An entry for the contest SPY DATE by action.

Prompt: The moment you looked into those beautiful dark eyes you knew it was trouble. Little did you know your date was an international super spy and by a twist of events you find yourself along for the ride in their next dangerous mission.

I gulped nervously at the same time simmering in anger as I sat at the dining table by the window waiting to be met with my death... I mean 'date'.

Last week, my friend and I made a bet on a race, and, of course, I lost. As punishment, she forced me into this blind date. Talk about irony. To make matters worse, I got caught by my beloved big brother as I sneaked back home that night.

Whoever came up with the concept of blind dates must have been a desperate idiot in search of love, or just a plain big fat idiot. Take your pick.

For me, I'd always choose a sleek black SSC Tuatara with green-accented wheels, rims, and interior, matched with halo lights underneath, over a person with muscles, tight black jeans, and a chiseled jawline.

I ran a finger through my curly urbun brown locks for the hundredth time, continuously trying to straighten those slight creases on my crimson red bodycon, concerned about how I looked. The small earpiece in my left ear, curtained behind the long curls, screeched,announcing the arrival of the devil himself on the other end.

"You ready sis?" Taegi's voice crackled in my ear.

I clenched my jaw, irritated by his presence.I had not only got caught my by my brother that day. Once he got the knowledge of the upcoming 'punishment blind date', he had hated it to the core. he also insisted on controlling my every move through an earpiece. It was either It was either that or had him report my late night expeditions to backstreets to mom and get myself grounded for the rest of the eternity. I chose the lesser of two evils.

"Remember this is just for today " I hissed under my breath into the earpiece, "You do anything you'll regret and I'll have your head hanging on a street lamp next morning."

I was simply met with a childish, evil chuckle, "Yeah, we'll see that." He began after catching his breath, "And when that date of yours arrives, I want you to express your genuine feelings about your lonely single life to him."

"Say what now?"

"I want you to stand up and say something like... umm... 'Thank you so much for coming, I'm such a lonely bean and can't wait to get to know you." Taegi's rectangular grin could practically be heard through the earpiece.

"That's not even close to my genuine feelings. The truth is I love my cars more than my men." I retorted.

"I don't care. You will just do what I say. Or else -- Motherrr--"

"Oh, you're so dead for this Taegi!"

A wave of laughter escalated from the other end as my fist turned into tight balls yearning to punch Taegi on his perfectly sculptured face.

The restaurant was perched on a small hill, offering a picturesque view of the downtown area of the charming beach town on one side and the azure expanse of the sea on the other. The colorful houses and swaying palm trees added to the cheerful atmosphere.

Lost in my thoughts, I pondered the upcoming date.

What if my blind date was handsome?

Or what if he was hideous?

Honestly, I could care less.

Just then, a voice approached me, snapping me back to reality. I looked up to see a young man with a smooth face, pale skin, and dark, neatly combed-back hair. His eyes were dark and mystic, captivating me with their depth and expressiveness.

Shawlon Ash!

Realization hit me like a ton of bricks as I finally recognized those eyes. It took me a good thirty seconds to exhale the breath I had been holding, straighten my slouched posture, and clear my throat with a weird cough before responding.

"Yes? How can I help you?"

"Hi. I'm Ash. Here for the blind date."

That's when I noticed the effortlessly stylish ensemble he had put together - a sleek black dress shirt paired with well-fitted black jeans that accentuated his toned thighs and legs.

"Hi, I'm Aury," I replied, trying to sound enthusiastic. "Thank you so much for coming, I'm such a lonely bean and can't wait to get to know you."

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Have you ever experienced that sinking feeling where you wish the ground would swallow you whole and erase any trace of your existence? Yeah, it's a feeling you should definitely try to avoid because it's utterly dreadful.

It had been almost an hour since this disastrous blind date began. And here I was, sitting across from an incredibly attractive individual who also happened to be the owner of Confetti Dealers Inc, the sponsor of our last race. Despite my feeble attempts at conversation, he seemed genuinely interested in getting to know me.

I wouldn't have ended up in this miserable situation if it weren't for Taegi's "helpful" intervention!

"So..." I started, my voice slightly trembling as I looked up at Ash, who was engrossed in studying the menu.

Why did he have to be so ridiculously good-looking? He appeared even more handsome in person than he did during the race. I couldn't deny that I had a small crush on him, just like practically every other girl in the club. Especially since we had secured the sponsorship deal.

However, the moment my introduction reached his ears, his bright smile faded. I was expecting the worst. Nevertheless, he mustered up politeness and responded with a sheepish, "Nice to meet you too," as he broke our handshake.

