Life is really just this playful that you have no choice but to win.
You can't get the things you wanted easily. You cannot just wish and dream of it. You cannot just imagine of it and stay still. "This art is beautiful. I love it," Talia said while holding the frame of a paint. Kiel stood before her and peek to what she is referring.
"Yeah, it is," he agreed and nodded his head. "It really is beautiful, just like you."
Talia chuckled and tapped his shoulders. They continued to wander around the mansion. It is silent because it was already midnight. Talia cannot sleep and so as Kiel so they just decided to go outside and take a short walk. "How long will you stay here, though?"
They faced the wall where the images of the Zanea's were hanging. All of their family members are there, including the grand of their grand's. Kiel heaved a sigh and stared at Talia's face through the picture frame.
"I will be leaving by tomorrow," Kiel answered. "I can not stay here."
Talia tilted her head towards him and nodded twice. "Yeah, I understand. But will you come back for me? Will I see you again?"
"Of course, Talia. We will meet again. I will visit you here."
"How about me visiting in your home?" she suggested, the side of her lips rose. "I miss your family, Kiel. Especially Margo. I have not kick her ass off for giving me this scar." She then pointed the area of her neck where there is a scar caused by the wound Margo gave to her.
"Oh, sure. Everything you want, my love."
"You are leaving?"
They both looked from where the voice came from and saw Axel wearing his pajamas and hair is messy. It was like he just woke up, or the conversation of Talia and Kiel woke his system up. "Axel," Talia uttered his name and smiled. "I am not leaving. I am just visiting their place."
Axel groaned and shakes his head. "But you are still gonna leave us."
"For the meantime," Talia said, trying to explain Axel about it. "When I will visit their place for half a day, that does not mean leaving you, okay? Did you have a nightmare or something? You look terrified."
"No, Talia," Axel refused. "You are still leaving. You know that we are afraid of losing you again, right? You just came and we cannot afford to –"
"Hey, Axel," Kiel interfered. "Calm down, okay? I will get you some water."
Axel and Talia watched Kiel to walk away from their place. Talia heaved a sigh before she faced her brother, now giving her a different look. "Axel, I am not leaving, okay?"
"No, you are," he still insisted and gritted his teeth. "You are not leaving, Talia. You are not. You stay here!"
"Have you dreamt of something bad?" Talia creased her brows and walked near him. She was about to touch his face when suddenly, Axel pushed her away, causing her to hit her back against the wall that caused the frames to almost fall in the floor.
Talia's eyes widened in horror and looked at Axel with disbelief.
"Axel, what is happening to you? You need water. Come on!" Talia forced herself to get up and was about to hold his hand but again, he pushed her away. "Axel -!"
"No!" he exclaimed and held the collar of Talia's shirt. She raised both of her hands, surrendering. "You are not leaving, understood?"
"Hey, what happened –" On the other hand, Kiel went back to their place with a glass of water in his hands. He stopped when he saw what Axel is doing to her. He let go of the glass, it hit the floor and got broken, causing a sound in the hallway. "Hey, Axel! What are you doing?"
Axel looked at Kiel that is running towards them. He pushed Axel so he can let go of Talia who is gasping in surprise.
"What do you think you are doing, huh?!" Kiel looked at Axel who is lying on the floor, weak. "You are hurting your sister! Don't do that again!"
"Hey, c-calm down," Talia gasped and tapped his chest. "I am fine. We should get him water. I think he had a nightmare and is none of himself."
"Are you alright?" Kiel cupped her face.
"Yes, I am." She nodded and looked at Axel again. He was still lying, trying to get up. They froze when they saw a blood in his elbow, it is flowing and does not stop from flowing. "Axel!"
"Come on, let's bring him to the hospital!" Kiel said and guided him to stand up. Axel can barely open his eyes. "Talia, you should get the car ready."
"We should tell this to them," Talia said while shaking. "Axel is hurt, Kiel. We bring him to the hospital once we inform someone."
