Ayshe.
~
Me and Oliver spent our first night together.
Not in that way ..
Slept in the same bed, we turned in after Asin picked up the phone and calmed us down.
Turns out just taking notes on how much money they spent on emergencies like that, funding for those in need, managing their uploads online, providing safe house locations for some who were out of town ..
It was rough.
I understood how he needed a personal assistant.. she herself might need one.
I laughed after Oliver, saying he actually told her the same.
We woke with the sun, and Oliver immediately confirmed with Asin .. they were heading back.
I called Marie as well.
She was in a bad mood.. having one mother in law was natural. Having two is just unfair.
They walked outside of the house just before the smell of breakfast, starting to invite us in.
Just from looking, one could never tell they been through 6 of the last 10 hours on plane.
Asin was taken by Oliver for a word by word rundown of what happened and how to go about it.
And my sister stomped her way towards me.
" You look .. angry. What .. they didn't like you as their new daughter? " I asked jokingly.
Her facial expression didn't change.
" Oh boy .. " I sat up. " Tell me. "
...
" .. she basically thinks, "I'm not suited for his life, their lifestyle." I had a feeling she had someone in mind but ultimately ended late. "
" How does she think after a single meeting that somehow she have you figured out? I mean no offence, but that's unfair. "
I immediately defended my sister, but her mood was still low. I sat beside her.
" Stop it, Marie! .. how do you feel? Do you feel like you won't be able to cope? "
She actually gave it some thought before answering, which I personally always appreciated.
" .. I don't know. I mean, how is anyone supposed to know this ahead of time? " She turned to me. " ... don't get me wrong, she didn't say it .. in a hateful way. Just as facts. "
I nodded, and she continued.
" On the other hand, Uncle Ivan was charming and respectful. He told me not to pay too much attention to his wife. She just loves Asin as her own .. forgive her the thoughts that fear produced... "
He sounded like a man Oliver said she found. A man who lived through a lifetime of what we had a taste in the last few days.
She told me about the sanctuary they built, the small but cosy houses, surrounded by a large birch forest and mountains.
It sounded like a hideaway in the Alps.
Also told me how Asin almost beat the man who was responsible for his aunt's injuries.
How most of the people there came from such poverty that the other rich wouldn't even let them touch their cars, but they loved her husband, and he them.
" They have a lot of responsibilities. " I looked at the guys who were talking in the pool. " .. They are so young as well.. "
Only last night as I witnessed how many people, grown man and their families.. relies on their quick thinking and leadership.
The money they were making from risking their freedom and Asin his very life by racing and associating with actual criminals were all spent on their defences, protection, and well-being.
Why?
Why would 2 young and wealthy guys sacrifice and risk so much? I would've loved a time machine just to see their first encounter.
Its their past that left all these questions in its wake. A past, me and Marie didn't know. Weren't a part of it.
The responsibilities they gained at such a young age were that hundreds of people relied on them.
Marie was staring at her husband for a while before she talked again.
" He feels them. He was relieved seeing those people well .. but I tell you what. " Marie got up, and we walked towards them. " .. I don't care what his second mother thinks of me.. I be her daughter in law! Whether she wants me or not. "
She went and kissed her husband immediately, showing off that new determination and passion that comes from absolute certainty.
They were in love.
As I watched them .. Oliver and I locked eyes for a second.
Will I have such determination when the time comes? Can I learn and accept all that they do.. all they were going to do?
I was involved but not irreversibly, so like Marie was.
She was married and in love. Whatever Asin will go through, she will try her best and rationalise it. Make it OK.
Me?
How does a future doctor fit in with their life of fast cars and constant police threats, ever present violence?
So many questions.. but then I caught his smile and one spread on my face as well.
Maybe I'm just worrying too much.
——
Oliver.
~
I was left stunned.
" You say it was .. someone from our crew? That's impossible. "
I denied it because my brains couldn't process such a betrayal.
He quickly clarified.
