Chapter 2: 2
2
Months have passed after the Hot Jalapeno incident. Seems like the students have forgotten that case. Mikagami-san promised to be my best friend. Kirisawa-san too. We're all friends now.
But the invisible rivalry between us is still present.
I don't know when he'll stop considering me as his rival.
"Kaichou please come with us!" Leilani begged.
"Not happening." I said.
"But if you come with us, we will surely win the basketball tournament." Alaina said.
I just laughed and replied:
"Not because I was the MVP last year, means we're going to win."
"Still—"
"No means no, Leilani."
They want me to participate again, even Uncle Ryu talked to me about this. But I'm decided that I won't take part this year.
"Line up, team." I said.
Well, the club Presidents in K. I. A. will basically serve as their captain and coach.
"Ramirez, Angeles, Hagiwara, Alavarez and Park, white team." I said.
"Seon, Smith, Salvador, Asato and Hashibira, black team."
"The rest is bench, watch how they move, first years."
They are my grade school teammates. We won countless of battles together.
The black team got the ball first. Hashibira passed the ball towards Smith. The white team plans to steal the ball, but Hashibira is a genius when passing the ball.
Smith passed it to Asato and she scored.
0-3 eh?
Ramirez is pissed. So when they got the ball she shooted a three too. Seon laughed at her and stole the ball.
"What the hell, Seon?!"
Seon never misses a shot. She scored a two.
Alvarez dunked.
"Woah..." Someone on my right side gasped.
Alvarez is pretty but she's also handsome. So both genders go crazy over her. But ladies and gentlemen, she's already engaged to someone. Someone crazy I know.
It's 38-45. I ended it before they punch each other. I don't want the admins to cut off our club budget.
"I'm taking Thirteen." Mikagami-san said while Kirisawa-san picked up my things.
Leilani Ramirez went towards Mikagami-san and flicked his forehead.
"Huh?! Who are you to talk to your senpais like that?! And why are you taking our captain away?! Huh?!"
"Just.... I'm taking Thirteen." We walked really fast.
Kirisawa-san was overjoyed when we got to the clubroom.
"Neee, Thirteen. Reign smiled at me..." He said like a fan girl.
He is Alvarez's fiance.
He's smiling like an obsessed idiot he is.
"Thirteen, your birthday is on January 13, right?" Mikagami-san asked me.
"Yes, Mikagami-san." I replied.
He looked away. I can see his ears are turning pink.
"Then, can I take you to the festival as an advance celebration? N-not if you don't want to."
Kirisawa-san stood up from his seat and tapped Mikagami-san's shoulder.
"Sounds like a date, eh?"
"N-n-n-no it's not!"
"We can go to the festival, Mikagami-san." I said.
"Can Reign and I go too?" Kirisawa-san asked.
"Sure." Mikagami-san said, somewhat pissed.
We really got busy after that. Paperworks have come. Everyone was busy on every club. The tournament was coming. The four academies from the north will fight.
Taiku Gakko is the record holder since last year. Ongaku Gakko is the third. Tantei Gakko is the last place holder. We came in second last year.
It made everyone from the K. I. A. 's blood boil. Even me. I wanted to strangle the neck of that one player who lost. They did that on purpose.
This year, we'll surely win.
After all, we trained ourselves really really hard. This is not the time to give up.
Mikagami-san was acting really weird these days. He seems like he wanted to say something to me. Maybe he has some kind of juicy information.
Does he have a crush on me?
Well poor him, I don't feel anything towards him.
It's been really boring for me, so I asked for uncle's permission to go out. I went to the city where normal people lives.
"Hey that cake looks so appetizing, right mom?"
Woah. I envy her. I miss my Mamá.
I remember those times when we'll buy cake at La Campana, and eat those cakes all at once.
Man, this isn't the time to reminisce.
I didn't noticed that I bumped into someone.
"Gomennasai!" I said. Oh, I'm not in the north. "Sorry sir." I said.
"That's fine." He said while smiling.
I saw the bag of La Campana on the floor.
"I'm sorry sir, let me repay you for that."
"No, it's fine." He said.
