Thousands of miles away Aselia was jerked awake with a pounding heart. Was she having a heart attack? For a second she couldn’t even breathe due to the overwhelming pain as if her heart was being diced by a whetted dagger.

She wanted to scream so loud but didn’t want to wake and startle others. So getting up, she staggered to the cupboard and grabbed her jacket.

Tucking her phone inside the pocket she threw the jacket on herself and quietly walked out of her room and then the house. It was the middle of the night and everyone was sleeping.

Aselia made her way to the river which passed in front of the house and sat down on its bank. The grass had dried due to the cold weather and it was wet but she didn’t care. She wanted calmness and serenity to ease her pain.

Her arms went around her bent legs and she hugged herself to numb the burgeoning pain.

She took deep breaths but her heart refused to calm down. ’What’s wrong with me?’ she whispered to herself as she stared at the silvery water which flowed with gushing sounds, illuminated by the whitish rays of the moon which hung like a humongous orb in the inky sky.

As quickly as the pain had emerged it began to subside and Aselia breathed in relief until it was totally gone. But she sat there staring at the clear water and pondered over her life.

She had been doing that quite a lot recently. And being surrounded by such loving people, at times she still felt alone. Her heart craved someone’s love, an intimate love.

Why had she dedicated her life to solely being a hunter? She never dresses up or went on dates, parties or nightclubs like normal girls. She didn’t have girls as besties, she only remembered Marhia and even they weren’t that close. Has she forgotten to be a girl?

She never went shopping with girls or attended nightclubs to drink and dance the night off as girls her age usually did. She never had sleepovers or enjoyed chick flicks. There was certainly something wrong with her. Her feminine side was almost non-existent.

What if she was suffering from some incurable heart disease? And Yurian knew about it and was hiding from her. Did she have limited time left and that was the reason her organisation had sidelined her? So many thoughts crossed her mind.

She didn’t know these were just the side effects of her bond with Xiran; who unknowingly almost slept with another woman and she was feeling his betrayal through the bond. If she was to do the same, he would experience the same pain in his heart.

’I need to live my life a little before it’s totally over. I need to have fun and enjoy once in a while,’ she vowed to herself.

Taking out her phone from her pocket Aselia began to make a list of things she had never done as a girl. And it was a long long list because, by the time she was done, the sun had peeked from behind the mountains and begun to spread its ombre hues.

She then got up and returned to the house. Yurian had gotten up and seen her enter, he said:

"Hey! Morning walk?"

"Something like that," she softly smiled and made her way to her room to check up on Rony. Soon the house was bustling with activity as everyone got up and became busy breakfast.

Yurian and Aselia then left for the base. Yurian had observed, she was awfully quiet.

"Did you have another nightmare?" his question snagged her attention.

"Not really, just pondering over my life and accomplishments. Don’t you feel we are missing something?" her question got him thinking. He didn’t understand what she meant.

"Like what?"

"Like we are not enjoying our life to the fullest. We are like robots, too engrossed in work. We don’t even date Yuri. When was the last time you went on a date?"

This perplexed him because she was right. They had dedicated their lives just for this cause, forgetting to act normal at times. He never pursued romantic relationships, thinking he wouldn’t be able to give the girl time and attention she would deserve.

"I don’t even remember," he had a few dates in college but none when he became a hunter. He was almost 24 now and didn’t even have a girlfriend.

"Exactly my point. From now onwards I am going to be enjoying my life. Doing stuff I have never done, experiencing what the world has to offer."

Her words showed her determination and Yurian wondered if she would pursue a romantic relationship as well. He didn’t know if she had been intimate with Xiran in that sense but if she was and tried to be with someone else then that will surely be an issue. She would find out she is not a virgin any longer and that will lead to more questions.

"Yes, that’s a good plan. We haven’t gone out in a long time. Let’s do it sometime. Tell me where you want to go and I will take you."

Aselia knew Yurian’s birthday was this week. So she wanted to celebrate it at home with his parents but after that, they should head out to a bar or nightclub to blow some steam.

"I want to hit a nightclub or a bar and get drunk for a night. But with the position I am in and with all those rogue attacks, I am sure it’s not a feasible possibility," she sighed.

"Leave that to me and just plan what you want to do and we will do it. We can enjoy a single night, it won’t bring about the end of the world," Yurian offered Aselia a reassuring smile as they stopped in front of their base. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"Then it’s final, this weekend we are partying and getting drunk," her eyes shone in excitement as she got out of the car and Yurian couldn’t help but chuckle. They both headed inside to resume the duties for the day.