Chapter 2: Chapter 1
JAYDEN GASPED and opened his eyes as he looked around. He stilted when it registered in his mind where he was.
He was on a private plane bound for London.
He wiped his palms on his face then took a few deep breaths to calm himself.
Jayden stilted when he saw his twin eyeing him weirdly.
"What?"He snapped at Kayden.
"Still having nightmares?"
He sighed. "Yeah. You?"
Kayden shrugged. "Every damn day. I'm used to it." He pointed his seatbelt which is 'unbuckled'. "Buckle up, we're about to land."
He wiped his face using his hands again before sitting properly. "Did Valdez told you what he needed?"
Kayden shook his head. "Nope. You know him, he's weird. He say it's favour."
"A favour?" He let out a violent sigh. "Maybe he'd forgotten that a lot of people wanted us dead on London."
"He's a friend." Kayden said. "Let's see what he wants."
"He's a nut job, who knows what he wants?" Jayden buckled his seatbelt. "I don't even know why no one has noticed his true character in the Village. He is not really an imbecile.
Kayden chuckled. "An imbecile…"he shook his head while laughing. "Let Vacanti hear that---"
"---and Vacanti will agree with me. He can really be an imbecile whenever he wants."
"Just let it go, I also wanted to go back home." Kayden said while smiling sadly."I want to see Mom and Kylie again. I miss them."
Because of what his twin said, he remembered Sophia. He still carries his and Sophia's memories and his remorse of what happened. The promise he made in front of his girlfriend's casket that he would follow is still be engrave in his mind.
Eleven years later, he can't still do it. He can't still leave his brother behind. At he is not the only thing he will left behind.
He let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes.
"Jayden?" His twin called me to grab his attention.
"What?" He answered he eyes still closed.
"Have you tried going out with, you know, women after Sophia?"
"No." He promised Sophia that he will follow her. There's no use dating. "Why are you asking?"
"Most of our friends are married and happy. We are being left behind." He said laughing.
He opened his eyes and looked at his twin. "It's not too late for you."
Kayden frowned at him. "You say it like you're leaving."
"Where else am I going?" he teasingly said. "Anyways unless she's too sweet, too kind, and too nice, she will never get my attention."
His twin laughed at what he said. "Too sweet, too kind, and too nice." He repeated while still laughing. "Is there still a woman like that?
He just shrugged his shoulders and removed the seat belt even though the plane was still moving but had already landed at the Airport.
He and Kayden were both quiet until they got off the plane and entered the Airport. When they got out of the Airport, two men greeted them and gave them each a car key.
"Sir Valdez is waiting for you in his house."one of the men told them and hurriedly walk away and leave them.
The twins looked at each other and just shrugged their shoulders before entering the parked car that is in front of them.
Karter and his cryptic ways.
Jayden quickly drove the car to BV or the well-known Bachelor Village. When they reached the gate, he lowered the car window and then greeted the Guard named Tommy.
"Sir Jayden!"Tommy greeted him, obvious that he was shocked. "Welcome back!"
He smiled. "Am I clear for entry?"
"Of course, Sir!" The guard smiled at him. "You are welcome."
He nodded before entering the car inside the BV gate while his twin is just following him from the behind.
When they arrived in front of Karter's house, he parked the car and then step out of the car. He waited for Kayden to get out of his own car before they both went to the mansion door and knocked.
Karter's wife greeted them.
Karter's wife automatically smiled when she saw them. "He's waiting for you. Come on in."
Their friend's wife walked first and they followed. When she entered a room, they also followed and a lot of children's toys came up to them and Karter was in the middle of the room and playing helicopter with his son.
"Waahh…my helicopter is about to hit yours." Karter said in a childish voice."I will crush you."
The scene in front him is somewhat funny. He knew how scary he is, but looking at him playing with his son, he looks like an ordinary person. Not a scary man who can end someone's existence in just a snap.
"Darling, your visitors are here." Karter's wife said grabbing her son's and husband's attention. She walked toward their son who is playing with his father. "Come on, Kristian. Dada has visitors."
Kristian pouted at his father. "But I want to play more."
Karter messed up his son's hair. "Later, son. We'll go to Uncle's Vincent place later and mess with him and his son, okay?"
Kristian's pouted lips became a grin.
Karter's wife shook her head. "You're a bad influence." she whispered something at her husband but it is loud enough for them to hear it. "Have you already washed the dishes like what I told you to do? Have finish washing them?"
