The Obsession

Cereals are Gold!

Lissie

"Are you sure about this?" Dahlia asked after she opened the door of my car. She wasn't the only one who's waiting for me to answer as all of my men are standing near their car and no one's moving, obviously eavesdropping.

"Why not?" I asked back and shrug my shoulders. "After all, that is my house. So I can bring anyone I want."

"Don't get me wrong, Lis." Dahlia said in a way that she doesn't want me to misunderstood what she's about to say. "I know that it's your house, but–."

"But what she's trying to say is, the risk is not worth to bring her in. That is your house, we know, but consider the fact that you'll be expose, wherein we are.." Nashly motion her fingers around them and went back to her. "..trying to hide you from the cops, detective Parry and Baeton thinks that Dahlia's house is your house because we don't want you to deal the same problem that we have to deal with the detectives." She explained in one breathe and with emphasizing some words.

I look at each of them, everyone who's looking at me and showing me that they agreed to what Nashly said. Then I heaved a deep breath, but just before I could release it, everyone entered their car and I got left alone outside. Even Brian, who opened the door for me was already inside the car.

I bend my body and knocked on the window. "Yes boss?" Brian asked after he rolled down the window. I motioned my finger and he lend me his ear.

"Get the hell out of my car." I whispered.

"Oh s**t, right, I'm sorry boss." He fumbles as he opened the door and get off. I turn to Dahlia and even if I didn't say anything, she released a sigh of frustration and push the door open beside her.

"Why did everyone entered their cars? I haven't said a word." I said mockingly but with a glint of annoyance in my voice. I turn to Dahlia who's looking everywhere but me, then to Brian who were doing the same, as if they are too afraid to meet my gaze, then I released a lungful sigh and looked at them. "Look, just like what Nashly said, it is my house, so I'll bring anyone I want and you can't do nothing about that."

"Lis." Nashly said as she came out from her car.. again. "We are just worried about you, I know that a mere woman who became her father's compensation is not a threat, but you're place—."

"Raise the hands of anyone who's against in my decision." I said and waited for someone to raise their hands while looking straight into Nashly's eyes. And since some of them are already in their car and my two men behind me didn't respond. I tilt my head a bit and stared at Nashly in — is there anything else you want to say– look.

"Fine, it's your decision anyway." She resigned and turn her back against me. "What a stubborn kid." She mumbles before entering her car. I hiss past through my teeth and get inside of my car and waited for Jeane.

As she came out from the main door, my heart leaped and I had to refrain myself from smiling with how Jeane dressed up in a beige knee length dress, my mom clinging on her arm, wearing my favourite smile of her's. And Dahlia is watching me through the rearview mirror.

I remember that my mom wished for a daughter, who's feminine enough to wear those kind of dress, a daughter that's clearly not me. I can't blame her, because it wasn't her fault why I became like this, it's my father's fault.

Brian walked over them and guided Jeane to my car, I waved my hand to mom before Dahlia roll the window up and started the engine.

"Send me home." Jeane said as soon as we exited the gate of our mansion. I released a soft chuckle and lean back my head, shut my eyes close and cross my arms against my almost flat chest. "I promise, I'll pay you back."

"Once you have paid off your debt, I, myself will take you home." I said in my authority voice. She didn't respond after that, which made the whole ride to my house became silent. I open my left eye to peek at her, and she's looking out the window. I went back on and let the song in the stereo to engulfed us because I know that it's not the time to piss her off. And to be honest, I got really tired after beating mr.Keeve, it's not the kind of exhaustion that everyone would feel after a long physical activity.

I am emotionally exhausted because of that old guy, he made me remember my past, he made me lose my sanity and beat him mercilessly because he tried to sell his daughter. And he's lucky that Jeane was such a fine lady. because if not? He would've been drowning with his own pool of blood, with slit throat and no evidence that it's my men who done such a heinous crime.

And I understand Jeane, I know, because I had the same fate as her, if it wasn't to Daddy Lucio, I'm probably be dead by now. My biological father put me through a lot of pain, I suffered too much due to excessive pain of torture I received from that kid. And hoping that our paths will never cross or she will be the first person that's gonna die in my hands.

___

"Ayo. We gotta pull over, see you at home." Dahlia chuckled and ended the call from Tim and she step on the gas and drive faster. I looked back and saw my men getting out of the car as they got pulled over at the side of the road by the very familiar car. The detectives.

"They've been following us since we came out from your parent's house." Dahlia said and handed me my mask.

"Oh ok. just pull over there." I said and Dahlia nodded before she whipped the wheel in front of a bus stop, where few people are waiting for the bus to arrive. I pushed the door open and grabs Jeane's hand who's confused as to why we stop in a bus stop.

