a/n: The Italic part of this chapter is the flashback. So please don't be confused. 

Khiegilsan

'ROBERT Gillian'

He was one of my former friends who had kidnapped, abused and almost murdered me six years ago.

My mouth parted as I saw him standing in front of me, memories that were hazy, as if from a distant past, suddenly began to emerge.

FOR THE very first time I never knew that this day will come. Natsu had asked me to go out for lunch for the very first time. I was practically waiting for him at one of the nearest café that are near our school as per his request. I took a glance at my wrist watch, I think he is almost done with his practice.

My heart started to beat faster when I saw him outside the café. He was wearing his uniform and from the looks of it, he took a shower. When he entered the café – our eyes automatically locked and I could feel my throbbing heart reaching up to my throat. Gosh! Calm down, Lucy!

The moment he sat down – he took a glance at me before he picked up the menu "How long have you been waiting?" he said without looking at my face.

"Five minutes, I guess" I mumble enough for him to hear.

"Oh" that's the only thing I heard for him before he called a waiter and ordered something. I wasn't paying attention on what he was saying to the waiter, "Heartfilia?"

My heart skipped as I bit my lower lips, why can't he say my name? "Yes?"

"I ordered you a cheesecake" cheese cake? I open my mouth to say something but he continues as if he didn't notice that I was going to say something "Lisanna loves cheesecake."

But I am not Lisanna! I wanted to shout that to him. But instead, I just force myself to smile like I always do.

"You okay?" I heard him ask me.

I look at him carefully as I smile at him – hoping that he wouldn't notice my pain "I'm fine," I mumble "Why do you want to see me?"

He stared at me first and then raised his left hand and reached for my face - or rather my forehead. He ran his finger across my forehead for a moment before he sat up properly.

"Did you paint before you came here?" Although confused by his question, I was able to nod in response "You still have paint on your forehead"

My mouth dropped open at what he said, and I felt the redness on my cheeks as I looked at him. I immediately picked up my cellphone and checked to see if there was any paint on my forehead. There is still a little streak there but it is hardly to notice unless you're going to stare at my face carefully. I heard him chuckle which makes my face even redder than before. I cleared my throat and tried my best to ignore his playful gaze.

"Again, why do you want to see me?" I say without making eye contact.

"Well, I'm about to leave this country today"

"What?" those words barely escape my lips as I look at him, confused. "What did you just say?"

"I'm going to leave this country, Heartfilia" he mumbled. I heard him loud and clear but it feels like my mind can't comprehend what he just said "Well, I just want to end this day with you, I guess. That's why I asked you to see me. Are you busy?"

"Why me? Why not Lisanna?" I mumble – he will surely want to be with her.

"You came first in my mind this morning" he said with a smile. I bit my lower lip. Trying to stop the smile that is trying to suppress my lips. I never thought that, the man in front of me now would think of me too. This is the first time. And honestly, I want to squeal.

I smiled at him "So what do you want to do now? We can't really waste your time since we have a limited time to enjoy this day"

He beamed at me. We both had no idea how we were going to make this day happy. So, he thought we would go to an adventure resort. We tried a lot, like wall climbing, zip –lining, bungee jumping and swimming.

Our last destination together was the airport. I just smiled at him as he was busy looking at his belongings. Then he looked at me "Are you sure I won't take you to your house?" he asked me worriedly.

I shook my head "I can go home alone. One more thing, this is the last time you can be with me. So I have to take you here too"

"It doesn't make sense" he whispered "We'll see each other again."

"Are you sure?" I asked him jokingly. He frowned at what I said as if he didn't like what I said. I laughed "I enjoyed today, Natsu"

He beamed at me "Me too" and to my surprise he pulled me into a tight hug. I felt his hand gently brushing my hair. "Just text, e-mail or chat with me the moment you arrive at your house."

I chuckled as I wrapped my arms around his waist. I felt his stiffness but didn't push me – this was the very first moment that Natsu let me do this. "Nothing will happen to me, Natsu. But since I know that you will insist on it. Then I'll just send you a message, I promise"

The last thing I remember that day was his back walking away from me.

I was distracted from my thoughts when my cellphone suddenly rang. I frowned when I saw the name of one member of the art club.

Surprisingly, I immediately answered his call "Yes, Robert?"

"Are you busy?"

I laughed "No," and then I started to walk out of the airport "Why?"

"I'm at the airport now, to be exact, in the parking lot. My brother has already arrived from California. He's carrying a lot and we can't book a car."

"And?"

"I'm going to help with other things" he laughed "You haven't left the airport yet, have you?"

I raised an eyebrow at what he said "How did you know I was at the airport, Robert?"

"You did mention it earlier"

"Did I really say that?" astonished I asked him "I don't remember" I mumbled.

"Yes," he insisted "Can you give me a hand, Princess?"

"Sure I won't do anything" I shrugged.

"Thank you, Princess," he said happily. He said the exact location of them and after fifteen minutes I arrived at their place. I expected Robert to meet me because he made sure he could see me from where I was but to my surprise the car remained closed.

I looked around me. It's dark and the light posts on the parking lot only gives a bit of clarity to the surrounding. There's something eerie with darkness, for some reason that I just can't grasp on, it is as if the dark is seeping right into my skin... and down to my bones, enveloping me with a chill that I never felt before. I decided to shrug away whatever I'm feeling. Because probably, I'm scaring myself. I don't need to fear since I'm meeting my friend.

The friend who should give me protection, push me into danger. I didn't even manage to scream before everything went dark and I was thrown into a pitch black of nothingness.

MY HANDS trembled as I looked at his face again. How come?

I heard him laugh, I couldn't see his face because my eyes are getting blurry probably because of the fear that I'm feeling right now.

"The astonishment is obvious on your face, Princess" I couldn't move from where I was standing as I felt his presence approaching me "Anyway, we should be in jail now, right? But unfortunately, my parole got approved. So I thought, I should greet the person who put me on jail"

I smile "Congratulations on your parole" I breathe through my mouth.

A loud laugh echoed throughout the entire place "Shall we drink a coffee, Princess?"

It felt like a terrible threat. At the moment, his image overlapped with a young version of him who had stabbed me on my left waist with his knife, and eyes glistening.

I hastily stepped back. In that moment, I lost my strength and almost fell, when a strong arm wrapped around me. My back fell into someone's wide embrace, and instead of falling down to the ground, only my phone fell off.

"Are you all right?"

I slowly turned my head to see the man holding me. His ash mauve eyes that looked down at her were very clear.

"Natsu" I called his name as a sigh of relief. 

___________________ End of Chapter #23