Core Part III

"Hanako has a brother?" I asked myself as I walked on my way to my dorm.

If my memory serves me right, Hanako is the only child in her family, and she has never mentioned of having any siblings other than her close childhood friends.

But still, I thought. Isn't it--what was his name again? Void? Isn't it too much of a coincidence that he's related to her? He could be lying for all I know.

"..I think I'm getting a headache."

The more I continued to ponder it, the more I could feel my head hurting again. So, I decided to speed walk my way towards the dorm.

***

"​What the…"

When I arrived at the dorm, the mailbox stand was on the ground, broken. The moment I came closer, I immediately covered my nose, sensing a horrible stench.

Whoever did this must have a lot of time on their hands.

And as if timed, the mailbox door slowly opened itself, revealing a cat—a dead ragdoll cat covered in blood sliding out with a trail of liquid mixed with rotten food and bugs.

"Urk..!" My stomach churned when I couldn't take my eyes away from the ragdoll cat, recalling the one I encountered that Friday. Dropping my binder, I ran and unlocked the door, immediately headed towards the bathroom, and began puking in the toilet.

For some time, I didn't feel the need to throw up anymore as I flushed the toilet, rinsed my mouth, and went outside.

"Ser…ena?" I said, feeling woozy when I noticed her holding her phone as I walked toward her.

"Hey, are you okay?" she asked. "You don't look well."

"I'm fine. It's..." I glanced at the cat, and Serena followed my gaze, thinking about something.

"Serenity," she said, looking at me. "I think it's best if you stay inside the dorm. I've already contacted a close friend who owns a vet near the school and someone to clean the mess and repair the mailbox for you."

She then took off her coat and wrapped it around the cat as if she were carrying a baby. "Poor kitty... Whoever did this to you, I'll make sure to give them hell!"

Just when she was about to leave, I instantly held the hem of her back shirt.

"Um, Serena…"

"Hm?" She looks at me curiously.

I hesitated for a moment, but then I spoke about the one thing I had yet to mention to her. "By any chance, did you and Uncle Travis receive a text message from me yesterday?"

The wind suddenly howled in the air strongly as we looked at each other in silence. For some reason, I felt anxious.

"No, I haven't, Serenity," Serena said, calmly with a smile, and as if on cue, the wind stopped.

Why?

I wanted to question her further but refrained myself and nodded at her.

She nodded back and immediately dashed away without hesitation, holding the cat in her arms.

As for me, I locked the door and left the curtains closed throughout the night.

***

Wednesday, August 24th.

It hurts.

I clutched my chest, huffing in pain as I tossed and turned while sleeping. The air felt cold as I covered myself with a blanket, but it didn't help much. I could also feel my head spinning, rolling like a film and recalling the events with the mailbox and deceased ragdoll cat... like pictures.

…

…

…

Pictures?

…

…

…

"That's right! The picture!" I exclaimed, immediately standing up from my seat, realizing that all eyes in the room were staring back at me.

Darn, I'm in class.

"Is there a problem, Faith?" asked the male instructor.

Unsure what to say, I calmly replied, "It's already time for us to go."

The instructor looked at the computer's time, and surprisingly I was right. He then dismissed the class and hurried out of the door as I gathered my belongings and headed toward the woman's bathroom. I placed them on the side and turned on the sink's handle, splashing some cold water on my face.

"Why did I suddenly remember it now?" I asked myself, looking at the mirror. "Where is the picture, by the way?"

I dried my hands with a paper towel, trying to recall the day before some more but to no avail.

I sighed, throwing the towel in the trash can and gathered my belongings, heading towards the dorm with a new thought in mind.

However, another horrible sight falls before me as my lips gasps in horror. The house is sprayed with red paint bolded in large capital letters written MURDERER. Mud-like feces was thrown and placed around it, and it didn't help even more when I noticed that all of the windows were destroyed.

"Oh, look it here."

"If it isn't the famous Stoic Moon herself."

