♞

"IF YOU WANT TO PUT the puzzle back together, gather all the pieces one by one and climb to the top. Only then will you be able to see the entire picture."

     Those were the only exact words that Max could remember after his conversation with Viktor. He said to gather the pieces one by one, and Max thinks that what he meant about the pieces were the brotherhoods. He has to gather the brotherhoods and conquer them.

     With Jokers, Max found out about the relationship each brotherhood has and what the real situation is in J.S High. That was also the first time someone mentioned about the old president to him.

     With Boy Next Door, Max found out about the outside problems that J.S High faces, and the people who are not only after him but after his school as well. He learned a lot about the system during those times too. Those were the things that he got from the Dukes.

     But now there's the infamous Counts, the Cigarettes...

     Gavriil wanted Max to conquer Cigarettes, and apparently, that's also what Viktor wants. Max already told Krist and the others that he doesn't plan to do so anymore because he only wants to get his inheritance back, but it seems like he needs to get more from Cj.

     It seems like there's something that Cj knows that could actually help Max in some way.

     "Looks like everything is slowly revealing itself, just like what Viktor said," Max says as he walks towards the balcony of his bedroom. He looks at the view in front of him, and in an instant, he was reminded of the place where Gavriil brought him, at the King's Horizon. It was the only place where he felt completely safe.

     Max pulls out a cigarette from his pocket and lights it up. As he continues to stare at the city lights, he puts the cigarette stick in his mouth and suddenly remembers his conversation with Cj at the clinic earlier...

     (8 hours earlier)

     "Y-You...You fainted. Yeah, that's right. You were walking to your classroom this morning when you suddenly fainted. The doctor said you were sleep-deprived so you must have been half-asleep when you got here earlier," Cj lies as Max continues to massage his aching temple.

     "Man, Étienne was right. I shouldn't overwork myself. I don't even remember leaving your office. I'm seriously losing my mind," Max says, and Cj awkwardly laughs it off while clenching his fist in frustration.

     "Anyway, let me just prepare myself so we could leave. My brother and the others must be really worried," Max says with a smile before stepping out of the bed and walking to a small table where his peak cap is placed.

     Max wears his peak cap and fixes his uniform. While he was doing so, Cj was staring at him intensely. Words wanted to come out of his mouth, but he doesn't even know how to start. But when he finally made up his mind, he clenches his fist and says, "Max, there's something that you need to know-"

     Max stops what he's doing, but he doesn't look back at the count. Somehow, he was afraid of what he might say to him.

     "I know this may sound strange to you but...I'm a very truthful person, okay? And I'm pretty sure you know that by now," Cj says, his voice sounding like he was having a hard time explaining what to say next.

     The room falls silent on them, and Max clenches his fist, preparing himself on what Cj was about to tell him.

     "Don't be shocked okay? Whatever happens, I just want you to know that I'm only telling you this because I'd feel shitty if I keep this to myself, and I actually pity you, like seriously. I went through shit myself but you are just...I seriously pity your ass even after what I did to you myself! It doesn't make any sense!" Cj continues to say in panic, but at this point, he was just stalling.

     When he realized that Max was still waiting for him to just say it, Cj finally takes a deep breath and gathers all his courage to say, "Max...your family is suppressing your-"

     "Stop!" Max suddenly shouts, making Cj flinch and stop mid-sentence.

     Max's hands tremble, but he takes a deep breath and eases himself before finally looking back at the count. Cj didn't know why Max didn't want him to continue, but then Max tells him, "As soon as you finish that sentence you will be involved with my family, and if that happens I might never be able to help you with your company, and I will never get my inheritance back."

     Cj's eyes widen from shock. He couldn't understand why Max was suddenly acting that way, but what Max said next finally made him realize something.

     "And you were already doing a good job pretending too," Max says as a mischievous smirk slowly appears on his face, making Cj take a step away from him with shock.

