Kirian   “So, you’re leaving again?” I asked while watching Akira pack his bag. I’m standing by his doorway, my back resting on the wall while my ankles crossed together. He glanced at me after putting a sweater in his suitcase. He stopped then nodded. He tapped the bed and I walk towards it. I threw myself on his bed, his clothes falling on the floor. “I’ll be back soon.” He smiled. It still feels weird whenever I look at him and found myself staring at the same face I have. Though Akira has a darker complexion, it’s still hard to see anything which tells who is who. “Kir?” I looked at him and found him fidgeting on the carpet. I smiled inwardly, noting that his mannerism, whenever he’s nervous, is still the same. “Hmm?” “Mom knows.” I stared at him, my poker face turning over.  Mom knows.  The back of my head tingles and I think all the

Kirian “Take care,” I said as I watch Aki hop into the van. He smirked at me and salute. “You should be the one to be careful. Remember what I’ve said, Kir. Keep an eye on Roux. Rick is not the only bad guy here.” You know it’s a serious situation when Aki’s smiley face turned into a grave one. I nodded at him and watch until the van disappeared in my sight. Before we get here, someone was after Roux and according to Aki, it’s the same person who almost gets her killed in that warehouse. Akira doesn’t know his face—because just like Roux, he also suffered from trauma. Akira might look tough on the surface but what happened in OKV back then is still haunting him. He has also undergone therapies and until now, he’s still trying to move on from that horrible past

Kirian “You think she’ll talk to me now?” Lucas asked without looking at me. He’s busy counting the roses he bought in the flower boutique we passed by. “I don’t know. Why ask me? You know your girlfriend more than me.”             I tapped on my lap patiently while waiting for Lucas to get into the car. We’ve stayed here longer than I thought. I wasn’t even aware that it has been three hours because this idiotic excuse of a human I’m with can’t even remember his girlfriend’s favorite flower. I got tired of trying to work things between them. Everything that I try only ends up backfiring to me. I’m only being the bestest best friend that I am but it always ends up me and Luna fighting. My heartbeat suddenly sunk as we appro

Yuan     “Stop your nonsense now, Rick. I’m here now. Let them go.” Uncle Ronan greeted his teeth. His hands are in his pockets but I know he’s clenching them. Halliday’s laugh echoed in the room. The wine glass snapped when he gripped it too hard. He regarded Uncle Ronan with his hard face.   “How does it feel, Ronan? How does it feel to lose someone you love? How does it feel when you know you can’t do anything to save them?”   My brow creased. I watch as the two of them have their glaring competition, except only Halliday is the one who’s glaring because Uncle Ronan keeps his cool.   “Vicky married you, Rick. She chose you over me but all you did was hurt her.” Uncle Ronan's voice is full of emotion. When it comes to Mom, he suddenly changes into a different person—like he’s willing to unleash hell if it means protecting her.   “She did bu

I hate blood. Every time I see blood, I am reminded of the things that happened to me. I hate hospitals. I hate the dull color of the walls and the antiseptic smell of the air. I look down at my trembling hands and find dried blood smeared on my body. Yuan touched my hand, stopping me from drifting back to my nightmares. He forced me to look at him, wiping the tears from my face. “We need to get your wounds treated.” He said softly. I don’t feel my wounds and the burns on my skin. I’m physically numb from everything that happened. I look around the waiting area outside the operating room. Mom is sitting next to Mrs. Sadoche while Dad’s sitting across from them, the nurse checking his wounds. Good thing that the bullet only grazed his skin. “You think they’ll be fine?” I asked him. Yu just smiled at me then squeezed my hands. It’s been almost an hour since they put Kirian and Lucas in the operating room. “They’re strong. Come on, we nee