Do You Want To Train With Me?
Meanwhile, in Merino’s room, he finished putting on his training outfit. Without any missions to occupy his time that day, he had decided to take the opportunity to train on his own. A sense of determination filled his mind as he prepared himself both mentally and physically.
Once he was ready, he stepped out of his room and into the hallway. However, his sigh of anticipation was short-lived, as he spotted Anastasia leaning against the wall, a seductive smile gracing her lips.
“Hey sexy”, Anastasia approached him with a suggestive comment and a confident wink. However, Merino remained uninterested and focused on his own priorities. He had never really liked her.
“So there’s no mission today, so we’re free tonight… Mind grabbing a few bottles with me and-,” She started, her hands trailing lightly over his chest before moving to his back.
Merino, firm in his resolve, immediately pushed her away, his demeanor stating his disinterest. “Stacia, I’m trying to be as nice as I possibly can… For the umpteenth time, I’m not interested in you,” he asserted.
Anastasia, clearly taken aback by his straightforward rejection, fired back with frustration. “Why?” she demanded.
Merino’s response was immediate, “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I like someone else?” he replied, leaving her stunned and wide-eyed.
“Huh?” she managed to utter, her thoughts struggling to process his words.
“Or maybe you’re just too annoying and I can’t handle it,” He told her, his tone leaving no room for doubt, before walking away, leaving behind a bewildered Anastasia.
***~~~***~~~***~~~***
As the scene unfolded, Dahlia, still deep in thought and confusion, continued walking without paying attention to her surroundings. Lost in her own emotions and uncertainties, she pondered over the earlier encounter with Salvatore. The intensity of his gaze left her with a mix of curiosity and a sense of apprehension.
“Why was he staring at me that way? Is he perhaps thinking of a method to harm me for real now?” She thought, her mind racing with all the possible scenarios. Just the mere thought of it sent shivers down her spine, causing goosebumps to appear on her arms.
Caught up in her thoughts, she failed to notice where she was going and inadvertently bumped into a solid chest. Luckily, the person she collided with caught her in a steady embrace, preventing her from falling to the ground.
“Hey…” Dahlia stammered, her wide eyes meeting the concerned gaze of a familiar face.
“How are you doing? I haven’t seen you in a while”.
“Yeah, well… I’ve been really busy with the work I’ve been assigned to”.
“Well, if you’re not busy right now, do you want to train with me?”.
She couldn’t contain her excitement as he offered her the opportunity to join him at the training ground. Her eyes widened with anticipation as she eagerly asked, “Really? I can?”
He nodded and gently took hold of her hand, guiding her towards their destination. As they walked, Amour couldn’t help but express her concerns, pouting slightly. “I hope I won’t get in trouble… I feel like your teammates might not like me.”
Merino reassured her with a warm smile. “They went out to enjoy themselves, so you don’t have to worry about that. Today, it’s just you and me.”
Within moments, they arrived at the shooting range. Merino handed Dahlia a gun, and she took it with both hands, realizing its weight. “It’s heavy!” she exclaimed.
He observed her for a moment before instructing, “Do this.” He aimed at the wooden target and fired, hitting the bull’s-eye three times.
Dahlia blinked in surprise at his accuracy. “Huh?”
He couldn’t resist the question that slipped out. “Wait, you don’t know how to use a gun?”
She nodded, confirming her lack of experience with firearms. She wondered why he would even expect her to have any knowledge of guns. Merino appeared genuinely surprised by this revelation, but he quickly shrugged it off and approached her from behind.
He continued to guide her, understanding that she was still a beginner in using a gun. He advised her on how to hold the weapon properly, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a strong and steady stance. “Widen your legs to ensure you have a good balance while shooting,” he instructed, carefully demonstrating the posture for her. “Aim at the target while ensuring that your arms don’t tremble.”
She mimicked his instructions, trying to follow his guidance as closely as possible. However, he couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile, realizing she needed a more hands-on approach. He moved closer behind her, gently placing his hands over hers to adjust her arm position and grip.
“Now, shoot,” He commanded, his voice filled with encouragement.
She obeyed, pulling the trigger and releasing a shot. The bullet missed the bull’s-eye by just a hair, but it was a significant improvement from her previous attempts.
“Wow!” She gasped happily, a sense of accomplishment washing over her.
He couldn’t help but feel a surge of pride at her progress. However, as she turned around to face him, their noses brushed against each other in an unexpected closeness. Both were taken aback, unaware of how near they had been.
Merino found himself entranced by Dahlia’s slightly parted, pink lips, the temptation to close the distance between them weighing heavily on his mind. She, however, sensed the tension and discomfort in the moment, unconsciously biting her lip.
The sight sent a jolt of desire through Merino, causing him to swallow hard. He quickly regained his composure and managed to offer her a warm smile before patting her hair gently. “Good job,” he praised, trying to maintain a professional and supportive demeanor.
Dahlia beamed with delight at his words. She was overjoyed by her progress and the praise from him, feeling a sense of achievement and validation.
Unbeknownst to them, Anastasia, who had been trailing behind the pair, observed their interaction with narrowed eyes and a disdainful sneer. “Of course, it’s this bitch again,” she muttered under her breath, her voice dripping with animosity.