After several attempts to run away, Max couldn't escape Maria, and he got really angry when she said:
Maria:
"Why are you avoiding me? I feel like I'm not your friend anymore."
Max:
"I'm the one avoiding you? Or is it you? You distanced yourself from me the moment you met Alonso. You forgot about me because of him! And what did you use to say back when we were in Bali? 'We'll be together forever.' And what happened when we came back? We started university, then Alonso came into our lives and drove us apart. And now you're in a relationship with him, which means most of your time will be with him. And of course, you'll ask his permission before going out with me so he doesn't get suspicious. And we won't even hang out like we used to! And you still call us close friends? Haha, I don't think so. But you know what? I'm tired. Tired of all of this!"
He left her shocked by his words.
Maria (to herself):
"Was I wrong? Maybe... yes."
Julia came to her.
Julia:
"Are you talking to yourself?"
Maria:
"I want to ask you something. Did I really distance myself from Max?"
Julia:
"To be honest, yes. A lot."
Maria:
"He's really angry..."
Julia:
"You need to calm him down."
Maria:
"But how?"
Julia:
"I don't know. You know him better than I do."
⸻
Months passed without Maria speaking to Max. She started getting tired of Alonso's behavior but didn't talk about it. The nights became nightmares for her due to the constant thoughts about her last encounter with Max. She finally realized she loved him, but had kept silent because she didn't know Max's feelings.
The last time they were supposed to go out together, Max canceled after getting angry.
One day, Max was out at a café with Leo and Matthew. While ordering coffee for them, he saw Alonso hugging a girl. At first, he thought it was Maria, but when they separated, it wasn't her.
Max:
"I'm sure that wasn't Maria!"
Leo:
"Maybe she's his sister."
Max:
"I'm telling Maria."
Matthew:
"And how will she believe you?"
Max:
"There'll come a day when you'll all say, 'You were right, Max.'"
Leo:
"We'll see."
Max:
"I'm going to see her."
Leo:
"Are you crazy?! Months without talking, and now you show up out of nowhere with something you're not even sure of?"
Max:
"I don't care."
He left to meet Maria.
Matthew:
"He loves her."
Leo:
"A lot."
Julie:
"Who loves who?"
Leo:
"You two?! What are you doing here?"
Julia:
"We were bored at home, so we went out. Maria is getting ready to go out with Alonso."
Leo:
"Alonso?"
Julia:
"Yeah, why?"
Leo:
"Nothing..."
Matthew:
"Leo, I'm done hiding this. I'm telling them."
Julia:
"Telling us what?"
Leo:
"Shut up! You'll cause problems!"
Matthew:
"Max has been in love with Maria for a long time."
Leo:
"Matthew!"
Julie:
"What?!"
Leo:
"Yeah, he's right. Max loves Maria, but he hasn't told her because she's with Alonso. And he's loved her even before Alonso came into her life."
Julie:
"How is that possible?"
Leo:
"That's love... and his actions say it all."
Julia:
"Why didn't you want us to know, Leo?"
Leo:
"Because you'd tell her!"
Julia:
"Of course we won't!"
Julie:
"Do you know that she's been really sad lately? I don't know why. Every time I ask if she's okay, she says she's fine."
Julia:
"And last night I heard her crying, but I didn't go to her because I knew she wouldn't tell me."
⸻
Meanwhile with Max...
Max (to himself):
"He's with her?! How could he?"
Flashback:
Alonso:
"Diana, let's go. Max saw us."
Diana:
"No worries, baby. He'll think we're siblings or just friends. What's the big deal?"
Alonso:
"I said let's go!"
End flashback.
Maria:
"I missed you, baby."
Alonso:
"Me too. Why do you look pale? Are you okay?"
Maria:
"Nothing, just a light fever."
Alonso:
"Let's go to the hospital then."
Maria:
"No need."
Alonso:
"Okay. So where do you want to go?"
Maria:
"Umm..."
Before she could answer, her phone rang. It was Max.
Maria:
"It's Max."
Alonso:
"Don't answer. He didn't call or check on you for months, and now he wants to ruin our time together?"
Maria:
"But he's my best friend. Maybe he needs something."
Alonso:
"Best friend? The guy who hasn't spoken to you in months?!"
Maria:
"I distanced myself from him because of you! I don't even have time to see him or Julia or Julie!"
Alonso:
"So you're sick of me?"
Maria:
"That's not what I meant. But you've isolated me from my friends."
Alonso:
"Just say it."
Maria:
"Say what?"
Alonso:
"That you want to break up with me."
Maria:
"When did I say that?"
Alonso:
"You love Max, don't you?"
Maria:
"When did I say I love him?"
Alonso:
"Your words say it all."
Maria:
"And if I do love him? What will you do?"
Alonso:
"Simply, I won't let you go to him. You'll be mine no matter what."
Maria:
"You're insane!"
Alonso:
"Insane for you, darling. Let's go."
Maria:
"Go where? I don't want to go anywhere with you!"
Alonso:
"To a place I choose. And you're coming with me, understand?"
Maria:
"I said I don't want to! Wait... are you drunk? Why are you acting weird?"
Alonso:
"Drunk? I told you I don't drink. Now let's go."
Maria:
"I told you I don't want to—!"
He grabbed her forcefully and threw her into the car.
Maria:
"Let go of me!"
Alonso:
"Shut up."
Maria:
"P-please..."
He tied her hands and drove her to a deserted forest. On the way, he threw her phone out so no one would know her location. Luckily, Max had seen everything from afar and followed without being noticed.
After an hour, they reached the forest...
Alonso:
"We're here, darling."
Maria:
"Where are we?"
Alonso:
"I've prepared a wonderful surprise."
He pulled her out of the car, still tied, and took her to a candlelit cabin.
Maria (crying):
"Let me go!"
He sat her down and started getting close, trying to harass her, kissing her all over her face.
Alonso:
"You know it took me a whole day to prepare this? So I won't ask your opinion. And baby, why are you so shy? I'm your boyfriend. I can do whatever I want."
Maria (crying):
"Not anymore..."
Alonso:
"I won't let you go that easily."
She tried to escape, but he was stronger. He continued kissing her neck as she cried and screamed. He laughed and said:
Alonso:
"No one will hear your screams. We're all alone here, and no one knows this place but me."
Suddenly, Max burst in.
He wasn't jealous — he was furious.
He started beating Alonso until blood poured from his face. Maria sobbed as she watched.
Maria:
"Stop, Max, stop! He'll die!"
Max:
"I want him to die."
Maria:
"But you'll go to jail!"
Max:
"Do you even care?!"
Maria:
"Please..."
She tried to free herself while Max spotted a knife. As she approached him to stop him, Max pushed her aside and stabbed Alonso without hesitation. Alonso collapsed, bleeding.
Maria (in horror):
"H-he's dead! Max, you killed him!"
Max came back to his senses, staring at his bloodied hands and clothes.
Maria (panicking):
"No... no!"
Max:
"Let's go."
Maria:
"No! Stay away from me!"
She ran out of the cabin until she reached a road, where a car stopped. She fainted.
Meanwhile, Max fled before anyone could see him.
⸻
Back at home...
Julia and Julie were worried. They tried calling Maria, but she didn't answer. The same was happening with Leo, Matthew, and Max's father — they were all worried because Max wasn't answering either.
-
To be continued...
-
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