Chapter 2: Grudge of a Decade

Upon arriving at the convenience store, Rosalia observes her friend who is engaged in the task of arranging packets of chips in a row. She notices her friend casting a covetous glance toward the chips, which causes her to stifle a laugh. “Poor man!” She expresses her sympathy with a murmur but also decides to play a harmless prank on her friend. Silently walking near him from behind, she emits an unusual sound in an attempt to startle him. However, instead of being startled, he turns to her and responds with a charming and distinguished smile. His name is Henry Anderson, Rosalia’s best friend.

“Rosa, Rosa, Rosa, how come you’re here?” Despite Henry’s cheerful greeting, she remains unresponsive. Within a matter of seconds, he realizes that she is upset due to her failed attempt to startle him. In an effort to lift her spirits, he pretends to be frightened, resembling a fawn being pursued by a leopard. This display of vulnerability elicits a smile from her, though it is short-lived. “Why so silent?” He asks, understanding that something is bothering her. They have been friends for so many years that he can assume without much effort what’s going on in her mind. “Well, that mafia again.” Letting out a deep breath, she utters. Jacob has been disturbing her for many years, but she doesn’t tell anyone about him. Just a few days ago, she had to let Henry know about him after suddenly facing Jacob in front of him. She doesn’t want her keen to get involved with the mafia because it will increase her complexion. “Don’t worry, I will beat him up next time.” “Shut up! I have never seen a coward like you.” “No, Rosa, you can’t say this! This word doesn’t describe me.” “How can you forget the day you left me with that mafia? It was the biggest betrayal I have ever had!” “I thought he was going to propose to you; that’s why I had to leave the place because I didn’t want to see you end up with another man rather than me.” He pouts in a cute way, earning a scoff from her.

“You know he is following me everywhere, so it’s very tough to meet you these days, but I miss you a lot. I don’t want to put you in danger. See what happened to my life? I can’t even spend time with you, and you know, he is threatening me now!” Her eyes have become teary in no time. Henry pulls her into his embrace, patting the back of her head. “You never felt the need to tell me about that; I am your best friend, and you were there dealing with that man alone!” “I don’t want to involve my most precious gift with that mafia. What if he does something wrong to you, where will I go then?” His heart melts in no time listening to her. “I’m so happy you ran away that day. Forget about the whining; I was just joking.” His care, love, and little mischief are something she can’t compare with anything in the world. The two are best friends with each other. Lifting her face to him using his hand, he gives her a firm look. “You believe me, right?” “More than myself.” After lowering his tower figure, he touches her forehead with his in satisfaction, then he lets go of her a few seconds later.

Rosalia and Henry start to take everything as per the list and put those items on the stretcher one by one. She pays the bill, which makes him a bit surprised when she wants to say goodbye to him. “Take care of yourself, bye.”

She says goodbye to him and tries to leave the shop, but he stops her. “I’m going to accompany you; there’s no need to say goodbye too early.” Her eyes go wide open in shock listening to him. “Have you gone mad? What if he finds us?” “So what?” “No way, I can’t let you face that monster. I’ll be okay; don’t worry about me.” “But Rosa—” “No but—” She says while giving him a sudden hug. Henry pulls her tightly near his chest. After a while, they pull away from each other, and she leaves the shop.

Henry’s face darkens in no time after she leaves the shop. He tightens his grip on the door while clenching his other hand.

“It’s been so long, Jacob Kyler,” he utters while reminiscing about his face. “You have crossed the limit.” That day he left the place because he didn’t want Jacob to recognize him, but he didn’t know Jacob was threatening his girl. “You damn Jacob, she is my girl.” The rivalry between Jacob and Henry is very old. The two can’t even tolerate each other’s shadow.

At the elegant luxurious mansion where Jacob lives with his other family members, having a conversation with the man whom he’s assigned to spy on Rosalia. “So, she went there?” Jacob asks his man while sipping on the glass full of whisky. “Yes, boss, but—” The man replies whom he sent to take an eye on her.

“Didn’t she buy anything?” “Boss, she was with a guy!”

“What?!” Anger rushes into his veins just after listening to him. This news feels like a thunderbolt has just fallen on him. “I want him to kneel for me right now!” His jaw is clenched with the paint of anger. “What’s the rush for?!” Jacob is surprised after hearing the deep voice, which he hasn’t heard in years. But Jacob doesn’t quite understand why he’s here all of a sudden. “You?!” He asks when tons of questions keep stabbing him from inside.