"We will bring him to the hospital before we inform them, okay? He is losing lots of blood!"
They have no choice but to stop the bleeding first and bring Axel in the car after. While they were heading in the hospital, Talia reached her phone and with shaking hands, she called Eman. It took minutes before Eman got to answer the call.
"Whoa, midnight, prin –"
"We are bringing Axel to the hospital," Talia said, not letting Eman to finish a sentence. She glanced at Kiel who is driving and Axel in the backseat, now sleeping. It was just that Axel is afraid of blood.
"W-What? Why?!" Eman now is panicking with the news he heard. "What happened to him, Talia?"
"Ask me questions later, Eman. He kept on bleeding. Come here if you would not mind." After saying that, Talia cut the call of and heaved a deep sigh then leaned against her seat. "What the hell happened to him?"
Kiel hissed. "Calm yourself down, Talia. He is not going to die, okay? We will bring him there."
She closed her eyes and shook her head. "This is my fault, Kiel. His elbow got cut off by the broken glass. He misunderstood it... He does not understand..."
"Talia," said Kiel. "This is none of your fault. There is no one to blame right now. He is out of himself."
While they were on their way, Talia kept on convincing herself that it is not her fault. But she just cannot think of it that easy. She was shaking when she sat on the chair, waiting for an update from the nurse who is taking care of her brother.
"Hey, are you guys fine?" Eman came, gasping. "Where is Axel? How is he? What the hell? What happened to him?"
Kiel was about to answer him when a nurse came. The nurse said that Axel is just fine and nothing severe. He just wounded himself with the glass and lose bloods. Kiel caressed Talia's back when he heard her sobbing.
"This is my fault," she muttered and shook her head multiple times. "This is all my fa –"
"No one is at fault, okay?" Eman cut her off. "This is no one's fault. Talia, he is already fine. You can calm yourself. He just usually had a nightmare that can make him lost his mind."
Talia looked at him with her teary eyes. "What do you mean?"
"It is midnight. He has a nightmare, Talia. He always go out to calm himself. Why did you end up with him, though? You guys are not in your room?"
Kiel nodded his head. "We were wandering around. We talked about Talia visiting our house and then he just came up, illusioning. I caught him chocking Talia and –"
"What?" Eman stopped Kiel from talking. "He choked her? He did that?!"
"Hey, Eman," Talia called him. "He is out of himself, okay? He did not mean to hurt me. Besides, I am just fine – ah!"
Talia groaned when she felt pain in her back. "Yeah, right. You are not hurt," Eman said sarcastically. "Wait, your hands..."
Kiel reached for Talia's hand. They then noticed a piece of glass planting on her palm. Her hand were full of blood because of Axel's and they were not expecting that she is wounded too. "Come on, we need to check her up!"
"No, I am fine," she opposed and sighed. "This is just nothing. Don't worry about me."
"No, you have to be checked!" Kiel insisted before he called for nurse.
***
"How are you feeling?"
Talia woke up with a hand caressing her forehead. She opened her eyes and with her blurry sight, she saw Trist hovering over her. Worry is evident in her eyes as their gazes meet. Talia tried to talk but it seems like something is blocking her throat.
"You are awake," Kiel appeared in her sight. Talia smiled to the both of them and when she tried to get up, they stopped her.
"You can't, Talia," Kiel said. "Stay still, you have to get some rest."
Talia chuckled in sarcasm. "I am not in pain, okay? My hand just got a small wound and yet, here I am, in a decent room like I had a severe disease. Where is Axel by the way?"
"He is resting as well," said Trist. "You have to rest if you want to see him. Eat, Talia. You have to feed in your stomach."
"I am not even hungry," Talia insisted. "I am fine, okay? I have to see Axel."
Trist sighed. "Talia, you have to get some strength. You have lost blood, too. Axel is fine, we are taking care of him."
"Then why are you here?" Talia asked Trist, creased brows. "Who is with him, Mom? Look, Kiel, you, and Eman is with me. Who is with Axel, huh?"
