Akira

"I need a favor." I speak looking in his eyes.

"What is it?" He leans forward from his seat.

"Do you know any Eveline?" I question.

Ah, yes.

The answer is written right on his face, he doesn't need to voice it.

"How do you know about her?" He questions back.

"You haven't answered me?" I smile at Alex.

"Well yes, I know a little about her. Now your turn."

I shrug, "I had a small talk with Mr. Jacob."

"He told you about her?" He looks little surprised.

I frown, "Yes, why?"

He nods but still looks suspicious, "Nothing. So what is it you want from me?"

"I need your help to find her." I let out.

This is the reason why I mainly agreed to come with him. I didn't want to go with him today, not after everything that happened with Romero. But I was on mission, Alex is the best person to help me on this, since his grandfather is Mr. Jacob's friend. I want to know everything about Eveline, who still has such a firm hold on a man like Mr. Jacob. I want to find if it's just one side or from both side. If it's from both of the side then I want them together. Love like theirs deserves forever and happy ending.

So what if its not mine.

Thus here we are at a burger house that I don't know about because I didn't want to go to Shine after last week. I had to lie that I wanted to try something different, when Alex asked about it. I didn't want to tell him anything just because it didn't feel right to me.

I recall my earlier conversation with Mr. Jacob which has literally forced me do something about them.

"Mr. Jacob, could I ask you something?" I start slowly.

He gazes me as if I'd ask him whatever I want to regardless his answer and perhaps I might, before giving me a subtle nod.

"Why did you never try to reach out for her? I mean even after retiring from military?" I ask in wonder.

He stiffens, understanding 'her', for a moment I think he wouldn't answer but he does, "I couldn't. I guess I was too afraid of what I'd find when I tried and I always want to remember her as my Eveline, not anyone's else."

"But you could have tried. What if it ends up in your favour." I muse, loudly.

"I don't think so. The last I heard of her was that she was marrying some bastard of her parents choice and they were moving away. And that is when I took decision of continuing my work in army." With that said he shuts down to his memory land.

"Oh."

I want to ask what happened between them, but I've to stick with my 'one question at a time' tactic or I wouldn't get any answer.

My phone vibrates bringing me back to present. I glance at screen and tense as I see caller id.

Romero.

Why is he calling me now?

Haven't I made it clear that I don't want to do anything with him.

I reject it.

"Why?"

"Huh?" I look at Alex, confused.

"Why do you want to find her?"

Her?

Oh Eveline.

"Because I can see how much he loves her. Millions of emotions shimmers in his eyes at the mere mention of her name. I want to find if she also loves him like that. What if she still is waiting for him? What if she just like Mr. Jacob is afraid of what she'd find and that is stopping her. If that is so, then they deserve a happy ending, regardless of their mistakes. Don't you think?" I stare him expectantly.

Throughout my little speech, my phone chimes again and again and again and I keep rejecting.

Bloody hell King!

"I guess you are right. I could talk to my grandpa and see what I find. He must know something about her, they have been friends for many years."

I inhale a irritating breath when I see my phone vibrates again.

Just switch it off.

I should but something, my beating heart to be exact, is stopping me from doing so.

I turn to Alex giving him a apologetic smile, "Excuse me, I've to take this."

I slide out of my seat before exiting out of room and toward an empty corner.

Taking a deep breath, "Hello." I answer it.

"Rayyyy!" Comes a very deliberately loud and slurry voice, that I'd recognize anywhere, from other side.

Is he drunk calling me?

I don't reply to him. He has called me so many times, that I've rejected, if he wants to say something then he should just let it out and get over with it.

You could have switched it off.

I could but I didn't want to.

"You're are a liar Ray." His husky voice sends shiver throughout my nerves.

I snap out at it, "Excuse me?"

"You said you wouldn't leave me. You promised me. But you still left me. You broke your promise Ray. You are a liar." His voice is a harsh whisper, slurry but clear enough to be understood.

I promised?

I thought he was just joking, a drunken joke.

"King what th-"

"Romero," He snaps cutting me off.

I bristle.

"Now say Romero. R. O. M. E. R. O." He tells me later by later, as if I'm some child and he is teaching me how to pronounce his name.

