☨ ☩☣ ☘ † ❂ ⚕ ᴈᴑᴎ ☠ ☢ ⚔ ⚓♰☯☭

KELLY's POV

I woke up with an empty feeling inside my chest. Instead of getting up right away, I stared at the ceiling for I didn't know how long. It has been a week ever since I've discovered about Stephen's lies. No. Calling him Stephen would be ridiculous because I learned that my ex-boyfriend from three years ago has the same first name as him because they're actually identical twins.

A pained smile occurred on my lips upon remembering Stephen Tyler and his betrayal. The pain in my heart never lessened ever since that confrontation day and I didn't know what to do anymore. I felt like every day that passed without talking to him was adding to the pain in my chest as well.

I admit that I missed him so much. I missed his touch, his kisses and his presence but it wasn't that simple anymore.

He had been trying to talk to me these past few days but I chose to not listen to his lies anymore. I avoided him because I didn't know how to feel and how to act in front of him. I couldn't accept how much he played me without me even realizing it.

I gave him my whole heart and it pained me thinking that he never loved me the same way. He deliberately made me fall in love with him and even pretended to be his twin. I couldn't believe that our happy days would be ended with such kind of painful revelation from him.

I was pulled out of my reverie when I heard my phone ring. I reached for it on the bedside table and then checked who the caller was.

To my surprise, it was Thunder. I answered immediately.

"Hello, sir" I uttered formally. This was the first time that he contacted me after the incident at TBJ headquarters where Stephen Tyler barged in and took something from the vault. He had forbid me to take part of any missions after that.

I suddenly remembered what Stephen Tyler told me about him. Until now, I still couldn't believe it but I couldn't just judge him just like that. I need to know his side of the story as well. I wanted to believe into Stephen Tyler but he lied to me big time about so many things and my trust for him got tainted already.

Uncle Lucas had been a good friend to my father. I never saw him do anything bad. When I joined the organization, I even admired him more because of what he does. He protects people.

"Come to the headquarters, agent Ivy. I will send Ace to pick you up because we moved to a different place after that incident a few weeks ago" I was surprise to hear that they actually abandoned our old headquarters. Well, it was understandable.

"Okay, sir. I'll wait for him here" after the call, I quickly got up and then went to the bathroom and did my morning hygiene routine. After that, I went out of my room and then ate my breakfast.

While I was waiting for Ace to arrive, I finally came to a final decision. I didn't have any trust in TBJ anymore after what happened. Even though I wasn't sure if I could trust the twins either, I realized that Stephen Tyler doesn't have any reason to create a false story about Thunder.

I would be graduating from college next month anyway and as promise to my father, I would quit the organization. Before, I didn't have any plan of quitting because I loved my job, but now, everything was different.

I didn't even know if I made the right decision of joining them from the beginning because if Stephen's story was true, then they're the same as the people we chase after. I've been serving the wrong organization all along.

Then Ace finally arrived.

"How have you been doing? Everything at TBJ is different when you're not around" Ace said out of the blue while we're inside his car going to our destination.

I gulped inaudibly. I didn't know how to answer that question. I felt like all the things that I've discovered from Stephen was just happened yesterday and the pain was still as fresh as that day. My heart was still was heavy as it was before.

"Tell me honestly, Ace. What do you know about the shooting incident three years ago at the bar?" I asked in return instead of answering his question. I noticed how his body went stiff. He was obviously caught off guard of my question. His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

After a couple of seconds, his grip loosened.

"What do you mean by that? Which bar?"

"I know that you know what I'm talking about, Ace. Please, tell me everything you know. Were you there and took part of the shooting incident?" my voice was already begging. I wanted to know what really happened to Stephen Syril and why did they want to kill him back then.

I noticed how his jaw flexed tightly. He looked tensed. I was sure that he knew what really happened but he just didn't want to talk.

"I don't want to lie to you, Kelly. Yes. I was there but Stephen deserved what happened to him" that surprised me.

"Why? What did he do? Were you the one who shot him?" he shook his head.

"I wasn't the one who shot him. I was just a spectator back then. I was still a trainee. I was told that his kind should be eliminated. They're the scum of the earth. He should be eradicated. That was what they put in my mind" He stopped talking for good three seconds before he continued.

