A/N: Hi guys! I just want to inform you that i used a couple of Sicilian words here. Unu means first while Dui means second. The other one is a bad word so i won't translate it. LOL. Anyway, i hope you like this chapter. Happy reading!

MAGGIE's POV

I blinked innumerably upon realizing what I was doing. What the hell? Did I just gawk at him?!

I mentally shook my head and crossed my arms across my chest while still watching Marco changing the tire of my car. His muscles were flexing everytime he moved. His arms looked so strong and for some reason, I suddenly wondered what it would feel to be enveloped in his arms. His abs were on the right places. He must be spending a lot of time at the gym...

I was busy watching every move that he was making as if I got enchanted by him when he suddenly looked at my direction and caught me openly staring at him.

My eyes widened and looked at the other direction right away but it was already too late. He already caught me! To my surprise, he suddenly chuckled. My gaze shifted back on him. I couldn't believe that he actually chuckled!

I thought he was like a robot, unable to show any emotions at all but I was wrong. Well, I've never had the chance to spend time with him before and whenever he was around, I didn't really take any time to observe every expression he was making because I was busy with my own little world.

"So, you're capable of showing emotion after all." I taunted to hide the embarrassment that I was feeling. The small smile on his lips suddenly disappeared as his face turned stoic once again. Gone was the amused look on his face just now.

"How can you say that when you never even cared enough to stare at me longer than 3 seconds?" He asked with a cold tone. He stopped what he was doing for a moment and took his time on staring at me while waiting for my answer.

My heart was thumping like crazy for an unknown reason. I mentally shook my head and then pulled myself together. I couldn't help but to feel annoyed. It has been around 1 year and a half since the last time I saw him before the pageant.

I thought he already moved to another country back then but he suddenly appeared last week during the competition. He even replaced Kyrus as the judge for a reason I didn't bother to ask.

"What do you mean by that? We're not close so why would I take my time to stare at you? Besides, you disappeared for quite some time and just returned recently." Instead of answering, he remained quiet and just continued what he was doing. After a couple of minutes, he finally finished.

He took the tools and the flat tire with him and put it in the trunk of his car. I thought he was going to depart right away but he didn't. He sauntered towards me while wiping his sweat using a towelette that he took from his bag.

Those amber eyes of his eyes were staring at me intently and it made me feel uncomfortable under his gaze. This man really screams of danger but for some reason.

I suddenly wanted to run away when he drew himself closer to me more than necessary. He leaned forward until his lips were almost touching my ear. I unknowingly gasped for air as I felt like all the little hairs on my nape stand up as his breath fanned the sensitive area of my neck.

My breath became uneven as my heartbeat went even faster than a while ago.

"Let me answer what you've said a while ago. You never cared enough to throw me even just a quick glance because you were always busy with someone else. You're always oblivious of what's going on around you. You don't even see me even though I'm just standing near you as if I don't exist." His voice sounded husky but I could hint the tinge of bitterness in it. No! I'm just imagining things!

I swallowed hard. "I don't agree with what you're saying. I know exactly what's going on around me. And also, I am not blind for me to not see you standing in front of me whenever you're around." I answered with a newfound courage.

He straightened his back and then took a step backwards from me. The corner of his lips lifted but his face remained stoic.

"You never changed. You're really not like the other girls. You're the oblivious and uncaring type. If someone doesn't catch your attention, you never bothered to even stare at them. Sometimes, people tend to be blind even though their visions are sharp and clear." A strange emotion passed through his eyes upon saying that but it disappeared as quickly as it appeared.

"I don't get what you're saying. What are you trying to imply? Are you saying that I am blind and uncaring?" I asked with furrowed eyebrows. I've never expected for us to have this long conversation nor expected for him to help me.

But somehow, he was telling things that I couldn't fully understand. He's really weird...

He didn't answer. Instead, he turned his back on me but I wasn't planning on letting him go without saying what's on my mind first.

"What about you, Mr. Pearce? I can say that we're the same. You don't care about other people around you too. You don't even bother talking to others if they're not your friends. Well, I think you're worse than me because people around you always get intimidated by you. Maybe, I'm oblivious about few things around me but at least, I'm not going that on purpose. You on the other hand is purposely ignoring things that doesn't interest you." I retorted back. His steps came to a halt.

He didn't turn around and kept quiet for a couple of seconds. I thought the would leave without saying anything but he finally spoke.

