Fixing The Billionaire Mafia

Nyda POV.

I woke up early to bake a cake. Manang and I also went to the market early. Today is Tristan's birthday, my love. That's why I'm going to bake him a cake. Every year, I give him one, even though I don't know if he actually eats it or not.

I was probably 11 years old when I developed a crush on Tristan. He's my older brother's friend. They were still young men when they used to hang out at our house. All of them were good-looking, handsome, and had strong builds, but Tristan was the one who really made my heart flutter. He was a gentleman and kind. The only problem was, he was a ladies'man.

I've confessed my feelings to him several times, but he would just laugh it off. Now, I'm planning to confess to him again. This will be my first time confessing to him since I turned 16.

It was almost noon when we finished the cake. I put it in the fridge for now. I quickly rushed upstairs to take a bath and indulged in soap!

I prepared myself carefully. I took out the pink dress that Mom gave me and asked Manang to do my makeup.

I asked our driver to drop me off at the venue where Tristan's birthday party was. There were many people there. I saw him in front, wearing a black tuxedo. He looked so handsome! His face was so fair and smooth! And most of all, his smile was beautiful.

I approached him and handed him the cake. He immediately turned his gaze to me.

“Oh, Nyda. Thank you,” he said with a sweet smile.

“Ahh. I hope you enjoy eating it. I baked it myself.”

“Of course. By the way, thanks again.”

When the party started, I was left alone in a corner. My brother, on the other hand, was busy with his girls.

I saw Luke go up on stage with his guitar.

He sat in the middle and started playing. Everyone fell silent, listening. I could hear the cheers of the girls behind me. They were gushing about how handsome Luke was! I couldn't help but blush with every song he sang. I kept wishing he was singing to me instead.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming,” he said after finishing his song. He stood up, holding the microphone, and stepped off the stage. I followed him with my eyes, watching where he went.

He stopped at a table… in front of a girl wearing a white dress, and I couldn't deny that she was beautiful.

“Camille, this is one of the most special birthdays for me… Having you in my life completes me. And I want to be complete. Will you marry me, Camille?”

The girl immediately nodded. I turned away and wiped the tears that were about to fall. I knew they were a couple, but I didn't expect Luke to propose like this.

I went outside to talk to Luke. I couldn't just give up my feelings like this.

“Luke, can we talk?” I approached him outside where he was talking to a man. He excused himself and followed me to the back of the garden.

“What is it, Nyda?”

"You're getting married? Why didn't you tell me? I thought she was just your girlfriend," I said, exhaling deeply as he looked at me with confusion in his eyes.

"When I confessed my feelings to you the first time, I meant it. And every time I did it again, I meant it. When I said I wouldn't give up, I was telling the truth. But why are you marrying that girl?"

"Don't call her that. I love her. That's why I'm marrying her. I've told you many times that we can't be together. And especially, you can't have feelings for me, Nyda. No matter what happens, my words won't change. I won't accept your feelings... ever. Now that I'm getting married, can you finally leave me alone? And take care of your feelings?"

I slapped him. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. I couldn't speak through the pain I was feeling. I couldn't catch my breath, and I was sobbing endlessly.

"Do you think it's easy for me? Every time you reject me, it's like you're killing me over and over again. But I never gave up on you."

"You know I never asked you to hold on to your feelings for me, Nyda. You're still young and a spoiled brat. Do you really think you can get everything you want?"

I covered my face and broke down into heavy sobs as Luke walked away from me.

I couldn't bear the pain. My whole life… I'd loved him.

"Nyda!!"

Gracielle, my best friend, came running towards me.

"Beautiful! I missed you so much!" she said as she hugged me tightly. I missed her so much too! We've been friends since childhood, like two halves of a whole.

"How are you? You've gotten even prettier, Nyda! How was it over there?" Her voice was filled with excitement, and I couldn't help but smile. I missed her so much, and everything here. I had been gone for four years, and I had to leave for reasons of my own.

"I'm fine, Gracielle! I'm more excited to see you! I missed you, you witch!" I hugged her again, and we started jumping around. We both snapped out of it when someone honked at us.

"Miss, you can't hang out here! Move! You're going to get run over!" a bodyguard shouted at us. We quickly grabbed our bags and headed to the taxi stand.

Gracielle took me to my condo. She arranged everything for my return here. I didn't want to live with my brother. He doesn't care about me, and all you'd hear in the house is noise from his parties, filled with women. It's like he's turned the house into a nightclub. My brother can't seem to do anything decent.

"I designed this, Nyda. I know your style," Gracielle said proudly.

I really like the room, I really like the designed. It seems that she really put her energy to design this room for me. I really appreciate it.

**********

Nyda POV.

"Aww, you witch, I'm going to cry! I missed you so much. Now that I'm back, we can go boy hunting again!"

"Promise? We'll be partying all the time!" I nodded, and we hugged again.