" That's what Old Ivan said. He is the same as you. " he shook his head. " Unwilling to believe anyone from 9th would betrayed their own in such away. "
I understood Uncle Ivan. He knew better than anyone how brutal the police is when it comes to the 9th ward. They don't spare anyone.
But when it came to our people, I couldn't believe they would gain anything by betraying our organisation foundation.
It's not money .. we made sure everyone was happy. If nothing else, they would never bite the hand that feeds them.. besides, there are easier, more lucrative ways of betrayal.
Like letting the world know about Asin. That would net them unbelievable wealth, a lifetime of running and looking behind their backs and their families .. but the money was real.
So who was it then?
Just as I let my darker thoughts hold me, I caught Ayshe looking at me.
I let her smile clear my head, which screamed for vengeance.
I had time to read all the articles about the raid, and Asin heard from the source.
4 casualties were reported, and many more seriously or mildly injured.
From that 4 died, 1 was part of Old Ivan's loyalist, who was shot dead when they spotted a gun in his hand.
Used their right and gunned the poor guy down without warning.
Guns were death sentences. Only a few dared to even carry one.
From everything we now know, the attack was specifically targeted around Old Ivan.
I felt a hand on my back.
" Calm down, brother, no point making ourselves crazy over this. We have enemies, nothing new, right? .. Let enjoy ourselves. "
He looked tired.
" Right .. we sort this out when we back home. "
We walked back to the girls. Since neither of us had a good sleep, we took a little nap after breakfast.
We still had a few days here.
——
We woke up late and spent a day without leaving the house.
After dinner, we were fighting about what movie to watch.
" You guys heard my list.. now let the tasteless..
"" Hey! ""
" .. but otherwise well, meaning duo submit there's. Then it's all you .. my friend of 13 years. "
Asin took a bow and sat down. I appreciated the emotional manipulation.
I won the right to decide but opted for more fun and played judge to their ideas.
The girls banned together to present their joined ideas. Marie spoke for the team.
" We were thinking some romantic comedy such as ..
" Nahh! "
They ignored Asin groans and continued.
" .. 50 first date..
" I can't stand pineapples. "
" .. Sweet November..
" You do know she dies at the end, right? "
I laughed at his useless commentary while Ayshe was trying to shut him up with a pillow.
Maire ignored them and tried again.
" Or anything like Passengers..
" HE IS CREEP for WAKING THE SLEEPINGLADY! Let me go! "
Asin was being chocked but still managed to put in his 2 cent.
Marie lost her cool and hurled insults concerning basic manners and such.
We ended picking one Asin suggested.
4 hours later ..
" What a satisfying way to end a night. "
We had to leave the living room after he teased them a step too much.
" Brother .. you choose a 4 hour movie on purpose. Why? "
He sent the maids aways who wanted to make something for us and decided to do it himself.
" One .. it is one of my favourites. Two .. you choose it, not me. Three ... 1 and 2. What do you want in yours? "
" I make my own sandwiches, thank you very much. " I stepped in.
Wondered if Ayshe likes hotsauce or not.
" Tomorrow night is out last. You might want to close the deal. " He spoke without looking.
He was right. We were going well and in the right direction, but circumstances prevented me from taking it to finish line.
" I wanna take her to Blue Fin and ..
" Wrong! "
I closed my eyes and pushed away intrusive thoughts .. I held a knife.
" I suppose you dislike the idea? "
He started eating his first creation. After some chewing just to annoy me further, I saw him inhaling his food.. He told me..
Yeah, it wasn't better than mine, but it turned out to be much more effective.
~
The next morning, we woke early and started looking for someone we knew was here.
Dr. Jeremy Hardy.
He was a genius on the field of medicine.
Didn't understand a lot we gathered last night, but he was a Dr Jesus kind .. or at least everyone in those magazines hoped he would be one day.
Came from a family of doctors who owned hospitals and prestigious ones.
" Are you sure he will say yes? " I asked him.
We found out he was at the hotel, Asin heard about him from Marie when we arrived and had an idea.
