~Sam~
The news about my kiss with Linda spread like wildfire. It was on the lips of many. Wherever I went, people gave me this 'bad boy' look, and I could feel their judgmental glances like daggers piercing through me. It was pissing me off, and I could feel the heat rising to my face in frustration.

Even the junior students knew about it. I saw the girls giggling as I passed by, and the sound of their laughter seemed to echo in my ears, stirring a mix of annoyance and embarrassment within me. I couldn't pinpoint what their problem was, but their whispers and gazes felt like an invisible weight pressing down on me. "How dare they interfere with my affairs, but on a second note, who told them?" I thought playfully, but the tension in the air was palpable.

Exams were starting tomorrow and I had to focus my mind on it. The smell of freshly printed papers and the sound of pencils scratching against the answer sheets filled the air, serving as a constant reminder of the impending tests. I remembered Linda, and a smile came up my face. The sweet scent of her perfume and the warmth of her embrace seemed to linger in my senses, evoking a sense of longing and nostalgia. How everything had happened still surprised me, and I could feel a whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.

I confessed my love for her on the same day I did to someone else. The memory played like a vivid movie in my mind, with the soft touch of her hand and the sound of her laughter replaying over and over again. It felt as if my life was repeating itself, and I could almost taste the bittersweet irony in the air.

I could feel the warm water cascading down my skin, washing away the sweat from a vigorous evening on the sports field. The scent of my favourite body wash filled the air as I lathered up, and the sound of water hitting the tiles created a soothing rhythm. After bathing, I sank into my soft, cosy bed, feeling the smooth texture of the freshly laundered sheets against my skin. As I closed my eyes, the aroma of my freshly washed hair mingled with the comforting scent of my room. The fabric of my pillowcase brushed against my cheek, and I could hear the faint rustle of the curtains in the evening breeze. The cool, crisp sheets enveloped me, and I relaxed into the sensation of being completely clean and comfortable.

Meanwhile, Linda lay on her bed, feeling the softness of the fabric beneath her. She traced her lips with her fingertips, still feeling the lingering tingle from Sam's kiss. The memory of his voice echoed in her mind, and she let out a contented sigh. Despite her longing, a sense of guilt gnawed at her heart, creating a heavy, uncomfortable feeling in her chest. As she pushed aside these conflicting emotions, she began to taste the bitterness of regret, intertwining with the sweetness of her desire for Sam. She closed her eyes, enveloping herself in the warmth of her room, allowing the emotions to ebb and flow like a gentle tide.
***********************************
Back at Bliss's place, a curious and confused Julie watched Bliss as she sobbed. "She must be missing Sam", Julie whispered to Charles.
"I told you it was a bad idea to bring in those designs. Look we opened up the wound in her heart", Julie said sadly as she went over to comfort Bliss.
"What's the matter? I know you're missing him. Don't worry, I know that wherever he is now, he also feels the same way", Julie assured. That only made Bliss sob the more. How much pain will she endure? The pain that her illness brought, the pain that Sam's departure brought and the pain of being kept in the dark all these while.
She wished she could command the grounds to swallow her but she couldn't. "I'm tired of living, I want to die, Julie. I only feel pain and nothing else. Please end my suffering. Please kill me", Bliss begged tearfully.

Tears dropped down Julie's eyes.
She had once imagined the pain Bliss went through. It was too much for a young girl to bear. She wished she could take her burden away. She cleaned her eyes with the back of her hand and tried her best to console Bliss.

"I understand how you feel, Bliss. But please, you have to continue living. One day, it would all be fine. I promise you that," she said, her voice soothing as she gently wrapped her arms around Bliss, her hug providing a sense of comfort.

Charles just watched pitifully, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. He imagined the turmoil Sam would have been going through if he was still there. Each time he fixed his gaze on Bliss, he saw a walking corpse. The stark reality persisted that Bliss would soon meet her ancestors, but how else could he make Julie understand this?

That kind of hope she had was dangerous. "If Bliss eventually dies, she would be completely broken inside," he thought, fear rushing through his veins.

Bliss's mother, Madam Stella, watched from the peephole, her eyes filled with remorse and regret. Ever since she confessed, she had lost the ability to meet her daughter's gaze. She never imagined it would turn out this way. She prayed her lost daughter was still alive somewhere. She couldn't stop blaming herself. "I don't deserve to be called a mother," she sobbed quietly, the weight of her words heavy in the air.

It was finally time for Charles and Julie to be on their way. Julie gave Bliss a friendly peck on her cheeks and promised to be back some other time. "Take care. We will be back again to check up on you. Please don't hurt yourself or do anything stupid," she advised, giving her one last look and exiting the door with Charles. The sound of the door closing echoed through the room, leaving an eerie silence in its wake.

As the driver drove them back home, Charles thought of the best way to prevent Julie's overconfidence in Bliss's recovery. As he was thinking, a message from the radio left them startled. "It's not possible! Never!" Julie exclaimed, the sudden outburst filling the car with tension.