Crimson Instinct

*Xin Lei*

Lifting the cover up a little, I looked at Bai Li, who was shifting a little restlessly on the couch.

'Is he having a bad dream?'

I thought for a second. I got out of the bed and slowly tip-toed to his side. His forehead was a little wet with sweat. The middle of his brows was creased into thin lines. I stretched my hand, but then I stopped.

'He won't wake up, right?'

Bai Li was looking a little uncomfortable.

I kneeled beside the couch. I took out my handkerchief and gently wiped the sweat. Once again, I lifted my hand.

'Umm...Uh...Dang! I will just do it!'

With my thumb and index finger, I slowly eased his thin creases. I gulped.

'Please don't wake up.'

He didn't.

'Phew!'

Then I pressed my palm on his forehead and ran my fingers through his hair. I was now really close to him. Something was wrong with me. My heart beats felt too erratic.

'I need a checkup.'

'Okay, Lei, this doesn't mean anything. I am just patting him to make him feel comfortable.'

I didn't realize it, but I was staring at him. As the quiet night turned a shade darker, I finally observed this man.

Bai Li was tall; there was no doubt. The couch looked so small against his tall frame. He was literally spilling outside the couch like how water does out of a glass. I wasn't quite sure if Bai Li was suffering or the couch.

As much as he was tall, he had quite a broad chest too. I felt it when I had bumped into him. His arms were long and strong. I wondered what it would feel like to be embraced by them instead of them squeezing my throat.

He wasn't particularly drop-dead handsome or attractive, definitely not like those gorgeous male leads in CEO romance novels that my friend in high school forced me to read. But the contours of his face had a tough and rugged charm in them, which made him look more masculine and which can make a particular populace of females crush over him.

'Am I one of them?'

I flicked my forehead. 'Not the time to think about it, Lei!'

He was blunt and sarcastic. He had no qualms in stealing cash from the goons, which *cough* to be honest, I found it a little exciting too. He bargained, which was the first time for me, seeing a man doing it.

And above all, he cannot see, yet he was so alert. He carried such an air of confidence and command, his gaze so sharp that I don't think the goons ever realized that they were talking to a blind man.

I was born mute, but he wasn't born blind. I wondered how he would have felt to realize that he suddenly couldn't see.

Wasn't waking up to a black pitch world seem frightening, even for a tough man like Bai Li?

I wanted to ask, but perhaps I already raked his wounds by asking him about the Army. I felt guilty. But I couldn't help it. I wanted to know more about him.

As if sensing my melancholy, Cocoa softly rubbed his head against my cheek and licked my chin. He looked at me with his black orbs. I think he was assuring me that everything was fine.

I smiled and ruffled his fur.

A few minutes later, I was back to the bed, hugging Cocoa to sleep.

---

The next morning, Bai Li, Cocoa, and I reached the Micro Pub in Dongsi 10th Alley exactly at ten am. It didn't feel like it was daylight at all outside. The neon lights were flashing in the darkness as if it was still in the middle of a late-night party.

Suddenly, from the corner of my eye, I saw a woman behind the bar counter stare at me. She was flawlessly shaking a bottle of a drink between her hands, jumping it from left to right, while keeping her eyes at me. She had worn a uniform of a bartender, so clearly she was a barmaid.

I tugged Bai Li. It was too loud, so I typed my message and brought my phone near his ear. "A barmaid is looking specifically at us."

I saw him slightly squinting his eyes. "Then let's ask her about her interest in staring at two strangers."

"Arf!" Cocoa barked.

"...Three strangers."

We made her way to the counter, and the barmaid never left her gaze away from us.

She faintly smiled and acknowledged our presence.

Bai Li glanced in her direction and said, "Nice to meet you."

The woman blinked her eyes as if thinking of something. Perhaps she was thinking as to why he was looking at her and not looking at her at the same time.

I understood. It had happened to me too when I first met or... bumped into him.

Then as if the barmaid realized the fact, she slowly raised her brows.

She smiled. "Same here."

Bai Li said, "I'm pretty sure I personally don't know any barmaid and guess my friend here doesn't either. Care to share your reason for staring at us?"

"Can I not look where I want?"

"More than two seconds of looking and it becomes staring and being the subject of your staring gaze, you must either want to tell us something or want something from us. What is it?"

"You are observant."

"Pretty much. I had no choice considering the line of work I was involved in."

"You are the guests of uncle Rong." She said.

'I see. This woman and uncle Rong know each other.'

I typed. "How do you know it is us?"

"You are not the usual guests in this pub."

"You know every guest by sight?"

"Pretty much."

I was genuinely impressed. She must have a great photographic memory. Then I observed a sort of mark on her neck. It was partly covered with her hair but was still visible.

Was it a...

I looked at Bai Li and felt as if he was concentrating on something.

"Grrr." Cocoa quietly growled.

She pointed her finger. "Corner room in the end."

Bai Li and I both understood and set off in that direction.

---

A man from the shadows stepped out. The barmaid felt him standing behind her.

"Who are they?"

"Uncle Rong knows the girl. The man is with her."

In the darkness, it was impossible to decipher what expression the man had on his face.

"That man... isn't so simple. He isn't any ordinary person. He cannot see, but he felt my presence."