A LITTLE TOUCH OF ROSE - EPISODE 36

Odin’s standpoint

This is bad, this is really really bad. Meena woke up with a sore throat, on the final day of the competition! It was overly bad. We’d be trying to clear the sore throat but nothing was working and I wasn’t ready to sing without her.

Sure, there were other singers, but they didn’t plan to sing so it might end up bad. Cedric and Hime was a good choice, but Cedric got stung by a bee on his tongue and Hime ate the same thing Meena ate that gave her a sore throat. Who told them to just eat the random berry they found in the woods! Stupid Darra ate too and Alvin wasn’t someone we could drop any responsibility on.

Okay, there’s Jake and his friends, but who will represent the girl? All the girls who could sing ate the berry.

“This is horrible,” Dean sighed, “what are we going to do? Yuki can’t sing, Sakura don’t have a good voice and we can’t just pick any of the regular students, they will mess things up with either excitement, anxiety or…”

“Lack of experience,” Jake interjected.

“Not being able to flow well with either of us,” Isaac sighed.

“Hey, guys,” our heads simultaneously snapped to Zed and Rosita who were finally gracing us with their presence. We had been so caught up in trying to fix the matter at hand that we all forgot that Zedekiah and Rosita were still in camp and could sing.

“Why are you all looking at us like that?” Zed asked uncomfortably.

“The two of you would have to sing,”

“Why?”

“The girls ate some weird berries they found in the bush and the only ones who didn’t can’t sing. We would have asked Alyssa but she’s still giddy from dating Tenny and…”

“She’s not that much of a singer,” Zed said thoughtfully, “and we can’t ask random students. Gempire hosted this event, it would be bad if we don’t show up and at least win any position. Even though it is just for fun, it would be bad for them,” he turned his gaze to Rosita and grinned.

“No,” she deadpanned.

“Yes, we’ll do it,” he chirped.

“I didn’t say yes,” she whined. Zed waved her off dismissively.

“We just need to find any song at all and it’s best we sing in English if we are going to beat the twins,”

“Why can’t it be two boys?” She complained childishly.

“Because, Gempire works with both gender,” I said and clapped my hands, “now, get a move on, guys, we are up in ten minutes.” There, problem almost solved.

Rosita’s standpoint

When I mentioned I could sense what Zedekiah’s next move was, I was being literal. Having a boyfriend you vibe well with has it benefits, like climbing onto a stage where your every move would be shown worldwide with no idea on what to sing or do. We planned to just sing a regular love song or a funny song to make everyone laugh but Terry and Tenny coincidentally did it. Since they came before us, it didn’t give us any time to think about what we would do. Using the same idea was lame.

So, for our first song, we just climb the stage to freestyle to a tone Romi downloaded for us. Our mind picked one topic, the one thing in our minds and that was my parents; my father. We changed it, yes. The song was about a man who lost his lover, the love of his life and wished to be with her. It was to the life father would live after mother was gone. And the most painful thing was that mother’s heart belonged to someone else. And at the end of the song, he accepted that even if she didn’t love him, he would still come searching for her at the other side.

I don’t know how we did it, but we did and the raw emotions coming from me, from my pain took over me. I was the one at the recieving end of whatever would happen if the solution didn’t work. Whether he died or she, at the end, I still face pain.

“To the lover that I lost to the other side
Even though your heart don’t recognise me
I’ll still come searching for you at the other side
Because you will forever remain my better side.” That last part repeated in my head after the show. I have to say, it was indeed fun for them to see different singers just singing for fun. We may have made almost everyone cry, but it still was a good song, especially since it was unplanned.

I wondered if I really loved Zedekiah to the extent of dying for him. Then I shook the thought off with the conclusion that we were still too new to decide that and I was very right. The song was great, but we lost first position to the twins. Zed and I came second place but it was okay. By the time they calculated the total score, including the ones from the game, Gempire came out first. But if it wasn’t for the games we played, we would have lost to a Chinese school. Their score was higher and they would have won if their singer won the third position in the singing contest, but they didn’t so we won.

