The Ace And the Four Kings
Xyrine Jean's POV
"Spadeee!"
A smile broke across my lips when he turned to face me. I took a step forward, ready to close the distance between us, but just as suddenly, he turned his back on me.
"Spadee!" I called out again, my voice laced with desperation, but he didn't turn around.
I stepped closer, yet with every stride I took, he only seemed to drift further away. Panic clawed at my chest as I broke into a run, but in an instant—he was gone.
"Spaadeeeeee!!!"
I jolted upright, gasping for breath as a single tear slid down my cheek. My vision adjusted to the darkness, and an eerie silence greeted me. The cold stillness in the air sent a shiver down my spine. As I sat up, the weight of my surroundings finally sank in—I was encircled by figures clad in black. Their presence was suffocating, their auras reeked of death. These were not ordinary people. They were the kind who killed without hesitation, who lived with bloodstained hands, who saw life as something disposable.
My head hung low as another tear slipped free, landing on my trembling hands.
"Does this not seem familiar to you?"
The voice cut through the silence like a blade. My gaze shifted from the bed to the speaker. The moment my eyes landed on him, a strange, unsettling feeling washed over me—an inexplicable emotion, something eerily close to déjà vu.
"It was just like this, XJ, thirteen years ago. You sat on that very bed, clutching a doll, your head bowed, tears streaming down your face. Do you remember?"
My breath hitched. Another tear fell.
How could I ever forget that day? The day that shattered my childhood? The day a six-year-old girl, who once held nothing but a simple doll in her hands, was forced to pick up a katana and a gun—forced to learn how to kill?
How could I?
FLASHBACK
(Now Playing: Rainie Yang – Cold War/ Just play it in loop)
A bright smile stretched across my face as I stared at the enormous cake and the feast laid out before me. Clutching my doll tightly, I could barely contain my excitement. But then, I overheard Yaya Anita whisper something to my mother.
"Ma'am, it seems like Sir Xander won't be coming."
I turned to my mother, tugging lightly at the hem of her dress.
"Mommy, Daddy will come, right?"
She glanced at the wall clock before responding.
"Xi Jean, sweetheart, it's still early. Do you want Mommy to give you her gift now for your sixth birthday?"
A wide grin spread across my lips. I loved it when Mommy played the piano and sang for me. The idea of hearing her play my favorite Chinese song made me nod enthusiastically.
She stood up and made her way to the grand piano that stood proudly in our living room. As her fingers glided over the keys, her voice filled the room with a melody that had always felt like home.
I was about to lose myself in the music when the massive doors swung open.
Daddy walked in.
My heart leaped with joy, ready to run to him—until I saw her.
A woman in a red dress, her face painted with thick makeup, stood beside him. And peeking out from behind her was a little girl, about my age.
I took a hesitant step forward, but then I noticed something—Mommy had stopped playing. She was crying.
"Xi Jean, we need to talk."
Mommy wiped her tears away before she spoke. Instead of answering Daddy, she walked straight to me and knelt down.
"Mommy, why are you crying?"
She smiled softly, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Nothing, baby. Let's go upstairs now. Staying up too late isn't good for you."
I was confused, but I reached for her hand anyway. Before we could take more than a few steps, Daddy suddenly scooped me into his arms.
"Xander, put Xi Jean down!"
"Yi Jean, don't drag our daughter into this. Let's talk."
"Put Xyrine Jean down this instant if you want to talk to me." Mommy's voice trembled, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
I began to cry, which made Daddy look at me.
"Baby, I'm sorry. Please don't cry. You know Daddy hates seeing you cry, right?" His voice was gentle, filled with guilt. After a moment, he sighed and set me down. But before I could even process it, Mommy had already pulled me into her embrace.
As she carried me up the stairs, I glanced back at Daddy. He was watching me too, his expression unreadable—almost as if he didn't want me to go.
"Mommy, are you and Daddy fighting? Who is that woman? Why are you crying? And Mommy…" I hesitated, lowering my gaze. "It's my birthday today."
Mommy pulled me into a tight hug.
"Xi Jean, I'm sorry. Everything will be okay. I promise, tomorrow I'll make it up to you. We'll go to the theme park, remember? You love it there, don't you?"
