Love or Vengeance

Chapter 6: Sleep Now, Louise

IVAN'S POV

"I love you," I said nervously to the girl as we stood together in the rain.

"I love you too, Ivan," she replied, tears streaming down her face.

I jumped with joy the moment I heard those words. This feeling—it's like heaven. I'm so in love with this girl. She's almost perfect. I couldn't ask for more.

But... I couldn't see her face. It was all white and blank, yet the warmth I felt was overwhelming. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed me softly on the lips—full of love, full of happiness.

My heart felt as light as air.

Fingers brushed over my lips—it felt real. Like it actually happened.

A loud banging on the door snapped me out of the moment.

Groaning, I got up, clearly annoyed, and made my way to the door.

"What?!" I barked, yanking it open. Sofia stood there, practically fuming.

My annoying little sister.

"What do you mean 'what'?" she snapped. "Kuya, I've been knocking forever! Mom told me to wake you up—Kuya Rim is here!"

"Don't you know how to knock gently?!" I yell back. "You were about to break my door down!" I add, clearly irritated.

"So early in the morning and you two are already yelling at each other," Dad suddenly says as he passes by.

"Go downstairs, baby," he tells Sofia, and she stomps off with a pout.

"Good morning, son," he greets me cheerfully.

"Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed?"

Then I remember that dream... Tsk.

"You're blushing, son!" he laughs, turning around and heading downstairs.

I touch my cheek, feeling it heats up.

"Tsk, you're so soft, Ivan," I mutter to myself.

What's Rim doing here this early? I wonder.

I close the door and head straight to the bathroom to take a shower.

When I come out, I find them already at the dining area, eating and chatting.

"Good morning, bro," Rim said.

"Good morning, too. You're here pretty early, huh?" I tease.

"Hmm... I was just planning to pick you guys up for the W and B Café," he says, a smile still lingering on his lips.

I sit down and start eating.

"Why? What's going on?" I ask him, confused.

"And why all of us?"

"I was planning a surprise for Tita Athena," he says, "but I also want you and Tito to see it."

Now I'm even more curious.

"So what exactly is it that needs a surprise?" I ask again.

"There's no special occasion, and this all feels sudden."

"Stop asking and just hurry up and eat," he says with a grin.

I glance around the table. It's obvious they're all excited.

Once we finish eating, we each get into our own cars and head to W&B Café.

As we walk in, I spot Emilie sitting in the garden, talking on the phone.

She smiles and walks over to greet us as soon as she sees us coming.

"Amazing," Dad says, full of awe.

"Oh my God!!!" Mom gasps, covering her mouth as she reads something written beside the painting.

"How did you know her?"

Happiness — that's exactly what I see in Mom's eyes.

"Who's her?" I ask, but no one answers.

"It's Emilie who knows her and made a way for her to come here," Rimjel proudly tells Mom, and we all turn our eyes to Emilie.

"Uhh..." Emilie hesitates, unsure of what to say. "I'm really sorry, but I can't introduce her to you," she says softly, lowering her gaze. "She's a friend of mine, and I asked her for this favor—for you, Tita."

Mom places a hand over her chest, then gently pulls Emilie into a hug.

"Please thank your friend for me," she says softly, eyes fixed on the painting. "Every time I see her artwork, I can't help but think of Louisa—Louisa Ryle Yoon. She was more than a friend to me."

Her fingers lightly touch the part of the painting where two children are holding hands. "She felt like the sister I never had. The only person who ever made me feel truly safe... and understood."

She pauses, her voice tightening. "She passed away three years ago... because of what those people did."

A quiet sob escapes her as Dad steps forward and gently wraps his arms around her, holding her close.

Dad once told me that Mom met Louisa back in school. She was shy and often bullied, while Louisa was the popular girl no one dared to cross. But instead of ignoring her, Louisa stood up for her—even before they spoke.

They became close after a school project and stayed friends, despite coming from very different worlds. Louisa was rich; Mom had almost nothing. But that never mattered.

