Chapter 17: Six Years Ago pt. 10

"Xander!" He heard her call him.

He looked back and saw her standing ten meters away from her. She was slightly panting as she wiped her forehead from sweat.

"Why did you wander so far. It was hard finding you." She blamed him as she started walking toward Xander.

"Let's go back now. The man was already gone, Ms. Corpuz had already taken him with her." She swayed her arms gesturing him to go back with her.

Xander didn't reply for a moment.

"Ha...ha ha ha" He laughed softly.

"Why, what's funny?" She asked baffled.

"Nah, it's nothing." He replied shaking his head. He then neared her with his footsteps.

Rian, not waiting for him to get to her started walking already making him three steps behind her.

"I'm glad we made Ms. Corpuz believe in our made up story." Rian grinned happily.

"Why can't you just tell her the truth though?" Xander asked her as pass by different street lamps.

"That will just complicate things. I have my own circumstances, you know?" She said peeping past her shoulders to see his face as they continue to walk.

"Now that made me feel bad about staying at your place secretly." He scoffed.

"You shouldn't. I gave you my permission in the first place." She assured him.

Xander lifted his head. "Uhm Rian, I think it's time for me to lea—

"I think you should stay a little bit more longer." Rian halted her feat and turned her back to face him.

"But, why? I thought you wanted me to leave within two days?" Xander was puzzled.

"That's what I told you two days ago." She reminded him. "I—I have changed my mind."

"What?" He slowly said.

"Let's make a deal Xander. I'll let you continue your stay at my place in exchange for your protection." She said with authority. "How's that sound?"

Now she's looking directly at his eyes. Xander took long to reply and what was heard on that moment was none other than the sound of crickets playing their tune in the daybreak.

"Why should I agree to that? You sounded like you're guaranteed that I'm going to agree. What made you so sure?" He questioned her.

A smirk made its way to her lips. "Because you're desperate." She breathed. "We're both desperate that we will cling to any chance of survival given to us." She smiled beautifully but there were traces of sadness visible in her eyes.

"So you're taking advantage of my situation?" Xander raised his eyebrow.

"No, in that deal no ones getting taken advantage of." She said.

"You get what you need by providing me what I need." She said firmly.

"It's quite a fair trade huh." He sighed.

He looked down his feet.

"What are your conditions?" He said as he looked at her.
*It's quite a tempting offer.

"It's quite simple." Rian's eyes brightened. "You'll be my personal bodyguard as I provide you with food and shelter to continue living here."

"Is that all?"

"Also, both of us aren't allowed to ask the other about our personal circumstances. You know what I mean." Rian looked meaningfully at him.

Xander bit his lip. He thought hard about it. Rian didn't remove her gaze at him. She observes his every move calculating his possible reply.

*I didn't know she can be this decisive. She clearly knows I that in my situation, I don't have anywhere to go to. She isn't even afraid about my background. She might be more sly than I thought. This deal is dangerous.

*Just say yes to this Xander. You'll lose nothing on this deal.

*It is true that sticking with her is better than hastily coming back to Spain. But who knows what might come from this deal with many obscured informations.

After scaling everything in his mind, he finally lifted his head to meet with her gaze. This signalled Rian that he had already made up his mind.

When he looked at her, he saw her face full of eagerness for his reply. He can't help but smile.

Ho took a deep long breath, "Okay then, it's a deal."

Rian's eyes widened. She almost jumped out of joy after sealing her first deal with someone. She nodded with pleasure.

She walked to close their distance. Both of their shadows leaned close to each other as if it were listening to their conversation.

She took her hands out from her pocket.

"Let's make a good partnership, Xander." She extended her hands to him for a handshake.

He then accepted it with a smile on his face while lightly shaking his head thinking, what on earth has he signed up for.

And with the crack of sunrise where the very first rays of the sun greeted the gloomy morning sky, two people can be found entering into a deal that may change their lives for the better or for worse.

With that, their agreement was sealed under a flickering streetlight with the dawn as their sole witness.

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**On the port where Xander and 17 is supposed to meet.

17 is huffing as he hid himself away from the group of men who's pursuing him.

He took out his phone and quickly dialed Xander's number. He heard the other line rang but no one's picking up.
*Fuck! C'mon Xander, pick up your damn phone.

He started texting him but before he could finish what he has to say, he felt that the enemies were drawing near.

He put away his phone and started running with all his might—the wind brushing against every pore of his skin.

"That way!"
"He's here!"
"Shoot him!"

He heard the men shout and their voices were soon replaced with deafining gunshots which he is accustomed to.

Moments like this aren't unfamiliar to him or Xander. They were often engaged in fights during their time in the underground thanks to Xander's bad temper.

He then saw a man and went to his direction. After minutes of struggle, 17 now boarded a ship dressed as a seaman getting out of his chasers' sight.

Unknown to him that the ship he boarded was the one he and Xander planned to use for thier escape.

He now leaves Xander behind unintentionally and unknowingly.

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"I am sorry to say this but your Grandmother is currently at the hospital." Ms. Corpuz broke the news to Rian as soon as Xander left.

"What!" She blurted. "Why? What happened to Lola?" She asked worriedly.

"She was taken there due to a mild heart attack." Ms. Corpuz explained. "According to Butler Jimmy on the phone, it happened right after the Chairwoman went out of the Madam's study." She added.

Rian's eyes were lit with anger. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fist.

Adding what happened to her today, she can vaguely guess why her grandma had a heart attack right after she left that Madam's study.

*She must be the one who sent the hitman after knowing that my lola is hiding me. She must have made Lola very agitated that she had a heart attack. That evil witch!

"Rian?" Ms. Corpuz called her when she saw the dimmed expression on her face.

"Butler Jimmy said that according to the doctors, your Lola is fine. She's just unconscious for now. So don't worry. She's in one of the best hospitals in the country, she will wake up soon." The manager patted her back to calm her.

Rian nodded softly. After making sure that Rian was assured Ms. Corpuz left with the guy as soon as a black sedan came for her.

Before the care left, Ms. Corpuz rolled the window. "After I take care of this", pertaining to the man she brought. "I'll arranged for someone to protect you secretly." She said and waved goodbye.

After that she went inside her house feeling the emptiness where she always belonged.

She closed the door behind her and leaned on it. Slowly, she slid down and crouched like a child. Hot tears raced down to her chin.

*This means no one is around to protect me. Ms. Corpuz here has her own work and life. She might be here this time but she isn't assigned to secure my safety.

*Up to this day it was Lola who takes care of that matter. Now that she's unconscious, a situation like this is likely to happen again.

*They will easily find another hitman to replace this man lying on the floor. Who knows? Maybe one is already on its way now.

*That second attempt is when they are bound to succeed because Xander won't be present for today is the day he will be leaving. And he won't be able to save me for the second time around.

*On that note he must have left already. I must hurry and catch up with him.

*I can't trust anyone now. Even that being said, I feel like he is a trustworthy one. I should bet on him in this situation. I should make him stay until Lola has awakened.

She continued to run until he saw his image walking down the road. She breathes a sigh of relief when she saw him. She wiped her tears before calling out his name. And you already know the rest of what happened.