“It’s Amber!”
Oh, that girl.
My hands paused midway to my mouth, and I slowly returned the cake-laden fork to my plate.
“What about her?”
“She was mugged and beaten pretty badly.”
The video clip I watched started playing in my head, along with Huracio’s veiled threats. It played in my ears as if he was right behind me, whispering into them. I broke out in a cold sweat again.
“Kata? Are you okay?” Emilia grabbed me and asked worriedly.
Her touch brought me back to my senses and I coughed to cover up the awkwardness.
“I am fine. I just feel a little tired.”
“Maybe you should come home with me. That way, you will be able to rest properly.”
“It’s not that bad, but I don’t mind going home with you. I need to pick up some things.”
Since I got married, everything I have been using was bought by Huracio. My old stuff was still at the apartment I shared with Emilia. Until she mentioned going home, it didn’t occur to me that I should go get them.
“So, what happened to Amber?” Anxious for Amber’s news, I continued to ask.
“She is in a coma.”
“Oh, lord!”
“I heard from good sources that she broke her spine and had her legs crushed. I don’t think that was a mugging. I think she was targeted.” Emilia whispered earnestly. “I wonder whose boyfriend he tried to steal this time around.”
I felt chilled. That scene played in my head again. Those men appeared ruthless, but I never thought Amber’s injuries would be that severe. Huracio crippled her just to warn me? I became more scared.
“I think we should start leaving. You don’t look good, Kata.”
Emilia stood up. She came over to my side of the table and placed the back of her hand on my forehead. “Why are you so cold and sweaty?”
Not knowing what to say, I just nodded and followed her out of the coffee shop.
“Tell your driver he can go back home.”
“He is not just my driver, Emilia. I can’t send him away.”
I looked away before she could give me that cold stare that always left me feeling like she could see through me.
“Hm.” She snorted and headed to her car, dragging me with her. “In that case, he can be our entourage.”
“Do you think she will recover? “I asked once the car hit the road.
“You mean, Amber?”
“Yes.”
“I doubt it. Even if she didn’t sustain a spinal injury, she’d still be crippled. Her legs were crushed. They didn’t make it out of surgery.”
“Oh my god!”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I was trembling and sweating badly.
“Why are you crying?” Emilia asked, looking surprised. “I think she got what she deserved. Don’t forget what she tried to do to us.”
I shook my head, but no words came out.
“Katalina?” She drawled worriedly.
She started looking around for where to park. I couldn’t let her do that, so I wiped my tears and shook my head.
“Don’t park. Just keep driving. I am not crying because of her.”
Of course, I wasn’t crying because of that bitch. Though I feel that Huracio was too high-handed, Amber is a cold bitch too.
I met Kelvin in the 8th grade, but we didn’t start dating until the 10th grade. Amber was a classmate and she liked him. She did her best to snatch him, and I was bullied several times by her and her group of friends. When I was in 11th grade, Kelvin was graduating, and I was his prom date.
To prevent me from attending, Amber somehow convinced my designer to ruin my dress. Luckily, I was the same size as my mum. Though we arrived late, we still made it. She was so upset that she later poured a jar of champman on me, ruining my Mum’s dress too.
We had a big brawl that eventually ended the party. Everyone in Kelvin’s class started blaming Emilia and me for ruining their prom. It was so embarrassing.
Then, during our Prom, no one knew how she did it, but she drugged Emilia and me. This wasn’t a sleeping pill issue. Our drinks were spiked with meth, and the cops were called. Our drinks were the only ones spiked with that substance. It was Huracio who came to deal with the paperwork.
While we were cooling off in jail, Amber was trying to get into Kelvin’s pants. She had spiked his drinks with an aphrodisiac, but unfortunately for her, he came with his friends from college. The moment they noticed something was wrong with him, they sent her away and took care of him.
Though there was no way to prove that Amber was the one who spiked our drinks, Emilia and I knew. She had subtly dropped some threats days ahead. We just didn’t take it seriously. Even if we had, there was no way to deduce such a vicious plan aimed at ruining our lives. With a drug addiction record, who knows how our professional lives will turn out?
So, no. I wasn’t sad for Amber.
But I was scared. Still scared, that if I don’t handle things well, that could be Emilia Kelvin or even Mum.
The moment we got home, I went straight to my bedroom. Emilia had covered everything with some white rolls of textiles, keeping the dust out.
“Thank you, babe,” I said the moment I saw my room.
“You should rest in my room while I prepare some lunch.” She offered. “Your room is stuffy.”
“It’s okay. I already feel better.” I reassured her. I walked around, going through my stuff casually.
“What will you eat? I have broccoli, potatoes, and some leftover chicken.”
“What about coconut milk?”
“I can grab that from the store.”
“Let’s do braised broccoli, mashed potatoes, and some coconut chicken soup. I have not had that in a while.”
“Okay, then. I will go grab the coconut milk, while you settle in.”
Just as she was about to leave the room, I called out again.
“Have you seen Kelvin?”
“Yes.”
“How is he?”
“Fine, I guess.” Emilia shrugged.
“He must hate me now, right?”
“Yeah. He hates me too.”
“Why? Did he fight with you because of me?”
“More like ignoring my existence.”
“I don’t understand. This has nothing to do with you.”
“What does it matter? I am your best friend. I am supposed to know.” Her tone sounded accusatory, but I ignored it. ” He thinks I helped you cheat on him.” Emilia frowned. She was clearly upset about this. But the next moment, she shrugged it off again. “That reminds me. You may have to visit the police station.”
“Why?” I frowned in confusion.
“The three of us are the main suspects in Amber’s case.”
“Why?”