Chapter 1

"Hey, mom, dad. It’s been a while,” Samantha whispered as she slowly leaned down to place the tulips bouquet, she bought from a flower shop on her way to the cemetery.

 She stared at the grave stone where her parents' names were carved and slowly brush the dusts off with her bare hands.

                “Daniel Brown, Josefina Brown...” she read, eyes shifting on the identification card clipped on the collar of her white coat.

“Samantha Shane Andersen...” she continued with a faint laugh. “It's been 20 years and I still can’t understand how the two of you could hate your own child like this.”

                A sigh escaped her lips, pointing her ID. “Do you see this mom, dad? I am now a licensed psychiatrist,” her voice broke into soft sobs. “I-I have now the job, the two of you, wanted me to have. I also have my own office now. It was quite spacious, but I'll be buying some stuffs to make it more comfortable just like home.”

                Her lips suddenly thinned. “Am I now worthy of your love?” Her breaths went heavy when the wind started caressing her back as if it's empathizing with her. Indeed, Samantha is a lonely woman and she’s extremely good at hiding it behind her cold image; even her best friend won’t notice.

                “Well, forget it. After all, none of you are here to witness everything I’ve accomplished anyway. You might even still choose not to see anything even if the two of you are living.”

The tone of her voice went down, eyes switching on the scars on her wrists from the beating she gained from her parents when they were still alive as she has been held responsible for the disappearance of her twin sister.

                Agatha Shye Brown is best child a couple could ever have: pretty, smart, kind, talented, responsible, and any good or even best a child could be described.

On the other side of the story lies Samantha Shane Brown whose surname has been changed into Andersen by her own parents after Agatha disappeared.

                Samantha’s not as smart and not as pretty as her sister despite being twins. She doesn’t know how to take good care of her looks. She's stupid, dumb, and doesn't even have any talent at all—at least that’s what her parents are making her feel. With such reasons, she tried so hard to reach her sister’s level but couldn’t. Although she eventually finished college with the help of her friends, her parents were no longer living to see her succeed as they died the day of her graduation in a car accident.

                Thinned lips, she smiled and turned against her heels to where her car is—to where a black motorcycle had been parked just behind it.

The driver removed his helmet, revealing the slightly-mad face of her boyfriend, Scott.

                “You left me again!” He scoffed, twitching his lips in dismay.

                “No, I didn't,” her voice is rather monotonous. “I've been very specific for you to be in my office at exactly 4 PM or forget it. Haven't I made myself clear?”

She rolled her eyes and attempted to get in her car without any further explanation but he was just in time to hold her by the arm.

                “Why are you always so mean, really?”

She cocked a brow and measured him with her stares. “We’re still on our second month, Scott, so don't expect you can already read me.”

                “Don't you just Scott me, missy!” The corners of his lips curled. “It should be babe. And may I remind you, miss Andersen, you’re so damn impossible to read. I’ve tried reading between the lines ever since the day I've decided to be your man, but still got nothing. Were you using, perhaps, using a different language?” He tapped his chin. “And technically, we’ve been dating for six months. SIX. SOLID. MONTHS!” He emphasized.

                Seeing that her boyfriend is starting to act all cute, she couldn’t help but smile secretly. She closed her eyes to regain composure and heaved out an exasperated sigh.

                “I'm sorry. I-I'm just really tired from work.”

                “I know,” he smiled and gave her a hug. “Just tell me if ever you're having a hard time. I'll help.”

                She looked up to meet her boyfriend's not-so-angelic face. “Really?” She beamed.

                “Of course,” he beamed back. “Anything for you, babe.”

                “Anything, ah?” Samantha’s grin sent Scott batting his eyes in realization.

                “You're not gonna make me analyze your patients’ problems, aren't you? Because, you know, I'm a chef.”

                “You're so damn judgmental!” Her lips folded into a thin line. “I was just thinking of you cooking my favorite foods now.”

“Hahaha I know... I know!”

                They headed towards Samantha’s house and a moment after arriving, her best friend, Kathleen, called and asked if she and her boyfriend could come to visit. She agreed. Scott also called some of his friends, who are also Samantha’s friends, to join in.

                The two sat on the couch near the balcony while waiting. It’s almost sunset and the full moon is now showing up. Samantha wrapped her arms around Scott's waist and rested her head on his shoulder.

“Babe?” Scott’s breath brushed against his girlfriend’s wavy hair.

                “Yeah?”

