"Since your leg is injured, I'll have to give you the task once you've recovered," said Chan while I was busy examining the necklace he had given me earlier. I lifted my face to look at him.
"Aww, it's been so long since I last killed someone. When will I ever get the chance if we keep postponing it?" I asked, dissatisfied. Does he think I'm as weak as other women? Huh, as if I don't have other body parts to help me walk on my own!
"I know, but do you really expect someone to carry you around just to go kill people?" Chan stood up and leaned against the wall.
I pouted in frustration. It's so annoying—something always gets in the way whenever I want to have a little fun!
"Enough, stop being stubborn. Keep pouting, and I'll kiss you to shut you up," he warned.
I glared at him before shifting slightly to try to stand. I gritted my teeth against the throbbing pain and slowly got up.
"Hey, why are you getting up? Sit back down!" Chan ordered, but I ignored him.
I tried taking small steps, but as soon as I took one, I lost my balance due to the sharp pain and fell.
Thud!
"Ow!" I looked down and saw Chan wincing in pain from me landing on him. Well, serves him right for trying to play the hero!
"See? You're so stubborn. I told you to stay put. What if you had fallen straight onto the floor instead? Luckily, you landed on me!"
Ugh, this guy nags worse than a magpie!
Without wasting time, I quickly got up and sat on the floor, freeing him from my weight.
"Sigh… You're lucky, or I would've smacked you already," he muttered.
"Come eat with me," he said, standing up and fixing his now-wrinkled shirt.
"But before that, button up my shirt for me. My hands hurt from getting crushed by a jackfruit just now."
Wow, insulting me, huh? Who told him to be nosy and help?
"Hurry up, consider it payback for crushing my hand."
He sat beside me and inched closer.
"Come on, it's not like I'm asking you to take my shirt off!"
Smack!
I flicked his forehead. This guy is too much!
"Ouch! Are you trying to make my pain worse? Just you wait—what goes around comes around."
He motioned for me to button his shirt. With a sulky face, I started buttoning it. Why didn't he just button it all the way up in the first place? Probably trying to show off his body—ugh!
Chan grinned in satisfaction as he watched me.
Just then, his bedroom door swung open from the outside.
"Chan, Nisa left something behind. She wants to get it—"
Rayqal's face appeared in the doorway. I saw his expression instantly change to one of anger, though he tried to hide it.
Oh no, another disaster. He must be getting the wrong idea, seeing me with my hands on Chan's shirt buttons!
"Oops, sorry to interrupt. Nisa, wait outside, okay?"
Rayqal quickly shut the door with a loud bang!
I groaned and pushed Chan away.
"See? Now Rayqal is thinking the wrong thing!"
Chan simply shook his head and chuckled.
"What's the problem? We're officially a couple, aren't we? So why should it matter?" he said casually before scooping me up in his arms and walking toward the door.
"Hey, where are you taking me?" I struggled in his arms.
"Outside. My friend left something behind. She's waiting."
He carried me out, and I saw the woman from earlier waving sweetly at Chan.
Huh, as if she's that sweet!
Chan motioned for her to come closer as he placed me on the couch.
"This is my girl, Farah. Farah, this is Nisa. Hope you guys can be friends."
I forced a smile and shook her hand, but I noticed her eyes looked teary.
What's up with her?
Nisa only nodded slightly before walking into Chan's room.
"Wait here, I'll grab Nisa's stuff real quick," Chan said before following her inside.
Great, once again, I'm left alone!
Tap! Tap! Tap!
I glanced at the glass window near Chan's room. The reflection showed something moving.
Not wanting to think too much about it, I closed my eyes and relaxed on the sofa.
"Miss me? It's been a while, hasn't it?"
That eerily soft yet deep voice whispered into my ear after so long.
"Damn it, what do you want? If you're so brave, show yourself!"
I scanned the area, trying to spot any movement.
Crash!
"You look even sexier when you're mad and act like a real woman, sweetheart..."
My eyes widened at the sight of the now-cracked glass window. A rock lay on the floor.
"Too bad you're still the same—cowardly and weak!" I smirked mockingly.
"Are you sure about that, sweetheart?"
Suddenly, a cloth covered my mouth from behind.
I didn't panic. Instead, I scratched my arm, causing a large amount of blue blood to spill.