"Will Daddy come with us?"
She didn't answer. She simply turned away, her silence heavier than any words.
"Go to sleep now. When you wake up, we'll go to the theme park."
"Promise?" I asked, forcing a smile.
"Promise."
She tucked me in and turned off the lights.
For a while, she stayed beside me, waiting for me to drift off. But just as I was about to fall asleep, I heard a soft sob. I opened my eyes, only to see her wiping her tears before quietly slipping out of the room.
I couldn't sleep after that. Something didn't feel right.
As I stepped out into the hallway, voices echoed from downstairs—angry voices.
Mommy and Daddy were fighting.
Tears welled up in my eyes. I was about to run downstairs when someone spoke behind me.
"Just like you, the woman downstairs keeps crying."
I turned to see the little girl from earlier.
"T-that's my mommy," I mumbled, hugging my doll tightly.
She took a step closer before suddenly yanking the doll from my grasp and throwing it aside.
"Why did you do that?! You're mean! Who are you?!" I cried.
"I'm Monique. That woman downstairs is my mommy. And she told me that soon, your daddy will be my daddy too."
"Liar! I'm the only daughter of Daddy! And my mommy is his only wife!" My voice wavered as I sobbed.
"You're the liar! My mommy said Daddy Xander is my daddy! And soon, we're moving in here too!"
"No! You're lying!" I yelled, shaking my head furiously as tears streamed down my cheeks.
At that moment, I heard footsteps approaching.
I quickly grabbed my doll and ran back to my room, pretending to sleep. Moments later, the door creaked open, and I felt someone sit on the floor beside my bed.
It was Mommy.
"Xander, I loved you so much. But why do you keep betraying me? I let you love us both, and still, you brought her here? Why did you have to show our daughter your new family?" Her voice cracked as she sobbed.
I didn't understand her words, but I cried anyway.
"I can't take this anymore. I'm so tired. I have to end this pain—the pain I've carried since the day we were forced into this marriage."
Then, she moved closer and hugged me tightly.
"Xi Jean, from tomorrow onward, no matter what happens, I want you to be strong. Don't let them push you around. I know Xander will protect you because even from the start, I knew… you were the only one he truly loved."
Her grip on me tightened.
"I'm sorry, baby. But don't worry, I'll always watch over you. I love you so much. I'll miss you."
She kissed my forehead before stepping away.
I sobbed, wanting to reach for her. But my eyelids felt too heavy from all the crying, and before I knew it, I was drifting into unconsciousness.
THE NEXT DAY
As soon as I woke up, I rushed to my wardrobe, searching for the prettiest dress I owned. I wanted to wear it later when Mommy, Daddy, and I went to the theme park. After picking out the perfect outfit, I hurried to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and took a quick shower.
Once I was dressed and ready, excitement bubbled inside me. I decided to surprise Mommy, grinning as I ran toward her room. I tiptoed inside, only to find her still asleep. My smile faded when I noticed her hand dangling limply off the side of the bed.
I stepped closer, intending to tuck her hand back under the blanket, but the moment my fingers touched her skin, I recoiled.
"Mommy... why are you so cold and stiff?" I murmured.
My eyes traveled to her face—pale, lifeless, with traces of foam at the corners of her lips. Panic rose in my chest as I saw pill bottles scattered beside her bed. My heart pounded as I turned and sprinted out of the room, heading straight for the kitchen.
"Yaya Anita!" I cried, breathless. "Mommy—something's wrong with her! Please, hurry!"
Yaya's eyes widened in alarm before she bolted upstairs. I followed a moment later, grabbing a bowl of water and a washcloth on my way, determined to help.
When I reentered the room, Yaya Anita was kneeling beside the bed, her shoulders trembling. She was crying.
"Yaya, let's clean Mommy up so she can feel better," I said cheerfully, though something inside me twisted at the sight of her tears.
She lifted her face to look at me, and the sorrow in her eyes made my stomach churn.
"Xi jean," her voice cracked. "Your mommy... she's—"
"I know," I interrupted quickly. "She's sick, right? But we shouldn't be too loud, Yaya. We might wake her."
