I’m not Serra’s boyfriend... not yet? F*ck you, Grey. F*ck you, Serra. F*ck you, both! “Hi, Victoria! Can we have a picture with you?” the girl who seemed to be the leader of the group approached me. I gave them a despised look from head to toe and back to their ugly faces. Their hair were frizzy and disgusting like their faces. I don’t want them near me ever. “You got rejected by Xyrus but gained someone better. We heard that you and our Grey Preston are close.” Her statement filled me with bitterness. I got rejected by both, dumbass. “Well yeah... Grey is courting me.” I smiled boastfully after flipping my gorgeous hair. They all squealed. “OMG! My ship is sailing!” “Gria for the win!” “Are you–” “Yes, we are XnG. Xyrus and Grey fans club!” the leader proudly presented. “Aren’t you going to bully me? I mean one of your boys is courting me. Fans are usually over possessive.” I looked at their faces and I could tell they’re fantasizing over my hair. “Of course not. You are
“Your hair is nothing if your reputation is ruined.” I could feel dad’s disappointment all the way here. “You even upset the governor. If it wasn’t for your hair I would have disowned you. Clean your mess, Victoria, and never come home if you haven’t!” As soon as dad hung up I threw my phone and it crashed against the wall. That shocked the students in the hallway. Some even ran away upon knowing of my presence. I’m on my way toward the tourism department. Students kept on stealing glances at me. “Have you heard? She tried to kill Serra.” “And put all the blame to XnG.” “She even made Amara and her roommates fight.” “It was all because of boys, Xyrus, and Grey.” “She was obsessed with them that she could go to such length to murder someone.” “Now I am certain that the only beautiful in her was her hair.” “She’s not that beautiful.” Their words just passed through my ears. I lifted my chin and show them that their words did no harm. It won’t affect me. “She still got some prid
“Victoria Solis, I saw you die...” I rolled over my bed and gasped for air. I clutched the sheet on my sides tightly and breathed in deep. I curled my knees and put my chin on top of it and hugged my legs. My room suddenly turned cold and deadly silent. I looked around and saw my thick curtain dancing with the wind that snooped in through the slightly cracked opened window beside my bed. I reached the handle and closed it. I dragged myself to the bathroom neglecting the pricking pain of the glass shards on the floor that I didn’t bother to clean. I pushed the door slowly and a long loud creak followed. I searched for the switch on the wall and turned the light on. I was soon welcomed by the broken mirror. I lazily walked toward the sink and reached for the faucet. I twirled the handle and the water came out splashing and echoed all over my room. I leaned down and caught the water with my hand then brought it to my face. Coldness kissed my skin and brought shivers down my spine. I h
SERRA“Last twenty-sixth day of August, Bruce Collins committed suicide. On September eighth, as Silverio University celebrates its twenty-fifth Anniversary an accident happened that involved the death of SU’s nightingale, Suzy Williams. Days later, a video turned viral online with bloody pictures of the two students. The video was ended with a bloody question ‘Who’s next?’. A week after, twenty-first of September, the famous shampoo endorser Victoria Solis was found dead in her room at SU’s dorm. Speculation circulated that the three deaths are connected. The netizen’s question is, is there a murderer inside SU’s University?”Amanda turned off the television. She threw herself on her bed face down. “Now they’re blaming dad.”I somehow understand why all the fire was thrown at her dad. Her dad is the governor of the island and has the responsibility to protect his people. Add the fact that the killings also happened inside the school he owns.“My next shoot is after an hour. I’ve alway
“I got an idea!” Amanda smirked at me. She pulled Grip up and nudged him out of our room. “Wait there!” She faced me with an evil grin on her lips. She opened her wardrobe which was twice wider than mine. She pulled a plank out transforming it into a table attached to the wardrobe. She opened a compartment inside her wardrobe. It contained different beauty products and materials. She placed everything she needed on the table before closing the compartment. “Makeover time!” Amanda and Gugu chanted in chorus. She pulled a chair and made me sit on it. She positioned behind me and started doing my hair. I closed my eyes when she sprayed something all over my hair. She plugged in the hair straightener. After some moment I felt heat on my scalp as she tugged my hair using the straightener. I tapped the tip of my toes waiting for her to let go of my hair. After like ten long years she finally stopped. I stood up but she immediately pushed my shoulders down making me sit back. “Not yet. H
“We’re here!” Amanda announced. I blinked three consecutive times and Victoria disappeared. Her image glitched in my eyes and it made me anxious. I shook my head to shove the image and looked around restless. “Serra, are you alright?” Grip grabbed the sides of my head and made me look at him. “You look pale.” He put the back of his hand on my forehead to check my temperature. I shook my head up and down as a response. We went out of the car and the lady in uniform led our way. We all entered the elevator at once. They kept on talking but I couldn’t understand anything. My mind was clouded by what I saw in the car. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I was about to face Grip but through the corners of my eyes, I saw Victoria’s reflection on the elevator’s wall. She was looking at me and was smiling wickedly. I immediately scanned the place but saw no sign of her. I nibbled my lip. I could just ask her what she wanted but I couldn’t in front of everyone. I don’t want to scare them.
