The Ace and the Four Kings
Xyrine Jean's POV
"IT'S A NO."
Silence hung between us, heavy and unspoken. Then, finally, I opened my mouth.
"Spade, I didn't say no because I don't love you. I didn't say no because I wanted to. I said no… because I love you too much," I murmured, my eyes shut as I clung tightly to him.
I swallowed hard before speaking again. "I don't want you to propose just because you feel pressured. Last night… I got drunk, not because I was hurt because of you. I'm sorry if I made you feel like your love wasn't enough."
He immediately pulled away from our embrace and faced me.
"Xyrine, I didn't do this because I was pressured," he said, his voice firm. "I did this so nothing and no one can stand in our way anymore. So they can't do anything about us!" His jaw tightened before he exhaled sharply. "The truth is… I spoke with Monique last night. She kept insisting that I tell you we need to leave for America. Because the truth is..."
He hesitated, averting his gaze.
"The President of the Montreal Group of Companies is putting pressure on our business. I know Monique is behind it. And if you don't say yes now, I'll have no choice but to go there and deal with the problem myself. And I can't promise what will happen once I do," he confessed as his fists clenching.
"At first, I couldn't bring myself to tell you, so I never planned for you to know. I wanted to handle this on my own, so your life wouldn't get caught up in the mess. But last night, when I saw you… You were right beside me, yet you felt so far away. You smiled, but I could see the sadness beneath it. And that's when I realized—I can't do this. I can't keep this from you!"
His gaze locked onto mine, unwavering. "So, Xyrine… if you don't say yes now, I'll have no choice but to leave for States."
I took a deep breath, forcing a small smile. "Spade… but you'll come back, right?"
His expression faltered at my question. He lowered his gaze. "I don't know. But if you don't agree with the solution I have in mind, and if you're willing to wait for me, I promise—I'll only be gone for a month."
A month… Yet the uncertainty in his voice made my chest tighten.
"I'd wait even if it takes a year," I said, though every word felt like a weight in my heart.
His expression darkened. "Even if I tell you… that Monique will be with me?"
I looked away, but when I turned back to him, I held his gaze. "I trust you, Spade," I said, offering a smile I wasn't sure would hold.
He leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead. "I swear, just one month. And after that, I'll make sure nothing stands in our way again."
I nodded, holding onto that promise. "I'll wait for you."
With that, I stood up and helped him to his feet.
He let out a heavy sigh before flashing a weak smile. "You always turning me down."
"Spade, I didn't reject you. Just think of it as me saying yes… but the wedding is postponed," I teased.
"Is that so?"
Before I could respond, he suddenly dropped to one knee again, opening the box once more.
"Milady, please, give me your hand," he said, and without hesitation, I did.
"Xyrine Jean, accept this ring as a symbol of my love—love that will never fade, never end," he vowed, his eyes locked onto mine.
I smiled softly. "I will."
He slipped the ring onto my finger. For a moment, I was happy. But then, the realization struck me—he was leaving.
"When are you leaving?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He took a deep breath before answering. "Tomorrow."
My eyes widened at what he said. "What? Tomorrow?"
"Yeah. That's why I decided to propose tonight. But you rejected me." He pouted playfully, though the sadness in his eyes was unmistakable.
I bit my lip. Everything was happening too fast.
"Spade… I'm sorry."
"For what?" He held my hands tightly. "Just promise me you'll wait for me, no matter what."
He ruffled my hair with a small grin.
I nodded, smiling back at him. "I will."
That night, we sat inside our tent, gazing at the sky.
"Spade, look at all those stars," I murmured, my eyes fixed on the vast expanse above us.
He said nothing. Instead, he wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer.
"Spade, which one do you think is the brightest star?" I asked again, still watching the sky.
When he didn't respond, I furrowed my brows and turned to him. "Hey, Spade!"
Finally, he spoke. "Xyrine, no matter how long I stare at the sky, I'll never find the brightest star…"
I tilted my head in confusion. "What?"
A small smirk played on his lips as he looked at me. "Because for me, the brightest star isn't up there. It's right here… beside me."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the smile forming on my lips. "Ugh. So cheesy."
"Wait, I almost forgot something."
I flinched when he suddenly pulled away. He reached for something leaning against a tree—a guitar.
"I just learned this song a few days ago. I'm not as good as Louren at playing or singing, but I hope you like it," he said, beaming with excitement.
I couldn't help but smile at him. He looked so eager, so happy. Just as he was about to strum the first chord, I reached out and stopped him.
"You've done enough to make my heart race tonight. Can I have a turn?" I asked with a grin.
Before he could answer, I took the guitar from him.
He raised a brow, intrigued. "I didn't know you could play the guitar." His smile widened. "Alright, let's see if you can make my heart flutter, Mrs. Sy."
Mrs. Sy?! Ugh. This man! Lord, can I take back my 'no' earlier?