"You should go home now. It's getting late." He commanded with a stern voice. I gritted my teeth. I could feel the familiar feeling of rejection again. Yes, I've only experienced rejection from him.

When my cousin introduced him to me during my 18th birthday, I already noticed that he was the silent and cold type of a person but being the friendly that I was, I tried to talk to him but he never gave me the chance to get to know him. He just made me feel like I didn't exist around him, as if I didn't matter at all.

I was never the persistent type of a person so when I felt the silent rejection, I automatically stepped back and decided to just ignore him. From that day on, I didn't try approaching nor talking to him anymore.

After that night, whenever I saw him, he always looked serious and expressionless but I noticed that he was always grumpier whenever Brey was around.

"Whatever." I answered sarcastically and was about to open my car when I decided to throw him one last glance. I caught him staring at me. "Thank you for changing the tire for me. I'll return your tire to you when I get another one."

"Okay. Just call me when you decide to return it." I nodded my head and then got inside my car. I was about to start the engine when another car pulled up next to my car. My eyebrows creased. I know that car. What the heck is he doing here?

I hurriedly got out of my car when I saw the driver went out of his vehicle.

"What are you doing here? Your house is at the opposite direction from my house." I asked Brey curiously.

"Well, I wasn't planning to but one of my friends called me and asked me to go to his place to get a document. I was actually planning on dropping by your place to give you this but I accidentally saw you here. The wife of my friend made this. I remembered you when she gave it to me. It was your first day at work so I'll give this to you." He explained and handed me the box of macarons.

I couldn't contain my excitement upon seeing the treats and hugged him. It has been a while since I last had one.

"Thank you, Brey! You're the best!" I said happily. My arms were wrapped around him.

Brey cleared his throat. "Brat, If you want me unharmed then let go of me." That made my eyebrows crease.

I let go of him. "What do you mean, B? Are you in danger?"

"More often that you can imagine. C'mon, go home now." He opened the door of my car for me. I wanted to ask another question but he silenced me by putting a finger on my lips.

"Fine." I rolled my eyes and got in my car. "Thank you for the macarons, by the way. Bye." I said before maneuvering my car out of there.

MARCO's POV

I kept on punching man's face in front of me without even batting an eye. He was already bloody while kept on begging me for mercy but his pleas didn't affect me one bit. I kept on doing what I was doing until his body finally surrendered and fell down the cold floor.

When he finally fell down, I snapped out of my thoughts. I gritted my teeth. What happened this afternoon kept on replaying inside my head. I could still recall clearly how Maggie hugged Brey when she saw him.

"Minchia!" I cussed furiously.

I looked at the man on the floor emotionlessly before I turned around and then sat on the chair nearby. I stared at the empty and dimmed room. No one was inside apart from me and the man that was barely breathing on the floor.

Then, the door opened. The light from the outside completely illuminated the room but that just for a couple of seconds as the person who came in closed back the door.

Upon seeing the bloody man, he tsked. "So, I assume that you're done already? Poor him because you vented your frustrations on him. He really chose the wrong time of being caught by the boys." He said while shaking his head.

I saw him light a cigarette and pull a little smoke into his mouth. My eyes bored at him. I felt like I was staring at my own reflection.

"So, you finally arrived." I uttered flatly. He blew the smoke out of his mouth and then faced me. Those heterochromia eyes of his fixed on me. Yes, we're identical twins but we have that distinct difference. Our eyes.

I have a set of amber eyes while he on the other hand has two different eye colors. His left eye was amber while the right eye was green.

"Yes. I arrived this afternoon but you weren't here as usual. If you're done here, let's get out of here. I hate the smell of blood. I have good news and that's what I want us to talk about."

I stood up. "Okay. Call someone to clean this mess up." I ordered before exiting the room. I went upstairs and sat on the couch at the terrace. I looked at the view. My mansion was proudly standing on top of the mountain, overlooking the scenic view of the city.

I was quietly staring at the panoramic view when I sensed a faint movement behind me. I slowly stood up while sensing if there was a danger.

Then, I heard a slight and sharp movement, indicating that someone was about to attack me, so I swiftly pivoted and then released a punch to whoever was trying to sneak up on me, when I recognized my brother. My fist was already just a centimeter away from hitting his face but he didn't even blink.

"You never changed. You're only the person I know that could sense my presence even though I'm trying to be as discreet as possible." There was a hint of amusement on his face. I sighed and then sat back on the couch.

"Were you trying to attack me just now?" I asked.

