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*****

Giulia wasn't difficult to find. After reaching back to our hotel, Brandon and I had made a beeline to Kiki's room. With all the trouble that had been brewing, and the media swarming the streets like starved zombies, she had taken the wise decision to book a room in the hotel while we were still in Singapore.

Once we contacted Kiki, in a matter of half an hour, she had her bodyguards trace down Giulia's whereabouts. The efficiency and the smoothness with which everything went, made me question the dynamic power mafia had in the Asian scene. They seemed to be faster and better than the cops around the world. Or maybe it was a monetary thing.

"So, she's in a distant hotel?" Brandon asked, "All the way on the other side of the city?"

For one thing, Brandon took information well. There were three things that Bella told me. Number one, to find Giulia. Alard had sent her away the moment they had stepped inside the Royal Hotel. I didn't know the details. But the information was sufficient for me to guess that it couldn't have been a peaceful separation.

"Yes," Kiki replied to Brandon.

He turned to me, a playful smile on his lips. "Thank God, we didn't go to search the parks."

I tilted my head, not getting his joke.

"I thought it became her favourite hangout spot after the last time she went missing."

I rolled my eyes. He wasn't going to let go about Giulia's missing spree anytime soon. The second thing Bella had asked me to do was to find out what Alard planned to do with Giulia. I know it couldn't be drastic. She was from a rich household herself, though not as rich as Bella's family. Once again, we didn't have to move an inch from our place or speculate to find out that major detail.

Kiki said it on her own. "Alard booked a ticket for her to return to France."

"Alone?" Brandon asked, puzzled.

Kiki relayed the question to the person she was talking to on the phone. After a minute, she nodded, hanging up the phone. "One of Giulia's employees will accompany her."

And this information of Giulia returning back to France put the third request Bella had asked me to do in jeopardy:

Make an escape plan.

Brandon and I had enough humility to not pester Kiki so much so that she got fed up with us. Thanking her for her help in locating Giulia, we took the address slip and made our leave. With nowhere to go, and the interview we had planned to do being postponed, both of us ended up back into our hotel room. And sadly, with nothing but our thoughts to accompany us.

I broke the silence. "This was a frustrating day."

"In more ways than you can know." Brandon groaned, getting up from the sofa, and plopping down on the bed. "Remind me to murder Seth when we go back to school."

I wasn't stupid enough to not guess what Brandon was talking about. He had his eyes closed, so it was a relief when he didn't notice my flustered expression. The thoughts of our ravished afternoon, now that my mind wasn't bogged down with instant gratification, made me shy like a maiden. Brandon had left the other side of the bed empty, leaving enough space for me to sneak in and sleep comfortably. But I couldn't do it. Each fibre of my body longed to lie down, and relax, but the six foot whatever inch man lying down on the bed proved to be even more nerve-wrecking than final exams.

Get a hold of yourself, I reminded myself. This was twenty first century, and I was in high school, not to mention a legal adult. Girls could come in badass packages too, why should I let boys have all the fun?

With this new thought and mentality, I willed my nervousness away, and took a step forward towards the bed.

Brandon opened his eyes when he heard the shuffling of my feet. They looked straight at mine, and there, all my poise went down the drain. I bit my lip, but kept moving forward, even if just to make myself look as nonchalant as I could and keep the little bit of integrity. Brandon grinned, catching the drift, and scooted closer and not further. He patted the bed as an invitation to lie there.

I have to say, the visual was tempting.

Brandon had taken off his shirt, a habit that still persisted in Singapore, his hair flying off in different directions. His body even with the irregularity in his hardcore workout was as eatable as chocolate. There was that old boy school charm to his eyes... and that wicked smile... which seemed to know everything I thought.

This was the universe's way to test our patience and will, wasn't it?

Brandon patted the bed again. "Come on, aren't you tired?"

As if getting on that bed wouldn't lead us to some tiring activities again.

"Don't tell me you're scared of sharing the bed with me?" he asked with that quirk in his eyes, "I thought we were past this."

I laughed, which made me sound more unsure than I really was. "I'm not scared."

He didn't look particularly convinced. Pressing his lips together, and raising his eyebrows, he rested his chin on his palm. "So, come up. I am not a savage with three legs."

"Three legs?" I said aloud, tilting my head.

Brandon muffled his laughter at my confused expression. Fine, I didn't get his joke. Like, what could be a savage with three legs? Three legs...

Oh.

My change in expression must have been pretty drastic because Brandon roared with laughter, his head falling back as he shook the bed with his movements. I blinked, heat creeping up my face. I felt dumb standing there. Violated, even, because of how easily I had fallen into his joke trap.

As a way of reconciliation, perhaps, Brandon swept back to his side of the bed. Though it still shook from his fading laughter. He made sure to create enough space, and a comfortable distance, before patting the bed again. "Come here before you fall asleep standing."

"I was going to anyways."

"Sure, you were, Miss Obvious."

Just short of resting my butt on the bed, the hotel room bell rang. Startled, it made me shot up straight from the bed before I even got a second's rest.

