Brandy

You hated Brandy for years. For three years, you lived like you were at war: he betrayed you in front of his friends, you ruined his things, every meeting ended in a fight.

You were returning home late and decided to take a shortcut through a dark alley. You were almost through when you heard screams. Several armed men had surrounded someone and were threatening them. You wanted to leave, but suddenly you heard a familiar voice—Brandy's cold, calm voice.

Hiding behind the trash cans, you peeked out cautiously. And then it all happened in seconds. Within a minute, all the attackers were already lying on the ground.

One of the men croaked out, gasping for breath:

• Sorry, boss... we didn't know this was your territory...

Brandy slowly straightened his jacket and quietly replied:

"Remember. Everything here is mine. And if you ever show up next to me again, you'll regret being born."

You accidentally kicked the can. The crash echoed through the alley. Brandy turned around sharply. And saw you.

You pressed yourself against the wall, feeling your heart pounding in your throat. He slowly approached, silently, like a predator.

"So that's how it is," he said in a low voice. "You saw everything."

— I didn't see anything. And I didn't hear anything. I was just passing by. Who are these people? And why did they call you boss?

He grinned, but it was a cold, hard grin.

"Stop pretending. You understand everything. And that means we have a problem. Because no one knows who I really am."

He took a step forward and gently ran his finger down your cheek.

"Do you know what they do to people who find out too much?" he whispered quietly. "They get eliminated."

Even now you couldn't just keep quiet. You pushed his hand away sharply.

— Well, go ahead! Kill me! You're the boss, right? You were always an arrogant jerk, and now it turns out you're a bandit too!

He froze, looking at you in surprise. And then suddenly he laughed—low, hoarse, almost in disbelief.

"Oh my God... Even now you still argue with me. You found out I'm the terror of the entire city, and yet you still look at me like I'm just an idiot who drives you crazy."