A FRIENDS BETRAYAL

THE NEXT DAY

The mysterious three meeting room.

"You sent a message last night, what happened?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah, I received it too," Sea said.

"This will be hard," Micheal started.

"What?" Sea asked.

"I found out last night that both Charles and Jake are of the same blood group, O+ positive."

"Damn!" Charlie exclaimed.

"So, who is the real culprit?" Sea asked, looking confused.

"I don't know," Micheal replied.

"Since we're in a tight position, I'll ask many to bring all information about their movements and compare."

"Okay, I'll try to ask without raising suspicions and find evidence," Micheal said.

"Be careful not to alert him," Sea advised.

"Okay," everyone stood up and left together.

SATURDAY EVENING

"Dum, dun, dun." Sea, lying in her bed, heard the sound of an incoming message.

"Who is that?" she asked, looking at her phone. It was a message from Favor.

"See you two hours from now," she read.

"What am I going to wear for the date?" She looked around, trying to decide on an outfit.

After an hour of searching, she finally found a comfortable dress. She took a bath, prepared for the date, and heard the doorbell ring.

"Am I coming?" she shouted, taking a final glance at the mirror to inspect her outfit.

"What am I going to do?" "What am I going to say when they find out my reason?" she thought.

"I'm a bad person, Chelsea. You're bad, but this is my only chance. I have no choice. When that time comes, I'll explain to them my reason."

MAYA'S DINNER

"Order whatever you want," Favor said.

"Okay." After selecting from the menu, she passed it to the waiter.

"So, tell me about yourself," Favor started.

"What exactly do you want to know?"

"Firstly, do you have a boyfriend?"

"No! If I had a boyfriend, do you think I'd still come to this date with you?"

"Maybe your boyfriend can see it as a friendly date."

"But it can cause barriers and confusion in any relationship."

"Depending on the type of guy."

"I don't have a boyfriend, period!"

"That's good to hear."

"Why did you say that?"

"Because after we go out on different dates for some time, I'll want you to be my girlfriend."

"So straightforward."

"Yes, I want my intentions to be known from the beginning, so I'll know if I stand a chance."

"Well…"

Chelsea paused, looking across the restaurant through the transparent windows at the shadows of two people, but the next minute they were gone.

"What is it? You looked shocked," Favor asked.

"Nothing, I thought I saw some people I know, but it's probably my imagination."

"You don't want people seeing us?"

"No, that's not it. I want to be sure of this relationship before telling anyone."

"Okay, fine by me. So, what's your answer?"

"Well…"

"Well, what?"

"It all depends on your performance."

"So, I'll show you."

"No problem, I'm waiting."

"So, tell me more about yourself."

"For starters…."

The date continued.

FEW DAYS LATER

THE MYSTERIOUS THREE MEETING ROOM

"So, Charlie, what's the update you called?" Micheal started.

"Yeah, we've come here thrice this week," Sea added.

"Dummy! It's twice this week, not thrice," Micheal corrected.

"Guys, be serious," Charlie interrupted.

"Sorry, boss," Micheal and Sea said teasingly.

"I found out from Manny's investigations that Jake has a senior brother involved in shady and criminal things," Charlie started.

"Like killing, robbing, kidnapping?" Sea asked.

"Yes."

"So, it's Jake?" Micheal asked.

"No conclusive evidence because it could also be Charles."

"This is damn hard," Sea commented.

"Three is down, two to go. By the time we're done, we'll settle your case, Chelsea," Charlie said.

"Which case?" Sea asked, confused.

"Why are you behaving confused? We're talking about your brother's case, the murder case."

"Oh, Charlie, thank you, guys."

"No problem, we're friends."

"Yeah," Micheal agreed.

"As I was saying, I told Manny to collect the hospital's footage showing the structure of the person who donated blood. Even if the person's face isn't visible, he'll collect both pictures and footage of Charles and Jake, then we'll sync the footage and give it to an expert to do a soft or physical biometric analysis."

"Smart move," Sea commented.

"When will the results come out?" Micheal asked.

"The experts say two weeks," Charlie replied.

"Thank goodness!" Sea exclaimed.

Here is the continuation of the edited text:

"So, this period, let's lie low to avoid suspicions and..." Charlie was interrupted by the sound of an incoming message.

Charlie looked at his phone, as did the other two.

"Meeting at the usual place two weeks from now," Charlie read out.

"Jeez, two weeks from now will be chaotic. I mean, the results of the physical biometric analysis and the meeting, both in two weeks," Sea said.

"Yeah," Micheal added.

"Does that mean the form we submitted has been reviewed?" Sea asked.

"It's possible," Charlie replied.

"Guys, you're forgetting something, especially you, Charlie," Micheal said.

"What is it, Micheal?" Sea asked.

"It's your birthday two weeks from now, on a Friday," Micheal said.

"I forgot," Charlie smiled sheepishly.

"So, let's throw a party for you that day. You'll ask Manny to bring the results from the soft biometric analysis that day. You'll see the results and meet your mysterious blood donor that day, killing two birds with one stone. What do you think?" Micheal concluded, smiling.

"Perfect," Sea said.

"Yeah," Charlie said, sending a message from his phone to Manny.

"I've already informed Manny," Charlie said.

"Let's call it a day; I'm tired," Micheal said.

"Okay, good. See you," Charlie said.

"Bye, guys," Sea said, as the two left together, leaving Sea behind.

The moment she was sure the two were gone, she breathed in and out.

"That was so close; I was almost caught," she said.

At that moment, her phone rang. The caller ID said "Boyfriend Favor."

Immediately, she answered the call, smiling.

"Hey," she started.

"How are you doing?" Favor asked.

"I'm fine, and you?"

"I'm fine. Where are you?"

"I came out to buy something. Do you have time next week?"

"Why?"

"Let's go shopping next week for Charlie's birthday present."

"When is his birthday?"

"Two weeks from now."

"Okay, see you."

"See you."

"Love you."

"I love you too."

The moment the call ended, Sea screamed, then smiled, and left the room.

CHARLES' HOME

"Who is that?" Micheal asked Charles, who had just finished making a call.

"My friend," Charles replied.

"And you spent almost a decade on that call," Micheal joked.

"Hey, stop exaggerating," Charles said.

"Which friend?" Micheal asked.

"My elementary school friend, and she's coming tomorrow."

"Okay, no problem."