"I'll see to that," I said through gritted teeth, and grumbled on my way to the door. Through the peephole, I saw Sarah standing on the other side. Not wasting a second, I opened the door.

"I made it to the finals!" Sarah screeched, gripping my shoulders, and dancing.

"You did?" I matched her pitch, truly happy for her.

"Yes!" She hugged me, and an automatic smile formed on my lips. "And so did you!"

"Yeah." I grinned, feeling the excitement now that Sarah had brought the topic to the surface. The decision to use the immunity pin I had earned was the best one we could have taken. Today's challenge was difficult, and could have jeopardized our position in the competition. Using the immunity pin in a round of finals would have felt like cheating or even taking a shortcut to the trophy. This way it felt fair, moreover we gained direct entry into the finals of the competition.

"I met Bea on the way here," Sarah gushed, "she said she was so happy that you were in the finals."

I agreed. "I told her on the phone after we took off from the bus."

"Oh, right! What happened to Bella?"

"Uh..."

"Is she okay?"

This time my answer wasn't so enthusiastic. "She'll be. Hopefully."

Sarah nodded. A second later, she slapped her hand on her forehead, taking out a small memo note from her pocket with the other hand. "Dang it. This was what I came for." She handed me the note, and I took it cautiously.

"What is it?" I asked, before peering over the rushed scrawl. The lighting was insufficient for me to make out the words, so I looked back to her instead.

Sarah bent forward, sweeping her eyes left and right before beckoning me forward. I did as she asked, bending forward and putting my ear close to her lips. Whispering in a conspiring voice, she said, "Our task in the finals."

I jumped back. "What?!"

"Shh!" She pressed a finger on my lips, her eyes wide and frantic. "Don't shout."

"Okay, okay." In a lowered voice, I asked, "They're telling us the task in advance?"

"They're telling us what?" Brandon's voice came from behind me, walking closer to us, and a shirt halfway down his body. He pulled it down fully, snapping our attention away from his abs and back to his question.

I whispered as told, "The task in the finals."

Brandon grinned. "Really?"

Sarah confirmed. "A part of it, yes."

"But why?" I asked.

"It was one of the producer's idea, I think. It's the finals and they want us to be prepared." Sarah explained. "Apparently, they want the competition level to go up."

"So, they are revealing the task? We can practice?"

"Yes. But you can't let this out anywhere. Only the finalists were told."

"Okay." I folded the piece of paper for the time being. It was better to look at it later with Brandon inside the room. But it made me think. Was this a good move? It should be. What if the task was so difficult that we would have been left baffled? There couldn't be any disadvantage in knowing the task beforehand. Most of all, we had a full day tomorrow to practice. "Thanks for letting us know, Sarah."

"No problem, Ty. If I lose this competition, I'd love it if you win."

I laughed. "I feel the same."

"This is getting boring," Brandon mumbled, "come back after you have giggled and hugged."

I rolled my eyes at his retreating figure. Though, true to his words, we both did just that. A few minutes later I was back in the room, excitedly opening the crumpled paper.

Before I got to see the contents, Brandon snatched the paper away from my hands.

"Hey!" I tried to get it back.

He grinned, holding the paper up and above from my reach. No matter how I jumped (I didn't even try to), I knew it was impossible with our height difference. Unless, I kicked him in the groin. Which, to be honest, wasn't in both of our interests.

"Are you curious?" Brandon asked.

"Of course, I am. Aren't you?"

He shrugged. "Not that much."

"What do you want?" I asked in a matter-of-fact tone. Stupid me, I should have read the paper before getting back into the bedroom.

"You learn fast." He laughed.

"I am living with the devil. That's why."

He smirked. "This devil likes this particular angel."

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows. "Shouldn't that be a taboo?" Unbeknownst to me, my voice had turned husky. Our sharp banter turning into playful flirting.

"Taboos are meant to be broken, then." Brandon stepped forward, closing the distance between us. "Should this devil sweep the angel off her feet?"

A gasp left my mouth. His earlier words repeated in my head, reminding me that this was probably the first time Brandon had said he liked me, albeit not in simple words. He waited for me to answer, but I could see that his patience was running out. His steps got increasingly closer, making the air around us thick with charged electricity, and mutual attraction.

"Devils are known to be impatient," Brandon said.

I bit my lip. "And corrupt. They just can't take no for an answer."

Brandon breathed in, more closer to me, invading-no- shattering my personal space. "You'll be surprised then. This devil is understanding."

"Ah, is he head over heels in love?" I joked, capturing his eyes with mine.

The devil didn't hesitate a moment before answering. "Pretty much."

I didn't expect him to say that. A sudden rush of emotions surged into my stomach at his words. Feelings intensified, breaths quickened, and waves of hormones washed over me. Smiling to myself at his words, I gave into the urge as my body won over my head, and closed my eyes in anticipation.

The feel of his breath on my neck told me he was closer. I waited, my lips tingling, waiting for the kiss. I heard the paper crumple in his hands. His hands tightening around my shoulders, keeping me where I stood.

An inch away from my lips, he whispered, "A wedding is on the cards."

*****

What is that supposed to mean? ;)