Time ticked down. Charlotte couldn't do anything. She had called Engfa to check multiple times but the other side didn't pick up. And worst of all, it was almost three, time to see her own brother's creepiness, even though Charlotte had convinced herself long ago that he wasn't her brother.

As Charlotte waited restlessly on the couch, she didn't know what to do, what to say, she was still too scared to delete the video yet, even though she knew she'd eventually have to do it if she wanted to truly redeem herself but… it's not as easy as it seemed. Everything was hard, especially with the mental burden she was bearing. She never wanted to become such a selfish person but it's the environment that made her tirn into such and she hated it, she hated every second of that new her but she couldn't escape from everything no matter what. Disappointment is a bitch and it stung even more when it was by herself, on herself.

The clock continued ticking past 3 pm and every second after that felt like a mental torture. Everything inside her screamed for her to just get away from everything, get out of the house and just disappear into the void. But she couldn't do that. Because that was even more irrational and selfish than what she had already done or will be doing.

The ticking of the clock was the only sound reminding her that she was real, the laptop was still in front of her, the screen had turned black. She had been sitting there in the same position for more than an hour already. After full 5 extra minutes of pure torture, the bell to her door rang at 3:05. There, he had come.

As Charlotte opened the door, she was met with the person she expected but didn't want to see, Mek.

* * * * *

“How did this even happen? Aren't you always careful when driving?” Engfa asked. In front of her laid her precious little one, Fon. She had always loved Fon like her own family. And Fon was usually so careful she barely got sick.

Fon however didn't reply. She didn't know how all of that happened, but it just… did. She had no explanations, no excuses, no mind on how the accident happened.

Fon sat up on the bed, her arm clinging in the cast as she stared at it. It hurted but she never got a broken bone, she was always the most careful. How did that accident even happen? And most importantly, whose was that car that tried to overtake hers on purpose? Because Fon clearly remembered that it was anything but an accident.

Engfa had been at the hospital for over 2 hours. The second she found out, she came rushing into the hospital and stayed there until Fon was conscious. She hadn't eaten anything. In fact, she got so worried she had forgotten her phone at home.

“You should go home, Phi Eng. I'm okay now. You should go eat,” Fon comforted but Engfa's concerned heart didn't want to take it.

“Shouldn't you eat something as well?” Engfa asked, her hand held Fon’s uninjured hand. She couldn't just… let her be at the hospital like that! That's not who Engfa was! Not to the person who helped and loved Engfa the most during her own hard times.

“I know, I will. I have a nurse. You don't need to stay,” Fon insisted. Indeed, Fon had nurses to take care of her. All the medical bills of the arm were getting paid off by the motorbike rider. She was the one who hit Fon's car first and she wanted to take responsibility. So she paid Fon's hospital bill and even hired a nurse. Even though Fon didn't think it was fair, or that it was that girl's fault at all, when she woke up, everything was taken care of and it was too late. She hadn't even seen the girl's face, let alone thank her.

With a forced sigh, Engfa nodded. She didn't want to leave Fon alone at such a state but she knew how stubborn she could be.

* * * * *

As Engfa picked up the phone from the table, she was immediately bursted with notifications of Charlotte's missed calls. 6 missed calls from Charlotte. 3 messages.

You okay?

Saw what happened to Fon.

Can I help?

Engfa stared at the messages for a few seconds. When was the last time anyone aside from her family and Fon actually reached out to her to check out? A small smile took over her face as she clicked on the profile pic. She had never actually checked the account out.

It wasn't the public famous account Charlotte had, they talked in her private account, which only had nine followers, including Engfa. The profile pic was Charlotte's photo in a floor touching baby pink, or an even lighter shade of pink, gown. In a nude coloured lined lipstick along with very light makeup. Her hair open, with a bow in the back as she spinned in the balcony among the strong wind. Her hair and skin glowing like stars in the sky.

Engfa's heart unknowingly skipped a beat. The girl wasn't so bad after all. A shy blush coloured her cheeks as she thought about how stupid the situation was, that was a girl she was supposed to hate, a girl who supposedly ruined her life, her career and now, she was falling for that same girl like it's nothing.

By the time Engfa realized that staring at the photo was just going to make things worse, she put the phone back down. After gathering some courage, she picked it back up and called Charlotte. Once. Twice. Thrice. She didn't pick up and Engfa's courage was gone.

After eating and resting for about 2 hours, Engfa decided to go back to the hospital and check on Fon. But as she walked through the street to the hospital, an unexpected sight caught her eyes. She noticed Charlotte, through the glass window of the café next to the hospital, with a guy lost in a conversation she seemed to enjoy.

Engfa stood frozen for a few seconds but then, reality creeped back in. She should have expected it. Why would she be any more important than Charlotte's dates? She might have just reached out to Engfa out of guilt.

She sighed and continued to walk but what she hated was that she couldn't hide her disappointment. Humans are truly pathetic. They always want what they know they can't have.

* * * * *

Charlotte sat at a table of a café in front of an unwanted guy she basically knew nothing about. She didn't want to be there. But she had to. Because that's her nature. Being useful to others, that's her nature.

As the guy talked, Charlotte looked at him and nodded, trying her best to act interested. Because that wasn't a joke anymore. She wasn't on a date for fun. This has to work. She had to make it work. She had no other choice.

So she did. Listen. Try to.

*Flashback*

“His name is Klao. He's my age. And what you have to do is get close to him and date him,” Mek explained.

“Why do you want me to date him? I need to at least know what I'm looking for,” Charlotte replied. She wasn't used to this. She was used to being forced to do things. But that was the first time she was forced to do something that she knew might hurt someone's feelings. Nonetheless, she had to do it.

“He has a sister. I know nothing about her. He doesn't usually tell anyone about her either. I need you to find out more about her.”

“Why can't you do it yourself?” Charlotte asked, resulting in a chuckle from Mek.

“You don't question what I ask you to do. You just follow through. Understood?” He paused and put on a fake smile. “That's as much as you'll be let know. The rest of why is none of your business.”

Charlotte's face completely turned pale. At that moment, she knew she had fallen into a trap, a trap that wouldn't be easy to escape. She had no choice but to nod.

“I expect you to go on a date with him by this evening.” The second he finished that line, Charlotte's phone began to ring.

Charlotte picked her phone up and glanced at the caller's name, Engfa. No. Not now. She put her phone back down. She couldn't let Mek know that she was in contact with Engfa or that'd make things even more complicated than it already was.

“Get ready,” Mek murmured and stood up from the couch, walking towards the door. “And keep your phone on silent when you're with him. You can't let him know you're not truly interested in him.”

And with a look of uncertainty, her journey of lies once again began. When will she be able to escape this hell of a life?

To Be Continued....

* * * * *

A/n: Hey lovelies, I'm so so sorry for the late update and short chapter. But life's just fucked up. I have no idea how I even managed to write this even though at 2:30 am. But hope you enjoy it anyways.

Please do vote and comment about what you think of the chapter if you liked it or didn't, I don't mind constructive criticism. It gives me encouragement and inspires me to continue. Thank you ❤️