Snippets and Sneak Peek (Chapter 5) Pt. 1 (Patreon)

Hey guys 👋 I finally can access my laptop for a while before the big party and I'm here bringing you the promised sneak peek of the talk with Jackal.

For the purpose of this sneak peek, I'm going to assume MC chose to be wary of Jackal, so I can show the shovel talk section 😁 Also, assuming MC executed the police commissioner and killed all of the goons.

* * * * *
Even though you met him last night, you're still not sure what to think about him.

He did help your uncle in bailing both you and Ash from the sticky situation at the hotel, though. But, you don't think it's enough to make you less worried about your uncle's choice in romantic partner. You need to learn more about him and probably give him a good ol' shovel talk to make sure he won't hurt and break your uncle's heart.

“You've been glaring at me for the past minute now,” Jackal says, voice laced with a hint of amusement.

You frown slightly. “I'm not glaring,” you complain.

“Oh, sorry. Just staring really hard and pointedly at me,” he continues, eyes still glued to the magazine he's reading. “If you have questions, then spit them out.” Now, he glances up at you, his black eyes boring into you.

EMOTIONAL MC
→ “Oh… I have questions, alright,” you say, squinting your eyes menacingly—at least, as menacing as you can.

→ Jackal raises an eyebrow at that, detaching his face mask, letting it dangle from his right ear. “Well, get on with the interrogation, then.”

STOIC MC
→ “Yes,” you say simply as you keep staring at him, not wanting to be deterred.

→ Jackal raises an eyebrow. “So cold. Reminds me of your uncle.” You can hear the little smirk in his voice. He detaches his face mask, letting it dangle from his right ear. “Well, get on with the interrogation, then.”

→ There are so many questions running through your mind, but you settle on one first…

CHOICES

#"How come you're called 'Jackal'?"

#"Where are you from?"

#"How did you first meet my uncle?"

#"Can you tell me more about your haemokinesis?"

#"Why did you choose to date my uncle, huh? What are you planning?"

#"So, when's the wedding? When will I get cousins?"

#I don't have anything else to talk about with Jackal.

* * * * *

"Why did you choose to date my uncle, huh? What are you planning?"

"Why did you choose to date my uncle, huh?" you interrogate him, squinting your eyes skeptically at him.

"What?" Jackal chokes. "Ask your goddamn uncle. It was your uncle who wanted to start a serious relationship first and take me out for a dinner date last night. I already told him many times that it might be better to stay as friends with benefits and I literally asked him the same question you asked." He facepalms before massaging the bridge of his nose.

EMOTIONAL MC
→ Leaning forward, you say hushedly, “So… What did he say?”

STOIC MC
→ Straightening your back, you prompt him to continue, “And?”

“I—I don't know. He was saying some cheesy shit and I can't remember it anymore, alright?” he mumbles quickly, pale cheeks reddening, and he looks away to try hiding the blooming blush.

You look at him knowingly, mouth pulled into a small smirk. Oh, you have no doubt Jackal remembers what your uncle told him; he's just shy, but you're not going to force him to share such a personal memory. He glances at you and frowns as he sees your smug face. “C'mon, you still have a question, right? Get on with it,” he groans grumpily.

"What are you planning here, exactly? What are you going to do with my uncle?" you continue your interrogation, turning dead serious again.

Jackal scoffs, "Isn't it clear? I'm going to spend all of his money and then break his heart before backstabbing him in the back. Is that what you wanna hear?"

EMOTIONAL MC
→ "This is no laughing matter, okay?" you hiss, crossing your arms and glowering at him. "I swear if you do anything that hurts my uncle or breaks his heart… I'll make you regret it, you understand?"

STOIC MC
→ "I'm serious," you growl, crossing your arms and glowering at him, "If you hurt my uncle or break his heart, I swear I'll make you regret it."

Jackal stares at you, his black eyes glinting dangerously but a hint of amusement and respect also seeps through as he grins. "Is that so? I'd like to see you try," he says as he leans closer to where you're sitting and stops just at the edge of your personal bubble.

EMOTIONAL MC
→ Instinctively, you lean back to get back to a more comfortable distance before immediately cursing yourself inwardly. Jackal chuckles quietly and it irks you. "You don't know what I'm capable of," you snarl. You literally just executed the late police commissioner last night along with the four goons that came at the unfortunate time.

