Episode 88
"How could you...?"
"Natsu..."
What is this...
What have I done.....
"Don't watch..."
She rushed to stand infront of the big screen that replayed the whole scenario over and over.
It was a phone recorded video so a few things here and there were out of focus. Though, the main thing was vivid and clear...
Why was she standing infront of it when I had probably watched it a hundred times over before she'd walked through that door...?
"Why...??"
She had no answer to that question, she just frantically turned off all the buttons on the power switch board, including the lights of the room...
"Aoi.. what did I do...?"
I asked her yet again, though she gave no response.
I got up from the couch and in a sudden manner grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her up....
"It's not your fault!!! It's not your fault-!!!!" She ended up grabbing my arms and yelling at me.
" Aoi !" I pushed her away since her grip was a bit painful
" I already took care of the body, don't worry, I'll erase this too!!! nobody will find out, nobody will know about this...!!!! tell me who gave this to you, I'll get rid of them so....?!!!???" She went frantic yet again.
" AOI!!!!!!" I raised my voice and she taken by surprise...
What have I done.....
What is she even saying...?
...that life...I took...
How am I supposed to react to all of this?
It's like my mind isn't working anymore....
It wasn't even self defense, I chased that woman out and took her life in cold blood....then why do I feel.....
..... aren't I murderer??
Then why... inside.. I'm-
"Natsu..." She whispered yet calling out to me again.
"I need time....." I mumbled.
This won't do....I have to get out of here...
"Natsu, Natsu where are you going... Natsu! Natsu?!!"
I walked to our room without thinking and she followed. I ended up opening the closet and throwing all my clothes on to the bed
"Where are you going??!! " She tried to grab my arm but I pulled it away getting myself a bag from the lower portion though it was stuck and wouldn't come out ...
I pulled desperately and fell back only to curl up at the corner of the bed...
Something within me broke down..
A realization perhaps...?
I ended up sobbing without realizing it.....she was also weeping, probably, I couldn't just look at her....
"Natsu..." She sat on her knees near me holding my face.
"I killed her....then why....." I mumbled with a putrid horror on my face.
"No no no, look at me...." She tried to occupy my attention but it was of no avail.
I couldn't brush off the horror....
"Aoi, I took a life..." I spoke yet again and she held me tightly, hugging me in
" It's not your fault-" She kept repeating " if it ever comes to light, I'll take the blame okay? You had nothing to do with this okay? I was the one who disposed the body, you know nothing okay?" She parted, cupping my face in her hands, wanting an affirmation...
I'd always thought that I'd been able to provide her a safe anchor...
.....that we made each other better people.....
In reality, I've taken over her mind...
I hit her too that day....
I could've killed her too like that woman and she would've probably let me do so....
I have made this woman crazy....
I'm... toxic for her.....
I slipped out of her grip and got up stuffing my things in the bag...
She tried to stop me with all her might but there wasn't much she could've done...
I have to get away.....
"NATSURO!!!"
I'm sorry....
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"Lollipop!"
"Do you want it?"
"Mmmhm!"
The red headed man squatted down infront of the child and handed him the lollipop.
" I'm so sorry !!!" Alex rushed to the little kid "Adrian, I told you to hold my hand"
The redheaded man shook his head and ruffled up the child's hair letting him have the lollipop.
"I'm terribly sorry" Alex bowed yet again to this person who wouldn't even raise his head up to look at him.
"Alex? Did you find him?" Zhuang's voice distracted Alex, he turned back to wave at him. Though when he turned to look at the front; the man was gone.
"Adrian, you can't do that again okay? Stay with daddy, you can't run off like that" Alex scolded the little boy and lifted him up this time.
Zhuang bought the cart over to their side. It was loaded with household items since it had been a while they'd visited the supermarket.
"Adrian what did daddy tell you, what are you supposed to say when a stranger gives you something? " Zhuang gave little Adrian a bit of a scolding too.
" Papa look lollipop" Adrian showed Zhuang and he lowkey melted at the cuteness of the kiddo even though he was supposed to be pretending to be mad at him.
