Freen was only eight years old when the horrible things began. Her family was hidden away by Blew's family on a private island—to protect the remaining bloodline of the Sarocha Clan. Blew's family had always been close to them.
At the time, Freen's family's businesses were on the brink of bankruptcy. The killings had already begun, and everything got worse when Blew's father—also a shareholder in the company—was found dead in his office, a bullet lodged in his forehead.
The moment his death was confirmed, investors started pulling out.
Blew's grandfather, who was then the company's president, was voted in as acting CEO. The board had lost faith in Freen's father, their current CEO, questioning his leadership as the murders continued. They believed his presence endangered everyone.
He didn't fight it. He obliged—for everyone's safety.
One night, Freen was awakened by the sound of shouting and cries from her parents' room.
They're fighting again, she thought.
Unable to bear her mother's sobs, she quietly left her bed and walked toward their room.
"You're an idiot!" her mother screamed. "Why did you let them take the company from us?! Don't you see it? It's all a scheme—to drive us to this point!"
"I had no choice!" her father shouted back, desperation in his voice.
"Youhada choice. And you chose to do nothing! You let them control you!"
"I'm doing everything I can! What do you think these are?!" he yelled, slamming down a stack of papers. "This case is the reason I haven't been sleeping! I'm trying to find the damn killer!"
The papers flew across the room—some landing near the door, at Freen's feet. She froze, eyes wide as they fell open. Her parents turned, horrified to see her standing there—facing the spilled papers and photos of dead bodies.
Freen burst into tears, terrified.
Her parents rushed over in a panic, gathering her in their arms, trying to soothe her trembling.
They held her tight that night.
They didn't know it would be the last time.
That same night, Freen saw it all—her father's body shielding hers and her mother's as gunshots tore through the room, fired by a masked man. Her father dropped to the floor, followed by her mother seconds later.
"What?" Freen asked, glancing sideways at Becky, who was digging through her bag with furrowed brows.
"Shit," Becky muttered, realizing something.
"What?" Freen asked again, more sharply.
"Give me your phone," Becky demanded.
"What? Why?" Freen blinked, confused.
"Just give it to me," Becky insisted, her tone full of authority.
Freen's eyes narrowed at her.
The audacity of this kid raising her voice at me? she thought, glaring.
But Becky didn't back down. She reached for Freen's bag in the backseat. Freen snatched it away.
"No," Freen said firmly, eyes wide with defiance. She turned her attention back to the road, refusing to let this brat cause an accident.
"Urgh!" Becky groaned, punching the air in frustration. She wanted to hit Freen—but she couldn't. Freen was driving.
"Why do you need my phone, anyway?" Freen asked, trying to calm her pulse as she glanced at Becky's pouting face.
"Never mind. Keep your phone. Plug it into your lungs for all I care," Becky snapped, arms crossed.
That pout made Freen smile. How could this kid look even cuter when she's sulking? She thought. But she didn't show it. She kept a straight face, driving silently.
Freen missed this kid—no doubt about that.
But she's not a kid now; admit it, you kissed and you initiated it. Her mind reminded her.
And she tried her best to hide her smile and blush about it. How did it even turn into it? She asked herself.
She just didn't know how to explain everything. And Becky's stubbornness and cluelessness weren't making it easier.
Freen's mind wandered to what happened earlier in the studio—what she did. How did Becky feel about it? What does she think about? About her?
Still, the car ride remained comfortably quiet. Both of them were smiling, though neither knew exactly why.
Maybe it was just their hearts, despite their tangled minds.
Freen smiled again, thinking of something she knew would make Becky happy.
She wasn't sure if the kid still liked it—but it was worth a shot.
She made a turn. Becky glanced at her, puzzled. Freen only shrugged and gave her a small smile.
Becky didn't ask anymore. She felt tired. She leaned her head against the window.
Becky's POV
I was awakened by a light tap on my shoulder.
I blinked, and there she was—a beautiful woman smiling at me. I couldn't see her face clearly, but something inside me whispered, You're in the presence of a goddess.
She spoke—but I couldn't understand her words. Still, it felt like she was inviting me to go with her. So I stood up.
Then I noticed something strange.
Why the hell am I wearing an old dress?
I squinted against the blinding sunlight.
But Freen and I left the building at night…
Did I oversleep?
I looked around—there was a beach. A beautiful one.
Paradise.
The woman ran back to me and pulled me toward the shore. I felt so light. So free.
No… this version of me was happy. Overjoyed.
It didn't feel like me, but it was. It's hard to explain.
She held my hand tightly. Her warmth was addictive. I clung to it as we ran into the ocean, fully clothed.
This—this moment was one of the happiest in my life.
All my life, I was raised to be perfect. Composed. Prepared to marry a man I barely knew, at my parents' command.
And now here I was—alive.
I can hear the inner voice of this woman I am in.
We got back to the beachside and lay down on the sand beside each other we were waiting for the waves to hit us, and we laughed our hearts out.
And she looked at me, and I did the same. She was still holding my hand, not letting me go. I smiled at her.
And she looked at me, and I did the same. She was still holding my hand, not letting me go. I smiled at her.
I asked, What is it? But she just smiled at me, which made my heart skip a beat.
I sat up with a smile and got near her. I don't know what I am doing, but I want to get near her and do something stupid.
My heart is beating so hard for no reason, or it's just that I won't accept it.
God, I love her eyes, especially when she is looking at me innocently.
As I was nearer, she grinned at me.
