Hello, Kenzo

The Best Show

"STELLA! Wake up!" I heard Kenzo call to me with the sounds of my alarm clock blaring in the early morning from the living room, but ignored him in favor of continuing to sleep, the noise muffled by my pillow.

"What?" I mumbled, rubbing at my eyes before rolling out of bed to answer him, "What's wrong?"

When he walked in, I could tell by his expression that he was about as concerned as I was annoyed, which was saying something. Kenzo was usually so calm, but now I could see how on edge he was; a frown tugged at the edges of his mouth, and his lips were drawn into an impossibly tight line. "I think you need to come outside."

"Outside...?" I echoed confusedly, sitting up straight in my bed while staring at him.

"Yeah, outside." He responded gruffly, gesturing for me to get off of the bed and following after me as I made my way to the front door.

I slipped outside and onto the living area, feeling a shiver run through me at the coolness of the morning air; there was already a hint of frost in the wind.

Kenzo stopped at the kitchen. He clasped the edge of the chair as he remained standing. My brows scrunched, noticing he was shaking with anger, his other hand clenching into fists, and his shoulders pulled tight. His voice sounded strained when he replied, "You've got a visitor; it's your ex."

"My ex?" I repeated in surprise and confusion. "Why would he be here?"

He looked like he wanted to say something else, his face scrunching in indecision, but then he just turned away from me and stalked out, leaving me alone in so much confusion.

After a long time, what was Dein doing here?

I marched towards the living area, and an automatic feeling of restlessness enveloped

me at that moment, but I pushed down the urge to relax and focus on the situation at hand. It was Dein. The man who started all these misfortunes in my life.

I stood awkwardly across the sofa where Dein was seated in silence; he hadn't looked at me to greet me, his hands tightly clasped together as he stared at the floor instead. I tried not to notice how his jaw seemed tense and how his eyebrows were furrowed tightly together in such a way that made him look older than he was. He looked even more tired than usual today, and the bags beneath his eyes seemed deeper and more prominent.

"What brings you here? What do you need from me?" My voice came out harsher, almost more unkindly than I intended, and it was obvious Dein wasn't pleased with my tone, but this didn't bother me; I didn't care. I was tired and frustrated beyond belief.

Dein finally glanced over at me with an almost bitter smile. "Well, I came to know how you have been doing. Have some talk and sit down for a cup of hot coffee just like before but I know last time I was too much. I badly wanted to reach out before, but I thought it would be inappropriate." He trailed off and sighed heavily.

I felt myself bristle defensively. After everything he put me through, after breaking my heart and putting me through hell, he wanted me to sit around talking. Talk like nothing happened. However, the look on his face was enough to break my heart. There was an empty expression; his normally light brown eyes were dark and dull, devoid of any emotion as if happiness were deprived from me.

"Let's just get straight to the point, Dein. I am not here to act kind to you after what you have put me through. Tell me now, or you can see yourself outside."

"Fine! I came here to ask you kindly to refrain from involving my name in the issue you are going through. I am begging you. I know this is too much, but you see, Hina and I..."

"Oh sh*t! Stella? You are doing this? This useless man deserves nothing but this!" Narih came in unannounced, launching a good punch on Dein's face. The force of the blow sent him stumbling down the couch and slamming into the floor, knocking himself dizzy.

"Oh gosh! I couldn't believe how hard-faced and hypocritical you are to bring yourself here and ask Stella about something unimaginable. You are nothing but a f*****g waste of space!" Narih laughed hysterically. So much satisfaction filled her face seeing how Dein ended up being pathetic.

Narih continued to kick him until Dein was curled up in a ball on the floor, crying and clutching his head as he struggled against the pain radiating from the bruise forming on his cheek. Narih finally left him lying there and walked back towards the hallway.

Dein remained curled up on the floor, cradling his injured cheek as he continued to stare at the ceiling, silent tears streaming down his cheeks.

I felt anger flare up inside of me at the scene unfolding before me and the thought of

asking me to compromise again for the sake of Hina!

"Leave now!" My voice cracked as a sob threatened to escape from my throat. "I am not here to make adjustments. Just go away. Don't ever, ever think of going here again, or I'll make sure to make you pay for making me lose my baby!" I shouted. "Make him leave!"

I stormed back to my room and sank back to my bed. My heart wept so hard for my Kenza. She didn't deserve all this. She or he deserved nothing but to be in peace, but those selfish bastards used her to break me more!

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, my dear! I will fix this! I will not let them hurt you more!" I mumbled, almost catching my breath while I clutched harder my pillow.

I heard my room open, and Narih came in with tears streaming down her face; her cheeks were flushed, and she was breathing heavily, obviously having just been crying.

"I'm sorry I was not able to hold my emotions back there. But I just don't want to see you that way! How could you look so...I can't! Kenza was gone because of him!" Narih wailed, her words piercing through me.

"I know and I thank you for standing up for me! I don't know. I was so weak back there, all the trauma I had been through because of him, consumed me at the moment, it was disabling me from moving or speaking up. Please don't cry." I whimpered quietly, reaching out to touch her arm comfortingly. I crawled towards her and gently lifted the hair off her shoulders, my eyes watering once more at the sight of her tear-stained face as she sat down by the foot of my bed. "Since you already cried for me now, why don't you go fix yourself and we'll go shopping?"

Narih stopped crying and looked at me in shock for a second; her eyes widened slightly. "Why?"

I chuckled a bit and showed her my phone. "Because of this?"

The news about me being the top stockholder of the third-known brand of children's clothing worldwide and how I had an abortion just broke off; it went viral just minutes after Dein left.

"So the fight had just started?" Narih wiped her tears, and a small smile reappeared on her lips.

"Well, we have anticipated this. So, after we prepare you, Tim and his people will move, while Nai and Hillary are ready to ignite the rumors!"

"Oh sh*t! This is exciting, Stella!"

"Yes, it is! I have to avenge my child, me, and Kenzo! We will kill all the enemies with the best act, and we will put on a show that everyone will love!"