"Romero." I sigh.

What is point of all this?

"See, it wasn't so hard was it?"

"No, it's not." I agree.

Of course it's not.

I like his name and I like saying his name.

"Say it again." He demands from other side.

"Romero." I breath out.

He takes a breath before adding, "I like it, darling."

I like it too.

And I like it when you call me 'Darling', I think to myself.

"Fuck!" He curses, followed by a loud thump.

"King? Romero? Are you okay?" I ask in panic.

There is no reply just shuffling sound through other side.

"Romero, answer me. Hello?" I question frantically.

Please God, let him be okay.

I exhale in relief when I hear him curse again, "Fucking prick!"

He then speak through phone, "Yeah I'm fine. No, I'm Per-fucking-fect. Just fell by a fucking big rock." He chuckles a little by end and warmth flows in my being like sunshine during snowfall, making me all over giddy.

Thank God!

"Are you hurt?" I couldn't hide my concern as I speak.

He doesn't answer for a long desperate moment. I fear if he is really hurt somehow.

And then he speaks, his voice is not above whisper, a broken whisper, "I'm sorry Ray. I'm so fucking sorry, for hurting you. Believe me I am. I never want to hurt you Ray, but I still end up hurting you. I never want to be cruel with you and I always become cruel to you. This is how I am. This is what I am."

Oh God!

He stop and takes a shaky breath through his teeth as though he is trying to control something, before continuing, "You are right when you say I'm monster. I destroy everything I touch. I fuck everything up. You are right I'm a heartless bastard who never cared about anyone or anything but I swear I never want to be same heartless with you. I know I am a fucked up son of bitc-"

Jesus!

"Stop." I interrupt him, not being able to take it any more.

Christ!

I know for sure that he believes all the things he is saying to himself. He believes that he is a monster, not just because of me but because of something else too.

"But I'm a-" he opposes me in a broken voice, that I don't want to hear. I like it better when he speaks like King. Like a arrogant jerk.

"Romero. No, listen, I was so wrong to call you a monster. I had not right to say so. Yes you hurt me but it still didn't give me any right to say all those hurtful things to you. I was just so angry and hurt, I didn't mean it."

I don't think I could ever take the way he's beating himself. I feel so guilty of the horrible things I said to him. I shouldn't have said all that, my parents have taught me better than that.

How could I be so cruel?

"Ray?" He calls in a weakest tone I've ever heard, like he's not sure if I'm still there.

"Where are you?" I ask.

I desperately want to reach out for him, to comfort him. In anyway I can. I've forgotten all the things he has done to me at this moment only thing I remember that I want to give all the solace and compassion he needs.

"Why? Will you come for me, Ray?" His question is full of hope and fright.

Fright of my rejection.

"Yes. I will." I answer in a heartbeat, without any hesitation.

Because at this moment I know. I know I'd always go to comfort him. Whether he is sincere or playing games to me, I'd still want to comfort him. I'd still want wrap him in my arms and make his pain go away. I'm in way too deep to not go.

He breath a sigh of relief, "I..I dunno. No, wait I know, its my place. I wanted to show it to you Ray, there is a cliff and lake too. Mmm, it's beautiful, like you." Murmuring he stops, it sounds like he is about pass out.

"Rome-"

"Angel you okay there?" Alex's voice cuts my own, surprist me to no end. Quickly I turn around to see him sanding by door.

I nod, "Yes I'm fine. Just a minute."

He nods in return before going back.

Oh I'm such a terrible company to leave him there alone.

"Was that café fucker?" Romero's enraged voice brings me back to our conversation.

Café fucker?

Does he mean Alex?

What the hell?

"His name is Al-"

"Fuck him and his name. Why does he call you angel?!" He snarls from the phone.

I'm startled from the anger in his voice. He sounds furious. I don't get chance to response as he is at it again.

"You are not his angel. You hear me? You are not his-"

Beep. Beep. Beep

Dial tone?

What the heck?

He hung up on me?

Maybe its battery is dead.

No, that's not it.

I have a feeling he broke his phone in his blind rage.

He is angry, drunk and ready to pass out.

I have to find him.