The Gangster Princess

Chapter 24

Chapter 24: A Promise I Never Wanted to Keep

Max Chest De Valle

The night was quiet—too quiet.

Outside, the world continued like it had no idea something inside me had been broken for a long time now. A year had passed since Jessica’s death, but grief doesn’t follow calendars. It lingers in the little things—the sound of her laugh echoing in my memory, the way her slippers used to slap
against the floor, how she’d yell “Kuya!” just to annoy me.

I stared blankly at the photo on my desk. She was there, frozen in time. Smiling. Alive. Unaware that her story would end far too soon.

And mine would change forever.

☽ a//z ☾

Flashback Begins

"Kuya! Birthday na si akooo!"

Her voice pierced through the early morning air like sunlight bursting through clouds. Jessica jumped up and down in our tiny living room, her oversized pajama shirt bouncing with her.

"Hay naku, Jes. Ang ingay mo. Can you please pack your things na? We’re leaving for Boracay in an hour," I muttered, arms crossed, pretending to be annoyed.

But truth was… I loved watching her like this—carefree, full of life.

She spun toward me, eyes sparkling. "Kuyaaa, this is my first time in Boracay! I really hope Kael can come!"

"Tsk. Should’ve never let you date that guy. Fifteen ka pa lang, Jes. Sobrang landi mo na, anak ng—"

She pouted. Damn that pout. She always knew I was weak for that.

“Kael is kind, kuya. You just don’t see it.”

I rolled my eyes. “So what? I’m not kind, ganon ba?”

She laughed, tossing a pillow at me. “Siyempre hindi, bakla ka nga diba?”

“Jessicaaa,” I groaned, reaching to grab her but she dodged me easily and ran, laughing as she did.

That was my sister. A hurricane in a pink hoodie.

☽ a//z ☾

Boracay.

The sand was warm beneath our feet, the breeze salty and soft against our skin. She ran along the shore, her laughter mixing with the sound of the waves.

I watched from a distance as she wrapped her arms around Dale.

“Kuya! Gwapo talaga ng boyfriend ko!”

“And you’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen,” Kael replied, brushing her hair from her face.

I groaned. “Can we not do PDA right now? Ako na lang single dito, salamat.”

Jes stuck her tongue out at me. “Bitter much, kuya? Maghanap ka na kasi ng jowa!”

I wanted to tease her back, but something tugged at my gut. Instinct, maybe. Or the fact that Kael—despite earning my trust—was still a mafia boss. Danger always came with people like him.

“Kael, sigurado ka bang walang sumunod sa’yo?” I asked under my breath.

He nodded, face serious. “Walang problema, kuya. I made sure of that.”

But moments later, his phone vibrated. He checked it. His expression darkened.

“I need to go.”

Jes’s smile faded. “Now?”