The Last Embrace

Adam is looking at her expectantly, hoping she will change her mind and not go on with the trip. He doesn"t want her to go anywhere far. He wants her to be by his side all the time.

"I will ask you one more time, Jess. Please don"t go. We can have a good time here, just the two of us," he pleaded again.

Jess already finished packing, she sighed. "Adam, it"s just two days. Before you know it...am already back here."

Adam"s shoulder slumped, accepting defeat. "Okay, enjoy the trip with Nana. And take care of yourself."

"Sure, of course." She smiled and give him a quick hug and kiss on the lips. "I love you," she whispered softly on his ears and give him her sweetest smile to alleviate his disappointment.

He smiled back. "I love you too, Jess. Just take care of yourself. I won"t be there to protect and watch over you. I will blame myself if something bad happens to you." He said, worries slowly creeping up into his voice.

Adam is not comfortable when she is exploring the world outside. There is always danger lurking somewhere...But he knows, she will only dismiss his worry as nonsense.

"Please don"t worry, okay? Nothing bad will happen to me there. Besides, you can call me anytime to check on me," she showed him her smartphone.

"That definitely helps..." He nodded in agreement.

He took her bag and they descended on the long staircase. Nana Aida is already waiting on the main door with her own traveling bag.

"Let"s go Jess," Nana said smiling. "And you...young man, don"t go anywhere, you understand?" She gives Adam a stern look.

Adam smiled. "Yes, Nana. Am not going anywhere, promise!"

"Good," Nana said satisfied.

Adam loaded their traveling bags on the trunk of a red Toyota Prius. It"s the only car in the garage. Nanny Aida has been driving this car for as long he can remember.

The girls got into the car. After a few seconds, Nanny Aida started the engine.

"Bye Adam..."

The girls waved goodbye to him in unison. He watches the car exited the tall gate until it disappears from his sight. He went inside the house and closed the door behind him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Adam stood near the window of his room. His gaze is directed beyond to the north side of the house. He recalls in his mind the topography of the town where Nana Aida"s family is currently residing. It"s just a small town, dotted with a pub and a few restaurants, schools and other important establishments located in the center of the town. It"s a peaceful and sleepy town in general.

Every time the girls go there, he also visits the town at night without their knowledge. He blends well with the night. He hides his true form in the shadows of the buildings and trees. As long there is darkness, he can move freely without being seen by humans. Traveling with cars takes five hours to reach Saint Vincent town. If Adam uses his power, he can reach the town in just twenty minutes.

He already traveled to all the cities nearby with out the girls knowledge. Whenever he is bored, he will go out and soar up in the sky. He loves to watch the whole city shined with thousands of lights at the top of the tallest building he can land on. One day he would love to take Jessy with him, to accompany him with his nighttime escapades.

He went to his bed and lay down.

He picks up his smartphone and calls Jess.

She answered right away. "Adam..."

"Just checking on you..."

"We"re still on the road... We drop by in a restaurant earlier and buy some drinks, then we stop at a gasoline station just a while ago. What are you doing?"

"Am lying on my bed, thinking of you," his voice husky.

Jess blushed. Remembering their pa.s.sionate make-out session last night.

"Are you not playing any of your favorite video games or watch movies?" she tried to steer her mind away from those vivid sinful memories.

"Later..." he replied, he can imagine her blushing right now. "You take care-Jess. Say h.e.l.lo to Nana for me."

"Okay, see you on Sat.u.r.day," she said.

"I love you, Jess..."

"I love you too..." she replied and the line went dead.

Adam put back his smartphone on the bedside table. He will close his eyes for a while and dream of Jessy. Later, he will attend to her garden of roses and water them on her behalf.

He missed her already...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jess love the way the wind caress her hair and her face. She loves traveling like this, free as a bird. She feels good. Every breathtaking scenery that pa.s.ses by added to the sense of adventure that excites her even more.

Wish you were here with me-Adam, she murmured to herself.

Then she starts day dreaming about him...

"What"s going on between you and Adam?" Nana Aida asked Jess all of a sudden.

"N-Nan?"

"I repeat, what is going on between you and Adam?" she asked her again without taking her eyes off the road.

"We fall in love with each other, Nana."

The words come out from her mouth flawlessly.

Jess decided to tell Nanny Aida the truth about her current relationship status with Adam. Anyways, she will find it sooner or later, so what"s the point of hiding something so beautiful?

Nanny Aida"s face registers worries right away upon hearing Jess confession.

"Jess, I don"t think it"s a good idea to enter into a relationship with Adam." Deep concerns and worries starts appearing on the older woman"s face.

Jess stared at her with apprehension in her eyes. "Nana...why?"

Nanny Aida fall into silence for a few seconds. She is debating within herself if she will tell her the truth.

"Nana, what"s wrong? Why I can"t enter into a relationship with Adam? What is the reason?" she asked again.

Nana Aida clears her throat first and then she started talking. "B-because you are destined to marry Prince Zain, Adam"s older brother. That is what the King and Queen of vampires told me a long time ago. They already decided your fate. On the day you will turn twenty years old, Prince Zain will take you away from here. He will become your husband in the near future."

Jess" eyes widened in a total surprise!

Then she starts laughing with the absurdity of it all.

She"s now starting to hate Adams parents. "How dare they decide everything for me as if am their puppet!?" she hissed.

Nanny Aida sighed deeply...

"Did-Adam...hide this from you? He did not tell you about this issue?"

Jess shook her head. "No. He seldom talks about her family to me. But it doesn"t matter Nana. I won"t marry his older brother. I won"t let anybody control my life. If there is one person am going to marry in this lifetime, it should be Adam." Her face brightened up upon mentioning his name.

Nana Aida caught that cute little "sweet smile" on Jess" face before it faded away. Then her mind recalled the tragic love story of Romeo and Juliet. She felt sad all over again. It seemed Adam and Jess love story will suffer the same sad ending...However, she can"t bring herself to separate the young lovers at this point. It"s too cruel to even think about it.

"Nana, I got to tell you something...Adam will die on the same day I will turn twenty years old. I just want to make his remaining years on earth a happy and memorable one. As much as possible I want him to feel love and be loved in return. Hope you understand me," she pleaded.

"I understand you completely, Jess." Nana Aida replied with compa.s.sion in her voice. She just wish that when that unfortunate day finally comes, she can do something to help the young lovers.

"Thank you, Nana," her voice speaks volumes.

Jess look at the distant scenery with a blank stare, this time they are no longer displaying any bright colors for her eyes.

Why is it that her beautiful world suddenly turned into gray? She wanted to cry, but she stops her tears from falling because she does not want Nanny Aida to worry and distract her from her driving.

To h.e.l.l with you Prince Zain! She screamed it louder in her mind. Too bad she can only hear herself.