Him?

Epilogue 01

Alexis's pov

Why did I always had panic attacks whenever Ismael show up? It was because of the horrible experiences I had because of him. No one would have thought that guy could have turned into such a monster. At first, he was just like the many troubled children in Lake's Town. Getting into small fights over petty things and doing juvenile things without thinking of the consequences. Without wanting to face them also.

After a while, I found it hard to remember the person who charmingly swept me off my feet when we first met in front of my house. I was thirteen and he was a year older. It turns out that he found out about his father a year after that and kept it from me all this time. I think that's when he started getting into the extremely risky stuff. He suddenly wanted to get away from the area. As far away as possible, and I always thought it was because he had big dreams to become a star rapper.

Apparently, his dad was a drug Lord about three states away from us in a beach town called Sunny Bay. His mom committed suicide because her supposed husband wanted her to "help" in a new "business venture" of trafficking sex workers. Maybe there was more to their toxic relationship that drove the poor woman over the edge. I guess Ismael got the same method of treating his women like his dad.

I said women because... Well, he met someone while he was out scamming people of their life savings. He knew his father disowned him because he reminded the man of his wife. But he was forced to go back because his old man was dying and they needed someone to take over the gangs. The other girl fell for his position of power but realized she made a huge mistake after she was too deep to step out.

She ended up being one of the many witnesses on Ismael's court trials. Ismael also helped the police crack some other cases that linked with his. When officer Gayle said he was a part of something much bigger, we had no idea it was this big. Anyway, Ismael used his father's connections to get himself a manager and put himself on the map. He always wanted to make it big, and he did, his stage name being Star Boy.

After he made it though, he decided to leave the mafia stuff alone. That didn't sit well with the folks who looked up to his father. Which is weird because his dad hated him. Ismael was the lost heir to the throne, but he didn't want it after he got famous. He just wanted what it had to offer him. I guess he thought he could run from them just like he did all his other problems. They were after him just like we were, but luckily, we got him first, he would've been dead by now if they'd caught him.

Ismael got fifty years in all. That was after they put all his charges together. He had ten charges of grand theft auto, over fifteen charges of scamming and aiding and abetting. They gave him manslaughter for Sofia's death, they squashed the petty thefts he used to do as a youth, but it was still a heavy sentence. I forgot to mention the charges for identity theft and fake identification, possession of illegal weapons and small amounts of drugs.

He must have been selling those because I don't think he takes them. At least, I don't think I know him anymore. The more I think about all this the less I recognize my ex-boyfriend. I just hope that he would turn over his life and become a better person after this. I wish I get to see him again and feel proud that Ismael has changed for good. 

That doesn't mean I'll get back with him. I'm quite happy with my life with Destiny. It's been three years after the trials, and Destiny and I finally graduated from college. Unfortunately, Christina was still in the hell hole, praying for her last semester to hurry up and end.

I'm here sitting down on my toilet seat waiting anxiously on a pregnancy test as I twist my engagement ring. I wonder why no one ever told me that these things were this nerve-racking. I mean, I would be totally prepared for it. Or would I?

Let's go back to talk about Ismael. So, I paid him a visit the other day. He's been working out. He also seemed fine with his current situation. He looked like a train ran him over when he noticed my engagement ring the other day, but congratulated Destiny and me anyway.

As for the police officers who helped Ismael stay out of prison, they were actually in-depth to his father and helped hide as a way of repayment. They were also spending time in a cell. I'm not sure for how long or where exactly they are. All I know is that aiding Ismael's shortlived success wasn't the only crime they committed. 

I jumped involuntarily when the door downstairs closed softly and Destiny's voice came floating cheerfully up to me. "Pooh Bear, I'm home!" 

I smiled despite my jumpiness and took a deep breath as I forced myself to look at the stick. I let out the breath that was holding, breathing out slowly and shakily. I'm not sure what's going through my head. I put the result of my pee back into its packaging and stood up to look myself in the eyes through the mirror. 

"Oh shit."