"Stephen is a terrorist, Kelly. I already told you this but you obviously didn't believe me. You kept on looking for any other evidence even though I was already showing you the evidence. That was the reason why the organization wanted to erase him" I suddenly remembered Stephen Syril who was in a coma for three years already.

Joaquin told me that Stephen Tyler didn't want to give up his twin brother's life so he bought that facility to cater the needs of his brother. He believes that his brother would eventually wake up one day.

Now, a realization hit me. The terrorist that the TBJ were chasing after was Stephen Syril not Stephen Tyler that was why Stephen Tyler denied it when I asked him if he was indeed a terrorist.

I wanted to ask Ace if his father was indeed the one who killed the Silva brothers' parents but it wasn't a wise thing to do. Joaquin also pleaded me not to tell anyone about Stephen Syril's existence because they would surely try to kill him for good.

I didn't know about the whole story yet that's why I decided not to involve in TBJ and quit.

"I already broke up with him" I didn't know why I was still trying to protect him after what he did to me but I couldn't just put them in danger. I couldn't trust TBJ either anymore including Ace. I knew that he was a nice man. He treated me like a younger sister but for now, I couldn't trust him as well.

"Good for you. That man doesn't deserve your love" I chose not to comment on his statement.

"Anyway, my father told me that he would do anything to hunt him down. This time, he would make sure to get him for good. After he stole our organization's secrets, he deserves to suffer. After all, he's nothing but a terrorist" my heart clenched painfully upon hearing those awful things that he was saying about Stephen. After all that he's done, my heart still screams for him. I mentally shook my head and pushed that thought away.

When we arrived at our destination, I was surprised to see that the new headquarters was in the middle of the forest. We even trekked for about 1 hour to reach it.

It was a three story mansion in the middle of nowhere. Ace accompanied me to his father's office. I was amazed that the new headquarters looked so different than the old one. It was more modern. There was even an elevator.

"I'm glad you made it, Agent Ivy" the strict and serious voice of Thunder echoed inside the room. I remained standing there, looking at him.

"Why don't you sit down?"

"Why did you ask for my presence here, sir?" I asked instead of sitting down without breaking our eye contact. He sat on his swivel chair and then motioned for Ace to leave us alone.

"I called you here because I have a very important mission that I need you to do for me" he said the moment Ace went out. That surprised me.

"What do you mean by that, sir?"

"You're aware of what your boyfriend did a few weeks ago at our headquarters, right?" I swallowed hard.

"He was no longer my boyfriend, sir" I knew very well that everything between me and Stephen was complicated and in haywire but we haven't talked about ending our relationship yet. I wanted to end everything but I couldn't face him ever since that day.

Now, I had to tell to Thunder that I ended everything between us so that everything wouldn't be more complicated.

"That's music to my ears. You don't have any reason to hold back anymore now because I have a very important mission that only you could do" my eyebrows creased.

"What is it, sir?" I didn't know why but my heart suddenly thumped faster as I waited for him to explain about the mission. He smiled at me and then went behind me. I felt him held my shoulders with his hands.

"I want you to kill him" I gasped in shock. I felt like all the little hair on my nape stood up upon hearing his voice next to my ear.

"You know what we do to those kinds of people, right? He's a terrorist---"

"---with all due respect, sir, but if he was really a terrorist then why didn't you take action ever since he came back?" his hand on my shoulders tightened a little bit and it made me wince.

"Because we couldn't do anything against his back up. He has a few powerful people protecting him. The higher ups who has the control of our organization mandated us not to touch him" I almost sighed in relief when he finally let go off my shoulders and then went back to his chair.

"But now, I don't care about their instruction anymore. He's a threat. He even barged in and stole a very important secret from our organization. He must be erased" he continued after. I swallowed hard. He looked determined to erase Stephen.

I tried my best to me emotionless. I remained pokerfaced while thinking of what would be my next step.

"Can you please give me at least two days to think about this, sir?" I saw an unknown glint in his eyes upon hearing that.

"Think wisely, Ivy" there was a tinge of warning in his tone but I pretended not to notice it.

"Yes, sir" after our talk, Ace took me home. He was silent the whole time and I was the same. My plans changed. I need to talk to Stephen. Even though I was aware that I wasn't ready to have a talk with him yet, I had to.

If Stephen was right all along that Uncle Lucio was a government enemy and the one who killed their parents, then I must do the right thing and fight him but if Uncle Lucio and Ace were right that one of the twins were really part of a notorious terrorist group, then I must do my sworn duty.