     "Y-You knew?"

     Max takes another deep breath and walks back to the bed so he can sit on the edge.

     "Ever since Gavriil told me about my past relationship with him, Viktor, Cindy, and the old president, I knew at that moment that something was wrong. I couldn't have just forgotten about it; it was impossible," Max explains, surprising Cj even more. He couldn't believe that Max was actually able to catch on with just that.

     "I had a lot of theories, but the most possible one is that I had some sort of accident which lead to me having selective amnesia. That occurrence somehow became an opportunity for my family, and so they started suppressing my memories every time I start remembering them," Max explains further, leaving Cj speechless.

     "You really are a sly little fox," Cj says, making Max chuckle.

     "Gavriil knew he can't say anything but he still did, so it's really thanks to him. The little things he told me opened up a huge door. There are a lot of other things that I don't know, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid. I know my family enough to believe that they're capable to drug me. The Sinclaire family never played fair anyway."

     Cj stood in front of Max with awe mixed with disbelief. Apparently everyone underestimated Max even when they already know how capable he is. It needs a lot more than a drug to keep him from knowing the truth.

     It was wrong for anyone to think that Max will always be in the losing end.

     "So you remember what I told you yesterday then?" Cj asks, and Max surprisingly nods his head to confirm it.

     Max couldn't stomach the things that he started to remember after what Cj told him, but he knew deep down that he had to swallow it all to be able to move on to what is yet to come. But even just thinking about it now almost made him vomit again. He realized that he has to be stronger in order to fully find out what such trauma meant.

     "Does Krist and the others know about this?" Cj asks next.

     "If you're talking about the memory manipulation, I believe Krist and the others don't know about it. Marcus isn't going to risk telling anyone that they're purposely drugging me. They probably just know I lost my memories," Max explains. He then looks around the room and remembers his friends.

     "Before Ari and the others fed me the drug, I suddenly woke up, so I was able to not swallow the drug and spit it out when they weren't looking. It was out of pure luck I guess. Maybe life was starting to pity me too," Max answers before standing from the bed. "I don't blame my friends though, nor do I blame Marcus and Étienne. I'm not a child to be blaming it on them. They're just pawns in this chess game that's being played by the Sinclaire family. If I were to blame all this to someone, I would only blame one person..."

     "Who?"

     Max pulls out his Lemieux necklace and touches it before saying, "My father. With what's going on, I believe he's the mastermind in all this. He's powerful enough to make people do things for him. And like what I told Marcus and Étienne before, I understand why he's doing all these things, but he's a fool to think I can't handle myself now. I'm not the little boy he thought I was."

     "What are you going to do then?" Cj asks.

     Max looks at his necklace for one last time before letting go of it.

     "As of now I'm still pretending like I know nothing. Before I think of a plan against the Sinclaire's, pretending to be ignorant is the best option I have. What I do plan to do first is to get my inheritance back. I already chose the family who I'll be standing with, so when I'm done with all this, we'll see who'll fall in the end," Max declares, and Cj was once again left in awe.

     "So, Charles Justin Mills, who do you pity again?" Max asks with a sly grin, finally making Cj laugh.

     "You really are something Maxy, I'm impressed. With how you are, I suddenly got inspired to help you more," Cj then says, making Max chuckle.

     "Oh please, the least I need now is your help."

     "Hey, it's better to accept it now than regret it later. Believe me."

     (Present time)

     Max exhales the smoke from his mouth and continues to stare at the scenery with a victorious grin on his face. He wasn't the ignorant boy that they thought he was. He wasn't going to let them make a fool out of him again. And he was definitely never going to cry and beg on his knees like before.

     This time, Max holds the rules of the game.

     This time...

     It was his turn to make them beg.

     "Now...how shall I conquer Cigarettes?"

...

The whistle blows hard, almost making the students of Class II-A cover their ears in irritation. All the students stop running at the field as they look at the PE teacher, Mr. Ryan Baxter.

