Prologue

Crazy

AKHLAS

I was probably the craziest son and brother among the four Rozovsky siblings in our family. I'm also the youngest. Our older brother is sometimes still a mystery to me. Ate Aletheia is someone I understand a bit better, just like Kuya Adam. As for me, I'm just... me.

I smirked the moment I realized it. There's nothing really special about the youngest child of Mikolos Rozovsky. I was even called weird when I was younger—I mean, I still am. Well, according to what people say about me. But I don't really care. People can think whatever they want about me. Most people know me as Akhlas Mccrea Rozovsky, son of Mikolos' Rozovsky, or as Alejandro Rozovsky's younger brother.

I do appreciate it. After all, I cherish my family. But even back then, I already wanted to make a name for myself and achieve things on my own. I appreciate my family, but I just want to do it alone. Gusto ko na may gawin ako na ako lang sa sarili ko. I didn't know where that desire came from at first. I grew up in a good household. Hindi rin nagkukulang si Mommy sa mga paalala niya sa amin, but I still wanted to take this path.

People have expectations, but I don't care about that. I'm just living my life as I want to. No one can bother me. I don't live to please anyone or anything. Even my parents have given me the freedom to be myself. Kahit pa nga minsan ay hindi rin agree, lalo na si Mommy, sa ibang mga gawain ko. But because she loves me, she tries to understand my personality and attitude. Kaya bakit ko pa iisipin ang iisipin ng ibang tao? Nothing matters to me more than my family. If I have their support, then I don't need anyone's approval anymore.

I went to a club here in Germany, kung saan naglalagi si kuya. Alejandro Rozovsky hasn't settled yet, at naunahan pa nga siya nina Ate Aletheia at Kuya Adam. Our two siblings are currently in the Philippines, growing their own happy and healthy families. They've learned to fall in love, and that's why...

Love. I think I've witnessed that several times—through my parents and two older siblings. They are the closest examples I have of what love looks like.

Habang kami na lang ni kuya ang wala pang girlfriend. Well, lalo na dapat siya because he's older than me, so he gets the more pressure from our parents than I do. Bata pa naman ako—definitely younger than my brother. Honestly, I don't really see myself settling down anytime soon.

"Hi, Akhlas," a pretty girl greeted me.

I appreciate pretty things, all right? When I say a pretty girl, it's just the usual—nothing really special. I smirked. "Hey." After that, I downed the liquor in my shot glass.

I was just busying myself at the bar, drinking. I didn't even notice the other people around me.

She smiled at me and moved closer, taking a seat next to mine.

When I was younger, halos iwasan pa ako ng mga babaeng kaedad ko. Even the girls in my elementary class would call me a weirdo and hate me. But that only happened when I was very young. I probably acted weird and liked the weirdest things.

I remember there was a girl from kindergarten. I was in my own world during our class break while the others were outside catching flies. I just let them be while I read inside the classroom.

Then they returned, and a classmate came up to show me the insect they had caught. Seriously? Sometimes the teacher allows us to have activities outdoors too. There's supervision, and some of us even have nannies or bodyguards, just like me.

I looked at the girl and the insect she was trying to hold. But it was clear she didn't want to touch it and seemed scared. Then why was she trying so hard? I noticed she looked like she might cry. She clearly didn't like the insect. She probably hated it and was afraid of it.

So without saying anything, I took the insect from her and ended it to spare her anymore fear. She was just probably kind enough not to kill the hideous creature, even though she was scared. So I took care of it for her.

But then she still cried in front of me after that. My eyes widened slightly as I looked at her, taken aback. I had just ended what scared her. What was wrong with her?

"What's wrong with you, Akhlas?! Alexia just wanted you to come and play with us! Du Freak (You weirdo)!" another girl classmate shouted at me after she saw our classmate crying. They also called the teacher.

In the end, I was called in, and the teacher talked to me. I just quietly listened. She spoke to me kindly, but I didn't say anything in response.

I thought I was only doing what I had to do, but somehow I became the villain in their eyes...

Kaya naman nang masangkot din sa gulo ang kapatid ko, I hated that my only sister had to suffer. I felt like a useless brother because I couldn't protect her properly. I didn't even know what she had been through. Hindi rin siya nagsabi sa akin. Kaya naman nang malaman ko, I was so angry. I promised myself that this time I would do what I had to do. So I ended what made my sister suffer. I did it myself. Dahil alam ko na kahit ano pa man ang galit ni Ate Aletheia, she's still the kindhearted Aletheia Rozovsky. While I am me, Akhlas Rozovsky, and I can do the dirty work for my sister.

