NEXT DAY, TERRAVERDE_GRAND CASINO*

★

He got a diary and a pen, writing down today's date and the exact time the kiss happened, then at the end of the note, he wrote PEARL AND JEREMY in block letters.

*

12AM*

Isaac emerged from the laundry room, holding the clothes he went to retrieve in his right hand then his phone on the left one.

He was so into the phone that he didn't notice Hyce coming in from of him, not until the smell of his cigar hit his nose, so he looked up.

Immediately he saw him, he glared and made to take another way, but Hyce blocked him.

"I hate the smell of cigar, it's bad for my health" he said, and Hyce quickly dropped the smoke, putting it out with his shoe.

"Are we ok now?" Hyce smiled handsomely.

Totally, he's an eye candy.

"No we're not, I already told you I'm not gay. The next time you block me like this I swear...

"I saw you at the gay club, aren't you a stripper?" Hyce interrupted, and Isaac's eyes widened for a fraction of second, but then his defensive look returned.

"Yeah I'm a stripper, but I only do that to make money. I strip in a gay club but i'm not gay, and if you must know, I like Teal" Isaac vomited the words at once, and Hyce squinted lightly, brushing his tongue on his lip.

"Ouch" he mumbled.

Isaac didn't give him another look before walking away, leaving him in the hall.

Hyce got himself another cigar, and Axel joined him as they left too.

Teal came out of a corner afterwards, and she stood in the middle of the hall for a minute before smiling.

Actually, she heard Hyce and Isaac's conversation.

Isaac likes her, for real.

She was still smiling as she rolled up the sleeve of her blouse to reveal the bruise from Roonie's push.

Her smile disappeared, and she sighed.

*

NEXT DAY, TERRAVERDE~GRAND CASINO*

Deciding to follow Master X's advice, Hazzan made sure to collect Rook's early morning urine in a cup, and now the cup is in front of him for drinking.

Rook couldn't close his eyes for any sleep till daybreak.

How would he when his cut wouldn't stop bleeding, and his body felt empty like all the organs are gone.

He looks madly sick as he stared at the cup with splitted, peeling lips.

"You should drink up" Hazzan brought the cup to his lips, but he threw his face away.

"You expect me to drink that?" He scowled.

"You don't wanna get well? I'm tired of seeing you this way coward! Drink up!" Hazzan dropped the cup on his palm, and he took the warm plastic with disgust on his face.

He counted the bubbly foams on top of the liquid as he brought it up to his lips, and at once, he closed his eyes, drinking it all.

"You did well" Hazzan took the cup from him, but almost immediately, he began bleeding from the nose, so much.

"What the heck... Rook!" Hazzan's eyes widened.

"Get father!" Rook pushed him, and Hazzan rushed out of the room, to Master X's office.

The man is standing beside his window with his arms crossed behind him, staring at a picture on the wall.

It's the picture of a beautiful woman who's holding two kids. A boy and a girl.

There's a sad smile on his lips, and even the entrance of Hazzan didn't tear his attention away.

"Boss!" Hazzan called, making him turn slowly.

"He drank the urine, but it only got worse" Hazzan said breathlessly.

Master X hardened his jaws before coming closer to take his seat.

"Are you that daft to think urine is really an antidote for the poison?" He said, and Hazzan gulped.

"Sir?"

"Roonie cut him with the sword for a reason, and I won't block that. Also, why do you think i adopted him and gave him the opposite of Roonie's mission? It's to make him pay for his crime of using my name. I wanted Roonie to take care of him, and it's already happening" Master X smirked, and Hazzan couldn't close his mouth.

"No...boss you can't...

"I can't? Well you decide that when he dies in ten days. My late wife specifically made that sword for him, and he's the only one who has an idea of the antidote. Go kneel in front of him" Master X said grimly.

Hazzan rushed out.

*