Karter laughed nervously at his wife. "I'll do them later, promise!"
"Okay." His wife and son leave the room to give the three of them some privacy.
"Come on." Karter tapped the floor carpet. "Sit. We'll have a meeting."
Jayden give his friend a deadpan look. "Here? In your kid's playroom?"
He shrugged. "It's a good place as any."
He shook his head and sat down on the floor carpet, and his twin copied his actions.
"What do you want, Valdez." He asked without any hesitation.
"I need your help."
Both of his eyebrows raised upwards. "You?" He weakly laughed. "Valdez, we both know that you don't need help."
Kayden yawned. "Fuck, I'm sleepy."
"You can sleep later." Karter said to Kayden before grabbing a folder under the floor carpet and give it to him.
"What's that? Want me to kill someone?"
Karter looked at him in disgust. "Why the fuck would you say that? I'm a good citizen of the world."
Jayden gave Karter an arched look. "Really?" He said with thick sarcasm.
"Yes." Karter said while smiling like he was the most innocent man in the world. "Now this person," He pointed at the folder, "Is in serious danger. I need you to protect her."
"Why would I do that?"
Valdez looked at him in the eyes. "My men are busy. I can't pulled them out from their assignments. That's why I called you for a favour." He said the looked at his twin. "And you, my friend, I don't even know why you are here. I clearly said on the call that I need Jayden."
"We are like a package, Valdez." Kayden tapped their friend's shoulder. "Wherever my twin is, I am also there. And fuck you, I'm the one you called, have you already forgotten?"
"I misdialed." Karter excuse. "I though you're Jayden."
"So even your phone can't distinguish the two of us?" Kayden said with full of sarcasm.
"Yeah." Karter replied who doesn't care if Kayden believe him or not. "Whatever. Do your thing and stay put. I will call you when I have something to use with you."
Kayden hugged himself dramatically. "I feel like I'm a whore when you say it like that."
Karter throw Kayden a toy train before glaring at his twin. "Shut up!"
He shook his head.
When are we gonna have a decent conversation?
"Shoo! Get out!" He looked at him "Call me for update. It will just take a few days then you can both leave again. One of my men will just finish his assignment then he will replace you."
It's a favour from a friend so he accepted. "Whatever. I'll call you for an update."
He grabbed the folder before standing up. Kayden did the same and they showed their middle finger at Karter before leaving.
"Fuck you, for calling us." Kayden said.
"Fuck you too, you crazy people." Karter answered.
The twins shook their head at the same time.
When they get out of Karter's house, Kayden let out a deep sigh.
"You'll do this alone." Kayden asked while looking at the folder that he is holding.
"Yeah. Piece of cake."
"Okay." Kayden stepped towards his car. "I'll visit Hope's Hospital. Who knows? Maybe I'll apply as a Doctor again."
"Go. I'll call you later."
Kayden salutes him before entering his car and speeding away. He also entered his but he didn't drive it yet. He opened the folder to read its contents.
He blinked in confusion after reading her profile. "Lucky Hart. Pre-School Teacher." He looked at her picture. It's taken from afar. She's sitting on a bench, holding a drink while looking sad and discourage. He knew that look too well. "What the hell did you do to be in danger?"
LUCKY SUDDENLY got up and sat down on her bed, chasing her breath and feeling scared as she look around her room. An another nightmare again!
She hugged herself.
When will her memories will let her be in peace?
It's so vivid. She can feel her fear radiating throughout her body.
She grabbed her blanket at wrapped it around her body while calming herself.
She rubbed her chest when she felt a little pain there.
Calm down…calm down.
She take a few deep breaths before closing her eyes.
Happy thoughts. Happy thoughts.
Lucky forced herself to remember something good from her class the other day and a smile crept into her lips when she remembered the happy kids who is dancing and playing and just enjoying life to the fullest.
Somehow she felt better and lost the fear in her mind.
She left the bed and pulled back the curtain on the wide and high sliding glass door to let the sun into her room then opened it and went out on the balcony with her eyes closed, enjoying the sunshine hitting her face and her body.
New day. New life. New experience. "A very good day to me."
She did not know how many minutes she soaked in the sun's light before re-entering the room to cook breakfast.
While cooking her breakfast, her Grandmother called.