The camp was a great activity and even tho I knew I would never attend it again, I still hoped to. Zedekiah and Yuki gave the appreciation speech on Gempire’s behalf as the main fronters and ended the great camp by Zed singing a song to which Yuki showed off her amazing dance skills. Yuki really knew how to dance.

Well, I guess that ends the camping.

_______________

It had been three weeks since we returned from the camp. For the three weeks, I barely saw Zedekiah since he was busy with this video or concert arrangement or whatever he said he was doing. The girls were busy too with the whole Fronter challenge coming up. We mostly talked through video call, voice call, text messages and chatting and when we had few chance, we met in person and kissed until our lungs cried for help.

As for me, Sakura and I Just helped mom arrange our new home and her new business. Somehow, Zelda joined and assisted her and even Brayleigh left her work to come live in Tokyo briefly, catch up with mom and help her create her dream business.

Everything was just peaceful and quiet, but I knew it was the calm before the storm. It was coming, I felt it closer every single day and actually dreaded it. But with Zedekiah and the determination to ensure that the happiness mom feels remain with her, I had hope. The storm finally came, and it came on the last day of the concert.

I was at the concert to cheer my friends and boyfriend on. The concert started with some younger idols performing first, followed by the older and then a stage play, a very hilarious one, Yuki and Alyssa with eight other dancers performing an amazing dance routine, before the challenge for Gempire Male Fronters. They did a silly catwalk, pose battle, answered questions before singing and dancing. Like always, Zedekiah won the main male face, some stupid Gem Charming. Darra retained his position as the Cute Prince, Alvin stole Cedric’s title, something about being sexy and that guy I knocked out with a ball took Odin’s title as something I didn’t care to listen to.

The ungrateful guy still screamed that he should have won over Zedekiah, to which everyone ignored him. After that, the girls turn came. It was a huge surprise when Mimi, Sora’s teammates won. She wasn’t even trying to win, but she somehow did. Mimi was always cute, not prettier or cuter than Yuki, but cute. She deserved to win. She burst into tears of joy and refused to stop crying until Yuki stopped her by making her laugh. The crown was passed to her and Sora did not take it lightly. Too bad.

Finally the last stage of the two days show. Yes, two days. You don’t think all those activities will be done in a day, did you? The concert was amazing and worth anyone’s money. I understood why the tickets were so expensive. With all the idols giving it their all to win as the male and female band fronters of Gempire, it was like a blast of awesomeness. I was shocked on how cool and talented they were and didn’t regret coming.

Sora and her team didn’t win, and neither did Meena’s. Another team won, one I know deserve it. They really tried and I guess everyone thought the same way. But, ZODIAC still won.

I had my arms around Zedekiah’s neck as I laughed uncontrollably. Zedekiah was blowing air into my neck. I was in his dressing room. I came to congratulate him and we ended up kissing and having a quickie because he said and I quote:

“The best way to congratulate your boyfriend, fiancé or husband after he successfully nails something is to turn your ass to him and let him relish in his victory the right and best way”. His words, not mine.

That was when everything crashed. Sakura barged into the room which I had earlier unlock, tears streaming down her face as she cried and panic. I immediately left Zed and rushed to her.

“Sakura, calm down, breathe…”

“Mom, mom, mom,” she kept repeating, shaking her head as she wailed. My heart was already beyond normal by the time the fear and obviousness of the situation settled in.

“Sakura, what happened to mom!”

“Reece, Bloom…”

“Curse it, Romi!”

“Already dialing,” she spoke. I began to pace as Reece’s phone rang on and on. By the time I was calling him for the sixth time, Alyssa, Yuki, Darra, Odin, Meena and Isaac were in the room. Isaac was obviously with her when she received the phonecall that sent her into a state of panic, fear and tears. She hadn’t been able to compose one cooperate sentence, just laid in Isaac’s arms as she cried and shook violently.

“Why isn’t he picking his damn call!” I screamed. “Call Bloom, now!” Romi quietly and obediently called Bloom who didn’t pick up until the second ring.

“Neesan,” she sobbed, “Neesan…”

“Bloom, where’s Reece? Why isn’t he answering his phone!”

