KNIGHT WAS in a bad mood. SM could tell that much while they were having their lunch. Knight would go home during their lunch break in the café to join her during lunch. That had been their routine for more than a week now, and Knight always looked happy.

But today was different. She had noticed the changes in his behavior since this morning, but she refused to ask.

"Is your lord sulking?" she asked Cloud, whispering, while he was refilling her glass with water.

"Who knows what my lord is thinking..." Cloud sighed. "He's incomprehensible most of the time."

She turned to Knight. "Baby, are you feeling okay?"

But Knight just furrowed his brows and didn't respond, so she stared at him in return, studying his face and his movements to get a hint of what he was feeling. She was already used to this—reading the few emotions he showed.

Thank God her father taught her how to deduce small gestures and voice tones. Her father believed that people, in general, find it difficult to tell the truth, so he taught her to sharpen her observation skills to be able to read and see the thoughts of the people around her. Her mother, on the other hand, taught her other things. Still cognitive-related.

And looking at Knight now, she could tell that he was sulking. Reason? Unknown.

His deep frown told her that he was bothered by something and it was pissing him off. The way his eyes glanced at her from time to time meant he wanted to ask her about something but he was holding back or couldn't do it.

Would he calm down? Probably not... unless she would sweet-talk him.

Even though he was often expressionless, Knight was surprisingly easy to read for SM once she got to know him over the past few weeks. He was like a bear—he looked cuddly, but no one could miss the dangerous aura around him.

She wanted to approach her boyfriend to appease his mood, but Midnight and Love suddenly entered the room, drenched in sweat.

"It's ready." Midnight was still slightly panting as he sat on the dining table. "Damn, that was one deep hole."

"Hole?" she asked, puzzled.

But Midnight just pointed at Knight. "Kuya ordered us to dig. It's not actually a hole. It's bigger and wider than that."

"It's six-feet deep," Love joined in, as he was just about to eat.

Cloud became curious and intrigued, which led him to ask, "My lord, what are you planning to do with the hole?"

"I'm just readying it," Knight, who was calmly eating, replied.

"Readying for what?" Love asked.

"It's for who, not for what," Knight answered with a sweet yet terrifying smile. "I'll make sure to bury him properly."

Everyone in the room froze. That was one scary smile.

"It's a grave?" Cloud asked.

"For who?" Midnight added.

Knight still had the chilling grin on his lips as he drank water before answering, "Oh, just someone I know that I want to skin alive. I'll bury that motherfucker there."

"My lord, so thoughtful of you... to actually ready the grave. You are such a fine gentleman!" Cloud exclaimed. SM wasn't sure if it was a sarcastic remark or not.

Even Midnight raised a thumb. "That motherfucker should be flattered, Kuya."

Love, on the other hand, couldn't help but whisper, "And here I thought my family were a bunch of psychos."

"Who are you going to bury there?" SM asked after she finished eating. "And what did this person do to you for you to do that?"

"His name is Khairro Sanford, and it's because he pissed me off."

Her eyes widened and her lips parted in shock. "It's Cap?!"

Knight's eyes narrowed. "I told you to only look at me, remember? He called you, and I was the one who answered it. That motherfucker!"

SM stared at Knight. He looked really mad. But even after knowing that he prepared a grave for Captain Sanford, she couldn't even get mad at him.

He was just jealous... again.

SM sighed.

"Don't you feel suffocated by how jealous Kuya is all the time?" Midnight suddenly asked.

Knight's eyes were wide with worry. "Y-you feel suffocated—"

"Not at all." SM smiled at him before she stood from her seat to approach him and kiss him on the lips. "My baby is just jealous, which only means one thing—I have to work really hard to assure you that it's only you... right?"

Unable to speak, Knight nodded.

She kissed him on the forehead. "So please, tone your jealousy down. Didn't I tell you that it's not nice?" she said, her voice gentle. "I don't want you to hurt anyone because of me. If you're jealous of Captain, do you want me to introduce you properly to him?"

Knight nodded once again, surprised that he was hearing all these things.

"Great!" She gave him a quick kiss. "I'll introduce you to him when I'm feeling better, okay?"

Knight nodded for the third time.

"Thank you." She kissed him on the lips again. Their conversation was cut off when her phone rang. She turned to the table where her phone was and saw that her best friend was calling.

