A wise man once told me 'What you don't know is bigger than yourself.' I didn't understand a word until today. Maybe he was selfish for not sharing the meaning behind that proverb but the ink of his words tainted my brain with obvious clues. It hit me like a goddamn bullet.

Hazel was the victim.

I didn't want to know that Max Lion, Hazel's ex, the man who disrespected my dead father was found dead an hour ago, in his home, overheated by drugs. I didn't want to believe it but it was all over the news.

Was I happy? No. After all, he was a human being. He was a coward but I didn't seek revenge. Not like this, at least.

Jack's voice interpreted the truth behind Max's death. Who was at fault? The drugs? Himself? Maybe Hazel's absence? The answer was floating in the ocean of darkness. Nobody really knew what actually happened behind Max's door but Jack was so sure that Hazel was the one to blame.

Obviously, Hazel didn't kill the man. Hazel was with me the whole time. Jack thought that she was the one who drove him crazy enough to take the drugs by coming back in my arms.

"Hazel? What did you do?" Jack stated. "Did you know that he was addicted to drugs?" His question sounded more like an accusation. "Why didn't you help him or tell someone?"

"Jack, I know what you're thinking but..." Hazel took a deep breath. "I didn't kill him, Jack." There was a pause at her end. "I didn't."

"I'm not saying that." Jack corrected. "Max needed help and you didn't do anything to save him."

"I can't control a man." She shouted. "How the hell was I supposed to stop him?"

"But you know how to control and manipulate Hawk?" He went too far. "Am I wrong?"

"Why are you talking like this?" Hazel's voice was wet with tears. "I broke up with Max because I started to have feelings for Hawk. He had his own life. I wanted him to be happy. If you're saying that he overdosed because of me then you're wrong. So please, stop blaming me for Max's death." Her words were harsh but honest. "Just leave me alone."

"Jack... Please..." I interfered. "Stop blaming her."

"Hawk, I'm not doing anything wrong." He replied, confidently. "I'm just asking questions."

"Well, obviously your questions are bothering her." His jaw dropped. "I'm not trying to be on her side but you're accusing her of something she doesn't know about."

"Of course, you'd be on her side," Jack yelled. "For your information, Hazel was with Max the whole time you were begging her to answer your goddamn calls." He glanced at Hazel. "Are you going to deny it? Go ahead, tell him it's not true. Tell him that I'm lying."

"Is it true, Hazel?"

Hazel looked down, ignoring my question. "Nothing happened."

"Jack? I can take it from here. Thank you." As soon as those words came out of my mouth. He closed the door after him.

You and I have a lot to talk about. Hazel Brown.

"Please... I can explain..." Hazel murmured, desperately. "I just needed a place to crash. I didn't know where else to go."

"Oh really?" My left brow arched. "So you decided 'Oh, let me just go fuck my ex-boyfriend and leave Hawk on his own, begging, crying for my love.'. This mansion has twenty bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, five kitchens, five living rooms, two swimming pools, and so on... but you didn't have a place to crash?"

"I needed space."

"Space? Huh?" I imitated. "Did you sleep with him, kiss him, or had any physical contact with him?" The jealousy was crawling under my breath.

I'm the jealous type and I'll kill for what's mine. I don't tolerate bullshit.

"No, we didn't do anything. I promise." She assured. "I slept in the guest room." There was a pause on her end. "Yes, he did try to convince me to get back with him but I told him that I was in love with you and that I was going to be your wife in the future."

"Why should I believe you right now?"

"Just trust me..." Her eyes melted into mine. "I'm telling you the truth and I don't want this misinterpretation to stand between us. We are better than this."

"Are we?"

"We're trying to be better." She corrected. "We're not perfect. Jack thinks we're toxic and he's right but we can't give up."

"I know how to heal your foot," I said, out of the blue. "But I'm scared."

"Why are you scared?" Hazel lifted her left brow, desperately. "Do you want me to be in pain for the rest of my life?"

"No baby, this is not what I desire," I assured. "I don't know how to control my power and I'm scared to hurt you even more."

"But you just said..."

"I have to talk to Jack." I headed to the door. "I'll be back my love. Please eat..." I closed the door after me and navigated to Jack's bedroom.

The ingredients of my confidence tasted bitter in my brain. Jack was not the type to leave when things get rough. He was the type of best friend that encourages you to do better in life. He taught me a lot of good things. He was the only one who believed in me back then besides my dear father. The only one that stayed by my side when I needed a big brother.

We took care of each other.

I'll always love you, Brother. You are the best thing in my life.