We ask the man to allow Ayshe a chance to be a resident doctor in the future. Why would he?
For Martell family support. And if he says no ..
" If he is being difficult, we blackmail or force his ass. "
Yeah .. so that was the plan he came up with.
At the Bailor Hotel, we ran into a few family friends and few old acquaintances. we shared some small talk, but they also confirmed that Dr. Hardy was indeed here.
After slipping some cash to the night manager just finishing his shift, we got the room number.
" Just appearing out of thin air, 6 am is not the way to ask for favours. " I reminded him in the elevator.
" Favours are asked from friends. This guy is a victim at best. Morality is moving target in today's society Oliver ..
I was treated to an elevator ride worth of personal fact he imposed on the world.
We arrived at the 1408th door.
He knocked loudly as a human could! .. brother, this is unnecessary.
A grumpy and tired looking young guy opened, rubbing his eyes.
" I didn't order anything. "
He was about to close the door, but Asin not only stopped the guy but just walked inside and past him.
" W-who are you! .. No, no, wait! "
I was left with the door opened and rolled my eyes. We are going to have to use underhanded means now. Who does favours for lunatics?
Walked in and heard the Dr in the middle of quite the story.
" .. did my F-father s-sent you? I .. can explain, obviously. " He stuttered.
The thing he wanted to explain was .. a pair of good-looking girls covering under his sheet, making eyes at us.
Damn doctor ..
Asin was sitting at a table playing with an empty champagne bottle.
" Look at this, Oliver. Our friend even works overnight saving these young women! .. unless this is .. some disgraceful, unbecoming, scandalous way of tarnishing your family name and your dear wife's. "
He stood up and handed him the bottle.
The poor guys' hands were shaking so much the bottle landed and rolled away, scaring the girls.
I made a move that intended to calm the ladies, but they only recoiled and hid further under the cover.
We actually look like villains, brother.. I hope you are happy.
" Now don't look so worried dear .. " He looked at me me waiting.
" Dr Jeremy Hard..
" Mr Hard. Right.. no need to fret. We actually came for a small favour. I'm sure you don't mind, unless you want things to become violent .. I'm sure you like to avoid that, after all.. "
He walked over and sat on the bed next to the ladies.
" ..the ladies look on edge already. "
Looking at his smile, the fright of those ladies and the shaking man ready, do whatever we wanted thanks to a misunderstanding..
Walked back, and I couldn't help smile as the door closed, thinking we were both right.
This unfaithful doctor was a victim, and we were the villains.
——
Asin.
~
.. Jemile Moins Hardy, unfortunately, has been confined in a wheelchair ever since the tragic accident that occurred ..
I put my phone away thinking that the supposed good doctor was a disgusting imbecile.
Married a disabled woman because she happened to be from a rich family .. only to do this.
Turned to Oliver.
" Let's keep an eye on the bastard, gather what we can from him. The Doctor. " I explained.
He didn't ask why he just nodded.
We were on our way back to the house when we came across a certain little cafe that I remembered.
Sevinch.
Held some good memories.
Oliver stopped and saw the place.
" Opps.. we usually avoid this part of the place, huh .. come now. " Lead me away.
He played it off and made light of it, which I appreciated.
Let's not think of such times.
" I tell her the news tonight down at the lagoon. That guy didn't look stable before we left. "
I told him not to call his daddy yet. Announce it with the others next month, but he might jump the gun, they call Ayshe with the news spoiling the surprise.
" What are you planning? " He asked.
" To be honest, I don't even care. I can have fun with that girl whatever we are doing. "
I was afraid to think what Auntie Krista said to her that made the woman mad on the plane, but she pulled back with remarkable ease after a little talk with her sister.
Old Ivan had a good feeling about her. He was mad with rage after what happened, but with Marie there, we couldn't get really into it.
The man killed was one of his own. He will want blood for that eventually.
" She is a good match .. they both are. Took our crazy in strides and showed little signs of fatigue. " He smiled.
