CHAPTER EIGHT

"I like you."

That immediately stuck in Kylie's mind when she remembered what had happened last nght. She did not know how she would feel at that time. All she knew was confusion because Joshua had startled her. She even suspected that the young man only liked her when she was dressed as a woman.

"Maybe I was just deaf and he really meant something different that night." Kylie immediately convinced herself. "It's impossible to admit that a man who is too proud of himself is gay."

She shook her head when she realized that she was not deaf during that time. She knew she got evidence to prove that Joshua liked her. She blushed when she was reminded of two kisses the young man gave her in different ocassion.

Meanwhile ...

Joshua walked steadily inside Don Emilio's mini office. The old man was almost dizzy when he looked at him. Don Emilio already knew what was bothering Joshua but he did not try to ask him. He waited for the right opportunity to to tell his father voluntarily.

"You know, you won't know the answer if you don't bring up your question." Don Emilion said to his son. "It's good that you stopped walking."

"My brain isn't confused." Joshua replied in a defensive tone. "I am just thinking."

"I know you and I know there is something wrong with your brain." Said Don Emilio. "Come on, don't be shy and tell it to me. Maybe I can still help. "

"There's nothing wrong with it," Joshua's defended.

"And now you are defensive." simply said Don Emilio. "You're obvious so just admit it."

"I'm not!"

"Tell that to the marines, young man."

Don Emilio only noticed Joshua's sudden violent drain of color on his face. He secretly smiled because somehow he could see that what he was saying was right. He knew Joshua was more annoyed when he was grumbling about things he didn't want to say.

"Would you still accept me if something is wrong with me?" Joshua asked frowning at the old man.

"What do you mean by that, Son?" Don Emilio asked his son.

"I cannot explain it now." Joshua simply avoided the father's question. "I'm still confused right now."

"Really? Maybe the confusion going on right now has something to do with someone in your mind," Don Emilio said teasingly to his son. "Am I right? Who is the lucky girl?"

"No one!"

"Are you sure about your answer?" Don Emilio asked the question teasingly to his son. "Maybe you want to see your butler so you can hide from me."

A faint smile was seen on old Carriedo's lips when he saw Joshua's gaze averted. He just laughed when he saw his blushing cheeks. Well, he did not expect such result from the child especially when they had a chaotic start. If his suspicion was correct, he would not object to it.

"I think you are in love." Don Emilio said to his son. "So who is the lucky girl?"

Joshua's cheeks seemed to blush even more when he heard the question, "What if it's not a woman making my heart beat?"

"I don't simply get it. I'm sure it's just a woman whose heart is beating." Said Don Emilio.

"That is what I am saying. You cannot understand me." Said Joshua.

"It's not like that. It's just that you still don't see the reality that is hidden." The smiling Don Emilio said. "Now tell me, who is the lucky person?"

"He's a guy, Kyle." Joshua answered in a timid tone.

Don Emilio just smiled when he heard his answer, "I guess you've found your perfect match."

"I don't fucking know what happened." Joshua said to the old man. "All I know is he fucking hypnotized me."

"Are you sure he's making your heart beat?" Don Emilio's serious question to the young man. "Maybe that's just what you thought because he's the one you spend most time with."

"I wouldn't even kiss him or admit that I am gay if I am not sure of it. I know that he is the one." Joshua confessed to old Carriedo.

"If you're really sure of him, pursue him. There's nothing wrong with letting your feelings go wild" Don Emilio said to his son with a smile. "I'm not against it."

"What ?! I thought that what you would want for me is a woman from a good family, "Joshua said in shocking tone. "An educated one who is willing to keep up with your business."

"You once told me that money can buy your love for a woman so I don't expect you to see what will make your heart beat," said Don Emilio. "Just in case, destiny is very kind to you because he still let you fall for someone who I trust."

"You mean -"

"You have my blessing," Don Emilio said with a smile. "Love him and don't hurt him because even though he looks like a man in your eyes, he still has feelings."

Joshua was san obedient son, he obeyed Don Emilio's words. There was nothing wrong with falling for the young man. No objections were heard from his father so he would make sure that Kyle would really fall for him.

The next day ...

Kylie was shocked because as soon as she came out of the room, Joshua immediately greeted her with a bouquet of roses. Although she was impressed by the young man's gesture, she still showed her annoyance.

"What are you trying to do with my room? A flower shop?" Kylie asked in a rude tone. "You almost fill my room with flowers ah!"

"There's nothing wrong with giving you a flower because I am your lover." Joshua replied. "You're lucky because I am not simply flirting with you. In fact, this is my declaration of courtship with you."

"Don't you find this thing between us to be awkward?" Kylie asked. "I'm a man, you know that."

"Love knows no gender and no matter how many times you hit me, I still won't stop just to get your sweet yes." Joshua said. "You know, my world has turned upside down and you suddenly became a normal woman in my eyes."

