Blackmail

"Mom, Dad, I need a new laptop. My laptop can't support the software we need for a thesis project."

They looked at each other in worry but tries to hide it away from me. If I didn't care about Black's studies, I wouldn't have bothered to tell them about it. "We'll get you one, sweetie. When do you need it?"

"I actually need it for finals."

"O-Oh. Okay, dear."

It was Sunday and usually our whole family is present inside the house but now, neither mother nor father was here which was odd. I was starting to worry that they might have overworked because of my sudden appeal for another equipment. "Where is mom and dad?" Mint asked.

"I don't know. They even got home late last night."

I frowned and by the afternoon, I got up and went out. I still needed to find Black after all and this could be my chance to go look for her. While I was wandering around the new Berklin City of Earth B, I saw my father waving his hands up in the air whenever a person passed by him and his car. I could see sweat covering his face, his drenched shirt - his expression that seemed like he was exhausted.

"Lift?"

I continued to watch my father in pain. It hurt me to see him being ignored by people because they didn't need him and I didn't want that life for him - to my mother as well. I didn't want any of my family to live like that because it's too painful to see. Seeing them work hard for me, when I'm not even their real daughter, hurts my soul.

"Lift, sir?"

Father looked frustrated but he kept doing the same thing over and over despite being ignored by the people he offered ride to. He wiped his sweat off with the sleeves of the jacket he was holding and he looked tired but he kept doing his best anyway. My real father isn't capable of any of these. I'm happy I don't get to see my real dad like this before but I realized it was more painful to see them like this.

Before I cry here in the middle of the street, I decided to move away and continued my search. I didn't know what today had that it kept leading me to my parents but I was once again in the perfect spot where my mother was. I was starting to think that maybe the Gods were letting me see all these on purpose.

Her small wooden stool wasn't even enough to showcase ten shoes. "Shoes! Clothes! Clothes for your children! Ma'am, would you like a blouse? It's only a dollar now! Ma'am!" She exclaimed but the lady just passed by her poorly made store.

She looked at her products and goes back to shouting. The truth is I knew I wasn't their real child. I know they were just my family from another universe but not my real family but I can feel their pain and it hurts my guts to see them like this just because I told them I needed a new laptop. If I knew it was going to be this way, I wouldn't have just asked them.

MOTHER kept brushing my hair softly as she hummed me a melody that same night I saw them working hard just so they could give me what I needed. Even I don't know how to start a conversation right now. I was so tempted to just tell her that they don't need to buy me a laptop after all. "Mom?" I whispered.

"Yes, sweetie?"

I turned to her and smiled. "You don't have to buy me the laptop anymore." I finally said. I felt her stop brushing my hair for a while. "I can just borrow one of my friend's."

"What do you mean? It's okay, sweetie. We'll get you one. It's just a little tough in the market today but we'll have enough money to buy you one. Don't worry, okay?"

I shook my head. "No, it's okay. I can live with borrowing things from people for now." I turned to her smiling to assure her that it was really fine. "You don't have to use all your energy for something I need to have."

"But that's what parents are for, Black. They'll do everything for their children's future and you'll realize this once you grow up and have your own family as well. It's all about sacrifice and love,"

I can picture the look of her tired eyes again in my head and it was making me feel more pain now that I'm facing her. I hugged her tight and I couldn't stop my tears from falling. "I love you, mom. Please remember that," I cried. I always wanted to hug my mother and be able to tell her that but I never had the chance and now that I was doing it, I embraced the feeling of having my mother before I leave them back to Black's hands.

ALLY suddenly crossed her arms, giving me a glare. "Something's just so different, Black and I know you're not telling us anything. You barely even write things from the board but you can't stop scribbling equations which you claim to be made up."

"Right, and you haven't been wearing our friendship necklace." George added. "Like are you getting rid of us already?"

"It's in my room," I sighed and wondered if it was time for them to know the truth now because honestly, it was tiring to pretend like Black. She had a more complex and complicated personality than I do so it would nice to stop and just be myself for the rest of my stay here in their world.

"Room? We went to your house yesterday, Black. We didn't see it there." Ally replied. "You threw it away didn't you?!"

"So? Are you gonna tell us or we'll just have to figure it out by ourselves?"

I pressed my lips together before I spoke again. "I'm not Black or Violet."

The two of them were speechless. It's not like I can even convince them to believe what I'm saying but at least I finally voiced out my situation to people now. The load on my shoulders suddenly disappeared and I felt more relaxed and at ease.

"I am Violet Allen from another universe."

"SHUT UP." They looked at me in disbelief. "NO FREAKING WAY!"

"I really am and I have met you all in my Earth."

Their eyes widened up. "Are we really?"

"Yes. You, Ezreal, and Donna were my friends there but not George and Margoue. The three of you betrayed me so I avoided you because I felt the need to do it." I explained.

"What am I in your Earth?" George asked.