As the night deepened, Gracielle decided to stay and eat with me. We ordered pizza, chicken, and a bunch of other food, and blasted music loudly.

We partied all night, dancing like no one could stop us. Even though it was just the two of us, the joy was still different. The living room was a mess. When we got tired, we both lay down on the carpet.

"Nyda…" she said softly.

"What?" I replied.

"Did you come back here because of Tristan?" Her question made me pause.

My life there was nice. I made friends, started working, and was living my life. But every day that passed, I always thought of Tristan. Not a single day went by without him lingering in my heart and mind.

Sometimes I tried to ignore him, but my feelings for him were still alive and strong. Luke was my first love… a one-sided love… an unrequited love and probably my last love. I tried to distract myself and date others, but it never worked. I always saw Luke in them.

But then he got married, and I had to fix myself. I had been abroad for almost a year when I found out that he lost both his wife and child. I was hurt for him and wanted to return so badly, but for what? There was nothing to go back to. He loved Camille, and I wanted to know if he still loves her even now. A part of me hopes he doesn't.

"Actually, yes… I want Luke back."

"Luke back? Were you ever together?" Gracielle teased.

"Gracia! I was about to get emotional, and you ruined it!" I stood up and playfully hit her, making her laugh as she got up from the floor.

"Hopia, mani, popcorn—Nyda the assumera!" she rapped, her craziness fully on display.

"Stop it! I'm going to court him, you know. He's single now, and I'm probably not too young in his eyes anymore." I gasped, suddenly feeling anxious. What if he still doesn't want me?

"Then court him! Go for it. But give up if you can't handle it. It's your heart at stake, not his. Don't let yourself get crushed."

The next day, Gracielle went home, and I spent my time unpacking and cleaning. I never liked having a maid; if I could do it myself, I would. How responsible of me, right?

After organizing everything, I took a shower, put on makeup, and of course, got dressed. I mean, I couldn't exactly go out naked, right?

I grabbed the first thing I saw—my black lace off-shoulder dress—and paired it with flat shoes. I headed to Jake's bar alone. He was the only one who knew I was back, well, aside from my brother, but does he even care?

Anyway, the bodyguard welcomed me, and I saw Jake near the counter, sipping a drink.

"Hi, Jake!" I greeted him and sat on one of the high chairs beside him.

He smiled at me and continued mixing a drink with squeezed lemon and some kind of wine in a glass. "Is that you? Where's my cutie? You're not a cutie anymore..." He handed me the glass. Wow, he made a drink for me.

"She's hot now," came a voice from behind. It was Rowin. He's still as handsome as ever. Hot, sexy Rowin. Jake had also grown more muscular and handsome.

Rowin sat beside me, so I was now in between the two.

"Well, Nyda. Nice to see you again," Jake said.

"Oh, well. I can feel your love already, so stop staring at me, boys." They had been staring for a while, making me uncomfortable. When we were younger, it was more than just stares, but now it felt different.

"Luke's coming," I heard a voice whisper in my ear. I turned and saw Gab.

"Where?" I stood up quickly, feeling everyone's eyes on me. And I saw Gab laughing. That jerk!

"He's tired. Maybe he'll come tomorrow. Are you really not over him yet? That's popular nowadays, Nyda," Gab teased, raising his eyebrow. I ignored him and took a sip of the drink Jake made.

"So, how are you now? Planning to work?" Rowin asked.

"Yeah, but I'm still looking. Are you offering me something?" I smiled at him. He just grinned and continued drinking.

"Welcome home, little sister." We all turned to the booming voice.

Tyron, my brother.

"I don't need your welcome," I said, glancing at him. He just smirked and sat beside Rowin.

"I have somewhere else to be," Jake said as he got up to leave. "Order anything, it's on me," he added before walking away.

"Same here, I've got duties," Rowin said, tapping Tyron on the shoulder before leaving.

"I need to clean the bathroom," Gab said, making an excuse and walking off too.

Now, it was just me and my brother. Awkward.

Since I left, we hadn't patched things up. He was the one who wanted me gone, and I had no choice but to leave. Since then, our relationship as siblings had been ruined. While I was in California, he never once reached out to check on me. If he could, he would've never let me come back.

"Do you have a place to stay?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"I do," I replied curtly. He downed his drink without saying anything else.

I couldn't bear the uncomfortable silence any longer, so I grabbed my bag and started to leave, but—

"Nyda…"

I turned to look at him. He was still sitting, facing away from me.

"Nothing... Go ahead."

I thought he was going to say something meaningful, but it was nothing. So I continued walking out of the bar.

When I stepped outside, I froze. Standing in front of the bar, leaning against his car, was Luke.

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't move.

"Luke..." I whispered.

He was staring at me, and I couldn't look away. The effect he had on me was still the same, but everything was even more intense now. My feelings were magnified. I wanted so badly to run to him and hug him, just like I used to, but I couldn't.

He simply smiled at me and walked past.

I watched him go.

I still love you so much, Tristan...