"Can I come in?" I knocked on Jack's door. "I want to talk to you." Without his answer, I entered. "Is everything okay?" When I came in, Jack was lost in the clouds, in his own little world. He was standing near the window, contemplating the dangerous sky from afar.

"What do you want?" He asked, without turning his back. "Is the girl okay?" He took Hazel's name for granted. She has a name, my brother. It's Hazel Brown.

"Yes, Hazel is okay." I corrected his unknown behavior. "Well..." I let out a deep sigh. "I know how to heal Hazel's foot."

"I know..." His answer confused me. "Just a sample of your tears can heal her foot." His confidence was higher than the sun.

"H--Ho--How did you..." My jaw dropped. "You knew..."

"Of course, I did," Jack admitted. "I wanted you to learn..." He finally faced me. "Hawk, I don't think you understand how life works but one thing for sure, you can't save everyone."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I lost my power. It feels great to be human but I'm missing something." He examined every part of his body. "I'm missing the real me. is our home. I know you don't want to admit it but it's the sad truth. We are contaminating the human world by our presence. We need to go." He took a deep breath. "need to go." He reminded me of that stupid prophecy.

"Are you out of your mind, Jack Walter?" I swallowed my saliva, nervously. "Why are you talking about this land? I want to forget about the prophecy and move on with my life. I want a beautiful family. I want to be normal. I want to feel human."

"Hawk, you and I both know that it's impossible." He erased my confidence. "You have to be careful."

"It's possible and I'll live my life until the day I die," I uttered. "We'll have a beautiful family."

"I love your spirit. I really do." He patted my back. "Now, go to Hazel and I'll bring the onions in a few..."

"Onions?" I chuckled. "What are you going to do?"

"Calm down, Pancake." He made fun of me. " is going to be just fine." He was referring to Hazel. "Now, get ready. We need to save her life."

"Thank you." I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for being the best brother. I'm sorry for what happened. I wasn't myself and I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry. Now, are we good?"

"Okay, I'll forgive you on one condition." He lifted his left brow, amusingly. "Are we clear?"

"What is it?"

"If you're pancake and Hazel is Waffle." O Lord, Please don't start. "Can I be ?"

We both burst into laughter.

"Get the fuck out of here!" I laughed.

"I need a name, Man." He whined, playfully. "Maybe... Ice Cream? O Lord, that's a good name." We both headed out.

Jack Walter can be funny, sometimes.

"Are you guys okay, now?" That was the first thing that Hazel asked as soon as I got myself in the bedroom. "You look happy."

"Yes, we're good," I assured. "By the way, my love, I'm going to heal you." I leaned in closer and gave her a pop kiss. "You're going to be just fine." I placed my fingers behind her ear as my thumb caressed her cheeks gently. "I promise."

"I love you." She invited her lips into mine as I stroked her bottom lip with strong desire. With an impatient wriggle, I pressed her mouth to mine so hard that I felt her big front teeth, begging for a little bit of fresh air.

O' Lord, she tasted so damn good.

"I love you too..." I whispered between kisses. "I love your kisses... Don't stop." I wrapped my right hand around her neck as my left traversed its way on her thighs. I felt like I was levitating off the ground, floating in the air. What I was feeling was deeper than the ocean. The fireworks inside my heart caused a spectacular explosion, an outburst of strong emotions and sexual desires.

Fuck! I wanted to choke my tongue between her pink clitoris, melt her vagina lips with my saliva and---

"Okay! Okay! Lovebirds!" Jack interrupted my thoughts as he walked in on us. We were just kissing so it wasn't really a big deal. "It's time for the big show."

"Really?" Hazel rolled her eyes. "Did you have to come now?"

"Mr. Hawk Wale? Can you please tell your Fiancé that she has to heal her foot before it's too late? His tone was amusing. It was more like a joke to him but the situation was bigger than that. "Perfect! Now let's begin." He sat on the edge of the bed, with a knife in his hand, cutting the onions below my eyes, without asking.

"You couldn't wait, brother." I shook my head, impatiently. "Damn!"

My eyes started to melt with tears. I placed my face on top of her foot as the tears began to fall down slowly.

It burns! It burns! It burns!

Hazel yelled, repeatedly as the tears emerged inside the open wound.

Was it working? Maybe I should stop!

"Is it working?" I closed my eyes as I tried my best not to look. "Jack! Please say something. Did it work?"

The silence killed me. I didn't know what else to think anymore. I was losing it. Maybe we were wrong. Maybe we were right.

I opened my eyes.