Flashback (Kai and Mateo’s Childhood) “I don’t think I will go.” A twelve-year-old Kai muttered under his breath as he lay on his bed – looking up at the ceiling. He fidgets his fingers just at the thought of going out. He doesn't know what got into him that he planned to go out with his friends. He shouldn’t have said yes in excitement when he knows he can’t go out in the crowd without getting anxious. A twelve-year-old Mateo sat on the floor of Kai’s bedroom. His back resting against Kai’s bed. He raised his eyebrow and turned his head to look at his best friend gloomily laying on the bed. “Do you not want to go or are you just anxious to go out?” He asked Kai. Kai lifted his head and looked down at Mateo, “What difference does it make?” Kai asked his friend. Mateo shrugged while he had one of Kai’s tennis balls in his hand – he picked on the fuzz while he spoke, “If you don’t want to go, then you shouldn’t. Simple as that. And if you want to go, but you are worried about get
“I found something that might lead us to what or who my dad was trying to protect,” Faith spoke as soon as she barged into Mateo’s room where he and Levi were having morning coffee. Faith had the folders Mateo left with her with all the documents – including all the information about her adoptive family. She barely slept all night, and as soon as the sun went up – she showered, changed, and straight came to Mateo’s room. Levi rose his eyebrow as he looked at Faith, who seemed to be flustered. Her nose was healing nicely. The bruises were getting darker, which indicated the healing process. She didn’t look in pain and her voice didn’t sound as hyponasal as yesterday. She was wearing a white t-shirt with ripped blue jeans. She was wearing her hair in a braid that rests on her shoulder. Levi also noticed how she was ignoring making eye contact with Mateo. He pinched in eyebrows together in curiosity and glanced towards his friend, who seem to be doing the same thing. He was wordlessly s
As promised, Levi took Faith to see Kami. Kami was surprised to see Faith at his door. He happily welcomed them into his small house. The boy was concerned and then amused to see Faith’s bruised face. For the second, when he didn’t know how she got injured, Faith saw the fear on his face – he must have thought she got attacked again, but Faith quickly clarified what happened, and his concern and fear turned into amusement. When she told Kami that she will be leaving tomorrow for the city, Kami subdued. He didn’t expect her to leave on such short notice. If he had known she would be leaving, he would not have spent more time with her. Lately, Kami hardly ever visits Faith at the resort. He was still pretty shaken by what happened that day at the beach. He has been spending most of his time in the village, with his family – but he was feeling guilty for not spending more time with her now that she is leaving. “So, will you ever return?” Kami asked as the two sits on the steps at the b
Mateo, Faith, Levi, and Blaire left the island earlier than Faith imagined. The sun was barely up when Levi took her belongings to the port. Blaire was with Jeremy since he will be here for another week – they were saying goodbye to each other. Kami came to see her off before the sun even came up, while Mateo was wordlessly standing behind Kami – just observing the two saying goodbye. Faith had tears rolling down her face, while Kami’s eyes were glossy and red as well. He has been crying previously. He sniffled as Faith put her palm on her cheek, “Kami, you have my number. If you ever need anything – just give me a call. I will always be there for you,” She said to him. She was very keen on returning to the city, but she was also sad to leave Kami and this place behind. For more than a month, this place was her home. Everyone treated her so well here. She is going to miss this place so dearly. Kami sniffled, “Of course, Sister Faith. Please, take care of yourself.” Kami said to her.
