"So what are you doing after school?"

I rolled my eyes, "Somewhere without you."

I closed my locker door and locked it.

"Why can't we hang?" He pouted.

"Because you'll say we went on a date and that I'm in love with you," I scoffed and continued walking to the exit.

"Why do you think I'll say that?"

"Because that's what guys like you do. Boast about how many girls you went on a date this week and how many girls you're texting, all to boost your damn ego," I opened the door and now walking to the bus stop.

He looked a little stunned by that, probably because I was the first girl to say that to him. But he cleared his throat and collected his thoughts, "It's not like we forced them to go on a date with us."

"Well you're forcing me right now since I made it very clear that I've no interest in going on a date with you," I picked up my pace and prayed he doesn't follow me.

I let out a sigh of relief when I didn't hear any footsteps behind me for a few seconds.

"What if we went on a friend date?"

Bloody hell.

I turned around to face him, "But we're not friends. And I'm also not interested in being your friend."

He pursed his lips into a line before saying, "Okay, a get-to-know-each-other-in-a-non-romantic-and-non-friendly-date?"

I was about to reply no when he continued on, "You're a really mysterious person, you've been at this school for a month now and no one knows anything about you. Honestly, if you're from another planet, I wouldn't be surprised."

I chuckled in response to that. So I just go on this get-to-know-each-other-in-a-non-romantic-and-non-friendly-date, let him get to know the boring, reserved, sappy me and he'll leave me alone for good. Guys like him only like girls with dramatic personalities.

"Okay then, I'll go on a get-to-know-each-other-in-a-non-romantic-and-non-friendly-date with you, Walter Oplin."

Sherwyn: yo man got himself a date

Zachary: About damn time!

Sherwyn: Help a dude out with the outfit, will ya?

Zachary: Course, PM me your options

Sha: woop woop

(2) isit that girl you talked to on sat night?

Sherwyn: Yepp

That made me recall back to the night of the party when I saw Sha and another girl having an intense conversation. A conversation which sounded like some unresolved things and feelings. I wanted to be there for her like she has been patient and understanding with me not talking about my past. But then the attack happened and my focus has been elsewhere.

I turned off my phone and laid my head back down on a pillow. I stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before turning my head to my desk. At the corner of my desk, I put a small picture frame of my biological parents there. Anton sent me this picture along with some of my parents' things a while back and I put the frame on my desk as a reminder to myself that as much as I try to hide and deny it, I will always be the daughter of the infamous drug dealer couple.

The picture was taken on my parents' wedding day, as seen from my mother's white backless silky dress which showed the curve of her body and revealing her bird tattoo at the back of her neck, my father's expensive black suit with a matching black bowtie. They look truly happy in the photo; my father's hand around my mother's waist, pulling her close to him and both with bright smiles on their faces.

I remembered when I first saw this picture, the first time I saw the faces of my biological parents. The first thought which came to my mind was that I totally understood why everyone who knew my mother immediately recognised me, I really do look like the younger version of her. I also wondered if their entire marriage was based on love or if they only married because it would mutually benefit their businesses.

When I settled down in Singapore, the thought has crossed my mind to find information on my other family members; if they're dead or gone into hiding since my parents were killed. I haven't pursued the thought just yet because of what happened the previous time when I decided to dig in areas that would come into conflict with some people I don't want to mess with. I figured I should have peace for a period of time before getting myself all tied up in the mess that I may not be able to get out. Then the attack happened a few days ago and I'm slowly coming to the realisation that I may never be able to have a normal life.

I left my phone vibrate and turned it on to see the notification. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it.

Unknown number: You will not be so lucky next time.

I quickly got up from my bed, looked out from the window to only see the police car parked out front. No attacker.

I let out a sigh of relief and before I could sit back down on my bed, there was a knock on the door.

"Leah is here to see you," I heard Breton's voice through the door.

I felt another vibration from my phone in my hand, slowly lifted it up and looked at the notification.

Unknown number: You will die.

I threw my phone onto my bed and went downstairs to greet Leah, hoping my hands would stop shaking.

"Hey," Leah smiled and stood up from the couch to hug me, "Damn, we weren't kidding about the security. I was seriously interrogated by the police officer outside before he let me pass through."

I wasn't expecting a hug from her, so I awkwardly patted her back and greeted her back, "Yeah, and what brings you here today?"

"I was hoping to talk to you about my father," she whispered the last part of the sentence so Breton wouldn't hear from the kitchen.

"Of course, let's go to my room," I led the way and she followed suit.

When I closed the door, Leah quickly sat on my bed and let out a huge breath, "I think I found my father."

I widened my eyes. That was much easier than my route to find out what happened to my biological father.

"So who is he?"

She looked away, "Was."

"Oh, I'm sorry," I put my hand on her shoulder, not knowing how else to react.

