Beauty And A Beast

Chapter 3

Tzuyu

That girl... I don't know her and she doesn't know me but she hit the guy who attacked me.

And I didn't even get her name.

But she shouldn't have gotten involved. The guy who attacked me works for my father's greatest rival. The Japanese Mafia. They have been at 'war' even before I was born. And my father always thought them unworthy of much attention which is why he prefered to have others handle the matter. He hired people the Japanese would easily trust so he could keep track of their activities. And it worked out pretty well for him, having others do his business. So he did it again. And again.

And so he trained me.

"Tzu! Where were you? What happened to your throat!?"

I blink a few times, allowing myself to adjust to reality. Dahyun and Chaeyoung are looking at me, eyes wide and pinned at the spot the man's knife pressed on my throat. I quickly pull the laces that tighten the hood around my face.

"Nothing I just stumbled onto someone."

"Who, a serial killer?" Dahyun scoffs.

"No, a girl actually, we crashed." I state part of the truth as I take the books I need out of my locker and put them in my bag.

"A girl?" Chaeyoung asks, wiggling her eyebrows. "Was she cute? Pretty? What was-"

"Chaeng! Seriously?"

"What? She might be single." the shorter girl shrugs. I shake my head with a chuckle and start walking down the crowded corridor with the two girls. The students' voices are buzzing since most of them are probably catching up one their summer. I hear them laughing about family getaways, evening strolls at the beach, jumping in the sea from cliffs...

Which brings me to my own, miserable summer. When I begged for a moment alone, without having to deprive someone of a family member.

When I wished I could be walking peacefully at the beach instead of throwing the people my father had me kill in for the sharks.

When I was told to push a woman with her child from a cliff.

But I didn't do it. As much of a monster I am, I don't kill children. I can't bring myself to take the life of a human being that hasn't even lived half of its life. That's just cruel.

Ironic coming from my lips, right?

"Tzu, watch out-"

I hardly have enough time to hear Chaeyoung's warning when I crash onto someone.

Damn, that's the second time today.

I look up to stare into a pair of familiar ocean blue eyes and my own widen at the sight of her.

"You again." she mumbles.

"Gorgeous stranger, nice to see you." I say with a smirk.

The brunette scoffs. "You're extremely far from any gorgeous stranger I've met."

"Because I'm the first."

"And gorgeous? I'd doubt it."

I roll my eyes and lean slightly closer. "And what would you say I am?"

"I believe cocky bitch suits you better."

"Interesting opinion. I'll keep that in mind in case anyone else calls me that."

She puts a finger on my chest and pushes me back. "You'd better. But I believe I'm the first and last so, good luck." she says and walks away, not before shoving my shoulder with her own. Two girls follow her, both of them laughing enthusiastically and throwing glances at me.

"Tzuyu! Who was that!?" Chaeyoung whisper-shouts at me.

"The girl I stumbled onto earlier."

"Wow, she's gorgeous." Dahyun mumbles, earning a slap from Chaeyoung. "What?"

"Well, Tzuyu obviously already has her eyes on her, so she's off limits."

"Okay, that's just stupid." I chuckle as we start heading towards our class again.

"Are they new? I haven't seen them before."

"Momo has been here for a long time so maybe her friends are the two transferees you were talking about." Dahyun quickly replies Chaeyoung's question. I chuckle silently, knowing what's about to happen.

"Of course you know Momo has been here for a while." Chaeyoung teases.

"Yeah, she's in my class." Dahyun says, not having realized yet what Chaeng is doing. The later winks at me and turns to Dahyun again.

"Uh, because I don't remember, which one of them is Momo?"

"The Japanese girl with the bangs? She had them cut off a year and, my opinion, it didn't really suit her. You know, she's obsessed with jokbal and loves to dance, she's a really good dancer actually and-" Dahyun pauses, throwing a glance at Chaeyoung who is now trying hard to hide her laughter. "Oh-ho, I see what you did there."

"Uh, she's obsessed with jokbal and I'm obsessed with her-"

"Stop it!" Dahyun shoves Chaeyoung playfully while I choose to simply chuckle at their cute actions. Dahyun and Chaeyoung are like sisters, they've known each other since they were babies, seeing that their mothers are best friends.

I never knew my mom. My father always told me she died giving birth to me but I'm not sure if I can believe that. My dad has lied to so many people, when he promised them safety and had me kill them two weeks later. Trusting him is really hard for me, not only for that, but also because of the time I've spent with him.

And let's just say we didn't go to playgrounds with other kids, to the mall to buy random stuff or to the cinema for a movie.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and I take it out to see a message from my brother.

Mark:
u need to come to the rooftop
Mark:
i have a message from dad

Speaking of the devil. And I could swear I could mean it literally.

★★★

"So? What is it this time?" I ask Mark as I close the door behind me. A tall guy turns to face me, greens eyes pinned on mine. His blonde hair falls messy over his forehead and the sleeves of his black half unbuttoned shirt are rolled up to his elbows.

"He wants something from you."

"That's new." I say sarcastically. Mark shakes his head and walks closer, tucking his hands in the pockets of his pants.

"Tzuyu this is serious. You can't keep defying him."

"What do you mean?"

"I know you don't kill families when he orders you to. I know you tell them to stay away, move somewhere away from him."

"I don't know what you think Mark, but it's not easy. I have enough blood on my hands already. I can't have children's too." I state, my voice firm.

"Tzuyu, I understand. But if he finds out, he won't. You're putting yourself in danger."

"I can handle myself Mark. And I can handle him as well. You shouldn't be worrying about me."

Mark nods his head in silence and takes a paper out of his pocket. He stops next to me and holds it out.

"Your next. Be careful Tzuyu."

I snap the paper from his hand. "You too."

"Me too?"

"You know. Don't slip on the girls' drooling all over the place." I shove him playfully. Mark chuckles and pats my shoulder.

"You're ridiculous." he says and leaves me alone on the roof. I put my icy mask back on and shove the paper in my pocket, knowing exactly what's in it.

The way to someone's doom.