Ace's Point of View
I knew something had changed. I tried to hide it and ignore it all.
I threw away all my fears because all that mattered to me was that you came back. You came back to me.
You came back incomplete. You came back and pretended nothing happened. It's funny that I went along with the pretense you made. Pretending... I did the same thing you did because I know that's what you want.
Zein. It's tiring too. What we do is tiring. I'm tired of the only woman I'm supporting.
The strength is what is making me weak now. When will we end this?
I remained staring at the stars outside with the window in my bedroom open.
Of all the stars, you are the one I have touched. Of all my dreams, you are the one I have reached. Of all the people who have passed through my life, you are the one I have loved the most. I did not know that you would be the one who could hurt me like this.
The door opened and Zein emerged, his eyes wide open.
I want to avert my eyes because it hurts me to see him like that.
I want to hug you but you're the one creating a space between us.
"I'm sorry..." those were the two words that came out of his mouth.
I smiled because I felt like I had to pretend again.
Here we go again.
He sat down next to me and held my hand. "I'm hungry, Ace," he said.
I couldn't even open my mouth to respond or show that I heard what he was saying.
He looked at my laptop where I saw the masculine look in his eyes. He was still moving.
"Sorry? Was that for me?" I finally managed to speak.
He didn't answer and his cold eyes remained on my laptop.
I smiled as the video went back to the beginning. Allison was running out of their house in tears. She was filled with sadness and regret.
The events that followed were the most painful I have ever seen. I saw Zein also come out of the house and stare at Allison. Allison pulled out a gun. She shot her sister in the leg, causing her to fall to the floor. Zein approached her, his eyes burning, and quickly covered her eyes and mouth.
"I-I don't know that girl, Zein," I said laughing to Zein who didn't move. "You, do you know her?" I asked.
He stood up and took my laptop.
"You are the one who killed me. That's what changed me. Your greed is the reason why I can do this."
He threw my laptop against the wall, breaking it. I didn't move. My eyes stayed on Zein. I feel nothing now but... Pity.
I feel sorry for Zein.
"I understand, Zain."
"Is that so?" he asked laughing. "You better understand me, right? I'm so confused and don't understand anything," he said bluntly.
Silence followed. It was so quiet it was deafening. All I could hear was Zein's heavy breathing.
"Mr. Craige... Enlighten me... Please."
He left my room and left me speechless.
Finally. Our pretense is over. It's almost over. I can't control what happens next after this and I'm already speechless. I hope when it's all over... We're still together and we still love each other.
I followed him because we had to finish everything. I followed him and found him in the park behind our building.
It sits on the swing and pushes itself to move.
It was late at night so there was no one here and only the lamp posts around provided light. The cool night air silently enveloped us.
I just looked at Zein sitting on the swing and hunched over. He was looking at the ground. I don't know what you're thinking. I don't know how much you're hurting.
"Ace. I love you so much. I know you know that. I don't care about your dark past because what matters to me is who you are now and what we have."
I didn't say anything and my eyes stayed on her. She looked up at me. A sad smile appeared on her lips. The wind blew her hair.
It hurts. It feels like my whole being is being torn to pieces.
"You said you were tired." He motioned for me to sit on the other swing, which I did. He stood up and went behind me. "Let me do the moving for you," he said before pushing me to move.
I'm like a puppet who can't even speak and is subject to whatever my boss wants me to do.
"I'll take action when you're tired."
"I will do the things you can't do anymore."
"I will love you more than you can give me."
"Do you know how much it hurts me?"
"More than you think. Because you know why?"
"Because I can't be trusted."
"The person I love. He looks down on me."
Using my two feet, I stopped the swing from swinging. Using my two feet, I stood up to face him.
"That's not true..." I finally managed to defend myself.
In my entire life. Only now have I realized. Only now have I been able to not speak to lift myself up.
When it comes to this woman, I sink.
"Ace... If you really trusted me, you should have told me everything. Because no matter how evil you are... I will understand you. No matter how evil you are, I will still love you."
"I hid it because I wanted to protect you. Zein, I don't want you to be destroyed because of me."
It laughed and walked away from me before he stopped. It kept a great distance between the two of us and I don't know why but it hurt so much.
"That's not it, Ace. You think less of me," he said bitterly. "With my love for you, I accept your whole being," he whispered into the air, just loud enough for me to hear.
In these moments I have completely given up. In these moments I admit that I have lost. He has defeated me. I am giving up. I am giving up my whole self to him.
I smiled.
"Sorry? I don't know what to say, Zein. Are the words... I love you enough?" I asked laughing.
I don't know why these words came out of my mouth. In my desire to save him from pain, he was hurt even more.
"I'm confused. Who do you love, Ace?"
"Zein Shion!"
"Who?"
"Please... Don't do this. It hurts." I almost knelt down in front of him to beg.
What hurts me the most is that he doubts my feelings.
"Who do you love more among us?"
Shit!
"Me or Sister Samantha?"
I couldn't speak at all in those moments. I didn't have to defend my feelings because I knew I had the answer.
"Are you going to kill me like you did to him?"
"What the hell, Zein?! Do you have a gun there? Just shoot me here, darling." I pointed to my chest.
Tears welled up in his eyes and he grabbed something from behind. I saw the muzzle of his gun flash as it pointed at me.
"You know I can't do what you're saying, Ace. I love you." He pointed his gun at her head. "I think it would be better if I just disappeared," he whispered.
I grinned. I felt like I had died without even realizing it. I died while breathing.
"Of all the lies you've shown me, Ace. Which one is the truth?" he asked. "I want to know," he added.
"I-I love you."
He smiled and tightened his grip on his gun.
I couldn't take it anymore and suddenly I fell to my knees as the gun fired.