Scarlet’s POV

No, it can’t be true. I won’t believe it; for God’s sake, I wouldn’t want to. My hands started to shiver, and I dropped my phone, the device crashing on my toes. It can’t be… she cannot do this. I bent down to grab my phone but stayed there for a while. My mom noticed and shook my hand vigorously to bring me back into reality.

“What’s with you?”

“Mom?” I said. My emotions played a part in it. I need to hold my nerve, or there will be consequences later.

“What?” My mom glanced at me, almost surprised.

“Oh, nothing; I’m looking for Abigail. Where is she?”

My mom looked confused before answering me while narrowing her eyes.

“She’s in her room.”

“Okay. Thanks.”

I walked towards Abigail’s room and knocked on the door, but no response came, so I raised my voice. She was aggravated and told me to go away, but I remained and called her name again. After a minute of knocking, she finally answered, and soon, I rushed into her room, searching for her mobile. I then saw it was on the bed, but before I could grab it, she snatched up the phone and switched it off, but I recognized the recipient's name.

Victor.

I fumed and glared at her, but she glanced away, acting as she didn’t care.

“Don’t try to hide it. I already saw the name,” I growled.

She sent me a look, but that didn’t cause me to step back.

“Mind your own business, Scarlet,” she said, avoiding my gaze.

“No, I can’t, you….” I pointed a shaking finger at her,

She rolled her eyes.

“I, what?”

I stepped forward until I was nearly in her face, my voice rising angrily at her betrayal. She looked surprised by my reaction, not even bothering to hide it.

“How could you do this to me?!”

She began to shake from fear but still motioned me to leave the room, avoiding my gaze. Of course, I didn’t go. I stayed right where I was. The realization of what happened had us both shaking.

“So, he didn’t hack me. He hacked you,” I said. I cannot confirm her emotions, but she was trembling.

“It’s not what you think it is,” she gulped.

I scoffed, letting out a mocking laugh. This made her jump.

“Oh, do explain, dear sister, explain. I - you just.”

“You’ve misunderstood. Please let me explain, and don’t shout. Mom would hear us. Scarlet, I beg of you, calm down.” She touched my hands and tried to calm me. By the looks of it, it can be said that she’s scared.

“Calm down?” Whispers escaped my mouth, and I felt my tongue itching to clench its thirst. My whole body shivered, yet drops of cold sweat cascaded down my face.

I looked at Abigail and saw that she was in a similar state.

“Scarlet ….. I can explain.” she started to stutter.

“Explain? Explain what?” I snorted until she sighed and raised her hand to slow me down.

“Please, Scarlet. This is not the time for drama.” She glared at me; it was a nervous glare but not enough to shut me down. There's no shutting me down now.

How’s she talking? How’s she standing in front of me? I can’t believe she had the nerve to speak to me. For Lucifer’s sake, is this my biological sister?

“I can’t believe this. Are you sure you know me? Do you, Abigail?” I looked at her, raising both my hands.

“Now is not the time for drama, Scarlet.”

Laughing sardonically, I shook my head.

“Drama? Oh, dear God, you were behind everything after all this torment I went through, yet you don’t even apologize for any of it.”

She raised her hands defensively and looked at me, her green eyes stern.

“Please listen to me, I had my reasons.”

“Listen to you?” I walked up to her and looked into her eyes. They told me nothing but betrayal.

She cleared her throat, her tone irritated.

“You don’t know my part of the story, yet here you are, jumping to conclusions.”

I shook my head, cutting off her words and scowling at her. I was seconds away from turning and walking away. I didn’t want to hear more of what she had to say.

“I don’t want to know how you could’ve done that. How could you lie to us, Abigail?” Tears cascaded down my cheeks. She attempted to wipe them away, but I shrugged her hand off. “Don’t even think about touching me with those dirty hands of yours.”

“Scarlet, please give me a chance to explain myself,” she pleaded, her eyes wide.

However, Mom, having heard our conversation, appeared at the door before she could.

“Explain what?” she asked.

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Abigail turned ashen, directed her gaze towards me, and stuttered.

“Umm... about...”

I could see her eyes pleading with me to come up with anything that would be a better answer than the truth. So, being the good sister I am, I stepped forward and plastered a smile on my face, clasping my hands in front of me.

“About the problem with the hairdryer.”

Mom’s eyes narrowed as she stared us down.

“What’s wrong with the hairdryer?”

She raised both her hands and cracked up while winking at Abigail.

“Abigail broke it,” I said immediately.

Mom rolled her eyes.

“Forgive your sister, and don’t argue with her. Will you promise you’ll do that for me?”

“But Mom-” I hesitated. But she glared at me. I groaned before nodding. “Okay, I promise.”

“Good. Now, girls, let’s get ready. We must go to the store and meet our priest on the way. His mother is sick,” Mom said, cupping my cheeks and tapping Abigail on the shoulder while leaving the room. “And wear some makeup, Abigail. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Abigail half-smiled at Mom before she turned and stared at me. Once she was out of sight, she came and thanked me, but I shrugged.

“Don’t ever think I’ll ever forgive you. You’re lucky I didn’t tell her. Because if I told her about what you’ve done, she’d be so disappointed, especially coming from her favorite child.”

“I’m the favorite child?” she laughed.

“Yes, you are. I’m done talking to you,” I replied before storming out of the room. She tried to stop me while I was on the way, but I ignored her.

