Wild Young Miss: Mister, Let's Kiss!

"I'm sorry." Sherly uttered meekly before a loud fire resonated in the air.

*BANG!*

The deafening sound of a gun made the birds nearby fly out of their wits. Everything happened so fast that for a moment, neither of them could grasp what happened.

After a beat, Inigo's eyes widened as he realized it wasn't him who was shot. He witnessed Sherly weaken right before his eyes and blood came out from her mouth. 

The pistol she was holding dropped as Sherly's hand touched her back from her shoulder and touched a thick liquid spreading through her clothes. Within a snap of a hand, Sherly's knees gave way and Inigo immediately sprinted to catch her.

"Sherly!" Inigo shouted as he caught Sherly's body before it landed on the ground. "No, no, no, no!" 

Inigo's hands trembled as blood tainted his hand. Sherly was struggling to breath as she clasped on his shirt.

"I…" In between her heavy breaths, Sherly tried to speak but to no avail. 

"No, no, baby! Stay with me! I'll take you to the hospital just don't…!" Desperate, Inigo held on her as he tried to reassure her. Yet, how can someone crying in desperation could reassure someone who was dying?

His tears were the sign he knew she couldn't make it. They were too far away and he didn't see any hospital or clinic on their way. Not just that but also, he didn't have a vehicle to rush her in the hospital.

Sherly's eyes blinked and each time, she couldn't open them as wide as before. She was staring at Inigo's face and for some reason, a subtle smile resurfaced on her lips.

"Please, please… I will --" Inigo held on her shoulder tighter as his snot and tears mixed together. 

He watched her raise her hand and reach his face. However, life was cruel. Sherly took her last breath inches before she could cup his cheek.

"No…" 

Seeing the life of his beloved faded right before his eyes, Inigo gritted his teeth as he bawled his eyes. He caught her hand midway and placed it on his cheek but he knew if he let it go, it would collapse.

Zoey watched everything with a straight face. Despite the pain in her heart seeing Inigo grieve, her determination was far more solid and wouldn't change her mind due to sympathy.

"Oops. I missed." While Inigo was crying, Zoey's cold voice reached his ear.

As soon as it did, Inigo raised his head. His eyes glinted with killing intent as he glared at Zoey's eyes that bore devoid of emotions.

"Zia!" Inigo's voice thundered as his grip on Sherly's shoulder tightened and trembled in fury.

"That's what happens when you go against the Silva Family, Inigo." Zoey smirked coldly as she glanced at Sherly's face. 

"She knew her finally was being targeted if she didn't kill you. Haha! How silly. I just made that up and this dumb girl believed it! Guess you two are both dumb, eh?" 

Zoey chuckled maniacally as she shook her head sideways. She swayed the pistol in the air indifferently before she sighed as she stared at Inigo without remorse.

"Zia, you…" For some reason, Inigo calmed down as he called Zoey softly. Whether it was because of utter disbelief or something else, Zoey didn't care.

What Zoey cared right now was not the truth behind Sherly's real motive or Inigo's wrath. Inigo loved Sherly, that was real. Thus, Zoey didn't want Inigo to think Sherly betrayed him or she was just pretending.

It would crush him. He had experienced enough and being betrayed by someone he didn't think would betray him would be more heart wrenching for him. 

Zoey knew that. She was betrayed by her mother, her foster father, and biological father. Even being part of the Silva Family, Zoey knew deep down they would dispose of her if they can't use her anymore.

Therefore, to save him from the pain of betrayal, Zoey chose to turn that pain of his into wrath for her. Whether Inigo would kill her at this moment, she didn't care. At the very least, she saved someone she looked up to and that was more than enough for her.

"Me? Well, I followed you two the whole day. Inigo, my brother, I can't believe you can smile like that! I can't stop laughing all day knowing she will kill you at the end of the day!" Zoey clapped her hands as she laughed out loud like a true sick villain.

"But, at the last minute, I thought, 'dying with your beloved is boring!' So, I came up with the idea of shooting her dead right before your eyes! Wow, everything is perfect! I didn't only see you smile brightly, but also, cry until your snot and tears are all over your face!"

Zoey cracked up as she held her stomach. Her laughters echoed through the air as the night breeze grew colder. Tears because of 'excessive' laughter built up on the side of her eyes which she wiped with her finger.

"Ahh! That's hilarious! I never had this much fun ever since I started working those odd jobs!"

"Why are you doing this?" Through his gritted teeth, Inigo queried as he hung his head low.

"Why? Isn't it obvious?" Zoey sneered with her brow arched.

"Zia!" Once again, Inigo raised his voice as he lifted his head. He ground his teeth, his eyes intimidating. Yet, Zoey was unfazed as she kept her act until the end.

"By this, I can get promoted -- although I'm already bound to get promoted since Niko likes me very much. I might marry him and take over the Silva Family! You're too dumb to resist the titlle, knowing what it can give you." In a matter-of-fact tone, Zoey explained and shrugged her shoulder.

*LIES*

Zoey heard her subconscious mind whisper. She had gone this far. So, Zoey continued the act until the end.

"You…!"

"Of course, my dream won't happen if you're going to kill me now." Zoey shrugged nonchalantly, but there was no sign of Inigo wanting to do so. "If not, you should run away now. The likes of me will soon arrive and take your head. I would do it, but I owe you. So, I'm letting you go."

With that being said, Zoey turned around. As soon as she did, her expression changed as she took the hardest breath in her life. Zoey started walking away while clenching her teeth as hard as she could.

'You did the right thing, Z.' Zoey whispered internally as tears started rolling down her cheek.

[END OF FLASHBACK]