"You still don't know me, it's been less than two months since we met." Kylie reasoned. "I still have my own secrets that I don't intend to share with you."

"Gosh, it's easy to accept that thing especially because I love you." Joshua said. "Remember, I investigated you before just because I simply suspected that you were a woman."

"You're just blinded by what you see now."

"And so ?! At least I am honest with my feelings."

Kylie no longer spoke and instead took the flower from the young man's hand. A secret smile flashed on her lips at that moment. She was sure that if she spoke at that time her excitement would have come out.

"Just wait for me outside and I'll pick up your schedule for today." Kylie said to the young man.

"No need to worry about it." Joshua said in a happy tone. "It's a day off for the two of us today."

"Huh ?!"

"It's our date today so put on your casual wear and we'll watch a movie today."

"What ?!"

Joshua did not answer and instead closed the door. He was still a gentleman so he would give his butler time to change clothes.

"Be sure to wear something that is sexy, okay?" Joshua immediately shouted at the 'young man'.

"Shut up if you don't want me to beat you up in no time!" Kylie shouted back. "And I have no intention of being sexy in your eyes!"

As expected, Joshua stared at Kylie even though the clothes she was wearing were still men's clothintlg. Kylie even approached the young man to give him a strong punch on his nape.

"I don't think you're gay anymore. You are blind with what you see." Kylie said to the young man.

"Can't I just appreciate the floating of your good looks today?" Joshua asked.

"No. You just look really stupid in my eyes," Kylie interrupted the young man. "I'm a man, okay? Man, remember that. "

"Ouch! You hurt my feelings." Joshua said in a whining tone.

Kylie just gave the young man a quick shake of her head before she even left. Joshua quickly caught up with her. She was just surprised when she felt his hand quickly touched hers.

"Get off," Kylie said calmly to the young man.

"Nope. I don't."

"When your father saw you ...."

"... He wouldn't mind it. He's in favor of us." Joshua said to his butler. "Do you think I'll do this if he doesn't know you're the one I want?"

"Huh ?!"

Joshua didn't just speak and instead he pulled the 'young man' into his car. He was really determined to date Kylie at least in the cinema. However, he forgot the mall was not yet open by 8:00 in the morning.

"That's because you're in too much of a hurry." Kylie immediately teased the young man. "You won't run out of tickets if we go around ten am."

"Actually, it's okay because it will be a longer time for us to be together." Joshua said startling the woman.

"It's like we're not together every day." Kylie said in a blank tone.

"Of course that time is excluded because you are performing your duties as my butler." Said Joshua. "This is our only free time to date."

Although Kylie wanted to hit the young man, she did not do it. Her forehead furrowed when she saw someone watching them. She was sure that was also the same person she saw at the formal party she and Joshua went to. Her instincts as an assassin told her that she needed to take Joshua away from that place.

"Are you okay, Kyle?" Joshua asked her worriedly when he noticed the change in her expression.

Kylie only gave a nod to the young man while still staring in the direction of the person watching them. She was no longer surprised when the man quickly disappeared from her sight. Joshua was not convinced by her answer so she was pulled to the nearest cafe.

"Come on, you look hungry." Said Joshua. "We haven't had breakfast before."

Kylie just pulled her arm from the young man's grasp. She needed to sharpen her senses especially now. She was sure an assassin was following them. She would not be surprised if someone tried to take the life of her companion especially when the said companion was not an ordinary person to begin with. She knew that thing because that's the kind of job she did.

"... Kyle ..."

"Kyle ..."

"Kyle!"

Kylie was surprised because Joshua called her several times. She mentally kicked herself because she was already floating at that time.

"Ha why?!" Kylie asked immediately.

"I've been asking you what you want to eat. You haven't even answered my question." Joshua replied. "I guess it's really bad for you to go hungry."

"It's up to you. No matter what I eat." Kylie replied.

"All right, I'll order."

Kylie just gave the young man a nod. She still could not forget what she saw that morning. She needed to find out who was following them and what its purpose was. Of course, she could not let Joshua go because she did want the young lad to be drag in the messy situation. She was willing to do anything just to ensure his safety. She would not forgive herself in case something bad happened to the young man.

THERE were times when Kylie's instincts as an assassin also failed ...

"There's nothing to worry about, Don Emilio. Your son is still tamed. However, Kylie has noticed me." Zeke said when he called Don Emilio. "I don't know if already recognized me or not."

Don Emilio breathed a sigh of relief at what he heard, "That's good. Make sure you keep an eye on them. Don't you ever let Joshua take Kylie to the motel huh? Shoot him if necessary."

"Yes Sir!"

Don Emilio just smiled when he hung up the phone. He was sure that Zeke will send torment to Kylie's nerves and that's what he wanted to happen. Why? Because he wanted to test the lady for the sake of his son. If Kylie survived his test he will let her reveal her true gender.

"Let's see how good you are, Kylie." Don Emilio said to himself.