"What's your favorite color?" he asked, trying to maintain the conversation.

"Drab dark brown," I replied, attempting to sound genuine.

"And your favorite childhood memory?"

"When Taegi, my beloved older brother, won sixth place in a bun eating contest during New Year's, competing against a grand total of six participants."

"What about your favorite animal?"

"Mosquitoes, of course. Most of them are probably my distant relatives."

I was silently praying for this torturous blind date to come to an end.

During this embarrassing ordeal, I did manage to gather some information about Shawlon Ash. His favorite color was red, his cherished childhood memory involved his mom, and his favorite animal was his pet cat, Milk.

"What kinds of foods do you enjoy?" he inquired, glancing up at me with a raised eyebrow.

"How about something like chocolate cake with ketchup?" Taegi's sinister laughter echoed in my earpiece once again.

At that moment, I realized I had never despised Taegi more than I did at that very instant, even more than the time he tripped me into a row of trash cans, and I ended up face-first in a bin a few years back.

"Um... I actually like chocolate cake with ketchup. It's... uh... delicious and... unique," I stumbled over my words, feeling far from coherent.

Ash stared at me, his expression uncertain. "Ah, that's quite an interesting combination," he replied, unsure of how to respond.

"And what about you?" I hastily wiped away some sweat from my forehead. "What do you enjoy eating?"

"Well... judging by the menu, I think I'll go for the Bulgogi and fried rice," he finally closed the menu, his gaze still fixed on me, searching for any trace of a genuine connection.

At that moment, a waitress approached, ready to take our orders.

"For you, sir?" she asked Ash, prompting him.

"I'll have the Bulgogi and fried rice, please," he answered, placing his order without hesitation.

"And for you, ma'am?" The waitress turned to me, awaiting my decision. Truth be told, I hadn't paid much attention to the menu, though I had been staring at it intently throughout the entire ordeal.

"I'll just have the same as him," I muttered, forcing a smile while my cheeks felt like they were about to wither and fall off.

As the waitress left, I practically leaped out of my chair, nearly knocking it over in the process. Fumbling with the strap of my purse, I disentangled it from the chair, while Ash stared at me wide-eyed, mildly startled, and evidently surprised.

"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, my cheeks flushed. "I need to use the restroom. Please excuse me."

Clumsily and noisily, I hurriedly made my way toward the bathroom. By the time I reached it, I was a bundle of heated frustration.

I entered a stall, forcefully closed the door, and double-checked to ensure I was alone before letting out a frustrated yell into the earpiece. "Taaaegiiiii! What the h-"

"Au... get back inside the restaurant, hun," Taegi chuckled, clearly relishing in my misery. "Your date is getting impatient."

"You really had to do this to me, didn't you?" I whispered, contemplating whether ending our brotherhood was worth it.

"Come on, honestly, this is much better than I expected," he chuckled, thoroughly enjoying my pitiful state.

"Taegiiii!"

"Listen here little sister, I'm not the one who lost the bet, am I?"

"So you knew it was Shawlon Ash who would be my blind date?" I hissed in frustration as Taegi continued snorting like a maniac.

"Taegi, you piece of-"

Just then, the door to my toilet stall forcefully swung open.

In came was my 'blind date' almost barrelling on to me as he hastily got inside.

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

I wanted to unleash a piercing scream, to let out all the fear and frustration that welled up inside me.

The echoes of blood-curdling screams reverberated outside the restroom doors, but it wasn't the external chaos that made me yearn to scream. No, it was the unwelcome intrusion, the violation of my privacy within the confines of the stall, that sent a surge of panic through my veins.

The revolver, pressed perilously close to my skull, served as a constant reminder of the danger lurking in the shadows. My blind date, with his hand tightly clasping my mouth, stared into the depths of my soul with an intense and penetrating gaze.

"Relax. I'm not here to harm you," he said with an unsettling calmness that only amplified my anxiety.

How could he remain composed in such a terrifying situation?

But then it dawned on me. He got naught to panic about. It was my life hung in the balance. I was the one who stood on the precipice of death.

Amidst the cacophony of Taegi's screeches, which now served as a distraction rather than a means to control me, the earpiece I wore buzzed and almost deafened me. I couldn't help but wonder if he could hear the chaos unfolding even through that tiny device.

Suddenly, Ash leaned closer, gently brushing my hair behind my ear, exposing a small black object concealed within. In the midst of the crumbling world around us, I couldn't help but feel my heart race at his touch. Being in such close proximity to Shawlon Ash was an undeniable magnetism I couldn't ignore.

