Hope And Love

ISLA was combing her hair in front of her vanity mirror when she heard a knock on the door.
She put down her comb and walked towards the door. She gasped in surprise when she saw Zero.
“Hi,” he greeted and gave a peck on her lips, making her eyes widen.
“I thought—”
“Surprise,” he let out and smiled at her.
She frowned and bit her lower lip.
Then suddenly, Zero brings out the flowers that he hides on his back. “For the lovely mother-to-be of my kids and my future wife,” he asserted.
Isla doesn’t know what to feel at this moment. Zero never failed to surprise her.
Before a tear could fall from her eyes, she smiled to push it back and reached for the bouquet of tulips—her favorite.
“Thank you,” she said and tiptoed, brushing her lips into his.
Zero smiled and offered his arm. “Shall we?”
Isla hit him in the shoulder slightly before snaking her arm into it. They then went downstairs.
Isla’s mom is on a trip again and doesn’t know when she will come back, and she doesn’t need to tell Apollo that she will have a date with Zero. Date? She shook her head.
“Anyway, Becca will arrive this afternoon. Did she tell you about it?” she asked.
Zero opened the door in the passenger seat. He looked at her and nodded. “Yes, do you want to come and pick her up at the airport?”
She smiled and nodded. After that, she gets inside.
Zero gently guided her, and he even put on her seatbelt before closing the door. He turned to the other side and sat in the driver’s seat.
“Did she tell you what time?” Zero asked as he started the car engine and turned the steering wheel to the left.
“She’ll gonna call me when she’s already in the airport,” she replied.
Zero nodded.
“Uhm, Becca wants to stay at the house, but Apollo doesn’t want to,” she said and glanced in front.
Zero let out a soft chuckle. “Of course, he doesn’t want to feel deeply. Your brother is a coward too when it comes to love.”
Isla sighed. “I want them to be together. Uhm, can’t you do anything to let Apollo pick Becca up at the airport?” she asked.
“Playing cupid, baby?” he teased and smiled.
Isla rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I just want them to be true to their feelings. And Becca is not that young for him. Apollo is just a jerk.”
“Don’t worry, baby. I will try my best to convince Apollo and find a way,” Zero replied.
And after a few seconds, silence filled in. Zero raised the volume of the stereo to give out a vibe.
Isla looked past through the window.
Zero clenched his jaw while he glanced at the rearview mirror. He saw a black car that was following them. He can’t radio his colleagues this time since he’s with Isla.
Damn, why do they need to show up today? He thought.
“Zero doesn’t drive fast,” Isla asserted, making him cuss inside his head.
“Sorry, baby. I promise I’ll keep you safe,” he said meaningfully.
Isla frowned and looked at him. “Is there anything wrong?” she asked.
Zero shook his head and suddenly took the lane on the right-most of the highway. “I think we can try some seafood, right, baby? Or do you prefer for us to book a room and you know…”
Isla arched her brow. “What’s in your mind again, Zero?”
Zero bit his lower lip. “Just trying if luck is on my side,” he replied, “—besides, it’s still early for lunch,” he added.
She heaved a deep sigh and looked away. “Don’t waste money. We can do it later at home,” she replied, making Zero’s eyes widen.
“For real?” he yelled in excitement.
“Whore! In your dreams. Will you stop that? I told you, you can masturbate—”
“Why do masturbate if I can thrust it inside yours? Uhm… can’t wait until you gave birth,” he said and winked at her.
Isla wanted to burst out in anger at this moment, but she still calmed herself and ignored Zero.
Zero bit his lower lip and smiled. Isla looks cute when she’s trying to get calm.
He looked in the side mirror, and the black car was already gone, and he saw three sports bikes on the back.
He smiled and felt at ease.
“Why are you smiling?” Isla asked suddenly, making Zero press his lips, and glance at her for a second.
“I’m just happy that we’re already experiencing this freely without getting frightened about what will happen if your brother finds out.
She arched her brow and nodded. “How about the media?”
“Hmm?”
“What did you do to them? I mean, why aren’t they getting and doing gossip or issues about us?”
Zero smiled. “Money. Everything can be bribed with money. And of course, a little talk and warning,” he replied, confidently.
“Zero… are you still hiding something from me? I know we’re not married yet, but I want you to be honest with me.”
Zero sighed. “I’m doing it, baby.”
“Are you sure?” Isla squinted her eyes and looked at him intently.
“Baby…”
“You’re not a gangster? Or mafia?”
Zero’s eyes widened. “Where did you get those questions, baby?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s just that I have a feeling about it.”
“What if I’m a gangster or part of a mafia? Don’t you love me anymore?” he asked, but his eyes were fixed on the road. His heart suddenly thumped fast as he waited for Isla’s answers.
Isla arched her brow and smiled, “It’s fine,” she replied, which surprised Zero.
It’s not the answer that he expected. He thought she would yell at him, but it was the opposite. She’s calm.
“I’m a mafia boss—”
“I know,” she replied.
“H-How?” If he doesn’t have control, he should be stepping on the brake and stopping the car. Good thing he was trained in this manner.