                “Don't you have any plans on selling this house?” A muscle in Samantha’s jaw clenched that Scott had to lay back a bit.

                “Why would I?”

                 “I-I mean... it’s getting really old and don’t you want to have a new life somewhere?” He whispered, eyes shifting from her and back to the flaming sky. “You know... with me.”

                She sought. “You know I can't leave this place, babe.”

                “But why?” He asked, voice raising which took her aback. Samantha's lips parted and moved away from him completely. “I-I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean to,” he stuttered.

                She only flashed him a bitter smile and looked away. “I thought I already made it clear.”

                “I know b-but I just can't just seem to understand. I'm your boyfriend, Sam. You know you can tell me everything. Asking for help sometimes doesn’t hurt.”

                “I wanted to tell you everything, I really do. But now’s not the right time. Eventually, you'll find out why,” Samantha’s voice went softer and softer in each word; Scott’s shoulders dropped in defeat.

                “Yeah whatever, babe! I'll just wait for that time then. Just come back here,” he held both of her hands and pulled her back for a tight hug.

                “I love you so much even if sometimes I really can't understand you,” he giggled.

                “Is that even a good thing?” She moaned.

                “Ahh...” he paused, tapping his chin as if he’s in a deep thought.

                “Whatever, Scottttttt,” she intoned, pushing him down the couch and started tickling him but he was able to block all her attempted attacks.

                “Oh woah! So, this is what you want, eh?!”

                Samantha gasped when he suddenly grabbed her by the hand and switched their places by force. He even added weight on her thighs leaving her immobile to his next moves.

                “H-how dare you do this to your girlfriend?!”

She shrieked, trying to free herself from his grasps, but it was no use. No matter how you look at it, she's only a David trying to take down a Goliath.

                “Oh, ho ho!” He taunted. "Don’t be such a crybaby and accept your defeat, my little princess! Samantha, 2. Scott, 5!”

                “Mine's 3, you jerk!” She corrected and nodded sarcastically. “So, you want it the hard way?”

                “Dare me!" He grinned. Samantha stared at him for a couple of seconds, closed her eyes and slowly opened them with a smile––the sweetest smile she got.

                “This David will never lose,” she thought to herself. All of the sudden, Scott’s face gloomed in horror.

                “Don't use that on me. That's technically cheating!”

“What are you talking about, babe?” She’d moved closer. He could feel her heartbeat tremble in the air as her minted breath caress against his neck.

Scott bated his eyes and raised both of his hands in defeat.

                “I told you, mine’s three ahahahha!” She chortled, leaving him with squinted eyes. “Who told you, you already won?” Samantha gasped when he grinned and roughly pinned both of her hands on top of her head.

                “H-hey!” She yelled between short breaths and tried pushing him, but he’s too strong.

                “What the hell are you doing?!!” Samantha could only groan.

                “Doing the hard way?”

                “Uhhh––hell no!”

                They froze in one pace and just stared at the woman who’s standing pale in the corner beside a man.

                “Ah... s-should we just leave?” Christian stuttered, fidgeting beside his girlfriend. “Y-you shouldn’t have left the door o-open, goddamnit!”

                “Oh!” Samantha quickly pushed Scott away and innocently stood up.

                “T-That was nothing! We were only fighting. You know––forget everything!” She cleared her throat, almost in a shout, eccentrically.

                “Hmm... Sure,” Kathleen’s eyes narrowed.

                Samantha sheepishly turned towards Scott who’s suppressing his laughter.

                “HA HA! Get up, lad!” Her mouth was set in a grim line. “You still have to cook us a dinner.”

                “We! We will cook us a dinner,” Scott pointed out. “This is your home, lass, and I’m a visitor. You should be the one preparing––,” he paused when her petite girlfriend shot him a glare. “Perhaps, it would be very sweet of me if I do it, so I will,” he continued. Christian and Kathleen began to laugh.

                “You look really terrified of this small bean, ah?”

The wrinkles around Scott’s eyes indicated amusement, but he didn’t smile and only looked at Christian blandly. “That's how things should be or else I'm done for it. C’mon!”

                Both of them headed towards the kitchen as both of them are the chefs in the circle. Meanwhile, the others arrived: Kaiser, Kim, and her boyfriend, Junel; Scott's closest cousin.

                “So, tell us,” Kim suddenly sounded nosy the moment she sat beside Samantha. “Did something happen between the two of you already?”

