The Last Embrace

Jessy was busy packing some clothes and stuff and putting them inside her traveling bag. She will be gone for two days with Nanny Aida.

Adam looked at her expectantly, hoping she will change her mind and no longer continue 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.

Jessy was already finished packing, she sighed. "Adam, it's just for two days. Before you know it...I'm already back here."

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

"Sure, of course." She smiled and gave him a quick hug and kiss on the lips. "I love you," she whispered in his ear and gave him her sweetest smile to ease 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 in his voice.

Adam was not comfortable when Jessy was exploring the world outside. There's 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 out there. Besides, you can call me anytime to check on me," she showed him her smartphone.

"That will help," he agreed.

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

"Let's go, Jess," Nana said smiling. "And you...young man, don't go anywhere, you understand?" She gave Adam a stern look.

Adam smiled. "Yes, Nana. I'm not going anywhere, promise!"

"Good," said Nana, satisfied.

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

"Bye Adam," the girls said in unison while waving at him goodbye.

Adam watched the car exited the tall gate until it disappeared from his sight. He entered the house and closed the door behind him.

~~~o0o~~~

Adam stood near the window of his room. His gaze was directed to the north side of the house. He recalls in his mind the topography of the town where Nana Aida's family was 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 community.

Every time the girls go there for vacation, he would also visit the town at night without their knowledge. He blended well with the darkness. He hides his true form within the shadows of the buildings and trees. As long there's 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 visited all the cities nearby without the girls' knowledge. Whenever he was bored, he will go out and soar up in the sky. He loves to watch the whole city shone 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, it would be nice to have company in his night time escapades.

He sauntered toward his bed and lay down.

He picked up his smartphone and calls her.

She answered right away. "Adam..."

"Just checking on you..."

"We're still on the road. We dropped by in a restaurant earlier to buy some refreshing drinks, then we stopped at the gasoline station just a while ago. What are you doing?"

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

Jessy blushed. Remembering their passionate make-out session last night.

"Are you not playing any of your favorite video games or watching 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 hello to Nana for me."

"Okay, see you on Saturday," 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.

~~~o0o~~~

Jessy loves the way the wind c.a.r.e.s.ses her hair and her face. She loves traveling like this, free as a bird. She felt good. Every breathtaking scenery that passes by added to the sense of adventure that excites her even more.

I wish you were here with me, Adam, she murmured to herself.

Then she started daydreaming about him...

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

"N-Nana-?"

"I repeat, what's going on between you and Adam?" the older woman asked Jessy again without taking her eyes off the road.

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

The words came out from her mouth naturally.

Jessy finally told Nanny Aida the truth about her current relationship status with Adam. Anyways, the older woman will discover it sooner or later, so what's the point of hiding something so beautiful?

Nanny Aida's face registered worries right away upon hearing Jessy's confession.

"Jessy, I don't think it's a good idea to enter into a relationship with Adam," she said grimly. Deep concern and worries start appearing on the older woman's face.

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

Nanny Aida fell into silence for a few seconds. She was debating within herself if she will tell Jessy the truth or not yet.

"Nana, what's wrong? Why I can't enter into a relationship with Adam? What is the reason?" she asked again.

Nana Aida cleared the lump in her throat first before she starts talking again. "B-because you are destined to marry Prince Zain, Adam's older brother. That was what the King and Queen of vampires told me a long time ago, they already decided on your fate, on the day when you will turn twenty years old, Prince Zain will take you away from the mansion. He will become your husband in the future."

Jessy's eyes widened in total surprise...

Then she started laughing with the absurdity of it all.

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

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

Jessy shook her head. "No. He seldom talks about his 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's one person I'm going to marry in this lifetime, it should be Adam." Her face brightened up while mentioning his name.

Nana Aida caught that cute little 'sweet smile' on Jessy's 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 compassion in her voice. When that unfortunate day finally comes, she wishes she can do something to help the young lovers.

"Thank you, Nana," Jessy's voice was thick with emotion.

She looked at the distant scenery with a blank stare, this time they were no longer displaying any bright colors for her eyes to admire.

Why is it that her colorful world suddenly turned dark? She wanted to cry, but she quickly stopped her tears from falling because she doesn't want Nanny Aida to worry and distract her from her driving.

To hell with you Prince Zain! She screamed it louder in her mind. Too bad she's the only one who can hear it.