The Ace And The Heart

♠10♥

"I just have to marry Zen. "

It was just a whisper but the two boys clearly heard it. She haven't realized what she was talking about yet. Zen covered his face with his two hands. Realization hit her when she looked at Zen. Her mouth opened but no words came out.

"I wanted to ask you a while ago. "

"Y-yes? "

"Do you want to marry me instead of my brother? "

A rock flew and hit her head. The girl looked at the man who threw the rock. She stood up and walked towards the man.

"Kid, you look rich, how about give me all the money you have? "

The way he speak mocked Aissle. She grinned at the man.

"One condition, how about let's have a one on one combat? "

The man laughed at her.

"Deal. "

The grin haven't disappeared from her face yet. People formed a circle including Zen and Seb.

"Oh, not fair old man. If you lose, you'll have to do what I want you to do."

Everyone gasped. He grinned at her.

"Whatever you want. "

The men behind him laughed.

"No weapons allowed, old man. "

She said. They both counted 1 to 3 in their minds. She let him attack first. The punch he threw was blocked. She broke his fist and punched him in the guts. Everyone was surprised. Zen smiled at this. Seb too was amused. The man aimed at her again but she broke another bone. Then a kick but she decided to just block it. The man fell down, losing his balance. She stamped on his fist roughly. The old an cried for help. "Now, now, old man, what I want you to do is vow down on me with your friends. " She said. She glared at the men behind the old man. They all kneeled down. "And apologize. " People started to whisper. They didn't. It was a terrible decision. Aissle kicked their heads. She gritted her teeth. "Your prides are disgusting. Go lick the dirt on the ground. " She ordered. No one moved. She stamped on one's head and shoved his face on the ground. "Lick. " They started to lick the ground in fear. "Now stand up and leave. " She said. They all did what she said. Her eyes searched for the two boys. She saw Zen from the circle of people. She approached him and pulled him out of the circle. "Where's Seb? " She asked. "He said he has something to do. " He said avoiding eye contact. "Say, Aissle, do you? " He asked in whisper. They sat on the fountain. "What do you mea-- " She was cut off when realization hit her. Zen looked at her. "I-- if it's the only way. I like you more than your brother. " Her last sentence was silent but Zen heard all of it. The wind blew. The rain started to pour. Zen grabbed her wrist into the nearest shelter. It was an abandoned small typical house. They entered the house. Zen leaned his back on the wall and fell down, his legs crossed while letting out a sigh. She looked at him. "Come here. " He said while patting the space next to him. Aissle sat next to him. "I'll try. " He said. He leaned his head on the corner of the wall. "There's a big storm coming. Let's have the night in this house. " He said in his monotone voice. She nodded. She curled herself next to Zen and let herself fall asleep.

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"The lady haven't returned yet. "

He kissed the back of the lady's hand.

"My sister can handle herself. Don't worry. "

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Aissle opened her eyes. At first it was blurry but then it started to clear. She sat up as she yawn. A figure crossed his legs in front of her. "Hey" He called. "Hey" She responded. A growl was heard in a sudden. "You heard nothing." He whispered. She grabbed something from her pocket and shove it in his mouth. "Just eat it. " She ordered. He started to chew as he stood up. "They must be looking for you right now. " He said. She raised a brow on him. "It's just my mother, don't mind her. " She said. "What I know is you better go home now because you may get another punishment again. " She sighed in frustration. He frowned at her. "Yeah, yeah, I got it. " He said. "Rude." She mocked. "Huh?" He raised a brow on her. "Shhh, just shut up. " She said as she rested her finger on his lips. It was another mock but it made him blush. The two walked outside the abandoned house. 

"Bye."

"Bye."

The two separated ways. She didn't really want to go back home but she has nothing to do anymore, plus Zen might get in trouble if she stayed with him and she wouldn't want that.

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"Zen." The voice caught his attention. He looked at the person and quickly avoided eye contact. "What? " He asked, his fist gripped tight. "Were you with her? " He asked with a cold smile on his face. Zen ignored him not knowing if he should answer his brother's question. "Were you with her? " He asked again. He gritted his teeth and replied a yes. His brother's eyes widened with a wide grin on his face. It terrified Zen. He found himself stepping back. He didn't know how to respond to that terrifying expression painted on his brother's face. "Do you like her? " He asked. Zen chose not to reply. The grin on his brother's face slowly disappeared. His widened eyes was full of rage and annoyance. He ran away not knowing what to say. He pushed the door of the mansion and hurried out. The wooden door slammed close. His brother chuckled in amazement. 

"I'll take that as an answer. "

He buried his face into his palms, laughing.

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He doesn't know if he likes someone. His head started to hurt. He didn't even know what to do.

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She squeezed her sweaty hands together and blew on it. "Welcome back, my lady. " Caden greeted. He kissed the back of her hand. She passed by him without any word. He frowned at this. She seems to be different right now. She stopped on her tracks and looked over her shoulders to see him. Her eyes seems to be blank, emotionless. He gasped at this. "Do you need something? " She asked. Her voice was different. This sent shivers down his spine. Her voice seems to be a voice of a speaking doll. She turned her body feeling uncomfortable. She stared into his eyes. He gritted his teeth feeling a bit annoyed by her behavior. "Caden? " She called, her voice still not changing back to normal. Her eyes seems to be so deep. "Aissle, w-what's hap-" He was cut off when she raised a brow. She stayed on her tracks. She continued staring into his eyes. The expression on her face terrified him. She turned around and started to walk. "Aissle" It was just a whisper but she heard it. She then stopped again. There was no reply. "Are you okay? " There was again no answer. It took a lot of courage for him to talk to her after what he have seen. "Aissle, what happened to you? " He asked. He gritted his teeth. She just stared at a blank space. She stayed silent. "Where have you been? " He asked. Inside, she's a bit annoyed but she's unaware of this emotion. "I wanted to know, tell me. " He whispered. "Aissle? " She snapped out of her deep thoughts. Her eyes got back to normal. "Aissle. " He called once again.

"I love you. "  

He fell on his knees. His tears started to flow. She didn't know what to do. Nothing made her move. The wind blew. His sobs were loud, loud enough for a person 5 meters away to hear.