Can't Win Me Back



Xavier was confused. He caught the tie bar in his hands and asked, "What's this, Mr. Beckett?

Jasper closed his eyes to rest. He tugged at his tie knot but still felt suffocated.

"It was from Sheryl," he answered.

Xavier let out a cry. "This filthy thing is from that wild woman? I don't want it!"

With a disgusted look on his face, Xavier hurled the tie bar aside. I'm already seeing someone. I don't want my girlfriend to misunderstand me."

Girlfriend?"

Yeah, Mr. Beckett. Maggie is my girlfriend."

With his eyes closed, Jasper frowned. "She's become of age?

Xavier didn't know how he should react. "She's already in university, Mr. Beckett. Am I that much of an animal in your eyes?"

Suddenly, the memory of himself and Alyssa rescuing Maggie flashed through Jasper's mind.

Just then, Xavier exclaimed in surprise, "Mr. Beckett, look!"

Jasper opened his eyes slowly, and his heart jolted. Standing alone before his car was Alyssa, framed against the piercing headlights, snow swirling around her. The wind tossed her dark hair, and she looked almost fragile as if the wind might carry her away.

Without hesitation, Jasper stepped out of the car and approached her.

"Hi, Mr. Beckett." Alyssa smiled slightly at him.

Looking at her face, which had tumed red from the cold, he could tell that she had been wandering outdoors for a very long time.

He opened his mouth to speak but could not make a sound. All he could taste was a slight bitterness at the back of his throat. He remembered that she was someone who got cold quite easily.

Once the temperature dropped, she loved to snuggle in his arms and use his hands as her source of heat; his hands kept her warm regardless of the time of day.

Alyssa didn't hope to hear any words of concem from him. Even so, she didn't mind it. She softly asked, "Mr. Beckett, do you have time for a chat?"

Jasper pursed his lips. 'Let's chat in my car."

"Sure. Thank you." Alyssa was very courteous to him. Even her way of speech sounded a little distant.

Her mature and sensible demeanor annoyed Jasper.

Xavier, being quick-witted, made space for this pair of ex-lovers to spend time together by getting out of the car to wait for them.

"It's your birthday tomorrow," Alyssa spoke up first to break the awkward atmosphere.

"Yeah." Jasper looked askance at her. He gulped silently.

He was just about to say that he didn't need any gifts when Alyssa surprised him with her next statement.

"Do you remember what you promised me?"

Jasper locked startled. He answered in a low, deep voice, "Of course."

"It's time for you to keep your promise."

"Then, it's time for you to fulfill that promise." She clenched her hands, her gaze intense. "I want you to go on a hike with me tomorrow at 3:00 p.m."

Jasper was surprised. He narrowed his eyes and asked, 'A hike? Where?'

"At Crater Mountain, Do you remember where that is?"

Alyssa laughed softly and choked, "Many years ago, you once saved a woman from a storm

at that place. That was the beginning of your story with her."

Jasper's heart skipped a beat. He balled his hands into fists. He hadn't lost his memories. Of course he remembered.

What I want you to promise me is to go hiking with me tomorrow."

"Is that all?"

Alyssa clicked her tongue. "If not, what did you think I'd ask you to do? To give yourself to me?'

Alyssa crossed her arms before her chest and tilted her chin proudly as if the high and noble Alyssa Taylor from the past had returned.

"Don't be so verbose. Are you going to promise me or not?"

"I promise," Jasper answered without any hesitation.

"Great. Pinky promise."

Without waiting for Jasper to react, Alyssa grabbed his warm hand. She extended that disabled pinky finger on her left hand. Strenuously and clumsily, she locked her pinky finger with his.

At that moment, Jasper's pupils constricted. He could feel that quiver in her pinky as a jolt of electricity shot through his heart.