Alex smacked Zhuang's head "Stop falling for it every time, you're gonna spoil him"
" And you young man, are in trouble when we get home, no T. V for you and your papa"
" Eh, why me too?? " Zhuang argued.
" Was that a question? Are you questioning my rules?" Alex asked with a hand over his own waist.
"No sir!" Zhuang replied like a soldier.
" Daddy nooooo Adi will not do again!" Adrian pleaded.
"Then tell me what are you supposed to say if a stranger offers you candies? " Alex asked him.
" Candies, yay" Adrian spoke excitedly clapping his hands.
"No! Say No" Alex made him repeat after him.
"No!" Adrian repeated excitedly
"Okay what if a stranger asks you if you want icecream?"
" Icecream! I want!!!"
"Nooo, you're supposed to say nooo!"
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"No, but still, why me?"
What does she mean why me??
"Go home!"
"I can't!!!"
I stepped infront of the door rather being childish while she tried to close it on my face.
"Just for a few days, please!!!"
First...
I couldn't have gone over to dad, he'd totally have forced me to talk about what happened...!
Second...
Telling Alex would have had the same effect since father would find out and he's a wimp when it comes to dad!!
Third.....
It's unsafe for me to go anywhere else in this condition
"No way! Go back to Aoi!"
"Mari san!! Please!" I ended up giving a long bow, well more like- on the floor- bow thingy but let's not talk about that.
In the end she'd let me in.
"Aren't you gonna ask what happened?"
I asked Mari san as she made tea and legit just aggressively put the cup down infront of me on the table.
"Don't want to" She replied "Go back"
" Don't wanna!"
I spoke back rather childishly as well.
" I'll make food and clean the place in return so-"
I hopefully turned to look around but the place had already been cleaned thoroughly and there was even a scent of curry lingering in the living room.
"Huh? Don't need it! " She spat back.
Ah ah, this woman really is something...!!!!
"So you're really not gonna ask?" I reconfirmed as she sat infront of me with her breakfast.
Who the hell eats curry in breakfast???!!!
"Got nothing to do with me" She shrugged taking a mouthful.
" I took a life" I ended up saying it aloud and she almost chocked on what she'd just eaten.
She got herself a handkerchief to clean her lips.
" I-I " I tried to form words but didn't really know what to say next...
In the first place... Why'd I even tell her ??
"Really, now, go back to Aoi"
Was the only reply she'd given to the whole confession.
" Mari san? Aren't you..."
I was taken by surprise honestly... She could've atleast reacted in a more...
I don't know.. despising manner or something..?
"Aoi's never told you about herself has she" She brought up.
Well...I do know the basic things from Alex, a little from Kei san.. and about her past with Haru san...
"And you think you're in love with her?"
She carried out to eat being pretty un-bothered, somehow what she'd said annoyed me...
"But... what's that got to do with me taking a life?" I asked her being unable to say anything else since even though Mari san was annoying.... she was kinda right...
How much did I exactly know about Aoi?
"The reason you're here, isn't it because of Aoi" She rested back folding her arms.
Well....
"I think I've made her crazy..." I told Mari and she laughed a bit to my surprise
" Don't laugh...I mean I've messed up her mind... isn't love supposed to be making each other better people while I ended up being a toxic lover for her.... Moreover...I just did a horrible thing, then why do I feel so- "
I couldn't go on and share the horrible thoughts that came next.
" Are you finding that out just now? " She raised a brow
What does she mean??
" That dumb look on your face, you don't understand a thing" She sighed "You don't actually care about the life you took do you? Infact, you might even be satisfied with it and that's what bothers you..."
Huh what is she saying???!
Of course I care!!!
"The only mistake Aoi made was underestimating you, in the end she doesn't understand you either" She said.
What's that supposed to mean?
" Mari san, what is love for you?" I asked her since she'd probably subtly taunted my definition of love.
" Understanding" She replied "Understanding who your partner really is and accepting them for who they are"
Eh....
Well.....
