Chapter 18 Heroes vs Villains

Stefani's heartbeat stopped. She looked over at Jonathan.

"It's going to be fine," Jonathan assured, giving the younger one a small smile.

Stefani's heart hurt. She didn't like how Jonathan was looking at her. It was as if he was going away and never returning back. She didn't like that. Stefani was confused why. She hated Jonathan, from the beginning of this engagement plan, she has always hated Jonathan. She was the reason why Stefani wanted to escape. She hated Jonathan. So why was her heart aching upon seeing that smile?

"I'm going to distract them. Run after I count to three. Here," Jonathan handed some cash he had hidden in his pockets to Stefani. "I don't know where we are but I could smell grass and soil, which means it's pretty far from the city. As soon as you're out, go to the nearest bus station and wait for me there."

Stefani knew Jonathan was lying. How dare he lie to Stefani at times like this? Just what was he trying to do? Why was he acting like some kind of hero in movies?

"One... Two..."

At the count to three, Jonathan shouted and appeared to the sight of the dangerous-looking men. There were five of them and one of them was holding a gun. Jonathan was quick to kick the person holding the gun, making it fall to the ground. He kicked the gun next, making it roll, going to the grassy area, disappearing in the tall weeds.

"Run!" He shouted to Stefani.

Stefani sprinted out. Jonathan kept fighting the men, all of them attacking him. But Jonathan wasn't one to lose. He got it now. When he fought them in the alley, Jonathan made sure to remember them all. Jonathan calculated all of their attacks. He wasn't called a child prodigy without having the entire package.

He didn't care anymore. As long as he kept fighting, there would be enough time for Stefani to get on the bus. She would be returning home. That was the most important thing for Jonathan.

"He.. He's too strong..!" One of the thugs said, aching in pain on the ground.

Of course, Jonathan has trained in martial arts for years. Not that he was assigned to, but he knew someday he would need it. Turned out today was that someday. He was glad he studied and learned it then.

Jonathan could feel his body starting to get weaker. As much as he could handle fights, his body has a limit too. Stefani must've taken the bus by now. She would soon see her father and friends, and she would be safe and well then. Jonathan was glad.

The men he was fighting with were now on the ground, exhausted as him. Some were even unconscious. Jonathan panted, slowly his body felt reaching its limit. His head throbbed as his eyes widened, suddenly feeling a pain shot right into his right leg.

A knife.

Jonathan winced as he stumbled, hitting the ground. Blood oozed from his leg, making him cuss in pain.

Jonathan looked up, only to see one of the men with a bloody knife in his hand. There was a crazed look on his face as he tossed the knife away and quickly, his hand went over behind his waist. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Jonathan.

This was it, Jonathan thought.

He was going to die today. None of this ever came to his mind until now. He didn't expect Stefani would be kidnapped by these men. If he knew there was danger waiting for the kid, he might've provided precautions for it. He could've made the number of Stefani's bodyguards increase, making it ten or twenty. It doesn't matter as long as the younger would be safe. He could've been with Stefani the entire night in the hotel too. But then why was Stefani going out of the hotel without his bodyguards?

Of course. Jonathan closed his eyes, letting out a soft sad laugh.

Stefani wanted to escape. Stefani hated Jonathan too much she wanted to run away from him, from her family, from everything and everyone.

It was all Jonathan's fault.

A tear fell from Jonathan's eye, feeling the pain inside him.

He heard the gun being pulled, any moment Jonathan would be dead now. He didn't care anymore. He was exhausted. He was in pain. He was in no shape to fight.

"Take this, you gorilla!"

Jonathan opened his eyes, looking up as he found Stefani with a big piece of wood gripped between her small hands. He felt his heart moving fast.

The man who was holding the gun went down, knocked out as he seemed to have taken a big hard sweep from Stefani's weapon. Where she got it, nobody knows.

"Let's get out of here before these apes wake up," Stefani said, helping Jonathan to stand up.

"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you to wait at the station?" Jonathan asked, a bit wobbling as they started walking off the area, leading to what seemed to be a forest.

Stefani glared at Jonathan, "As if I'll believe that! Can you quit that act already? Don't play hero just because I'm younger than you. I-I'm not a kid anymore! I can fight too!"

Despite the pain, Jonathan smiled. He didn't know why but he felt glad upon seeing Stefani's face again, glad he could feel the warmth of the younger again, glad he could hear her voice again. He could've been dead by now, if not for this brat coming to save him.

Who's the hero again?

"W-What? Stop staring at me like that, you pervert!!" Stefani exclaimed as they stopped on who knows where, deciding to rest under a tree. "Your leg... You're stabbed?!" There was a sudden look of panic in Stefani's eyes. "Why aren't you saying anything? We need to treat that! Leaves.. leaves.. we need to find herbal plants here."

Jonathan stared at his fiancee, watching how the younger looked around, a concentrated expression on her face. What was it about Stefani that Jonathan always finds himself confused? Some days Jonathan hated the younger's attitude, some days he didn't. Some days he found the younger irritating, some days he found her adorable. Then there were also days when he found her beautiful.

Just like right now.

"Stefani," Jonathan called, unable to hold back his emotions.

Stefani turned around, facing the older. "What?"

Jonathan moved closer to the younger. "Thank you."

Jonathan watched as the younger's face lit up for a brief moment, then blushed as she looked away from Jonathan's stare. "I-It's not like I have a choice! I don't know where to go anyway. I couldn't find the bus station."

Jonathan smiled, reaching Stefani's hand.

Stefani blushed even harder, "W-What do you think you're doing?!"

Jonathan pulled Stefani's hand up, gently placing a kiss on Stefani's hand. "Thanking the heroine for saving me from the villains."

Stefani's face was deep red, "Y-You're thinking too much!! Get away from me!"

Jonathan chuckled, not letting go of the younger's hand.

"L-Let go, you monkey!" Stefani shouted, but wasn't even trying to break free from Jonathan's grasp.

Jonathan was still smiling as he slowly closed his eyes, leaning his back on the tree, holding Stefani's hand. He wondered if Stefani could hear them. How his heart was doing this crazy fast-beating right now, how his mind was filled with thoughts about his little bratty fiancee.

Jonathan wondered what kind of face Stefani would make if he let her know about it.

That he was slowly falling for Stefani, for real.