Ace's Point of View
In my arms, you are safe. I love you and I don't doubt it. You gave me reasons and you gave me life. In you, I'll always be happy. Without you, I am in misery.
A gunshot...
My heart skips a beat.
I thought it was the end. Zein's gun ricocheted off into the distance as it was hit by a man standing not far from us.
Its stance. I smiled bitterly.
The one person I felt close to inside the hell that had a grudge against me was now looking at me. Its eyes were cold.
The surroundings remained silent. All I could hear was the wind blowing and Zein's heavy breathing. I didn't know if I could stand up because I remained slumped to the ground.
"It's been a long time, Ace."
My mouth remained shut. He walked closer to Zein. I couldn't help but stare at him. I still can't believe I'm seeing him now. After so many years... We met again.
"We're not talking about you committing suicide," he said coldly to Zein who was just looking at me.
Her previously cold eyes were replaced with sadness. In an instant, the woman I loved and continue to love returned. It was as if she was shaken and woke up from her slumber.
"A-Ace... Are you okay?" he asked me.
I smiled before nodding. He finally returned. I was also revived so I was able to nod.
"Welcome back, Zein."
He looked at the man next to him. "W-Why are you here?" he asked.
He grinned and touched Zein's face. My head tilted at what he did. I don't want anyone to touch this woman.
"Because you can't..." He said with a grin. "So I'll take action," he added.
The events kept revolving around me and the knot in my mind was slowly unraveling. That's why... That's why Zein found out everything.
"Let's go, Zain."
I looked at a woman standing not far from us. She was smiling and couldn't even look at me. The lump in my throat disappeared. I thought she was dead...
He is alive...
During these times I became confident. All my doubts disappeared. All my fears disappeared. I breathed a sigh of relief.
"Go with him, Zein." He was surprised by what I said so I returned it with a sweet smile. "I'll follow," I whispered.
"I'll wait..." he said before walking towards the woman and they disappeared into the darkness together.
It's so late at night. I should be sleepy but I don't feel it now. My emotions are overflowing and I feel like I couldn't sleep for a few nights.
It's crazy that all the bitterness I was feeling earlier has been replaced with joy now. Yes, I'm happy.
Now I just looked at the only person I was with.
"Hanz..." I whispered. "Or should I say... Hell?" I said laughing.
Nicky is right. I strongly suspect that they are the ones behind everything but I just can't accept it. But now I accept it...
"Mr. Craige..."
"The past newbies..."
It laughed. It was bitter. I thought I would fear the enemy but I didn't expect that I would be pitied. The past is returning to the present.
Hanz Sierge... The man standing now in front of me.
Winzy Deon... The woman Zein was with who we thought was dead.
The past newbies. The previous newbies were Zein, Matt, Jerome, Mia, Dave, and Vanessa.
I know why they do this and I can't blame them. It's my fault.... Ours and I'm ready to accept my punishment.
"I didn't think you'd fall for his brother too."
"I'm sorry..."
I saw the anger flash in his eyes because of the words I had said. I knew it wasn't enough and it never would be enough.
"Did you really love Zein?" he asked. "Or maybe you loved him because you saw Samantha in him?" he grinned.
"Do I have to answer your question?" I asked back. "I would never play with a woman's feelings. I love her and that's true," I added.
I know they will doubt my feelings but I don't have time to explain myself. I won't defend my feelings because I have no doubt about them.
"Who do you love more out of them?"
"Stop asking you asshole."
I get irritated by comparing things. Why do they have such a tendency to compare? Everything is unique. Unique enough that you can't compare it to anything else. What's so hard to understand about that?
"You can't blame me," he said laughing. "I have a story for you." He sat down on the grass, which I did too. There was a big gap between the two of us.
I admit I missed this idiot too. He was the only friend I had in hell. A friend I wasted.
"Three students entered a university. A university that has no rules to follow." He said laughing. I kept my mouth shut even though I already knew the outcome of his story. "There was a reason they entered. It wasn't an accident. It was all planned," he added.
"What happened inside wasn't a massacre. It was more than bloody because all the plans were ruined. Love was ruined. We were trapped and all the plans were lost. Do you know the pain they experienced? They were betrayed by a friend."
I just looked at his sad eyes. I didn't know how to make him feel. What if I was the cause of their suffering?
"Let's name the traitor. Do you want to?" he said laughing.
"I am," I whispered.
He laughed and came closer to me. I fell to the ground when he kicked me. I felt my lip bleed because of that but I didn't fight back.
I deserve more than that. I know my life is not enough because of what I have done. It is a great sin to betray the people you have always relied on.
I got up again.
"Ace. I never thought you could do that to us."
"I was scared," I admitted. "I'll be left alone!" I couldn't help but let out a sigh of disappointment.
I saw that he was stunned by what I said.
"I'm not included in your plan, am I?" I asked bitterly. "Daddy is gone now. I only have you, but what did you do? You also abandoned me." I couldn't stop my tears from flowing.
They can't blame me. I had no choice in those days. My brother, Samantha... They. They would leave me in hell. If I hadn't done that, I might have died inside... Died of sadness.
"Is that why you did that? Is that why you betrayed us?"
My breathing became heavier because I was feeling the same feelings I had before. The pain was back. Back? No. Because it didn't go away. I always felt that pain and only Zein could cure it.
"You're lucky with Zein," I was stunned by what he said. "He already knows everything but he can't even get angry."
"You. He had the right but he didn't do it. I don't know how strong he is to do that." His tone was filled with astonishment.
Zein Shion...
"He's angry..."
He was stunned by what I said.
"I know Zein and I know she's angry with me. Strong? No. She's weak inside," I added.
I'm ready to take all of that. I'm ready to taste the hurtful words from her. I'll do anything to make her explode. I'll do anything to make her vent all her resentment... Even if I make it seem like she loved the wrong man.
"Are you ready to face his anger? Do you have the courage now?"
I stood up like he did.
For all the time I've been hiding everything. I'm ready to be hurt. Even if in the end his love for me disappears. I will accept it. I will do everything so that everything he is hiding is gone. Even if I have to sacrifice what we have... Damn, I will.
"Before anything else, I want to tell you something," he said.
I was stunned.
"Lux won't leave you. He'll come back to you and he told us... He'll save us first and then he'll go back to his brother. Even if he gets caught and gets imprisoned in hell again... He won't leave his brother... It's you, Ace."
Damn... I was wrong.