I didn't know what came into my mind. I picked it up and gave it to him.
"I, I'm really sorry, sir." I said feeling really bad.
My goodness, what am I thinking?
"I-its fine kid." He smiled.
He then walked away.
I walked passed by a jewelry shop. I saw a stunning knife pendant. It was outlined with gems.
Man I need to save my money for future use. Yet I want to buy this. It attracted my attention.
But would that suit me? Definitely not.
I brushed off that thought and walked away. I ended up going to a cafe that looks really old.
The ambiance feels good. I ordered an Earl Grey tea.
I saw the man from earlier. The one I bumped into. I tried my best not to be noticed.
I slowly drank the cup of tea and voila I stood up and paid for the drink. Luckily the man did not noticed me, and I thank the non existent luck I got.
I strolled a little bit and when I had enough, I took a cab. I made the driver stop halfway and I paid him.
I took my bike and drove towards the dark alley. It's the village we live in. It looks shady at first and that's the point.
For the normies to not be interested in our residence, they had intentionally made it look creepy.
When I reached Uncle Ryu's home, I went inside immediately, they're all busy doing something?
Did something happened?
"Nee-chan pack your things, we're going to Japan." Karlov told me.
"Why?" I asked him.
He rolled his eyes and said:
"There will be a yakuza war. We can't afford to lose this fight."
Man this is going to be exciting. I immediately went to my room and grabbed my emergency bag. It has all the weapons that I needed.
And that's what I had expected, or so I thought.
I did not have the chance to fight at all! Fuck that white society. Grandmaster Akiyama Ryuunosuke-sama assigned me to entertain them. As well as Elleisha was here and all the other children.
"Now, children, my son Waine is going to choose his wife among you. That way, we can have peace between our society. Waine, choose your future wife."
He went towards Elleisha and pointed at her.
"I want to marry her, Mama!" He said.
Zreivin gritted his teeth and said:
"If Elleisha doesn't want to do it, then no."
The Madame from the white society reacted harshly.
"Of course your sister would want to marry my son, just look at my son, he looks so handsome and he's so—"
Elleisha scoffed.
And when she's about to reply the Ulysses kid grabbed Elleisha's cheeks and kissed her right on the lips.
"I'm the one who's going to marry Elleisha Ingrid Akiyama! And who said your son looks handsome? He looks stupid!"
"That's true." Elleisha agreed.
My hand found it's way to his head, I smacked him and Elleisha.
"As the oldest one in here Madame and as a guardian of Elleisha, as you can see, it seems that all the children in here are not interested in marrying any of your white society kids."
Someone who has a white hair and a gorgeous brown eyes smiled at me. He's from the white society.
Also, the one who I consider my sneaky link since I was 10.
He's Sean Perez.
Our affair is only between the two of us, but we can't let any of the elders know about this connection. The war will just become more and more messy.
There will be so much hullabaloo.
Most probably, he will be killed at the hands of the Akiyamas and I might as well die in the hands of the Perez'.
I stood up to go outside.
I felt his eyes followed me.
I took out my cigarette and as I was about to lit it up, he did.
I placed it in my mouth and offered him some.
He took out one and I lit it up for him.
He smiled at me and hugged me from the side.
"How have you been, angel?"
I laughed and replied:
"Fine as ever."
He laughed too and we didn't realized that we're being watched.
"Everyday I fall harder to you."
A katana flew to our direction.
One moment and now guns and katanas are pointed at us.
"Let go of Thirteen!" I heard Uncle Ryu's mad voice.
He stopped embracing me but he held my hand like he does not want to let go of me.
Uncle saw the cigarette I have in my mouth so I took it and threw it on the ground and stepped on it.
"And you also taught her how to smoke, huh?"
Uncle was about to slash Sean's head when I grabbed him and pulled him unto me.
"Y-you even taught her how to rebel?!" Uncle Ryu asked him or more like accused him.
"I did no—"
"I don't want to hear your voice!" Uncle was about to tear Sean's hand from me when someone from the white society pointed a gun on my head.
I gulped.
I am nervous.
Nervous as hell. And I...
I've never been this nervous.