     "That's enough for today! All of you may head to the locker rooms to get changed!" Mr. Baxter shouts, and everyone practically cheers as they head back to their lockers, running faster than when they were still on the track field.

     "That was some good exercise, don't you think?" Max asks Ervin while wiping his sweat with a towel.

     Ervin nods his head and chugs down a bottle of water. After twenty laps, Max and Ervin were the only ones who still looked like they could still run ten more laps. Ervin was an amazing athlete, while Max's endurance grew after his training with BND.

     "Easy for you guys to say," Ari complains.

     Felix was about to say something too, but when his eyes met with Ari, he stops and moves away from him, making Max furrow his brows in confusion.

     "What's going on with them? Did they have a fight?" Max asks, and Ervin just shrugs his shoulder, pretending like he doesn't know anything even though he was there when the two were practically shouting at each other yesterday.

     "Hey!" Max calls out, running to where Ari and Felix are and draping his arms around their shoulders. "What's wrong with you two? Are you fighting over petty things again?"

     "No we're not," both of them answers in an angry tone.

     Honestly, Max could already tell what the two of them might have argued about, but he couldn't really say anything. If he does, they'll get involved even more, and Max isn't ready for that yet.

     "Well, if you guys aren't going to make up then-" Max lets go of the two and grabs Ervin's arm before suddenly running off with him. "We're not going to talk to you guys too!" Max shouts while running away with Ervin, shocking Felix and Ari.

     "Darn you, Max! Can you really be this petty!" Ari angrily shouts back until Max and Ervin were out of sight.

     Ari was now left alone with Felix, automatically making the situation awkward between them. Felix wanted to say something, but then Ari starts walking away as if he didn't want to see Felix at all.

    Felix clenches his fist but doesn't say anything.

     The two eventually arrive at the locker room. Their other classmates were already gone, even Max and Ervin. And unfortunately for them, their lockers were beside each other. Ari immediately removes his PE shirt to wipe his sweat with a clean towel. While he was doing so, Felix stares at his locker, not even opening it.

     When it was obvious that Ari wasn't going to talk to him, Felix finally looks at Ari and says, "Ari, I'm sorry if I acted like a jerk and made it sound like you were a coward. I just felt really guilty about what we did and I just pushed that emotion all on you."

     Felix waited for Ari to say something, but Ari completely ignores him, finally angering Felix. So without saying anything, Felix slam Ari's locker shut.

     "Would you at least listen to me?!"

     The loud sound that came from the locker echoes inside the room, but despite that, Ari doesn't even flinch. He still doesn't say anything, but he finally turns his head to look at Felix, his expression blank.

     "I'm not the only one to blame here, am I? Was it so wrong for me to feel guilty after what we've done?" Felix asks as soon as their eyes meet.

     When Ari still didn't say anything, a tear finally falls from Felix's eyes, surprising the red-headed boy.

     "You've been ignoring me since this morning and I hate it! I seriously hate it!" Felix complains as more tears fall down his cheeks.

     Felix immediately tries to wipe the tears away, but then Ari suddenly grabs him and pulls him close for an unexpected embrace.

     Felix's eyes widen from shock as Ari hugs him even tighter. "You're seriously a pain. After everything you said to me yesterday, you're suddenly going to cry like that? How am I going to stay mad at you then?"

     "Ari..."

     "I'm sorry for saying such mean things to you. I let my anger get the best of me and said stupid shit. I know how you felt, and I'm aware that I could have done things differently if I was just-"

     "No, don't worry about it..." Felix immediately says, burying his face in Ari's chest. "I'm just glad you're not mad at me anymore."

     Ari was surprised by the response, but he smiles eventually and pats Felix's head, glad that their quick dispute was finally sorted out. It might not look like it because of his personality, but Ari cares a lot about his friends, and that includes Felix.

     "Well that was faster than I expected," a voice suddenly says.

