Chapter 88: To Reconcile
I opened the door and their attention went to me. "I thought you said you need help from me?" Ace quickly stood up from her seat. ’Oh no, is she going to leave because of me?’ I panicked and I immediately blocked her away causing Ace to glare at me. ’S-She’s really scary.’
"I-I can explain."
"What will you explain? How you lied?" Ace’s tone was so cold that I keep trembling where I was standing. "Or you’ll lie even more to hide the fact that you’re not living with Kaoru’s family?"
Andy looked at me with eyes wide open. "Really? Then where are you currently living?" He asked.
"That’s what I’m going to explain right now," I said as I took a deep breath. "My family’s in debt, that’s the truth," I said as I roamed my vision. There isn’t any object here that could record what I’m saying right now, isn’t it?
I took another deep breath. "My parents aren’t dead." Their eyes widened as they looked at each other. "I’m not joking."
Andy looked at Ace as she moved towards me and pulled my arm. "Let’s listen to Ellie, okay? But before that, let’s sit here." He said as he pulled the two of us towards the chairs near the desk by the window. "Now, explain everything carefully so we can fully understand, got it?"
I nodded. "My dad’s business fell into debts but I don’t know how it happened, and now we’re being chased after by those mafia people."
"Are those people making you a hostage? The mafia that’s after you, was it Yamaguchi-gumi? Is Fuentes one of them?" Ace bombarded me with questions.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Andy raised both of his hands. "Yamaguchi-gumi? And what? Night Fuentes? What’s going on?"
How can I explain it clearly to them so they wouldn’t misunderstand? Should I start with my dad being a member of the yakuza before when he was younger? "First, the Yamaguchi-gumi isn’t my enemy. They’re the ones helping me escape from that other mafia group."
Ace’s forehead creased. "Why are they helping you? Did your father hire them?" I quickly shook my head. "Then why? Those kinds of groups aren’t the type to help people in need when they don’t get anything back in return." She said.
"That’s correct, but my father used to be a member of the Yamaguchi-gumi when he was younger."
"What? That Tito Maki?! Is that really true?"
I nodded. "Even I can’t believe it since dad didn’t mention anything about it." I looked into their eyes. "But the current leader still treats my dad as if he’s his son. He also treats me like his own granddaughter, and I’m really thankful for that. However, like what Ace said, those groups aren’t the type to help people who don’t belong to them."
"That’s why I married the boss’s grandson."
"WHAT!? You’re married!?" Andy stood up from his seat. "Y-You married an old man? Oh my god, I can’t believe this. I cannot believe this!" He said while panicking. ’Who said it was an old man I married?’
"It’s not an old man, it’s Night Fuentes."
"What!? You’re married to Night Fuentes!?" Andy raised his voice which quickly made Ace pull him back to the seat. "That Night Fuentes? The one you’ve been fawning over since the first year?" I nodded but he still can’t believe it. "Do you know this? Is that why you’re not surprised?" He asked Ace. ’Yeah, why is she not surprised?’
"I am surprised. I’m just letting her explain everything before reacting." Ace said while shaking her head. "So what now? Are you happy that you married your crush?" She asked with still that cold expression on her face. She’s still not satisfied with everything.
I shook my head. "He wasn’t the prince I imagined him to be. He killed people, and he almost killed me." But wait, how did Ace learn of the Yamaguchi-gumi anyway?
"Then why did you marry him?"
"It’s because they can’t protect me unless I’m a member of the family." I balled my fists. "I’m relying on them because I can’t protect myself. I chose to hide it from you guys because it might get you in trouble if you learn of my situation. I didn’t want to lose anyone anymore."
I didn’t want to cry because it might look like I’m wanting their pity, but I was too sad that I couldn’t control my tears. "I-I’ve been lonely the past few days, and I missed you guys." They were caught off guard because of that, and Andy immediately stood up from his seat. "I’m sorry for hiding all of that from you guys. I’m sorry for lying."
