"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 o
"Best friend for ten years my ass!” Kathleen hissed as she furiously closed the car door, crossing her arms in disquietude.Christian came a moment later and went inside the driver's seat; evidently vexed by his girlfriend’s attitude a while ago.“So, why did you storm out?" He calmly asked and she turned at him in disbelief. “And you’re taking her side?” His lips twitched. “This is not about taking sides; of course, I’ll take yours no matter what; but this is about respect and limitations. I don’t even need to be Samantha’s best friend for me to tell she’s still being haunted by the past you’re forcing her to open,” he sighed. “Just give her more time. Eventually, she will surely open up when she's ready.” Christian’s voice is calming, but the furious Kathleen still isn’t keeping her shoulders down. “Yeah, and ten years still ain’t enough!” She huffed. “And obviously, you’re taking her side.” “I told you am not, geez!” Ch
“After she left, I started hearing this voice inside my head, doctor! I-I know you told me not to listen to them, but it’s so hard. What should I do now?” Samantha hummed as she wrote down keywords out of her patient’s story. She then placed the pen down and looked at him. “Last time you were here, Mr. Rito, you were talking about your friend, Bryan, who lives under your bed, do you remember?” The young boy nodded cautiously. “And then there’s your girlfriend, Dessa, who lives inside the mirror of your room.” He nodded again. “And then the mysterious tall man who suddenly shows up anytime and anywhere?” He looks at her unsteadily, eyes shifting from one place to another. Samantha respired shortly and looked at the boy’s mother who’s staring at her son in mixed emotions. ‘Twas is the first time she came with him in the clinic and she clearly couldn't believe what she was hearing. “I’ve ran lots of tests on your son, Mrs. Lopez, and the r
“Why didn't you tell me?” Scott sounded rather pissed. “I was waiting for you to tell me yourself. The baby is on its fifth month and we’ve been together more than that.” Scott stared at her for couple of seconds and then looked down when he realized he could no longer hide his lies from her anymore. “I didn't know she’s pregnant.” “Pregnant or not, the point here is you cheated, you son of a bitch!” Samantha bit her lips, she didn’t mean to curse him, but her anger has gone to rage. “I am Karma, no need for you to curse me,” he muttered and looked back at her in a very different aura. “If you can't forgive me then it’s fine. I don’t need you to anyway.” Samantha couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She even refused to believe that it’s Scott she’s talking to; seems like a whole different person. “I don’t want to say something that could hurt you that’s why I didn’t tell
Kathleen's eyes shifted to the crying face of her best friend. “What a-are you talking about?” Samantha’s tongue explored her frontal teeth. “He's been seeing his ex-girlfriend behind my back for quite some time now,” her voice broke into short sobs. “I made myself look stupid as I am certain he’d leave once he knew that I am already aware of what’s happening. She quickly wiped the tears trickling down her cheeks. “I thought he’d feel sorry for me—at least—for what he did, but no. He even tried to shift the blame on me,” her tongue folded on top of her mouth to stop herself from breaking into a loud cry. “All of them knew: Kim, Junel, and Kaiser, but none of them said a thing. I have been fooled.” Kathleen could only watch her best friend succumb in pain. “Why didn't you tell me?” “I just can’t acknowledge the fact that everyone I care for always ends up leaving me. I know he’s a jerk and I won’t mind making myself look st
Everything’s too dark. Kathleen caresses her hand on the cold and empty floor as she pushes herself up in one hand. “Where am I?” She asked as she watched everything around her in confusion. Her eyes squinted as a blinding light, from nowhere, hit her eyes. Furrows formed on her forehead when she suddenly found herself standing in a hall. She turned from corner to corner only to find out she’s in Samantha’s old house. “Hello?” She called to no one in particular—thus—no one answered either. Her heart started pounding; she could feel the muscles in her neck stiffen when the floor suddenly tilted from one side to another, but oddly enough, she’s still standing unmoved. She only stared into nothingness when a much brighter light struck from above leading towards the second floor of the house. She’s never been there before neither any of their friends; Samantha’s rules, and Kathleen wondered—what’s up there? She felt like a strong magnetic force is slowly pul
Kathleen only stared at Takumi who's eyeing his moon milk tea for almost five minutes now. He looks really dumbfounded and he’s not talking ever since they arrived at the coffee shop. She doesn't know what he’s up to either, but she has this hunch that he knows something—something related to Samantha’s disappearance. She cleared her throat to break his silence. His eyes bated and looked at her. “Well?” She finally decided to talk, crossing her arms. “What are you gonna tell me?” “Oh, y-yeah,” he looked back down and heaved a deep sigh. “I-I don’t know if you’re gonna believe me or not or will I make any sense but—I saw everything.” Kathleen’s brows met. “And when you say everything, everything like what?” “I talked to her before she left that day you two got into the accident. She has that weird aura surrounding her when she rushed inside the elevator and before it closed, I saw someone—no—something’s standing behind her.” Kathleen’s lips opened; she wanted to ask, but chose to l
Kathleen drives home after Takumi and her agreed to meet again tomorrow to seek help from someone he didn’t mention who. She has to call it a day and muster up her strength first.When her adrenaline faded, her body started aching all over. The wound on her head, that has been covered with plaster, started itching. She remained motionless throughout her travel until she reached home and found Christian and that son of a beast, talking in the balcony. She banged the car door the moment she stepped out and walked towards their direction. Scott smiled a little self-consciously by the time she stood straight in front of them, eyes nailed on him. “Love...” Christian mumbled but she signaled him to stop. “Lots of guts you got there,” she snarled hiding a totally inapt sneer. Scott stiffened. “I already knew what happened.” “Good for you. Now leave.”He frowned and came to a sudden decision. “I will look for her as well and y