He laughed. "Actually, yes. I heard from Falcon that you've been brooding since you came home so I wanted to test if your concentration is still intact."

"Who do you think you're talking to? Don't do that to me again, Dui. You know I hate hitting you."

He laughed. "I know."

I looked at him and was about to ask him if he already did what I instructed him to do a while ago but he already spoke.

"Yeah, the clean-up team already took that man away."

The corner of my lips lifted. "You really know me. Before I ask a question, you already have the answer." I said amusedly.

He chuckled. "Well, in case you forgot, we're twins." We both laughed.

"Why don't you smile more often, Unu? You only show your soft side to me." He asked out of the blue.

"That's the least thing that I want to happen. If I ever showed even a bit of sympathy or kindness, our enemy will surely take that as an opportunity to destroy us. Always remember that we're living in a different world now, Dui. We only have each other, nothing more, nothing less. Everyone is a potential enemy. Trust no one, remember that."

"What about the other members of the TBG? Don't tell me, you see them as your potential enemyn too? Just remember that it was your idea for us to join their group. They've already helped us a lot of times before. Isn't that enough for us to trust them and consider them as our family?" He said with a scowl. I didn't answer and shifted my gaze on the view before us.

"It's been eight years since we joined TBG. Don't tell me, you still don't have enough trust in them?" Dui went on with his questions.

I sighed. "Enough of that topic. So, how's Sicily? Is everything alright? What about our operations there?" I queried, intentionally avoiding the topic.

He took a deep breath. "Everything's fine. Nothing to worry about. What about here? You seem grumpier than ever. You even vented your anger to that man. Where did you get him anyway? What did he do for you to do that to him?"

"Our men caught him lurking outside the house. Apparently, he was sent by Mr. Chiu."

"What does he want from you?"

My eyes squinted in anger as I remembered what that man confessed to me. "Mr. Chiu sent that hitman to threaten me. I think Mr. Chiu is really testing my patience. If he wants war then I'll give that to him." I answered menacingly through gritted teeth.

My brother was taken a back. "But Mr. Chiu is related to Horeeya, Unu."

"The Horeeya is nothing now after the army found their hiding place in the mountains of Iraq. You already knew that most of their members together with their leaders were killed."

"I know that but I heard that some of them escaped and even after 3 years, they're still on the loose, looking for an opportunity to get back at S for betraying them. There are still other groups that are loyal to the Horeeya and the group of Mr. Chiu is one of them. They just remained quiet these past few years because Amouretti and the others used their influence. If you want to destroy Mr. Chiu, then you should ask Amouretti's help. I heard from Joaquin that T had asked him to use his influence in the underworld to protect S from the remaining members of that terrorist group." Dui said and that made my blood boil.

"I would never ask for his help!" I answered thunderously and then hit the couch's arm with my fist.

"You look mad. Let me guess; this has got something to do with that woman again." His face turned sour upon saying that.

I glared at him. "She has a name, Dui! Don't ever address her like that!" He raised his hands as if he was surrendering.

"Hey, don't be too overly-sensitive. I'm just trying to be humorous here but I guess, you're not in the mood. What happened? What did Amouretti do again? I guess, he's the reason why you're acting like this again. Honestly, this is tiring already." I clenched my jaw tightly, didn't respond.

He sighed wearily. "You know what? This infatuation of yours is affecting your mood more than before. Why don't you take a break from all these and chase after the girl of your dreams? It has been years, brother. If you won't do something, Amouretti will surely snatch her away from you for good."

My breathing went hard. My hands balled into fists. Just imagining that Maggie and Brey will be together was already waking up the monster inside of me.

"You're right, Dui. I've been nothing but a coward these past few years. I think, it's time for me to fulfill my promise."

"That's the big brother I know. Go and get your price for being the knight and shining armor these past few years." Dui answered as he patted my shoulder. But then, worry suddenly consumed me.

"But what if Maggie discovered who I really am?" I uttered in an almost inaudible voice.

"Then she will run away from you for sure." Dui answered and then laughed. I gave him a sharp glare and he stopped right away.

"I'm just kidding, brother. Don't think about negative things. Just do what you need to do. Don't worry, I'll take care of everything while you're gone." He assured me. "Just remember, don't ever do anything that will scare her. I know you, Unu. Never show Thamuz to her. She will surely run away if that happens." I clenched my teeth and nodded my head.

****

Just to clarify, guys; Unu is Marco and Dui  is Marcus.

What do you think of Marco at this point? 

First impression on Marcus?

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