Mia sat in Pim's condo, gripping her cup of iced coffee so hard that the plastic groaned under the pressure. The air conditioning hummed softly, the only sound in the room aside from the slight traffic noise outside. Across from her, Pim sat on the couch, her legs crossed, scrolling lazily on her phone. She had no idea that Mia's entire world had just been shattered.
Mia had spent the entire night fighting with the reality. She barely slept, barely ate. Her thoughts kept circling the same gut-wrenching reality—her own cousin, her own blood, had helped Tyler frame Arthur. And now, she had to determine what to do about it.
She couldn't carry this secret alone.
Taking a deep breath, she placed her coffee down, palms quivering as she wrapped her fingers together.
"Pim," she whispered voice barely above a whisper.
Pim glanced up, lifting an eyebrow at her tone. "What's with that face? You seem like you just saw a ghost."
Mia swallowed hard. "It's about Arthur."
That drew Pim's attention. She straightened, her brows knitting together. "What about him?
Mia hesitated, the words like lead in her throat. But there was no turning back now.
"I know who helped Tyler."
Pim's eyes sharpened immediately. She laid her phone down, leaning forward. "What?
Mia's throat clenched. "It was Tee."
For a time, Pim didn't move, didn't blink, didn't breathe.
Then, very slowly, she let forth a frigid, bitter laugh. "Tee? Your cousin Tee? She shook her head, as if Mia had just told her something absurd. "No. That's impossible. Tee wouldn't—"
Mia cut her off. "I heard him, Pim. With my ears," Her voice cracked. "I went home for dinner last night, and he got a call. It was from Tyler. I followed him outside, and I overheard everything. Tyler told him not to let anyone find out what they did. Tee told him he was feeling bad because he didn't know how Arthur would handle it if the truth got out."
Pim's countenance deepened, her jaw clenching. "That bastard."
Mia wiped her eyes. "I confronted him. He admitted it. He stated he thought it was simply a harmless prank at first, but then things got out of hand. And now, he's afraid. He begged me not to tell you or Nick even Arthur."
Pim leaped up from the couch, hands balling into fists. "I'm going to kill him."
Mia flinched but didn't stop her.
"I knew Tee was acting weird lately," Pim murmured. "But I never thought he was the type to get involved in Tyler's shit." She raked a hand through her hair, irritated. "I was so stupid."
Mia's heart tightened. "You're not stupid. We both trusted him."
Pim's breathing was ragged. "Where is he now?
"At home," Mia mumbled. "Probably freaking out"
Pim turned swiftly, eyes flashing. "I'm going to confront Tyler."
Mia's eyes widened. "No! Pim, wait—"
"No, Mia, I can't just sit here! " Pim snapped. "Tyler has been walking around acting like he's innocent while he did this to Arthur! He's wrecked lives, and Tee assisted him." Her voice shook with rage. "I want to see the look on his face when he realizes he's been caught."
Mia reached for her arm, clutching it tightly. "I get it, Pim. I do. But we can't let them know we're onto them yet."
Pim peered at her, breath still thick. "Why the hell not?"
Mia swallowed hard, "Because if we confront him now, he will just deny everything. Tyler will conceal his tracks, and Tee will panic and maybe even warn him. We won't have proof—just my word."
Pim hesitated. She knew Mia was correct.
Mia continued voice was steadier now. "I need you to trust me. We keep this quiet for now. We monitor Tyler. We locate actual evidence—something substantial that Arthur may use to clear his name."
Pim exhaled sharply, drawing away and pacing again. "I don't know if I can look at Tee without strangling him."
Mia gave her a broken smile. "You think it's been easy for me?
Pim moaned and dragged a hand down her face. "Fine. But the second we have something real, I'm tearing Tyler apart."
Mia nodded. "Agreed."
A heavy stillness settled between them.
Pim sat back down, her mood still turbulent, but her motions gentler. "Mia…" She hesitated. "Are you okay?"
Mia gave out a sour laugh. "No. I feel like I'm suffocating."
Pim softened. "He's your cousin."
Mia closed her eyes. "Yeah"
Pim didn't say anything else. She just reached out and held Mia's hand, squeezing it strongly.
Mia squeezed back.
This wasn't just about Arthur anymore.
This was war.
The next day, Mia sat alone in her car outside Tee's house.
She had told Pim they wouldn't face him—yet. And she meant that. But she needed to see him, to look him in the eyes and understand why.
After ten minutes of reluctance, she finally got out and rang the doorbell.
Tee opened the door nearly instantly. His cheeks paled as he saw her. "Mia—"
"Let me in." Her voice sounded chilly.
He swallowed and walked aside.
The instant she went into the house, the air felt smothering. Tee's parents weren't home. It was just them.
Mia turned to face him, arms folded. "Tell me the whole story. Everything"
Tee rubbed his face. "Mia, please. I already told you—"
"I don't care what you told me last night." Her voice was stern. "I want the full truth."
Tee fell onto the couch, looking weary. "It started as a favor. Tyler told me he needed help with something, that it wasn't a huge deal. Just… helping him set up a situation. He made it sound harmless." He told me he wanted to play a prank on Arthur, he told me Arthur was his best friend, and all I had to do was just take a picture with him pretending we were a couple.
Mia clenched her hands. "And you believed him?
"I didn't think it would go this far! " Tee snapped, his voice shaking. "I swear, Mia, I didn't know Tyler would go that far. I figured that was simply to scare Arthur a little something. But then those pictures—" His face crumpled. "It wasn't supposed to ruin everything."
Mia's stomach churned.
"You knew Arthur wasn't guilty."
Tee gazed at his hands. "I didn't know how to fix it."
Mia breathed hard. "You're going to help us fix it now."
Tee gazed up at her. "How?
"We need proof. And you're going to acquire it for us."
Tee paused.
Mia leaned closer, voice deadly quiet. "If you don't, I swear to God, I will never forgive you. And I won't stop Pim when she wants to take action, or Arthur, too."
Tee swallowed hard, nodded. "I'll do it."
Mia stood. "Good."
Without further comment, she went out, leaving Tee alone with his remorse.
The first battle was won.
The war had just begun.