SERRA I didn’t report to my part-time job because we spent the night studying for the midterms. I just notified Grandma Harrison earlier that day. Today was the last day of our midterm exams. Every test was difficult especially for those who didn’t study well. I was kind of frustrated because while taking the exam on subjects I find easy the time seemed like slowing down. I ended up receiving an earful from our examiner for sleeping while answering the test. It was the last subject and I fell asleep. I finished answering it after half an hour but didn’t pass it right away to avoid pressuring my classmates so I fell asleep while waiting for someone to pass first. The examiner only stopped scolding me when Grip passed his answers and went out of the room. I stayed about ten minutes long before going out of the room too. I passed my answer at the same time our department’s president passed his. I went out of the room ahead of him. I looked around to look for Grip but he wasn’t anywher
“It’s okay.” I reached his cheeks and planted soft kisses on his lips. He smiled and kissed me on the top of my forehead. I went to my bed and took the box out. I separated the papers we sorted out already. Grip picked up the cups and went to the kitchen. “What do you want for dinner?” He peeped his head. “Anything will do,” I answered and returned my attention to the paper. “Did I hear dinner?” Gugu poked her head out of my bed. “Stop making such creepy entrance, Gugu.” I clutched my chest and took deep breathes. Was this because of the coffee? We spent half of the hour sorting the files with the help of Gugu while Grip was busy in the kitchen. I paused when a spicy aroma burst in the air. I followed the scent and it led me to the kitchen. Grip was preparing three bowls of hot ramen. “About time. Dinner is ready.” He beckoned me and he even pulled a chair for me. “Gugu, dinner time!” he called. Gugu appeared in the kitchen in no time. Grip handed us the utensils and we dug in
SERRA “Dad,” I called him.It has been days yet he was still sad and listless.“What can do for yoy, sweetheart?” He forced a smile but the sadness in his eyes was visible.“I-I want to ask you about someone.” I lowered my head.“Come here.” He tapped the space beside him. I obliged and sat next to him. “About who?” he asked.“About my mom,” I stuttered.Hearing the last word he was grief-stricken. I felt bad asking about it.“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t feel like it, dad,” I sincerely said.He shook his. “It’s about time.” He smiled genuinely. “What do you want to know about her?”“What does she look like?” I asked even though I already knew.He moved away and pulled something out of the drawer of his bedside table. He gave me a round object. It was metal-like and silver in color with gold Vines and red roses all over.“Open it,” he told me after handing it over.I ran my thumb tracing the vine and pulled the top part upward. I saw myself, my reflection.“You’re a carbon
The moment the water swallowed me I held my breath. There’s no way I’m letting the cold enter me. I looked up but it’s all water above me. My hair floats over my head like seaweeds. In the rashness of the moment, I began flinging my arms out.I expect to come back out and I did. I gasped for air before sinking again. I kicked my legs and flapped my arms and I was back to the surface again. But each chance to breathe became further apart. Each breath was less than the last.I tried once more. The more I struggle the more disoriented I became. I felt like I’m trashing inside an invisible prison. My first instinct was to get some air but there should be something else. I couldn’t fight for air forever. I need to find a way out.I pushed with my legs and arms and when I was able to bob my head out of the water, I breath as deep as I could. The water pulled me again. I looked around and saw a wall. The fear I felt was overlain by hope. I flicked my feet and tried to reach the walk. It was
“No... That couldn’t be.” Kate staggered backward. “It should be there. I should be there,” she repeatedly uttered pulling her hair.I run towards her. “Don’t worry, Kate. We are going to find Lulu’s body.” I assured her and patted her shoulder.She yanked her shoulder away from my grasp and took a few steps backwards. She kept on pulling her hair and her eyes were restless. She didn’t know where to focus them.“W-What if that thing took it? W-What if that thing swallowed it?” Her breathing turned shallow and fast. She punched her head with boths hands wandering with little steps. She’s mentally unstable. I walked near her and caught her hands stopping her from hitting herself.“Stop it, Kate. You’re hurting yourself,” I told her.She already suffered enough. I couldn’t bear watching her like this.“That thing swallowed Lulu whole!” she squealed oogling her eyes at me.I grabbed her cheeks and made her look at me. “What thing, Kate? What thing?”After a moment of touching her face m