“It’s a guess, and I got you,” she replied and smirked. She glanced at him, “guess I am right all along that you’re a part of an organization on the underground society.
“So, does that mean my life is always in danger? Do you have an enemy?”
“Enemies, baby. They’re many,” he replied.
She smiled. “I love guns—”
“Yeah, Apollo told me. You’re always been on a firing range since you were in high school,” Zero interrupted.
“So, is there any threat at this moment, baby?” Isla asked, making Zero frowns.
“B-Baby?”
Isla arched her brow and looked at him. “Yeah. Why you don’t want it?”
Zero smiled. “Of course, I love it. It’s just that you surprise me every time you call me: baby,” he replied. “And for the threat, I always received every day, but it’s all settled. You’re safe, baby,” Zero asserted.
SINCE IT was still early, Zero and Isla decided to talk about the most things they were interested in. They choose to stay and sit on the wooden bench at the park near the restaurant that Zero wants to take her to.
“So, when did you establish your organization?”
“After graduation. My dad has one too, and he’s also a mafia boss. And you knew how dangerous it is when you engage yourself with bad people like us—”
“You’re not bad. I could feel it. You’re just a playboy, a womanizer,” she cut off the hum of his words.
Zero couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yeah. But you love this playboy,” he replied, which made Isla to rolled her eyes.
“How about your mom? Does she know that your dad is a mafia boss?”
Zero nodded and smiled. He couldn’t believe that they were talking about this. He thought Isla would fear him if she found out, but it’s the opposite again. And he’s grateful for it.
“Yes, she knew. Aside from Apollo and Becca, it was Mom who convinced me first to confess my true feelings to you.”
“Your mom is so adorable, and I’m glad that she likes me…” she smiled, “—loving you is just like air. You can feel it, but you can’t see it. It’s shady. I thought it would just be unrequited love, and then here we are, sitting next to each other, loving each other—which I thought was just a dream.”
Zero, “…”
“Your identity is not a problem to me. I even love it. Ever since I loved mafias gangsters—I have wanted to engage in fights. I even tried underground fighting, but Apollo found it out, so I stopped. Becca knows all of this.”
Zero let out a soft chuckle. “I thought you’re that kind of girl who’s shy and doesn’t want her newly polish fingernails to get broken,” he replied.
“That was just a façade. But seriously, I would love to know how this mafia thing works.”
Zero sighed. “It’s dangerous. It’s either you will kill or get killed…” he looked at her, “—you need to sacrifice… you will need to take the risk. You need to be powerful and be ready to face threats.”
She nodded. “Are you dealing with drugs and guns or any illegal doings?”
“I engaged with firearms and rendering services.”
“Like?”
“Like taking orders from the government—the FBI or anyone who needs help to get inside the underground society.”
“FBI? Aren’t they, your enemy?”
Zero frowned slightly. “Are you thinking that I’m a bad guy?”
“Aren’t you?”
Zero smiled. “Well, kind of. But the FBI needs me too. You know, to deal with those organizations that do export and import drugs, slavery, illegal auctions, human trafficking, carjacking… I helped them catch those criminals. I engaged with firearms, but I have a license from the government. The police agents came to us and bought firearms. But of course, I’m not exposing myself. In the underground society, we’re using fake names. So, yeah, I still do illegal stuff, but that’s the protect myself and the people surrounding me.”
“That sounds fun,” Isla uttered, making Zero’s jaw drop because of her reaction.
“Seriously, baby?”
She bit her lower lip. “Just like what I’ve told you…” she paused and stared into his eyes, “—I love fights.”
Zero shook his head. “You’re one of a kind,” he asserted.
“Of course, I even get you, right?”
He blushed for the first time. “Yes, you did,” he replied and stood up. “I’m already hungry, and I need to meet a client this afternoon,” he said, “shall we?” he added.
“Is it a girl or a boy?”
Zero frowned.
“Your client.”
“Oh. A woman,” he replied
Isla then glared at him.
Zero can’t help himself but laugh. “She’s in her fifties. Why?”
Isla just rolled her eyes and stood up.
“Don’t tell me you’re jealous?”
She arched her brow and crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Why should I?”
“Really?”
“Why would I be jealous if I know that you love me?” she said, making Zero smile, “—not unless you’re lying,” she added.
“W-What? Of course, I love you,” he asserted.
Isla winked at him. “I know, right.”
Zero reached for her hand as they walked their way toward the restaurant. He’s still in awe, knowing that Isla won’t judge him by his identity.
“Hmm… do your flings know that you’re mine?”
Zero arched his brow and looked down. “Am I yours?” he teased, making Isla frown.
“Zero…”
He gave her a soft kiss on the top of her head. “Just kidding, baby.”
Isla sighed. “Answer my question—”
“Maybe yes or no. I don’t know. But knowing how fast the communication method these days, it won’t be impossible,” he replied.
Isla nodded. “I hope they won’t ruin us,” she asserted.
Zero smiled and enveloped his hand into her shoulder, “They won’t, and I won’t let them,” he replied.
At this moment, Isla was on cloud nine. God is great all the time. And you obtain anything in God’s perfect timing. She hopes that they will stay firm and inseparable.