Kelly’s cheeks turned pink from white. She shook her head and ceded, “Stop saying those ridiculous things to me.”

Natasha chuckled at her reaction. She strolled towards window, stared at the dark sky, “I am not saying all this on a whim. I hide one thing from you.”

Kelly’s frowned and asked her, “What is it that you hid from me Natasha?”

Natasha didn’t turned around, she replied in a stern tone, “It’s not that of a big deal. It’s just—it’s just that I really envy you Kelly.”

“Why?” Kelly asked surprisingly.

“Because, the day when you fell, Kim was right behind you. He caught you like a hero. And carried you back like a prince. But--” Natasha paused there which made Kelly uneasy so she pleaded, “But what Natasha? Please tell me if anything else happened that day?— Don’t tell me that he really tried to do something perverted to me?”

“NO YOU IDIOT!” Natasha retorted.

“Okay. I am sorry please continue.” Kelly obeyed like a child upon being scold.

“Ah…. It’s just that, when he brought you to the infirmary I was with him he was really worried about you. And he really cared about you, even though you despised him for being a pervert, but I can tell you for sure that he’s not a PER-VERT.” Natasha explained to Kelly.

“Natasha don’t beat around the bush and tell me the whole thing.” There was some uneasiness in Kelly’s voice.

Natasha sighed, “It’s just—the way he was looking at you, like you are his wife or something or he loved you deeply. He stayed with you the whole time, and even cried over you. Who thinks of him as a pervert! Even the lady doctor pitied him asked him about the relations.h.i.+p between you two. But he didn’t say anything regarding the relations.h.i.+p. So she asked him to leave but he insisted on staying with you. He asked me to bring some change of clothes for you. At that moment I could hear his stomach was growling. When I returned, I also brought some snacks for him, but he refused to eat. Do you know what he said?”

“………..”

“He said how could I eat, when someone is lying on the bed because of my carelessness? I will eat with her once she recovers. All I can I do is wait for her. His eyes were just like you then. Swollen and red. I think he cried a lot. I don’t know why? After remaining silent for a moment, he inquired either you’d eaten or not. I didn’t know so I shook my head he left right away. I didn’t know where he has gone. But when he came back with food in his hands I was really shocked. He was treating a person so nicely, who thinks of him nothing but garbage.” Natasha turned around and gave a look of resentment to Kelly. Kelly was taken aback. She was looking at Natasha blankly. She lower her head in shame. Her heart ached. She forgot all those grievances. Tears rolled down her face and she said in a soft tone, “Thank you….Thank you, for telling me all this.”

“I hope you’ll treat him a little better from now on. But I am not sure whether he’s coming back or not.” Natasha said with a concern. She sprawled beside Kelly, closed her eyes, placed her hand over Kelly’s and said in a soft tone, “Kelly, don’t misunderstand me after what I just said. I am still your friend… And guiding a friend who had lost her way is a duty of friend. I just want you to realize that Kim and you are destined together. If you miss that chance of winning over him you’ll regret for the rest of your life. Now pray that he comes back safely.”

“Yeah….(sniff)… I am really looking forward to his return.” Kelly said in a depressed tone. “Can I sleep with you tonight?”

“Yes, you may.” Natasha replied in helplessness.

                                                                   ****************************

In some other dimension Kim was staring at the beautiful blue sky.

A gentle voice came behind Kim, “Kim, do you know how to repair this machine?”

Kim tuned around and looked at the machine. “What is this thing?” It was three feet in height and was full s.h.i.+ny metallic object. It looked like an alien technology to Kim because he never saw one in his entire life. He moved forward and observed it carefully, then he said in uncertainty, “I am not sure about repairing it but I can look for the bug if it is malfunctioning.”

“Alright, then I’ll leave it in your capable hands. If you need anything just call me!” She turned around to leave but Kim stopped her and asked, “Miss, I know it’s rude for a stranger like me to ask your name but it’s rude just to call you ‘Miss’ or ‘Lady’. Am I still unworthy to learn your name?”

“You can call me whatever you want.” She didn’t even turned around and said in a stern tone.