"Careful." Dahlia said as she guided my head not to hit the hood and climb out. I immediately tugged Jeane to hide behind the people's back. "Call me when you get home." She said before entering the car and she drove away.

When Dahlia disappear from my sight, my men's car passes through me with a honk of their horns and I lower my head when the detective's car still tailing them, even if they already asked them to stop a while ago and of course, they did see nothing of evidence that they are the one's who killed mr. Choi.

"Why are we here?" Jeane asked, finally speaking after that 30 mins silent drive.

"We're going to ride a bus." I replied.

"Why? Aren't you a billionaire?"

"Why? Does billionaire are forbidden to ride a bus?" I asked back.

"No, but you already have a luxurious car and you still chose to ride a bus to your house." She said and a little laugh escape from my mouth. I grab her hand when a bus stop in front of us and we both get in, but since I don't have any money in me, I looked at Jeane, as if I'm silently asking her to pay the fare so we could get in. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Urgh! What a useless moron." Jeane grunts and since she has money in her, she was the one who payed the fare and she nudge me with her shoulder to find a seat inside the bus.

"Are you really going to sit there?" I asked while standing beside her, gripping the pole next to me to steady myself.

"Go find a seat on your own." She said without looking up to me. My gaze shifted at the guy sitting next to her, he's looking at Jeane with his creepy smile that makes my blood boils and I poke his head with my index finger.

He looked up and asked me using his eyes. "I'm giving you one chance to get off the bus."

Jeane looked up to me with her eyes widened and she looked back at the man beside her. "I'm sorry about that, but she's being an asshole, I don't mind if you beat her."

"W-what?" The guy asked, shifting his gaze from me and to Jeane. "Lover's quarrel?"

"No/Yes." We answered simultaneously.

"Shut the f**k up." Jeane hisses and and I was already expecting that she would hit me so I quickly hardened my stomach before she punched me.

"Woah, relax girl." The guy said, looking at Jeane in amuse. "You don't get to hit your girlfriend like that."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Jeane grumbled and she stood up but she was stop by the guy and my eyes narrowed, ready to hit the guy.

"Fix it, and please, don't hurt her again." The guy said to Jeane before he stood up when the bus stopped and he got off.

"You heard him." I said and pushed her at the corner and sat next to her, she groans but didn't complain.

"After beating my father? You deserve my revenge!"

"By continuously hitting me? Well, he deserves the beating for selling you out." I said and lean my head against her shoulder but she immediately pushed it away. "Why so rude? I just want to rest."

"I don't associate to criminal."

"You'll live with the criminal under the same roof, suck it up, ms. Jeane Keeve." I chaff and lean my head once again but I got rejected for the second time.

"I will find a better job and I will slap the money in your face." She mumble and turn her back against me, twisting her hip too much just to avoid me.

"I'm looking forward to it." I banter back and just decided to lower my head with my arms cross. "Wake me up if we arrive at the last station."

"Aren't you worried that I might escape?"

"Aren't you afraid that your father will die just because you escape?" I asked back.

"He literally sold me out, do you think that I would still give a f**k about him?"

"Ok, then just looked behind you." I said and pretend that I know the big guy with nice body built— seems like he's living his life in a gym—, wearing a fitted a grey shirt and ripped jeans, his chin covered with beard and under his nose is well trimmed moustache. "Ayo!" I waved my hand at him to get his attention. "Looking good huh?" And though confused, he still smiled at me and nod his head politely.

"You know him?" Jeane asked, the sudden fear is visible in her eyes.

"I will not greet him if I don't know him." I said and since she was too staggered at the big guy,I took that as an opportunity to lean my head on her shoulder and I succeeded. She didn't complain nor move. I laugh inside when I could feel how tense her body was but I decided not to tease her about that and took a nap.

A light tap on my face awoke me and pulled me out from the same nightmare I had been dealing since the day Daddy Lucio took me from that kid. The worst part of my childhood.

"You're creeping me out." Jeane said while looking at me weirdly. I sat straight and stared at her ridiculously.

"Don't you ever experienced having a nightmare?" I asked ludicrously.

"I actually did, since this afternoon. I've been having a nightmare while awake."

"Is that a disorder?" I asked curiously.

She laughed mockingly but immediately stop and stare at me without emotion. "You are my nightmare."

I don't know if I should laugh, get mad, or remain neutral. But in the end, I chose the first one and laugh loudly, the way how I laugh when she first hit me inside my car, earning disapproving look at the passengers.

"I didn't know that you're a good joker." I said between my laughter.