I climbed onto the bed and gently wiped Mommy's face, carefully removing the dried foam from her lips.
"See? She just needs rest," I whispered, trying to believe my own words.
Then, without warning, Yaya pulled me into a tight embrace. Her whole body shook as she held me close.
"Baby, your mommy... she's gone," she sobbed.
I stiffened.
I pushed her away and turned back to Mommy. "No! That's not true!" I cried. "You're lying! Mommy said we were going to the theme park today! She promised!"
Desperation clawed at my chest as I ran to her closet, pulling out her most beautiful dress—the one she loved the most. I hurried back to her side, clutching it tightly.
"Mommy, if you're too tired to get up, that's okay," I said, my voice shaking. "I'll dress you myself."
I reached for her arm, but the moment I tried to lift it, I froze. Her limbs were rigid. Unmoving.
I swallowed hard and tried again with her other arm. It wouldn't bend.
"Mommy, please," I whimpered, my hands trembling. "We have to go now..."
Tears blurred my vision as I grabbed her cold hand, squeezing it desperately.
"Wake up, Mommy... look! I'm all dressed! You bought me this dress, remember?" My sobs came in gasps as I shook her gently. "Please, Mommy... don't leave me..."
Yaya wrapped her arms around me again, pulling me close as she wept.
"Xi jean, please stop," she whispered. "Your mommy is... she's not coming back."
"You're lying!" I screamed, thrashing against her hold. "I'll tell Daddy what you said! Mommy's just sleeping!"
I turned back to the bed and lay beside Mommy, wrapping my arms around her still form.
"I'll stay right here, Mommy," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I won't leave you."
Yaya wiped her tears. "I have to tell your father," she murmured before stepping out of the room.
But I didn't care. I just hugged Mommy tighter, burying my face in her chest.
As I stared at her unmoving face, a single tear slid from the corner of her eye.
"I love you, Mommy," I choked out. "Please... please don't leave me."
I clung to her until sleep finally took me, my tears soaking into the fabric of her nightgown.
TWO DAYS LATER
"Mommyyy!" My screams echoed through the cemetery. "Please don't leave me! Please, wake up!"
I clawed at the white casket, refusing to let go as tears streamed down my face.
"Mommy, I promise I won't ask to go to the theme park anymore!" I sobbed. "Just please... wake up! Please!"
Strong arms wrapped around me, trying to pull me away, but I fought against them.
"Baby, please..." Yaya Anita whispered, her voice thick with grief. "Let them lower her now."
I shook my head violently, gripping the casket tighter. "No! No, you can't take her away! Mommy, please! I need you!"
But no one listened.
I could only watch helplessly as the casket—Mommy's casket—was lowered into the ground. The dull thud of dirt hitting the wood made me flinch.
I couldn't breathe. I couldn't move.
Whispers filled the air around me.
"That poor girl... so young, and already she's lost her mother."
"I heard she killed herself after finding out Mr. Montreal had another family."
"Yes... and look at him. He's not even here for his wife's funeral."
"He's probably busy moving in his mistress and their daughter into the mansion."
Their words blurred into a distant hum, drowned out by the storm inside me. My body shook as I clutched my doll to my chest, my vision clouded with tears.
Then, the sound of a car pulling up made me lift my head.
I saw him.
Daddy stepped out, holding a small child in his arms. His free hand was entwined with another woman's.
Monique. And her mother.
Something inside me shattered.
"Daddy... why?" My voice trembled as I hugged my doll tighter.
He stepped forward, his face unreadable. I wanted him to look at me—to see me. But his gaze never met mine.
And then I heard Yaya's whisper in my ear.
"Jean," she said, her voice filled with quiet urgency. "No matter what happens from now on, I want you to be strong. Don't ever let them break you."
"Mommy, promise..."
I stood up and wiped my tears away. Daddy stepped closer, then crouched down to my level.
He placed both hands on my shoulders, his grip firm yet gentle. "Xyrine Jean, my dear daughter, your mommy is gone... but don't worry, baby. Your Aunt Monica is here now. From this moment on, she will be your new mother," he said with a smile.
