LITTLE MISSY

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Kyla’s chest heaved as the world froze. What the hell was happening? How in the world did Carlos turn out to be Jayden’s uncle? Hell, she hadn't expected this twist, and that made so many questions knot below her ribs.

Silence stretched between them, broken by the thoughts in her foggy head.

Carlos's actions and questions while they were in the car rang a bell. Could he have known all this while and kept quiet about it?

She wanted to ask, but only then did she truly analyze the situation further.

Jayden’s face said it all. He was raging. His lips parted as if many words had hung in his throat. His gaze shifted to her, then back to Carlos, and then to her again, while his chest rose and fell too heavily as if struggling for air.

He deserves it.

If she was going to have sleepless nights, curled up in tears just because of him being an asshole, then he deserves to face the same fate.

“Kyla, what's going on? What… what does he mean by… home?”

She didn't reply. She didn't need to. She doesn't owe him any explanation. He can go ahead and navigate the answer to his question himself. She turned, approaching Carlos.

Then he shouted again.

“Are you fucking my uncle?!” he said.

Kyla paused. There again, another word she’d never expected him to say. She glanced back, glaring straight into his eyes.

He scoffed. “Wow. Typical Kyla. So, this was the reason, huh? The reason why you never allowed me to touch you. How long had this been going on?”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Kyla’s blood was on fire. “You think I’m… oh God, Jay, you’re the worst! I don’t even know he was your uncle. We literally just met. Why are you trying so hard to pin this on me when you’re the one known to be some expert in screwing other women?!”

“Just met?” he snapped. “He bought you here in his fucking car, and wants you to go home with him. I’m not stupid, I know what kind of man he is, and seeing you with him says a lot, Kyla.”

He was doing it again. That back-and-forth thing they do whenever things get heated up between them. Where he’ll twist every word, every truth, every lie, and end up miraculously making all of it her fault.

He blames her for everything. Her look, smell, style, or sometimes the way she breathes, had annoyed him to the extent of making things sound wrong between them.

Hell, he would blame her if the world ended tomorrow.

And the pathetic part was, she’d take it. Every blame. Every lies. And then wrapped up in her stomach like it never existed. Like it never hurts.

The one time she got fed up was a month ago. For the first time in four years, she didn’t have the strength to eat up the blame.

“You know what, fine. I forgive you,” he said. “If I can, then you should with mine. I mean, you’re the reason why we are on break in the first place. I missed you, and I admit I made a huge mistake. That won’t happen again. I promise. We can still fix this.”

Kyla laughed. A painful mocking sound directed at herself.

It won’t stop playing. The scene of Jayden pinning another girl. And she might never stop.

“This is beyond fixing, Jay. I don’t want to ever see you.”

“Stop being a pussy about this. I’ve apologized a million times tonight!” he snapped. “We grew up together and became a thing for four years, you can’t just throw all of that away just because of a simple mistake? You can’t be that selfish, Kyla.”

You know, Kyla always wonders how he was so good at switching emotions and tone, like changing a light switch.

It made him unbelievable and her—stupid. How did she keep up with this for four good years?

Does he even care about how she feels? How the words burn her heart, leaving no crumbs?

There was no comeback this time. Her brain was splitting with his words. She stood like a broken doll, knees almost giving out as exhaustion sank into them.

Only then did she feel a touch. A warm, callous hand that wrapped around her waist.

The heat from him crawled into her skin differently. It wasn’t the kind that’ll send butterflies. It was wild, something raw that made her heart race.

Staring down at her, through those glasses was a pair of blue eyes. They weren’t cold and distant for the first time.

They were soft.

“That’s enough now. He is not worth it.”

His calm voice slipped past her chaotic head effortlessly, waking her up from her deep slumber.

“Let’s get out of here,” he said.

“You're just going to let him touch you in front of me?!” Jayden yelled, but his voice immediately drowned in the shadows as Carlos' voice followed.

“Keep your eyes on me. Just me,” he said. “Take a deep breath and walk.”

She did. Swallowing the bile in her throat, she took a deep breath and let him lead her towards the car.

“Kyla!” Jayden’s footsteps echoed.

With a sharp hiss, Carlos shot him a cold, sharp look that froze Jayden in place.

“This isn't your concern, Uncle Redd. You don't give a shit about anyone.”

“Oh yeah,” Carlos calm voice doesn't correlate with the danger emitting from him. “Good thing you know that, because if you take another step closer, I'll be so glad to deliver your broken bones to your father.”

Jayden doesn't move. He didn't dare.

“Stay away from her,” Carlos said before helping her into the car.

He shut the door with a soft thud, walked around, entered, and roared the car engine to life.

Jayden stood alone in the distance, only in his pants, with messy hair, fists clenched to the side, with a pale look and bloodshot eyes. He glared straight at them, anger and confusion etched on every line of his face.

Then it hit her.

Was this a goodbye?

This was like seeing your second half fading away, and there was nothing you could do to stop it.

Perhaps her father was right all along.

