Chapter 4 Meet 'The Archer Mars'

'...And this guy. His denial rang through, eyes that telling tale of sincerity that tugged at the edges of my doubts, only leaving me adrift in piles confusion.' - Lara B.

-

At the same time but in a different room at 66's Cafe...

"Step back, Cyn! Take it easy, rest your back! Yes, that's enough! Look in the mirror!" Mars screamed, giving directions to Cynthia Klumn, a tall, blonde model who is now wearing a green top with a wide revealing cleavage gazing passionately at the round mirror.

"Indeed, The Archer Mars never disappoints. Mister Marshall Reed, always gives and doing his best. Cynthia really is looks radiant! Red hot, and bubbly. And the poem. I really like it. It really describes the model's emotions. I can feel it through as if I am having fun and really touch the woman in it, hahaha! 'Blade of Desire. Bravo, excelente! I'm not in regret for accepting your suggestion to include a poem with different theme in every issue. What a true writer and connoisseur of literature you are! Very multi-talented!" praised Peterson, the owner of Flamboyant Magz, chuckling as he held a magazine with large potrait of Cynthia wearing red bikini while arching her slender waist against the back of an equally red velvet chair.

Yes. Flamboyant Magz is one of the biggest adult magazines in Jantaria, capital city of Metropolia. With que of beautiful women who's posing sexily in bombed inviting outfits that are sure to arouse men's passion. Indeed, for the past few months Marshall and his entire crew have been under contract with the leading magazine. The pay is high. And to be honest, as a grown-ass man, this is both amusing and satisfying job to do.

"Thank you very much, sir. We always try to give our best as much as possible. It's an honor that Flamboyant Magz is satisfied with our work." Marshall smiled while keep his hands onto his thighs as he spoke.

"Oh yeah, speaking of poetry, I heard from my colleague that there's MEMOPOSEA(Metropolia Modern Erotic Poetry Search) participant who just disqualified and suspected for plagiarism. In fact, this participant has passed the semi-final. It's such unfortunate." told Peterson, who is also one of MEMOPOSEA(Metropolia Modern Erotic Poetry Search) sponsors.

"Really?" Marshall jolted. his round greyish eyes caught figure of a golden-brown-haired woman who slowly pedaling her wheelchair. With a dark-skinned man with a cropped hairstyle following behind. Immediately, Marshall ran over. Leaving Peterson frozen in astonishment.

"Hey, wait! You're that woman from last night, aren't you?" Marshall screamed, tries to catch-up his breath. Quickly, Marshall knelt right in front of Lara. Lucky, who is not that far from Lara, is also surprised.

"Oh Goshh!" With one swift movement, Lara pulled the brake on her wheelchair. She almost hit the man who suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

"I-I'm so sorry I almost hit you. You truly are shocked me to suddenly pop out of nowhere. Are you okay? Ha-have... we met before?" asked Lara to the curly man in front of her.

'Huh? She didn't recognize me? Hmm, what a good opportunity!'

"Yes, I'm fine. You should have just kept going and run over my foot. So that I can hold you for compensation or such!"

'What did he say? He wants me to keep going and crashing his foot? What a freak.' Lara thought.

"We just met last night, don't you remember?" Marshall raised one eyebrow. Then brought his handsome, whisker, side-burned face closer to Lara's.

"Wh-What? La, last night?" Her olive oval eyes widened instantly. Swift, Lara's hands grabbed the wheels ready to run away.

"Hahaha. Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry, okay! Didn't mean to scare you, I 'm just playing with you. I really am. You don't have to run away like that. Because I'm not some crazy fan who's wanna kidnap you. Hmm, or maybe, I can do it later?"

"What? W-what did you say?" Lara immediately pedaled her wheelchair back a few inches.

"Hahaha. No, no. I'm just joking!" Marshall exclaimed, laugh even louder.

'What a pain in the ass! Who exactly is this guy? Why does he like to freak me out so much!' Lara grumbled to herself.

