It was around six in the evening when I called Carlos to tell him that Clark dealt with the Cruz situation.

I’m sure the Torres-Shao brothers already disposed of his body, erasing every trace of his existence.

“How much does Clark want?” Carlos asked.

I refused the two of them two talk since I know Carlos would only offer Clark to work for him. Which of course, I didn’t want because I’m planning to make him work for me after I get the position from my old man. He was too good and having him with me would be a big help. Besides, it’s one way for me to protect and keep an eye out for him.

“He wants what Cruz stole.”

It took Carlos a minute to think what I just said. Finally, he sighed in defeat.

“How about 45 percent of what he took?”

I smirked. This guy really doesn’t like his money being taken from him.

What a greedy piece of shit. I would kill this bastard if given the chance

“He wants all of it, Carlos.”

“I’ve paid you the down payment of your services and I’m still going to pay you half of what we agreed. 45 percent is more than enough as addition,” Carlos debated.

I glanced at Clark who was sitting in front of me, innocently sipping his frappe while looking out the window.

“Listen, Carlos, you’re going to give what Clark wants. You don’t want me coming after you, do you?”

He stayed quiet.

“A million peso doesn’t mean a shit for you. Give it to Clark, now.”

Carlos sighed.

“Fine. I’m going to transfer the money to his bank account.”

I hung up the phone and threw it on the table, earning a look from the people sitting next to our table.

“He’s going to transfer the money to your account,” I informed Clark.

He smiled.

“Okay.”

“What are you gonna do with the money?”

Clark thought.

“Dylan’s been asking for a new computer and Diana wants new clothes,” he replied.

“You’re going to give it to your siblings?”

“Yeah, my fathers don’t need it anyway.”

I shrugged my shoulders. He had a point.

“You’re spoiling Diana and Dylan too much,” I said, grinning at Clark.

Clark raised a brow.

“You’re doing the same with Kurt too, aren’t you?”

I remembered the face of my little brother who had been messaging me nonstop about when I’m coming back to New York because he’s been missing me.

“I guess.”

I looked out the window and Clark saw me staring in front of the restaurant where Paige was working.

“Stalking him again?”

“Shut up.”

It’s been my habit to stay at this coffee shop in front of where Paige was working ever since I stayed here in the Philippines. I don’t usually go out of North Vale because of the stupid rules and only when I’m on call for a job could I visit Paige. It’s been three years since I started doing this, only watching him from afar.

I didn’t know what to tell him and to be honest, I’m kind of scared to approach him.

Twelve years. It’s a long time and he could have forgotten about me and it was proven correct when we met yesterday.

Thinking about how he easy for him to forgot me irritated the hell out of me.

“Thank you for saving me. You’re my hero. If possible, I hope we can meet him again.”

“Oh, there he is.”

My ears perked up, quickly looking through the crowd to find Paige but hearing Clark giggling made me glare at him.

“You stupid shit,” I cursed.

“Sorry, I can’t help it. You’re so in love.”

“Shut the fuck up.”

--

“Why are we here again?” Devine asked.

I called them out again in the restaurant to eat dinner. Clark knew the only reason I called them out was to see Paige up close.

A desperate act but I didn’t care. It’s my last day today outside and I wanted nothing more but to see him again.

“Is this your favorite restaurant, boss?” Cleo asked, smiling sensually at me.

I didn’t answer her question. I was slouching on the chair, hands both inside my pockets while taking my earphones out of my pocket to listen to music. I didn’t want to hear their annoying voices.

Keeping still, I focused my hearing to the death metal music blaring from my earphones. My eyes wandered around, looking for that one particular person.

All of a sudden, I saw Paige hiding behind the pillar, peeking. His eyes widened when he saw me looking straight at him.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him.

It was as if he was the only person in my field of vision. Everyone just sort of vanished.

Clark looked out of the window and with a voice that sounded almost like a whisper, he said, “because if I were you, I’ll do everything I can to make him mine.”

Could I make him mine?

“If you wanna see your prince charming again, make sure that you’re someone capable of protecting him because people like us need to be strong. Stronger than anyone else.”

Recalling the old man’s words, I thought hard.

Am I strong enough to bring Paige down with the life I have?

