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He watched Poet tending to him, tears in her eyes that she kept blinking away…

This woman loves the hell outta me… She really thought I might be a goner… She’s angry with me because she’s afraid of losing me… And look at Aunt Huni? Wow…

He imagined them as his family, seeing it so clearly in his mind.

He envisioned Poet wearing a wedding gown.

An entire scene gathered in his head and spun into an amazing daydream.

Never in a million years would he have believed that he might one day live with an old Filipino woman with a dirty mind, amazing wit and a kind heart—his mother-in-law basically—and who’d raised a little girl who then grew up into a beautiful, loving, and intelligent woman that he’d walk barefoot, for miles, on broken glass for, if he had to.

Aunt Huni stood to her feet, a kind smile on her face. “You can’t work tomorrow, Kage. Not the next day, either. Take whole week off. That leg needs to stay up,” she emphasized. “Keep taking pain pills and change the dressing daily. If you notice odor, lots of blood or pus, call me, okay?”

He looked up at the old woman and could tell a part of her was enjoying this. Huni liked helping people, tending to them. This was her true calling. Perhaps feeling useful and needed was the desire of her heart, even as she got up in age.

“You want some more water?” Poet asked in a low voice as she wiped more budding tears with the back of her hand.

He smiled at her and took her hand.

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Yeah. What is it?” Poet said.

He turned to Huni who was gathering the blood soaked towels and tossing them in the bucket.

“Huni, you need to hear this, too.” Huni paused and looked at the two of them, her body in mid-motion.

“Huni, I first want to apologize to you for this evenin’.

My grandfather orchestrated a situation, and to make a very long story short, he wants me to work for him, and I refuse.

It’s causin’ issues. I defended myself this evenin’.

You have my word that this situation is almost over, and that this sort of nonsense is not my typical lifestyle or behavior. ”

Huni’s brows bunched, and then she sighed and sat back on the floor, still clinging to the bloody towels.

“My brother was a member of the Sigue Sigue Sputnik. You know dat?”

“No… what is the Sique Sputnik?”

“Filipino street gang.” She tossed the bloody rags into the large bucket and sat back on her haunches.

“Some music rock and roll band used the same name years later, but I’m not talking ’bout dat.

It’s a notorious gang, all throughout Manila.

My brother paid dearly. Datu is now in Bilibid Prison.

He’s been in prison for a long, long time. Kage, I understand.”

“I’m not a gang member though, Huni.”

“I know… but what you say to me, well, your grandaddy sorta is. Old gangsta.” She laughed dismally.

“Gangstas don’t usually live long lives.

The ones that do aren’t well in their mind, body and soul.

I pray for my brother daily. He an old man now.

Miss out on his daughter’s life. His grandchildren, too.

Miss weddings. Graduations. Miss our parents’ funerals.

Brought shame. And for what?” She shrugged.

“I’m not going to judge your family, ’cause I understand.

But you must promise me that you’ll stay away from your grandfather’s wicked ways, and keep my Poet safe. She’s my daughter.”

She snatched one of the soiled rags from the bucket.

It was once white, but was now dyed completely red from his vital essence.

“…Don’t need blood, no DNA test required.

It’s in here.” She pointed to her chest. “Poet is a grown woman, but she’s my baby, Kage.

” Getting up on her feet, she gathered the items and left out the room.

Poet sat on the arm of the couch and stroked his hair. He reached into his pocket and clutched a small box. The corners poked his fingertips. Huni returned, drying her hands off with a paper towel. They stared at each other.

“Aunt Huni, is it okay if I ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage?”

Poet gasped and practically fell off the side of the couch as he revealed the light blue box, now sitting in the palm of his hand.

Aunt Huni stood there for a long while, then a big smile crept across her face.

“Will you protect her?”

“Yes.”

“Will you love her?”

“Yes.”

“Will you be patient with her, and listen to her in order to understand, instead of to control?”

“…Yes, a million times over.”

“Then my answer is ‘yes.’” Huni looked at Poet who was digging her nails into the couch arm. Her eyes focused on the box as he opened it and revealed the ring: A 2.78 carat round diamond Petite Pavé engagement ring.