I must put my feelings aside on this matter because the welfare and safety of the people was at stake.

The next morning, I did my usual routine and then went to school. As usual, Cyrus was the one who served as my guard the whole day but when my classes finally ended, I told him to go home without me.

"I won't go anywhere unless you come with me. It's my job to keep you safe. I know that you're capable of protecting yourself but the situation has changed now. T asked me to watch you wherever you go" my heart suddenly skipped a beat upon hearing his nickname.

Damn! Why do I have to feel this way?! But hearing that he was worried about me made my heart jump for joy. I groaned inwardly. Stop it, Kelly!

"Why would he do that?" I asked sarcastically.

"Because he's worried about you. He loves you and he wants you to be safe at all times"

"What do you mean?" he raked his fingers through his hair.

"I followed you yesterday. You went to the new TBJ headquarters" that caught me off-guard. I told him yesterday that I wouldn't go out for the day so he didn't have to come. I thought he bought my lie but he didn't. I didn't even notice him following Ace and I.

"Look, Kelly. I know that you're hurt because of all the things that you discovered but you should hear everything first before you do anything that you would surely regret someday. T had been loving you for so long. He might have done a lot of mistakes but that was because of his family. He wanted justice of what happened to them" I bit my lower lip upon hearing that. I didn't know what to say.

"Then accompany me to Stephen right now. I want to talk to him" that put a small smile on his lips.

"I'm glad to hear that. Let's go then".

There was a deafening silence while we're on our way to Stephen's location. I didn't even get surprise when I noticed the familiar scenery that we were passing through. We're on our way to the facility where Syril was being taken cared off.

I wasn't even surprised that Cyrus knew that there were two Stephens. I chuckled bitterly.

"Why?" Cyrus asked when he heard me chuckling.

"Why am I not surprised that you knew that they're twins but you didn't tell me about it?" I couldn't help but to sound sarcastic.

"Please don't act like you're the only victim here, Kelly. T had to do what he could to protect S. Even though a lot of S's enemies mistook him for being S, he sacrificed himself and fought them because he didn't want his only family to get killed. I can't explain everything to you but I suggest that you should open your eyes and ears for him. He needs you. Maybe he committed an unforgivable mistake of what he did to you but please, hear him out. Give him the chance. He's hurt as much as you do" my eyes suddenly felt hot as they began to water but I didn't let my tears fall.

"I don't know what to think anymore, Cy" it was all that I could utter. He nodded his head in understanding.

When we arrived at the facility, Joaquin was the first person we saw. He wasn't surprised seeing me there because I've been coming over almost everyday just to see Stephen Syril.

"You can go in his room" he said. I didn't want to admit but my eyes couldn't help but to look for Stephen Tyler but he wasn't there.

"Okay" I answered and left them at the living room together. When I reached Stephen Syril's suite; just like before, I tried talking to him, hoping that he could hear me.

"I am so confused right now. I feel like everything would be answered the moment you wake up so please, wake up already. Wake up before I go crazy" I couldn't help but to feel emotional.

"Can we talk?" I almost jumped out of my skin upon hearing his voice. I slowly looked at the doorway and saw Stephen Tyler. I didn't even notice him coming in. I saw his eyes fixated on my hand which was holding his brother's hand.

A sad smile formed his lips. His eyes turned somber.

I gathered myself together and then stood up. We remained staring into each other's eyes. I saw a lot of emotions that passed through his eyes before it disappeared just like that.

"What do you want us to talk about?" I asked, trying my best to be tough in front of him even though my body suddenly felt weak because of all the emotions that I was feeling. I thought I managed to toughen myself up so that I could stand in front of him without getting emotional the moment we face each other but I was wrong.

"I know that you still have a lot of questions. I am willing to answer" his voice was soft. I drew a deep breath as I looked up, trying to calm myself down.

"Tell me everything from the start. I want to hear what really happened. Why did you have to hide your brother? Why did you have to involve me in all this? Why did you deceive me?" he slowly nodded his head. Then he began telling me everything from the beginning. 

☨ ☩☣ ☘ † ❂ ⚕ ᴈᴑᴎ ☠ ☢ ⚔ ⚓♰☯☭

What do you think of this chapter? 

Is Kelly really going to kill Stephen to comply with Thunder's order?  

COMMENT

VOTE

SHARE

FOLLOW