“Hospital, Reece is in a hospital,” I took in a deep sharp breath, “haha, myself and Reece went out to get ice cream and pizza. We met Asami-chan there and it was fun. But on our way back, in our street, a car came out of nowhere and was heading towards mom. It almost seem like she was it target. Onii-san saw it coming and pushed mom out of the way…”

“Oh my God,” I said under my breath, bringing my palms to my face.

“Where’s mom?”

“I don’t know. The car came back and took mom away. I was able to get help for Onii-san, but the doctor said he might not make it.”

“Send Sakura the name of the hospital, she’ll be there soon, don’t leave the hospital no matter what.” I hung up and rushed over to grab my jacket. “Alyssa, please, call Zelda and tell her what happened, so she’ll be there for Bloom. Isaac, find a way to take Sakura to the location Bloom would send, I’ll be back soon!” I shouted as I exited the room.

“Rosita, wait!” Zed shouted, running after me. I totally forgot about him in the moment. I halted and whirled around to face him.

“I know you are worried about me, but I can assure you that I’ll be…” He cut my sentence off by crashing his lips on mine. His hands grasp my bicep as he forced a passionate kiss to me. I understood, he was worried, he was scared, but he wasn’t going to stop me. He knew I could take care of myself, knew I could handle whatever, but still wanted me to be careful.

I closed my eyes and let my tense shoulders sag. I welcomed his care and love, welcomed the hot feel of his lips on mine, his tongue entangled with mine and our mouth’s intense suction. By the time we were both breathless, I was crying and smiling because I knew I had him to accept me for who I am.

“I have to go, I don’t have much time,”

“Be safe,” he whispered, his forehead pressed against mine as his nose air fanned my face.

“Always.” Every moment wasted could cost mom her life. I gave him one last kiss before running off. I was sure it wasn’t father. I would know if he was in Japan. He sent someone to do it because he couldn’t bear to do it on his own but the force was getting too hard to resist. Yet again, I felt like something wasn’t right.

“I have located mother and I’ve caused a delay to slow down the abductors. They are taking her far away from Tokyo. If your father gave them instruction to kill her, he must have told them to do it very far away.”

“If father gave them instruction to take her away, why then did they try to run her over with a car?” I asked as I ran up the stairs. Yes, I was going up because up was the way. “Two things, either he did tell them to kill her but because they failed they took her away to finish the job somewhere else with no interruption, or he never gave them any order to kill her. After they failed to, they took her to do his actual order or to kill her anyw…”

“Alert, father is calling. Alert, father is calling.” Romi chanted.

“Put him on,” the call connected in my ear, “dad…”

“Rosita, you have to save her, please! He found out, he found out about her, about you, about us. Please, save your mother!” Dad cried fearfully and in tears. I drifted to a stop on the roof top.

“Who found out about mom?”

“Octavius, Octavius found out about your mother. He somehow convinced Duncan to become his spy. He found my search on your mother and connected the link. He sent some goons to kill her on spot or keep her hostage. Rosita, I’m going after him once and for all, but I need you to protect your mother for me…”

Wait a minute…

It was then it clicked, it clicked so damn hard. “You knew all along that I was here!” I shouted, jumping off the building to kick start my nitro boots.

“Rosita, you might be in charge somehow now, but I still remain the head of the Donahue Dynasty. I knew the moment you asked for her file to be opened…”

“Then why didn’t you stop me!”

“Because I was hoping you could, to me,” he said sadly, “but now I know it is of no use. Be ready, Rosita, after I’m done taking care of Octavius Hodan, I won’t be able to stop myself from coming after her. Please, keep her safe, even from me.” He hung up. The wind blew at my hair and my tears as I rocket through the sky. He didn’t know, he didn’t know there was hope. He hoped I could save him, and I would, one way or the other.

Who even is Octavius? Our family generational rival. Just like us, they were a family of secret assassin. But unlike us, they didn’t have the covenant of one of the great to guide them. They were loose, wild, dangerous and completely insane. I’d always say dad should wipe them out permanently, but he never listened. Even if he didn’t do it, I would have eventually because he dared try to hurt someone close to me.

“Romi, How far am I from them? What distraction did you cause?”

“The moment Bloom said it, I caused a terrible traffic. You are now one mile away from them.”