"Good morning, Grand-mommy!" She happily greeted her Grandmother on the line. "How's your sleep?"
"It was okay. How about you? How's your sleep?"
She remembered her dream and the tightness of her chest earlier but she doesn't want her Grandmother to worry. "I'm fine Grand-mommy. I'm just cooking my breakfast now. Have you already eaten? I miss yo---"
"Don't stress yourself Lucky. You know that is bad for you. I'll send one of our maids there."
"Grand-mommy." She softened her voice. "Don't worry too much about me. I'm fine. We've already talk about this remember?" She tapped her heart. "My heart is strong. I can take whatever the world throws at me. I'm a strong woman."
"Oh you…" Her grandmother chuckled lightly. "Okay. I have faith in you that you'll take care of yourself, just be careful okay? If ever you feel different in your body, don't hesitate to call okay, Lucky?"
"Grand-mommy, I'm fine, really. I am happy where I am and where I work. I will take care of myself because life is should be taken care of like what you taught me. I'll visit you in the mansion tomorrow okay, Grand-mommy?"
Her Grandmother sighed. "Okay, I'll wait for you. We missed you already, me and your Grand-daddy."
"Aww…my sweet and lovable Grandma. See you tomorrow. I missed you guys too."
"See you tomorrow."
"Love you, Grand-mommy. Bye."
When she and her Grandmother said their goodbyes, she has already finished making her breakfast. She feel good as she eat her breakfast.
After breakfast, she left her apartment to buy some groceries. Since it is still early in the morning and the sun's light still feels refreshing, she decided to walk to the Grocery Store since it's not that far away from her apartment where she is currently living.
While pushing her cart which had already vegetables in it, she went to the Sanitary Napkin's section to buy some because she ran out of stock.
Lucky frowned when all she can see is the long and night type of napkins are put down below where she can only reach. The regular ones the she usually use is on the higher part of the shelf.
"Oh geez. Are they doing there job properly? Why do they have to put it so high up." She complained.
She was not blessed in the height department. Her height, which is five-two is still not enough to reach the regular pads that she needed.
She was about to call a helper until suddenly a man stood up behind her and grab the napkin that she was striving for.
"You'll trip." Said a deep baritone voice behind her. "What colour? I'll get it for you."
Lucky stilted. It's a man!.
But help is a help. "Ahm…regular flow please. Four packs." she blushed. "The colour Lavender."
The man stayed behind her while grabbing the Sanitary Napkins that she needed so she can smell his fragrant perfume.
Oh wow, he smell so good!
His scent is not like the other type of perfumes which will hurt your nose, this man's perfume is just right, but still smell good.
"Here." He put the four packs of napkin in her cart.
She turned around to face the guy who helped her.
"Thank yo---" The guy suddenly disappeared. She blinked her eyes before looking around, searching fort the guy who helped here.
"Where is he?" She pouted. She didn't even said thank you.
She sighed before pushing her cart to the biscuits, candies and water section which she will give to the children later. After getting everything she needed, she went straight to the meat section.
While waiting for the pork, beef and chicken that she picked to be wrapped up, someone stood next to her and have the same perfume as the guy who helped her earlier.
She can't help but to look at him.
Lucky was taken aback by the tattoos on the man's body. He was wearing a t-shirt so the tattoo on his arms down to his wrist was pretty obvious. Even the nape of his neck also has a tattoo and she sees that also his chest but has one but it is only hidden because of the clothes he is wearing.
She cleared her throat before catching the guy's attention. "Excuse me?"
He looked at her without saying a word.
"Ahm…" This is awkward, "A-are you the one helped me with the napkins earlier?"
"Why are you asking?" His voice cold, it sent shivers down to her spine.
But she still manage to smile brightly at the man. "I just want to say thank you, for helping me…even though it's kind of embarrassing."
The guy just nodded at her, she thought the he will avert his attention to something else but he remained to staring at her---no he remained staring at her smiling lips.
She was the one to first to look away and then when she was about to reach for the selected meat, the man next to her grabbed it and then put it in her cart.
"It's heavy." He said in a baritone voice. "Be careful."
She just stared at the guy as he was walking away.
"Thank you!" She loudly said. Even though the guy didn't look back, she still smiled. He's cold but there's something about him that says that he's nice.
She sighed before pushing her cart. She winced when she realized that it was heavy
She kind of regretted to buy meat today, but she was already at the counter so she payed everything in her cart.
