Alice's POV
"Bess, are you alright?" Kianna's voice was gentle, filled with concern as she handed me medicine and a glass of water.
My head throbbed from the stress of the past few weeks; it felt like one problem kept piling up after another. At school, I couldn't focus—my mind kept drifting. And as for Camille... nothing had changed. She still found ways to make my life harder. I felt completely drained.
"Yeah," I replied quietly. I was staying at Kianna's house to escape the storm at home, hoping to find a little peace.
The door suddenly swung open. "Kianna! Have you seen my charger?" Tyrone, Kianna's older brother, peeked in with a playful grin. "Hi, Alice," he added, flashing a small smile.
"What do you want now?" Kianna asked, a hint of irritation in her voice.
"I just need my charger," Tyrone said, feigning innocence.
"You always use that charger as an excuse even when it's not here. Kuya, that's an old trick. I know you're just using it as a reason to see Alice," Kianna replied firmly, moving to shut the door.
Tyrone, however, was persistent. They bickered like cats and dogs, playfully fighting over the door. I watched quietly, a small smile tugging at my lips. I wished I had a sibling like that—someone to tease, to fight with, and to laugh with. Since Mom couldn't have another child, I cherished these small glimpses of family life.
"Sorry, Bess. Don't mind him. He just has a crush on you," Kianna whispered, and a small blush crept onto my cheeks.
"Let's get started, or else you'll have nothing to pass to Mr. Yamah," I said, grabbing my notes. We dove into formulas and equations. I explained the steps patiently, even as her eyelids began to droop.
"So, the formula becomes
cos(2A)=cos
2
(A)−sin
2
(A)=2cos
2
(A)−1=1−2sin
2
(A)
. This is the identity we use," I said, carefully writing it down.
I noticed Kianna had hidden her face behind the book, fast asleep. I nudged her gently. "Bess! Wake up! You asked me to tutor you, and here you are napping," I teased. She smiled sheepishly, and I couldn't help but laugh.
The Shadows of the Past
Elsewhere, tension filled the air of a cold, luxurious room.
"My goodness! Are you all idiots? You had him in your grasp and you let him go! Find him! I need my son back!" Lady Zavhana's voice was sharp, filled with fury and grief. She slammed a priceless flower vase, shattering it into pieces.
"Madam, please don't worry. They are doing everything they can to capture him again," one of her men spoke carefully.
"You had better be sure! If you don't find him, I will kill you myself! Mark my words—none of you will be spared!" Zavhana's warning froze the room. Teddy, her right-hand man, nodded solemnly.
"What are you still doing here?! Get out!" she barked.
Their mission was clear: retrieve the child who had been kidnapped from the park years ago. After years of dead ends, they finally had a lead: a man named Rodolfo "Taquil" Rosel. Lady Zavhana clutched a girl's photo, tears streaming down her face. The only clue was a small birthmark on the child's collarbone—the only proof of identity besides a DNA test.
Her husband, Primo, entered silently. He was the calm in her storm. "Shhh... settle down. We will find him. I've already sent out more men," he whispered, holding her tightly.
The Morning Clash
The next morning, I woke early, my heart still pounding from nightmares. I walked out of the gate and saw a motorbike skid to a stop in front of me. The rider removed his helmet—it was Bryle. My chest tightened.
"B-Bryle?" I whispered.
He handed me a spare helmet. But moments later, a sleek BMW rolled to a stop. Oliver stepped out, looking confident, his eyes shielded by sunglasses.
"Alice, come with me," Oliver said, reaching for my hand.
"She's coming with me, Alice!" Bryle countered, gripping my other hand.
"It's safer in my car, Alice. Let's go," Oliver insisted.
The air between them crackled with hostility. My heart raced, caught between loyalty to my best friend and the strange comfort I felt with Oliver.
"Are you kidding me right now?!" Bryle yelled at Oliver.
"Stop it, both of you!" I shouted. They both froze, looking at me in surprise. I couldn't choose. If I went with Oliver, Bryle would sulk for days. If I went with Bryle, I would feel bad for offending Oliver.
"Stop fighting! I'm walking!" I yelled, yanking my hands free from both of them.
I started walking away, but the roar of their engines followed right behind me.
"Alice, come on... you're just going to get tired," Bryle called out, matching my pace on his bike.
"With me, you'll be safe," Oliver countered, crawling the car along beside me.
I didn't know what to do. My mind was a storm. I felt torn in a war I never asked for, caught in the middle of a rivalry that was only just beginning.