Chapter 68
Squish. Pat. Shape.
The kitchen smelled like heaven. Specifically, it smelled like sticky white rice, sesame oil, and childhood.
I was wearing a yellow apron (borrowed from Sydney). Sydney was wearing a blue one.
We were standing side-by-side at the kitchen island, making onigiri.
"Just like Christmas," I whispered, pressing a pickled plum into the center of a rice ball.
I remembered when I was ten years old. We tried to make onigiri Christmas Eve because we were obsessed with anime. We made a huge mess! Rice was everywhere! Even in my hair!
I looked at Sydney.
She was focusing intensely on shaping a triangle. Her tongue was poking out just a tiny bit—her habit when she is concentrating.
I reached out with a sticky, rice-covered hand and poked her cheek. Squish.
"Ali!" she giggled, flinching.
"Just checking," I grinned, my eyes getting watery again. "Just checking if you are a hologram. Or a ghost. Or a stress-induced hallucination."
Sydney smiled. A sad, soft smile.
She put down the rice ball. She wiped her hands on a towel.
"I'm real, Aleesha," she said softly.
I bit my lip. The bubbly happiness popped for a second, replaced by the big, heavy question mark floating above my head.
"Syd," I asked, my voice small. "What happened? Why... why did the car explode? Why did we have a funeral? Why are you living in the woods like a fairy?"
Sydney froze. She looked at the window, then at the stairs (checking on the baby?), then back at me.
She took a deep breath.
"It was for the best," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "Elias... he has enemies."
"Enemies?" I gasped. My eyes went wide. "Like... school bullies? Or tax collectors?"
Sydney laughed a dry, nervous laugh. She shook her head.
"Worse. Elias was... involved in some things. Before we met. Dangerous things."
She leaned in closer, whispering like it was a secret scandal.
"He was part of a... group. A gang. Sort of."
GASP!
My jaw dropped to the floor!
"A GANG?!" I shrieked. "Like Tokyo Revengers?! Like Peaky Blinders?! Does he have a tattoo of a dragon on his back?!"
Sydney blinked. "Um... sort of? But that was two years ago, Ali. He got out. He is a good boy now. He loves me and Samuel. But his old... associates... they wouldn't let him leave. So we had to disappear."
"Oooooh," I nodded, my eyes sparkling with understanding.
It makes total sense!
"So it is a Romeo and Juliet story! But with more rice balls and less dying (technically)!"
I grabbed her hands (ignoring the rice residue).
"But Syd! Why didn't you tell me?! We made a Pinky Promise! Clause 4: No Secrets! I cried for years! I wore black! I looked terrible in black!"
Sydney looked guilty. "I know. I wanted to tell you. But it was too dangerous. If people knew I was alive... they might find Elias. And Samuel..."
"Samuel," I whispered.
The baby. The squishy mochi baby in the blue cardigan.
"Okay," I nodded vigorously. "I forgive you! For Samuel! We must protect the mochi at all costs!"
Sydney let out a breath of relief. "Thank you, Ali."
She picked up the rice again. Squish.
"So..." she started, glancing at me sideways. "Tell me about your life. About... Gabriel."
She said his name carefully. Like she was testing the temperature of the water.
My face lit up! Ting!
I grabbed a handful of rice.
"Oh my gosh, Syd! Gabby is... ugh! He is the best!"
I started molding the rice aggressively with love.
"He is so handsome! Like, face-card-never-declines handsome! And he is rich! He buys me everything! Pink bags! Pink jets! He even bought me a Hello Kitty plushie that sits on the sofa of his plane!"
I giggled.
"And he is so clingy! He always wants to know where I am! He tracks my phone (for safety!). He has an inhaler in his pocket just for me! He kisses me all the time!"
I sighed dreamily.
"He is so in love with me, Syd. And I am... I am mega super in love with him."
Don't tell her, a voice in my head whispered.
Don't tell her about Natalia. Don't tell her about the 'cheating' scare. Don't tell her about the unknown number sending pictures of intestine ropes.
Why?
Because Gabriel explained it! It's just haters! It's just Mosor!
And I don't want Sydney to think my husband is bad. She already has a "Gangster Husband." I want her to know my husband is a Prince!