                “God, Kim! Why do you have to blurt it that way,” Samantha’s face crimsoned. “We’re not that kind of couple; you know that.”

                “What’s so wrong about that? You two are already on the right age anyway,” Kathleen intoned, making herself comfortable on the other side of the couch to where Sam and Kim are on.

                “I cannot argue with that nor can I complain,” Samantha said in a bitter laugh. “Scott is a man and he has his needs, but I can’t trade my beliefs in a relationship I’m not even sure if would last.”

                Truly, Samantha grew up in an extremely conservative family and having intimate relationship outside marriage is likely to be discouraged by her family.

She’s just thankful Scott understood her principles. Besides, he already has a seven-year-old daughter with one of his former girlfriends. She thought he doesn't need a child from her anymore.

                “Dinner’s ready you piece of shits!” Junel wailed from the kitchen.

“Call us that again and you'll sleep outside when we get home,” Kim warned and they only heard laughs from their direction.

                Kim and Junel have been living together for years now with their seven-months-old daughter so does Kathleen and Christian though they still don't have any plans of having a child yet. Kaiser, on the other hand, also have a girlfriend but she's not too close with the group and rarely joins them.

                They went to the kitchen to have dinner and went back in the dining to watch movies and have fun drinking. Everything's fun and games until Kathleen started talking.

                “How about...” eyes squinting, she raised a glassful of Spider’s Kiss. “We play a game.”

                “Game, like what?” Junel asked.

                “Spin the bottle?” Kim answered, eyeing the drink in Kathleen’s glass.

                “Stop being an old school, Kim!” Kathleen tittered.

                Samantha sighed, not interested to what Kathleen is proposing. She rested her head on Scott’s chest, closed her eyes, and feel his warm hugs––her home and downfall at the same time.

                “Do you want to go to bed now?”

                Samantha looked up, meeting Scott’s dandelion eyes. “Hmm...” she shook her head as she was rubbing the ruby necklace her mom gave her when she was three. “I have work tomorrow, so I want to have a quality time with you tonight.”

                He smiled and gave her a light kiss on her forehead. “We have all the time,” he whispered. “But I know you're tired. You need rest."

                Samantha was about to speak when Kathleen cut her off.

                “What about a storytelling?”

                Kathleen’s words rang a bell which captured Samantha’s attention, making her look at Kathleen in askance. Her vision is already dropping but can still tell they are all looking at her.

                “What's with the look?”

Everyone can tell how serious Kathleen has become when she placed her glass down the table and looked at Samantha—the same exact look she’s giving her whenever she wants to know the things she has been wanting to know about her friend.

                “How much were you hiding from me?”

Samantha’s brows met sensing something more from a mere question. Although feeling uncomfortable, she smiled and shook her head.

                “Nothing much,” she muttered. “As a matter of fact, I am not hiding anything worth knowing.”

                She measured all of them with her stares and her shoulders rose when she noticed their raging curiosity.

                “About what happened years ago––.”

                “Hey!” Scott gestured Kaiser to stop. “Don't go there.”

                “Oh! C'mon, Shane!” Kathleen bawled. “We've been best friends for ten fucking years. Why can't you bring yourself to tell me?!”

                Samantha stayed in silence as Kathleen’s thin voice echoed through the dark and old corridor of her cold, spacious house. Everyone knows a page of Samantha's past and it's indeed a nightmare, but she just couldn't understand why time can't erase things in their minds and in the minds of the many.

                The ticking of the cuckoo clock near the entrance and their heavy breathings are overpowering the movie’s intense noises. Samantha’s consciousness felt as though it has been churning and turning as she shot her best friend a glare.

                “What are you trying to say?” She stayed calm and maintained a straight face. “That you don’t trust me despite, us, being best friends!” Kathleen nudged her chest. “Don't you have any idea how that hurts me seeing you suffering alone? I couldn't do anything, because I don't know anything!”

                Samantha's lips folded into a bitter line. “It’s not that I wouldn't tell you or any of you,” her eyes dropped on the creaking floor. “It's just that I couldn't.”

                The moment she raised her head, scenes started flashing inside her mind—things she has been trying to forget all this time. Samantha’s breath became nimbler. She wanted to do more to defend herself from her friends’ curiosity, and protect them from that curiosity. Her lips set into a wince of resolution. She has to warn them before it’s too late.

“The heart that has been composed of broken hopes and empty promises will make you all live the life she has if you wish to unfold the truth behind the past."