She tried to carry one of the cellophane. It was heavy. When she carry the other cellophane which have the meat that she bought she can't help but winced because of it's weight.
I just live nearby. I can handle this. She mentally reasoned even though she knew that she can't carry heavy stuffs.
FROM THE car, Jayden watched the woman he needs to protect. She's struggling to carry her groceries but she won't give up.
He opened the folder once again and looked at her picture.
She looks sad and depress in the picture. He knew that emotion very well because he used in seeing it on Sophia's.
But earlier…her smile was bright, like she's untouched by the cruelty of this world.
He looked again at the girl who was still struggling to carry her groceries.
He shook his head before stepping out the car and approached the girl.
He should be protecting her from afar. His plan is not to engage with her but he couldn't help it earlier.
He has to see for himself if she's depressed or not. Her bright smile…she could be pretending. There are hundreds of people who have already mastered the art of hiding their true feelings just by wearing a mask.
This woman could be one of those people.
She was slightly surprised when he took one of the cellophane and then walked first.
"Come on, hurry up. Your noodle arms will break any second if you insist to carry these." He said.
"I don't have noodle arms!" She loudly said then suddenly her voice become soft. "But thank you for helping me. I'll let you slide for insulting me."
Jayden wanted to laugh. From angry to nice and soft.
"Where do you live?" He pretend to ask. "Is it nearby?"
Of course he knows where she lives, but I'll creep her out. And his job is to protect her. For whatever reason, Valdez thinks that this woman is in danger.
He looked at woman who is walking in front of him.
This small, delicate and fragile woman..is in danger.
What did you do to be in this situation? She looks harmless to him.
He stopped walking when he saw the woman approaching the children who are lying on the side of the road then she took the cellophane she was carrying and gave it to the children.
Biscuits, candies, and water.
She turned at him. "Just leave it there. I think I'll be staying here for a while. I know I'm disturbing you. I can handle it, beside my apartment is near." She said while turning her gaze back at the children.
Instead of leaving as like she have said, he just watched the woman talking to the children while eating gummy worms along with the children on the street.
She looks comfortable talking to the kids. She was happily smiling as she caressing the children hair and adjusting their clothes. She was even comfortably sitting on the dirty cement while sharing food with the children.
And he can't look away. He keeps on staring at her happy face, asking himself if it's all fake.
"Come to my apartment, tonight. I'll cook you all some delicious meal. Do you like that?"
"Yes, Miss Lucky."
The kids knew her. It looks like this is not the first time she encountered with them.
"I'll wait you guys there."
"Thank you, Miss Lucky!" one of the children said and hug her on the waist.
The girl just smiled and said her goodbyes to the children, she stand up and looked at him.
She was shocked to see him there standing. She walk back towards him and offer him one gummy worm.
"A thank you for carrying my groceries. Even though you called my arms 'noodle arms' still, thank you. But don't mistook me for a weak woman. I'm strong. Stronger than I look."
He looked down at the gummy worm she was holding. He dislike sweets, especially the one's she was holding out to him but Jayden found himself opening mouth and accepting the gummy worm.
A bright smile appeared on her lips.
There's that smile.
"Is it good?" She asked while smiling.
He tried not to wince. "It's sweet? I don't know."
She laughed, her smile stayed on her lips. "You should have eat more gummy worms. It can sweeten your day if you're having a bad day one--"
"That's a lie. Nothing can sweeten a bad day." He can't help but comment.
She stilted and looked at him. The bright smile disappeared on her lips. "That's not true. There's God. He can definitely sweeten your day."
"That's also a lie." He once again said.
The woman in front of him frowned. "Why are you so negative?"
"Look at the world around you, nothing is positive."
"The more reason why you should be positive. The world needs it." She smiled at him before grabbing the cellophane he was holding and walked away.
While looking at the figure of the woman who was walking away from him he called Valdez.
"Oh, Jayden. What's the upda---"
"Am I protecting this woman's positivity?"
"What the fuck are you talking about, Dawson? You're protecting her because she's in serious danger."
"She's delicate and fragile, Valdez. She looks harmless to me."
"Jayden, there's more to that girl than meets the eye. I told you to protect her, not to befriend with her. Why did you approac---"
He ended the call and looked at Lucky who is about to enter her apartment.
I wonder if the apartment next to her is vacant.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone