𝐄𝐙𝐄𝐊𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞'𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞

31

EZEKIEL:

Late in the evening, after Akira’s father had gone to bed, we were relaxing in the living room, her head resting comfortably on my chest as we watched a show together. Suddenly, my phone vibrated beside me. I glanced at the screen—it was my dad calling. Not wanting to disturb Akira, I answered quietly, keeping my arm around her to hold her close.

“Hi, Dad.”

Akira stirred slightly, but I gently pulled her back, sensing she’d want to be near me for this conversation.

“Eze,” my father’s voice came through, tense and filled with worry. “Something happened.”

I stiffened, my body going rigid. Akira noticed, looking up at me with concern.

“It’s Jade,” he continued, his voice heavy. “She was kidnapped this morning. When we found her, they had already injected her with Uncle Ernest’s blood.”

The words hit me like a punch. I had just used that same blood to erase someone’s memory. But now, knowing it had been used on Jade… my head began to pound, fear coursing through me.

“Is she okay? Where is she now?” I demanded, gripping the phone tighter.

“She’s asleep. But Xavier is devastated. The whole family is in turmoil.”

“Who did this?” I asked, anger flaring within me.

“We’re not entirely sure,” my father replied, his voice thick with frustration, “but Xavier is certain it was Sofia. Eros confirmed she’s here in Syndril.”

“Damn it! Is she out of her mind?” I cursed, struggling to contain my anger.

“Where are you?” he asked. “Come back as soon as you can.”

“I’ll be home in three days, Dad. I just need to settle a few things here first.”

After we said our goodbyes, I ended the call and turned to Akira, her eyes searching mine, filled with worry.

“Eze, what’s going on? Did something happen?”

I took her hands in mine, feeling the weight of the news I was about to share. “It’s Jade,” I said, watching her face tense up, her eyes widening in concern. “She was kidnapped this morning, and… they injected her with my uncle’s blood. The same blood I used on that man earlier.”

The realization hit her hard, her eyes filling with tears as she began to sob. I pulled her into my arms, holding her tightly.

“Oh my god, Jade,” she cried, her voice trembling with worry and sorrow.

I held her, stroking her back soothingly, whispering softly to her as she cried, trying to give her whatever comfort I could. Jade’s suffering was affecting us both—she was like a sister to Akira, and the thought of her pain tore at our hearts.

🤍🤍🤍

AKIRA:

"Tell me she's okay," my voice comes out sharp, laced with panic. I can barely breathe, my chest tight with fear. Jade is my best friend, my sister, and the thought of her being hurt, of her being in danger, is unbearable.

"Thankfully, yes. But... she doesn’t remember anything," Xavier's voice is heavy, the words echoing my own dread.  My heart sinks. This isn't just about Jade being hurt, it's about her losing a part of herself, about the memories that make her who she is.

"Fuck, Xavier! Why didn’t you take better care of my best friend? You finally started living as a real husband and wife, and now this happens?" My voice wavers between anger and heartbreak. "Eze told me it was Sofia."

“Yes,” he admits quietly. His frustration mirrors my own. I can't believe Sofia would do this, would hurt Jade like this.

"Fuck that woman!" I practically shout, my voice raw with fury. "Can’t she find any other man to seduce? Why does she have to go after a married man and wreck someone else’s life? Tell me you found her, and I swear I’ll pull every single strand of her hair out of her whole damn head!"

I can hear Xavier sigh, and I know he's trying to be calm, to be the strong one. But I can't be calm, not when my best friend is hurt and the woman responsible is still out there.

As Xavier’s words echoed in my mind, I felt a surge of anger and sorrow. “We’re still searching. She knows exactly what she did, and she's hiding herself well,” he had said, frustration lacing his voice.

“Xavier…” I held the phone tightly, my heart aching for Jade. “Don’t stop until you find her. Jade deserves justice for what Sofia did to her. Promise me you’ll make her pay for this.”

“I promise, Akira. I’ll do everything in my power,” he replied. His words were steady, but I could hear the worry in his voice. I knew he was fighting as hard as he could, but it felt so helpless being here, unable to protect her myself.

I turned to Ezekiel after the call, my voice filled with a determination I hadn’t realized I had. “I want to come with you,” I told him, unable to bear the thought of staying behind while Jade suffered.

He pulled me close, his embrace comforting yet bittersweet. I could tell he understood, and he didn’t want to leave me, either.

But the next morning, everything changed. My father woke up feeling feverish, his face pale and weak. I couldn’t just leave him in this state. He was my family, too, and right now, he needed me. Ezekiel had to go back to Praetoria to manage the hotel and help Xavier with the company. My heart felt torn, pulled between two people I cared for deeply.

As Ezekiel packed, he walked over to me, his expression soft as he held my hand. “Take care of Jade,” I whispered, my voice barely steady. “Even if she can’t remember me now, she’s still my sister.”

He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I promise. I’ll do everything I can for her. And I’ll come back to you as soon as I can.”

I watched him leave, feeling the weight of the uncertainty pressing down on me. Jade had lost her memories—our memories. I couldn’t shake the sadness that she wouldn’t even remember our friendship or everything we’d been through together.

But deep down, I held onto hope. No matter how far she felt from us now, we would find a way to bring her back.

🤍🤍🤍

SOMEWHERE AROUND JAPAN:

The man’s gaze drifted blankly over the street as he walked, catching the curious glances of passersby. Their stares grew as he continued on, but he seemed not to notice them, nor did he seem to understand where he was or why he was there.

He stopped, reaching into his pockets, hoping for something—anything—that might tell him who he was. His hand brushed against a wallet, and with a mix of apprehension and hope, he pulled it out. Inside, he found a small, worn ID card. The name on it read Kenjie Fujino, with an address printed below it.

Clutching the ID, he flagged down a taxi. The driver looked at him, brow furrowed in concern.

“Are you okay?” the driver asked, noticing the bewildered look on his face.

Kenjie glanced up, his eyes distant, haunted by the emptiness of his mind. “I… I don’t know. I can’t remember who I am.”

The driver nodded slowly, a hint of sympathy in his eyes. “I’ll get you to the address. Maybe it’ll help you remember.”

Kenjie sank back into the seat, clutching the ID tightly as the city blurred past outside. Each passing moment was filled with a mix of anticipation and dread.