“I am sorry for ignoring you, guys.” Kate lowered her head. “I was just scared of Lulu. I’ve known her for years and I didn’t know she was capable of any of that. I know she won’t hurt any of you though. She was just after me.” Her voice cracked. I moved closer to her and rubbed her back. Comforting her is the only thing I could do for her right now. “Nothing of that is your fault, Kate. Monsters are made. Envy made Lulu into one.” I pulled her making her lean into me as she sobs. “But she is still the Lulu that we know. She’s a beautiful flower,” I added. She lifted her eyes to meet mine. “Will she become a flower forever? Are we going to meet her, the real her?” “No.” I shook my head. “In the next life I could be an animal or a plant or I could be in your body and you could be in mine. It depends on the decisions we make at this lifetime. That doesn’t mean we aren’t real. The real us is not our flesh but our soul.” I wiped her tears away. She nodded and smile. She leaned against
I dropped my phone after hearing what she said. I hastely went back to the elevator and ran again toward the gym. It was passed two in the afternoon already. “Serra, here!” Mandy waved her hand at me. I ran in thier direction. I gasped for air. “Where is Amanda?” “Amara called and they were together at the moment. What’s going on?” She looked both worried and confused. I looked at Lulu’s direction and Mandy already got what I meant. “Lulu!” I approached her. She turned around and faced me. She was wearing an ice-cold expression, far from the Lulu that I knew. Something was really not right here. I saw Kate died but her name wasn’t carved at the black scroll. I shook the doubt in my mind and focused to the present. “Lulu, grab my hand and get out of the body.” I lend my hand to her but just like before she just stared down my hand. “Yes, Lulu. Do it. Trust her,” Mandy encouraged. She looked at me and smiled. I was relieved to see her smile but my heart started to race pushing m
“Are you sure about that?” Grip asked. “Yes, bring me back to the mansion. I chose to front my fear.” I firmly said. He nodded and smiled. He was proud. He grabbed my waist and pulled me nigh him. Lulu’s and Dorothy’s name was already written on the scroll of death and today was the thirteenth day from Xyrus’ supposed to be death. I wanted to save them, to do that I need to watch dad’s every move. I was not certain if my plan would work but I have to try at least. “Grip, something’s off–” I turned around but he wasn’t here anymore. “Grip?” I sighed and just walked the long way toward the mansion. He was vanishing from my sight very often this days. It was a sign that he would leave and cross to the other side very soon. As I walk the garden I came across with bronze maids. They would avoid taking the same way as I do. They would even avoid staring in my eyes. I stared at the huge closed door before me. Just by thinking of going inside gave me goosebumps. I took a deep breath. I p
Fear enveloped me when I arrived at the mansion. Dead bodies of maids were lying everywhere in the front yard. The metallic scent of blood was giving me a feeling of gagging. I looked around hoping that I could find someone breathing but I was too late. Some were beheaded, some were stabbed multiple times, and chopped like a piece of meat. “Ahh!” I snapped my head in the mansion’s direction. I knew that scream and it was coming from the mansion. I ran and ran. Ran as fast as I could. I pushed the mansion’s door wide open. In front of me was dad wearing his usual coldness. In front of him stood Amanda. She was dressed like the lady in red. I saw no emotion in her eyes. Dad placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered to her, “say hi to your sister.” Amanda slowly raised her hand and waved at me like a puppet. “Hi...” Dad’s lips twitched. He didn’t like what Amanda did. His fingers turned black and grew long. Digging its sharpness in her shoulder. “Do it with a smile.” He gritted h
“Why did we stop?” I poked my head out of my carriage’s window. “A man dropped in the middle of the road, madame,” the coachman responded. I rose from my seat but a man stopped me by grabbing my arm. His face was a bit blurry but the longer I stare the much clearer his face become. My brows furrowed to see Xyrus who was wearing a weird looking clothes from the past. The breeches were long and fairly full in cut, reaching just below the knee. The doublet has a high waist at the sides and back, extending to a point in front. A deliberate opening of the seam on each sleeve allows the fine linen shirt underneath to be seen. He completed his attire with a cape that spans almost a full circle. I looked at myself. I was wearing a deep brown gown with a low rounded neckline and a small ruff paired with a winged collar. The tight sleeves have pronounced shoulder wings and deep lace cuffs. It has a matching petticoat pinned into flounces on a drum or cartwheel farthingale. I looked at him an
“D-Dad?” I whispered. He did not answer. I brought my phone out and opened my flashlight. I directed the light to his face. “Grip? What are you doing here?” He lended me his hand and pulled me up on my feet. “I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Are you seriously sneaking?” He made me turn my back at him and wiped the dust off my pajamas. “Yes, I am. So will you lower your voice now?” I scolded him in a whispering manner. “Do you think you won’t get caught? Maybe you passed through the elderlies but how about that?” He grabbed my hand and directed my phone’s light to the ceiling. I felt like my effort went to nothing to see the CCTV camera blinking red taunting me. I face-palmed. “You are lucky because you have a handsome boyfriend to the rescue.” He winked at me. “What did you do?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t looked at me like that. I just saved you from trouble. I moved the camera to somewhere that wouldn’t caught you.”