I took a deep breath, steadying myself before flashing him a confident smile. "I'll make sure this song makes you smile."
He chuckled. "Just looking at you already makes me smile."
And just like that, I was grinning from ear to ear.
I steadied my hands, focused on the strings, and started to play.
Because for days, I'd been practicing this song over and over again. And every single time, only one person came to mind.
The man sitting right in front of me.
(NP: The Way You Look at me by Sabrina /This is Beautiful song, pls listen. huhu)
No one ever saw me like you do
All the things that I could add up too
I never knew just what a smile was worth
But your eyes see everything without a single word
The moment he smiled at the intro of the song, I found myself staring at him, completely lost in the moment.
His smile… it was rare, almost sacred. He wasn't the type to smile often, but when he did, it felt like the whole world brightened with him.
'Cause there's somethin' in the way you look at meIt's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece…
Thirteen years ago, I gave up on life. A life I thought had long lost its meaning. A life I believed held no worth. A life I was certain could never be normal again.
You make me believe that there's nothing in this world I can't beI never know what you seeBut there's somethin' in the way you look at me…
And then… he came into my life.
If I could freeze a moment in my mindIt'll be the second that you touch your lips to mineI'd like to stop the clock, make time stand still…
I didn't know why, but suddenly, tears welled in my eyes as I sang, my gaze never leaving him.
'Cause, baby, this is just the way I always wanna feel'Cause there's somethin' in the way you look at meIt's as if my heart knows you're the missing piece…
That was when I realized—maybe it wasn't too late after all. Maybe happiness was still within reach. Maybe my life could be normal again… or at least, something close to it.
You make me believe that there's nothing in this world I can't beI never know what you seeBut there's somethin' in the way you look at me…
I was still strumming my guitar when he suddenly reached for my hand, his touch warm and deliberate. His eyes locked onto mine, intense and unwavering.
"Xyrine Jean..."
I don't know how or why I feel different in your eyesAll I know is it happens every time…
As he leaned closer, my heart pounded against my chest, each beat growing louder, stronger, more erratic.
"Tonight…" His voice was a whisper, the space between us now almost nonexistent.
"Please, be mine tonight."
Before I could even respond, it was too late.
'Cause there's somethin' in the way you look at meIt's as if my heart knows you're the missing pieceYou make me believe that there's nothing in this world I can't beI never know what you see…
I could feel the heat of his lips against mine, soft yet searing. His hands, gentle yet certain, cradled the back of my neck as he carefully removed the guitar that separated us.
At that moment, I couldn't even describe the emotions flooding through me.
Fear? Joy? Uncertainty?
I was drowning in everything I felt—until I sensed his hand move to the zipper at the back of my gown, slowly pulling it down.
I shuddered as the warmth of his fingertips traced my skin.
I wanted to protest, to stop him—but it was too late. The emotions surging within me had already shattered every restraint I had left.
He guided me down onto the Matt, his movements slow, careful. I could hear nothing but the wild rhythm of my own heartbeat as he gazed into my eyes once more.
"Xyrine Jean… do you trust me?"
I shut my eyes briefly before answering, my voice barely a whisper.
"I love you, Spade."
And that was all the permission he needed.
I closed my eyes, surrendering—letting my love for him be the only thing guiding me through the moment.
But there's somethin' in the way you look at meThe way you look at me…
"I love you, Xyrine… so much."
SPADE'S FLIGHT
XYRINE JEAN'S POV
"Aren't you going to see him off?"
I lowered my head to my desk the moment I heard Ella's question.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. He made it clear last night—I wasn't allowed to go to the airport.
"Xyrine, even if he promised to return, we have no way of knowing when that will be!"
I straightened in my seat, her words hitting me like a cold gust of wind.
"How? We have class right now."
"Forget about class. Just go to him."
Surprised, I glanced at our professor, hesitant, but my heart pounded when I noticed that the entire class was already looking at me—smiling.
"She's right, Xyrine. Go see him off," they chimed in unison.
Of course, the whole of Montreal had already heard about last night's proposal. I didn't know how, but surprisingly, there weren't any negative comments about it. Maybe people had simply accepted that there was nothing they could do about it anymore.
Finally, I stood up. "Thank you, all of you." I gave them a grateful smile before heading for the door.
But just as I reached it, two arms shot out, blocking my path.
"Ren? Ten? What are you doing here?"
"Sorry, but we can't let you go to the airport," Ren said firmly.
"What? Why?"
"Just because," Ten replied, his tone unreadable.
"Please, let me through," I pleaded.
"Xyrine, no matter what you do, we won't let you leave this place," Ren said, his voice devoid of emotion.
"We're just following Spade's orders," Ten added.
My shoulders slumped at their words.
Why? Why won't they let me see him? Is it so wrong to see Spade before he leaves?
"I just… I just want to see him. I swear, only for a moment. Just a few seconds," I said, my voice breaking.
I could see them starting to waver, shifting on their feet as if unsure of what to do. A bitter chuckle almost escaped me.
