145 Breathe (1/2)

They sat in the back seat of the car, Jim and Miya on either side, with Ben in the middle. The little boy had busied himself in learning the list of numbers he had been handed over by the Chairman. His face was solemn, and his eyes were focussed.

The adults were lost in thoughts of their own.

While Jim wondered about what Rebecca had told him about Kang Sung, Miya organized her thoughts on things she needed to deal with. Every now and then, they glanced at each other and looked away. Sometimes, because their thoughts were muddled, sometimes, because they each found the other too attractive.

It was a good thing that the child was busy learning.

Jim wondered what kind of relationship she had with Kasu, and how he could devise on a plan to tackle Sheng. Miya too, took out her phone, typed in a long, quick apology and sent it to the Chairman.

That would be one thing off her chest, for now.

Whilst she did send the text, her mind kept going back to Senior Hunter's ambiguous words. Our history is entangled, he had said to her. He owed her two lives.

Two?

She was pretty sure he was referring to the tree incident for one. What else he was talking about, she didn't know. And how was her past related to him?

Sighing, Miya shrugged.

She wasn't going to break her head over it. If the Chairman thought it was important, then he'd tell her. He had been going all out to help her and Rebecca anyway.

Once the thought crossed her mind, Miya felt guiltier and decided to apologize to the old man in person once they went back. Involuntarily, her gaze landed on Jimmy as well.

He – He too trusted her to the extent of not having asked her a single question about Kasu. Not even when he found out his real identity.

The girl sighed again.

Her phone was still in her hands. She looked at the man beside her, and admired the contours of his face and his chin that seemed harsh on first gaze. She remembered the touch of his lips against hers. She blushed.

Jimmy's phone buzzed.

It was a text from the missus.

[You look incredible, Jim.]

Jimmy grinned at the words, then looked at the wife, who rewarded him with a small smile in response. He began to type in himself.

[You look absolutely wonderful too.]

[Not better than you. Thanks for wearing the suit! It really does suit you.]

[I know. Aren't I beautiful, wife?]

The text almost made Miya laugh. She kept herself in check though, making sure she didn't disturb Ben.

[You are, husband.]

She texted back with a knowing grin.

Jimmy's heart struck at that last word. He looked at it fixedly for a while, then silently muttering a curse, he took a screenshot of the text. She had him now. Giving the missus a cheeky, warning look, he wrote again.

[Flirting again, my dear?]

[Can I not?]

And then he sent her three 'kiss' emojis.

Miya almost dropped the phone in shock. Her heart missed a beat, and she looked sideward at the grinning Jimmy Hunter in horror.

This… This person…

Pervert!

She quickly closed the chat, blushed furiously, and crossed her arms over her chest while determinedly looking away.

She was going to die of heart attack.

Meanwhile Jimmy chuckled as quietly as he could. He ruffled Ben's hair idly, while the child paid him no heed. Jim chuckled at that too, then looked fixedly at Miya.

Grinning, he typed again and sent her another text.

Miya was still red in the face, but she shot him a defiant look nevertheless. She did however open the chat once more and looked at his message.

[Alright, I'll tone it down a bit. But you are such a baby.]

Miya squinted her eyes at that.

[I am not!]

[Baby.] Another 'kiss' emoji.

Miya shot him another warning glare. Then, she typed rapidly.

[The only baby here is you!]

And her actual baby, of course.