Lucas watched me as I adjusted the head band that I was trying to wear. I couldn't muster the courage to undress in front of him. Even though he was trying to make me wear the undies, the fact that they were transparent made it feel like I was exposing myself to him. I kept my eyes on him as I slowly removed my clothes, waiting for him to reconsider his request. Instead, I saw his eyes soften slightly, and for a moment, the tense atmosphere seemed to waver. There was a glint of curiosity in his eyes, which made me feel even more vulnerable, strangely enough. Swallowing hard felt like I was swallowing my pride along with it. As I completed my transformation into the absurd bunny costume with those damn transparent undies, I couldn't help but feel a mix of embarrassment, resentment, and, surprisingly, a hint of defiance. I couldn't recall the last time I'd been grateful that I preferred to keep myself well-groomed and fresh. "What now?" I asked. I had agreed to this arrangement to pr

My hands were trembling. I couldn't stay still as I made my way toward the Gazila highway. No one said exactly which hospital they took my Mom and Dad to, but I searched for hospitals near that highway. Even now, the news that I have watched hasn't fully sunk in. I just realized earlier that they hadn't returned home yet. But what made me think is that, how it is possible that I didn't know they were handling such a huge case all this time. Am I such a worthless child? This is what I feared ever since. I've long reminded Dad to cut down on clients with big names because, I know in the end, they are the ones at risk. I exhaled heavily out of mixed emotions that I am feeling. Right now, my parents are all I can think about. I don't know if there's any news update on the incident because after it was reported, I left immediately to find the hospital mentioned in the news. I followed the nearest hospital on the map. My heart raced as I saw my approach toward the hospital. Was I so oc

"I'm not trying to cause trouble, Noah. I just want to know who did this to my parents. They deserve justice," I said to him over the phone when he called me. "Come on, Aurora. You know it's better if you stay home. You need to rest, mentally and physically. Don't forget that you have a baby inside you—" "I know—just after this one. I'm not neglecting my child. I just want to seek justice for My parent's death, especially since we all know it wasn't an accident." "Even so, you should just let it go—" I ended the call and quietly watched the highway as we drove along. Our conversation kept going in circles, and it was getting irritating. "Is the evidence we gathered still not enough?" I asked Sergeant Torre. Another police officer was with us. We also had the investigator for the attorney who would present the case in court.I don't know, but something kept telling me... urging me to keep an eye on everything. I needed to be hands-on, even if just in this aspect, because I felt l

Trembling, I staggered out of Lucas’s apartment, my hands smeared with his blood. I could feel the eyes of people on me, yet no one dared approach because of the knife I was holding. Feeling nauseous, I called Noah. I didn't know what else to do. I was terrified after what had happened. They couldn't blame me; I was just fighting for my life, to save myself from him. Lucas was the one to blame. "Can you pick me up, please?" I pleaded when Noah answered the call. "What happened? Where are you?" "Please, hurry," I urged. I threw the knife away, feeling sick, and grabbed at my hair. I covered my ears as I looked around. Even now, I could hear Lucas’s voice, though he wasn’t there. What scared me more was hearing Iris’s laugh, as if her mouth was right next to my ears, driving me insane. I shook my head with my eyes closed to dispel the sounds, but a harsh blow to my head was the last thing I felt before everything went dark. "Hurry up! Make sure she doesn't escape, or you'll be n

The days felt like they dragged on, as if a year had passed when it had only been almost a month. My days went too busy that I couldn't even remember when was the last time I rested. I find it hard to sleep because, as the investigation continued, I felt like I wasn't getting any closer to finding justice for my parents' deaths. "We will win this, we got this, Aurora," Noah said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. I gave him a faint smile and exhaled. We were finally here, but I felt nervous about something. I didn't know how this would turn out, but I believed we could win this case. I wouldn't let all this go to waste. This was for my parents, and I would sacrifice everything I had just to get the justice they deserved. I was occupied up until now. There was no relief in me. I admit that I am kinda feeling scared that all of the effort, time, and tireless days will result to nothing. Few moments when I saw Lucas's face. I felt my blood pressure spike instantly. He wore a three-p