"Tal -" Kiel shut himself off when Talia glared at him. Talia forced them to let her go so she could see Axel. She wants to know who is with him and how he is. She just can not sit still and wait for an update.
"I have to see him, okay? Let me," Talia said while looking at them. "I have to. Kiel, go with me."
Kiel has no choice but to just follow her so he could lead the way. They walked through the hallway. Talia looked so fine like she was not a patient. She also lost blood yet she can't stay still.
"It's fine, Tal," Kiel said while they were on their way. "Axel is back to his senses now. You both need a rest -"
Talia faced Kiel with her greeted teeth. "Can't you understand me? I am fine as fuck! I have to see Axel so please, shut up! You can just - sorry, I am sorry." She panicked when she realized her words. Kiel smiled at her.
"It's fine. I will get you to him, don't worry."
While Kiel lead the way, Talia stared at his back. She thought Kiel would be angry or annoyed at her for saying those, but then, she remembered. Kiel is very understanding to her. His patience is endless when it comes to Talia. Only it will end if she crosses the line, of course.
Talia smiled mentally. I am the luckiest woman for having him.
"How do you feel?""I'm fine, Tal. I'm sorry, I hurt you –"Talia pressed her index finger on Axel's lips to shut him down. She hummed and smiled at him, telling that it does not matter to her and she understand that Axel was not feeling well at all. "It is fine, okay? The important thing here is you. You have to get more rest."Axel tried to get up but she stopped him. "Look, you have to rest. Just stay there and have some rest. I will take care of you and I am not leaving you," Talia told him, planting a smile on her lip.Axel sighed and looked away from her. "I don't know why you are not mad. I hurt you and –""I told you, Axel. It is fine and you do not have to be sorry."Axel has no choice but to do what she says. He lay himself in the hospital bed and hissed as he felt pain in his elbow. Talia guided him. She then looked at Kiel who is just standing next to the chair and is staring at the siblings. She smiled at Kiel while he diverted his gaze away."Talia," Axel called her afte
"What the hell happened?"Axel freaked out when he heard the news, that Talia and Kiel just broke up. He went up from his bed with his eyes widened, then he looked at Talia with disbelief. They stopped him from standing but he is just so stubborn to listen."Axel, you have nothing to –""No, Talia. Why? Did he broke up with you or it is you?" Axel asked, sounding so hurt. He was in the verge of crying himself out and that made them worry more. "I can't believe –""Let's talk about this when you are fine –""I am fine, okay? I will be more fine when I know the reason behind your break up," said Axel and hissed. "Look, don't treat me like a baby here. I am fine and I just want to know the truth."Talia looked around. Inside the room, there is Trist and Ysmael in the couch. Eman beside Talia and Ysiah leaning against the wall and is staring at them like nothing, it was like he has another world that he does not have to care with the current event."Let's talk about this at home," she sai
"Who should be killed first?"With heart racing fast and hands shaking, Talia shakes her head. "I said, I volunteer. Go kill me. Just let go of Kiel.""Kill me instead," Kiel said with his jaw clenched. He can not just let Talia get killed by these men especially Cage who killed her parents. "Let go of her, and take me."Cage laughed out loud because of their decisions. "Sweet," he uttered and plated with the sharpness of his knife. He then kicked Kiel's stomach, making him groan. Talia closed her eyes tightly while her tears were forming pool in her eyes. "Love is weakness, lovebirds," he said and tilted his head towards his men. "Go get that girl."The pets followed and get Talia. Kiel tried to get off while Talia is gulping. "Where are you taking her?!" yelled Kiel, still trying to get rid of the rope but another man kicked his stomach, making him cough blood. Talia looked at Kiel with her tears now flowing down her cheeks. She plant a small smile on her lips and looked away inward
