Song of Torment

Chapter Seven

Chapter 7: The memory of his love

"Hey, Matt!" Ethan called me but I remained still and stared blankly at my computer.

It's been more than an hour since Cassie left with my sister but I still remain still and didn’t move a bit.

Those tears. I've always hated seeing those streaming down her face. It's been 9 damn years but telling Rhyme that story still hurt the s**t out of me. To think it was just part of the reason why she left. I haven't told her the whole story yet.

"Matt," Ethan called me. This time, I turned my attention to him.

"What?" I asked irritatedly. He just sighs and sat on the visitor’s chair in front of my office table.

"I heard what happened from Rhyme. She kept on nagging and shouting over the phone when she called me. Ordering me to come here. She's also mad that I didn't even told her a thing. I can't believe that's your taciturn sister."

I smirked.

"She changed a lot," I told him.

"Are you okay?" he asked suddenly, making me turned my gazed away from him. "When I found out that Rei is the one who wants to become part of the RL and has to fight Rhyme, I almost stop their fight but I didn' t got the chance to do so because when I came there, they're already starting."

"Even if you tried to stop her, you can't. When Cassie want something she will get it no matter what. You might end up fighting her if you stopped them," I told him.

I got up from my sit and get my bag. I was looking for my coat then I remembered Cassie have it.

"Where are you going?" Ethan asked but I didn’t answer him so he just followed me.

It even startled me when he suddenly sat on the passenger’s seat of my car.

"I think I know where you’re going so I'm coming with you. It's been a while since the last time I went there," he told me and I know I can’t make him go away so I don’t have a choice but to let him tag along.

I called my secretary and asked her to clear all my schedule for the day.

We dropped in a flower shop first to buy some flowers and it took us an hour before we got there.

"Hey, bro! Sorry if I haven't been visiting you," Ethan said. He put the flowers that we brought on his tomb and then we just sat there.

Liam Benjamin Ramirez

Ethan started talking things to him and I just sat beside him staring at the picture of Liam. It was my turn to talk to him when Ethan stop talking and looked at me.

"She's back," I said. "Your sister actually came back when I already move on. She came back when the wounds she left in me already healed."

Ethan remained silent and just stared at Liam’s tomb while continued talking.

"You know what's crazy? My wounds already healed but when I saw her, they started aching again," I said and close my eyes as I remember that scene that made me realized how deep is my love for her.

-

"Do you like my sister?"

I’m watching Liam’s sister as she walks down the isle when he suddenly asked making me startled. It's actually Liam’s wedding day with my bestfriend and Cassidy is the maid of honor.

I didn’t answer him and just keep my eyes on Cassie.

She's so beautiful that I can't take my eyes off her. These past few days, I can't get her off my mind. I can't forget the kiss that I stole from her. I always ask myself if I'm on my right mind to do that. Why did I even do that? I actually don't like her because she always act like a brat and that's why I always pissed her off. Then she keeps on pushing herself to learn those martial arts techniques when she can't even hurt a fly!

But the hate I felt for her slowly changed every time I'm with her. And this unknown feeling keeps on making me do crazy things to her. She's the only one I see from the crowd. I always like seeing her smile. I always piss her because I want her attention on me. And those lips. Damn I wanted to taste those luscious lips again.

The bride followed after her and the wedding proper so Liam didn’t get the chance to ask me again. I don’t even know how to answer him.

At the reception, I was with Ethan and Tito Max and Cassie left our table when they called all the single ladies at that event.

"Cassie! Come back here! You can’t get married until you’re 40," Tito Max joke which earn laughter to some guests.

Tito Max and Liam also shouted in chorus when it was Cassie who caught the bride’s bouquet.

"Now it’s your time to shine for the single me out there,," the MC called on.

I some men pushing each other to come up while Ethan is also pulling me to come up there. Liam raised an eyebrow when he saw me.

If Heiz is my bestfriend, then Liam is my guy bestfriend. We know each other so much. We know how things run on each others mind so I know that he didn’t like me for his little sister. He knew me as a ladies' man and also a son of a gangster queen so danger always come to me. Basically, being with me is a trouble.

But what can I do? I think I'm falling for his sister really hard and I can’t stop it. So I push most of the men there justto get that f*****g garter but unfortunately, I wasn’t the one who got it. It was Aldrin which if I’m not mistaken, he also like Cassie and he is courting her.

They dance and I just watch them from afar. The other guest followed after finishing one song.

"You like her," I looked beside me when someone suddenly speak and there I saw Liam. I returned my attention on the dance floor where I saw Tito Max dancing with Heiz.

So that’s why Liam is here.

"You do realize I don't like you for my sister?"

"I know," I said and looked at Cassie again who is already looking at us. I looked away from her when she caught my eyes.

After the kiss I stole from her, she didn’t spoke to me again. I know she’s avoiding me.

"But I trust you," Liam speak again so I look at him. "We knew each other since college. I've seen how protective you are to your own sister and how you love your mother. You maybe a ladies' man but I never seen that look in your face whenever you look at my sister."

"Liam."

"You love her. I know you do because your eyes scream the love you have for her. And that's why I trust you enough that you would never hurt her and you would protect her no matter what happens."

He tap my shoulder and went to Aldrin to take her sister and dance with her.

-

"I promised you that I would never hurt her intentionally and I would protect her no what happens, but what can I do if she's the one who doesn't want me to protect her. She loathes me, bro."

I look up to stop the tears from falling then I look at his tomb again.

"Now that she's here, I don't know what to do anymore. I still love her but the love I have for her now is no longer enough to welcome her again in my life."

Ethan tap my shoulder and gave me a handkerchief. I look at him to ask why but he looked away and shoved it to me. That's when I realize I'm crying. Damn.

