You Are Being Sentimental

Cj is back in Amare because of the matter he has to face. All of the bodyguards who see him are bowing their heads as a sign of greeting and pure respect.

He only nodded at them a bit and proceeded to walk until he reaches the elevator of their headquarters.

It’s been almost two weeks since his talk with his sister. No more interactions after that. He got busy and so is she.

On the other side, he’s quite pleased because Alexandra hasn’t pulled another trick after that day.

Not yet.

And it’s making him more anxious as the day passes by. Her silence, her quietness is dangerous. It’s like the lull before the storm.

He always has to expect the worse of worse when it comes to Alexandra. She has the capability to do it, to make things worse.

In fact, she herself is the worse. He even considers her as the ‘big problem’ in his university.

There’s no way she’s going to be silent forever after being humiliated in front of those students especially that the one who did it is ‘lower’ than her.

He knows she has something on her sleeves. That’s why now that he has left the country in the meantime, he can’t help but be worried about the possible situations.

Something might happen during his absence.

But then he remembered, Lorenzo is there. Their everyday attendance—the most unusual and strangest thing that happened in his university so far—was making him confused.

Then he analyzed the situation so his confusion would finally stop.

He learned that they came back after their long absence the same day Alexandra came to the university for the first time this school year.

So perhaps it’s because of her and her interest in Cheska?

It’s a baseless hunch. It’s his pure gut feeling. Just like what he said before, Lorenzo was his best friend so he knows how his mind and heart works.

What he’s not sure if he changed these past few months. There’s no way Lorenzo hasn’t changed even a tiny bit after what happened between the two of them.

People always change when they feel pain and got betrayed.

Nonetheless, he’s sure Cheska can handle herself. If she did what she did before, she can do it again.

She only has to be ready for the possibilities or else she won’t be able to protect herself.

It’s just one day. One day. He’ll come back right away.

He prays Alexandra would behave herself just for one day. He’s calling all of the angels out there who can hear him.

He hopes she won’t use the opportunity of the president’s absence—but knowing her arrogance and stubbornness, with or without him around she’s still going to do what she wants to do.

The elevator dinged as a sign that he’s finally at the floor where he’s supposed to be.

He went out and noticed a couple of people not so far from him—they’re all bodyguards guarding the meeting room in case someone tries to disturb or interrupt the meeting. Eavesdrop is improbable since the room is soundproof.

As soon as he opened the door, the natural light emanating from the outside gleamed before his eyes. There’s a large glass window found inside the room making the neighbor buildings around be visible in their eyes.

Their quarters are composed of several siblings circling the main building, the building where he is right now—they have the largest headquarters among the mafia organizations.

The main buildings are usually only for the main members of their family. If there are other people who can get inside, those are the most trusted ones and have been working for them for so long.

An organization isn’t only composed of the members of that family but also composed of their undermen.

Not any Mafias can be part of their organization. They have to meet first certain requirements and pass the hell training before being classified as Lees. Even if they are from the lowest-ranking, they will still be called as one.

That’s why for the others, passing the test is a huge accomplishment. Being called 'a Lee' in the Mafia World has a big impression and impact on other Mafias.

All gaze from the people part of today’s meeting is on him. It’s no other than the main family members of the Lee family.

The only ones who are not in their seats are the two founders from their family—his grandmother and grandfather. They’re not there. They didn’t come.

This meeting is ‘important’ as they said so why aren’t they there?

When he sat on his designated seat, all stares are still on him.

Why?

Because he is the reason why they’re having a meeting now.

He fixed his blazer and boldly looked at his father.

Since their fight, they haven’t seen each other until now. He didn’t bother to call him, or to request for his another presence.

But just as he thought his silence isn’t for nothing. He’s glad he didn’t underestimate his own father.

He’s now in front of his family. Their silence and stares are uncomfortable, intimidating. They may be in a spacious room, a room that is obviously too much for all of them but the atmosphere is smothering him.

He had to fix his collar to breathe properly, to ease the tension building up inside his body. Why does it feel like he killed someone because of the treatment he's receiving?

Whatever he did, it's not even that serious.

Well, for him.

His eyes went to his mother who’s sitting beside his sister. Nothing has changed compared to the last time he saw her. She still looks tired and sad. She looks empty, incomplete.

The sun is screaming loudly its brilliance yet she looks dark, clouded, and dim as if the brilliance is not sufficient for her. As if the brilliance is not enough to bring back her natural light, the light she was always wearing.

“Shall we start the meeting now?” Arvin asked everyone after averting his gaze from his son. He stood up. “We’re here to discuss Christian James Queign Lee’s actions these past few weeks and how it affected the other members of this family. We’re here to discuss what resolve to use for this.”

“Since this is happening because she met the girl at Lee University, we suggest removing him from his place,” Victoria, Sophia’s mother said.

“Who will be replacing him if by any chance?”

“Sebastian Azarcon can replace him from being the president of the university,” Bryan, Ron’s father answered. “He’s coming in a few so I think this resolve is perfect.”

“Removing my son from that university is unnecessary and will only put things in a more complicated situation,” Rowena said with authority.

As a mother who sees nothing wrong with what her son did, it is her responsibility to protect him from them. If only she’s still the mistress, this meeting won’t be happening.

But since she gave the responsibility to her husband, she has no choice but to let him do what he wants as the new leader of their family.

“He’s there as a wall to stop Lorenzo from seeing the other side of it and that is the truth. If we replace him with someone who is also part of us and someone he knows, he would only be suspicious of us.”

“It’s time to drop Lorenzo from our list of problems, Rowena,” Xeira, Andrea’s mother said. “Just let him know who he really is looking for.”

“For what?” her brow arched. “So he could kill us and to protect ourselves from him and his organization, we must kill him too? Lorenzo is a kid who grew up with us. You really are going to suggest something as ridiculous as that?”

“With all due respect, Rowena,” Elle, Kristine’s mother interposed. “but I think you are being sentimental because the kid grew up with u—”

“And what if I really am being sentimental?” she cut off. “That kid doesn’t know everything. He doesn’t know what he is doing—”

“And that kid’s organization is one of our organization’s top enemies. He’s one of those people who want to bring us down, who wants to ruin what we’ve worked hard for! His ignorance isn’t our fault so let’s stop protecting him. This is...a different situation, Rowena...”

She fell silent and looked away. That’s not the truth she’s ready to accept and hear. Until now she can’t understand any of these. How did everything end up to this?

After her daughter died, everything, literally everything fell into pieces.

‘Til then nothing good happened even for once. The day she died is the day when the peace between the three worlds also died.

Her fist clenched. If she only did better. It's her fault.

Xeign held her hand and intertwined their fingers. She looked at her mother with the assurance that everything is going to be fine.

The irritation that was about to corrupt her body is defeated by her youngest's assurance. She successfully calmed her down without even saying a single word.

Just a stare, just holding her hand and she can already tell what she wants to say.

Everything will be fine.

And she hopes everything will be fine.