So I kept the dark stuff zipped. Zip.
"He sounds... intense," Sydney said, her smile not reaching her eyes.
"He is passionate!" I corrected.
Sydney stopped making rice balls. She looked at me seriously. She grabbed my wrist gently.
"Ali," she said. "Just... take care, okay? Be vigilant. Always check your surroundings."
"I am vigilant!" I nodded proudly. "I always check for spiders!"
Sydney chuckled, but it sounded sad.
"Be cautious, Ali," she whispered. "Be cautious... even around your husband."
I pouted. Hmph.
"Why is everyone hating on Gabby?" I muttered. "First the Unknown Number, now you? He is a good boy! He catches yarn!"
But Sydney just looked at me with those big, worried eyes.
So I nodded. "Okay. I will be cautious. I will watch him like a hawk!"
We finished the onigiri. We put them on a wooden tray. Sydney made coffee for the boys. I made warm milk with honey for myself (because coffee makes me jittery!).
"Let's go feed the boys!" I chirped.
We walked down the stairs, carrying the trays.
"Careful," Sydney whispered.
We reached the living room landing.
And we froze.
The air in the room was... thick. Like gelatin.
Gabriel and Elias were sitting exactly where we left them.
Gabriel was on the left sofa. He was sitting like a King. Right leg crossed over the left knee. His arm was spread across the back of the sofa. His other elbow was resting on the armrest, his hand covering his mouth in a thoughtful pose. He was staring at Elias.
Elias was on the right sofa. He was sitting like a Knight. Posture straight. His left hand gripped the armrest. His index finger was tapping against the wood. Tap. Tap. Tap. He was staring at Gabriel.
They weren't talking. They weren't blinking.
They were just... radiating vibes.
Dark vibes. Serious vibes. "I am handsome and dangerous" vibes.
Huhu. Why are men like this?
Are they telepathically communicating?
Gabriel: Nice sweater. Elias: Nice watch. Gabriel: I win. Elias: No.
I cleared my throat loudly. "EHEM!"
Both heads snapped toward us instantly.
Gabriel stood up in one fluid motion. Elias stood up just as fast.
They walked toward us.
"Let me help," Gabriel said, taking the heavy tray from my hands. His fingers brushed mine. Warm.
"I got it," Elias took the coffee tray from Sydney. He gave her a small, secret smile that made Sydney relax a little.
We all sat down.
The four of us.
Me and Gabriel on one sofa. Sydney and Elias on the other.
The silence returned.
I looked at the rice balls. I looked at Gabriel. I looked at Elias.
"So!" I clapped my hands, making everyone jump. "Onigiri time! Eat! Eat! Before the rice gets hard!"
I picked up a rice ball and shoved it toward Gabriel's mouth. "Say ahhh!"
Gabriel blinked. He looked at the rice ball. He looked at Elias (who was watching closely).
Then, he opened his mouth.
Chomp.
He took a bite.
"Is it good?" I asked, eyes sparkling.
"It is... adequate," he mumbled, chewing. (That means delicious in Gabriel-speak!).
"See?" I beamed at Elias. "My husband loves my cooking! Even though he is a Logistics CEO and eats fancy steak!"
Elias smiled politely. "I am sure he does."
"So, Elias!" I turned to him. "Sydney told me you were in a gang!"
CRASH.
Gabriel stopped chewing. Sydney choked on her coffee. Elias froze.
"A... gang?" Elias repeated slowly, looking at Sydney.
"Yes!" I nodded enthusiastically. "Like a bad boy group! But you are good now! That is so cool! Do you know karate?"
Elias looked at Gabriel. Gabriel looked at Elias.
For a second, I saw something pass between them. A look of... understanding? Or maybe just shared confusion over my brilliance?
"I know... self-defense," Elias said carefully.
"Nice!" I gave him a thumbs up. "Gabby knows logic! You guys should team up! Logic and Karate!"
Gabriel let out a small, resigned sigh. He put his hand on my thigh and gave it a squeeze.
"Eat your rice ball, Aleesha," he said softly.
"Okay!"
I took a big bite.
The ice was broken! We were talking!
Well, I was talking. But they were listening! And that counts!
We are having a double date in the woods with my dead cousin and her gangster husband!
Life is crazy!