The obvious smell of blanch was overpowering. I scrunched my eyes at the splendid light that was tasting through my shut eyelids. I felt weak and substantial. I was unable to move my hand, my head or my body. Beeping noises came from the distance, they echoed until transforming into an endless ringing tone.

It was too loud.

I lay there discreetly, keeping my eyes shut, coordinating my breaths to the signaling of the machines that encompassed the bed, the main signs of my pulse, my reality. My legs were numb.

I heard faint rushed voices, some of them seemed familiar and some, not so much. They talked worriedly, and sometimes agitatedly from all around me and no matter how hard I tried, I could not grasp the meaning of their words nor locate the source of the voices.

Where am I? Interest gradually got into my swollen eyes to meet a grim perspective on a whitewashed wall encompassed me.

I tried to get up but to no avail, I cannot move my body. What happened? I thought to myself as I took a look at my surroundings.

It looked like some kind of a hospital but not just an ordinary one. I was in a comfy bed with all white sheets, propped upright with many soft plump pillows.

Aside from its wall and sheets' color, everything looks elegant. Even the comfort of the room, the air conditioning was very comforting, no hospitals are like this, may it be a private hospital or not.

Where am I?

I tried to voice out some word but it came out hoarsely as I can feel scratchiness in my throat making my mouth at unease and leaving me breathless.

What happened?

"Jusko dai! Audrey!" A loud shout broke me out of my thoughts. I turned to the side and look at the source of the voice. My sister, Illyria fast stride approached to where I am with a worried expression on her face. The click-clack sound of her pumps sounded annoying to my ears.

"How are you? Are you okay? ¡Jesús! Me hiciste preocupar!" She had tears in her eyes, she looked so fragile like a single touch could break her. She looked so young like a teenager and beautiful in a dark red dress and her wavy long brunette hair. She stared at me waiting for me to say anything.

{Translation: Jesus! You made me worried!}

"I-- wh--" I tried to talk yet again, it sounded so raspy.

As if taking a hint, my sister immediately reached out to my side and handed me a glass of water.

Propping myself up from the bed, I took the glass of water from her extended hand and took a big gulped at it and look back at my sister.

"Where am I?" I asked, putting the glass of water back at the side table.

"One of my friends' house", she replied still wearing her worried expression, just like what our mom would look like when she is worried.

"What am I doing here?" Curiosity eats me as I continue to asked questions.

I do not know why I am here nor even remember what had happened. It seemed like I tended to be forgetful these days.

"You fainted." I heard a deep voice from behind and I quickly averted my attention from my sister to the source of the voice to see a man I am too familiar with leaning on the door frame holding a tray of food in a striking attire.

His muscles ripped through his gray jacket as the luxurious Armani suit seem to fit him perfectly. He looked just like a model in the VNY Models, the top New York boutique modeling agency with those piercing ocean eyes and light brown locks. His chiseled jaw emphasized the light stubble on his face. Then I brought myself to reality and realized who this man was. What is he doing here!?

He straighten himself from leaning on the door frame and stride his way to where we are at and placed the tray consisting of a dish with soup.

I just sit here and followed every move he takes still curious as to what is he doing here and why.

"Hi." He greeted with a neutral look, stuffing both his hands on his trouser's  pocket.

"What are you doing here?" I spat out the question I have been dreading to ask.

"You are in my suite." He simply stated, shrugging his shoulders.

"What do you mean I am in your suite? Ate, what is he implying?" I turned my attention back to my sister looking all too confused why I am doing here.

"Remember what I said earlier? That you are in one of my friends' house?", She started " Well, he is the owner."

I looked at the two of them dumbfounded still not getting what they mean.

Does she meant that her and the man that is in the same room as us is her friend? Where in the world did they met to even became friends? Why did she not tell me all about this?

"Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait." I hold my right hand up, still processing what she had just told me to sink in my mind.

"So, what you are implying here is that... The friend that you are talking about is him? And the owner of the house where I am right now is still him? How come!? You never told me about him." I said, completely in utter confusion to the new information that I had discovered.

"No and Yes." She answered making me more confused about this matter.

"What do you mean Yes and No!? Can you please elaborate it ate!? You made me more confused than I am earlier! I do not even remember what and why I am doing here in the first place!" I yelled, pulling my hair out in frustration.

"Hermana, will you please calm down first?" She said, soothing my back as a sign of comfort before continuing, "Okay, so last night you called me."

She started but, me hating to wait a little longer on her explanation as she took very long to explain the situation to me yelled a, "Can't you make it straight to the point!?"

"Patience," she scolded me, narrowing her eyes at me, "When you called me, I am shocked to see you called so late at night because you never did that. You promised yourself not to call anyone unless it is urgent because according to you, living in an independent life requires it so the moment you called me, I got worried especially the way how you sounded."

She took a deep breathe before proceeding, "When I got to your apartment, Sebastian here, to whom I had just discovered is your new boss, is already there with you being carried bridal style in his arm unconscioused."

I scrunched my nose at what she said in confusion at first but then, last night's events replayed in my head.

The box. The letter. They are back.

Suddenly all I see is myself in a room, literally. Everything else falls away. I no longer hear what my sister is saying. I cannot notice the people that is in the same room as me. Every natural body movement is on hold as I could not breath yet again just like what had happened last night. It felt as if someone was choking me.

My heart was racing and all I wanted to do was to curl up into a bull and huddle under the bed sheets. I hugged my knees, working my hand back and forth on my leg.

"They are back." I breathed out, still working my hands back and forth along with my body.

"They are back!" I shouted.

I heard some movement and felt someone rubbed their hands back and forth on my back in a soothingly manner.

Suddenly, my vision went normal as I look at the person rubbing their hands on my back and saw my older sister, Illyria. I quickly shifted from my position to hug her.

"A-a-ate, t-th-hey a-a-are b-b-ack." I told her stuttering like a five year old kid would tell their parents when someone bullied her.

"It is okay, baby sis. It is okay. Do not worry, ate is here for you. We are here for you." She said, making me calm myself at her soothingly words.

"Who is back?"