"First Kiss"

On the way home in the car, Han Li looked at the passing street lights, densely packed bushes, and towering trees under dark night sky, lost in thought. 

---Flashback starts---

It was 1 am and 15 year old Han Li returned home late again, opening the door she looked around the living room, finding the lights off she sighed in relief.

Not wanting to face her grandfather she tiptoed across the hall. He would be very sad and worried over nothing if he found out she returned late again.

It's not that she didn't want to return early, but after her parents' accident this house feels suffocating to her. Everyday after dinner grandfather would sleep early and she would be left alone with loneliness swallowing.

So draining every bits of energy, she returns just to sleep.

Han Li shut the bedroom door behind her, letting out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. The dim glow of the moon spilled through the window, casting long shadows across her room.

Then she saw him.

A figure lounged on her bed, his presence blending with the darkness. Unreadable. Ominous. Yet, utterly familiar.

Her body tensed as her gaze locked onto his. 

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice sharper than she intended.

He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he leaned forward, his face slowly coming into view under the pale light. Features cold and sharp, emitting unreadable aura.

"Where did you go?" he asked, his voice calm. Too calm.

Han Li crossed her arms. So he's ignoring my question? Fine.

"I asked first," she shot back.

A slow, deliberate silence followed before he spoke again. "And I asked something far more important."

Then came that gaze—the kind that made her feel as if she had committed some unspeakable crime. The one that made he feel like she just killed his whole bloody family. Ah as if it was even possible to go near his group of psychos called family.

"Why does it matter to you?" she challenged, irritation lacing her words, knowing fully well she was not getting any answer to her previous question.

He exhaled, and smirked which was devoid of any humor.

"Because I don't like you around those men." He stood up, his movements unhurried, predatory. Each step he took toward her was deliberate, measured.

Han Li refused to step back.

"What I do is none of your concern."

He stood infront of her his fingers trailed up her jawline, his touch featherlight yet possessive. "Of course, it is." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Do you know how I wish to kill them? To rip them apart and feed their remains to the rats?"

Han Li tilted her head, avoiding his touch, but his fingers followed, grasping her chin firmly. His warmth sent an unwelcome shiver down her spine, as his words slowly settled to her, the very same words she has been hearing for a year now.

"You think you can control me?" she said coldly.

Not control," he murmured. "Own."

Her eyes widened.

"How I wish to cut off your wings and chain you down to my side. So only I can see you, touch you, feel you and I would be the only person your mesmerizing eyes would ever see. How I wish to dig out those eyes that peeked at you and cut off every hand that touched even an inch of your body." He held her chin in his hand and spoke softly with evil smile. his lips hovering over hers.

"You're insane."

He chuckled, the sound low and deep.

"No, little fox," he whispered. "Just tired of enduring."

A flicker of something dark gleamed in his eyes as his other hand moved, sliding beneath her jacket. His fingers traced over the bare skin of her waist—featherlight, almost reverent.

Her breath hitched.

She stared with perplexed eyes. He was getting too comfortable with her. She tensed up and moved her hands to his shoulders and pushed him.

"You.." but before she could utter another word, his lips crashed against hers. He forcefully sucked and traced her lips.

It wasn't a kiss. It was a claim.

His fingers tangled in her hair, holding her still as he deepened the kiss, stealing every breath, every protest. It was raw, unrelenting—possessive.

She struggled, pushing against him, but his grip only tightened, his arms unyielding like iron shackles. How could he kiss me? It was her first kiss and she was being ravaged.

Damn him!

Just as she thought she would suffocate, he finally pulled back. But not completely. His lips barely left hers, still brushing against her mouth—soft, lingering, teasing.

Han Li gasped, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Before she could react, he pressed another kiss—this time, to her forehead.

Her body trembled, more from fury than anything else.

"What the hell was that?!" she snapped, rage burning in her veins. She raised her hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist effortlessly.

In one swift motion, he pulled her into his arms again. Her breath hitched as his warmth enveloped her, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear.

"You tasted.....heavenly, little fox." His voice was low, husky, dripping with something dangerous. "Just as I expected."

She raised her leg to kick but he locked her legs in between his very own. His arms tightened around her, locking her in place.

"Let me go."

He ignored her. Instead, he rested his forehead against her shoulder, his breath warm against her skin.

"My Lili… my little fox…" His voice was softer now, almost tender, but it only sent another wave of unease through her. "You're so precious to me that I could give my life for you."

His fingers traced slow circles on her back. "So don't you dare think about giving your heart to another man."

Han Li froze.

"Because if you do…" He exhaled slowly, lips grazing her ear and down to her neck. "I will destroy them. One by one.

Han Li widened her eyes with shock, when his lips grazed her neck, it was numbing. More than that his words unnerved her. What the f***!! he took her first kiss, now he wants to control her. who does he think he is?

Before she could speak, he pulled something from his pocket—a silver gun.

Han Li's breath caught.

Without a word, he placed it in her hands, closing her fingers around the cool metal.

"You were trained for this world since you were six. I know you won't run from what's coming." His voice was steady, firm. "But remember this—" he leaned in again, lips a breath away from her skin. "You are not alone. Turn around, and you'll always find me right behind you."

He tilted her chin up, brushing his lips against hers once more—soft, fleeting, yet enough to leave a searing mark, another brief kiss. A soft brush of lips.

"You taste like sin," he murmured, smirking. "And I intend to indulge… again and again."

Han Li gritted her teeth. He's completely out of his mind.

He smirked at her silence, his fingers brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.

"Sweet dreams, my little fox."

And with that, he vanished into the night.

---Flashback ends.---