I paused. "You're a singer in my Earth. A famous one at that and you weren't gay. You were very straight that girls love you and admire you for having the great looks and a beautiful voice. I've only seen you in flyers but Donna was falling head over heels for you back in my Earth."

"What the hell? Bitch that's so cool! But ew, for the Donna part, but," George shouted and jumped up and down. "What does it look like in your Earth? How is it different from ours? Oh my God, can you take me there? Can I see how famous and cool I am?"

I chuckled. "Very different. Berklin here in your Earth is much more beautiful than Berklin in my Earth. It was very dirty and dark and polluted."

"That's why you haven't been acting like Black ever since you got here." Ally said in realization. "That's why you're smarter; that's why you're nicer because you're not the real Black that's in our Earth. That means you're Black from your Earth right?"

"Yes but my name's Violet Allen. I don't know why Black is my name here."

"Weird but still cool." George snapped and raised up a brow.

"Now that you mention it, Black always hated it when people call her by her birth name. Maybe she got her name changed?" Ally said.

I was on my way to the cafeteria alone only because my friends still have classes before they get to have lunch. I was almost there when I suddenly ran into Mark who was heading towards the same direction as I am. He stops when he notices me.

"Lunch?"

I nodded.

"Alone?"

I nodded again.

"Wanna eat with me?"

I nodded once again.

He tilted his head gesturing me to walk with him now. When we reached the cafeteria, people were giving us some glares which made me a little uncomfortable because I wasn't used to this kind of attention. Maybe Mark in this Earth was just as popular as the one I knew in my Earth and maybe even more.

"So Ally and George know now?" Mark asked when we were finally seated with food.

I nodded.

"Can you even reply anything but a nod?" He chuckled. "Black talks a lot and you're here quietly. How can people not suspect that you're a fake?"

I looked at everyone and they seem to have another gossip going around. "It's just uncomfortable that people are looking. I know this is not my Earth but I still feel like it is because technically, I am me in this Earth." I mumbled non-stop and Mark seemed to notice how anxious I felt as I was sitting with him.

"Violet,"

I turned to him. I wasn't used to people calling me Violet in this Earth so it was new to me. My heart wasn't even prepared for that but I knew I was happy that I was being called that once again. My name - I loved my name. Ever since I got here, I've been called Black so many times that it was starting to eat up the reality that I am not her.

"What choice did you make here that you turned Black?" He suddenly asked but I didn't know what to reply because even I didn't know. Now that he was asking me that, I was wondering myself. What choice did I make that made Black this way here?

"Do you know how Black went missing?" I asked him instead.

He turned to me, surprised by my sudden change of topic. "No. She was dating Jacob when she went missing so I wouldn't know. She left and she was gone all of a sudden."

"Is she possibly still in Berklin?" I wondered.

"What if you switched places? What if Black's in your Earth and you're here on her Earth?"

I looked at Mark. "I think I saw Black that time I bumped into Andy. She was wearing a black hooded jacket but I wouldn't know for sure." I creased my brows. "She looked like she was looking at my direction then and only someone who would know me would glare at me like that." I'm still not sure though. I can't make up of the face because her hood was covering her face. "I need to find her before I leave this Earth. I can't leave her family like that without her. They're too valuable."

Mark flashed a warm smile. "That's something Black wouldn't be capable of doing."

I turned to Mark. I can tell Black was far different from me but I didn't think he, Black's lover, would tell me that even.

"She's a lot more selfish than you ever will be. You don't seem to care about yourself."

"I'm sorry..."

"No!" Mark immediately cut me off. "I'm not saying it's bad. I'm saying it's a good thing."

I stared at him.

"It's you, Violet." My heart raced. "You're the version that your family deserves. Not Black."

It was almost midnight and I was still awake. Paranoia was hitting me and the coffee was waking my senses up really well. I was preparing for an exam tomorrow so I had to stay up to review all night. I got up from my study table to go get some water but I ended up hearing my parents' conversation.

"Should we just sell the lot, Ron? I think it would give us a lot of money for our children if we do. We can just buy it back once we earn money."

I looked down to my feet and pressed my lips together.

"What if we can't pay it? Then we won't have any place to stay. That'll only make things harder for both you and I and the children."

"Ron, look. This is the only way we can continue supporting our children. I'm not earning well with my products and so are you. We need to be practical. What will the kids eat if we don't have enough money from our works? Think Ron."

I leaned my back against the wall and sighed. My parents in this Earth were so caring and generous to the point that they'd do anything for our sake. They were willing to give up every bit of thing they have just to support us. It was so different from mine and having a family like this has been my dream but I didn't want my family to feel this way. I didn't want them to carry all the burden just to give us the life that we need.

****

"I'm home,"

I said the moment I stepped inside the house but when no one answered, "Mom?" I repeated and she finally replied.

"Up here, sweetie."

