Thousand of ways on how I will torture the person hurting my Paige ran through my mind as I lousily parked the car in front of their house. There were people spectating, not even doing anything to help him. I shoved them out of the way and entered their house without taking my shoes off.

Their place was a complete wreck. The door to Paige’s room was destroyed, the door knob on the ground.

I ran to where the noises were coming from. What I saw was a man on top of Paige, punching him on the face, on the stomach, everywhere while Paige lifelessly lie on the floor. Blood was all over the place and seeing the person who I vowed to protect and love gets beaten the shit out of him woke something inside me.

Something that I’ve been trying so hard to control ever since it appeared.

“Kill him.”

My heart was thumping.

“KILL HIM.”

It’s beating so hard.

“KILL HIM!”

Their voices, it’s getting louder.

I’m gonna lose it.

I wanna fucking kill this man.

I wanna kill him.

I’m going to kill him.

Grabbing the fucker from the back, I pulled him away from Paige and tossed him across the room, letting him hit the wall. He was shocked from my sudden appearance, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at me.

“Who the fuck --?!”

I didn’t give him the time to complete whatever the fuck he was going to say when I charged towards him and gave him a heavy punch on the stomach. He puked saliva followed by blood and vile from hitting him straight on the abdomen. He slid down, unconscious but I picked him up by the neck and pinned him against the wall.

His eyes were unfocused, his lips trembling from the severe pain I just gave him. I’m aware he’s not capable of doing anything anymore because of what I did to him and it was more than enough to make him stay in the hospital for weeks but no, I wasn’t satisfied.

They’re whispering, telling me to triple the pain of what he did to Paige.

“Make him suffer.”

“Make him suffer!”

I lifted my arm, veins popping from my hand as I clenched my fist.

“MAKE HIM SUFFER!”

I punched him straight on the face and I felt his skull cracking. When I pulled my arm away from him, his face was barely recognizable. His eyeballs were about to pop out of its sockets, his nose was broken, and a couple of his teeth fell from his mouth as blood spurted in all of the holes in his face.

“No, no, no,” I mumbled to myself, feeling the irresistible sting in my knuckles.

I couldn’t control my smile. I was trembling in excitement. This asshole definitely woke that side of me, the side that was molded by everyone who trained me. To see someone all bloody and fucked up just because I was punching them was the best feeling, it’s almost like an ecstasy to my body.

I have the absolute power over this person. I get to decide if he’s going to live or not. Matthias taught me how to control my power and how to use it to my advantage and when to stop but right now, I didn’t care for any of that bullshit.

I’m not doing this anymore because I was paid. Those disgusting pigs that Carlos gave me was boring.

This, this was exciting.

I get to kill the person who hurt the person I loved.

This was what I was trained for.

I kept punching him on the face, totally mutilating him. By the time I was finished, I let go of his neck and he dropped down on the floor, lifeless. I stared at my masterpiece, grinning.

“Never let your emotions get the better of you, Hiro.”

I ignored Matthias’ voice in my head. Walking back to Paige, I carefully carried him, not bothered that his blood was tainting the shirt I was wearing. I held him close to me and I was astonished, realizing that I immediately felt calm the moment I touched him. The rage inside me was completely gone and the only thing I could think of was to bring him to the hospital.

There were a lot of people outside Paige’s house but I ignored them. They were all looking at me, some with questioning looks while the others were worried. They were whispering to each other, asking what the hell happened and who I am.

I could hear the siren but I kept walking to my car. I put Paige on the back seat, securing him so that he wouldn’t fall while I’m driving. Before closing the door, I gave him on look and the pain in my heart came back.

--

I barged inside the emergency room of the nearest hospital and everyone gasped when they saw me, entering while carrying an unconscious Paige.

“Hey,” I called out, glaring at the man sitting behind the table.

I assumed he was the doctor and when he saw me, he immediately stood up. He had a surprised look on his face but he calmly walked towards me to inspect Paige.

“What happened?” he asked, “road accident?”

I ignored him and went to one of the vacant beds to put him down.

“Just tend to him,” I said, pulling the doctor by his collar only to push him where Paige was lying down to make him do his work, “I want him fix ASAP, you understand?”

He was offended with what I said and I saw the irritation in his eyes.

“What?!”