"I'm not even kidding." She scoffed and elbowed me. I don't know if it's already in my traits to be aware or I just got her attitude once she's pissed off. It is because I immediately hardened my stomach just before she could hit me and this is the third time I did it today and I know that she could feel it.

"Get up there, we're here." I said as I stood up and offers my hand at her but she swatted it away. "Rude." I pouts and got off of the bus.

"You're not just a criminal, you're also a liar." Jeane said as she got off. I just raised my left brow at her in confusion. "That guy, he said that he didn't know you." She said while pointing at the big guy earlier.

"He did know me." I said and held my index finger in the air. "Hey, you don't know me?" I asked the guy and when he stopped from walking and turned his body , he immediately bend in in 90 degrees when I removed my mask.

"I do, I'm sorry." He said. "I I just didn't recognize you right away because of your mask, please forgive me for being rude to you."

"See?" I mocked the girl in front of me who's staring at the big guy in disbelief. "That's enough, you're dismissed." I waved my hand and grabs Jeane's hand, drag her into the car that's been waiting for me in ages. My driver open the door and I pushed Jeane inside and followed her.

"What the hell was that?" Jeane asked, still in disbelief.

"Well, I'm Lissie Daemon. Who does not know the Daemon? I owns big casinos in every part of the world, I am the boss of the biggest and powerful mafia, my dad is a well known chef, my mom owns big companies here and out of the country."

"I do." Jeane said.

"Not anymore." I said back and offer my hand at her. "Let me introduce myself." I smiled at her when she looked up to meet my eyes after staring at my hand.

"You just did, you already bragged to me how rich you are and your parents."

"Oh right." I said and took back my hand awkwardly.

We arrived at my house, at the top of the hill. And I could see in my peripheral vision the girl next to me, studying the place and I can't help but to smile boastfully.

My mansion was all concrete and tall glass windows that gave a view of the mountains, a chance to relax and take in the changing of the seasons from the comfort of an easy chair. The rock walls belonged right where it was, as if perchance it had grown up right from that hallowed ground. It was as if it had been called into existence to protect those who came to dwell within, to quell the elements and allow a heat to build from hearths into the inhaled woodland air.

This is my sanctuary, my safety haven, when your name is on a million lips, it is your world and that amount of space is necessary because its all the space you have to exist as the real and vulnerable version of yourself.

The driver pulled in front of the main door and he open the door of the car for me. I thanked him and he bow his head while waiting for Jeane to come out.

As soon as Jeane came out, her face screams amusement. She didn't even notice that my driver already left and we are all alone in this huge house.

"Let's go in." I said and I walked first into the house, pressed my passcode and pushed the two way door open. "Welcome to my paradise." I said smiling widely.

"Oh my God!" She exclaimed when she saw five fury creatures sleeping in the carpeted floor.

"Oh wait, let me introduce you to my kids." I said and walked over the fury balls and picked up my oldest who purred and snuggle in my chest. "This is my Scottish fold baby Leo "

"He's so cute!" Jeane said enthusiastically.

"I know!" I replied with the same enthusiasm. "My second baby is ragdoll Luca, then his daughter, Lily, Louis is a British Shorthair and my newest baby, I adopted him last week and his name is Lego! He's also a British Shorthair with golden fur."

"They're so cute, oh my God! Can I touch them?"

"Sure, but no kissing, they are still kids."

"Oh shut up!" She hisses and she comes for Lego, the smallest one. "Hello cutie." Jeane holding her softly and then meow and purr to her and Lego meow back, as if they are talking with the language I couldn't understand. And since Jeane has cat like eyes, it's not really surprising that she could understand my cats. Or am I just stupid to believe that Jeane could understand them.

But to be honest, seeing her smiling like that while stroking Lego's fur, I felt relieved. Even for a moment, she forgot why she's here, why she had to be here and not in their house.

I know my men and my parents are wondering, why did I even agreed to take her? Because of one reason, I like her. No, I think I'm in love with her. Call me cringe~y or what, but I was struck with Cupid's arrow the first time I saw her, is that what you called love at first sight? Whatever it is, all I know is that I want to be with her, I want to protect her from the cruel world, I want to be her knight in shining armour and she'd be my damsel in distress.

"For a criminal, I wasn't expecting that you kept five cats inside this huge house." Jeane said while playing with Lily and Louis and let Lego to walk around with his cute little legs.

"I'm a sucker for cute cats." I said.

"I feel sorry for them because their mom is a criminal."

"It'd be great to shut your mouth in front of my kids." I warns and stood up from the carpeted floor, Leo still in my hands. "Your room will be on the 2nd floor at the right corner and in the end of the left hallway."