I ran upstairs and they were in Mint's room. When I entered, everyone was there around her bed and Mint was just lying down with her eyes closed. "What happened?" I asked and everyone turns to me with eyes full of worry.

"Mom we need to get her admitted in the hospital. I don't think bleeding is a good sign if she's just having a normal fever." Blue said as she held Mint's hands tight. "This is not just a fever mom and it won't go away with only rest. We need to get her in the hospital."

Mother and Father looked at each other and mom nods so dad immediately goes out. After a few minutes, I can hear the engine from the car start. Dad came back inside and carries Mint over his arms and before I know it, we were already in the hospital and the doctors confined her immediately.

I stared at Mint pitifully as she laid down the hospital bed, lips pale and white. A doctor came in frantically. "Mr and Mrs Allen, your daughter needs more blood but her blood type's very rare so it's gonna be hard to find a donor even if you donate one in return I suggest you prepare yourselves if anything goes wrong."

The next morning, after Mint got hospitalized, I couldn't focus on anything but her. I was so worried that something bad might happen to her and I wouldn't forgive myself if I stay put and do nothing about it because she was still my sister. I didn't want anything to happen to her. She's too young.

"Hey,"

I looked up and saw Mark standing in front of where I was sitting. I couldn't even greet him back because I was too worried about my sister. Blue said it would be difficult to get blood because Mint was B and none of us were compatible with her.

"What's wrong?" He asked but I just shook my head and my tears were on the verge of falling from my eyes. At that, Mark pulls me into his chest and embraces me tight. "Hey, don't cry." He patted my back in comfort. "What happened?"

I pulled away from him and looked at his eyes. I shook my head and ran away from him. I didn't want to act like this in front of people. I don't want any burden to pass onto them. It's just not like me at all but I couldn't stop myself anymore.

When I reached the hospital after drying out my tears, Blue and my parents were outside her room crying. I frowned confused and worried of what they were about to tell or what I'm about to ask them about. I sat next to Blue and studied my parents. "W-What's wrong? Why are they crying so much?"

"Mint, she—"

I flinched a little in fright of what she's about to say. Please don't tell me that she's gone. Please don't tell me that. Please don't.

"The doctor said her platelet count is decreasing and decreasing and if we don't confine her with the blood her body needs now," she stops and my heart beats as I anticipate. "She might die."

I looked at Mint whose eyes were barely open, lips pale and white. She flashes a weak smile as she rises up her hand asking me to hold it. I smiled at her and held her hands tight. The way she looked right now – I can't even take it. She looked so weak and it was painful to see her in a situation like this. "Black? Am I going to die?" She asked voice so weak.

I pressed my lips together and smiled my tears away so it won't discourage her. "No, you're not. When you get better, let's go swimming together okay? So be strong and be healthy again alright?"

She nodded her head slowly.

I didn't want her to see me sad because I just found out something that would potentially be the cause of her death. If our blood were compatible with each other, I'd be gladly sharing mine. But I'm not even the real Black. I can't do anything but pray for her to get better and leave her in the hands of God.

I just came from a convenient store to buy something to eat when I suddenly see Mark who just came out from a room with my parents. "I owe you my life, dear." Mom tapped his shoulder and smiled warmly. "I will forever be grateful for your kindness."

Mark turned to me then back to my parents who failed to notice me. "The pleasure is mine Mr. and Mrs. Allen. Black is a great friend after all." He looked at me again and I couldn't help but get teary eyed of the sight of him here.

"Mom? Dad?"

"Oh, Black! Mint's gonna be fine now. You never told us you had a friend that had the same blood type as Mint."

I looked at Mark. "I never knew until now too."

Mark and I were sitting outside the hospital after that. I couldn't stop staring at the cotton taped over his arm. He drank the yogurt milk I got for Blue but since I encountered him like this, I guess it's only fair to give him something to drink. It's not even enough to thank him for everything he did for me until now.

"Thank you – for the blood and for letting me cry in front of you the other day and I'm sorry I ran away. I didn't want you to see me like that."

He sighed and stopped sipping. "You should have told me that you had a problem so I could have helped you. Why didn't you tell me anything?"

"I'm not Black."

He turned to me. "I can see that."

I looked down in shame. "Black's really lucky." I mumbled unconsciously causing Mark to turn to me. "She gets to feel all these love from people. Her family, friends..." I let out a sad chuckle. "All my life, I couldn't eat anything but leftover bread my family left for me. I even had to stop school at some point in my life if Mrs. Dee didn't offer me a scholarship. Black's life is so much better than mine but she left everything for what? I don't understand..."

"Hey," I feel Mark's hand over my shoulder. "I have no idea what it felt like before you came here but just focus on what's right here. Right now."

"That's the problem." I turned to him, my tears falling down my eyes. "I don't want to wake up one day and everything I had here is gone. I didn't want to get too attached to the people here but I'm afraid of that happening when the time comes that I have to say good bye."

Mark pulled me to a tight embrace. "You don't have to say good bye then."