This is probably the most nervous state I will ever experience in my life.
"Hey, don't point any gun at my daughter." Uncle said.
The one from the white society laughed and replied:
"Then drop your katana, Akiyama. Or I will make your daughter's head explode. That would be a fun sight to see."
Uncle dropped his weapon and we were dragged inside the house that we're staying at.
When we reached the conference room, we're asked to kneel on the cushion. He's still holding my hands.
"Don't hold her hand." Akiyama Ryuunosuke-sama told him.
He let go.
I'm afraid...
That he might die...
Because of me...
I looked at my hands.
I can't fight for him.
And I know I won't.
Because, I owe everything to the Akiyamas.
"Who...told you that you two can be in a relationship?" Uncle Ryu asked.
I was about to respond he looked directly at the eyes of the Akiyamas.
"I insisted our relationship. So if you're gonna blame someone, blame me, Sir and give me the punishment I deserve."
I couldn't speak.
But I know I can.
Can I really speak for myself?
Yes I can. So as everyone.
"Uncle Ryu....if you think he's my boyfriend—"
Uncle Ryu clicked his tongue.
"Well isn't he your little boyfriend?" He asked.
I sighed and looked at their eyes.
"He's not my boyfriend—"
Sean looked at me.
"Wait, I'm not your boyfriend? Then what am I to you huh, Thirteen?"
I looked at him confused.
"You're my sneaky link. Yeah... He's my sneaky link."
Uncle Ryu gave me a look full of disbelief.
Sean started to cry.
He's really handsome. Well too bad we'll part ways now.
"Angel...you didn't even consider me as your boyfriend?" He said while tears are flowing out of his eyes.
I mouthed no.
He kneeled in front of me and kept on begging.
"Elders please reconsider it...allow me and Thirteen to be with each other..."
Uncle Ryu grabbed my arm and started to drag me out of the conference room.
Sean was chasing me he was begging for me to come back. He was a complete mess.
"Thirteen please come back! I love you!" He plead.
When we got out of the conference room, Uncle slapped me. No words, just slap. Afterwards he grabbed both my arms.
"Thirteen! Are you out of your mind?!" He said.
This is the first time he got mad at me, I don't know what to do.
"S-sorry uncle..."
He gasped.
"Thirteen, you're my child! And you know that it's okay to have a boyfriend except those guys from the white society. You know how the white society mock us everytime..."
"But uncle, Sean was different!"
Uncle closed his eyes.
"Even if he's different from all of them, will our yakuza understand that? Do you think they'd understand that someone from their side is in a relationship with someone who once mocked them and still mocks them?"
Yes...
It's entirely my fault...
They...
Made everyone suffer...
Yet...
I broke the rules...
"I-I'm sorry uncle...it won't happen anymore... I'll commit seppuku if you want..."
"I'm not asking you to do that, child. You should learn from this. Reflect on yourself."
When we're on our way home, uncle Ryu and I did not talk. Elleisha was sitting beside me as well as Zreivin.
I think all the elders are still mad at me. But is it my fault? To try a risky affair for once? Is it my fault? Yes it is.
After all I broke the rules.
Will I be slashed?
I haven't even seen my father yet.
I don't even know his name.
So I can't die yet....
If it means killing all of them, I'd kill them.
I know I owe my life to them, but if they're going to kill me, I'd kill them.
Okay that's my plan A.
My plan B is to escape.
My plan C is to change my identity.
And my plan D is to come to the science facility.
Lol.
It's almost January, and my birthday is on the thirteenth.
A week had passed and Uncle Ryu and I finally talked.
It's the night of 31.
"Uncle, I'm going to the festival." I informed him.
"Take care." He said.
Nothing much happened to me. Mikagami-san and Kirisawa-san picked me up at Uncle Ryu's home.
Reign was also there.
It's my first time liking an apple candy.
I really enjoyed my time in there and as the fireworks exploded Mikagami-san was about to say something when my phone rang.
"Thirteen I—"
"Wait Mikagami-san let me take this call..."
I heard a huff over the phone.
Then the caller suddenly dropped it.
Was it a prank call?