I get up and walk away while Ethan just followed me.

"Introduce her to the gang," I command before he open the car’s door.

"I thought you don't want her to be part of RL? What changed?" he asked.

I didn’t answer him and just I drove back to SMAC.

-

"Cassie!" I called her after our training.

It’s been two months after Heiz and Liam’s wedding but Cassie’s treatment to me is still the same.

She didn't stop when I called her and just continue walking until she reach the house.

She went up to her room so I followed her there but stop when I saw her luggage

"What is this?" I asked.

"Hey, Rei! Here's your pass-" Liam stop in front of Cassie’s door when he saw me. "Hey, bro. You already left."

"Get out of my room!" Cassidy shouted.

"What is this?" I ask Liam.

"Rei didn’t tell you yet?" he asked and look at Cassie who is hiding under her blanket.

"I said get out!" Cassie shouted again and even throw a pillow towards us so we just left her room.

"We're leaving for LA tomorrow," he said as we walked down the living room.

“What?” I asked and stop.

Right after their honeymoon, Heiz also stayed in Tito Max’s house to be with Liam. Heiz told me that they are planning to build their house beside Tito Max's house.

"What? Why so sudden? I thought you were planning to build your house here?"

He turned to me but he didn’t look me the eye He can't look at me straight in the eye which I know he is hiding something.”

"Well, we decided to live our life in LA. Magulo rito Matt. Also, I'm leaving the gang. It has a lot of members now and Ethan is already there to help you lead the group. I know that RL can manage it without me."

I can’t even say a word as he tell me these things. I tried catching his eyes but he is always avoiding my gaze.

"Also, Reigan is coming with us. Tito Max will stay here though because he doesn’t want to leave this house and this place."

"This is so sudden," that’s all I can say.

"I know. That's why I thought Rei already told you because we’re already leaving tomorrow."

Then I caught his eyes. We knew each other too well so we know when one of us is lying and hiding something. And as look in his eyes now, I confirmed that he is really hiding something from me.

After his marriage with Heiz, Liam is just too happy that he can’t even remove the smile on his face. But right now, I can tell that he is worried of something. 2 weeks after their honeymoon in Palawan, they went home immediately. Then a week after, I notice Liam’s uneasiness. I even joke him is Heiz is pregnant and he just feeling nervous about it but he just laughed at me. And then this happened. I can tell that something is wrong and he won't tell me that even if I ask him too.

Cassie on the other hand, it’s been hard to talk to her since that kiss happened between us. Every after our training she is always in a hurry to go home then she will lock herself in her room. I can tell that she's mad at me but I need to talk to her before they leave.

"I need talk to Cassie," I told him.

"Yeah sure. If she wants to."

I immediately went back to Cassie’s room only to find her in the middle of her bed crying so hard.

"I told you to leave!" she shouted but instead of leaving again, I walked towards her and hugged her tightly. She tried to push me away but I just held her tighter.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I ask her when she calmed down.

"I don't think I have the obligation to tell you about that," she said and with all her strength she manage to push me away.

"Why are you acting like this?! I thought we were okay?! Is this about the kiss?" I asked.

"Just leave me alone."

"No! I won't leave you! I won’t let you go away if you’re still angry with me! Look, if this is about the kiss then I'm sorry because I am not sorry that I kissed you. I even long to kiss you again!" I confessed making her eyes widen in shock.

"You're just saying that to piss me off," she said and then look away but I immediately grab her face and crash my lips to her. Unlike the first one, this kiss is long enough. I was moving my lips and forcing my tongue to enter her mouth and when I did I kiss her harshly.

She's pushing me but after a minute she melt with my kisses and started kissing me back.

"You're making me crazy, Cassie," I said between our kisses before giving her a long peck then pulled away.

" As much as I want you to stay here I know your brother wouldn’t let me."

"Why are you doing this?" she asked as she catch her breath.

I hug her again and didn't answer her question.

That night when I got home, I immediately went to my Father's office.

"You ask me to handle our business expansion in LA," I told him. He remained still and just look at me "Then book me a flight for tommorow."

He didn't ask questions on why I suddenly accepted that job. I have been rejecting this offer because I don’t want to leave the country. First, our gang is based here and can’t just leave Liam and Ethan with it. And there was Cassie. I can’t see her anymore if I leave this country. But now that she's leaving, all I know is that I want to follow her. I need to follow her.

I didn't get the flight the next day so I just went with them up to the airport. I watch them as they walk and left the airport when I saw their plane took off. A week after, I made it in LA. I ask Ethan to take care of the gang for a while.

I went straight to the house they were staying when I reach LA. I hit the doorbell and I came face to face to the only woman I ever love.

"I love you," I told her right when she opened the door and saw her beautiful face. Her lips parted as she looks at me. I took that as a chance and kiss her savagely on the lips making her knees turn into jelly.

"I appreciate it if you stop kissing my sister in the doorway before I welcome you with a punch."

Cassie push me away immediately and face her brother.

"I-" she didn’t finished her sentence when her brother walked towards me and gave me a punch on my stomach "Liam!"

"Welcome, bro."

-

"Can you hack a system from other country?" I asked Ethan when we reach the parking lot of SMAC.

"It's kinda hard but I think I can. Why?"

"I want you to hack the system of Royal Hospital in Los Angeles. Look into the record of Cassie also her information in Blue Note Company. I want to know her whereabouts. Also, ask Tap to look for a certain Aldrin Hermosa. I want every detail about him," I said using my authoritative voice.

If Ethan is the best hacker then Tap is the tracker. He can track you wherever you are in just minutes and I am so glad he is part of my gang. My gang is not just a gang with a lot of great fighters. They also have some great skills in which they were best at in that department.

"Got it."

"Also, make this confidential. Especially to Harp."

--