“Then how about I call you Miss White or Lady White or Princess White. Because you always wear white so I think it’d be more appropriate.” Kim placed his hand on his chin and began to decide name on his own.

She jerked and turned around. There was some bewilderment on her face. “Just come up—”

“I GET IT!” Kim shouted in ecstasy.

“Get what?” She asked in confusion.

“Your name.” Kim answered politely.

“Oh really!” she grinned.

“It was a little difficult. But I think if I’ve guessed it right. Because the way you talk, is just like a flow of water. The way you carry yourself, is just like a maiden. The way you move around, it’s just like ripples form on the water surface. You avoid contact from outsiders, just like a flower, which blooms on water surface and n.o.body could touch it until he knows how to swim. Please forgive me if I offended you in anyway.” Kim said with a charming smile on his face.

On the other hand the female’s cheeks were turning pink. Her heart was beating faster than before. She was trying her best to keep her calm in front of him. She opened her mouth to say something but closed it.

“I think I should call you Lilly in the water—or—in-short I should just call you Miss Lilly. Now how does that name sound to you Miss Lilly?” He asked gently.

BaDum, BaDum…

Her heart pounded hard this time. Her face turned red. She pursed her pink lips. “Li…Like I said you can call me whatever you want but I think, that later is fine with me.” She hesitated a little but kept her calm. She turned around to leave but Kim said from behind with his hands crossed over his chest.

“Miss Lilly, if am correct are you blus.h.i.+ng over your new name?” Kim asked to tease her a little.

Lilly wasn’t used to this kind of conversation she looked at him with anger in her eyes and said with a stern face, “Don’t forget your place Kim. If I didn’t save you might be dead right now!”

Kim was dumbfounded. His smile vanished just in a flash. His face went pale after listening to the words coming out of her mouth. His hands become all sweaty just listening to her. He lower his head and looked on the floor and said apologetically, “I am sorry. It won’t happen again. I promise.”

He went towards the machine and said in a stern tone, “I’ll write down the list of things I’d be needing to repair it. I’ll leave it at your doorstep.”

Lilly didn’t say anything and left. Kim could hear her footsteps leaving the room. I think I should go back to University. Maybe I am becoming a burden to her. I’ll leave once I finish repairing this machine. I shouldn’t have crossed the line earlier. If she’s talking and laughing with me it doesn’t mean that she like me or something. Well, this is a lesson for you Kim Osborn. You should be careful from now on.

He a.s.sessed the situation. He didn’t waste any more time and a.n.a.lyzed the machine. After few minutes he wrote down the list and left it on the doorsteps on Lilly’s room, which was located on the second floor.

When he reached the staircase of the first floor.

“Kim!” Someone called out for him. Kim stopped for a moment and turned his head towards the direction of the voice. There was no one. He thought it was his imagination. He shook his head and began to walk towards the staircase. But then again, somebody called his name. Kim was startled and looked back to find the source of the voice. He didn’t leave for the staircase instead he walked forth towards the source of the voice. The first floor was rather dark despite being in the daylight. Lilly didn’t warn Kim for exploring the house so Kim took the initiative to look for the source.

The voice was feeble like a dying old man. It became clearer to him the more he moved forward because the voice kept calling him after intervals of time.

In the end he reached a big black door which was covered in dust. Kim tried to open the door but the door was stuck half-a-way. He pushed forth with force and with a screeching sound the door opened. The room was covered in darkness and there was no sign of light in there. Regardless of being dark, Kim wasn’t scared of darkness.

After few moments the voice called out his name again. This time it was like the source of voice wasn’t that far. It was ten to fifteen meters away from him. Kim followed the source and collided with metallic object head-on. He fell on the floor.

“Ssss…..what the h.e.l.l was that?” Kim moaned in pain while rubbing his head.

“YOUNG ONE! WE MET AT LAAAST!” A voice like an ancient being. It was heavy like a ruler of the land and scary due to being old.

The hairs on Kim’s body stand after listening to his voice. He crawled back to the exit but the door shut on his own.