→ His chuckle dies down and he turns somber and serious. "You know what? I respect that, wanting to protect your uncle. And I'll hold you to that promise. I mean it."

→ Hearing those words, a bright smile blooms on your face. "I know you'll prove my worst fear wrong," you enthuse.

STOIC MC
→ Refusing to let him get under your skin, you hold fast to your position as you meet his stare dead on. "You don't know what I'm capable of," you say, voice cold. You literally just executed the late police commissioner last night along with the four goons that came at the unfortunate time.

→ He hums, his grin losing the edge a bit and his challenging look turns into one of approval. "I like you," he chuckles quietly before sighing, "Really just like your uncle and grandfather." He is quiet for a moment, face pensive before he turns to you, all trace of lightheartedness is gone. "I respect that, wanting to protect your uncle. And I'll hold you to that promise. I mean it."

→ You nod approvingly. "I'm glad we could reach an agreement. I'm glad that you manage to prove my worst fear wrong." You send him a small, relieved smile.

Jackal blinks in surprise before chortling. "Well, look at me! Just had my first date last night and already winning over my boyfriend's ${mc_nephew} the next day!"

"Don't let it get to your head yet," you admonish him. "You're not completely out of the woods yet."

"I'll keep that in mind, kiddo," he grins at you mischievously.

* * * * *

"So, when's the wedding? When will I get cousins?"

"So… When's the wedding, huh?"

EMOTIONAL MC
→ You waggle your eyebrows at him, grinning widely.

STOIC MC
→ You smirk teasingly at him.

Jackal's eyes widen and his a blush creeps up his cheeks. "Don't be stupid. We literally just officially became boyfriends not too long ago," he coughs out.

You raise an eyebrow bemusedly at his reaction. "But you've known my uncle for a long time, right? Like, more than a year?"

"Yeah…" he mumbles, shoulders hunched as if to help him hide from the embarrassment.

EMOTIONAL MC
→ "Good, good…" You nod sagely. "I'm not Rin, but I'll give it like… maybe a few months to a year at most until the wedding."

STOIC MC
→ "I may not have precognition, but my prediction is that the wedding will be coming in the next few months. A year at most." You nod confidently at your analysis.

Jackal chokes on his saliva upon hearing that and you smile devilishly inside. Seems like you've found the secret to flustering this scary hitman. You decide you can tease him a bit more, a retaliation for all those suggestive flirtations he did with your uncle last night. "Also… When do you think I'll finally get some cousins?"

"C—Cousins?! Plural? What makes you think you'll even get one?" he blurts out, face red now and he swiftly put on his face mask and baseball cap back on again.

Shrugging nonchalantly, you say, "Just gut feeling. You don't need to worry, though. I can assure you that Uncle Luka is a really good father figure. Experienced too." You smile softly, reminiscing on the old days when he usually babysat you when your father was busy and how protective and caring he was while raising you and Ash.

Jackal relaxes and slumps down in his armchair, snorting out a quiet laugh as he seems to remember something. "Often bragged to me about how he was once the 'fun uncle'." His voice is laced with clear fondness.

"He was, actually. He always chose the best movies for movie nights and usually, when my dad or Aunt Cara was not around, Ash and I could convince him to let us watch some violent action movies or even scary ones too, although we'd always end up hugging him when watching the horror ones though."

Oh, what would you give to be able to return to those days again. Free of worries, guilt, and nightmares, and most importantly, your dad would still be alive and well, and so would Aunt Cara and your grandma. A whole family…

RECONNECT WITH YVETTE
→ Even if that might mean never reconnecting with your mother. But really, how would you even truly miss someone you would've never really known?

Pain starts to seep through the numb scar in your heart again and the memories soured like curdled milk at the souring thoughts running through your head.

"You're okay, kiddo?" Jackal's quiet and husky voice brings you back to the present and you're glad. Having your memories turn against you now is the last thing you want, now and for the next few weeks.

"Yeah, yeah… Just… thinking about something," you answer feebly, rubbing the back of your neck restlessly.

"I can see that," Jackal murmurs. "Try not to worry too much. If you can… Or—I don't know. I suck at this." He throws his hands up in defeat, which makes you chuckle.

"Thank you, Uncle Artyom," you say to him, sincerely grateful but also, can't help but tease him one more time tonight.

"You're welcome. And just 'Jackal' is fine," he coughs out bashfully as he glances around at the guards stationed out of hearing range. “Try not to get too comfortable with my name yet.”