The nurses were all looking at us in worried. I’m sure situations like this wasn’t new to them but I’m feeling really annoyed right now and I don’t have the time to play coy with these guys. There’s only one way for them to stop asking questions and start working. Maria could handle the legalities and whatever report the police was going to do.

“How much?” I asked, pulling my wallet out.

“What are you talking about?! What the hell happened?!” the doctor asked, his face getting red.

He snapped his head to one of the nurses.

“Hey! Call the police! This guy is -- !”

I stepped forward, closing the gap between the doctor and I. I was taller than him and as I looked down, I felt him tremble.

“Stop your fucking yammering, doctor,” I said, sarcastically calling out his profession and spitting on it, “do your job and make him feel better. You don’t want your blood -- ”

“HIRO!”

My shoulders slightly jolted after hearing Maria yelling my name. I turned around and saw her by the door, panting hard. Her hair was tousled and she had no make-up.

She marched towards me, her eyes wavering after seeing the blood all over me.

“What the fuck happened to you?!” she worriedly asked.

I blinked at her.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked back, furrowing my brows in confusion.

“Clark called me! He said you were suddenly gone,” she replied.

Her eyes moved to Paige and realization dawned upon her.

“Please don’t tell me you’re the one who did this,” Maria said in exasperation.

“I didn’t. I saved him,” I nonchalantly replied.

“Saved him from what?”

“The person who was beating him up.”

Maria stared at me.

“What? Are you involved in some kind of -- ”

“He called me.”

Maria stopped, looking at me with narrowed eyes.

“He called you?”

I nodded and continued, “he called me and asked for my service. I executed the guy who was hurting him.”

Maria made a face.

“You ass, Hiro!” she complained, her cheeks reddening in fury, “don’t tell me you killed someone outside of your contract from Carlos!”

I shrugged my shoulders and said, “right, about that, can you ask Anthony and Kenneth to clean up the mess?”

Maria’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

“Hiro, you shit!”

--

Maria took care of everything, the hospital and the police. She informed them that we belonged in the underground business and it would greatly benefit the both of us if they were to turn a blind eye from everything that happened. A couple of thousand bills managed to shut them up and they promised not to look into it.

Kenneth took care of Jon, dismembering him and putting his body parts in a drum full of cement and letting it sink in the bottom of the ocean. It was a traditional way of disposing a salvage (1) body.

Maria was obviously pissed at the trouble I caused. She stayed with me in the hospital to make sure everything was fine. Paige was now in a better condition, given the best accommodations and doctors the hospital could offer. Using North Vale’s infamous name and the Torres-Shao power, we could easily control these people without effort and it’s amusing and annoying both at the same time. Money always talk and you could do whatever the hell you want in this country.

It’s been two days and Paige was still recovering. He woke up yesterday but he was too groggy from the meds they gave him that he couldn’t keep his eyes open for long.

I sat on the couch, both my hands inside my pockets while staring at his sleeping state. I kept watching the steady rhythm of his breathing, how peaceful he looked like and every minute I was fighting the temptation to pin him down and claim his lips and fuck him right then and there.

This desire I was feeling for him was getting stronger. I have to think of a way to keep him close to me. I won’t let anything happen to him anymore.

I wanted to lock him away, to only think of me every waking moment.

I wanted his world to revolve around me.

I wanted him to be dependent of me, that he couldn’t live without me by his side.

I want him.

I want him.

I want him.

I bit my lip and tore my gaze away from Paige. These thoughts, it’s making me even more crazy. My gaze was turning dark and I was so close to doing everything I was thinking when the door opened, snapping me out of my sinister plan.

I saw Clark and Maria together. They entered the room and Clark sat beside me without saying a word. We haven’t talked ever since Paige was admitted in the hospital. I’m sure he had a lot of questions for me.

Maria stood in front of me, giving me her phone. I looked up and raised a brow.

“What?” I asked.

“Call uncle Earl, right now.”

I gaped at her.

“What? Why?”

“Because they need to know what you’ve been doing here,” she said, giving me her signature I-have-the-authority glare.

I took my phone and called dad’s number. We had an agreement that I could go to school here in the Philippines so long as I behave and not step outside the boundaries.

I didn’t let Clark and Maria see how tensed I was. Only one word from dad and he could make me come back in New York.