"It's Eli," she informed Knight to assure him. "I'll just talk to her. Don't get jealous, okay?"

When Knight agreed, SM walked out of the kitchen to answer Eli's call. It had been a long time since they last talked. She missed her.

"WHAT THE fuck just happened?" Knight asked when he realized what happened. One minute he was so jealous, and the next he was feeling happy and loved. "I think I'm losing my mind. Cloud." He looked at his butler. "Can falling for someone make a person lose his mind?"

Midnight butted in. "Tsk. Kuya, she sweet-talked you. That's what happened."

Love nodded. "She's good. To say the right words that can change someone's emotion—that's a rare talent."

Cloud nodded as well. "I noticed that too. She does know the right words to say."

Knight stared at the now-empty stool where SM was seated just a few seconds ago. He realized that was true—what Love and Cloud said were true. That SM knew how to relieve his anger, fatigue, or jealousy. She knew what to say and do to make him feel better.

"It's a good thing, right?" Midnight said as he looked at his brother. "That my brother has finally found someone who knows him, understands him, and accepts him for who he is, even his flaws. I'm happy. Don't lose her, Kuya. She's a keeper."

With a smile, Knight ruffled his brother's hair. "I know she's a keeper, Little Brother."

Midnight smiled back. "Good."

He messed up with his brother's hair once again before getting up from his seat. "I should go. I have to go back to the café."

As soon as he left the dining area, he looked for SM to say goodbye, as he needed to return to the café. He found her at the side of the house, staring at the grave he had dug for Sanford while talking on the phone. He couldn't help but to eavesdrop.

"He's really cute, in my opinion. Getting jealous like that." SM softly chuckled. "Why would I feel suffocated? He's a good person, Eli. He becomes so adorable in my eyes when he's jealous." Pause. "Maybe because I like him so much?" Pause. "I don't know, Eli. Maybe because I feel how much he likes me whenever he's jealous." She laughed. "Am I making any sense? Yeah... I know. I just want to keep him. I don't think I'll ever find someone as good as Knight."

He placed his hand on his chest where his heart was. It was beating loud and fast.

I'm so lame... eavesdropping like this. Fuck!

Hearing SM defend him from her friend, hearing her say that he was a good person even though he was really not... he was exhilarated.

He approached SM and kissed her on the cheek, which surprised her.

"I need to go." He kissed her once more, this time on the side of her forehead. "You rest well, okay? You need it."

SM nodded with a smile. "Take care—oh, Eli says hi."

He brought his mouth close to the phone that SM was holding. "Hello to you too, Eli. Have a nice day."

SM chuckled softly. "Eli said that you shouldn't get too jealous."

"Can't help it." He kissed her on the lips and bit her lower lip before whispering, "Estoy loco por ti."

SM blinked, unsure of what he meant. "What? Can you say it again?"

He just chuckled, kissed her, then left with a happy smile on his face.

But when he entered SM's café, his mood dropped and his face darkened because the motherfucker named Khairro Sanford was there.

Is he here for my baby?

The bastard even waved at him. "Velasquez! I can explain. It's a misunderstanding!"

"Don't care." He grinned darkly while cracking his knuckles. "I think I'll prefer burying you alive. I already readied your grave. You should thank me."

"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" With his eyes wide, Khairro slowly backed away before attempting to run away from him.

Knight tsked. "As if I'll let a motherfucker like you escape." With that, he attacked Sanford.

"Come on, Velasquez! Be reasonable!" Khairro shouted while blocking every punch Knight threw at him. "Sweet was just my junior—"

"Don't call her Sweet!" His foot swung hard, it hit Khairro in the side.

Khairro's face darkened as he seized his leg and kicked Knight, but Knight was quick to twist his body and use his other leg midair—with controlled strength—to kick Khairro on the shoulder.

Khairro staggered backward, holding his shoulder, with a scowl on his face. "Fuck you! That was strong! Are you trying to kill me?!"

Knight clenched his fists and prepared to attack. "I'm not trying—I will really kill you."

"Fuck you!"

"You're welcome."

Knight closed the gap between them until they started trading punches and kicks. He threw a series of punches to Khairro's stomach and then kicked him on his chest until Knight heard his phone ring.

"Wait," he told Khairro, whose fist that was about to punch Knight was about to hit. "Someone's calling me."

"Really?!" Khairro asked in disbelief.

