sweet serenade of the wind, Sumire's face turned serious and her eyes were flame with determination.
"Then I'll make you say it."
