The Gangster Princess

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Echoes of the Old Me

Aisha Fancy Lee

White.

Everything around me was white—the ceiling, the curtains, the lights. It felt like I had been pulled out of a void and dumped into this pale, sterile world. My eyelids fluttered open, heavy as hell, and for a second, I questioned if I was dead.

Then came the sting.

A sharp, searing ache rippled from my abdomen to my side, radiating pain with every shallow breath. My throat felt dry, my mouth parched, and the unmistakable scent of antiseptic and metal filled my nose.

Hospital.

I’m in a hospital bed.

Panic swelled in my chest before I heard a voice.

The sterile white light above me felt too bright, too sharp. I blinked, once, twice, until the blurred outlines of the room sharpened into cold hospital walls. Beeping machines, IV stuck to my arm, a dull ache spreading through my torso.

“She’s awake,” Max whispered.

I turned my head slightly. My neck resisted the movement, like even the simplest motion had a weight to it. The painkillers dulled most of it, but not enough.

Around me, they stood—Apple, Shae, Max, and James.

The moment I saw their faces, I knew something was off.

They weren’t smiling. No cheers. No teasing. Not even a sarcastic clap from James.

Just silence.

That kind of silence that felt louder than any scream.

"Hey, guys... what happened?" I asked, my voice hoarse, barely louder than a whisper.

Silence. Then they all turned to me with that are-you-serious-right-now look.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay fine, I get it. I lost. Happy?" I added with a half-hearted grin, trying to lighten the mood. Inside, though? I felt like crap. My pride was bruised. Hell, everything hurt.

But the truth? Masakit man aminin, pero totoo—natalo ako. And not just physically. Sa loob-loob ko, parang may natalo pa akong mas malalim.

“Sorry, guys. I’ll make up for it next time,” I said, biting the inside of my cheek.

Apple raised an eyebrow. "Next time? To think, ngayon ka lang nasugatan ng ganito ka lala."

I nodded. She wasn’t wrong. All these years sa Gangster Society, I’d walked away with scratches, bruises maybe, but never a stab wound. Never like that. And to top it all off, my reign as Rank 1? Probably over.

“Wala talaga siyang maalala,” Shae said, her arms crossed.

“Tell me what happened,” I said again, more firmly this time.

Apple exhaled loudly. "Girl... halos mapatay mo na si Jake. Buti na lang pumasok si James sa ring. Kung hindi…" She trailed off.

“Are you okay?” Tyler’s voice broke through the noise. Sweet pa rin, as usual. That stupid soft look in his eyes.

Shae smirked. "Worried ex alert!"

“Tss,” Max muttered, rolling his eyes.

“What?” I asked. “I lost. Okay? I get it. It happens—”