"I-I didn’t want any of this to happen, I swear." I didn’t want to cry but feeling Andy’s warm embrace, I couldn’t suppress my sobs.
I felt Ace’s hand on my head after I said that. "I’m sorry too, for calling you a liar. It wasn’t your fault." She said which made me cry even more. Even though I was supposed to comfort Ace, she’s the one patting my head right now. "Let’s rest, for now, you can continue this talk later."
I thought it will be harder to convince Ace, and I thought she wouldn’t forgive me, but she’s understanding me despite all the lies I spouted before.
With that, the three of us ate our lunch while they were still comforting me and I’m talking about how I thought my parents died because our house was a bloody mess.
"I saw in the news how messed up your house became so we even thought that you’re also... you know, dead." Andy said with hesitation. "But the news didn’t mention about you being dead, it’s only about your family. And you also sent an excuse letter to the school so we know that you’re not gone. Although it said that your parents are dead."
I nodded. "It was grandpa Kenta’s way of protecting me." That reminds me. "Why were you working in a bar?" I turned to Ace and I saw how she flinched. "Are you... having trouble with money these days?"
Ace couldn’t say anything at first, but then she took a deep breath. "Yeah, I’m actually stressed out because of that. Maybe that’s also why I got angry with Noelle." She said as she placed her food down. "I couldn’t talk about it before because it’s my problem, I didn’t want you guys to think about it. Especially now that Noelle’s having a hard time just studying. I lied too, I’m sorry."
I-I didn’t know that Ace’s father died. "H-How did he die?"
"The loan sharks after our uncle killed him because he wouldn’t pay our uncle’s debt." Ace sighed as she forced a smile. "It was difficult to deal with them, and now I have to pay for that debt because they can’t understand that it’s not our debt. It was our useless uncle’s fault." She added.
Is that why she’s always tired? Because she needs more work to pay that debt? "A-Are those loan sharks from the Yamaguchi-gumi?" Even though I’m scared to know the answer, I still wanted to learn who hurt Ace like this. Who’s the reason for her pain?
Ace shook her head. "I know those people can do things like that because an Italian mafia’s backing them up." My eyes widened hearing that.
"I-Italian mafia?"
"Yeah. I don’t know the name, but I’ve heard that the boss’s son will be handling the business soon."
Just like Night? I guess they’re passing their business now too. ’Wait, let’s not assume.’ "Do you know the name of the Italian group?" Ace shook her head so I didn’t bother asking her anymore. I can’t assume anything without proof since it’ll only be a distraction if I tell this to Kenji or Asahi.
"I hope we don’t keep secrets from each other anymore," I said which made Ace nod, but Andy’s quiet. Is he hiding anything from us too? "What about Andy? Do you have something to tell us?" Andy sniffed causing me to feel surprised, I didn’t expect him to cry like that.
"I-I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t be crying like this," Andy said while wiping his tears and sniffing. "I feel bad for you two, I wish I was there to comfort you through your most painful experiences. I want to keep you all in my arms and protect you." He said. That’s cringe but I appreciate his feelings about what he said.
"You girls don’t deserve such hardships," Andy said as he opened his arms. "Let me hug you two because I really love you girls and I’m so happy that you’re all safe from all that trouble." He said as he pulled Ace and me into a hug.
After that sweet hug, Ace explained that her mom fell ill after her father died and she’s been handling their bills alone. That’s why she started working for the bar since it pays well and it can cover their bills, but it’s still not enough.
"I don’t think the student council will still accept me as the vice-president if they learned that I’m working on a bar."
Andy stood up and slammed his hand on the table. "I’ll protect you! I won’t let anyone know of that." He said with confidence, but then he suddenly went silent. "Also, I have a confession to make since we’re all being completely honest with each other."
"What is it?"
Andy fiddled with his finger before he took a deep breath. "I’m..."