Even after Mom moved to America, they stayed in touch. I remember when she flew back to the Philippines after hearing what happened to Louisa. Dad and I stayed behind to care for Sofia, who was in the hospital. Mom didn't want to leave, but Dad said it might be her only chance to say goodbye.

Louisa had been kidnapped, along with her youngest child, and it led to her death. Dad never told me the details about what really happened.

I walk up to the painting and read the signature at the bottom right corner: 'LRY'—written in large, elegant letters.

Is that what's making Mom emotional?

Come to think of it, the initials could stand for Louisa Ryle Yoon.

"How's the preparation for your café's grand opening going?" Dad asks.

"It's going well, Dad. That's why I'm really hoping all of you can be there."

"Of course, son. We'll all be present," he replies with a warm smile.

"Ate Emie," my little sister calls out to Emilie.

"Yes?"

"Who's the woman in that video?" What video is she even talking about?

"What video, baby?" Mom asks.

"Ate Emie lent me a music video to give me some inspiration for my music video project."

"Why don't you know her? Isn't she a celebrity?" Mom asks again.

"She's not a celebrity, Tita—she's my best friend," Emilie answers.

"Really, Ate Emie? She's your best friend?" my sister asks, clearly excited.

"Yes," Emilie replies briefly.

"Do you mean Alejandra, hon?" Rim asks.

"Yes... that's her. Actually, she's here in Cebu to..." Emilie pauses. "...to visit me," she finishes, obviously lying.

"Why didn't you bring her along?" I ask.

"I'll introduce her at the opening instead, since she's busy sightseeing on her own," she says, smiling at Dad. "Actually, Tito, she really loved your mall when I took her there."

"Really, hija?"

"Yes, she did," Emilie answers.

"Ate Emie, introduce me to her too, okay?" Bubwit says, super excited.

"Of course! You'll get along great since you both love eating," Emilie replies, making all of us laugh.

"But Ate, she's really sexy," the little pest adds, pouting.

"Good for her — unlike my little sister, who looks like a piglet," I tease Sofia. She loves to eat, which explains why she's a bit chubby.

"Mom, Kuya's teasing me!" Sofia almost cries out in complaint.

"Ivan Axel!" Mom scolds.

"Okay, fine, I take it back. You're just stuffed enough, little sis," I say as Sofia bursts into tears. "Just kidding," I quickly add.

She's so sensitive. "Sorry, okay?" We often tease each other like this. "Sit down, and I'll buy you your favorite cake later."

There's a six-year age gap between us, so sometimes I can't keep up with her mood swings, but no matter what, she's the only sibling I have. She finally stops crying.

Mom, Dad and Sofia leave first to go home, while the three of us stay behind to plan for the café's grand opening.

On the way home, while driving down the road, I see a woman wearing a uniform the same color as EIS. I remember that crazy girl again. If I go back to Manila, will I see her again? Part of my mind says I don't want to see her because all I've gotten from her is trouble. But a bigger part of my mind says I really want to see her.

I see that crazy woman! I quickly pull my car over to the side and chase after her. She enters a park, so I follow. I remember she's wearing a yellow blouse, white shorts, and flat sandals. I search everywhere for her until I'm exhausted from walking around the whole park.

Feeling down, I head back to my car, wondering if I'm just imagining things. What's happening to me? Why do I want to find and see her so badly?

I go home, feeling heavy inside — that feeling when you spend the whole afternoon searching but find nothing.

I lie down on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I see her beautiful face smiling at me, just like in my dream earlier! What the hell? Why is her face the only thing I see!?

Allejah's POV

The night was still.

Too still.

The alley stank of rust, rain, and the unmistakable scent of fear. Not mine—theirs.

Boots scraped against wet concrete behind me. Six shadows. No, seven. The last one thought he was clever, creeping along the ledge above. Sloppy.

Judas must be getting desperate, I thought, cracking my neck. Sending rats to finish a job only monsters can handle.