I worked real hard to be transferred here in the Philippines that I even have to endure L --

“Hello?”

My heart skipped a beat after hearing dad’s voice. He sounded calm and soothing as ever and I had to admit, I missed him.

“Hey, dad,” I greeted.

“Hiro?” he asked, surprised that I was calling him since I never do, “what happened? Are you alright?”

Of course. The first thing dad would ask me if ever I’m going to call was if I’m alright. I rarely call them and most times, it’s because I did something.

“I’m fine, dad,” I said, smiling but it quickly disappeared when I saw Maria, tapping her shoes on the floor and mouthing me that if I don’t tell dad what happened, she’s the one who’s going to, “listen, dad…I did something.”

“Please don’t tell me you killed someone without a contract, Hiro.”

I gulped. Yep, this was totally the consigliere of the Blaise Family. He’s so quick to pick up the situation, especially if it involves me.

“It’s something close to that,” I stopped, seeing Maria’s eyes widening and threatening me to tell the truth.

Clark was having fun seeing how I’m going to be berated by my dad.

I sighed in defeat.

“I did kill someone out of contract but it’s because I wanna save him,” I honestly said, my hand gripping the phone tight, “he’s being abused. I only did what I know was right.”

I could always manipulate my parents into doing whatever I wanted by changing the tone of my voice and faking emotions to let them bend down to my will. I’ve always been like this since childhood and I’m pretty sure Earl knew it but was never saying anything.

“Listen, you know what your father will say, right? You didn’t go there to cause trouble,” dad said and I was kind of relieved that he was still talking calmly.

“I know but…I did it for Paige.”

I was telling the truth and I was not afraid to let Clark and Maria hear how much I loved him. Maria’s eyes softened and Clark only shrugged his shoulders.

“I know, Hiro,” Earl stopped and heaved out a sigh, “I’m sure Maria already took care of everything, right?”

I nodded and answered, “yes.”

She’s always helpful in these kind of situations even though she always nags me like she’s my damn mother.

“I’ll let this pass since you’re saying you did it for Paige but next time, Hiro, your actions will have consequences and you won’t like it,” dad warned, his voice changing drastically which made me nervous for a bit, “you don’t want Matthias coming there to drag you home.”

“No,” I quickly said.

“Then be a good boy and behave, Hiro. You have a lot of responsibilities after Matthias retire. And think about it seriously. Are you willing to bring down the boy you like in the same world we’re living in, Hiro?”

His question echoed in my mind and it took me a minute to answer him. Looking back at Paige, I always knew he was the one for me. I haven’t forgotten the words he told me when we first met.

I pursed my lips.

“Yes,” I answered, “I don’t care if I hurt him. As long as he’s mine, I don’t care.”

Dad sighed.

“You’re still young. You have a lot of time to think about it. Anyway, I won’t tell Matthias about what you did but if you do it one more time, I assure you, Hiro, you won’t see the Philippines again, do you understand?”

I clenched my fists.

“Yes. I understand, dad.”

“Good,” dad said and I picture him smiling, “I have to attend a meeting but please answer your phone when I’m calling you. I miss you, Hiro.”

I smiled.

“Sorry, I was just busy.”

“Busy being in trouble, you’re really like Matthias,” dad teased.

“Hey, let’s go. I’m starving.”

I heard Matthias’ voice and I wanted to end the call already.

“I’ll talk to you later, dad,” I said, hanging up the phone without even hearing his reply.

I didn’t want to talk to Matthias because he would just irritate the shit out of me. I gave the phone back to Maria and she had a satisfied smile on her face.

“See? Wasn’t that easy?”

“What’s the point again?” I asked, glaring at her.

“I want you to realize that everything you’re doing has a consequence, Hiro,” she answered, smirking, “anyway, I have to go. Another freaking meeting with the governor.”

“Have fun,” I sarcastically said but she ignored my remark.

“Clark, don’t you dare cause trouble too,” she said, pointing a finger at Clark, “you know your parents are the scariest of them all.”

Clark nodded.

“I won’t. Don’t worry.”

“That’s a good boy,” she proudly grinned, ruffling Clark’s hair before glaring at me, “not unlike someone who doesn’t know how to stay put.”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Just shut up and go.”

--