Chapter 2 Kiss Stealer

When she got to Kiki village, Zein exhaled a sigh of relief. She was quite exhausted after attending her sister Zelda's wedding just moments earlier. She immediately headed to her sister's happiest day when she returned from her trip to Japan.

Zein is still without a break. The only time she took a break was when she drove over to their house before the ceremony to change. That bitter man, Mang Tasyo, compounded her issue, but will she turn down the opportunity to see her sister dressed in a traje de boda? Since they were the only two in their lives who were together, she couldn't bear to miss her walking down the aisle.

Zelda has supported her as her mother and father ever since their parents perished in an ambush. Their parents just left them the house on Mapski Street. It turns out that their family was already heavily in debt at the time.

Zelda, Zein's sister, assumed full responsibility as a result. Her sister assisted her as she studied. She successfully finished the BA Film and Audio Visual Communication programme. She just hasn't utilized it yet. She still doesn't have a career that fits the school she graduated from at the age of twenty-four. She observed her fellow classmates as they achieved success in that area, but she was still without plans.

Zein will actually find employment without much difficulty because her sister has numerous contacts, but she picked music. Zelda supported her in following her passion, which was joining the band, which is why she adores her so much. Everything was done by her sister to make her happy.

Zein then caught sight of Yvette strolling along the path. She was a friend from her early years who she hadn't seen in a while. The woman turned abruptly to her car in response to her immediate honk at her. Zein simply chuckled at her friend's response. She hasn't really changed at all.

Zein immediately lowered the window of her car. "Bengut!"

She reflected Zein's face and suddenly her mouth fell open when she recognized the person in front of her. "Agiw?"

Yvette even managed to scream when she approached her. Zein just hit her friend when she almost pulled her out of the window because of her hug.

"Yvette!"

Her friend let her go immediately. "I missed you. Sorry. You've been gone for two years."

"And in those two years, you still walk into the village," Zein teased her friend. Her friend's job as an accountant was good, but Yvette didn't want to take a taxi when she's in Kiki village because she always says that riding a taxi cab is a poor thing.

"Yuck! So cheap."

Zein laughed.

Yvette rolled her eyes. "You know this place. Everywhere I turn, there is discrimination. It's a shame for the people from Gamski and Mapski street who have their own cars."

"You are the only one who thinks of that discrimination."

"Duh?"

Zein still remembered what Yvette told her about Kiki village. The founders of the village were the twins Kian and Kianna, so the names of the streets in the area only have "ki" at the end. The place was not just casual because the residences of the successors of some wealthy families in the country were located at the village.

Even though Zein's family was not wealthy, they did own a home in the village. Because of the residences' location, other locals had the opinion that there was discrimination. The residences of the successors, who were, as far as she knows, not simply heirs but also gorgeous ones, can only be found on Gamski Street. There were people on Papski and Mapski Street who could only assert that they were capable of living better lives.

It's just sad that people have that mindset including her friend. They could not see what they already have. After all, it was a privilege to have land in the village even if it was small because not all people could afford land in that area.

"Get in. I will take you to Papski Street."

Yvette closed her eyes and shook her head. "Oh my gosh! Don't you ever mention that street again!"

Zein laughed again. She did not like sassy people but she did not know how she reconciled with Yvette. Maybe she only found a good friend in Yvette. Besides the woman and her bandmates, she had no friends. For her, it's hard to trust someone.

"Why? That's where you live," Zein said teasingly to Yvette.

Yvette just sighed and got into her car. Zein immediately started the car. It's at the end of the street and her house was the first to pass, but that's fine with her.

"Really annoying! Do you know that? Why is it that Gamski is at the opening and we are at the end? What are we, dregs? They are the ones with the fancy cars, they are the ones who are close," Yvette complained.

Zein grinned. "Who told you to walk? You should have just taken a tricycle." She laughed again when Yvette suddenly gasped.

"I don't want a taxi in this place, what more in riding a cheap tricycle?"

Zein shook her head.

For a while, Yvette looked at her. "What does that look like? You're wearing a light pink infinity dress but your lips are tainted with black. Are you serious about that style of yours?"

"I came from Ate Zelda's wedding," she replied.

She covered her mouth. "Yes, by the way. She invited me but I couldn't go because my boss was taking care of something important."

"Okay..."

"So, how's the wedding?"

"My sister is very happy. She deserves to be happy. I hope Race will take care of her," she replied with a smile.

Yvette nodded but narrowed her eyes. "But you know, it's just a pity..."

"Pity? What do you mean?"

"Her relationship with Amos was a pity. Too bad, his house is in Gamski. That means he is a big catch. If I were Ate Zelda, I would not replace Amos."

Zein was shocked to hear. She couldn't believe that the man also lived in Kiki village. She knew her sister had an ex-boyfriend but she didn't want to meet him because she was in Japan. Also, when Amos was still courting Zelda, she showed no interest in getting to know him. She only recognized Race because the man is her sister's husband.

"Mang Tasyo?" she asked.

"Oh my gosh again! He's hot and so handsome and you're just calling him Mang Tasyo?"

Now Zein was the one who rolled her eyes. "How could it not be? He almost ruined the reception and sang a killer song. He even baked an ampalaya-flavored wedding cake."

