Chapter 23: Hide out

For these past two days, I didn't go to school.

I just had no motivation to do so, and Renz is the one who made an excuse for me at school.

I'm sure he is fuming right now because I didn't tell him the reason, but I really felt exhausted these days, especially I keep on dreaming weird stuff.

I sigh.

Oh yeah, I am in one of the hiding places of our troupe, I mean Brye's bar-like place, with a high counter table behind me, and some drop light.

The whole place is industrial design, where there is also some sofa and television in front of me, and yes, I am on the sofa, finding which to watch.

And yes, we do have a hide-out, it is one of the ownership of Brye, he does have a lot of money, so he also asks his parents for a hideout, and because he is the only child, he was really pampered by uncle and aunt, as they gave him what he asks for, garnering another place for himself, that he turns to hide out for all of us.

Oh yeah. Did I told you his mother is business-minded, it is one of her hobbies to be exact, She keeps on creating and investing in whatever business she thought of, that's why they go a lot of money.

Anyway, why did I tell that you?

My chin is on my hand as I keep on switching different channels, but nothing piques my interest.

"Your chin will become longer if you keep on being like that." Brye joke.

I just look at him as I drink the wine I am holding, then look back again at the television.

"What's the prob?" Then I feel by my side that it sink, and a warm presence of a human and the smell of his favorite perfume enters my nostril.

I just shrug. I really am not in the mood for anything.

"Elle!" It is Renz who suddenly enters from the door and walk-in in front of me.

I just look at him as an answer.

"Why did you ditch for two days. Darn it. And it's your second week of the class." I can see the visible annoyance on his face. "Elle, we're not the same young age where we play gangster games."

I can feel Brye's eyes on me, and I know he is confused.

Brye is like a second elder brother for all of us. Although he is a bit playboy and had a narcissistic tendency, the facts never change that he is the one who cares for all of us the most.

Although, Leo is still the first one and the best elder brother I had.

"Sorry."

I can feel they're surprised as they look at me.

Well, I won't wonder, I don't normally apologize, but I just don't feel like being myself today.

Oh yeah, Renz isn't wearing his glasses today, so his eye expression is very visible, just like now. He seems worried as he carefully sits on the left side of me because Brye is on the right side.

"Speak," Renz says as he looks at me intently.

"It's nothing. Really." I say then stand up, not caring the look that they keep on giving me. "I'm hungry." After that, I went to the kitchen.

"Elle." calls out Brye.

"Hmmm," I answer as I pick the vegetable pear, corn beef inside the refrigerator, I also took the onion and garlic to the top of the fridge.

After that, I peel the vegetable pear.

I know how to cook because Maria keeps on insisting to learn how to cook, so I decided to also learn even a basic one, else we will eat the poisonous food of mom and Maria.

"I received a letter," Bryan says in a serious voice.

My brow knit, "Letter?" I ask as I cut the vegetable pear I just peel in a small cube. After that, I took the onion as I also peel it along with the garlic.

He became silent for a long second that got pique my curiosity.

"Did you received one?" He asks.

I stop what I am doing after I chop the onion and garlic, then look in his direction.

Received what?

As if reading my thought, Brye answers, "From Curse Phoenix"

I frown, what is Brye talking about?

He stands up and stops in front of the counter table, which is in front of me."Do you have one?" He asks as he shows me an envelope with a picture of a phoenix, and a skull on top of it.

"They knew us?" I ask.

Okay I know you got confused about what we are talking about, I told you before about the gangster roulette (see chapter 5).

Curse Phoenix was one of our competitors during that time, but when we are playing the game we used to wear masks to hide our identity. It was something Bryan insists on, which we agree, although his reason that time is that we will look cool if we wear one. That's why it is a big question mark to me how did they know bout us.

Okay, let me explain it to you once more.

As I told you before we are called 'Fierce 5'

Each one of us has a code name.

Bryan's code name is 'Fire', he is a great fighter among us, I mean in physical strength. He knows how to fight in Judo, taekwondo, karate, muay Thai, kickboxing, and Taijutsu. every time the gangster roulette choose 'Brawl', he will go up front to fight. He had won third place at that time. I thought he will have a tantrum but he was very proud of the medal he got.

Maria Victorina's code name is 'Shooting-range Princess', well it was obvious that she is good at shooting. She could use both handgun and bow n' arrow and have won the champion price, but during our stay at Brye's resort, she got scared. Yeah, she was a bit of a coward and a cry baby.

Lorenzo's code name is 'L' a.k.a. 'gadget prince', he isn't the one who choose that name, it was Maria's because during that time she like watching 'Death Note' and she always thinks that Renz's is very good at using different types of gadget, but he only got in top 20.

And then David, yeah, Dave was with us before. He is good at playing different kinds of sports. Although he only got in the top 50.

Dave and I used to be closed until that happened.

And Justine? well, we met him after our group was dismissed and he had no idea about such.

And me. Well, I am actually invincible. Joke.

Yeah, I am joking.

Anyway, as I told you before I am good at getting info, but honestly I just hack some CCTV cams, that's the reason why I knew about Brye's info, because I am so bored, and I know he likes to show off. I just like seeing his plan ruined.

Well, everything is in the past, and it's been 5 years ago. and yeah, we only tried that game for 6 months, then Brye got tired so he decided to end the troupe.

So let's go back to the present.

Curse Phoenix range shooter got second place before, while Maria got first place. They really hate us that time, to be exact, they hated Maria that time because they can't win against her, but it was impossible that they knew Maria's real face, especially since Brye asks Big bro Leo to destroy any evidence about our identity, with a very pricey cost.

Ah, whatever.

"Elle?!" Brye calls out to me. Haist, I almost forgot that we were talking about the letter.

"Yeah. I never had one. Did you read it?" Me

He sighs as he shakes his head. "I didn't read it yet." after that he gave me the envelope.

"Does the others know?"

He just shrugs.

As I open the letter, my eyes widen.

What did it just say?!!!