I stomped down the hall in frustration; I wanted nothing to do with her anymore.

I slammed my bedroom door and fell onto my bed. All sorts of thoughts came into my mind, and I couldn’t comprehend which ones to believe and which to ignore. I became lost in the sea of ideas. The only help I seek is from Pathum. He’s the only one who cares about me.

I texted him and got a quick reply.

Pathum: Oh, sweetie, I’m so sorry.

Scarlet: Yeah, me too. I can’t believe she did this. I don’t know what to say, Pathum.

Pathum: I can’t believe it, either. Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe she has some reasons.

Scarlet: What more do I need to see?

Pathum: Maybe you should listen to what she has to say. Let’s not be quick to assume things. Maybe she was trying to help you, you know?

Scarlet: I’m sorry, I don’t know who to believe and whom not to.

Pathum: That’s okay. I understand.

Scarlet: Do you, sweetie?

Pathum: First things first, calm down, okay? Panicking and jumping to conclusions is not good. So don't jump into such things. Let's first calm our nerves.

Scarlet: I don’t know what to say.

I groaned after sending the message. I couldn’t take it anymore. How could she do this? How did she do this? What motive does she have? I don't know…. God, please help me. Teach me how to love her. Teach my patience, for I don't know anything of it, nor could I yield it.

I heard a few knocks on my door, so I reluctantly got up to see who it was. I could see the person approaching me. With careful steps, she stopped at my feet, but I didn't open my eyes.

We stayed that way for a few minutes until she found the courage to speak.

“Scarlet, we need to talk.” It was like a whisper, but I didn’t seem to care. Eyes closed, I stayed silent and unmoving. “You don’t know the story behind this, so don’t judge me so soon. Let me at least speak.” I didn’t respond to her. After waiting about a minute, she sat on my bed beside me. “He threatened me, Scarlet. That’s why I did what I did.”

“What did he threaten you with, Abigail?” I raised my voice.

“I don’t know how to explain it.” I could feel the shame and regret in her voice, so I looked at her, hoping it would encourage her to speak to me. Judging by her body language, it seemed to have worked. She directed her gaze at me and sighed.

“How long have you been talking to him?”

She looked at me before sighing. She sounded so tired.

“Scarlet..”

“How long?” I pressed, locking my eyes with hers.

She averted her gaze from mine before replying hesitantly.

“About two months.”

Two months? I thought, horrified.

I narrowed my eyes at her before sitting up and crossing my arms. When I spoke, my voice was calm.

“Why was he talking to you?”

When I asked her the question, she looked at the floor and fell into contemplation. But after letting go of a sigh, she told me.

“He said he was in love with me.”

I gaped. Oh, God, not this again!

“And you believed him?!”

She stood up and began to pace, still talking.

“He convinced me that he loves me and took advantage of it.”

“I don't understand. Didn't he say he didn't have feelings towards you?" I asked,

Her voice was quiet when she answered my question, and she sounded much younger than her age.

“I thought he had changed.”

I shook my head stubbornly, looking at her with something akin to pity in my eyes.

“No, I’m afraid that’s not the case.”

“Then what?”

“Both you and Mom didn't trust me when I told you guys what he was after. That's the truth."

“Now, Scarlet…..”

I glared at her harshly.

“Are you going to deny it?” I demanded, and she contemplated the question for a few minutes before shaking her head.

“I was a fool to fall for him, Scarlet.”

“Yes, you were. Tell me, why did you do any of this for him?”

Abigail looked at the floor for a long time while I continued to sit there, glaring at her. She could feel the heat coming from it, so she avoided my eyes. I was surprised when she managed to speak a few minutes later.

“It’s a long story, he started to blackmail me, and he asked for some favours in return.”

“What did he blackmail you with?”

She looked away, but I still saw tears in her eyes. We stood there silently until she was ready to speak.

“You know that picture he had of you…. the one he sent Mom and Pathum?”

I nodded, looking at her warily.

“Yeah…. what about it?”

She looked at me and released a deep sigh.

“Even though you said the picture was only of your face, but not your body, it took me a while to understand, but once I did, I wanted to kill that bastard.”

“I know, but it wasn’t me.”

“You’re right.”

“What?” I asked, confused, as my gaze fell on her.

“The body, and how it looked like you, but wasn’t you.”

“I get it, Abigail; I know I was right.”

Tears were now pouring down her face and she hastily tried to wipe them away, but of course, I noticed.

“Why are you crying?” I asked.

She looked away, so I touched her hand. However, she shrugged me off and exited the bed to move toward the door.

“Oh, Scarlet,” she said, and I looked at her with interest. Tears started to cascade down her cheeks. “Your suspicions were right. It wasn’t your body, but it had a close resemblance to yours.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, unable to decipher the meaning of her words.

“You know exactly what I mean.” With that, she left the room.

I stayed like that for a while, and then it got to my brain.

Everything around me started to sink, and I was drowning. Finding the last bit of energy I had, I texted Pathum. I couldn't open the Google Hangouts app as tears clouded my vision and sweat wet my hands. After wiping it away, I managed to somehow get into the app.

I texted Pathum, and he replied instantly.

Pathum: What’s with the picture, sweetie?

Scarlet: It’s not mine.

Pathum: Umm, okay?

Scarlet: It’s my sister’s.