The way he phrases things sometimes..
The girls were not only up but cared little for our absence sunbathing by the pool.
Marie was wearing another set of swimsuits.. I mean, thank the Lord whoever created such a work of art.
Just thinking how some victims stared at her last night at the bay made me wanna gouge their eyes out.
Such feelings haven't gripped me in a long time, but never this intensely or had the power to actually do it back then.
A lot of things changed.
I splashed her with some water, making my presence known.
" Oh .. you're here. " She laid back down.
I had half a mind to throw her into the pool, but I'm more mature than that.
" There is a lot in your mother and you. " I said, walking past her.
" W-what did you say!? And what the hell is that mean!!? Hello!? "
She soon came after me dissecting my meaning.
Even in the middle of an angry rant .. I had fun with her.
~
Later that night, I was helping Oliver get ready.
" Run it by me again .. " I asked.
He was trying a different t-shirt but still caught his signature eye roll.
" I saw that! .. I'm doing this for you. Ungrateful. "
He sighed and went and told me step by step.
" .. we cap off the night with a few drinks and fireworks. Have you ..
" Yep, talked to Henry and the staff. Everything is ready. Try and kiss her around 11 pm .. " I suggested.
" Why specifically than? " He looked back.
" To have your first kiss coincide with the fireworks, obviously. Make it the most memorable. "
I mean, ours with Marie was still better even without all that nonsense, but this wasn't the time to rub his nose in it.
" I do my best. "
I could tell he didn't have the soul for romantic timings.
" Are you sure you two won't go out and do something? " He asked.
I remembered her in bikini ..
" For sure, I'm sure. Don't worry about us, dear heart. " I got up and walked behind him.
" Just a little nervous. " He kept patting his shirt.
" Yeah .. well, if it helps, she 100% likes you, and after giving her the best possible start to a career, she might even ask your hand in marriage. "
I joked with a specific fear of his .. having a girl on her knees asking him in public for his hand. When I imagined it, he was always bashful and accepted.
" No, please, God .. don't. "
" I'm just saying, a strong independent woman like her, it's not unthinkable when you add her taste in movies.."
He pushed my hand off his shoulder and needed a minute to gather himself.
People have the strangest fears.
We walked down and waited for the girls.
" Henry, go and check on the guys with the surprise. Then tell everyone to take the night off me and my wife won't need you. "
Henry indicated he understood and walked away.
I kept changing little things on him like hair and switched watches as well. He stopped me from taking his shoes just in time for his lady love to make an appearance.
I winked at Marie standing behind her wearing pyjamas.
Alright, you crazy kids. We done what we could. Go out and come back a couple.
——
Ayshe.
~
Oliver asked me out.
It shouldn't make me this nervous, but it did.
Marie was overbearing as usual, trying to turn me into a Barbie doll.
But walking out hand in hand into the glamorous crowd, some even buzzing about G.O.D while we shared some knowing smiles made it all worth it.
" How does it feel being this famous, walking around like hearing this and that you are major part off? " I asked.
There was a certain pride when he talked about the crew and their exploits.
" .. Surreal. Exciting, and yeah, it does wonders for my ego, I admit .. this is the good part. "
He was right. Enjoying the admiration and seeing how they captured people's imagination.. even I felt a certain pride walking next to him.
" What about you? .. apologies, but my contributions as tough as they sound are dwarfed by your ambition of becoming a doctor. How does that feel? "
I always enjoyed it when people recognised how hard the road of medicine was.. and expensive.
" I don't know, I just early on knew that I wanted those white lab coats and respect they demanded. "
" You know mad scientist wear those coats, also I think they go for like cheap ..
I punched his arm a little.
" I know what you mean. " He turned serious.
" .. having that kind of tenacity is admirable. "
It's nice when the guy you like.. sees you like that.
For all of Jenks' qualities, his praises were .. lacklustre, or maybe the way I felt about him contributed a lot.
Well, that wasn't a problem here.
Let this night be our foundation.