“Let them fix the traffic. I need you to take back your body and block them off somewhere, alone. If there is any surveillance cameras, I want it all shut down. Satellite access to the scene, you know what to do.”

“Already ahead of you, Rosita, that’s why we are twins. The traffic have long been fixed to avoid suspicion, and they are heading to me but you have to hurry.” I brought my left wrist to my face, used my right hand to increase the power and speed of the nitro.

I was extremely grateful I randomly picked those shoes, or I would have been in a real pickle. The wind didn’t disturb my eyes like it should, I was use to it. I flew out of the city to the lonely road far out of town. Romi notified me when I was closer. I dived down to get close to land. Once I saw the car driving with haste, the electronic mask spread across my face just to secure my identity.

“Romi, are you there?”

“Waiting ahead, what would you have me do?”

“Shatter the windows and give the car a spin,”

“But mother is in there,” she protested.

“Do you trust me, Romi?” I asked smirkingly. She remained quiet, but after three seconds, I heard the high whistle screech strong enough to break any glass.

The windows of the car shattered, evoking a loud alert scream from mom, gasp and curses from the men inside. Another louder scream left mom’s mouth when the headlights shone on Romi’s body. The driver aggressively turned the wheel to avoid colliding with her body. It gave her the opportunity she was seeking. She grip the roof of the car through the shattered window, placed one leg behind her swiftly, pulled and flung the car circularly.

“Open the back door in four seconds!”

I mentally calculated her speed and waited for the perfect time before flying through one of the broken window, spinning myself carefully so the shards of glass wouldn’t pierce my body since I wasn’t wearing my actual suit. I grabbed mom in one swift moment and at the same time, Romi reached for the door and rip it open. I was able to fly out through the door with mom barely in my grasp.

The force and speed in which I dived in and out made me lose attitude. I grasp on to mom’s arms as the shoes spun me around wildly. Crash, I was going to crash if I didn’t lose the extra weight. I threw mom down, knowing that she wouldn’t get that hurt since I was close to the ground.

I turned off the rocket and landed on my feet and knees. I closed my eyes for a brief second to shake off the dizziness from the violent air spin. When I opened my eyes, I looked ahead of me where the car had crash. Three of the men were flung out of the car, their bodies in a grotesque position and one’s neck twisted. They were dead.

“Romi, report,”

“The three at the back are dead, but the two at the front are still alive, though one is barely hanging on to his pitiful existence.”

I stood up slowly and dusted my knees, looking over my shoulder at mom who was still struggling to get off the ground. “Get them out, take them forty feet above the ground and drop them. The car, get rid of the car so no one would be able to connect the dots.”

I was going to delete every footage that would link their death to mom’s abduction. It was a good thing Bloom hadn’t made any call to the police about mom’s abduction. Clearing up the mess wouldn’t be that hard.

I rushed over to mom and encase her in a tight hug, pushing her face into my chest so she wouldn’t see the men that would be drop down from the sky.

“I’m so sorry, mom, I should have been there,” I cried, “Reece is in a hospital because of me…”

“Don’t you dare blame yourself, it is neither your fault nor mine, I refuse to accept it. The way they spoke, it wasn’t your father, was it?” She asked, gripping my coat as she cried into it, “tell me Rico isn’t the one who did this to my son, tell me he didn’t do it!”

“No, Octavius did, remember that name, mom?”

“That bastard,” she screamed furiously, “now my innocent son is dead because of him! I’ll kill him! I’ll end his life!” Not that she could, but it was anger speaking. I cried from the pain of imagining Reece really dying. I would never be able to live with the fact that he died because he was saving mom, because some punk found out about her because dad was checking up on me or her.

But somewhere deep down, I knew Reece would be okay, that he would survive it. He was strong, a fighter, mighty willed and most importantly, it wasn’t his time; not yet. The main problem; dark cloud looming ahead, the dreadful words echoing in my head remained one thing. My father was coming, we had less than two weeks.

With Zedekiah still busy with his life, I knew he would not have enough time. I had to do it myself, I had to find that hope that seems to be running far away from me and fast. The clock was still ticking.