"Yeah." Then he answered the call. It was his father. "Father."

"What took you so long to answer my call?"

His jaw clenched. "I was beating a friend."

Khairro rolled his eyes at him before slumping down into one of the chairs, frowning. He placed his hand on his stomach, which Knight had hit with strong punches earlier.

"I want you to visit the Dela Cerna Family. I will send you the coordinates," his father instructed, which left him stunned. "They broke the rule. Finish them all, Knight. Leave no survivors behind."

His blood ran cold, but he managed to reply, "Noted, Father."

"Good. I will wait for your update tonight. Make it quick, but make sure it's painful." Then his father dropped the call.

He gritted his teeth. He had to take another life again. When will this stop? he thought. When will I stop being a monster?

"You okay, bud?" Khairro asked, his hand on his stomach, battling the pain from Knight's attacks.

He flopped on the seat next to Khairro. "I'll beat you up next time."

Khairro tsked. "Geez, I feel loved. I think my small and big intestines are in chaos."

He let out a loud breath. "Stay away from SM. She's my baby."

"And I'm telling you, I'm just her superior before." Khairro tsked again. "And I was calling her because I am helping her with her parents' case."

He glared at Khairro. "Then why the fuck did you hang up?"

"Because someone was calling me."

"Don't bullshit me." He frowned. "Nonetheless, I still dislike you. And I will not apologize for your car."

Khairro's eyes widened as he rushed outside to look for his car. When he couldn't find it, he headed back to where Knight was. "What did you do to my car, Knight?! I bought it with my hard-earned money! That's my girlfriend!"

"I know." He smirked at Khairro. "I kidnapped it. If you go near SM again, you won't see your girlfriend anymore."

"Knight! You animal!"

"Yep. I'm a very handsome animal." He pointed at the door of the café. "You may go. If it's about SM's case, call me. I also promised to help her."

The hostility in Khairro's face disappeared. He seemed pleased. "That's good. She needs all the help she can get. There's an influential person trying to stop us from what we have to do. And since you're a count, you'll be a big help."

"Anything that can make my baby happy."

Khairro chuckled before waving his hand while walking toward the café's door. "You better ready the beer and barbeque. You'll be welcome to the UnderStanding Club soon."

"I'm broke. I'll tell Valerian."

"Whatever. I have to visit the hospital now because of what you did. I'll send you the receipt."

"Give it to Shun. I don't have money, but if it's a grave you need, I already made you one. It's a six-feet deep hole. Wanna see?"

Khairro looked back, shooting Knight with a piercing look. "Fuck you."

Knight grinned. "You're welcome."

Khairro walked out of SM's café, irritated. Meanwhile, he called Cloud.

"My lord," his butler greeted from the other line.

"Ready my katana," he commanded Cloud. "I was asked to clean up tonight."

"Yes, my lord."

After ending the call, he sighed then closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, SM. Please don't hate me."

He had to make sure that she wouldn't find out this monstrous side of him. I won't give her a reason to leave me.

No way in hell!

ESTOY LOCO POR TI means "I'm crazy about you," according to Eli, who somehow knew Spanish. She should have asked her when Knight said te quiero.

Shaking her head, she looked at the ground that Knight had asked Midnight and Love to dig. It was deep.

"Jealous of Captain Sanford, huh? I can't imagine what he'll do if he learns that I have a crush on Captain before." She grimaced as she massaged her temples. "He's gonna explode for sure."

She let out a loud sigh before entering the house, then she headed to their room to rest. But she couldn't sleep, so she occupied herself by organizing Knight's clothes and cleaning the room. It was already afternoon when she fell asleep.

When SM woke up, it was already dark outside, but since it was only six in the evening, she went back to lying down on the bed. When seven struck, Cloud called her to have dinner.

"Where's Knight?" she asked Cloud as he served her food. "Is he still in the café?"

"Yes, Lady SM."

She smiled before quietly eating her meal, which she also cleaned up herself. She didn't wait for Cloud to do it. When she returned to her room, she tried calling Knight, but his phone seemed to be turned off, so she called Monet instead. She wanted to tell Knight to bring home a cake.

"Good evening, Boss," Monet greeted her warmly.

"Good evening," she replied. "Monet, can I talk to Knight? Just for a sec. I can't reach him through his phone."

"Boss, Knight isn't here," Monet informed, which surprised her. "He left early. He said he had to do something important. I am always the one closing the café."