" Neither you, nor Aoi understand each other, you both try to protect each other, trying to stick to your good sides only... In the end your relationship is full of hollows" She replied.
That got me a bit annoyed for sure...
I clenched my fists on the table...
"Then... how to fix this..?" I asked her since she was acting like a know it all.
"She's not as perfect as she appears to be, she's full of dark sides and apparently, you are too... " Mari got up after finishing her breakfast.
" Talk to each other..."
"Mari san..." I called out to her and she stopped half way.
" Can you tell me more about Aoi?" I asked her and she looked at me with a lowkey irritated face.
"No, go back" She repeated herself.
Huhhhh??!!!
Who can even love an irritating woman like her!!!
"Just say that you don't know either, why pretend that you do?? "
I spoke with an annoyed face.
I mean really, who does she think she is giving me relationship advice!
I mean I might've asked for it but I'm pissed now, aren't I closest to Aoi??
Communication gap?? She thinks Aoi doesn't talk to me huh?
I'll tell you woman! She talks to me! It's mostly perverted stuffs but she does talk to me!
"Are you mad that I know her more than you?" Mari san smirked at me.
" Huh?? Not at all!! "
I stood up turning my face away from her.
"I've known her since childhood" Mari san told "It's inevitable that I got to know things that I shouldn't have..."
She walked to the kitchen to wash her dish. I'd almost finished the tea and followed her in to wash my cup too.
It's not that I don't know that I should talk to Aoi, it's just I don't know where to start.....
"I'm giving you a day while I'm out, leave" She said and wore her jacket and shoes that were already prepared before hand.
" Eh where are you going?? " I asked her as she took to the door wearing her muffler and gloves.
" I'm going to act upon my own advice" She answered.
"Huhhh?"
"After all I'm not that different from Aoi"
Wow! that audacity to compare herself to a diva!
Need such confidence in life damn
"It's time that I communicate my feelings well to my partner"
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"Where were you?"
Josh closed the door of the apartment looking at the man that questioned him.
" Supermarket" Josh replied changing his shoes, he walked in and held out a lollipop infront of Nicolas.
"I didn't give you the freedom to move around on your own did I? "Nicolas gave him a displeased look.
" You're not wearing lens today" Josh asked since normally he wore brown contact lenses to hide the real color of his eyes, as well as for his eyesight. Though right now he was just wearing glasses.
"But you like it that way don't you?" Nicolas smirked, looking up at Josh with those cat like features and grey eyes that he was once familiar with.
"Ian is not here today?" Josh asked turning away from Nicolas, especially avoiding those eyes. He placed the groceries on the table.
"He's going to make the next move" Nicolas stood up from the chair.
" Lian? " Josh asked.
" He's gonna leave him in safe hands" Nicolas replied walking up to Josh making him step back as he moved forward.
"Don't dare go out without my permission again"
Josh moved back till he fell back sitting on the bed and Nicolas stood infront of him, he leaned forward laying the other male back by holding his neck in a choking manner.
"Once I'm done with my revenge, I'll fulfill your wish and send you back to my sister with my own hands, so before that, don't get into trouble, stay when I tell you to stay"
Nicolas said loosening up his tie and taking off his glasses.
"Close the lights" Josh said turning his head away from the man holding him down.
"You end up saying that everytime" Nicolas spoke softly.
" And you don't listen everytime" Josh replied.
"Because I want to see the scars that you desperately want to hide" Nicolas spoke unbuttoning the shirt of the man under him, exposing the permanent burn marks that covered almost all of his body other than the old stich marks here and there.
"Ugly isn't it..." Josh whispered crossing his arms over his eyes.
"That's for me to decide" Nicolas replied placing his fingers on the red scarring on Josh's chest, sliding his fingers tips against the scarred skin as the man under him shivered.
He eventually leaned in to caress down from the guy's neck to his chest.
'This life of yours that I saved is mine till the very end'
Josh inevitably recalled a memory of this man....probably from the first time he'd been saved by him.....
He let the man do whatever he wanted.....
