"Kat, I…" Aiden wasn't sure how to react to the unexpected confession. He didn't even know if his old self had any feelings towards this girl, or if he only ever saw him as a sister. Not to mention he couldn't even imagine how he would react if this would happen back in the real world.
However, before he could continue, Kat placed her finger to cover Aiden's lips. She smiled with a few tears formed in the corner of her eyes.
"I know you don't see me the same way as I see you yet, Aiden. But please, let me enjoy this night and just give me the chance, open up your heart, and let me show you how much you mean to me. Please, Aiden." She said as the tears were now flowing down on her cheeks, dripping on her dress.
"I… *sigh*" Looking at the girl, using his right hand he quickly picked up the falling tear. Mostly recovered from his shock, the smile he had before returned to his face. Wiping her face with his hands, he continued. "Let's do what you suggested. But I can't promise you anything other than I'm willing to give it a try, okay?"
This was the answer she was hoping for but never dared to dream about. Suddenly overwhelmed by emotion, she hugged Aiden. Her face buried in Aiden's chest, nothing could be heard from her for several seconds. Aiden hugged her back in response and gave a peck on the top of her head, causing the girl's currently hidden face to turn even redder, if that was possible at all.
---
From the distance, Andrew and the girls were silently looking at the scene while they enjoyed the food and the free drinks.
"She did it! Look at them, hugging each other so emotionally! Do you think they are a pair now?" Asked one of the girls.
"I think so, yeah. I'm so happy for Kat, she dreamt about this moment for so long, she deserves it." Answered the other.
"Y-yeah... Wait, Kat was in love with Aiden? Since when?!" Surprised, Andrew asked turning to the girls.
"Oh my God, how could you never notice it? She liked Aiden ever since you were kids playing at the playground. She's in love for more than 10 years now, you as her brother never noticed anything? Sheesh, how blind can one man get?"
"I… I never noticed. I just thought he liked hanging with us and that he looked at Aiden like his second brother." He answered, embarrassed.
"God, you are so stupid sometimes…" they both exclaimed. Then turning their attention back to the newly formed pair, they continued spying on them from the distance.
---
Just outside the banquet hall, under the cover of the brick wall, a group of masked men was gathered, armed with military-grade assault rifles and kevlar vests. They all had black plastic faceless masks covering their faces. The guy in the middle of the group looked at the others. Reloading his weapon and readying it, he spoke to them in his husky voice.
"Is everybody ready? Everyone knows the plan?"
The group nodded and whispered almost in unison.
"Yes, captain! We are ready!"
Good, follow the plan then. We move in as soon as we see the signal. Until then, be ready!" The captain said and the others nodded to his words. Everybody knew the plan and the importance of this mission. They have been preparing for it for months now.
Soon, as they were watching the main entrance from their cover, they saw the guards look at their direction and nod. Flashing the light briefly both of the guards then walked away from the entrance.
"This is it, boys, that was the signal! Everything is set, GO! MAKE YOUR COUNTRY PROUD, SHOW THEM WHO THEY MESSED WITH!" The captain exclaimed as he raised his weapon into the air. The rest of the group followed suit and raised theirs as well as they all cheered loudly in unison.
Leaving their position, they rushed to the entrance, ready to rush in and make history…
---
Aiden and Kat were sitting together at a nearby table and were enjoying each other and the drinks they took. Suddenly Aiden cocked his head toward the entrance, causing Kat to jump in fright.
"W-what is it Aiden?" she asked, with a bit of worry mixed in her tone. She felt that something must be happening for Aiden to react this way.
"We have a problem. Armed men are going to attack. Not sure what their goal is but they look like soldiers ." he replied while still looking at the entrance.
"Attack? Terrorists?!" Kat jumped in fright upon hearing his words. If what he said was true then this was no joke. "W-what should we do?!" She asked stutteringly.
"First, let's gather up with the others before we think of anything else. Don't worry we shouldn't be the targets here, we are nobodies, compared to the other people present here."
Aiden stood up and held out his hand for Kat to grab onto.
"Come, let's go to the others and think of a way to get out of this situation."
The others were surprised when Aiden and Kat hand-in-hand rushed to them. The girls smiled cheekily at Kat, and in a suggestive tone, they teased.
"Ehehe, what happened guys? Missed us so soon? We thought you will be lost in your own little world for a bit longer!"
Although embarrassed, Kat shushed them.
"Not now girls. There's a big problem!"
Hearing the graveness in her voice they quickly turned serious themselves.
"What is the problem Kat, Aiden?"
Aiden looked at the group and whispered.
"Armed men will rush in a few seconds. With Kat, we think that they are probably terrorists. Most likely they are targeting the people here in the banquet as apart from us almost everyone is very high profile." Turning to Andrew, he smiled wryly. "This is why we shouldn't go to parties we don't belong…"
"H-how do you kn-" Andrew asked but was hushed by his sister.
"Doesn't matter how! What's important is to quickly think of something so we could escape."
Realizing the graveness of the situation, he nodded his head and turned silent. Then, as all of them were looking at Aiden, waiting on him to say something, Andrew asked.
"What's the plan Aiden? What should we do?"
"I don't really know the layout of this place… We need to find a backdoor or maybe check if the bathrooms have any windows we could use."
The group turned silent, trying to think back on the building's layout. Several seconds of silent contemplation passed. Aiden was looking at the entrance and sighed.
"We're out of time… They are here."
At that time, suddenly a sound of gunfire could be heard mixed with various screams. A group of armed and masked people rushed. A few quickly blocked the entrance while the rest of the group started herding the people together to the middle of the room.
One of the assailants, probably their leader, walked to the middle and stood up on a table to elevate herself. Then he shouted with his husky voice.
"EVERYBODY STAY CALM AND DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID! GO TO THE MIDDLE OF THE ROOM AND SIT YOUR ASSES DOWN! IF YOU BEHAVE NOTHING BAD WILL HAPPEN TO YOU."
Then he aimed his gun at one old man who had this arrogant look plastered all over his face. There was no trace of fear on it. Suddenly the guy pulled the trigger and shot the old man in the head. Then he continued his speech.
"IF YOU DON'T BEHAVE OR IF I EVEN CATCH YOU LOOKING AT US LIKE THIS SACK OF BONES DID, THIS IS WHAT WILL HAPPEN. WHILE WE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP ALL OF YOU ALIVE, WE DON'T NEED EVERYBODY FOR OUR PLANS! GOT IT?! IF YOU DO, THEN GET TO THE MIDDLE AND SIT THE FUCK DOWN!"
While Aiden's group was herded, he silently whispered to them.
"Guys, listen to that guy and don't do anything stupid. Let me think of something. If I can find an opening I will take it. Until I say so, you guys will behave, alright?"
The girls nodded, but Andrew looked like he wanted to say something, so Aiden quickly shushed him.
"Don't. Believe in me, I am stronger and faster than you think. Now shush and sit down in the middle."
They followed suit and sat down with the other guests in the middle of the hall.
The captain was checking the group, looking for certain figures. When he found them, he motioned for a nearby guard to pick those people up and gather and bring them over.
Soon, a group of 6 frightened guests was in front of the leader. They were all men, 3 middle-aged, 1 old, and 2 youth.
The leader looked at them, smirking under the cover of the mask. After about a minute, he finally spoke
"You 6, are our dearest VIPs tonight. Now, I would like to ask Mr. Police Commissioner to please be so dear and call the Minister. We have a great party tonight, and we should let him know, don't you think?"