"Xy, we're really sorry, but Spade specifically told us that no matter what happens, we can't let you go to the airport," Ten murmured.
"Why?" I asked, my throat tightening.
Ren groaned in frustration. "Ugh, damn it! This is way too cheesy!"
Ten sighed heavily. "Because… he said that if he sees you one last time, he might not be able to leave."
The moment those words registered, my heart clenched painfully in my chest.
And just like that, my resolve hardened. "Please. I need to see him. Is that so wrong?" I whispered, my voice trembling with sincerity. This time, there was no teasing in my tone—only raw, unfiltered emotion.
Ren and Ten exchanged glances, their resistance visibly crumbling.
"Haah… What choice do we have?" Ren exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "You're lucky we can't say no to you."
"Alright, let's go! If we don't hurry, we might not make it in time!" Ten declared.
And with that, we sprinted toward the airport, racing against time itself.
AIRPORT
As soon as we arrived, we searched frantically for Spade in the departure area, but he was nowhere to be found.
"It looks like we're too late," I whispered, lowering my gaze.
I turned to Ren and Ten, expecting them to say something, but when I did—I froze. They were gone.
I didn't bother searching for them. My focus was on finding Spade. My eyes scanned every corner of the terminal, desperate for any glimpse of him. But no matter how many times I looked around, not even his shadow was in sight.
Frustration welled up inside me. My hands clenched into fists as my chest tightened.
"This is so unfair," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper. I could feel the sting of unshed tears. "I didn't even get to say goodbye."
I turned around, ready to walk away, when—
"Xyrine!"
That voice.
[AN/ Please play God gave me you by Bryanwhite]
I froze. My breath caught in my throat. Slowly, I turned around, afraid that if I moved too fast, the moment would disappear like a cruel dream.
And there he was.
"Spade?" I whispered, disbelief evident in my voice.
He smiled—calm, knowing, as if he had expected this all along.
"Why are you still here?" My voice trembled, my vision blurring with unshed tears.
"I knew you'd come," he said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"But… I thought you didn't want me to come here? How did you know I'd still show up?" I asked, struggling to keep my composure.
"With that stubbornness of yours? Who could stop you?"
I pouted at his teasing, but my lips curled into a reluctant smile.
And then, as if time itself had stilled, Spade extended his arms toward me—wordlessly inviting me into his embrace.
"Come here."
I didn't hesitate. I ran straight into his arms, wrapping mine tightly around him.
"If you keep pouting, I might just stuff you in my suitcase and take you with me," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement.
"Do you really have to go?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. I buried my face against his chest, not wanting to let go.
"It's not too late, you know. If you say yes right now, I'll drop this suitcase and marry you instead," he said, tightening his hold on me.
I let out a shaky laugh, my heart aching at the weight of his words.
"It's just a month, right?" I looked up at him, desperate for reassurance.
"I promise," he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead.
"Young master Spade, it's time," a voice interrupted. It's Butler Ma.
I felt his grip on me tighten ever so slightly.
"Xyrine," he murmured, his voice low, almost pleading. "Say the word, and I won't go."
Something lodged itself in my throat. My chest felt unbearably heavy. I wanted to say it—to tell him to stay—but I couldn't be selfish.
No matter how much I wanted him to stay, this was important to him.
So, I forced myself to pull away.
"I'll wait for you," I said, smiling despite the tears threatening to spill.
For a moment, he just stared at me, his expression unreadable. But then, he exhaled deeply and smiled—a soft, bittersweet smile.
"Xyrine, don't change that skirt. Keep wearing that cap. Ignore those two idiots. And if you're ever in danger… call my name," he said, his voice quieter now. His gaze dropped to the floor for a second before he continued.
"Even if… even if there's no guarantee I'll come."
A tear slipped down my cheek.
He looked at me again, this time with a melancholic smile. "No matter what happens, wait for me, Xyrine."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to nod.
"It's just a month, right?"
He averted his gaze for a brief second before looking back at me. "Just wait for me."
I inhaled deeply and gave him one last smile.
"Go now."
"You first," he countered.
"Xyrine!"
"Spade!"
"Damn it, this is exactly why I didn't want you here! You're making this so much harder for me!" His voice broke, making me laugh despite the tears.
"Fine," I said, exhaling. "Let's turn around at the same time."
"That's probably for the best," he agreed.
We turned our backs on each other, taking slow steps in opposite directions.
But after just a few steps, I spun around.
And so did he.
"Tss," he scoffed, his voice shaking. "You really are stubborn."
"So are you," I shot back, blinking back tears.
"Xyrine!"
"Okay, okay! I'm turning around for real this time!"
I took a deep breath and turned away, forcing myself to keep walking. I didn't look back. No matter how badly I wanted to.
It's just a month.
Just one month.
I took another deep breath, clenching my fists.
"I'll wait for you, Spade."
End of Season 1