I smeared the warm blood onto the person covering my mouth and nose.
"Arghh!!!"
A loud scream echoed as hurried footsteps retreated.
I turned around quickly to see who it was.
"Too bad, that's an old trick—I used it long before you did. How pathetic."
I laughed loudly while looking around.
My eyes caught the bloodstains on the floor. Must be that coward's blood!
"Too bad… I anticipated all your moves, sweetheart."
His voice whispered like the wind in my ear.
At that moment, I noticed something—small thorns had been embedded in my arm.
A sudden dizziness hit me, and my vision blurred.
"This time, I won't be a coward, sweetheart."
Everything went dark as I felt myself being lifted into someone's arms.
"I gave you a chance to feel safe for a while, but now time is up! You belong to me… forever."
Meanwhile, Chan came out of his room with Nisa, who looked unusually happy. His eyes widened when he saw the empty couch.
"Farah! Where's Farah?!"
Chan panicked at the sight of blood stains on the floor and the absence of Farah.
Nisa—or rather, Reena, her true identity—looked equally worried.
"What do we do, Amir? Where did Farah go?"
Reena frantically searched the area, but there was no sign of Farah.
A small sticky note stuck to the couch caught her attention.
"She belongs to me. Don't look for her again. Forget her, or you die."
•••
Splash!!
I jolted awake as cold water was harshly splashed onto my head.
"Hey, you idiot!" My eyes widened at the sight of someone wearing a mask over his face and a black hoodie that concealed his entire body.
Everything in my vision was in black and white.
Hah, typical psycho!
"What do you want, huh? Kidnap me? Have you lost your tongue that you can't even say what you want?!" My voice rose in anger.
Tap!
Tap!
Tap!
Suddenly, he clapped his hands and let out a sarcastic laugh. Did he think I'd be scared of his bold move trapping me here? Ha! He picked the wrong person!
"Farah, Farah… You were the one who told me before, don't be a coward and show myself to you. But now, look at you—shaking like a scared little mouse caught in a cat's trap!" He burst into laughter, pounding on the old wooden table in front of him.
"The problem is, did I ever ask you to kidnap me, you idiot?!!" I shouted even louder in frustration.
"Of course not, but this is just my way of doing things. But don't worry, I will not harm you, dear pretty." He gently caressed my cheek while adjusting the hoodie he was wearing.
"Then what do you want, huh? Why are you messing with me? Ruining my life?!!" My eyes blazed with fury as my voice trembled in restrained anger.
"It's simple. I want you. You know, ever since I first laid eyes on you… my heart felt like it was going to explode from how fast it was beating. And one day, I realized… that I'm fucking crazy and obsessed with you, darling." His voice drawled out, slow and taunting.
"You idiot! Do you really think that by destroying my life like this, you'll get what you want?!" I glared at him, who was now leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
"Unfortunately, I never intended to do this to you. But… since you killed my sister, I had no choice but to resort to this." He pushed back his thick hair that was covering his eyes.
"Your sister?"
"My sister. I'm sure you know your stepsister, Sara, right? She was my biological sister. But she was found dead—raped and tortured to death!" He ran a hand harshly over his face before pulling something out of his hoodie pocket.
"Hey, I didn't kill that slut. Do you think I wanted to deal with someone like her?!"
This is insane! I was being blamed for something I didn't do—for killing someone as cheap as Sara!
"I never asked if you killed her or not. No thief ever admits to stealing, right? But since the criminal has been caught, maybe I should think about your punishment?"
At that moment, he pulled off his mask, revealing his face to me.
My eyes widened in disbelief at the figure standing before me.
He smirked mockingly before laughing at my reaction.
"Remy?"
"Yes. I'm the one who's been disturbing your peaceful life all this time. But if you think about it, that doesn't even compare to what you did to my sister!" His eyes burned with anger as he glared at me.
"You bastard! I already told you I didn't kill that woman! Why don't you get it?!!" I struggled against the tight wire binding my body.
"Hey, relax, sweetheart. I won't hurt you. I do love you, remember?" He cupped my cheek.
Disgusted by his words, I boldly spat at his face as he leaned in closer to me.