"Can I ask you a question?" Jeane said, now's looking up to me.

"You already did, but shoot." I shrugs and move to on the couch, put down Leo on my lap and stroke his back fur.

"Why did you brought me here?"

"You're the compensation of your father's debt." I replied without giving her a glance.

"But I heard to your men—."

"Friends." I corrected her.

"Whatever, but according to them, you never bring someone in your house except them."

"And?" I pressed.

"I was just wondering, do you have plans making me your slave?" She asked and I couldn't help but to laugh again for the third time. The kind of laugh that my stomach hurts and my eyes glisten with tears. "Why are you laughing?!"

"I'm s-sorry, it's just that. You are thinking too much." I said as my laughter subsided. "You wanna know the reason why I brought you here?" I asked and she nodded her head eagerly. "It's because I li—." I stopped abruptly and shut my mouth immediately.

"You li— what?"

"I like you to be my cook because I don't know how to cook." I said fast, too fast that even myself couldn't understand what did I said. But it's her turn to laugh at me and I swear to God! I could drink her laugh!

"You are unbelievably crazy! You are a billionaire, you could hire the best chef in the world with the money you have!"

"Well, I can't hire my Dad because he's busy cooking for my mom." I shrugs and Jeane stop from laughing.

"Oh." All she could say and she looked away, avoiding my gaze.

"You can start cooking now. I'm hungry." I said to ease up the sudden awkwardness between us.

"You just ate a while ago, but ok, where's the kitchen?" She asked, still not looking at me.

"Follow me." I said as I stood up and put down Leo and walked over to my untouched and obsolete kitchen, and as if it was just made to serve as a decoration in my house.

My kitchens were the hues of light upon cloud, of the kinds of creams and greys that soothed. And so the blues of dishes and the rich browns well cared for woods became as welcome musical notes upon a score. Every utensils and kitchen tools seems to be screaming in agony, begging to use them, In the corner of the kitchen sat a refrigerator like a great silver monolith, oversized and full of gallons of chocolate drink inside.

"What do you want me to cook?" Jeane asked after she admired my untouched kitchen.

"Anything that you want to cook." I said and sat down in a high stool in front of the counter top, put my chin on the top of my hand while watching her.

"Ok, let me see what you have in here." Jeane said as she walked to the refrigerator. "What the hell." She breathed out.

"What? What happen?"

"How the hell do you survive if the only contents of your refrigerator are gallons of chocolate drink, different varieties of chocolates and gallons of ice cream?" She asked in disbelief and shut the two way door refrigerator. She walked to the cupboard, and since she's only 5'4, she had to grab one chair and starts rummaging on them, but to her dismay, she only saw box of cereals. "I'm almost convince that you are not a human."

"Cereals are gold!"

"Shut up! You can't live with only cereals!" She yelled and bend over to rummage in another cupboard underneath. "This is all cat food! My God!"

"I'd rather starve than my babies!"

"And you want me to prepare something, what am I going to cook if you don't have any real food!"

"Cereals, chocolates and ice cream are all food!"

"I said real food! Don't argue with me!" She yell loudly which cause me to shut up and frowns. "What are you?! Five?"

"19." I whispered.

"You know what, we better change our clothes and we'll go to the grocery store, I'm not going to live with a woman that has only cereals in her cupboards! You dumb f**k!"

"Why you gotta be so rude?" I sneered but obliged anyway. I took her in her room and let her change her clothes and I went to my own room, which located in front of her's.

While I'm changing my clothes into a new suit, a knock on my door caught my attention. "Yes?" I said as soon as I open my door.

"I don't have any clothes here." Jeane said.

"Oh right, I'm sorry." I apologized and open the door widely. "Come on in, I will lend you a dress."

"What are you wearing?" She asked, I stopped from walking to my walk-in closet and looked at her.

"A suit." I replied.

"You're going to wear a suit in a grocery store?" She asked again, but this time, there's a mockery in her voice that I really find cute.

Everything about her is cute!

"Just so you know, I have not yet entered any grocery store in my whole life, even when I was a kid and until now."

"That explains your choice of food." She scoffed and walked pass through me to enter my walk-in closet and when she came out, she's holding two pairs of hoodie and track pants. She throw one pair in me and look me in the eye with no emotion. "Wear that, that is more appropriate than your suit." She said before leaving me alone inside my room, smiling like stupid love sick puppy dog.

"I will just think that this is our first date." I mumbled and starts undressing myself to wear the clothes that Jeane chose for me. "She's such a material wife." I gush and the smile in my lips never fades.

_______