"Why did your family leave you here Ro?" the girl asked with her cute voice.

The boy felt touched, but he could not tell her his secret.

They both sat on the roof under the brightness of the moon the whole night. The girl never got her answer and the boy left the very next morning.

Ava's POV - A Wonderful Surprise

When I told Amara that I needed to meet Romano, she graciously left the apartment, assuring me that we could catch up tomorrow in college. As I drove towards the college, I couldn't help but wonder what Romano had in store for me so late at night; the clock already read midnight.

Pulling into the college parking lot, I noticed that the building was shrouded in darkness. A nagging thought crossed my mind: Could this be some kind of prank? Or perhaps, something was amiss? My imagination ran wild as I mulled over the possibilities.

Time seemed to stretch as I decided to investigate. I retrieved my car keys and, just in case, my concealed firearm before approaching the college entrance. Each step heightened my sense of unease. The front door was locked, so I resorted to entering through a window. Inside, all the doors and classrooms were tightly shut.

My heart raced with uncertainty. What was happening here?

After nearly an hour of fruitless searching, the cafeteria remained my only unexplored option. The urgency of the message I had received compelled me to check it out. With my gun loaded, I cautiously made my way to the cafeteria. Upon entering, the lights suddenly illuminated, and a deafening noise filled the room. Startled, I instinctively closed my eyes and squeezed the trigger.

Bang... Bang...

Third person POV - A Day of Unexpected Surprises

Today marked the first time I found myself alone on this special day. Previously, I had always celebrated with her in Paris, sharing the entire day together without any interruptions. But this time, my plans had taken a different turn.

As I contemplated my actions, I thought about how things might have been if my plan had succeeded. I had hoped she would meet him under different circumstances.

Then, out of the blue, a voice shattered my reverie. My phone slipped from my hand as I jumped in shock.

"Is she awake?" the voice inquired.

Panic and fear engulfed me, prompting me to hide my phone behind a wall and pretend to be asleep.

"Oh, we've got an actor here," the voice chuckled, followed by a splash of cold water on my face.

I jolted awake and found myself mere inches away from a face I didn't recognize.

"No..." I exclaimed, turning my face away.

He laughed menacingly. "Don't fret, dear. It's only a matter of a few days now, and then you'll be mine, enjoying everything."

I remained silent, refusing to give him the satisfaction of my fear. If only my hands were free, I'd have given him a piece of my mind.

Ava's POV - A Surprise Birthday Celebration

"What the heck, Ava!" a familiar voice suddenly exclaimed.

Amara?

I opened my eyes to a room filled with my friends, including Amara, Krish, Tania, and in the center, Romano, holding a knife and a cake.

I hastily concealed my gun in my back pocket and assessed the situation.

Awkwardness hung in the air.

After an uncomfortable silence, I cleared my throat, ready to explain. But before I could utter a word, Romano spoke up.

"We're here to celebrate your birthday," he said in a chilly tone that sent shivers down my spine.

Birthday? What were they...? Oh wait, it's my birthday today. Amidst all the chaos, I had completely forgotten.

Every year, Olivia used to be the first to wish me on my birthday, remembering all those cherished childhood memories. I had always been so consumed by life's demands that these simple joys had taken a backseat. But birthdays were different; they were a reminder of the grand celebrations my mother used to throw, surrounded by celebrities.

After her death, rumors swirled about the young Romanos, and Dad had hidden us in an orphanage due to the danger. But when he returned, everything had changed.

Snapping back to reality, I glanced at the friends I had met just a few months ago, who were now treating me to a special celebration. They hardly knew me, yet they had already welcomed me into their circle.

I had opened up to Amara for my own selfish reasons, and now I felt like I was betraying their trust by hiding my true intentions.

Clearing my throat again, Romano approached me, his gaze unwavering.

No, this isn't right. I couldn't let my emotions weaken my resolve and jeopardize my plans. I thought, straightening myself in front of the group.

"Thank you, guys, but I believe there's a misunderstanding. Today isn't my birthday," I lied, unwilling to reveal anything for now. I couldn't risk leaving any clues that could expose my true identity as Olivia's twin sister.

"Oh, but Romano told us it was," Krish said, his tone carrying a hint of something I couldn't quite grasp.

Romano remained silent, but I could sense his disapproval.

"Don't lie, Miss Ava. The details you submitted to the college clearly state that today is your birthday," he said, never breaking eye contact.

Feeling guilty, I looked away. How foolish of me to forget that my details had been transferred from Paris.

"Fine, but I don't wish to celebrate it today," I stated, turning to leave.

"Ava, we've put in so much effort for this. Can you stay just a little longer?" Amara implored, her eyes pleading.

"There's no need to beg her, Amara," Tania interjected, her words tinged with bitterness. "She's just playing hard to get. We did all this for her special day, but she's so disrespectful."

"Stop it, Tania," Krish tried to calm her down, noticing Romano's reaction.

Romano appeared unhappy, and Tania's comment had made his anger evident.

"I didn't mean to be rude, but I don't particularly enjoy celebrating my birthday," I explained.

"Yeah, but since we've gone to all this trouble, just cut the cake and then you can leave if you want," Tania continued her rude remarks. Initially reluctant to join the celebration, she changed her mind upon learning that Romano would be present. She couldn't bear the thought of another girl coming between her and Romano, whom she had secretly admired since childhood, first through Olivia and now through the "low-class" Ava.

Despite Tania's continued negativity, I managed to focus on the celebration and ignore her comments. It was clear she had her own issues to deal with, and I wasn't about to let her ruin the mood of everyone else.

However, Romano's lingering gaze left me feeling uneasy. I didn't want to be entangled with him any further, but our shared college and mutual group of friends made it inevitable that we would cross paths. As much as I wanted to keep my distance, I also recognized the need to navigate this situation gracefully. The complexities of our relationships were becoming increasingly apparent, and I would have to find a way to handle them as we moved forward.

That night, as I lay down to sleep, the same haunting nightmares that had plagued me since the day my father returned to the orphanage to take Olivia and left me behind, vulnerable to the monsters that nearly shattered my life, continued to torment me.

Even though the monsters that once haunted my life were gone, the two years I spent alone with no contact left behind bitter memories and a profound sense of longing within me.

...............***................

Thanks for reading

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