After the scene with Avian, I went searching for Henry to explain. I found him in the gym, hitting a punching bag like it had my face, or Avian's engraved on it.

He slowed down a bit as if sensing my presence. But it appeared to be an assurance cause he was back to hitting the bag as hard as before.

"Henry?"

POW! POW! POW!

I moved till I was in his line of view but still  he turned away from me and kept hitting the bag. I wished I could make him understand what he'd seen but even I didn't understand it.

"It's not what you think."

He paused. Then kept hitting the bag aggressively.

I couldn't see his expression but I could tell from his tensed shoulders and defensive stance that he was about to self-destruct.

I'd seen it in Chellu once.

"Henry?!"

POW!

Then he heaved out a sigh, beads of sweat rolling down the side of his face and trickling their way through his chest— his lean, muscular chest.

Just when I thought that he'd continue hitting the bag, he said through gritted teeth, "If you're here to explain, don't bother. I give you my blessings." 

I began walking till I was in his line of vision again.

His hair had grown longer for the little time he spent locked up and they formed a dangerous fade. His beards were also prominent, along with the darkness in his eyes framed by long lashes.

Before I could respond to his suspicion, he walked further away from me to take his shirt which he wore. Then, his gaze, the last one he gave me which lingered as he turned at the doorframe was filled with so much hatred that I wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.

As Henry left, my bodyguard poked his head in to make sure I was alright and it was then, just then, that I remembered to check the time. It was then that I remembered my new status. It was then, just then, that the reality of Allen's death hit.

Was Henry feeling guilty about that? Or was his current countenance a contest to my misendeavours?

~~~~~~~

Two O'clock.

Avian...The gazebo...Me...Two bodyguards...Trees... Grasses...Leaves...The gazebo...

Two ten.

Avian...Me...Two bodyguards...Sunlight...Shadows...Me... A topic...

Two twenty.

Me...My thoughts...Avian ...Me... Appetizers...

Avian dropped his glass of water and folded his arms, then sat back to observe me under his keen sight. "I can tell a lot is on your mind," he said.

My brows were raised as if to say "what do you think?"

He smiled. The one that always made him soft and cute.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about the mafia. But the number one rule to being a long standing leader is the absolute control of who gets to know your secrets, which, to answer the question running through your mind right now, was why I kissed you."

I was silent for sometime, what I was about to tell him at that moment now resurfacing as pieces of a multi-puzzle.

"Please, can you excuse us Henry? It wouldn't take long."

Henry looked between us again and I could tell he was shielding his real emotions. He said nothing, just nodded repeatedly and exited the room slowly for us, looking back at me every two steps he took.

Only when the door was shut did Avian look at me in expectation. "So miss Harida, I don't expect you keep up with the ruse of our relationships, in case you were worried."

"I -" Avian was cut off by my hug. I too didn't know why I'd acted impulsively, but as my arms wrapped against his torso, I had a pretty image of how much he'd helped to bring my dad down and I wondered why.

"Why?" I asked.

His arms reluctantly went up to shield me. I felt cocooned by his warm aura, one which I knew he always exuded when you were at a close proximity to him.  "Well, your dad was the one threatening you into a relationship with me. And now, after seeing your first ever option and how you care for him, I have a lucid view of where I stand to you."

"No," I said, pulling away from the hug to look up at his face. "That's not what I asked. "Why did you kill -"

He kissed me without hesitation so that whatever I was about to say was muffled in my throat.

I was stunned into silence, revelling at what led to the kiss, and what happened during it...

After the little flashback I had, my mind was returned to the present. "You kissed me cause I wanted to reveal a secret? My secret?" I didn't exactly know what I was expecting him to say but a part of me was disappointed.

With a small smile, Avian said, "Something like that. Now, with you and alone here, I could hear what you wanted to say and there would be no repercussions."

His eyes were staring deep into my own, but then, while I was just getting distracted, I saw for a minuscule of time Henry's emotional face appearing like a mist before me and I was forced to comport myself.

"I wouldn't be the one explaining things. It's you. When you said that you got a gift for me I wasn't expecting that I'd be bathing in my dad's blood unless you've got something to do with it."

"I don't get you, miss."

"What was the present you promised yesterday?"

"Ooh. Is it Hilda, the friend of yours? She wanted to surprise you and I just had the opportunity to harbor her for some time before she saw the chance to visit you."

I didn't know my thought process. How his words had conjured up images in my mind wasn't lost on me either but I saw at that moment, her, Hilda, looking a better fit for Avian than I could ever be. As my hands turned to fists, I found myself blurting in a tone I couldn't recognize, "-and you helped her..."

I tilted my head as I said, "-in exchange for what?"

"I did it for her cause we were well acquainted in the past. You could even tally it to childhood friendship."

Immediately, my accusation washed over me and remorse uprooted my soul.

"I'm sorry," I said in the most mournful voice ever.

"It's alright. I understand why you act this way. It's same reason why I am here. But with your newfound position, we must place logic first. And by placing logic first, I wouldn't comment on how close you and your right hand man seem to be."

"Henry?"

"We aren't speaking about that now. What I actually want to know is why you ascended the position of Don. It was never the plan."

"There was a plan?"

"Hilda was to be the next Don. She swore that she would kill Allen and I'm sure she did."

"You don't think I can kill someone?"

"Allen never vexed you to that level."

"I see."

"Let me help you. Maybe the sole reason you agreed to attend my meeting is hysteria so you could get information for her, isn't it? I'm so done with this meeting. Take care Avian, I'll take it up from here and I surely wouldn't need your help anymore."

As I stood up in anger, ready to flee at Hilda's betrayal (or should I call it secrecy), Avian's voice stopped me, like a remote on a robot. "You'd be right not needing my help, unless you want to go down as you take down your father's investments. Think of the ones you love, they would hate you if you died, and this is not me threatening you."

I turned back to look at him.

"I'm just giving you a hint on what the people you're going up against might want to do to you. And I have been in this game long enough to know the remedy."

"What do you stand to gain?"

"Peace, for one. And two, inner peace. It's all about peace for me. Have a good day Harida."