Chapter 81 Broken

Chapter 81 Broken
\[ACE'S HOUSE\]

Sienna alighted from her car, and didn't bother to remove the keys. She's going to leave immediately.

She didn't come here to make up with Ace. He hit her, and didn't think once to apologize or even call her.

He's her first love, and it's hard to move on from him, but she's going to have a word with him, and after today, she's done with him. A guy that hit her and isn't remorseful will do worse if they end up together.

Reaching the door, she pressed the password.

Try again.

She nodded sadly, understanding he had changed his password.

Her mind whispered to her, asking her to go back. She turned, then sighed.

"I'm here already." She pressed the door bell and waited.

Nobody came out.

She wanted to press the bell again when she remembered something.

He always keeps his house keys under the mat. She once asked him why, and he said for emergency reasons.

Squatting, she raised the mat and heaved a sigh of relief when she found the keys.

"You had forgotten to take this out, Ace." She pushed the key into the hole, and twisted once.

The door creaked open, and her soul left her chest at the scene before her.

Her breaths came in short rasps. Every courage she had gathered, every trust she had for Ace, the love, the secret tiny hope she had came crashing hard inside her.

Her shoes left the floor, but she regained her balance locking eyes on her lover who had his eyes on the door—the love gone, replaced by something she couldn't name. Dark, unrecognizable, hatred.

His look wasn't like one who was waiting. They screamed he knew she was coming, otherwise why will he look at the door, why will he still be pounding the girl on the same couch they had made love, why would he not make any attempts to disengage.

His guttural groan filled the room as he poured his seeds on her bellybutton.

"Wait for me upstairs, I have a guest," he told the lady, got off her body, and wrapped a towel around his waist.

Sienna didn't spare a glance at the lady who acted like she doesn't exist. They were focused on Ace until the lady went inside his room—the same room he had once called theirs.

"Is this why you never bothered to apologize?" She maintained the stare, refusing to show any sign of weakness in front of him.

Ace sat on the arm of the couch, arms folded above his chest as he stared at her like all he had with her was a fling. "Apologize? When I didn't do a thing wrong."

She blinked fast, biting her tongue to stop the tears. "It was nice while it lasted."

Ace narrowed his brow.

"Hurry up, babe!" The bitch shouted from upstairs.

"Continue, and good luck." Sienna stormed out of the house, slamming the door that it shook the house.

Ace remained silent on the chair, his eyes staying glued to the door. He could still see her—her look, her shock, her tears she tried to hide, her—

His phone vibrated him out of his thoughts.

"Shit," he cursed, picking it from the table.

His eyes rolled into darkness at the sight of the sender—Lady S.

~Get down here. I have a job for you.

"Babe!!!" The bitch shouted, accompanied by her slutty moan.

"The hell." He literally jumped up, and ran upstairs, skipping some stairs.

Getting to his room, he walked past the slut whose legs are spread apart, hands working on her breast and pussy, and went for his drawer.

Drawing the knob, he took out something that made every form of horniness vanish from her system.

A gun.



\[STARR BRIDGE\]

The look on Lalissa's face could paint the country with shock, and pity if possible.

His words re-echoed in her mind again, and this time louder than the original time he said it.

Lance's parents are dead? But—

"I didn't want you to give me that look," he added flashing her a small smile.

Lalissa took his hands into hers. "I'm sorry. I had no idea I—"

He placed his index finger on her lips. "Shush. I didn't tell you so you'll act confused."

"I don't understand how it's possible," she said, still lost. "You told us they're alive and when I asked, you said..."

"I remembered what I said, and I said that because I have an adopted mother. My parents died while coming back from Singapore. She adopted me from the orphanage."

"Why didn't you mention it to us?" Her voice went down. "You knew about me, and Sienna, but you hid yours, why?"

"I didn't feel it'd be that important. I wanted our friendship to keep going the way it is," he confessed.

"You should have found a way," she mumbled sadly. "I kept asking Si thinking she might know, but...I feel sad knowing I don't know anything about you."

Lance squeezed their joined hands together. "There's no need. I've gotten used to it."

"And your adopted mother, does she treat you nicely? Is she someone I know? I want to meet her," she insisted.

"You know her," Lance cuts her off. "You just don't know it's her."

"What...do you mean?"

He didn't reply.

"Tell me things about you. Thinking about it, it feels like I don't know you. You know things about me, every single thing, but I barely know a thing about you. Your job? Background? Nothing. I can't believe I'm just learning about your adopted mother today—"

Lance pressed his lips to her forehead, their eyes hooked for one second before he pulled back flashing her that sweet smile.

Lalissa blinked taken completely unaware.

"I've always known you to have this tiny cute curious personality in you," he murmured.

Lalissa's palm turned sweaty. "Won't you talk to me? Open up about your life?"

Lance shook his head. "Let's save it for another day. I didn't call you here for that."

Lalissa opened her mouth, but closed it almost immediately, deciding to listen to him. "You can't go back on your word." She pointed at him.

He held his throat, particularly his Adam's apple. "I won't."