“Yes, I am.” “How dare you enter my house?” His presence billows Jacob’s heart from the inside, but he tries to stay calm. Henry’s gaze has trailed all over the house, that is reflecting the wish of seeing someone in particular. The living room is the same as before; nothing has changed at all. The color of the walls, the decoration of the living room, the cozy, comfortable couch with the pillows printed with the art of two little boys—everything is the same as before, just the pattern of the relationship has been changed brutally. Controlling all the emotions that have been raised a while ago, his gaze falls on Jacob. “Calm down, little boy,” he says to Jacob. “Boss, he’s the guy!” Jacob’s man exclaims instantly. Hearing him, Henry looks at the man and shoots mercilessly at his head before Jacob opens his mouth. Henry nonchalantly keeps his gun in his pocket as if nothing happened. Within a few moments, the atmosphere changes. Henry Anderson, a mafia figure who is 31 years old, poses as a gentleman. He could kill millions of girls and make them die for him because of his breathtaking good looks and toned, muscular physique. He is a prince charming because of his exceptional hypnotic eyes, one of which has a monolid and the other a double eyelid, as well as his stunning boxy smile and ideal jawline. Henry is a soft, lovely man for the outside world, especially for Rosalia, whom he loves with all of his heart. Yet, under his nickname Venomous, he is the most infamous mafia in the entire globe; people only know him by his pseudonym. “It’s for interfering with my personal life.” “Yah! How dare you?”

Henry indicates him to stay silent while pointing his gun at Jacob. “Anger isn’t good for little boys, so calm down,” he says, smirking like a devil. Henry’s absurd activity makes him red in anger, so he punches his face, which makes Henry fall to the ground. Bending a little towards his lying figure, Jacob looks at him with his fierce gaze. “Now tell me what you were doing with my girl.” “What a shame! C’mon, she is my future wife, so respect her like Henry’s queen.” Listening to him, in an attempt to control his anger, he presses his tongue against his cheek and emits a chuckle. “You are right, but there’s a correction.”

“Henry never makes mistakes.” “Pretty good joke to laugh at.” Jacob laughs hysterically at him. “If you are trying to demean me, then keep in mind that this time I’ll repay you so badly that you will regret every action you took in your life.” “Is that so?” Jacob asks Henry with a mocking tone. “Yes, it is; just keep in mind to whom she belongs.” “Since when is she your girl?" “Has she confessed that she loves you?” He asks Henry desperately. Henry’s sudden claim over Rosalia feels like a knife is being thrust through him over and over again. To hear his reply, Jacob keeps waiting. “Your question isn’t worth replying to, but I wonder if your arrogance deserves a severe punishment for warning her.” Not finding the actual answer from him, Jacob becomes a little happy. Overcoming the fear of losing his love, his arrogance is back in no time. “Oh no! Who will punish me? You!”

Henry grits his teeth in anger as he listens to his response. “Don’t trigger me!” “Yah! I know your limit. Poor you; you had to leave everyone! You are not on my level, so f**k off!” Henry laughs while listening to Jacob. “I left everything behind, but loser, do you think that’s your conquest?” “You know what? It’s the difference between you and me. You have no identity, no indigenous preference of yourself, except for running behind my happiness. You know I’m just ashamed of you, who cannot control his desire over my family! Such a pathetic invader!”

His words keep shattering Jacob again and again. The same words broke both of their childhood happiness and now that he is listening to those words again, it’s giving him déjà vu. Henry’s lips are purring every time he utters the words. At every corner of this house, he sees his reflection, which has been taken away by Jacob. He doesn’t know if he will see that unseen face today because Jacob took her away from him. There is no one else in his life except Rosalia. Now he has reached her which makes Henry angrier. For his life's sake, he can’t even imagine her beside Jacob whom he hates the most.

“If you dare to snatch my girl from me, I will make you regret it till death.”

“You’re threatening me for a girl! So weak, but the fact is, I am going to make your girl mine, and you can’t even stop me!” “You really like to test my patience, isn’t it?” “A little bit, but this time stay away from this matter. You always claim people as yours who don’t belong to you. That’s why you always prove yourself a loser to your family. You always lose before me. What a shame!” His evil smirk ignites the lava inside Henry. Being unable to control his anger, he punches Jacob harshly, which makes him fall to the ground and groan in pain. He tilts his head near his face which is red already. “This is my last warning, Jacob Kyler; stay away from her; otherwise, you will know the cruel consequences. This is not a game, so you better stop bothering her.”

With unrestrained fury, he emerges and hastily makes his way towards his car. As he settles into the driver’s seat, he brings the engine to life with a turn of the key, the purring hum of the car filling the air. But as he prepares to depart, his gaze lingers on the surroundings one last time, a sharp pang of sorrow pricking at his heart. The familiar sights are now uncharted territory.

Although Jacob’s body is still, his laughter spreads throughout the space, emitting a hollow sound that reveals the bitterness and emptiness that are festering within him. The mocking chuckles seem to be making fun of the pointlessness of his life, a brutal reminder of his helplessness to stop the agony that has engulfed him. Despite his attempts to appear amused, he is consumed with a raging wrath that is threatening to kill his happiness. While he lies there, a black pit of despair that appears to eat everything in its path has formed inside of him.

His vision emerges as a relentless and formidable beast, unstoppable in his pursuit of destruction and chaos, remembering Rosalia’s face, who is the cause of his sorrow. “History is repeating itself! That man also wants you, haughty, pathetic girl! It will be really interesting to mess with you all.”