Jayden wasn't meant for her.

~~~~~~~~~

CARLOS

People react differently when it comes to heartbreak and betrayal. They scream, shout, and cry so loudly until their throats hurt. Some even retort by doing something crazy.

Kyla had done most of it. What was left was to do something crazy, and he wondered what that might be.

Maybe. Just maybe, he had expected this scenario. He just didn’t want to interfere like he had promised her. He wouldn’t want her meddling in his personal life either.

Besides, she wouldn’t have believed him if he’d told her anyway.

That her boyfriend was a fuck boy and that fuck boy was his older brother’s son.

Right now, she had her head resting on the car’s window, gaze lost on the shimmering lights of the buildings washing past them.

“So, what do you need now, Wildling. Ice cream, Chocolate, a Scalpel, poison, Guns.”

She chuckled.

Carlos didn't expect that.

“All of them, I guess,” she said and looked at him, voice hoarse. “Your nephew is full shit.”

Carlos didn’t reply.

“So, as you.”

“Yeah. But I’m a different kind of shit though,” he replied.

“Care to explain to me what’s going on? How come Jayden or my father never mentioned you all these years?” She sounded tired. “And if you are so rich, how come you aren’t in newspapers or on TV?”

Not every influential person appears in newspapers.

“Ever heard of low profile?” he said, “I like my life quiet, and as for Jayden. I’m his younger uncle. Not really part of the family.”

“You mean like an outcast?”

“Anyhow, you call it”

She went back to staring out the window.

Carlos steered to the next street. It was getting really late. Most shops were closed already. He spotted one of the convenience stores, drove to the parking space, and parked there.

Kyla’s head shot up. “What are you doing?”

“Getting ice cream, your father mentioned how you loved them. And that might as well help you tonight.”

She looked shocked like he’d grown a second head.

Carlos got out of the car and went into the store. They were closing as well, and while he waited, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

One arm under the other, holding his phone. His eyes flicked to the red car that was parked across the street.

The person on the other end picked up, a ragged breath that sounded through the speaker.

“You’ll be wise enough to back off, Jay.”

He seethed on the other line. “Are you really fucking her? Why are you even in the country? Where are you taking her?”

“The girl needed consolation. The rest is none of your business.”

“Bullshit. You don’t give a fuck about anyone. I’m the only one who could console her. She’d known me all her life.”

“Yeah, and you did a pretty good job back there.

“You don’t wanna have dramas with me, Jay. Now run along and send my regards to your father.”

Carlos hung up just as the attendant brought the ice cream. He got back into the car, noticing that Kyla was blocking a contact on her phone.

Jayden.

She switched off her phone, muttering a curse under her breath.

As Carlos began to drive again, he glanced at the mirror and saw that the red car had stopped.

Good decision.

He wouldn’t have to break his bones in front of Kyla tonight.

Much later, they were seated in the living room. Carlos was a light sleeper, and Kyla had insisted he watch a movie with her tonight.

He’d agreed. He was bad when it came to consolation, but this was the least he could do for her.

For John Harper.

Just tonight.

Her face was pale. Eyes red. She was leaning against his shoulder with a bowl of ice cream as she watched a TV series.

She suddenly looked up, staring like the curious chatterbox she’d always been. Her mood seems to have lightened a little—A trace of ice cream that grazed the side of her lips.

The thought that crossed his mind was unbridled. Raw that made his chest tighten.

She suddenly tried to reach for his face. He stopped her.

“What are you doing?”

“Your glasses. Don’t you pull them off?”

Carlos swallowed. “Only when necessary.”

“Is it heredity?”

“I’m photophobic.”

She frowned. “Oh.”

He pretended to shift his attention to the television.

“So, how old are you?”

He took a deep breath. “Thirty-two.”

“Wow, you look way younger than that.”

“Same as you”

He could imagine the scowl on her face, but didn’t look.

She sat up. Moving too close for him to feel the heat radiating from her small body. “So long have you known my father?”

“We met fifteen years ago,” he replied.

A subtle smile appeared on her lips. “While you were seventeen?”

“Age doesn’t matter when it comes to friendship,” she shifted closer. “I was barely around. That’s why you didn’t get to know me.”

She touched his hair.

“Stop,” he said, looking at her. Their face are now inches from each other.

Fuck.

“I need a hug,” she said, pouting her lips.

His gaze shifted right there. Where the ice cream silently called for the attention of his tongue sliding across it.

Damn it! He was already regretting why he’d agreed to accompany her.

“I'm no hugger.”

“But this little broken daughter of your close friend needs it more than anything. Please,” she blinked her doe eyes rapidly.

Oh, he could fix her in so many ways than a hug. He could have had her forget all about Jay in one night, but that would be crossing the line.

This was John Harper’s daughter. Not one of those women who’d punish for being too close without his permission.

She must have caught on to something when she asked in her small voice. "You're not into women. Are you?”

Oh, yes, he sure is. He fucks them. But little Missy gotta keep believing the opposite.

“I have a boyfriend in Tokyo.”

Her doe eyes widened cutely. “You do?”

“Hm”

Carlos, you dumbass.

She grinned. “Can I see a picture of him?”

No, he doesn't exist. Why does she fall for every lie?

“Nope, now…” he placed her head back on his chest. “Go to sleep with a hug before I change my mind.”

“Alright, cold man,” she mumbled against his chest and wrapped her arms around him. Her hair smelled like roses.

“My father used to let me hug him like this whenever I’m down. Thanks, Mr. Redd. Maybe you are a good man.”

“Don’t get weird ideas, Wildling. This is never having a second time.”

“Whatever, Mr. Illegal.”

Carlos scoffed and glanced down at the middle of his leg, hoping to the devil his friend was cooperating with his brain at the moment.

Yeah, it was. He let out a sigh of relief.

When Little Wildling got comfortable, it didn’t take five minutes before her breath fell steady.

He’d take her up to her room once she was deep into sleep.

His phone vibrated. It was a message from the very person he’d expected.

JAYDEN: I don’t know how you manage to have my girl with you, but you better not be fucking her, Uncle Redd. I’m going to come for you.

Empty threat.

Of course, the fuck boy doesn’t mean a damn thing had sent. He was nothing without his father. And if Jayden miraculously manages to bring Carlos’s brother into the game, then that will only level up the fun.

Carlos stared at the message a breath longer.

Other words began to fade in the shadow, except for two.

‘Fucking her.’

Images flashed, and an ache struck his abdomen.

He glanced down at the middle of his legs, and right there he saw what he’d been dreading.

Hard.

“Oh, fuck me.