Lalissa burst out laughing. "You still remember that childish sign?"

"You were the one who taught me." Lance joined her in the laughter. "You'd pick on me, and when I ask, you'll lie with that sign when you're clearly the one who did it."

Their laughter mixed with the calm atmosphere as they reminisced about those old shared memories.

"You were quite naughty back then."

"I couldn't match up to Si's naughtiness. She spent half of her semester in the detention room."

"Glad we were all able to graduate."

The laughter continued, louder, filled with sweet unforgettable memories.

Lance soon stopped laughing as he got lost into Lalissa's laugh.

His sudden quietness made Lalissa stop, meeting his eyes that held sudden affection.

"What? Do I look like a ghost to you?"

"A beautiful one." His hand reached for her cheek. "Very beautiful one."

"L...Lance," she mumbled, confused.

Lance came close. She tried to move back but her feet could barely lift from the ground.

His thumb rubbed her earlobe. "Your heart, your soul, the way you talk, smile, look at someone, has to be the purest form of affection one can ever show," his voice sounded unusually different, slower, and much deeper.

She shook her head. His hand slipped down.

"I... it's late...I have to—"

Before she could complete her sentence, he pulled her by the hand, straight to the bridge barrier as he caged her in between.

"I'm losing my mind, my senses." He rested his head on her forehead trying to draw out strength if possible. "Because of you, I feel like I'm going crazy. I have to say this to you. I just have to." He threw emphasis on the just.

Lalissa blinked, a percent sure that'd be the longest blink she's ever had. She tried to free herself, but could only get his head away. The rest of her body, still between his cage.

"Please...release me."

"No. I've kept this in for a long time, and if I don't get it out, I'll lose my mind," he paused, assessing her face with the most affectionate eyes. "I feel like I'll lose you forever."

"What are you trying to say?" she managed to ask despite already having an idea of where this conversation was heading to.

Bella said something, and he's acting according to what she predicted. The universe had to listen to her.

"That I am in love with you! You won't pretend like you haven't seen the signs, but..." He inhaled deeply. "I love you, Lalissa."

"Uhm—"

"Hush," Lance came close, their faces few inches apart. "Let me finish."

"I've mentioned all your qualities, but those are only but a few things of which you can write. I can stay all day writing about the things that you make my crazy heart do."

"I've been in love with you since our sophomore year. I thought dating other girls would help but it didn't. Something didn't shift in me whenever they said I love you. It's like fate knew that's why it made me remain single until I gathered the courage to tell you about it," he paused, exhaling as his nervousness threatened to leak out.

"I love you Lissa. I don't mind waiting extra eight years to get your answer. I'll—"

She stopped him, hating why her heart was beating like that. It's her friend and what she's about to say—

"There's no need waiting," she breathed, looking away from his face. "I'm sorry, but I can't date you."

Silence. Small smile. Crack. Silence again.

"W...why?" He found his voice.

She didn't spare him a glance. "I just can't."

He uncaged her, ran his hand through his hair, sniffled, walked in small circles then went back to her.

"Why!?"

Lalissa jerked, turning to him. Her heart shattered, like a knife slicing through it when she saw his eyes.

They were red like bloodshot, tears welled in them as he grabbed her shoulder. "Tell me! Am I lacking anything? Am I not up to your standards? Why don't I have a chance!? I'm good looking. Intelligent. Hardworking!"

"Lance!" Lalissa yelled. "I didn't say you're a bad person. You're good, nice, everything a girl will like you for that! But me, I am not that girl!"

Tears slid down his eyes. "It's because of him right!" He squeezed her arm. "Answer me! He's the one you want!"

"Lance, you're hurting me!" Lalissa winced, trying to get away from his grip.

Lance shook his head like someone that has lost it. "I won't leave you alone, Lissa. We're perfect for each other! We've made memories together! We've even shared a kiss!"

"That was a mistake! I told you. I explained to you, and you told me you understood. What the hell is wrong with you!?"

"Understood!" He chuckled, pinning her harder to the bridge. "I only said that because you were freaking out! How could I have forgotten it when you keep appearing before me looking more beautiful! But the number of times I've dreamt of kissing your lips is much longer than the number of times I've tried to forget!"

"Lan—"

He pressed his weight down on her, and crashed his lips, kissing, sucking, not giving her a breathing space.

Lalissa struggled in his hold, shaking her head, kicking her legs but he kept holding her down with his body weight as he ate her lips.

In the process of the struggle, her knee kicked his middle.

He groaned, releasing her as he grabbed his groin.

Lalissa stood with a glare so deep and filled with hatred that Lance felt it up his skin.

Without thinking, she smashed her palm to his face—one, two.

Lance stayed silent watching her as she raised her hand to slap him again, but stopped mid air.

"Rot in hell," she left the bridge, hurrying as fast as her legs could carry her.

Tears rolled down his cheeks as he stood straight. "Lissa."

From the shadows, an eye watched them, hidden between cars as the lips curved into a thoughtful smirk.

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