I have been in awkward situations before. Like the time I fell face first in a puddle of mud right in front of my first crush, Tommy Rueh. Or the time where a sixty-year-old man asked me to be his wife. I always thought that there couldn’t be a situation more awkward than those two. I was wrong.

Standing in front of me was the man who was the owner of the golden pocket watch I had just spent over an hour trying to steal. I didn’t even have enough time to go to the pawn shop. One thing you never want it to happen is face the person who you stole from holding you up from falling with what I’m guessing is telekinesis. However, of course, it wouldn’t be my life if things didn’t go wrong.

“Hey buddy, mind letting me down? My legs miss the ground.” The man raises an eyebrow and smirks. God, I can feel the overconfidence spilling out of him. Of course, it had to be someone who uses power to overpower others.

“Now why would I let down the little thief who stole my pocket watch? I would think you would be more apologetic for being caught.” I scoff at his comment. He’s cocky, just my luck. I cross my arms and glare at him.

“I don’t know what you mean mister. I have never seen you in my life.” I say in hopes that he didn’t possess the mind reading power.

Oh yeah, did I forget to say? You can have more than one power. How unfair is that? Here I am wishing for one measly power when there’s others out there with more than one. The low-tiers normally only receive one power, and the mid-tiers can develop two and the high-tiers are the lucky ones with three. No one has ever reported to have more than three powers expect the late Queen Marigold. The Queen possessed mind reading, telekinesis, prophecy and the fourth one has never been revealed. The people thought that prince Rafael would also develop four powers like his mother, however, he only developed three. Maybe that’s why the King has been desperate to marry him to a high-tier princess.

Anyways. I take a good look at the man. I noticed before that his voice was deep and raspy. He’s tall and you can see his muscular figure beneath his clothes. His skin looks golden against the sunset and the way his eyes are shinning remind me of when you hold up a pebble to the sun. The only thing that is annoying me is the smug look he has on his face right now.

“What are you staring at?” I say in an irritated tone.

“I could ask you the same thing since you were just ogling me a few seconds ago.” I blush at his comment and he smirks. Ugh. How can this man be so infuriating?

“One, I wasn’t ogling you. Second, can you put me down already?” I hate being powerless against other people and this guy is not making things easy for me.

“Of course. As soon as you hand over what you stole little lamb.” He flashes me a smile as if I will melt by it and obey his every order.

“As I said before I don’t know what-!” Before I know it, I’m upside down. “What in the world are you doing you crazy bastard?” I scream at him. Before he says anything, my whole body is being moved up and down, making the watch fall from my pocket and onto the ground.

“Oh my, would you look at that?” He comes closer and picks up the watch. He then spins me back around and drops me to the ground making my butt sore.

“Couldn’t you have dropped me a bit more gently?” I say through clenched teeth. Who does he think he is playing around with me as if I were a puppet?

“I think I’m a very handsome man who got his watch stolen but a very stubborn girl.”

I roll my eyes at that. Cocky son of a-. Wait. What did he just say?

“I think you heard me darling.” He crouches down just enough so that are eyes are in the same level. I can see the amusement in his eyes. I’m glad one of us is having fun here.

“So, you’re a mid-tier huh?” I scoff. Just my luck to have crossed my paths with them. Most mid-tiers are so full of themselves and always hungry to rise in the ranks. No wonder he has this attitude.

“Hey now, no need to be so rude. I’m not as bad as you may think.” Still with a smile on his face, he offers his hand to help me back on my feet. I swat his hand away. There’s no way I’m accepting help from him. I get up on my own and face him. He’s a lot taller then he seemed before with broad shoulders. Now close up, I can tell the dimple he has on his left cheek. I can also smell an amber scent from him, along with an unfamiliar scent that is sweet.

He coughs to get my attention. Crap. I need to stop spacing out, especially when it just contributes to his ego. “Now that you have your precious watch, can you leave now?”

“Is that the way you’re supposed to talk to the man you just stole from?” He leans against the tree and crosses his arms.

“Ya right m’lordie. How could a low-tier like meh disrespect such a formidable person as yourself? I humbly apologize that I do.” I say it with accent by the farmers on the South of town. They are not good people, but they’re accent always makes me laugh. To finish, I mock bow. Certainly, no matter what your status is, if someone were to address another in such a matter, they would receive a good slap in the face. I would know, having gotten one from Mr. Isas, the local baker who refused to sell me bread.

I wait to hear his response but when I look up, he has his back towards me. He is hunched over, and he is shaking. It doesn’t take long until he finally turns around, tries to maintain a straight face but fails, causing him to break out in laughter, leaving me taken aback. His laughter resonates in this abandoned ruin and it probably travels down into the city with how deep and loud it is. It brings chills down my spine and it makes my knees go weak. He wipes a tear that falls from his right eye.

“You’re a funny one, aren’t you darling?” He raises his eyebrows at me, trying to recover his composure. I never in my life had anyone react this way to anything I say. Especially not anyone with a higher rank.

“My name- ahem- is not darling.” My voice comes out a bit weak, but I make a quick recovery. I don’t need another thing to make him gloat about.

“Then what is your name darling?” I’m sure he repeated the nickname just to mess with me.

“Why should I give a stranger my name, just after I stole from him?” Does he really think I’ll tell him, so he can gossip among town that I was a thief? I don’t need another obstacle in my life.

“You know, if you tell me yours, I’ll leave. So, you can either tell me your name or I’ll just be here with you for a very long time, not that I mind.” He winks at me. God! He is such an infuriating man! I don’t want to tell him my name, but I also don’t want to stay here and continue this intolerable conversation. I guess I’m just going to have to risk it

“Do you promise to leave me alone if I tell you my name?”

“I promise.” He holds up one of his hands and with the other he crosses his heart. I roll my eyes. Well that’s reassuring.

“My name is Iris.” I hope he that he does not read my mind. I do not want to be confronted by lying, again. He raises his eyebrow but doesn’t say anything. I get anxious because I don’t know if he believed my lie, but I try not to show it on my face. He then breaks a smile and extends his hand.

“Hello, Iris. My name is-.” Just as he’s about to tell me his name, the tower bell rings, resonating it’s sound all over town, signalizing that it’s currently six pm. I look towards the man, and for the first time since the beginning of our conversation, did I see his amusement leave his eyes. I hear him curse under his breath. “Well, Iris, as much as I would love to continue this conversation, I’m afraid I have to take my leave now.” He begins to walk away.

“But you didn’t even tell me your na-.” I strong gush of wind blows over, making me close my eyes so that sand wouldn’t enter them. After it’s gone, I open my eyes to find that I’m alone. The man is gone and the only thing that he left behind was his amber scent.

Just who is this man?