Then I received a text from an unknown number, telling me to go home.
Should I?
It's already late at night.
"Mikagami-san, Kirisawa-san, Reign-chan, I'll go home now. 'Til next time."
It's the last day we will see each other because there's a possibility that I'll leave the north soon.
I rushed to go home. Then I suddenly dropped everything I was holding because, Everleigh was there and she's screaming in so much pain.
Is she in questing?
Elleisha was the one holding her and absorbing everything. Zreivin was the one who's removing Elleisha away from Everleigh.
Everleigh is their youngest and last sibling.
"Get away from the murderer, Elleisha!" Zreivin plead.
I screamed for help. Uncle Ryu was the first one to come.
He fixed everything in his family. And suddenly Everleigh was okay.
I feel so out of place.
I want to have a dad too.
Time escalated quickly and now it's the thirteenth of January.
It's my birthday!
My safe opened on its own and dropped the letter my mom gave me years ago.
I saw the back of the letter.
To Alexandrite Thirteen L. Alcaraz.
Open this on your thirteenth birthday on January 13. This is my gift for you.
-Lianne Alexandrite Alcaraz
I opened the letter.
Spain
Dear Thirteen,
If you're reading this, I'm probably dead. HAHA! I still want to celebrate your birthday together.
I'm selfish ain't I? Don't worry your Dad is not as selfish as me. He's responsible.
It's my fault that you never knew who he is, I chose to hide you to keep him safe. We're married by the way.
The second letter is for your dad, his name is Andre Troisieme Alcaraz.
Find him, this is my birthday gift and final task for you.
-Your Mamá Lianne.
I browsed the name of the father my mother wrote in the letter.
He has a freaking casino, hotel chains, supermarket and shipping line?!
He's freaking rich! My mom picked someone who's rich.
I tracked his location. He's in his company right now.
Should I hack the CCTV so I can see if I can bother him right now?
I'm so thrilled and excited.
I hacked the CCTV and see that he's doing nothing.
I immediately went to get my bike and ignored everyone who greeted me a happy birthday.
And when I reached the location I was amazed to see the big building of his company.
ALCARAZ
That plain word was branded in the top of the building serving as the label.
I entered the company and went to ask the receptionist.
"Miss, where's the Chairman's office?"
"It's on the top of this building, Miss. Do you need anything to the Chairman?" She asked nicely.
I just thanked her and went to the elevator.
But it won't open. I got no choice but to take the stairs. I am an athlete and physically active so I ran through the stairs.
When I was about to knock on his door. A security blocked the door.
"What do you need, kid?"
"I need to talk to the Chairman."
Just as he was about to respond, the door opened and I saw someone familiar.
The La Campana old man!
"Oh? Have we met before, kid?"
"A-are you sir Andre Troisieme Alcaraz?" I asked.
I couldn't speak but I forced myself to speak up.
I bowed at him.
"Hāi! I'm here to give you a letter, from my mother."
I was smiling.
"What's your name kid?"
"Alexandrite Thirteen Alcaraz." I said and looked at him directly in his eyes.
"What'd you say? Alexandrite? Let her in Braulio."
He told me to sit on the chair so I did. He was sitting on his swivel chair and was reading the letter my mother told me to gave him.
His shoulder was shaking. Is he laughing, thinking that I'm a fraud?
He looked at me.
I saw tears in his eyes.
"I-I didn't know..." He said while wiping his tears but still holding unto the letter.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't there..."
"C-can I read it?" I asked.
He handed it to me while he cried.
Hi love! Dear Andre,
This is my first time writing a letter to you. Did Thirteen reached out to you? She's our child.
Remember the fetus pics I left in your bed? She's now a beautiful lady.
Andre, isn't it cool? Your name is Troisieme while hers is Thirteen. She's a smart child.
If you're reading this, that means I'm dead. I'm sorry I couldn't make it. I promised to come back to you. But you'll not see me anymore.
I'm sorry, you have to wait for so long. Take care of Thirteen for me.
If you don't believe that she's your child, take this DNA test result. It's 99.99% matched.
Andre, don't blame yourself, I chose to protect you, it's not your fault that my kin could not accept you the way I do.