"I still can't believe this."Kiel guided Talia to slowly walk down the stairs. Plian was waiting for them in the kitchen for they are going to take their dinner. They were both smiling, assuming gratefulness. "This is our first day here," Kiel uttered and gripped on Talia's hand. "Good morning, sweetheart.""You know what?" Talia squinted her eyes on him. "You have been calling me with different endearments and it is kind of doubtful."Kiel let out a small laugh before of her sarcasm. "That just means you are my everything and you are enough."She just shakes her head and headed to the kitchen. They greeted Plian who is already sitting on the main chair and is looking at them like they are a students who came to the school late. "It is already eight," Plian."Yeah, sorry about that." Talia smiled apologetically. Plian has nothing to do with her anymore since she looked really sorry. When Talia has no work, she used to wake up from her bed late and instead of taking breakfast, she jus
"How are you?"Talia welcomed her with arm opened upon seeing Margo getting off her car. "All good," Talia said and tapped her back. "It is good to see you again. I miss you.""Wow, seems like we did not see each other for a year. Anyway, this place is good. You own this? Or Zanea's?" Margo roamed her eyes around the village and smiled from ear to ear."Yes, the Zanea's.""Should we go now? Where is my brother?"They both looked in the door of the house when Kiel went out from there. He gave the two a questionable look because they were looking at him like he just did a crime that he did not even know. "What?" he exclaimed and even checked her face, there might be a dirt for them to stare at him."Let's go?" Talia asked, now grinning like teasing. "We have to go early.""Wait!" They were about to head to the car when Margo stopped them and blocked their way by her arms wide open. "What did I miss?"Talia and Kiel looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders afterward. "None? What
"Hey, I thought you'll never come back!"Kiel greeted Talia with a hug but she did not even bother to hug him back. Kiel and Plian looked at each other, then Plian nodded his head, motioning him to understand what she is feeling. Just like what she said, wait until Talia is ready to talk to him."Anyway, I cooked your favorite food," Kiel muttered and guided Talia to go to the dining table. Foods there is already prepared even the plate, glass and utensils. The dining table was just lacking of Talia's presence."Thanks," she thanked him when he guided her to sit on the chair. Kiel was a bit surprised because she sounded so cold, he look so cold. Her expression is saying something they can not even define. All they know is that she is not in the mood. She is in pain, and anger.Plian left the two in the dining table. She said that she has her own house and she will be taking her dinner there. She does not want to ruin the moment of the couple especially that they were not in good terms
"When? Hey, you are not asking me for a date, right?"If Talia was just in her mood, she would be laughing right now because of the remark she heard from Hanz whom she thought was her friend and can be trusted after all. She still can not grasp the fact that he want her parents dead. For what, though? What is it for him? What can he get and can give?"No, silly," Talia forced a chuckle. "I just want to talk to you if it is just fine.""Talk about?" Hanz's brows creased on the other hand, curious about the topic they would be talking about. But anyway, Talia can not tell about it to him yet. That is why she is asking him out outside and good thing he did not refuse."You fine?" Kiel asked her when Talia sat, sighing and was like none of herself. He walked near her and massaged her shoulders. No one talked for a second until Kiel cut it off. "When would you see him? I will bring you in the rendezvous place and watch over the two of you.""Watch, huh?" she hissed and groaned a little. "D
"Son of a bitch!""Chill, your legs will heal. Breathe in, and out. Don't make this hard to yourself," Talia told Margo because she kept on cursing while staring at her legs that has lost lots of blood. She can not help but to stop herself from standing up and attack Cage in the prison."That man, really," Margo said with a hiss and rolled her eyes inwardly. "But anyway, he mentioned that our family are your parents' killer? I did not know that. True or not?"Talia stopped from cleaning Margo's wound to look at her. She gulped first and nodded her head. "Yeah," she simply answered because she could not talk more. It was like something sharp is in her chest, making her feel a different pain."I have nothing to do with that," Margo said while looking at Talia with pity. "But I am sorry for your loss."Talia forced a bitter smile and proceed to clean her wound. They are in the house of the Ramirez because Margo said that she prefer to stay there instead of the hospital. They have private