Kill For The Gangster King's Throne (2016)

Chapter 40 - Wrapped Around Her Little Fingers (Part II)

Chapter 40 - Wrapped Around Her Little Fingers (Part II)

MIIKO CASTILLO

"Stay as the Fres I know."

Hmm. I popped another candy in my mouth after swallowing the first one. I said that to her, but couldn't really say for sure if that's what I wanted.

I know Fres could turn out to be much wiser, much stronger, and even lovelier than what she is now.

Pero bakit ko sinabi iyon?

Heh. I guess I wanted her to depend on me. If she's too strong, she might not even need me... us anymore. Ngayong hindi pa nga siya ganoon kalakas, ang independent na niya, what more if she gets a lot stronger? What if she learned to use her weakness to her advantage?

Obvious sa akin kung ano ang kahinaan niya, and Geo knew it, too, that's why he used it against her. Too bad, he got found out.

I sighed as I took the last candy in my pocket. Dahil sa training na ito, I'm eating less and less. Nox was strictly monitoring our meals. Mautak lang ako kaya nakakapuslit ako ng mga pagkain kahit papaano.

I popped the last candy into my mouth and chewed it.

I have great expectations of Fres, which I know she would exceed.

Lagi naman niyang hinihigitan ang expectations ko habang siya ay patuloy pa ring iniisip ang kawirduhan ko.

In this game, I had no choice, but to join. I didn't care if I'd win or lose, ang mahalaga, nag-participate ako, like what my father wanted. But now, I have this burning passion to win. I want to see Fres grow into a woman. I want to be with her on that journey.

Love? Ano ba 'yon? I know nothing of it, but one thing that I'm sure of is that I want to spend a lot of time with Fres.

If winning this game would make it possible, then I'm willing to fight and attain victory.

Tumayo ako at agad na sinaksak ang kutsilyong hawak ko sa lalaking nag-aantay sa tabi. Oblivious to the fact that I had known he was already there for a long time, I was able to hurt him.

Nox bursted out laughing as he staggered backwards, blood dripping from his left hand to the ground. Blangko lang akong napatingin sa kanya at sa kutsilyong naliligo sa dugo ng sugatan niyang kamay.

"Well done, Castillo." His voice boomed. "You managed to land an attack."

Nanatili lang akong tahimik, satisfied with what I had done. Kung hindi dahil sa kagustuhan kong manalo rito, I would have just hide and slept somewhere like what I always do, but it's different now.

My lips parted when Fres' smile flashed in my head, along with her words that night,

"...the reason why I'm scared is that I don't want to lose all of you..."

Determinado kong tinignan si Nox. He smiled as if he knows what I'm thinking. You're right, sir. I must prove that I'm worthy to be with her.

Fres Evangelique Hanzelle, you don't have to worry. You won't lose me.

***

ZERON FERNANDEZ

Pinilit kong umupo kahit sobrang sakit na ng katawan ko. It's been an hour since Nox beat the shit out of me pero punyeta, ang sakit pa rin.

Wiping the blood on my lips, pinagmasdan ko ang kapaligiran. This island's forest is so big... much like the one on Crimson island. Magaganda ang mga puno at ang mga halaman, it would have been so wonderful if Fres was here with me instead of having to be beaten up by some fucking gang captain and left alone to die.