"A-always?" she asked, stuttering.

"Yes, he has been going early for almost four days now."

"Alright, thank you, Monet. Take care." She ended the call afterward, her hand gripping her phone tightly.

Knight had been going home late these past few days.

Other work?

But no, Knight always told her that he had been closing the café.

Slowly, her brows furrowed, her mind deep in thought. When nothing came to mind, she decided to wait for Knight and ask him about it.

But four hours had passed, still no Knight.

She looked at the wall clock—it was already 11:30 p.m.

Knight... where are you?

She still couldn't contact his number. And every time she would ask Cloud about Knight, Cloud would just smile reassuringly at her.

Finally, at 11:58 p.m., Knight came home.

He had a blank expression on his face as he entered the room and immediately headed to the bathroom.

Worried about him, she followed him inside the bathroom.

But her whole being shook upon seeing him under the shower, taking off the black T-shirt he was wearing, revealing the red color enveloping his body. The water from where he stood turned red.

Is that... blood?

"Knight!" She was horrified as her mind came back to that moment when she saw him bleeding profusely outside her café. "Are you okay?"

But Knight didn't respond. He just stood frozen in place, looking at her in fear as if he had seen a ghost.

Without saying a word, she went into the shower room to check if there were any wounds on his body. To her relief, he had none.

"But..." Her gaze fell to the water that had turned red at their feet, then to the red liquid on his body. They were like blood stains on his skin. "I-is this... b-blood? Maybe paint or something—"

"It's blood." Knight's cold eyes held hers. "Not mine though."

Her lips parted at what he said. "What did you say?"

"The blood's not mine," he whispered as he looked away from her, ashamed. "They won't come off."

She remained stunned, her eyes still couldn't get off his blood-stained body.

"Go away, SM."

"Knight—"

"Leave," he said, pushing her away. "You shouldn't have entered."

"Knight—"

"I said leave!" He shouted at her, shooting her a piercing glare.

But she didn't listen. She did leave his side, not to abandon him but to open the faucet in the bathtub and poured body wash onto the water. She returned to Knight, held him on the wrist, and pulled him toward the bathtub.

"Take off your jeans," she commanded.

He didn't move. He was just looking at her, bewildered.

She sighed and removed his jeans herself before guiding him to sit in the bathtub,

"There," she said before getting a body pouf sponge to scrub the bloodstains that clung to Knight's skin. "Stay still..."

While scrubbing his chest, she heard Knight murmur, "Aren't you going to ask what happened?"

"Let's clean you up first."

"Aren't you scared of me?"

"I'm more worried than scared," she answered while pouring shampoo onto his hair. "Soak your body properly so the blood residue would come off after a little while."

Knight listened but remained silent. Meanwhile, SM pressed the button on the side to drain the water from the bathtub upon seeing that the water had turned red, then she opened the faucet once again to fill it with water while Knight was still in it.

And to help Knight more, SM took off her clothes and joined him in the tub. She knelt behind him while shampooing his hair.

SM was in the middle of rinsing Knight's hair when he leaned in to her. She was taken aback, her gaze locked on the back of his neck.

"Knight—"

"I'm tired." He sounded tired indeed. "I'm so tired. So... tired... SM... I'm so tired."

She hugged him from behind and kissed him on the cheek. "I'm here, Knight. I'm just here," she said. Her embrace tightened around him when he intertwined his hands with hers.

"Thank you... for not leaving me even when I shouted at you," he whispered as he leaned in to her more.

From kneeling, she sat behind him in the bathtub. Knight leaned against her chest, his head resting on her shoulders. She caressed her hair. "Are you alright?"

Knight shook his head. "I'm sorry you have to see me like that."

"It's okay. Rest for now. You look exhausted. I'm here. I won't leave you."

Knight glanced at her with the tenderest expression on his face. "Te quiero mucho."

She smiled softly and kissed his cheeks, "And I to you, baby."

Knight finally smiled as he pressed his back against her. "You feel so good. Don't leave me... Even though I'm a monster, please don't leave me. I'll be good... I'll be a good boyfriend."

"I won't leave you."

Slowly, Knight's eyes started to close, so she just let him rest. She gazed at her boyfriend's face as she let out a sigh.

Who in the world are you really, Count Knight Alastair Minrod Gutterez Velasquez?