"It's fine, I probably get why my mom didn't want me to know about him. He had a drug addition and got in bed with shady people to buy the drug. He was killed and dumped into the river because he didn't pay up in time," she sniffled and I caressed her back in swift motions.

She continued, "I asked the private investigator to find out the people responsible for his death. All he could find so far was that they were a couple, mainly operating her drug businesses in hotels. But then they seemed to have vanished off the face of the earth eighteen years ago, no one has heard from them ever since."

My heart skipped a beat and I removed my hand from her back. No way this is happening right now.

My biological parents killed her father. They were killers.

"Are you okay? Your face is a little pale," Leah looked at me with concern.

I cleared my throat and regained composure, "This is just a lot to take in for me, I can't imagine how you're feeling right now."

She scoffed and wiped her tears from her cheeks, "I sort of wish I didn't dig into it the first place. Now all I'm thinking about is avenging my father's death, which is crazy since the people I'm going against are drug lords. But I think I'm going to be okay... eventually."

Trust me, you don't want to dig into that. Your life will never be the same again.

"Have you told your mom about this?"

She shook her head, "No, but I will. I don't think she knows why he was killed and it'll break her when I tell her. I need to recover from this myself so I can be strong for the both of us."

"The both of you will get through this," I said as guilt flooded my chest.

"Thanks Tiana, I'm glad I've someone to talk to about this," and she went for a hug.

I almost felt suffocated from the guilt but I still managed to say, "I'm always here whenever you need someone to talk to."

What will she think of me if she finds out my parents were the ones who killed her father?

"God, I really hope my mom and your dad get married," she let out a laugh, easing a little bit of the tension previously.

That just hit me that I haven't called Breton my dad yet. He sure does act like a father to me.

In due time, I guess.

"Me too," I smiled. Leah would definitely be a great sister to me, we already feel bonded. Even though I only met Helena twice, she does seem like a nice woman and she makes Breton happy.

She cleared her throat, "Alright, I got to go. Sort of came here without thinking and don't want to worry my mom."

"Sure, I'll be seeing you next week right?"

"Yep, dinner at our house. More like us third wheeling on our parents' date", and I chuckled in response, "but I finally get to show you my room."

After Leah left, I went to the kitchen to pour myself a glass of lemonade. Breton's cooking was immediately given away as the smell of deliciousness filled my nose.

"Smells good, as always," I commented on his cooking for the hundredth time.

"Thought I start early for today," as I watched him marinate the chicken, "So what were you and Leah talking about?"

"Just some things," I wasn't going to tell him about Leah's father as that wasn't in my place to do so, "Of course about you and Helena as well."

I saw his cheeks turn a shade of pink, "Am I allowed to know what did the both of you talk about us?"

"Oh, nothing much, just about when you guys are going to... take the next step," I looked at him sideways to see his cheeks turn into a darker shade of pink.

Oh my god.

"You have thought about it!" I exclaimed.

He nodded slowly, trying to hide his intense blushing from me, "Yes, but I don't want to rush into it. If we do get married, it's going to be those a-partner-to-grow-old-with marriage, as we're not going to have any more kids."

My heart got a little warm because he considers me as his own.

"Well, whenever you're ready to pop the question, you have Leah and I's full support."

Right after school on Monday, I made my way to the karate class. I was a little nervous, but mostly excited as it was time to learn some sort of self self defense to not feel so helpless any more. My mind wandered off back to the day when Nicandro and I was spending the day at the cabin, and the guy dressed up as the pizza delivery guy try to kill me, Nicandro fought him off like it was nothing. Of course I was too in shock when it happened to actually appreciate his self defense skills, but thinking back about it, it was extremely smooth.

"Hi, I'm here for the four o'clock karate class," I said to the same lady that the counter from last week.

"Tiana, right?"

"Yes."

"Just give me a minute, I need to go to the back to get a key for your locker," I nodded in response and she gave a quick smile before walking away.

I looked around while waiting, spotted a few kids no older than ten with their instructor practising some moves. There were also a couple of teens around my age at the locker rooms, taking out their clothes and walking into the direction of where the toilet is. I'm guessing I'll be in the same class as them later on. My eyes wandered off to the newspaper which was placed on the shoe rack a couple of metres away from me. I saw Nicandro on the cover and quickly picked it up to read it.

Breaking news: Prince Nicandro of Spain gaining back Japan's relations after famous drug lord 'Felon' revealed himself to be King Eduardo's biological son

The picture shows Nicandro shaking hands with who I assume to be Japan's president, and with both of them were smiling in the photo. I smiled, knowing that this was a huge step to getting Spain on a strong ground for his family, which also means that there is a higher possibility of us getting to see each other sometime soon.

When I looked up from the newspaper, I noticed that I couldn't hear any sound and turned my head to look around, only to see an empty room.

Where did everyone go?

Before I could think further on, I turned my head around and I heard the glass door open, only to see Nicandro walking in.