" She'll be so mad... " Josh rather whispered with an elevated breath
" .....with her brother.... I'm...."
" Serves her right" Nicolas replied caressing down to the other male's stomach.
"You still hate her?" Josh asked, somewhat arching in his stomach in at the feeling, tightening his crossed arms over his eyes, hiding his face well.
"I'll hate Clara Hughes till my very last breath"
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"Lian..????
Alex was almost shocked to see the boy standing by his door. He handed the groceries over to Zhuang who was holding Adrian too.
He rushed and hugged the little boy who stood there motionless. He parted and held the little boy's face in his hands
"Eh... You have a fever..?"
Alex realized after touching the boy's face.
Zhuang looked around to see if Ian was nearby but he couldn't see him anywhere.
"Where's Ian??" Zhuang asked little Lian but the kid didn't answer. Infact, the kid didn't look like he was listening to anyone at all.....
He'd lost that spark about him ever since he woke up, he looked like he was just an empty shell of a child....
" Let's take him inside first" Alex said picking little Lian up and unlocking the door " it's okay, you'll be fine, big brother is here okay?"
They moved inside and closed the door.
Ian moved out from behind a nearby alley, taking a deep sigh.
This was indeed the safest place where he could keep Lian....
He wasn't getting anywhere with keeping Lian with him, the boy was not responding to him anymore...
He was worried about his mental condition and dragging him along was the worst thing he could do to his little brother...
Atleast with Alex... He'd be in safe hands... Whether or not he makes it through after what he was about to do, atleast Lian would have a good family....
"Let's talk"
Someone said.
He tried to turn around but before he could, someone pushed him face against the wall, holding both his hands behind his back.
He somewhat recognized those ever so small hands and the figure that pressed into his back.
"You gonna violate me?"
He mumbled only to get slapped on the head.
" What trash is your brain filled up with?" She let him loose, moving back.
"Kinda disappointing then" Ian said turning around, standing with his back against the wall.
"How'd you know I was here?"
"Old habits die hard" Mari said shaking her phone infront of him with a gps tracker on the screen.
Ian's eyes widened, he immediately took out his phone and searched it around.
"Not that" Mari moved closer, putting her hand in his back pocket pulling out his wallet and putting it in his hand. It was inside one of the secret compartments, buried under the cash.
"You knew where I was all along?" Ian spoke with shuffling eyes.
" Yeah" She replied.
" Will you tell them? You know.. Aoi san and the others? " Ian asked.
"That depends upon you" She replied.
" What do you want?" He frowned a bit "I'm telling you, I can't return those property claims to you so-"
She moved closer upto him and he quietened up.
"Pick up your wedding dress from this window shop and show up at this date on this location"
She handed him a card.
" Huhhh???!!" Ian was taken by surprise.
" I'm telling you to show up at your wedding" Mari spoke with a dead serious expression.
" You do know that I played you right? All of that was just so I could get you to like me and emphasize with me just so I could get your property, besides two alphas! We have no future in marriage!" Ian told her outright.
" Too late" Mari shook her head "I've already fallen for you" She spoke without batting an eye and he went red in the face.
"I'm using you alright! Do you understand? There's no point of a fake ass event when we've already legally signed to be husband and wife, literally just a formality! Besides there's nothing I can give you! We can never have children we're both alphas, do you understand!? Alpha marriages are all business deals, we'll both end up turning to omega concubines in the end!"
Ian reminded her.
" I'm Kirihara Maria, my birthday is 16th July, I'm Cancer, I like cats, I really really hate children, my favorite fruit is strawberry, favorite vegetable is capsicum, I'm good at cooking, I'm good at football and basketball, I like running, I had two exes, one omega male, one omega female, I have a kid from one of them but.. she married someone else, I like sunny days, my dream is to become an athlete or a trainer one day, right now I really want to graduate from a university!" Mari went in one go, this was more than she'd ever spoken with Ian, he stood there in utter disbelief.
She made a long bow with both her hands on her side.
"Ian Strauss! I would like to take your name!"