My eyes widened as I turned around, recognizing three girls approaching me. Despite them wearing the same purple-blue and black palette outfits with heels, you could tell who is who by their colored hair, eyes, and skin. From left to right: Girl 1 has purple hair, orange eyes, and fair skin; Girl 2 has green hair, magenta eyes, and dark skin; and Girl 3 has blue hair, yellow eyes, and medium skin.

One of the girls casually dropped a picture out of their hands, revealing an innocent Hanako and I hugging each other. Neura–the girl in the center, steps on it with her heel. "Oh, oopsy. So, we meet again, Serenity."

"...What are you three doing here?" I asked calmly.

Neura snorts, "Nothing much, We're just passing by, right?" She looked at both Monica--on her right and Gorin--on her left as the three of them giggled. "Do you like the presents? But if we have to be honest, the first one was the best. Shame that we couldn't give more copies for you, Serenity."

I looked down at the picture Neura stepped on and flinched, suddenly recalling the image sent to me. I immediately got goosebumps but held my fear aside and spoke. "Don't you girls have something better to do other than harassing me?"

"Oh, why not?" Monica asked as if it was an innocent question. "It's a welcome gift to you from us, Serenity."

"The three of you are crossing the line here!" I said. "Aren't you girls ashamed of yourselves? This house is not your plaything, nor does it belong to you!"

"Really?" Gorin asked. "We've heard this house--no, the dorm isn't yours, to begin with."

"If you know that much, then why can't you girls just leave me be?"

"And what?" Neura walked toward me, trying to intimidate me because she was taller. "Say this has nothing to do with Hanako?"

"I didn't say that."

"Oh, but you're going to say something about her. Shouldn't you be sorry for what happened? After all, you DID kill her."

"...I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Is that so? Well, rumors said you two had an argument before she died."

I didn't answer her and stayed quiet. It's true that Hanako and I argued before she passed away, but… I never told anyone about the incident besides the people I'm close with. Obviously, I'm not close to Neura, Monica, and Gorin because they were former acquaintances of Hanako's.

How did they know? I thought.

"Got nothing to say?"

Unless…

"Then so be it."

One of them coincidentally came to the cafe that day?

Suddenly, I felt my arms wrapped around Monica and Gorin's.

"You should be honored that we didn't bring our boyfriends with us. Else, it'll be nasty," Neura chirped.

"...What do you girls want?"

"Tsk, tsk. All we wanted to do was talk with you, Miss Stoic Moon. I mean it's been decades since we last saw each other."

"It's only been a year and four months."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Who gives a shit anyway?"

I tried wriggling out both Monica and Gorin's grasps, but Neura stopped me. "Resist, or you'll see what's coming?"

I stared back at her. "Do you think I care?"

"Oh? Even if it's something related to Hanako?" Monica asked. "You should already know the truth, Serenity. Hanako was just using you."

"..."

"Did you not know?" Gorin spoke next. "She only became friends with you simply because you're lonely. ​You know what happens to the loneliest people on earth, yes?"

Monica then continued, "​Once you trust someone, they'll throw you away like garbage. That's what you are to Hanako, poor little Stoic Moon."

"Don't you see, Serenity?" Neura grinned devilishly. "You mean nothing to Hanako. ​You're nothing but a filthy piece of shit!"

She and the others laughed as if it were the funniest thing to say.

"Serves you right, being friends with her!"

"Even though she used you from the beginning!"

"So, what are you going to do now that your precious Hanako is gone?!"

Once again, I stayed quiet, watching them laugh.

"It doesn't matter anymore," I muttered.

Gorin noticed my lips were moving and eyed signaled Neura.

"Hm? We can't hear you if you talk to yourself, Serenity," she said as Gorin immediately grabbed a lock of my hair, forcing me to face Neura eye to eye. "Don't you think it's rude to interrupt?"

"...Is that all you have to say?" I spoke coldly and stared back at her, emotionless.

"What?"

"It's funny. Do you think belittling someone would save your skin? You think harassing me is the best remedy to take your anger on?"

I could feel my entire face slowly turning red as I spoke, and I didn't stop holding my tongue from there.