     Ari immediately pushes Felix away from him when he heard the familiar voice, acting like he was caught doing a crime when he sees Max and Ervin emerge from the back of the lockers.

     "Max, Ervin, what the hell are you guys doing here?" Ari asks, trying to act like he didn't just hug Felix like he was some type of main character in a rom-com movie.

     Ervin chuckles and glances at Felix who's cheeks were red before looking back at Ari. "Looks like you really are a man Faulkner," Ervin teases, making Ari hit him in the head with a towel.

     "Alright, now that everything is back to normal, let's all change back to our uniforms," Max says as he approaches his locker. "And Ari...I can't believe you hugged Felix shirtless. What type of novels do you even read?" he then adds, making Ari's face turn red this time.

     With just that, Max already broke down the tense atmosphere between them. As much as he wants to tell them that they didn't do anything wrong, making them feel relaxed is the best thing that he can do for them.

     "Just a little more guys. Bare with me a little more," Max thought to himself while looking at Ari and the others who were now fooling around with each other again like normal.

     While the four friends change back to their white uniform, someone suddenly barges inside the locker room. They weren't expecting anyone, but to their surprise, it was actually four very popular students of J.S High.

     "Looks like your classmates were right. You really are still here," a voice says, and the four friends turn around to see who the intruder was.

     "The Monarchs?!" Ari, Felix, and Ervin shouted at the same time.

     Max, who looked back at the four men behind them, furrows his brows in confusion and asks, "Who?"

     The question made the Monarchs' frontman, Axel Dumont, gasp like he heard the most ridiculous thing in the world. While their drummer, Heaven, their bassist, couldn't help but laugh at how their first appearance with Max went down.

     Ari then looked at Max like he was crazy as he says, "The Monarchs?! J.S High's own band?! We literally saw them on the first day's morning assembly. How do you not remember them?"

    Max wanted to pretend like he finally knew them to save them from the embarrassment, but he couldn't really do so as he scratches his head and tells them, "Sorry, I don't really remember."

     Axel wanted to protest and slam Max then and there, but Ari start pointing at them one by one and says, "The man in the middle is their frontman Axel Dumont, the one with silver hair is their bassist Heaven Carter, beside him is their guitarist Jung Jaehyuk, and the tallest one is their drummer, Roman Fulwood."

    Max, who seemed like he wasn't much interested in them at all, properly wears his necktie before looking back at the said famous band.

     "Alright, nice to meet you all. But why the hell are four popular band members looking for us?" Max finally asks, and Axel, their frontman, approaches Max with a wide smile.

     "I apologize for the late introduction Sinclaire, but like what your red-headed friend here just said, we are the Monarchs," Axel introduces with a bow. "As busy as we may be, our boss asked a favor from us. Well, he changed it last minute, but it doesn't change the fact that it involves you. And what our boss says is absolute. We will do everything in our power to make it happen for him."

    "Boss?" Ervin confusingly asks.

     Max stares at the four men in front of them. He couldn't really tell what was going on, but then his eyes widens from shock when he realized something.

     "T-The Ashes...these four are the Ashes," Max finally reveals.

     "What?!" was the only thing Ari, Felix, and Ervin could say.

     "Well would you look at that, you caught up fast," Axel says, and Ervin and Ari immediately switched to their underling mode and blocked Max from their view.

     "What do you guys want? Why did you suddenly reveal yourselves to us? Are you planning to kidnap Max?" Ari quickly asks, ready to start a fight if needed.

     Axel and the rest of the Ashes laugh at the aggressive response.

     "Kidnap him? That's funny because we were asked to do something different this time," Axel asks before looking back at Max.

     They didn't really know what their intentions were, but to their surprise, Axel bows in front of Max, followed by Heaven and the rest of the members of Cigarettes.

     "As Cigarettes' strongest underling, we offer you our assistance...master Sinclaire."

- END -