MAFIA BOY and MASK MAN: Live to Love

CHAPTER #29

Sometimes Qihe wondered if the students had correctly guessed that he was the dark prince and Lu He was the light prince.  His twin was well liked by guys, girls, teachers and the public. But Qihe was mostly feared, respected and fantasized about.  Even though he liked his low profile, deep down he did want to be truly loved.  All his girlfriends were short term, he wished for a girl that would at least stick around as long as Chyou was with Lu He.  His brother had found a girl that understood him and easily forgave his lack of availability.  Maybe it was because Qihe often seemed cold and indifferent, or that it was harder to crack the wall around his heart. Qihe was flawed and no one seemed to care to find out why.  He didn't think he was as bad as his father, but maybe he was fooling himself.  These were his thoughts and it was fitting that the day was overcast and gloomy, because Qihe was depressed.  But as soon as he came closer to school, his cool guy persona dropped into place.  He'd be damned to let anyone pity him.

Qihe came across a cat and it made him smile, as it wrapped itself around his legs.  He bent down to stroke its back and scratch its chin.  Mey popped into his mind, because what she'd liked the most about him was his affection for cats.  Maybe one day he would get a cat, but it had to be when he lived on his own.

"Hi Boss, do you want to feed the cat the rest of my ham sandwich?" Bohai asked as he came towards Qihe.

"Pull out the ham," Qihe said and held out his hand.

As soon as the cat smelled food, it vocalized its hunger.  Bohai noticed, "it's hungry and I'm surprised the cat didn't bite your finger, while wolfing the meat."

"Poor thing.  But look at its torn ear, this little one is a fighter... just like us.  It will survive." Qihe stood up, wiped his hand on the napkin Bohai gave him and then they went onto school grounds.

"Boss..." Bohai paused and then admitted, "my sister... isn't who she seems."

"Don't worry about it, I won't cause trouble for her.  I'm not interested in her or the top five girls here, so Suyin can have all the fun she wants while hunting."

"Hunting?"

"Her affection and attention to Hua isn't true, she likes the challenge and that's how she plays her games.  Don't worry about it and I'm too busy to give a damn." Right after he finished saying that, his cell phone rang. "What's up Lu He?"

"I need you to be Chyou's date at the celebration dinner for completion of her first drama.  I'll still be on set filming and can't make it."

"When?"

"Tomorrow night."

"Am I pretending to be you?"

"Not with Chyou, but if the media calls you me, then that's fine.  I'll leave it up to you.  I'll tell Chyou it's not me though."

"Okay, I'll be your stand in.  You'll owe me."

Lu he replied, "no I won't, remember I saved your life."

"Yeah, but that's something big to owe, not just being a stand in."

"This is big, it's her first industry dinner event."

"Your choice.  Send me the details in an email, so I don't forget."

After Qihe ended the call, Bohai acknowledged, "you're right, you are busy.  Not just for your own things, but helping your twin."

"Exactly."

They continued on into the school.  Rounding the corner of the hall, to take the stairs to the second level, an angry shout and a scream travelled down to them.

Bohai stated the obvious, "it's a girl fight." However when they saw who it was, he made to intervene. "Suyin!"

Qihe put a hand on his enforcer's arm. "Let me handle them, you go to class.  You can't get in trouble again or they'll suspend you."

"Thanks Boss." Bohai left.

First Qihe watched the girls fight, which was slapping and pulling hair.  When the other girl accidentally connected to Suyin's chin with her elbow, then he stepped in. "Enough, Suyin's knocked out, why were you fighting?"

"It was her fault Mafia Boy, she said I was too fat to wear these pants!"

"Body shaming, I didn't expect her to be like that.  And I never thought you'd care about what others said, why so sensitive now?"

The girl glanced to where some guys stood and blushed.  Qihe realized that she liked one of them.  The girl had been in the same junior high and had once even covered for him in class. Always one to repay his debt, Qihe pulled the plump girl into his arms, moved his mask and kissed her.

"Qihe?" She asked breathlessly after he released her.

Putting his mask back on, he answered. "You should only care about what I think, no one else." He winked at her and then picked up Suyin.  As he walked by the group of guys, on his way to the nurse's office, Qihe overheard their conversation.

"Are you going to let Mafia Boy steal all the girls?  She's so into you, why not ask her on a date?"

"I thought you said she was too big?"

"If he thinks she's worthy of a kiss, then maybe I was wrong.  And you like girls with big boobs and a booty, don't you?"

Qihe guessed the girl would get her guy, before he even dropped off Suyin.  He wondered why Bohai's sister was fighting, but wasn't curious enough to find out.  The nurse was in her office and he explained what happened, after putting Suyin on a cot.  The nurse thanked him, flirted a little and then the second bell rang, so he left.  This had been a very weird morning, but at least it had put Qihe in a better mood.

** ~ ~ ~ ~ ~**~ ~ ~ ~ ~ **

At lunch Suyin looked for Qihe and her brother.  She found them playing basketball. "Hey!"

"So you finally woke up," Qihe laughed as he sunk a basket.

"Nurse said you brought me to her, thanks!  Have you guys had lunch yet?"

"We have," replied Bohai, while trying to block Qihe from scoring again.

"Then I'll buy you dinner or a snack after school as thanks Qihe!"

"I have plans, don't worry about it." He dismissed her and dodged Bohai, to score.

"Damn it, she distracted me, that wasn't fair," Bohai complained.

Suyin grinned and teased her brother. "It was fair, you just suck at basketball Bohai!"

He tried to throw the ball at her head, but she just laughed and ran off.  Qihe rolled his eyes and then ended the game. "This isn't challenging enough, who wants to switch out with Bohai?" None of his gang volunteered, so they stopped playing.

Lunch came to an end and once again Qihe went to class.  It was chemistry and they were mixing elements to create a visible reaction.  Watching his fellow students screw it up and cause little explosions, was very amusing.  There were only four of them who got the combination correct, and that included Qihe.  It made him send a text to Lu He, to see if his classmates were smarter. The reply made him smother a laugh.