Di bale nang mabahiran ang sarili kong mga kamay. I didn't really care about that. Ever since I had already been the bad guy, there was no reason to act kind, especially when I wasn't really that.

"Would you like to go somewhere with me?" she asked.

My mind drifted back to where I was in the club. I smiled at her, she seemed momentarily taken aback by my smile. It probably looked creepy to her. Pero hindi pa rin siya tumigil. She continued to flirt with me.

"All right. I'll just call my brother," I told her. I was about to stand up and leave to get him.

But she stopped me and held onto my arm. I looked down at her hand on me, and my eyes probably turned cold because she automatically removed her hand after I glanced at her. I didn't like it when other people touched me without my consent.

"Uh, why would you call him? Alejandro Rozovsky?"

I nodded. "Yeah. You want some fun, right?" I smirked at her.

Then her eyes slowly widened as she probably understood. It was normal for me and my brother to share a girl sometimes. We had done it before, and most girls were okay with that. They were even grateful.

Then she just suddenly slapped me on the cheek. It only hurt a bit.

"Du bist ein verrückter Mann (You're a crazy man), Akhlas Mccrea Rozovsky!" she said to me after she slapped me.

Pagkatapos, mabilis niya akong tinalikuran. But she was probably already aware of that. There were already rumors about me and my brother, after all. At sa tagal na rin namin dito sa Germany. Dito na kami pinalaki ng mga magulang namin. Kilala na kami ng mga tao rito.

Well, okay... I won't force her either. She could just simply say no. No need for the slap.

"I think I'm leaving Germany," I said to my brother one day.

"What? What do you mean?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "The people here don't really like me."

Alejandro Rozovsky looked at me with unbelieving eyes and then chuckled at what I said. "What? You're a really weird kid sometimes, Akhlas Mccrea. But what do you mean? Are there people who have been rude to you? Tell me, and I'll finish them." He smiled at me nonchalantly and a bit creepily.

But I shook my head. I didn't need that. I can be my own villain. I don't need anyone to do things for me. I can do it myself. I can pile the corpses on my own and stand on top of them. There's a reason why others would call me a crazy psychopath. A psycho. A crazy guy.

"No. I think I'll just visit Kuya Adam and Ate Aletheia in the Philippines," I said.

"Oh? All right. Nagpaalam ka na kay Mommy?"

Tumango ako sa kapatid ko. "I will talk to them."

"All right. You probably need a break, too. So just take your time. Want me to take care of your business while you're away?" He asked with a smirk on his face.

Umiling ako sa kaniya. "No. I can manage." I refused because I can take care of my own business.

Alam ko namang interesado lang din siya sa sariling negosyo na sinimulan ko. I was fascinated with firearms even in the past. There's something about them that intrigued me. So when I was of age and had the capabilities to handle a business with them, I started an illegal firearms business. It could be made legal, but where's the thrill in that? I began gaining clients around the world. I also have a manufacturing facility and gun vault for my business. I got tired of the family's old opium business. I don't use it, unlike my brother. It doesn't interest me. So I started my own business that I'm genuinely interested in.

Then, just a few weeks after, I was already flying to the Philippines. I met with my sister and brother, who both have their own families now. Masaya naman ako para sa kanila. Of course, when my family members aren't okay, it bothers me too, especially my two good and soft siblings. I would kill for them. It wasn't their fault that they grew up to be good people. Kasalanan iyon ng mga masasamang tao na sumubok pang saktan sila. And I would end anyone who tries to harm my family.

"We've missed you, Akhlas," mahigpit akong niyakap ni Ate Aletheia.

Niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. Then, I greeted her husband and their daughter and son.

I stayed with my family for a while before I started exploring the country. I grew up in Germany and didn't often get to visit this country, even though we have relatives here. At ngayon ay nandito na rin ang mga kapatid ko.

I explored the country and looked for things that caught my interest. Maybe I could start a business here as well? Iyong ibang negosyo naman. Something new to me. I was probably just bored again and I just wanted something that caught my attention.

And it did.

One day while I was in the Philippines, I met a girl named Isabeli...

She didn't look like a pure Filipino, and she probably has foreign blood. She was tall like a fashion model and slender. She had long, flowing brown hair and captivating hazel eyes.

But she wasn't just like the usual girls I'd met in the past. She wasn't just pretty. She was beautiful. And she was special...