91 Influenced 2

If Gio said he never doubted Sofony Mendez' motives and origins, then he would be lying blatantly.

He did. It was because of this that he had her life reviewed. He also had everyone near her investigated. In the process, he learned how different she was from her past self and what kind of life she had lived before.

To be honest, she was someone who would normally not become part of his life.

Sofony's identity was that low. She had no contact with the rich, had no wealth to speak of, or any special talent worthy of recognition. She's probably a woman he would only see in the streets if he ever decided to take a walk. But that itself lessens their chances of being acquainted. After all, he had a car, scratch that, cars. Why would he walk a busy street?

Perhaps, their first meeting changed it all.

But actually even on their first meeting, were it not for his stupid but ambitious stepmother making him go to that cheap hotel, he would not still have ever encountered her. They would have never had their first union.

Gio chuckled as he parked his car on the basement of the building where the shooting range was located,wondering if this was the kind of fate manipulation talked by that daring woman.

Two months ago, he suddenly found himself invited to a cheap hotel by his stepmother. He also just found himself drugged. And then before he knew it, he had already bedded a girl who was not even in his strike-zone.

A couple of weeks later, he saw himself falling so deep for her body to the point that his craving wouldn't let him forget about her. He then questioned why he had suddenly developed attachment for that girl.

He contemplated.

Was everything pre-arranged by something other than fate? That time, he didn't like what came into mind, but his growing fondness for both her body and the girl was quite odd. He couldn't stop musing whether he was still his old self who only planned to play around with her as payback for her debts.

Whether the girl knew or not, he'd been watching her closely ever since they reunited. When he praised her for her stamina and strength, he was actually wondering why a girl so weak a week ago suddenly became like this.

But on that night she seemed so lost, when she reached out to him to make him stay, he seemingly had some images flashed in his mind. It was like he already saw that scene so many times in the past.

Of course, that should be impossible since that was the first time it happened. Only, he really couldn't shake off that feeling.

Then, time and circumstances started to reveal her mysteriousness.

One was that new sister of hers who's not someone even his best investigator could make sense with. There was also that puzzling footage wherein only he could see how Sofony became blind.

At that point, a part of his mind actually told him she became dangerously mysterious. So he should kill her.

However, he didn't do it. He even found himself panicking just to send her to the hospital. Another deja vu struck him, his senses telling him that he also saw this scene before.

And that vision made him afraid to lose her.

...

Gio strode out of the elevator. He just arrived at the noisy shooting range and he could see people practicing with their guns. Some were in the middle of loading magazines, the others pulling the bolt. There were, of course, people shooting out bullets with little pause. Sofony was one of them.

With his hands on his pants' pockets, his tall figure walked towards her casually. His eyes never left her, and they were showing approval at her focus and posture.

"You're here, Gio!" One of the burly guys near the elevator noticed him and waved his hand at him. This man then asked while pointing a thumb to one of the only three flowers among the twenty-plus thorns present. "Here to fetch that pretty miss?"

Gio didn't pause walking. But he nodded before bypassing the other. The burly man laughed, "Haha, I knew it! You won't fancy a useless girl!"

Another man chimed in. This one turned his head with his hand still continuously pulling the trigger.

"Hey, Demon Gio, I don't know where you find that missy but she's quite amazing. When she first started, everyone scattered away, afraid of getting killed by stray bullets coming from her. But look, now people have returned to their stalls since they knew she's not just any random rookie!"

This time Gio stopped his strides for a few seconds. He met this acquaintance stares and grinned. "I know, Claus. Now, focus on your shots. Once the other mercenaries know you miss the bullseye thrice, they're going to party for sure, and you will be their laughingstock!"

"I missed?" The man swept his gaze back to the target and saw no holes outside the tenth ring. "What missed?! You demon, you actually made me doubt whether my senses and accuracy drop! For an easy non-moving target? No way!!!"

He chortled and was about to rain heavy curses upon Gio but he had already walked away.

Gio was already near Sofony's stalls. He frowned a bit after seeing a man next to her. Since he was closed, he could hear the pest trying to strike a conversation with his girl. Sofony looked annoyed though. Not long after, he saw the other walking away. Then this pompous-looking guy walked into somebody else's stall, surprising the man in there with a loud smack on the cheeks.

'That's what he gets for pissing off a hypnotist,' he chuckled, the frost that crossed his eyes seemingly vanished like it was only an illusion.

"Sofy," he called out. This called her attention.

He watched as her pulled-down lips turned into a happy smile. "Gio!"

Sofony left her gun on the stand and excitedly ran to him. Amusement showed in his eyes and lips when he saw this.

"Are we going back? Or are you going to join me here?" she asked.

Gio stared at her for a while. He remembered what the malicious woman tried to make him believe and shook his head because he realized again how ridiculous it was.

He squinted his eyes a bit. He tried to remember every bits and piece of memories related directly and indirectly to her. There were their hot affairs, some outings to his resorts or parks, idle conversations at home, and the dance at her societal debut. Two months were just too short to get attached that much to someone.

But when he thought about it carefully, though subtle and mostly ignored, he always felt like he's known her for so long and that them tumbling on the bed, laughing at each other's company was just normal.

Also, the feeling of deja vu kept getting stronger, making him feel like even Sofony's annoyed face which he rarely sees ever since they met was something he saw many times before.

It was really very puzzling and mysterious.

'Am I hypnotized?'

He shook the thought not long after.

'Not possible. The images are sometimes so real. Also, I doubt mind-work will work on me.'

"Let's stay for a while, let me see your hard work," he said after glancing at his wristwatch. Its hands pointed to 4:40.

Sofony nodded. She picked up the gun again and began to point at the target five meters away. Her aim was good. It seemed some of his acquaintances took care of her.

Time passed. He imparted some pieces of advice on how she could improve her marksmanship.

Sofony never complained of sore arms or numbness which most newbies bemoaned of. But when he saw her hands starting to get unsteady, he made her stop and brought her out of the place.

"You don't have to push yourself that much. You already did well," he said as she half-leaned on him while walking towards his car.

"...Nn," she unwillingly nodded.

He didn't like it but it seemed she was really bothered by her weaknesses. She looked so eager to improve on that aspect as if being good at it would help increase her sense of security.

With his dark eyes pinned on her face, he wondered just how insecure she felt against those people. What could give her real peace of mind?

He greatly suspected that she really doesn't know the extent of her abilities. Just like she doesn't understand how dangerous she already was.

'The other problem with her is that she still can't see herself as someone who can also destroy others. Maybe she already knew, but her naivety is preventing her from fully acknowledging it. However, without recognizing this, how is she going to make full use of it?'

Her hypnotic ability was powerful by itself. If she could exploit it, for example by using it on important personages, then she'd be able to do things unimaginable to normal people. If she would just be daring enough, she could ask him to set up a meeting with a military higher-up and he would gladly do so. He wouldn't even care if she put everyone under her spell.

'The problem? She doesn't have the guts yet.'

After frowning a bit, he cleared his mind, and he informed her,

"Sofy, someone sent me a message..."

"She wants to meet up with you at the Cryptos, this 7 pm."