I don't like that grin.
And there, she throws a ball of sand in my face, and she spreads it in my face and pushes me on the ground before she runs away from me while laughing to her heart's content.
I got up and chased her. When I was able to get near her, I jumped at her, and we both fell to the ground, and we laughed like children.
I would never forget this day and this particular place.
I would never go to this place without her; it wouldn't be the same without her.
We are now sitting under a tree, looking at the sunset in front of us.
I lay my head on her shoulder, and I look down at what she was writing on the ground with a stick she was holding.
I was amazed as I saw her draw two people sitting on the ground, and the shorter one was leaning its head on the taller one.
Did she just draw us sitting here? It made my heart feel warm inside.
She is good at sketching; I just continue watching what she is doing
And then she drew a girl holding a heart, and it seemed that the taller girl holding a heart was giving her heart to the shorter one, which made me look at her.
And as I look in her face, I can see a lot of emotion, and the look in her eyes is saying things through her eyes that she cannot speak with her mouth.
I wasn't able to move at that moment.
I was just looking in her eyes, shocked, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Speechless. Until I saw hurt in her eyes as she looked away and gave me an awkward look, and was about to erase the sketch she had done.
But I stop her and snatch the stick from her hand. I look at her intently before I erase the smaller girl in the drawing in the sand. I grabbed her hand as she was about to stand up. She stopped. I looked up at her and gestured for her to get back and sit beside me, which she thankfully obliged.
So impatient.
When she was finally back in her position, I gestured for her to see what I was about to draw.
My drawing is not that good, but I will try to make an effort to make her understand that we feel the same.
I draw a stick-like girl accepting her heart, and I look at her with a wide smile as she becomes a statue in her position.
She finally recovered and looked at me with a confused look, maybe not believing what I just did, so I nodded my head as confirmation. And there her eyes were streaming like waterfalls, and I embraced her and imprisoned her in my arms.
And we pulled back and wiped each other's eyes. I wipe her tears as she wipes mine with our thumbs as we look into each other's eyes, both caressing each other's faces.
God, thank you for giving me this day, thank you for giving me this life, and thank you for giving me this girl.
We just found ourselves leaning in as we stared at each other's lips and eyes back and forth as the sun was settling down, the sky becoming more perfect with its red-orange color to crimson to the fighting night sky, and the stars starting to show up like the sky or the whole universe was celebrating with us as we became united like it was a divine thing and was meant to happen and was written in the book of lives before we even existed.
As I feel something like an explosion that unites not just hearts but our souls being one as our lips came as one.
This is perfect.
She is perfect.
We are perfect.
''Rebecca?! '' Shouted the man standing a few feet away from us with soldiers behind him as we pulled our faces to breathe. We both look in the man's direction, and both our eyes turn big.
''Kill that witch !! Putting a spell on my bride!! '' Shouted the man, and the soldiers ran towards us. I am so terrified.
''They found us,'' I blurted out, but the woman dragged my hand, and we both ran away from the men chasing us.
We ran through the forest, hand in hand.
My heart thundered in my chest—not from fear alone, but from the thought of losing her.Again.
Branches tore at our clothes. Leaves scratched our skin. But we didn't stop.We couldn't.
Bullets rang through the trees.
She pulled me behind a thick trunk, shielding me with her body.
"We can't outrun them," I panted, tears of panic spilling down.
She looked at me—calm, determined. She wiped a streak of dirt from my cheek and smiled.
"I promised I'd protect you," she whispered.
Before I could answer, she leaned in—forehead resting against mine.
"If we don't make it out," I began.
"We will," she cut me off.
And then—she kissed me again. Fierce, desperate.
I clung to her, wishing time to stop.
But it didn't.
The sound of boots approached.
She turned and shoved me into a narrow gap between rocks. A hidden path.
"Go," she said, voice cracking. "I'll hold them off."
"No! Freen!" I tried to push past her, but she blocked me with her whole body.
"I love you, Becky. Don't forget that."
Then she ran toward the voices—toward the danger.
I reached out, screamed her name—but she was gone.
''Becca, wake up .'' I can hear a familiar voice calling my name as I feel a light tap on my shoulder.
Í was crying.
My heart is aching.
I felt a tight hug . She put my head on her shoulder and I cried my heart out in her inside her arms .
''No. They killed her. They killed her, Freen. They killed her in front of me.'' I can't stop crying.
''Its just a nightmare. You are okay now.'' Says Freen as she lightly tap my back to calm me down.
She pulled back and held both sides of my face, looking at me intently.
'' Shh.. look at me. It was just a nightmare; no one died. We are safe.'' She said that it finally brought me back to my senses.
I can see in her eyes that she was so worried I can even feel her hands shaking I look at her for a few seconds before I get back in to her arms as I also embrace so tight.
''Ah, are you done now? '' She said with a different tone but I just ignore her I miss her so much and this might be my chance to express it.
I miss hugging her.
''I would love to hug you, but I don't sway that way, child. I didn't know you admired me that much. And can you please stop massaging my chest, it's disgusting'' I immediately pull myself away from her.
Seriously?After all that happened earlier?
''I-I am not doing that. Y-you are so full of yourself and you are not my type!!'' I shouted at her to hide my embarrassment. I didn't even realize I was doing that.
''OKAY..'' She just answered with her hands up.
I realized we stopped and we are still inside the car but I saw her grinning at me that made my face warm. I quickly opened the door and got out of the car but frozen in my position as I saw where we are.
''This can't be.''