All Along, You

XXIV THROUGH DOUBTS AND ASSURANCES

Vegas impatiently waited for the old woman's response but he was only met with a sigh.

"I'm not interested in meddling." She says in a defeated tone.

"Grandma, you might want to reconsider. It's his safety we're talking about."

"His safety would be compromised by what you were going to do. If you knew that, just do not do it, Vegas." She answered.

Vegas fell silent. He felt the coldness of Grandma's response. She had always been warm to him, even when she wasn't sure about what to do with the fact that his grandson had been dating a man, not a woman. It's different now, though. When the call started, she had called him "son" just like she did back then. Now, his name sounded too unfamiliar to him when she says it. Clearly, she had gotten offended when Vegas asked her to keep Pete safe, knowing damn well that Vegas was planning something.

Just when he was about to say something, grandma Jui spoke again, breaking the silence once and for all.

"I don't know what happened between you and Pete back then. He refused to give me the details and only said you both fell out of love" Vegas had to swallow a painful lump in his throat hearing that. Fell out of love seemed to be the most common excuse in the book but somehow those words being used to describe the end of their romantic involvement made Vegas feel like he might just be about to vomit blood.

"That's not true" he managed to say, hushed but he's sure she heard.

"Grandma, you do not understand. If Pete is not out of the way, he might get seriously injured, or worse..."

"What, sorry I cannot hear you properly, Vegas. You know I've had bad hearing ever since I planted a bullet in my son-in-law's right knee when I saw him kick my grandson after cheating on my daughter and getting caught."

Vegas felt threatened. Of course, it's not as though he's afraid the old woman would kill him. It's because somewhere deep down, he feels like he's lost her too. Pete's grandma had treated him like his own son/grandson. If she treats him this way, then does that mean Vegas needs to win her back too?

"I'm trying to protect him..." he said even though he knew grandma's idea was true. The war between them had been written as a prophecy long before he was born. He'd be fulfilling it and win. He now has more to gain since Kinn has Pete, Pete's son, and Pete's grandma. He's just reclaiming everything of his after all.

"Grandma, you don't understand. Pete and I---"

"Are no more. " The woman cut him in between "There was a time when he'd rather die than accept that fact, right when YOU left him. He did not tell me it was you who left but I know him well enough to put two and two together. I will not criticize you for leaving. You must have had your reasons. Thankfully, you both are with other people now, am I right? Thank you for your concern but Pete does not need protection. And if he does, maybe it's his boyfriend who should protect him and not his ex who is already married, don't you think so, Dear?"

"Grandma..." He wanted to explain but the words got caught up somewhere in the air.

"I forgot to greet you. It may be late, but I'd like to congratulate you on your wedding, Vegas. I hope you live a happy life with your wife." With that, the call was cut off, causing Vegas to drop his phone as he felt his hand lose strength.

-------------------------------

Pete was utterly shocked when he saw Tankhun panting on the ground, pulling on his own hair.

"Porsche, stop it. What on Earth are you talking about?" Kinn demanded as he tried to calm Tankhun down.

"Stop what? He calls me a snake one more time and I'm ending him. How entitled of you to call me names when you know exactly what you did, Tankhun!" Porsche yells.