Kent's Point of View:

What the heck is wrong with me? Why am I here at the restaurant after drinking at the bar? I shook my head and pulled Zein outside. I don't know why I interfered in her life or why I defended her from her enemies. I'm annoyed because she is so nice, and they abuse her so much. I'm annoyed, and I don't understand it.

"S-Saan tayo pupunta?" Natigilan ako nang marinig ko ang mahina niyang boses.

Napapikit ako ng mariin at agad pinakawalan ang kamay niya na hawak ko pala. I looked at her. It's good that her t-shirt is thick, but her skirt is also dirty. I took a deep breath. Why did I bring her out here?

She tilted her head, confused. "Kent?"

I gulped when I heard her say my name. I sighed and immediately handed her the handkerchief. She looked at it in wonder but immediately took it from me.

"Punasan mo ang mukha mo..." seryosong sabi ko. "Madumi. Hindi magandang tingnan."

Napangiwi s'ya at pinunasan ang mukha niya. I stared at her for a moment. Ilang linggo na kaming magkakilala at ilang linggo na rin simula nung inaasar namin ang bawat isa.

"On your left cheek," utos ko. 

She nodded her head, and I got the jacket to make it easy for her. I looked ahead when I saw daddy's car. He frowned as he looked at us through the window. He came out and immediately looked at us.

"What are you doing here?" tanong niya. 

"Good evening, Sir T-Tristan..." Naunahan agad ako ni Zein. 

Daddy nodded his head and casually looked at Zein. Tinignan niya ako kaya kinuwento ko ang nangyari sa kanya at nakita ko ang pag-aalala niya. He looked again at Zein. 

"Pupuntahan ko ang mommy mo. I will take care of everything," sabi niya. He looked at Zein back to me. "Take care of her."

"Y-Yes, dad," sabi ko. 

He patted my shoulder, and I immediately smiled at him. I looked back at Zein, who was fine, but her hair was still sticky. Her hair was full of flour and eggs, and I don't know where they came from. I sighed. Ito ba ang resulta na araw-araw kong pambubully sa kanya? Hindi naman.

"Babalik na ako sa loob. Salamat dito," she said. "Baka hinahanap na ako ng manager."

"So?" I raised my eyebrows. She looked at me in shock. "Never mind. Just go inside and wash your hair dahil ang baho!" Tinakpan ko pa ang ilong ko kahit hindi ko naman talaga naamoy ang buhok niya. 

"Anong sabi mo?" galit na tanong niya. I smirked when I saw her forehead creased. "Alam mo...ang weird mo at ng pag-uugali mo. Minsan mabait pero madalas tarantado. Diyan ka na nga!"

She walked out and I chuckled. Napailing ako at tinignan s'yang naglalakad papasok sa loob. 

"Alangan namang iuwi kita sa unit ko at doon ka maglinis?" Napailing ako. I got my phone and called my sister. "Bakit ba ako hindi nagdala ng kotse and I just let myself book a grab." 

Nanalo si Natasha kaya kami nasa bar. I enjoyed myself but my nose was always finding Zein's scent. Kaya ako pumunta dito dahil gusto kong amuyin ang pabango ni Zein.

"Kent!" Napatalon ako sa gulat at napatingin kay Zein. Binigay niya ang jacket niya at napatingin naman ako doon. "Ang jacket mo. Hindi pa naman madumi kaya ibabalik ko."

"Can't you see that my jacket was dirty?" Hindi makapaniwala na tanong ko. "Nang-aasar ka ba?"

"Huh?" Napatingin naman s'ya sa jacket at napasinghap nang makitang may stain 'yon ng itlog at soup. "Ay oo nga pala... hindi ko nakita. Sige lalabhan ko na lang 'tong jacket mo."

Parang galit pa ang tono ng boses niya. Kumunot ang noo ko. 

"Shy to say thank you?" nang-aasar na tanong ko. 

Nagtaas s'ya ng kilay. "E, ikaw? Afraid to say sorry?"

"What..."

She smiled at agad na tumakbo pabalik sa restaurant. Napailing ako at tumawa dahil sa ginawa niya. Nang-aasar huh? Nakarating ang kotse ni Stella kaya hanggang sa nakasakay ako ay nakangisi pa rin ako. 

"Wow! Is my brother smiling again?" Napatingin ako kay Stella. "Zein makes you happy huh? That's good."

Napawi ang ngisi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Nakataas ang kilay niya habang minamaneho ang kotse.

"I watched a video earlier that made me laugh." I lied. She nodded as if she didn't believe what I was saying. "Fine! I saw her earlier with the bullies and they're fighting. I helped her, and we had a conversation."

She laughed and looked at me and went back to the road. "Wala naman akong sinabi... I was just stating some bluff. Pero she's pretty, kuya. I like her for you."

"She's not my type," mariin kong sinabi. 

"Really? Kung makangiti ka nga ay wagas," pang-aasar  niya. 

I rolled my eyes. "She's not my type. Period."

Nakarating kami sa bahay at agad akong bumaba ng kotse. Pumasok kaagad ako sa loob at nakitang saktong alas onse na pala. Napatingin ako kay Natasha na kabababa lang ng hagdan. I kissed her forehead, and she smiled.

"I'll be back in an hour," sabi ko. "Sino naghatid sa 'yo pauwi?"

"Wade," she answered simply. "I was going to go home earlier, but my motorcycle ran out of gas."

Stella tapped her shoulder. "I know you're in love with him. Just lower your pride. One sorry and deep conversation will fix everything." 

Stella smiled at her, and she kissed our cheeks. I smiled at Natasha and tapped her shoulder.

"If you both want to fix that... I'll support you. Good night, honey."

Kinuha ko ang susi ko at agad na lumabas ng bahay. I put on my helmet and quickly got into the car. I drove my motorcycle to the arena because gangster fights are often held there. When I arrived, I immediately saw my friends and cousins. They're gangsters too, and I trained them very well. 

"Ace of Spades and Dark Horses!"

Pumunta kami sa malaking boxing ring at agad na nakipag kamay sa kanilang anim. It's now six versus eight. I waited for them to come to me, and I was not mistaken that they were the first to come. I shook and immediately punched one in the stomach. I retreated again and punched another one who came to me in the face.

"Ace of Spades! Ace of Spades! Ace of Spades!"

I pulled his arm and twisted it from his back. I heard his bones crack. I kicked another man backward who tried to approach me. Everyone knows that I'm just a normal gangster who always goes to the arena, but no, I'm also a son of the mafia, and I'm the prince of the mafia world.

I kicked him in his crotch. 

Tinago nila kaming tatlo para maging ligtas. No one knows that there is an organization that has been rebuilt, and no one knows who among us are the mafia and assassins. Mommy and daddy don't want the same thing to happen again; that's why we're all doubly careful. Alive and safe. And keep looking for that one box that everyone is fighting over.

"The winner is none other than Ace of Spades! Kindly claim your prize at the red box outside the ring. Congratulations!"