I stared at him, frozen.
Why... how... how can he smile like that?
Mommy is gone. She's beneath the ground now.
And yet... why? Why is he smiling?
His smile felt like it corrupted something deep inside me.
Confused, I shifted my gaze to the woman standing behind him.
"Hi, Xyrine. I'm your Aunt Monica, and this is my daughter, Monique. From now on, she'll be your sister," she said warmly.
I ignored her and turned back to my father. "Mommy is the only mother I have! Only her, not that woman who looks like a gold digger!"
A sudden, sharp sting bloomed across my cheek. I gasped.
"Sir! She's only six years old! Please, don't hurt her!" Yaya cried out from behind me.
My father blinked, his face slackening in realization. "Xi Jean… I'm sorry," he murmured.
Tears burned behind my eyes, but I forced them back. I met his gaze, my lips trembling. "I don't want you anymore. You're not my daddy. I don't know who you are!"
Then I turned and ran.
He called after me, but I didn't stop. I ran and ran until their voices faded, until their faces were gone. Until I found myself in the dark, in a place I didn't recognize.
I walked, sobbing, my small feet dragging along the cold pavement.
"Mommy... why did you leave me? I have no one now. I'm all alone. Mommy, please, come back. I'm scared..."
I kept walking, aimlessly, until I arrived at an abandoned place.
A foul stench hit me the moment I stepped inside.
I curled up in the dimmest corner I could find, hugging my knees to my chest. My sobs had quieted, but the tears still fell. It was then that I noticed them—bodies. lying near me.
My breath hitched. My chest tightened.
Mommy.
My vision blurred as fresh tears welled up.
Then, I heard footsteps. More men entered the space, their voices cutting through the thick silence.
"You fools! Why haven't you disposed of the bodies yet? Hurry up and bury them in the vacant lot!"
At his words, an image flashed in my mind.
Daddy, smiling… while Mommy was being buried.
I lifted my trembling hands and grasped my cheeks, forcing them upward.
If Daddy could smile while Mommy was being buried, then I should smile too… because someone is being buried.
I pulled at my cheeks harder, stretching my lips into a grin.
A beam of light suddenly hit my face.
"WHAT THE HELL?! A KID?!" one of the men exclaimed.
A new voice cut through the air, low and authoritative. "What's going on? Why aren't the bodies taken care of yet?"
"Boss, there's a… uh, a child here," someone answered hesitantly.
Heavy footsteps approached me.
"Kid," the man's voice softened as he crouched down, staring at me. "What are you doing here? And… what are you doing to your face?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I pointed at the lifeless bodies beside me and smiled wider.
"My dad was smiling while my mom was being buried. I should smile too… because someone is being buried."
Silence.
Then, A deep, eerie laughter that echoed through the room.
"Sir, what should we do with the kid?" one of the men asked.
Still laughing, the man in front of me straightened. "I haven't laughed like this in ages. Should we kill this unhinged little thing?"
"Copy, boss."
A gun was drawn, its cold muzzle pressing against my forehead.
I blinked.
If I die now, I can go to heaven. I can see Mommy again.
I stepped forward, closing the distance between me and the gun.
"What the hell are you doing?" the man holding it asked, startled.
I didn't reply. Instead, I let my doll slip from my grasp and used both hands to press the gun harder against my forehead.
"There. It's touching now," I said, smiling.
I waited.
Waited for the sound of the gunshot.
But all I heard was more laughter—louder, wilder.
"Hey, kid. You really are unhinged. Do you really want to die?"
I ignored him. Instead, I gripped the trigger of the gun still aimed at me.
"Please, do it."
The room filled with more laughter, but I didn't flinch.
I was about to pull the trigger myself when the gun was suddenly yanked from my grasp.
"I'm going to ask you again." The man aimed the weapon back at me. "Do you really want to die?"
Mommy's face appeared in my mind.
She was smiling.
I smiled too.
Instead of answering, I took the gun from his hand and placed the barrel against my temple.
"Do it. I beg you… do it."
"Hahahaha! What a gem I found in the street," he said, his amusement evident. I frowned, confused by his reaction. "I like this unhinged kid! What's your name, young lady?" he asked, grinning.
