XXXXII. Better have you in the next lifetime

"This is all your fault! Why do you keep taking everything away from me? This is your fault!" she shouted furiously, her hands trembling as she aimed the gun at me.

"If it's my fault, then direct your anger at me, not at people who have done nothing to you!" I firmly responded.

As I got closer to her, I pressed my chest against the barrel of her gun. "Go ahead, pull the trigger!"

Her face was filled with hesitation.

"You'll regret not pulling that trigger." Without a second thought, I forcefully knocked the gun out of her hands, sending it flying. A triumphant smile spread across my lips.

Without warning, I punched Nadia, causing her to collapse onto the floor. I immediately pinned her down and struck her face repeatedly, my mind consumed by thoughts of what she had done to Antonio. The image of Antonio, helpless in her grasp, replayed over and over in my mind—each replay fueling the force of my punches. I let my rage consume me, screaming and crying as I unleashed my fury on her.

I only stopped when someone grabbed my arm, pulling me away from Nadia. I turned abruptly, only to see Canim standing there. Irritated, I shoved him aside and moved to attack Nadia again, but then I froze.

My heart sank when I heard the ominous click of a trigger being pulled. Slowly, I forced myself to turn around—only to come face to face with Canim, pointing the gun directly at me. The chilling words that escaped his lips sent shivers down my spine.

"If I can't have you in this lifetime, then I'd rather have you in the next."

Fear paralyzed me, my feet refusing to move as sheer panic took hold. Then, a deafening gunshot rang through the air, and a searing pain tore through my body, leaving me dizzy and disoriented.

"If I can't have you, then no one will, Via." Canim's voice was thick with desperation and obsession.

Through the haze of pain and confusion, his final words echoed hauntingly in my mind.

"Hmm, Via… you're blessed to be loved so much that I have to die in your name."

At that moment, as darkness threatened to consume me, I finally understood the depth of Canim's twisted obsession. Love, when pushed to its darkest extremes, had led to this tragic end.

I stirred awake when I felt a heavy weight on my body. Slowly, I opened my eyes, only to be met with the sight of a white ceiling. My body felt too heavy to move, so I glanced down—and there, resting his head on me, was Alex.

"Alex..." I weakly called out. Thankfully, he woke up immediately—though he quickly panicked and started shouting.

"NURSE! DOCTOR! SHE'S AWAKE!"

I groaned at his deafening voice, squeezing my eyes shut. When I opened them again, I was already surrounded by doctors and nurses checking on me.

"How are you feeling, dear? Are you in pain anywhere?" one of the doctors asked.

"I'm okay now. Thank you."

After finishing their check-up, they left, and Alex immediately rushed to my side.

"I thought you were never going to wake up! You've been asleep for three days! Are you that addicted to sleeping? And why do you keep doing things on your own? Why don't you ever tell me anything? If Professor Luis hadn't found you in time, we would've been collecting four dead bodies instead!" Alex ranted, his voice frantic and his eyes welling with tears.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

"What's so funny?" he asked, hands on his hips, an eyebrow raised.

I shook my head.

"Please, don't act recklessly again. Just tell us next time—tell me. You can count on me, you know."

I reached for Alex's hand, hoping to ease his worry. I knew I had made him worry too much.

"Where's Antonio? How is he?" I asked.

Alex fell silent, his expression turning somber.

"Good thing we found you both in time because Antonio was barely hanging on to life. If you only knew how Professor Luis screamed at the doctors and nurses, begging them to do everything they could to save him."

His words felt like a dagger to my heart. Without hesitation, I got out of bed.

"Where are you going? You're not okay yet!" Alex shouted.

"Where's Antonio? I need to see him." Without another word, I pushed the door open, not even waiting for Alex.

"Wait! Let me come with you. How are you going to find him without me, huh?"

I sighed and let him lead the way. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and looked at me.

I raised an eyebrow. "What's the problem?"

"We're here!" he proudly announced.

I smacked him on the head. "Seriously? It's just the next room over, and you made it sound like we had to go down several floors? Tsk!"

"Sorry!" he pouted.

I rolled my eyes at him and opened the door.

There he was—Antonio, sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed. My gaze immediately landed on the cuts on his face and the gauze wrapped around his body. I couldn't bear to look at him in that state, so I closed the door again.

"Are you okay, Kaesu?" Alex asked, concerned.

I took a deep breath and swallowed hard.

Suddenly, the door opened again.

"Come in, Kaesu."

It was Uncle Luis, his voice gentle, and he offered me a reassuring smile. I entered the room locking my gaze on Antonio's poor state.

"I'm sorry Uncle Luis, I found him late, it is all my fault. I'm sorry for being weak-"

Uncle Luis cupped my face and caressed my cheek. "Hush now, everything will be all right. You are under my protection now. They'll pay for this."

"What happened to Nadia, and where is she now?"

"She was also rushed to the hospital along with Canim, but by the next day, he suddenly disappeared. His father probably took him—just like Canim, who also went missing."

"Oh no, I hope Lara's okay," I heard Alex mumble behind me, making me turn to face him.

"Have you talked to Lara, Alex?"

He shook his head. "Ever since you were brought to the hospital, I haven't been able to contact her. I'm starting to get really worried."