I'm sorry, I love you.
-Sergeant Lianne Alexandrite Alcaraz signing off.
I felt tears in my eyes.
So he did not left us.
"Are you really my father?" I asked him.
He couldn't look at me in the eye.
"Y-yes I am, but I-I'm sorry I couldn't protect you and your mom. I-I thought she left those baby pics because she'll abort the child. I-I'm sorry..."
I suddenly bursted into tears.
"Then I actually have a father?" I asked him.
"I'm sorry...c-can I hug you?" He asked me.
I just nodded.
"Hush now Thirteen, I'm sorry. Papà is not there to protect you. I'm sorry... I'm very sorry." He said while crying and hugging me.
I wish that if he really is my father, I hope that he would not leave. I want to experience growing up with a father through these teenage years that I'll soon go through.
When we calmed down he asked me certain things.
"W-when did she passed away?" He looked out of the window.
"November 11 of 1983."
I looked at my hands in my lap.
"S-she loves La Campana..." I said but he probably knows it already.
"That's the place where we first met... When is your birthday and how old are you?" He asked me with curiosity evidently drawn in his face.
"January 13 of 1977, and I'm now thirteen like my name."
I looked at my father and he looked shocked.
"Then today's your birthday. Happy birthday child."
Right in that moment.
Right in that place.
It's the first time I heard someone call me child aside from the Akiyamas. And he greeted me a happy birthday.
This will probably be the best birthday in my whole life.
"Thirteen, I know we just found out that you're my daughter and I'm your father, but can we celebrate your birthday? If y-you're not busy." He said quite hesitant.
I nodded in agreement and he smiled.
I now know how Mamá fell in love with him. My father has the brightest smile I've ever seen.
A staff offered to drive him but he insisted on driving.
It's just us in his car. We went to an amusement park.
"T-tell me if you don't like it here..." My father asked quite nervous.
We went to an ice cream stand and he bought me a strawberry flavored one.
"It's my favorite, I hope you like it."
"Yes sir I like it..."
He looked at me and sighed heavily.
"You can call me Papà but if you're not comfortable...sir is fine...."
"Papà." I said and I think it shocked him.
"Strawberry is actually my favorite too." I said.
That wasn't a lie.
I love strawberries.
"We can go to La Campana, if you want." He said.
"Okay."
We drove towards La Campana but it was closed. That's a pity.
Papà made a phone call.
"This is Andre Troisieme Alcaraz, why is La Campana branch XX closed? I want it open now." There's a finality in his voice.
"Uh....Papà it's fine if it's not open we can just go to a cafe."
He dropped the phone call but said:
"It's your first teenage birthday though...but if you don't like it in La Campana, we can just go to a cafe."
He drove towards a random cafe.
We sat in there chatted some random things about me.
"Earl grey tea please." We both said to the waiter.
"E—erm... unfortunately Earl grey tea is not available right now, would you like some chamomile tea?"
"I'm allergic to chamomile tea." We said again in unison.
So we do have a similarity.
Aside from looking like him, he also likes strawberry ice cream, loves earl grey tea and is allergic to chamomile tea.
"We'll have green tea." Papà told the waiter.
My phone on top of the table rang.
Akiyama Ryu oji-chan calling....
"Akiyama?" He asked.
"Let me take this call Papà."
"Moshi moshi oji-chan?"
"Thirteen, happy birthday. Where are you right now?"
"I'm out eating..."
He sighed.
"With who? Are you with that Sean Perez again?"
I sighed unnoticeably, but I think Papà noticed my sigh.
"I'm not..."
"Just make sure you're not with the Perez kid because seriously I'll throw you to the Pacific ocean, Thirteen." Uncle joked.
"Okay menopause old man." Then I ended the call.
Papà looked curious so I told him it's just my Uncle Ryu.
In the middle of sipping the green tea, I suddenly remembered my bike!
"Uh...I left my bike in front of your company." I told him.
"Oh the bike...my staff informed me it's yours...and I already told my staffs to send your bike home, on our home. I plan on taking you from the Akiyamas if that's fine with you..."
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