"Then go ahead and feel free to do so! But no matter what you do to me won't bring Hanako back! So, what if I knew that she was using me?! At least I wasn't faking my personality or pretending to worship her like a god! Unlike you, I LOVE and CARE about Hanako! So, stop making excuses and quit bitching me!!!"

"This bi–" Neura was flustered about what to say next.

Gorin then shouted, "Girl, just show her who's boss!"

As if on cue, Neura slaps me on the cheek.

"Oh, I got to record this!" Monica said and took out her phone with one hand, clicking the record button.

"You'll regret your words, Serenity!" Neura yelled and raised her hand again to slap my other cheek. However, a hand stops her.

"Not over my dead body," said the familiar voice as we looked at the person behind Neura.

Serena? Why is she here?

Serena stared at Neura with cold eyes, and if I have to be honest, I had never seen her so furious before.

"I see three little rats running on my niece's property. Should I take this chance to call the authorities?" she beamed.

"Crap! Isn't she the principal?!" Monica screamed.

"Fuck!" Gorin did the same. "Let's get out of here!" And without any hesitation, both of them released my arms and ran away together.

"H-Hey! You assholes, get back here!" Neura shouted, wanting to escape, but Serena didn't loosen her grip on her.

She continued. "Not only do you and your friends violate the school's regulations, you think harassing my niece and destroying her house is a good thing too?!"

"N-Niece? Surely, you don't mean—"

"Do you think I will let this slide?!" Serena then took out her phone, showing Neura a video recording of her and the others. "In case you didn't notice, I have installed security cameras all around the house since Serenity's arrival, meaning I have full footage of you and your friends scheming the past two days. Including this recorded conversation on my phone, I'm curious how your parents will react to this."

Sirens were then heard behind us as a car stopped in front of the house, revealing two male officers coming out.

"You can't be serious, Ms. Song!" Neura exclaimed. "Surely, you know that my family will sue you for taking me to jail! They come from a long line of lawyers! It will be impossible to win against them!"

"Then, I shall win no matter what the cost is," Serena said coldly, allowing the officers to take Neura away; however, she didn't hesitate to fight back, overpowering the officers and running towards Serena, clawing her cheek.

"You will regret this, Ms. Song! I'll make sure your life becomes a living hell for you and Serenity!" Neura screamed and didn't hesitate to do it again.

However, Serena had the upper hand and stared at her, infuriated as her face immediately turned red with tears.

"You're willing to hurt someone, but if someone hurts you, you become useless! It doesn't matter what kind of upbringing you have because, at the end of the day, you are trash! Because of you and your cowardly friends, Serenity is dying!! BECAUSE OF YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS, SERENITY ALMOST COMMITTED SUICIDE A YEAR AGO!!!"

My body immediately became numb when Serena screamed at Neura, leaving her speechless. It wasn't long until the officers separated the two, taking Neura into the vehicle, and left us.

Serena was still huffing in anger, trying to calm down and look at me, concerned. "Serenity, I–"

"How did you know?" I interrupted. "Did Uncle tell you? Is that what it is? Are you pitying me? Pity us?"

"That's not–"

"Then what is it?!" I screamed angrily. "If it's not pity, then why did you bother reaching out in the first place?!"

"..."

"I should've trusted my instincts a long time ago, but Uncle was too keen on doing what was best for me! And like an idiot, I went along wanting him to be happy!" I said and looked away, refusing to see Serena's face.

"...I'm sorry."

"..." I didn't reply to her apology and turned around. "I'll leave first thing in the morning. You don't have to bother finding me, Serena."

As I headed towards the house, I suddenly stumbled walking and held my chest.

"Serenity!" Serena jogged close to me, but I raised my hand, stopping her.

"Don't mind me," I huffed at the writhing pain.

"But–"

"I said, I'm–"

My heart abruptly stops, causing me to lose my vision and collapse to the ground. I could hear Serena's cries calling out my name and asking for help, loud and clear, but eventually, her voice faded farther away as my entire world went black.