Could I make the same decision my old man did when he fell in love with dad? Will Paige do the same thing my dad so that they could be together?

I was woken up from my thoughts when Paige suddenly ran away with fear reflecting his eyes.

Lowering my head, I chuckled in defeat.

--

“So in the end, you didn’t talk to him,” Clark commented.

Everyone already went to their respective hotels while Clark and I stayed in the car in front of the restaurant.

I stayed quiet.

Clark grunted. He suddenly leaned over me, unlocking the door beside me and pushing it open.

“What are you doing?”

He glared at me.

“You’re going to talk to him whether you like it or not,” he answered, shoving me out of my own car.

“What?!”

“Go!” he urged, not stopping until I’m fully out of the vehicle, “I’m gonna wait for you here,” he said, closing the door and shooing me away.

I sighed.

There’s no way I could talk to him.

Nevertheless, the thought of not being able to see him for a long time weighs in my mind.

I’m not going to talk to him. I’m just going to make sure he arrive safely at his house, which of course, I know already where he’s living.

“I’m going now,” I heard Paige’s voice as the back door of the restaurant opened.

I saw him came out, a bag on his shoulders. With a low head, he walked out of the restaurant and into the direction of his house.

I saw his depressed face. Walking a meter away from him to make sure he wouldn’t see me, I followed him back to his house.

He was struggling to walk, as if the world he was carrying the world on his shoulder. The road back to their house was dark, muddy with only a few people passing by.

Out of the blue, Paige tripped over his own feet. He landed on the ground and it made me jolt. I ran to him to help him up, even though my mind was screaming that I shouldn’t let him see me.

When I got to Paige, he wasn’t moving. I inspected his face and he had passed out. He was so pale, his cheeks and lips got no color in it anymore.

I carefully picked him up, bringing him behind my back to piggyback him to his house. I saw a woman passing looked at us with wide eyes but I ignored her. Picking up Paige’s back, I walk to his house.

When I arrived at his house, I was nervous as hell.

This was going to be the first time I’m going to enter his house.

The place was dark and I assumed no one was inside. The door was open, much to my chagrin. Why would they leave their house unlocked? They’re basically inviting thieves inside their home.

I picked up a strong scent of alcohol and cigarette in the air. With silent footsteps, I trotted inside Paige’s house.

With Paige passed out on my back, I looked for his room. There house was small, with only two doors in the living room slash dining room.

I opened the one in the left and smiled when I realized it was his room. It was clean and it smelled like him.

It was sweet.

Fuck, don’t get high now.

I put Paige on the bed. His clothes were drenched with his sweat and he was struggling to take it off albeit being asleep.

My hands trembled as I leaned over to take his school uniform off. Unbuttoning the dress shirt, the excited smile on my face disappeared when I saw the darkening bruises on his body.

What the -- ?

I inspected further and saw that he had more bruises on his back and legs. I didn’t see it before because he was always wearing long sleeves even though it was 40 degree Celsius out there.

My hands clenched into a fists.

“...p-please…”

I froze, hearing the pained voice of Paige.

“...stop…hurting me…p-please…”

I remembered the video on Facebook about how his classmates were forcing him to eat the food on the floor.

“...someone…h-help me…”

I stared at his face scrunching in misery as he talked in his sleep. I stood beside the bed, thinking.

I wanted to beat them up for doing this to Paige but I had no time to hunt them down. If I don’t get back to school tomorrow, Maria would flip out and would definitely tell my parents for not following the rules.

I sighed.

Taking a card out of my wallet, I put it down on his desk. This was the only way for me to protect him without being burdened by the law of North Vale.

I became strong for Paige and I’m going to do everything for him. I endured the pain, the suffering, everything just to strengthen myself to be with him.

I’ve been wanting him for more than a decade.

I guess three years was long enough not doing anything to him.

It’s time I claim what’s mine.

Even if I had to hurt him, to rob him off of his everything, nothing’s going to matter anymore.

I need what’s mine.

And Paige belonged to me right from the very first time we met.

Crouching down to whisper at Paige’s ear, I mumbled, “call me and I’ll come.”

I’m ready to bring him down to the same dark path I have in life. No more doubts, no more second thoughts.

It’s too late to go back now.

Twelve years too late.

--