‎"It's so dark, I can't see. Where am I?," Such thoughts raced in my mind while struggling at restraints binding my body.

‎

‎Suddenly there were chilling sounds of steps heading towards me. It was so loud like the piercing sound of a clock in the middle of the night.

‎

‎"How do you like it, Emy? This is my surprise for you," a voice said while taking my blindfold off.

‎

‎"Miko? Why am I here? What's this?," I looked at the chains around my hands and feet while struggling.

‎

‎"Isn't it obvious? I tied you here so that you won't interfere anymore!," she snapped while stepping at the chains tied to me.

‎

‎"Why are you doing this, Miko? Aren't we friends?," (teary eyes) I asked.

‎

‎"Friends? You ruined my life! You always have everything I want, including HIM!," she angrily replied.

‎

‎I was shocked at her sudden outburst. We had always been together since we were little, and there's no such day that I saw her sad or plead for something she likes. Maybe that's what caused me to become ignorant of her real feelings (reminiscing about the past)

‎

‎"Don't you have something to say before I kill you, Emy?," Miko asked while holding a knife pointing at me.

‎

‎"No, don't do that. I beg you please don't kill me," I pleaded while nervously struggling to break free from the chains binding me.

‎

‎Every step she takes feels like a ticking bomb that will soon reach and kill me if I can't escape right away.

‎

‎I struggled over and over again, countless of times but I still can't break free from the tight grip of these chains. I could only  pray and wait for someone to rescue me - for him to rescue me.

‎

‎"Please save me, Hiro!," I shouted in despair, echoing throughout the entire place.

‎

‎"Say your goodbyes now Emy. Think of it as your final words HAHAHAHA," she laughingly said while taking one last step towards me.

‎

‎My eyes just closed and tears dropped, as if I accepted the fact that there's no hope in me being saved anymore.

‎

‎"Not so fast, Miko!," such words came from the voice of a man.

‎

‎I opened my eyes and saw him - a man so dashing and as gorgeous and beautiful as the moon.

‎

‎"You're here to save me right, Hiro? Thank goodness," I sighed in relief before passing out.

‎

‎RRRRING ~ RRRRING ~ RRRRING

‎

‎Suddenly the loud sound from the alarm filled the room, completely shattering the silence and the dream I was having.

‎

‎As I opened my eyes, I pondered why that dream felt so real compared to the ones I usually have every night before.

‎

‎I thought so much about it that I didn't realize my Aunt was calling me.

‎

‎"Oh no! Aunt is calling. She'll definitely get mad at me," I panicked, rushing downstairs

‎

‎I saw my Aunt standing there, with an intimidating gaze

‎

‎"Good morning, Aunt Yumi. I'll prepare breakfast right away," I nervously said while heading to the kitchen.

‎

‎"You'd better be. I don't want to be late at work today especially since we have an important guest. So you better not ruin my day, Ria," she coldly warned me with a voice like a broken glass.

‎

‎I immediately served a meal and joined my Aunt for breakfast. After eating, she just told me that she won't be back until tomorrow and reminded me to not go anywhere.

‎

‎Since our home almost looks like an abandoned house with messy things scattered everywhere, dust covering some of the furniture, and cobwebs in the ceiling, I decided to spend my time cleaning and tidying everything.

‎

‎Beep ~ Beep ~ Beep

‎

‎The phone rang loudly, distracting me from what I'm doing.

‎

‎I hurriedly went to check it and when I picked it up I noticed a familiar voice.

‎

‎"Hello, this is Marcellanus residence. May I ask who is on the other line?," I politely asked

‎

‎"Hi Ria, it's me Lily!," an energetic voice replied

‎

‎"Lily? Oh my gosh, what's up? Why are you calling?"

‎

‎"Well, I was wondering if you want to tag along later?," she asked

‎

‎"Later? Why?"

‎

‎"Remember the sweet shop we were talking about the other day? It's gonna open today"

‎

‎"Oh that shop... Just as I wanted to accompany you guys but my aunt strictly told me to not go anywhere," I replied to Lily in a sad and frustrated tone.

‎

‎"Again? Just until when is your aunt gonna tie you in that place. Come on Ria, just this time. Please?"

‎

‎Our conversation went back and forth, and I ended up agreeing with her

‎

‎"Yayyy! See you later!," Lily happily exclaimed before hanging up the phone.

‎

‎"I just hope Aunt Yumi doesn't find out about or I'll be in trouble," I sighed.

‎

‎~ Later that Evening ~

‎

‎"Lily said after I enter this way I should go right, then I should see a flower shop," I murmured while looking in the paper Lily gave for instructions.

‎

‎After I did what was written in the instructions, I felt that something isn't right and it seems to me that I'm heading towards a different place.

‎

‎Dark memories from my past began to resurface, and I felt a cold dread creeping up my spine. Just as I was starting to panic, a familiar voice called out to me.

‎

‎"Ria! You're here. I'm glad I bumped into you. Come on let's go together," Jas said, her voice a welcome relief.

‎

‎I breathed a sight of relief, grateful for Jas's timely appearance. "Jas, I thought I was going the wrong way. Luckily you're here"

‎

‎The two soon met up with their friends, and they headed immediately to the sweet shop.

‎

‎Their bonding and conversation was as sweet as those cakes they're eating.

‎

‎In Ria's thoughts, it has been a while since she felt this genuine happiness.

‎

‎After finishing their dessert, everybody decided to head home since it was getting late.

‎

‎However they got involved in an incident. They were ambushed by boys who seemed drunk and armed.

‎

‎Just when the boys are about to charge towards them holding a knife, it was blocked and stopped by a familiar silhouette of a man.

‎

‎The ambushers got knocked down and was surrendered to the police. When Ria and her group was just about to thank their savior, he already vanished into thin air, disappearing without any trace.