"It's Taegi Rovery online, isn't it?" His eyes darted between me and the earpiece. "Save the brotherly talk for later, assuming you survive." A taunting smirk crept across his face as he tossed the earpiece onto the cold, tiled floor, crushing it under his boot heel.

I stole a quick glance at the shattered remains of the earpiece that had adorned my ear just moments ago. My blind date had discarded it, leaving it as a symbol of severed connection.But before I could dwell on the sight, he leaned in even closer, our cheeks brushing against each other. "Listen carefully. I need your help, and you need to trust me," he murmured, prompting me to snap back to reality.

For a fleeting moment, I anticipated the grip on my mouth to loosen, granting me the freedom to speak. Instead, he lowered the gun, his eyes flickering between me and the stall door, intently listening to the chaos that enveloped us.

"I need you to trust me completely. Hold onto me no matter what happens, and when I signal, you must run. Understand?" His words, filled with a newfound gravity, demanded a response. However, given the overwhelming circumstances, my mind had momentarily ceased to function, leaving me speechless as I continued to lock eyes with him.

"Trust me the way you trust your hands on the wheel. Okay?" His tone shifted, becoming more commanding and resolute.

What could I say? Trusting my own hands on the wheel felt vastly different from placing my entire trust in him. I might have considered his offer if only I had a shred of understanding about the turmoil unfolding outside. Or perhaps, if I weren't consumed by sheer terror.

In that very moment, a single gunshot shattered the silence beyond the bathroom door, causing both of us to jolt back. Time stood still as my breath hung suspended between my lungs and throat, supporting an agonizingly long period of silence. Then, all at once, the world erupted into a cacophony of gunfire.

The stall door vibrated violently, unable to withstand the relentless banging for more than a few seconds. Coldness seeped into my fingers and toes, while the entire space seemed to plummet in temperature. In a matter of moments, the restroom door was pummeled inward, and just like that, I found myself no longer guarded by my blind date. Soon, the bathroom transformed into a symphony of chaos, with clanging, clattering, screams, and fireworks engulfing the once peaceful sanctuary. The thugs succeeded in breaching the door, turning the restroom into a battlefield.

Amidst the external chaos, the world around me faded into silence, and all I could perceive was the pounding of my heart as I sought refuge behind the protective presence of my blind date. With every fiber of my being, I screamed at the top of my lungs.

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Miraculously, I emerged from the restroom unscathed, my life intact.

I had Ash to thank for that. Ironically, I should also thank him for thrusting me into this perilous situation in the first place.

All I knew was that I was being dragged along like a rag doll, propelled into a war zone brimming with gunfire, fighting, and desperate people seeking shelter for their lives. The once elegant and carefully arranged surroundings of Restort Shine had been reduced to a chaotic mess. Tables and chairs lay upturned, scattered haphazardly. The sweet scent of lavender that once permeated the air was now tainted by the stench of gunpowder and death. White tiles bore crimson rivulets of blood, and lifeless bodies slumped in random corners. It was difficult to discern whether they were alive or deceased, but with my own life hanging by a thread, I had no choice but to press on, running past the gruesome sights.

It was evident that two opposing factions were embroiled in a violent confrontation. Yet, the reason for this confrontation eluded me.

As we neared the table where Ash and I had sat a mere twenty minutes ago, five thugs armed with knives emerged, charging towards us. But within moments, they lay defeated, some with deep wounds on their legs and abdomens, while others were incapacitated. My wide-eyed gaze remained fixated on Ash, transfixed by his swift and seamless movements as he dispatched the assailants.

Suddenly, something whizzed past my face. Instinctively, I reached up to touch my cheek, only to discover a thin line of blood seeping from a fresh wound. The metallic clang of the object colliding with the tiled floor resonated in my ears. It took me barely a split second to realize that Ash had swiftly retaliated, firing his weapon toward the source of the threat.

One more thing I learned about my blind date, apart from his hidden revolver, was his affinity for combat. A gleaming smile adorned his face as he tore through the ranks of the assailants, seemingly reveling in the chaos.

"You okay?" he shouted, struggling to be heard above the cacophony as he took my hand, urging us to resume our escape.

"Do I look okay to you?" I retorted, allowing myself to be pulled along once again, my eyes welling with tears as my endurance reached its breaking point. However, my despair seemed to have little effect on Ash's smirking countenance.

"Sir, there are too many of them. We need to escape quickly," a man dressed in all black yelled to Ash as he drew closer to us.

"Take her back safely," my blind date commanded, casually transferring my protection to the other man. "I have some unfinished business to attend to first. I'll meet you guys at the parking lot." And with that, he charged in the opposite direction.

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

Continuing in the next chapter...