"Ehem. Marshall cleared his throat. I'm the guy who kind and happily helped you down the stairs of the café last night. After you finished your gig," Marshall explained.

'Really? I'm sorry for not recognizing you right away. It was so dark last night that I couldn't see your face clearly. And you were also wearing a cap. I thank you again for your help yesterday," said Lara with a genuine smile on her lips.

"No worries, glad I could help you."

Lara went silent for a moment, thinking whether or not to ask this man her suspicion.

"Mmm... Mind I ask you a question?" Lara spelled.

"Yes, go ahead. I'll answer as good as I can."

"I don't want to accuse you or anything, but I want to ask you something very important and rather sensitive," Lara said before telling her prejudice.

"Okay, I'm listening."

"Last night on the day we met, I lost a very precious item, a purple journal with the character Sayoko from Princess Moon on the front. And a pink pen inside. Since you were the one who's help me to get down and tidy up my things, did you see it fall? Or... Di-did you take it?"

"Of course not. I only helped you down, tidied your things up then put all back inside your bag. Only that and nothing more. And I'm not a Kleptomania, you know. Besides, I didn't see any journal fell off last night either." Marshall emphasized, followed by curve of an alluring smile on corner of his thick lips while his round greyish eyes remained focused and fixed on Lara's olive, oval-shaped almond eyes.

"Haaah....Wh-what? Really? Do you really didn't see a purple journal among my things that fell down?" squealed Lara surprise.

Marshall shook his head quickly almost in instance.

Lucky just watched silently from distance. For some reason, he felt there's something oddly strange about this man who is now talking to Lara. But he couldn't be able to put it to words, yet.

"Oh I see. Thank you very much, I'm sorry I accused you of something you know nothing about." Lara let out a deep long sigh.

"It's okay, don't worry. What color is your journal? Purple, huh? It has a picture of Sayoko from Princess Moon on the front and a pink pen inside. Okay, I'll definitely let you know whenever I find or have any trace info about it."

Lara nodded. "Yes, please, this journal is really important to me."

"I will. I surely tell you right away! Hope you'll find it soon."

"Mar, babyboo! Hurry up! Come here!" a beautiful blonde woman walked over and immediately slipped her fingers between Marshall's slender arm.

"Alright, alright, I hear you! No need to scream like that! Didn't you see I'm in the middle of conversation right now?" Marshall blared, somewhat surprised as he glanced at his arm. His gaze turned sharp as he mimicked the blonde woman to remove her fingers.

"Oh, come on, just hurry up, Mar! Mr. Pete so surprised that you just ran away like that!" the woman spelled coquettishly as keep tightening her colorful fingers on Marshall's hairy arm.

"Yes, alright, I come with you! You're such a nag! Let go of me!"

"No need to be shy, Mar. You usually be the one that asked me to do this to you." spelled the blonde-haired woman while tracing Marshall's arm up and down.

Lara also jolted for scene that appeared in front of her eyes.

Marshall's greyish round eyes tumble in emotion. "Just take your hands off me right now, Cynthia!" said Marshall in a high voice.

"O...Okay, Mar, I will, I will!" The blonde-haired woman gasped as she hurriedly removed her hand from Marshall's arm, which left a little stain of nail polish on the part she touched earlier.

Marshall peered at the blonde-haired woman with annoyance. The blonde-haired woman took a quick glance to Lara before walked ahead of Marshall.

Lara is ready to stroll her wheelchair away when she feels a light brush on her wrist.

"Yes," Lara turn her head to the side to find Marshall's long-pointed nose just inches bit from her.

"Haaah...Wh-what do you need?" Lara gasped as she quickly draws her body some centimeter apart.

Marshall's threw a slight petit smiles before he rasps, "I hope to see you again, soon." Then, gone between the crowd.

Lara fell into silence as she unaware of the strange sensation that try to find its way to come to her mind.