The Gangster Princess

Chapter 22

Chapter 22 : Silent Flames

Aisha Fancy Lee

It’s been weeks since Reid came home.

And yet, every time I wake up, it still feels surreal.

Mornings used to be quiet—too quiet. The kind of silence that made you count the seconds, the kind that made you wonder if time was really moving at all. But now, the silence is softer warmer. Because even if he’s not beside me every second, I know he’s just around the corner.

Today, I woke up to the smell of toasted bread and the soft clatter of mugs in the kitchen.

I rubbed my eyes and sat up slowly, wearing his oversized black hoodie—the one he left here months ago and I claimed as mine ever since.

My feet touched the cold floor, but my heart felt warm.

I peeked into the kitchen and found him there, half-asleep, hair messy, wearing grey sweats and a plain white shirt. He was holding a plate of slightly burnt toast and two mugs of hot choco.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” he said, smiling sheepishly. “I tried cooking. Keyword: tried.”

I laughed softly, walking toward him. “You burnt them again?”

“Just a little,” he defended, handing me the mug. “But the love is well-cooked, promise.”

We sat in silence at the small dining table, facing each other. My foot brushed against his leg under the table, and I saw the corners of his lips twitch into a smile.

“Reid,” I whispered, cupping the warm mug in my hands, “you really came back.”

He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “I told you I would. Every version of me… I’ll always come back to you.”

☽ a//z ☾

Later that Afternoon

Class started again after weeks of break. I found myself walking in the hallway alone, I remember Reid left early. Hindi na kami nag sabay. Suddenly, naramdaman ko ang isang braso na naka akbay sakin. I rolled my eyes when I see na si Jake yon. This annoying bitch.

“Girlfriend ko,” Jake teased, causing me to laugh as we walked together toward the classroom. It was unexpected na makasalubong ko siya, but we ended up going to class together.

“Boyfriend ko,” I replied with a playful smile.

“Ang sweet naman ng girlfriend ko,” Jake said, grinning.

I rolled my eyes, trying not to gag at the act. “Miss you,” he added.

“Miss you too,” I replied almost automatically. He just laugh playfully habang ginugulo buhok ko. I found myself staring at him, maayos na ang mukha niya.

No one really knows the full story.

People see me now—laughing, smiling, acting like any other teenage girl na in love sa isang lalaking kagaya ni Reid—but behind those smiles? May gulo. May dugo.

I’m not just anyone.
I’m the Gangster Princess.
Born into chaos, raised to survive.

And Jake?
He’s not just some clingy guy.
He was my enemy before he became my family.

I slashed his arm.
He landed a punch that made me see red.

We were both leaders—different sides of the battlefield. Competing legacies. Competing pride. We hated each other so much that we didn’t realize it was the same kind of fire that could either destroy us or force us to change.