Chapter 23: A chaotic meal

Earl rushed back. Jovanni pitied him. He was the harmless one in Kirt's group and doing this thing is torture to him.

"Don't be regretful. I will treat you to that famous pizza house." King said.

"I don't."

"Good. Let's go."

King insisted on treating them to that famous pizza house. That pizza house is just two blocks away from BU campus. They went in and settled at a long table.

"Jovanni, would you mind if Yana and her friends come?" King asked. Gio and Leandro looked up, for they knew what King is up to.

"Yana?"

"Well, she is already my girlfriend. As my close friends, I want her to know you guys more."

"Since she's already your girlfriend, I don't mind. King, I owe you so much. I took much of you're time that is supposed to spend with your girlfriend."

"Don't mention it. It's fine."

"Though it's a bit late, I want to congratulate you."

"Jovanni, don't be too serious. Our mighty King is a certified playboy." Gio teased. "Who knows tomorrow he will find another Yana."

"Cut the crap!" King smacked Gio's head. "I am serious this time."

"Well, let's see..." Gio countered.

"You two playboys knock it off." Leandro said while handing the menu.

Yana and her friends timely arrived when their order was served. The friends that King mentioned were the same ladies he invited at his birthday. Jovanni was a bit distressed seeing Ellaine, the lady that Kirt thought he was dating.

"Hi, Jovanni~" Ellaine greeted Jovanni with a very sweet smile. Then she settled on the chair beside him.

Jovanni forced himself to smile and returned the greetings. King was satisfied and told everyone to start digging in, but before Jovanni could take a bite, he saw an imposing figure coming in.

Kirt walked in. He and his friends sat at the adjacent table. Jovanni's stomach was whirling. Kirt sat on the chair opposite to where he was sitting, looking at him intently.

Kirt's gaze was too sharp, it pierced through Jovanni's wounded heart.

King and everyone saw Kirt and his friends, but King ignored them. He whispered something to Jovanni and they ignored the newly arrived group that emitted a chilling air.

"Ellaine, what flavor do you like?" King's loud voice echoed.

"Pepperoni..." Ellaine's sweet voice replied.

"Jovanni, give Ellaine a slice of pepperoni." King ordered. "My good brother, you should know how to serve a lady. Here are the chicken wings, put some to her plate." King added, stressing his words.

Everyone was silent. Even the adjacent table was very still, but King was far from stopping even if Jovanni wasn't moving.

"Miss Ellaine, please pardon this good friend of mine. He hasn't had a girlfriend before, so he's quite ignorant..." King's loud voice echoed again.

Leandro almost choked on his food. He was afraid that Kirt would yell a phrase like 'Jovanni didn't have a girlfriend because he got a boyfriend!'

At the adjacent table, a certain someone's nose was fuming. Kirt didn't want to initiate a move since he had declared that Jovanni must beg at him first before he will accept him back, but he can't hold back himself. He didn't sleep well in the last two nights. He is used to having Jovanni every night and he felt that his life isn't complete without him, so he swallowed his pride a bit and sent him food. But, his effort was useless, the first one was eaten by another person while the second was directly thrown into the trash can. These people surrounding Jovanni were getting on his nerves.

"It's fine. His innocence is adorable..." Ellaine replied that pricked Kirt's ears.

Ellaine is quite daring. She saw Kirt and sensed the odd atmosphere, but it seemed that she saw and sensed nothing. This intensified Kirt's rage.

"I saw you two as a perfect match. Jovanni is very quiet and lonesome, he needs someone who is expressive and sociable like you." King said. He was completely ignoring Kirt's presence.

The air around the two tables turned cold.

"Really? I also thought so..." Ellaine smiled timidly.

The temperature on the two tables dropped to zero.

Suddenly, a screeching sound was heard. Kirt walked imposingly towards Ellaine, dragging his chair.

Everyone was anxious, even King was chilled, but he maintained his fighting mood.

Kirt sat next to Ellaine. He was very elegant and graceful.

"Miss beautiful, what about me? Do you think we can be a perfect match?" Kirt asked Ellaine.

"...No. I like someone like Jovanni." Ellaine boldly replied.

"Oh?" Kirt regretfully replied. "You refused me immediately, I haven't even introduced myself yet."

"No need. I already know you?"

"Really? Who am I?"

"You are Kirt Valdez."

"Oh! So it turned out you only knew half of me..."

"What do you mean?" Ellain asked curiously.

"Let me properly introduce myself to you." Kirt said, staring at Ellaine intently. "I am Kirt Valdez, Jovanni dela Victoria's boyfriend~," He said stressing every word and dragging the last word.

The air surrounding them was frozen. Everyone was still for a moment, not knowing what to say. Jovanni's face turned red. He should be upset, but there's a part of him that was delighted. He must be crazy. When he saw Kirt entered earlier, his broken heart jolted. It's been two days since he saw him. He did miss him. How did he become this frail?

King was the first one to react.

"Kirt Valdez shut up!"

"You fucking bastard should be the one shutting up!" Kirt retaliated.

King ground his teeth. He wanted to pounce at Kirt, but his girlfriend was there, so he restrained himself.

"Miss beautiful, if you still didn't get what I mean, I can repeat it in a bold and capitalized letter." Kirt was sarcastic.

"...No need... I got it!" Ellaine said blushing.

"Then?"

"Then what?" She mindlessly asked out of fright. Kirt's aura was too terrifying.

"Scram!" King roared as he slammed the table that turned the other customers' heads to their side.

Ellaine was frozen, terrified. Yana and the other ladies dragged her out.

Kirt stood and held Jovanni. He wanted to drag him out, but King pushed him and pulled Jovanni. Kirt didn't budge and kicked King instead. The kick was more powerful than the last one at the bar. King staggered few steps back. The other customers fled. The staff panicked, the manager yelled at the guard.

"King!" Jovanni helped King and turned to Kirt. "Kirt, what are you doing?!"

"Come with me and I will spare them!" Kirt declared.

"You wish!

Shut up!"

Gio and Kirt blurted at the same time.

King pulled Jovanni to his back. Kirt continued his offense, kicking King. King countered, punching Kirt. Gio attacked Eman, while Carl hit Leandro.

A scuffle broke. Jovanni was anxious, his yelling voice echoed but no one stopped. Tables were flipped and chairs flew. Earl retreated to the safer side. He is a harmless one that valued his face and appearance more than his friends. Since no one attacked him, he subtly retreated. He will just make good use of the word fairness to justify his cowardice since the fight is one on one. He cannot possibly attack Jovanni. Kirt will surely kill him.

The manager was mad, these brats did not only drove their customers away but destroyed their establishment too. The security guard was screaming, but no one paid him a glance. He was holding his firearm but didn't dare pull it from the scabbard.

"Stop!" Jovanni yelled for the nth times, but still, no one stopped. King was down. Kirt pulled a chair to hit him, but when his offense landed, his eyes widened. Jovanni shielded King, his head was hit.

"Jovanni!"

Kirt was anxious.