“Oh, my goodness! So big! It’s blinding me!” Huni laughed excitedly, popping up and down. “What you say, Poet? I know he just got shot close to his ass, but he still a good catch!” Everyone laughed at that.

“I haven’t asked her yet, Huni…” He took Poet’s hand, trying to control his edginess.

“Poet… knowin’ you has been the best part of my life.

We have a lot in common, and want the same things in life.

We want comfort. Peace. Family. Love of land, animal and man.

I’m not a fancy guy, but I love ya, and I’d lasso the moon and give it to you, if that’s what you wanted.

I was going to take you to an elegant restaurant and make this a big thing…

but uh, after tonight… after everything that went down, it was a stark reminder that I don’t wanna wait, baby.

That today is all we have, and uh, tomorrow is a blessin’, if we receive it…

I receive you, all of you. The shiny, polished parts, and the broken, dull parts, too.

You’ve accepted me for who I am, trusted me when I need you to most, showed me that real love does exist…

that I don’t have to be a recluse and play it safe anymore when it comes to affairs of the heart.

You took me to the river, and made me look at myself. ”

Poet cupped her face in her hands. “You told me that you loved me, and that I was lovable. You looked at me the other night as we lay in my backyard under the stars, and said, ‘ Kage, you’re beautiful . ’ ” His voice cracked as he fought strong emotions.

“Well, I learned from the best. All of you is beautiful, Poet, every inch of you. Every piece of your heart ’nd soul was kissed by angels, and I love you more than words… ”

The woman’s chest rose unsteadily as she looked into his eyes while he spoke.

The possibility of her having been hurt while his house was under siege crashed his mind.

For five seconds, her life flashed before his eyes—the possible loss of her.

The end of the love that he never knew existed.

She was everything he wanted in a mate, and so much more.

He hated Grandpa for what he had brought to their doorstep.

It didn’t matter that the old man hadn’t orchestrated the hit.

If it had not been for him, none of this would have transpired.

Life was too fragile. He didn’t want to be sloth-like and indifferent anymore.

He didn’t want to let love pass him by one day longer.

He moved away from the darkness of his thoughts, and back into the light.

“So, baby, I’m takin’ today, right now, this very second, to ask you if you’ll be my wife. Poet Constantine, will you marry me?”

Poet showed her entire face now, and as her tears flowed freely, she smiled.

“Yes. Yes, I will marry you, Kage!”

Huni clapped as he slipped the ring on her finger.

“Time to celebrate. I’m pouring wine!” the old woman exclaimed as she raced to the kitchen, leaving them two lovebirds behind.

Just as he was simmering in the good feeling and holding Poet close, his phone rang.

He held up a finger, slid the device from his pocket and looked at the number.

He didn’t recognize it. Something told him to answer it anyhow…

“Yeah…”

“Good evening, Mr. Wilde. This is Francesco Sivero.” Kage’s entire body burst in flames. “It seems you took out some men of mine today, in a barbaric way, and I was told by the few that managed to drive away in order to save their own cowardly lives, that you—”

“If you were there, I’d have done the same to you. Fuck you, fuck your men, fuck their daddies, and fuck their mammies. Don’t call my gotdamn phone again, or the next number you call will be 911.”

“Wait! Don’t hang up just yet. You’ve proven yourself to be a worthy adversary, but our fight was never with you.

In fact, believe it or not, I didn’t arrange the ambush you were confronted with this evening.

Another family member of mine did, wanting justice for the altercation and subsequent death of my nephew.

I wanted justice, too, there’s no mistakin’ that, because I don’t care for you.

I understand a man’s need to defend himself, but you went above and beyond.

I don’t like you, and in fact, if you died right this second, I would appreciate it very much, but that won’t bring anyone back from the dead, now will it?

Regardless, you were a byproduct, Kage. A favor gone wrong.

Things have gotten out of hand.” He chuckled. “Don’t you agree?”

“What in the fuck do you want?”

“You should have never been the target, so, I want to call a truce, and make you a deal.”

“Like I’d trust you after everything that’s happened!”

Huni appeared holding a serving tray laden with three wine flutes filled with alcohol. Confusion crossed her face.

“That’s understandable. Just hear me out. I will prove it to you, once and for all…”