Yvette laughed with another slap on her arm. "Really? What did he do? After all, we can't blame him if he becomes bitter because Race stole Zelda from him."

Zein frowned at what her friend said. She didn't know Race well yet, but her sister seemed to love him so much that she didn't object anymore. That means that Mang Tasyo really drew on something to become bitter. She simply did not comment.

"Thank you for the service, Agiw!" She pressed her cheek to her cheek.

"All right. Go to your house, Bengut. You are a perfect fit for Papski." She came down like a whining child.

Zein just laughed. She crossed the road home. She just left the living room light off and entered her room. Her sister already got married so she will be alone.

After she got dressed she felt hungry. She thought of eating the ampalaya-flavored cake she brought home earlier. Her sister didn't like it but she liked the taste. Maybe she just really likes pastries.

She was unsure of the cause of his addiction to sweets, especially breads. Reo's Bakeshop is the only place she regularly buys bread. She was thrifty, but even though these items were pricey, there was no reason to hold that against her in this case.

Zein went downstairs to retrieve a fork and plate from the kitchen but was startled to discover the size of a guy standing next to the liquor cabinet. She could still make out the man despite the darkness, but his turned-back prevented her from seeing his face.

Security is tight in this village, huh? How did the thief get in here?

Because of panic, Zein just took the broom-reed from her side. She slowly approached him and hit him hard on the back with her eyes closed.

"You're a thief"

"Oh!" moaned the man.

Zein just opened her eyes when she reached for the light switch so she could see the man in front of her now.

"You?!" They shouted in chorus.

Zein was the first to recover from the shock. "What are you doing in my house, Mang Tasyo?"

"Your house?" he asked. Zein moved slightly away from the man when she smelled the alcohol on his breath. "This is my girlfriend's house." He laughed even more.

This man is really drunk!

Zein had been annoyed with the man for some time, but she was unable to dispute what her friend had stated. He was a gorgeous man. Despite having unkempt hair, he still looked good. Compared to him, he was shorter. She didn't even reach the man's neck.

If you take into account his muscular arms touching his white polo shirt, he was hot. Zein could see the man's big chest through the man's elegant polo shirt, which had three open buttons at the top. She didn't like dark men, yet she couldn't look away from the man in front of him.

"Enjoying what you see?" Amos asked him comfortingly. He still has the urge to annoy her even when he's drunk.

Zein didn't realize that she was staring at the man. She placed the tip of her tongue on the inside of her cheek before speaking. "Thick of your face!"

"But you... liked it."

Zein just changed the subject. "What are you doing in my house, Mang Tasyo?" he asked again. "How did you get in here?"

"Because my girlfriend is here." He grinned even more, causing her to get annoyed.

It feels like Zein just wants to slap the wedding cake in his face that he himself baked. From the moment she tasted it, she loved the taste. She wondered to herself because she knew that she only wanted bread and cakes from Reo's Bakeshop.

"My sister married Race! Stop!" Zein snorted at the man but the shameless one passed her and actually planned to go up to the second floor.

"Zelda? Zelda!" Her mouth just fell open. Amos wanted to climb the stairs but he staggered. His forehead hit the railing. He laughed even though he was already hurt.

"Zelda? Your boyfriend is here. Sweetheart, come on. Come to Amos." It's like a father raising his hand on the opposite side of the stairs and waiting for his baby to come down.

"Hey, Mang Tasyo, get out of my house." Zein approached him and pulled him by the arm but he became heavy. "What? I'll call the police if you don't leave. You are trespassing!"

He turned to her with wide eyes. Even in the dark, she could see his grin. She suddenly became nervous for no reason.

"Zelda!" She just held her breath when he hugged her. Amos is very heavy. He almost made her bed.

"You quit. I'm not my sister!" Zein pushed Amos away but his soft giggle on the side of her neck gave her a strange feeling. It was as if electricity flowed through her entire body. It was only at that moment that she felt that kind of feeling. It's scary but it's good to feel it again.

Amos sighed and touched both of her cheeks. She looks like a fish because her lips have been pinched by his palms.

"Sweetheart, I love you," the man said with his eyes narrowed. He still smiled and it was obvious from that smile that he was really drunk. "I should be the one you married."

Zein's heart felt compassion at what the man said. She did not know what happened between her sister and Amos. She had no right to judge but she couldn't help feeling sorry for the man's situation. Amos seems to love her sister very much. Her sister was lucky because someone loves her dearly.

"I should be your groom. Why did you let Race steal you away from me?" Amos scolded like a child in front of her, no tears but sad eyes.

But all the pity she felt for the man suddenly disappeared when he quickly put his lips to hers. She couldn't stop it because it was too fast.

My first kiss!

She immediately pushed him and punched him in the face. Amos just laid on the floor and laughed. He didn't care if it hurt. Zein held both of his feet. She pulled him as he lay out of her gate.

"This is the right place for a stealer like you!"

Zein let the inebriate to sleep on the highway. She rushed through and shut the gate. When she sensed her heart beating more quickly, she leaned over, grabbed her chest, and loosened her knees. A little while later, she made contact with her lips. She ruffled her hair when she closed her eyes.

Grumbling, she entered the house and shouted. "Kiss stealer!"