"X-Xyrine Jean," I hesitantly replied.
"Full name."
"Xyrine Jean Montreal."
He smiled, then gently ran his fingers across my cheek. "You're smiling, but your tears haven't stopped falling since earlier." His voice held a strange kind of warmth. Then, his gaze locked onto mine, firm and unwavering. "Listen to me, kid."
I swallowed hard as he leaned in closer.
"From now on, you're Xyrine Jean Guevara." His grin widened.
I barely had time to react before I felt a sharp blow to the back of my neck from whatever he was holding.
"Welcome to the Black Brother Assassination Group, XJ."
That was the last thing I heard before everything faded into darkness.
END OF FLASHBACK
This scene—this exact scene—happened to me thirteen years ago.
When I woke up that morning, I found them all staring at me with something unfamiliar in their eyes. Pity.
I clenched my fists. Thirteen years had passed, yet here I was again.
Why was this happening all over again? Why did the past keep repeating itself?
I was still lost in my thoughts when I suddenly felt someone wiping my tears.
"We're assassins. Our lives revolve around death. We see people beg for their lives every day, kneeling at our feet, hoping for mercy. But that night..." his voice softened, almost in awe, "I saw a six-year-old girl kneeling before us, not to beg for her life... but to beg for death. And she did it with a smile on her face."
I inhaled sharply.
"I don't know what happened to you that day," he continued, "but one thing is clear—something was terribly happened with you."
The memories came rushing back, and once again, tears slipped from my eyes. I lifted my gaze and met Uncle Julyo's stare.
"That day, I asked myself why Xander was smiling when my mother was already buried beneath the ground." My voice trembled. "Back then, my young mind couldn't comprehend that it wasn't normal."
"That man corrupted my mind."
Uncle Julyo's grip on my hand tightened. "You stand tall despite your struggles. You hold your head high even when you're barely holding on."
Then, his voice turned grave. "Xyrine, your father was the reason for your tears back then. Are you really going to let another man make you cry now, after all these years?"
I met his gaze, my lips trembling. "Uncle, you don't understand." My voice came out empty.
"The man you're talking about... he was the reason I chose to keep going." My voice trembled, each word laced with the weight of my pain. "He gave me a reason to wake up every morning, to believe there was something—someone—worth holding on to. He wasn't just a part of my life... he was the only proof I had that love was even possible for me."
My shoulders shook violently. "I love Spade, Uncle."
"I love him so much...."
A sob tore from my throat. "Why?" I whispered. "Why did he come back when I had finally put my life together? Why is he the reason I'm hurting all over again?"
Uncle Julyo's voice was firm. "Xyrine, you're an assassin now."
I blinked, looking up at him.
"You're right. I forgot." My lips curled into a bitter smile. "I'm still an assassin, after all."
Without another word, I stood up, walking toward my bedside. My eyes landed on the katana displayed nearby. The moment my fingers wrapped around its hilt, I raised it—pressing the blade against my throat.
"This isn't funny," Lanz growled.
"Put that down. Now." Lee's voice was sharp, commanding.
I felt their eyes on me, their fear suffocating the air around us.
I exhaled, my grip on the sword tightening. "Thirteen years ago, I made a promise. As long as I never cut my hair, I could never leave this organization."
Their expressions remained frozen as I reached for my long hair. In one swift motion, I sliced through it.
Strands of my once-unbroken promise fell to the floor. Along with it, silent tears slid down my face.
"I'm leaving."
No one moved. No one spoke. They just stared, their shock echoing in the silence.
Then, the stillness shattered.
Lanz suddenly punched the wall beside him, his knuckles cracking from the force. "That bastard! Tell me who the f*cker is because I swear to God, I'm going to kill him!" His voice dripped with rage, blood dripping from his clenched fist.
The others stormed out. Within minutes, the sharp crack of gunfire echoed outside.
I barely flinched.
Then, I felt Uncle Julyo step closer. His voice was quiet but firm. "That man is a fool."
I swallowed, my body trembling as he pulled me into a tight embrace.
"He doesn't know just how precious the person he abandoned really is."