After spending a few hours in Mateo’s penthouse, Faith established a few things about the man. One, Mateo screams money. The place is insanely luxurious with two stories, a patio, and a pool as a part of a penthouse! Two, Mateo is a dull person. His penthouse divides into three major colors, white, black and grey – much like his wardrobe. Faith doesn’t mind it. She believes the place looks extremely sophisticated because of the use of fewer colors. Three, Mateo loves gardening. The man has many indoor and outdoor plants – which according to Blaire, he likes to look after himself when he has time. And the four and most important thing that Faith learned was, that Mateo Nixon has a pet cat! Faith was currently sitting on the floor, with a beautiful and very chubby orange cat lazily laying on the floor in the sun. “Hey, Rex!” Faith cooed the cat in a squeaky voice. Rex looked at Faith before she stretched herself and yawned. Faith couldn’t help but giggle. This was such a pleasant surpr
“Did you hear anything from Aldo?” Faith asked Mateo as they sit in his office at his penthouse. He recently returned from work/club and asked Faith to join him in his office. He asked Steven to look into the number that Howard called daily before he died, and he got the result, but before Mateo could bring it up, Faith asked him about Aldo. Mateo heaved a sigh and pinched the bridge of his nose, “No,” He replied as he took off his black jacket and put it behind his chair. He was wearing a typical white button-up shirt under it. He uncuffed the sleeves and rolled them up. He seems like he was back from an important meeting. Faith didn’t ask where he was, instead she just wordlessly noticed how frustrated he looked when she mentioned Aldo. “It is like he vanished from the face of the earth,” He muttered under his breath. “Anyway,” He shook his head and turned to look at Faith, who was sitting on the grey L-shaped couch in the corner of his office. She was wearing a yellow blouse and
(Trigger Warning! Mention of Violence/Torture)Faith asked Levi and Mateo to her some alone time with Ethan, who was already chained up to the painfully small chair. Since he was not in any position to harm Faith, the two men walked out – leaving Faith alone with Ethan, who was barely awake. Faith felt a shiver running down her spine when she saw Ethan. Her eyes filled with tears when she recalled his innocent face that always had a smile on it. It was not covered with bruises, cuts, and blood. His hands were chained behind the chair, while his legs were chained to the legs of the chair. Faith flinched at the state he was in. He was completely hosed down from head to toe. She realized that Mateo and Levi’s form of torture isn’t just physical. Levi hasn’t let Ethan sleep for the last twenty-four hours. Therefore, he looked like he was about to pass out. He could barely keep his eyes open. Whenever his eyes drop, Levi or someone from his men wakes Ethan up by hosing him down with cold
“Who was their target this time? Me or you? If it was me, then they clearly sent someone new after me. Or is it even the same person that sent Ethan?! What if it is someone new?!” Faith is completely panic-stricken since they came back to Mateo’s penthouse securely. If the car wasn’t bulletproof and if Mateo didn’t drive like a madman and was able to dodge them, Faith would have been dead – or perhaps both of them would have died.Faith is shaken. It is the third attack on her since she came to Mateo. They have been back to the penthouse for almost an hour, but she still hasn’t been able to calm herself down. Her heart is still racing in her chest. Her palms are clammy. And her head has started to throb. She strolled back and forth in the living room with her eyes burning with tears. She ran her fingers through her hair. She is overwrought, and Mateo can see that. Mateo put one hand on his hip while with the other one he scratched his forehead, “If could be anyone. It is time you sto
A good day came months after. The people of the village finally got their freedom. When that happened, week-long celebrations were held at the village, and all of them were invited, especially, Faith, Mateo, and Kai. It was a joyous occasion. Even when everyone was dreading back where they all spend the worst days of their lives, of course, they went anyway. Hesitant at first, everyone had a great time. Faith had never seen the people of the village have such a festive spirit. It was truly a beautiful week. Faith spends most of her time with her grandmother, Kami, and his family. Benji didn’t want to go with them, but when Kami asked – he couldn’t say no. Lora (Kami’s sister) was there to welcome everyone. Everyone could see how excited Benji got when he saw her. Piper and Kai exchanged a knowing glance. Benji has a crush on Lora. He had it since he came here for the first time. After he returned to the city, he kept in contact with her in one way or another. Faith was happy to see
(One Year Later)Even today when Faith closes her eyes and thinks about her recent past, she can’t truly process it. She can’t believe that so much changed in the past couple of years. From losing her entire family to almost getting killed to find a new family – a new purpose – everything in her life was nothing less than a lesson – a brutal and painful lesson. Currently, she was sitting in a meeting along with Kai and Mateo – but they weren’t the only ones there. The three of them were hosts, while the other distant members of the Ricci and Bianchi clan, a few mafia leaders, and a couple of correspondents from the village were in the room. The debate was on – whether the village/island should be given its independence or not.Faith was sitting in between Kai and Mateo. She averted her gaze to the other side of the room where Kami sat along with a few young faces representing the village. Faith could tell that the young boy was nervous. She shoots him an assuring smile. Kami smiled ba
Kai didn’t say anything in return. He just impassively stared at Mateo before they were interrupted by Faith and Piper’s loud laughter. Both looked at the girls to find that Ethan had managed to pull Levi into the pool. He grabbed Levi’s ankle and pulled him in, making the water splash around and the girls laugh. Mateo heaved a sigh and shook his head as he watched his friend emerge from under the water, not looking much impressed. Noel was standing behind Levi when Ethan pulled him in, he was now watching them two. Ethan laughed and splashed some water towards him with his hand, “What are you doing up there loser? Get in!” Noel shook his head, “No, and you need to come out too.” He looks at all of them, “You all do. It is chilly and the water is cold,” he added. “It is not that cold,” Piper replied. It was because Kai switch on the heater to warm up the water, but that’s mean it was okay to be in a pool on a chilly night under the sky. Just at that moment, Piper sneezed. That was i
