LOGIN“Kristine! Can you please explain to me what is going on?!” I demanded as I kept dodging her knife.Last night’s memories were like a deja vu to me. I was dodging while my attackers tried to get close to me and harm me. If Karlo hadn’t arrived on time, I would have been dead for now!“I never met your mother!” I tried defending myself.“Shut up, you bitch!” she cursed and managed to elbow my chin, making me bump my back on the sink. “I’m going to fucking kill you!”Her words and rage made my skin crawl. I could see from her eyes that she is determined to kill me no matter what. I wanted to understand how I knew her mother and how she could think that I was her killer. But I don’t want to die tonight just because she is one of my precious friends. I want to protect myself!When she raised the knife again in attempting to stab me, I pushed her hard to the ground. It didn’t let her be defeated by then. She stood up hastily and rained me with stabs that I carefully dodged until I caught h
There was something about the frigid voice of Kristine. It was so unusual that I got goosebumps when she ended the call. It was obvious that she had been crying, and I don’t even know the reason. Even our friends are confused. Birthdays should come with joy, not with tears.“Is everything okay? Why do you look worried?”A hand from Karlo on my shoulder was the reason why my thoughts got obliterated. I turned to him. Even Victor, behind him, was watching me silently while carrying some of the things to bring to the top floor.“It’s alright. I just spoke with Shiela and Kristine. They are coming here,” I said and lifted the sides of my lips. “Let’s go? I think we should help the guys in the pool area.”He was about to say something, but he was suddenly halted by the phone call he was receiving from his phone. Without getting away from me, he answered it with his discreet eyes still darting on me, conscious that I would be gone from his sight.“Yes. Now? Sure. I’ll go there,” he quietly
Silence prevailed between Karlo and me while we were inside the elevator. On the other hand, I could see from our both reflections that he was hovering my body from my head to toe. He wanted to comment, but he stopped himself.The elevator sounded opening, revealing numerous cars in the parking lot. Just like last night, it was completely deserted. I gulped, fear washing over me because of my overthinking mind. What if there are black figures again? What if they will attack without us knowing? What if there are many now?“I’m here,” I heard Karlo mutter.I turned my head to my side to face him. “What?”He looked back, looking directly into my eyes. “I just want you to know… that I am here,” he assured softly.After that, I felt a warm hand on mine. I gazed at our intertwined hands, feeling comfort just by his mere touch. I nodded for a while before we went outside together. My head spun around the whole parking lot with lined-up cars, hoping to spot my friends. I heard a newly parked
“We still held the attacker as a hostage. My men are watching over him. He’s unconscious. Once he wakes up, we will interrogate him,” Karlo explained to me.I furrowed my eyebrows. “Do you think Helen is behind this?”Karlo sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. “Well, I received news from Timothy about Ritz, your clone,” he started, and sadly looked in my eyes. “She was found dead in your mansion. That must have been the confirmation reported by her killers that that was not you.”Just the idea of having someone dead because she’s pretending to be me is terrifying. I could not imagine the number of people chasing me, satisfying them to see me lying on the floor, bleeding, and desperately catching my breath until it is hard to catch it now.“I believe Helen now knows that you are out of the country, and she has found you here, Minerva,” he said, and he tightly clenched my hands. “Do you still want to continue your MBA? Even online will do. I will ask your university to offer you
“Oh, and how would you know him in just a short time? Did you guys…” Jerlyn trailed off and did a disgusting hand demonstration, but that would mean… sex.“No! Gosh, no!” I denied and waved my two hands to form an X. “We never! We were just friends since high school back in the Philippines.”They gaped at me with audible shocked exclamations. I grinned and intertwined both of my hands, sighing in the end. When they fell silent to look forward to what I was about to say, I revealed the truth. “To be honest, he courted me for several years until we were in college. He just stopped when he moved here to the USA. Ever since, I have never heard of him,” I confessed.“Oh, my gosh! Are you his first love, then?” Shiela said and pointed at me, letting go of her forked steak.“So you’re the one who broke his heart and made him a playboy?” Mariel concluded.“No way!” Jerlyn exclaimed. “Minerva, is it real?”A hesitant nod was the confirmation they all needed. I caressed my nape when they exch
All of the girls rode in Sheila’s car. We were shrieking out of excitement as we were going to our condominium building to start decorating for Kristine’s birthday. On the other hand, the boys were taking care of the food and beverage. The last thing I heard from them before we separated was that they were going to buy raw meat for barbecue tomorrow. I was not even sure if the pool area’s management would allow that, but I will try to ask Karlo’s permission when I get there.“Wow, this is one of the most expensive condominiums in the city. I had no idea that you were that rich, Minerva!” Jerlyn exclaimed.The girls even looked up at the height of the building. I also did the same, but I was not even slightly amused.“Hmmm, I think it’s just an ordinary building,” I commented and shrugged. “Anyway, let’s go inside now before we waste any time.”They agreed and continued the conversation about the birthday suggestion of decorations like little high school girls. Even the residents insid