I took one slow step forward. Let them think I didn't notice. Let them believe I was afraid.

A whisper of steel behind me. A switchblade. Cheap.

"Get her now!" one barked.

They rushed in like cattle. Predictable. Loud.

I pivoted hard—heel slicing water—and drove my elbow into the first one's throat. Cartilage crunched. He dropped before he screamed.

The second swung a pipe.

Too slow.

I ducked low and kicked his knee in, the sound of bone shattering music to my ears. He howled, and I silenced it with my palm smashing into his nose—once, twice. Blood sprayed across the alley wall.

"She's not normal!" one of them shouted.

No. I wasn't.

Not anymore.

The third lunged from behind, trying to grab me by the waist. I spun, grabbed his wrist, and twisted until his shoulder popped from its socket. He screamed. I slammed his head into the brick wall. Again. And again. Until the wall was red.

Someone jumped from above.

I stepped aside at the last second. He landed hard, stumbled, and met the edge of my boot to his temple.

The fifth came at me with brass knuckles. Bigger. Stronger. But strength means nothing without speed.

I let him swing. Dodged left. Then caught his arm mid-air and drove my knee into his ribs—over and over, until he coughed blood.

"You think Judas will save you?" I murmured.

He whimpered something—maybe a plea.

Wrong move.

My fist silenced him permanently.

Only one left now. He was backing away, trembling, his hands shaking around a gun. Smart enough to fear me. Dumb enough to draw.

"You're a monster," he hissed.

I smiled coldly. "You sent monsters. You got me instead."

The flash of gunfire was too slow. I was already on him—twisting his wrist until the gun clattered to the ground. I kicked it away, grabbed his throat, and slammed him against the dumpster.

He gasped, claws scratching weakly at my arms.

I leaned in, close enough for him to see the fire in my eyes. "Tell Judas I'm done playing nice."

Then I dropped him.

Alive. Barely.

He could crawl back. Bleeding. Broken.

Just enough to deliver the message.

"Tch. If only Louise had let me handle this," I muttered, gripping the small bottle of medicine in my hand until the plastic creaked beneath the pressure. "This would've been over a long time ago."

I stared down at the label. A prescription. A leash.

My lip curled in disgust.

"You still think you can do this clean," I sneered. "Still believe you can be good and get revenge? That you can walk through hell and come out pure?" I laughed, low and bitter.

"You've carried this mission far too long, dragging your childish hope and that useless heart of yours behind you."

I tilted the bottle, watching the pills rattle like hollow promises.

"You're the hindrance, Louise."

The wind whispered down the alley like a ghost, as if it too knew what was about to happen.

I looked at the bottle one last time.

"Just sleep... for a while."

And I hurled it into the shadows.

The plastic clattered against the bricks, bounced once, then shattered. Pills spilled across the damp concrete like fallen soldiers.

The part of me called Louise. She went quiet.

And in that silence... I smiled.

The stench of blood still lingered in the air when Christian finally arrived.

I didn't bother turning to him at first—just hissed, my voice sharp and ice-cold.

"What took you so long?"

He froze a few steps away, eyes wide as they scanned the c*****e around me. I could see the shock etched on his face. Good. He needed to remember what I was capable of... what I would do when unchained.

With one swift kick, I nudged a lifeless body at my feet, sending it tumbling to the side like trash.

"Clean up this mess." My tone was detached, businesslike. "And book me a hotel."

Christian swallowed hard and nodded quickly. "Yes, Master."

I turned to him then, eyes dark as I pulled a worn folder from inside my coat. I tossed it toward him—it hit his chest with a dull slap.

"Look into this person. Every detail. I want a full report within the day."

He caught the folder, fumbled slightly, and clutched it like it held his life.

"Understood."

Without another word, I walked past him, my heels echoing against the alley walls. The storm inside me had quieted, but the cold fire still burned in my veins.

Louise was asleep.

Now the real work could begin.

.......................................

Hi-Yu