Faith and Piper were wasted. If having one drink after another wasn’t enough, they were now drinking straight out of the bottle. “We should go swimming,” Faith slurred a suggestion to which Piper enthusiastically nodded her head, agreeing to it. Before anyone could stop them, an equally drunk Ethan got on his feet and threw his fist in the air, “Hell yeah! Let’s go!!” he yelled out and hooted. Everyone else was so concerned about Faith and Piper that they didn’t even notice just how much Ethan was drinking. These three were completely wasted. Noel was slightly tipsy. Where else, Levi, Mateo, and Kai only had a single drink so they weren’t drunk at all. They decided to stay sober to keep an eye on girls, and well – now Ethan as well. “Excellent,” Levi muttered under his breath and pinched the bridge of his nose. He moved to Ethan, who was swinging from one side to another with a bottle of one of the most expensive whiskeys in his hand. Kai glanced at the bottle in his hand. He didn’t
Faith was in her room, changing with there was a knock on her door. Her room was now filled with done and undone boxes. She will be moving out tomorrow and there is so much left to do. But currently, she wasn’t focused on it. She is certain that she will be able to pack before the movers arrive. She was concerned about the dinner party they were having tonight. Faith had already invited everyone and now she was changing for the night. By the knock on the door, she was certain that Mateo has arrived. She quickly picked up the clothes she threw on the floor and put them on the bed before she spoke, “Yes?” The door opened and indeed it was Mateo. He looked good. Fresh and well-rested. It took everyone over a month to get over what happened on the island. The exhaustion and trauma (for some) didn’t leave for days. Mateo was looking like he did when Faith first met him. The difference between then and now is that then he had a hard scowl on his face, and now he was smiling. Then he threw
“Are you all packed up?” Piper asked Faith who came to her room to visit. Faith looked at Piper and smiled. “Yes, almost. Just a few things are remaining to be packed,” she replied. In two days, Faith is moving in with Mateo. For the past week, she has been very busy. She didn’t realize how comfortable she has gotten at Kai’s place, that now that she was winding everything up here, she feels sad to be leaving. When she started packing, she was excited. For her, moving in with Mateo is like a new chapter of her life, but as she proceeded, she realized how uncomfortable yet relieving it is to end this brief, daunting, and challenging chapter of her life. Piper was sitting on the bed, reading, when Faith knocked on her door. She exhaled and smiled broadly at her, “So, are you excited?” She asked. Faith chuckled and sat on the bed beside her, “I am.” She nodded her head, “But I am also nervous. There are so many ifs and buts in my head that I can hardly sleep at night,” she replied hon
“Thank you,” Piper hugged and thanked Faith, before she looked at Mateo, “Thank you both of you. I don’t know what would have happened if it wasn’t for you two. I would have been living on the streets,” she added. “Hey!” “What the hell?” Levi and Kai spoke at the same time. Piper pulled her eyebrows together and looked at both of them. Kai was frowning while Levi stepped forward, “What do you mean you would have been on the streets? Are you kidding me? I would have never let you be on street. Damn, I thought you thought of me as a friend, but boy was I wrong.” Levi scoffed. Where Kai just watched her dumbfounded. She softly chuckled at Levi. “Oh, I would have never bothered you. You already got your hands full,” she told him bobbing her head towards Benji’s room. The door of Benji’s room was open and inside everyone can see Benji and Ethan playing video games. They were so engrossed by what they were playing that they didn’t even notice the people outside looking at them. Ethan and
Kai squinted his eyes. When he was coming out of Piper’s room, he did not expect Faith, Mateo, and Benji right outside – watching him walk out of the room. Their curious gazes made him feel like he was sneaking out of her room after a one-night stand. Mateo was shamelessly smirking at him. Faith was curiously watching him, and Benji had his eyes narrowed at him. Kai cleared his throat and ignored Mateo’s comment and Faith’s question. He was about to tell them that they shouldn’t be so nosy when the doorbell rang. Faith and Mateo pulled their eyebrows together and looked at each other, “Who is here so early in the morning?” She muttered and watched as one of the helpers opened the door. It was Levi and Ethan. “What are you two doing here so early?” Mateo asked with his eyebrows knitted together. Levi didn’t look good. He looked like he didn’t sleep all night. Ethan looked tired as well, but not as exhausted as Levi. Levi glared at Ethan at Mateo’s question. Levi heaved a sigh. His sh
Kai has been inside Piper’s room for an hour. He was now sitting on the floor while she was sitting on the floor as well but she sat by the window. She was watching outside the window while her knees pressed to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. While her eyes were fixed outside, Kai’s eyes were fixed on her. They have been talking for the last hour. No yelling or name was calling. There were no accusations, nor did they completely patch up – they were just talking, which was due for some time now. They fight. They have had sex. They have done everything, but they never get the chance to sit and just talk about themselves. About their insecurities, about their feelings, about everything they bring to each other. Piper last put forward a very interesting point, “Aren’t we toxic for each other? There is just too much we don’t agree on.” She had muttered. Her point was quite simple. She told him that even if Jeremy hadn’t attacked her or anyone else, and even if he was just try