Chapter 12: Allison
Allison's Point of View
I nodded at the doctor before they left the room. I looked at Zein, sitting on the bed with a bandage on her left arm, covered by a white cloth. She was staring blankly out the window.
I bit my lip. I was annoyed with myself. I stepped outside for a moment to get some fresh air. I looked at the flowers in the hospital garden, but I just couldn't appreciate them.
"How is she?"
I glanced at Jazz. I shook my head slightly. I could still feel my heartbeat pounding. When I heard the explosion and the shattering of glass, it felt like I lost myself. Everything went dark.
"Looks like your savings might decrease," he said with a chuckle. "A huge amount was damaged by the—"
"And you think I care about that?" My breathing grew heavier, silencing him. "Do you think I can't spend all the money I worked hard for on my sister? Do you think money is more important than her?"
"No… That's not what I mean. Sorry."
I twisted my foot to leave. "We're talking about my sister here. My own blood. Someone I love. I don't care about material things, because if my sister's life is in danger… all my dreams will vanish." My voice trembled, so I decided to go back inside.
It's all my fault, I know. I shouldn't have startled her. I never should have put her in danger. Damn it! I wanted to curse myself. So frustrating! Because of me, my sister almost got hurt.
I found her still in the same position, staring blankly out the window. I didn't know what she was thinking. Was she angry? I would understand if she was.
"Z-Zein…" I sat beside her and hugged her back. "Sorry… Sissy, I am so sorry," I whispered.
I felt her stroke my hand, and somehow, all the anger and frustration I felt toward myself melted away. Oh God! I love my sister that much.
"It's okay."
She turned to face me with a smile. She held my cheek, I didn't even realize it was wet, and wiped away the tear that had passed there while smiling.
"You're crying… I thought big girls don't cry."
I smiled, remembering that I had told her that before. I don't like seeing her cry. I don't like weak people, and I don't want my sister to be like that. But it seems like I'm the one being weak now.
"Y-You won't tell Ace about this, right?"
"I already did."
She just shook her head. I didn't know what to do earlier, so I called that guy. I could hear how heavy his breath was on the other line when I told him what happened. He cares too much for my sister. Now… I think I finally understand why a Zein Shion fell for an Ace Craige.
I smiled.
We were startled when the door suddenly swung open, and Ace appeared, nibbling on his lip.
I held my breath and stepped outside.
Zein's Point of View
My heart raced as I looked at Ace, who remained standing at the doorway. He bit his lip firmly, and the worry in his dark, heavy-lidded eyes was unmistakable.
He approached me. "You're hurt," he whispered, wrapping me in his arms.
I just smiled at the sound of his sharp, almost harsh muttering. He was saying so much, but it felt like I was deafened by the pounding of my own heart. All I could hear was my racing heartbeat and the scream of love.
"You're hurt. I wasn't by your side."
He broke free and stood up. He was gasping for air, and I knew he was holding back his anger. "Damn it!" he shouted, kicking the small table, which made me flinch.
It made a deafening crash, and I knew it had broken. The door opened, and a nurse appeared, hesitating to come in.
Ace stayed standing beside me, letting the nurse check my wound. I could still hear Ace muttering quietly under his breath.
"You… you can go home later if you want since it's just a small wound now."
The nurse took the aluminum tray and left. He almost ran down the hall, which made me smile. Ace's presence is kind of intimidating when he keeps his lips sealed.
"Does it still hurt?"
He sat beside me. He was calmer now as he looked at the wound I got.
"Just tell me, darling. I'll bring you the best doctor," he whispered.
I just shook my head. He sighed and touched my cheek. I bit my lip as I felt a strong jolt of electricity run through it, so I quickly moved his hand away. Damn!
"Are you mad?" he asked. "Darling, I'm sorry," he whispered.
I swallowed. I remembered the conversation we had that night. I'll admit, I felt jealous, but I wasn't angry. I can't control him. I don't own him.
"You're really mad… I understand."
I looked at him and matched his deep gaze. His eyes were tired, half-closed, clearly lacking sleep.
"I'm not mad, just jealous," I said. That's the truth. I have no right to be angry, but I have the right to be jealous. He's my boyfriend; I'm his girlfriend. I have the right.
I'm not a shallow person. As long as I can, I will understand the man beside me. Even if the day comes when he no longer looks at me the same way, I won't be angry.
I furrowed my brows when I saw Ace's car. He quickly turned our route and passed by his car, which made me frown even more.
"That's your car…" I said.
He shook his head but didn't look at me. "It's not my car," he answered shortly before gesturing to his phone, signaling he needed to take a call.
I glanced at the car again. I couldn't be mistaken. That was Ace's car, but why was it like that? Full of bullet holes? Who did this?
I looked at Ace, who was seriously talking on his phone. I couldn't hear what he was saying because he was too far away from me. Still, I could see his heavy breathing. He seemed completely exhausted.
He returned my smile and looked over my wounds again. "I'll talk to your sister later," he said.
"No… she might say something bad about you again."
I was afraid of what she might say. She didn't like Ace, so I knew she'd do everything she could to separate us. I understood her; she was just protecting me from people who could hurt me, and Ace would be the one most capable of doing that, if it ever came to it.
I had accepted that a long time ago. I could get hurt by this love. That was the first thing I accepted and carved into my mind before I fell for him.
"No matter what slander they throw at us, they can't break us. I'll fight for you, I'll fight for this love."
"No… We'll fight for us," I corrected him.
He wasn't the only one fighting. I was in this battle with him.
A little while later, a car arrived. Ace had me sit behind him while he was seated in front, and there was a man driving for us.
I glanced at Ace's car again, but he covered my eyes.
"Look at me…" He turned me to face him. "All you have to do is trust me… I won't let you down," he whispered.
I noticed the driver's subtle smile.
"So, you're Zein," he said.
He looked a bit older, but not too much.
"Yes, Sebastian. She's Zein Shion," Ace replied.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Zein," the driver said politely.
When we arrived home, we went straight to my room. Mommy came in, crying, so Ace stepped out for a moment.
Ace's Point of View
I found Allison sitting on the sofa. Like me, it seemed she also wanted to talk. We went to the back of their house where there was a swimming pool. We didn't look at each other, as if silently weighing who should speak first.
A cold breeze blew. I remembered Zein's injuries, so I tried to calm myself. I knew Allison was the one responsible, so I also felt anger toward her. She had startled Zein and put her in a situation where she had no idea what to do. She had endangered the person I loved.
Even if we say that she just wanted Zein to learn how to defend herself, she had almost put her in harm's way.
"I won't say sorry… I just did that because I was worried about Zein."
"But you put her in danger."
Silence swallowed us.
"Don't act like a saint here. I know your secret, and I know you already know who's behind everything happening to you."
She said firmly, making me laugh.
She's really good. Before I even realized it, she already knew. No wonder. She's one of the best at this.
"Stay away from Zein, you'll just put him in danger."
"Nah, sorry. I don't follow anyone's orders except from my queen."
I am her knight, and she is my queen. I only follow orders from Zein.
"I am her sister, and definitely, I will also do anything to protect her… even if I kill you."
"You're playing saint here…" I laughed. "Why so protective of your sister?"
She frowned. "Because she's my sister." She answered firmly.
I laughed again. I know your secret. A secret only a few people know.
"You're just feeling guilty."
"W-What?"
I turned away. I didn't want to speak anymore because I might not be able to control myself. My fists clenched as I thought about how Zein would feel if she found out the truth.
Her admiration for her sister ran deep, and even though I didn't want to ruin that, I couldn't stop the truth from coming out. Truths that would strike like knives at everyone involved in this fight.
"Samantha…"