"Wow… You've got guts! But I like that. Oh well, since I've already decided on the perfect punishment for you… I might as well mark you as mine, right?"
He pulled something out of a nearby drawer.
"Hmm, I've always seen you killing people with knives, machetes, and karambits. How about I switch things up a little? Wouldn't that be more fun?" His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Sigh… You know, Farah, I love you. From the time you were close with Reena, Amir, and Rayqal… all the way to Chan—I've been watching you. And I noticed… you looked the happiest whenever you were with that guy, Chan. But… do you want to know a secret?"
He leaned in, whispering near my ear.
I clenched my jaw, holding back my anger.
I never expected someone who acted so innocent like Remy to actually be a psycho!
"That Chan… actually…"
"Actually what, you idiot?!"
"Emir Louis Chan. Do you know that he's actually Amir, the guy you hated because he found out your secret? Nara's boyfriend."
I was stunned by his words.
N-no way. The guy I had grown comfortable with… was Amir. The man I hated the most!
"You're lying to me, aren't you?!"
"Why would I lie? Whether I'm telling the truth or not, I'm still going to have you…" Remy smirked while gently stroking my hair.
"Amir—who would've thought he was Chan. The person you despise and the one you love. Am I right?"
•••
Amir rubbed his temples repeatedly, his heart restless with worry for Farah—the person he cared for the most.
Reena, who sat in front of him, let out a weary sigh.
As if Nara's condition wasn't enough.
Nara had mysteriously fallen into a coma.
It baffled her how one moment everything was fine, and the next, she was receiving news from her sister that Nara had been diagnosed as comatose due to a severe head injury.
She had intended to meet Amir—as Chan—together with Nara, but fate had other plans. She could only accept the situation as it was, relieved that her brother hadn't recognized her as Chan's close friend at the scene.
"What do we do now? I'm really worried about Farah." Amir took a sip of coffee from his mug.
Reena had no choice—she stood up and pulled Amir into an embrace.
"Stay strong. I'm sure she's fine. She knows how to fight—we have to trust her." Reena whispered into Amir's ear.
Amir's quiet sobs filled the room. Reena's shoulder was now damp with his tears.
He slowly pulled away, wiping his face before gently patting Reena's shoulder.
"I know you're heartbroken over Farah. The person you've loved all this time… will never be yours."
Reena forced a weak smile. She had no other choice but to forgive Farah, who had been disguising herself as a man and stealing her heart. No matter how much she should hate Farah, she simply couldn't.
"Do you regret getting involved in all of this, Reena?" Amir asked.
Honestly, he hated seeing Reena constantly throwing herself into every problem that arose.
"Not one bit. I care about all of you… including JadeFarah. I know she never wanted to turn into this kind of person. We need to help her change, together." Reena massaged her temples, stressed over Nara's unexplained coma and Farah's sudden disappearance.
---
"Stupid! Since when did I ever care for that useless bastard?!" I glared at him.
"Huh, you really are an egoist. But that's fine—I like that even more. Oh, don't be so rough with your big brother now. You know, I'm a year older than you, but I purposely joined your class. Sweet, isn't it?"
Remy winked playfully at me.
I shot him a look of pure disgust.
Who would have thought that someone who seemed so innocent was actually a deranged psychopath?!
"Oh, don't look at me like that—you'll make me melt. Eugh, I just love looking at your beautiful face."
Remy rolled up his sleeves before grabbing the sharp knife from earlier and putting on a pair of gloves.
"Since you belong to me, why don't I mark you now?"
He let out a loud, maniacal laugh as he placed repeated kisses on my cheek.
Fuming with rage, I slammed my forehead against his as hard as I could.
You wanted to get close so badly, huh? Well, take that!
Thud!
Remy clutched his head, slightly dazed from the impact. He shook his index finger at me repeatedly.
"No, no, no, no. Don't be naughty now. I'm your big brother, remember? If you want to be spoiled, I'd love that. Just call me Big Brother Syakir Eremy. Hmm… too long, huh? Just call me Big Brother Shark."
He scratched his head while staring at me for a long moment.
A sly grin spread across his lips as he slowly approached me, his eyes unreadable.
His fingers gently caressed my cheek before shifting his gaze to my partially exposed arm.
He slowly rolled up my sleeve before lifting the knife in his hand.