The Ace and The Four kings

2 Days Later -

XJ's POV

I glanced to the right, then to the left, but no matter where I looked, I couldn't find the answer to why I was here.

"Arg!"

It's been 2 days already since I arrived at this house. The house of my only relative, the one and only family member of my late mother.

'Mom.'

I clenched my fist as all the memories of her came rushing back from 13 years ago.

"Stop it!" I don't want to remember all of that.

'Wait, how did Uncle Julyo meet Tito Toni? My staying here? Could he be planning something?'

[knock! knock!]

I snapped back to reality when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and a thin woman with a small frame walked in. She was also wearing large, thick glasses.

"Hi Xyrine, I just came to give you your uniform for tomorrow," Ella said, my biological cousin.

"Just put it there and leave," I replied without turning to look at her.

She didn't leave immediately, and after a few minutes, she still hadn't left. "Is there something you need?" I asked with a blank expression.

"Uh, well... Uh," she stammered and seemed nervous.

I was startled when all of a sudden she knelt before me. "Xyrine, please! Move to another university! Choose any, just not Montreal!" She pleaded, head lowered in desperation.

I was puzzled by her actions and words, but I was too lazy to question her.

"I know you know I had no part in me getting into Montreal," I finally said, but she still didn't stand up.

"I understand," disappointment clearly in her voice, but she still didn't leave.

"I have a favor to ask," she said, looking at the floor while nervously biting her finger. "Can you promise me that if you find anything out about Montreal regarding me, please, please don't tell Dad?"

I stared at her seriously. I didn't know why fear was evident on her face, but whatever it was, I wasn't going to follow anyone outside the BBO.

I stood up and approached her. "I don't take orders from anyone else. You can leave."

She looked confused by my words but quickly stood up. "Sorry, I'll leave." She hurried out.

Finally, the silence settled in the room where I was. My eyes landed on the uniform she left. It was a white top blouse with a black coat, black skirt, and, of course, a necktie. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine wearing something like this. Annoyed, I threw the uniform into the trashcan.

I was still staring into space when I remembered what she said.

"What's with her? What's with Montreal University?"

[KRING! KRING!]

I quickly sprang up from my bed when I heard the alarm clock beside my bed. I looked at the clock on the side table. It was already eleven. I must have overthought things last night, which caused me to sleep in.

I quickly got up, took a shower, and got dressed. The uniform Ella handed me last night was in the trash, so I just wore a black shirt, pants, and a black cap. I was about to leave when I noticed a note on the side table.

"Good morning, Xyrine. Uh, I just want to say that please, please, please wear your uniform—"

I looked at myself. I smiled a little after reading it. "Well, I'm already dressed."

"—and please, please, don't approach me at school. If you see me, just avoid me. Please!"

'Weird.'

Montreal University

"Ah ma'am, this is as far as I go. The parking lot inside is exclusive for students," said the Grab driver I was with.

"What?" I wanted to protest, but there was nothing I could do. I had to get out and walk, staring at the distance I had to cover.

'Hah. Crazy. How did I end up in this situation? How?!'

Before my blood could boil, I started walking toward Montreal University. But after just a few steps, I heard a whistle from behind me.

"Hey, miss! Where are you heading?"

"Inside?" I replied shortly.

He looked me up and down as if inspecting who I was. "Outsiders aren't allowed in, miss."

'Ah, sure.'

I didn't want to go inside anyway. "Okay," I said and was about to leave when he spoke again.

"Wait, let me confirm. What's your full name?"

"Xyrine Jean Guevara," I replied.

"Ah, You're in class A. My goodness, You didn't say. I almost missed a VIP student. You can go ahead, ma'am." His tone changed once he realized I was in class A.

"Okay," I replied, not wanting to engage in conversation. 'And Class A? Is that some kind of VIP treatment?'

After what felt like an eternity, I finally entered the university. I was so hungry, so I decided to look for the cafeteria before heading to the admissions office. But the campus was so large that I had no idea where to go.

I didn't see any students, not even one.

'Is this normal?'

After a few more steps, I finally saw a student in the distance, standing in the middle of the field. As I got closer, I noticed a signboard hanging from his neck.

"SPADE'S PROPERTY."

'Ohhh,' it almost escaped from my mouth. 

I didn't know what to say or what my reaction should be. I've never been in a university before. I had no idea if this was a normal thing.

'But, is it normal to tag someone as their property?'

I stared at him. Besides being thin and pale, he was drenched in sweat. Based on his appearance, he must have been standing there for a while.

'Pathetic.'

Due to my hunger and how long I'd been walking, I ignored the warning sign hanging from his neck and approached him. "Hey, I think I'm lost. Do you know where the cafeteria is?" I asked.

He looked left and right before turning to face me. He seemed startled when he realized I was talking to him. "Miss, can't you read the warning sign around my neck?" he nervously asked.

"I read it."

"Then why do you keep asking?" He asked back in a low tone.

I was about to lose my patience, so without warning, I grabbed him.

"Miss, do you know what you're actually doing? You're putting both of us in danger!"he startled. 

"Look, this campus is huge, so it's better if you just come with me. Also, could you take off that sign hanging from your neck?" After I said that, I pulled the placard from his neck and threw it somewhere.

"Waaah, no!" He quickly grabbed the placard and put it back on.

I furrowed my brow but let it go. As we got closer to the cafeteria, I began to see more and more students. I was slightly amazed by the size of the cafeteria. I was so stunned by the sight that I didn't notice people were staring at us.

"Miss, please stop doing this. You don't know what could happen if you continue this," he pleaded.

"Let's sit at the back. It's empty," I ignored his words and pulled him along.

"You don't understand! I'm Spade's toy. Actually, not just me—there are two of us! We're both on the hotlist. If Spade finds out anyone talked to us, you'll be in danger too! Please, stop!"

I kind of get it, but I still don't get it, or maybe I just don't have the time to understand what he's saying.

"So, it's not just you with the weird placard on your neck? So who's the other one?" I asked, slightly impatient.

He was about to answer when suddenly a loud voice echoed throughout the cafeteria, making everyone look toward the source.

"Damn you! This is the latest Chanel bag I had in the US. How dare you!" A woman's voice screamed.

I almost didn't want to pay attention to what was happening, but then I looked again at the person yelling. The moment I stared at her, my heart began to beat faster.

It can't be.

'Monique? But why.. Ah, right!'

I grinned bitterly when I realized that this school was owned by Xander Montreal.

'What a sequence of events.'

"Be thankful. I borrowed you from Spade. You have the privilege to hang out with me, and this is all you're going to do? Are you freaking stupid?!" Monique's voice was almost crazy as she yelled at someone.

She's still the crazy b*tch I know.

"S-she's the one."

"What?" I turned to the person next to me, who was now trembling.

"She's the one with me!" he said, pointing at the woman Monique was yelling at.

I looked at the direction he was pointing.

My heart raced again when I recognized the familiar face of the woman he was referring to.

"Ella?!"