Later that day, Liana sat on the couch of her bedroom. Char was on the bed, eyes full of concern and something like fear, while Alex stood by the window, arms crossed.
"If I'm not wrong, Liana…" Char broke the heavy silence. Both Alex and Liana turned to her. "Whoever that... let's say man is, he won't sit still."
Alex frowned, slightly offended. "Why do you assume it's a man?"
Char glared and tossed a pillow at him. "We need to assume something, you fool. I wasn't attacking the gender."
Alex and Char always hated each other, never agreeing on anything which Liana knew from the starting. Liana threw her head back and rubbed her forehead. "God forbid you two ever try to be serious for a minute."
For a moment, both fell silent. Alex cleared his throat. "Still… it's true that whoever this person is, he or she won't sit still. They'll try to strike again."
Liana hummed and leaned forward, elbows on her knees, hands clasped under her chin. "Did you notice, Alex? Ever since I won that Best Visual award, my life's suddenly become… complicated."
Alex's brow furrowed as he sat down across from her. "What do you mean, Boss?"
"First, stop calling me boss. I feel old." Liana shot him a glare. Alex blinked, amused, while Char laughed, clutching her stomach.
Rolling her eyes, Liana focused on Char as she slid off the bed to sit beside her. "Every single idol faces this kind of hate, Liana. You're not special."
Liana shook her head. "No, Char. It's not hate. I've dealt with that since I entered the industry. I'm talking about… threats."
The atmosphere of the room darkened. Liana looked at Alex. "Get your laptop. I want details of these attacks, everything."
Alex nodded and left, while Char placed a hand gently on Liana's shoulder. "Liana, don't get me wrong, but…" She bit her lower lip.
Liana noticed her hesitation and squeezed Char's hand. "You don't need to hesitate. Go on."
Taking a deep breath, Char continued, "My detective instincts… they're screaming that now, whoever it is, will target Ethilia."
Liana's eyes widened. She opened her mouth to protest, but no words came. Her hand grew cold. Char noticed and exhaled sharply. "If I'm right, they've realized Ethilia is your weakness. They'll bait her to get to you."
Liana narrowed her eyes, her heart hammering. She wasn't ready to trust Char for the first time. "How do you know?"
Char shrugged, thumb rubbing over Liana's hand. "Because that's what they do. I'm a detective—I've seen cases like this. It's easy to guess."
Before Liana could react, Alex returned with the laptop. He set it in front of them and began explaining the data. But Liana barely listened.
She took a moment to compose herself before scanning the laptop. Her eyes scanned the files, narrowing at some unusual entries. Tilting her head, she looked at Alex, who seemed completely oblivious.
She shook her head, "Maybe I'm overthinking. If information was missing, Alex would've told me," she thought to herself,
After a few more minutes, she leaned back on the couch. "I'm tired… leave, Alex," she said.
Alex nodded, closed the laptop, and murmured goodnight before leaving.
Liana walked toward the bed. "You know what..."
Char pressed a hand gently over her lips, silencing her. Liana gave her an annoyed glance but didn't argue. Char pulled out a small device, something Liana didn't recognize.
Silently, Char started scanning the room. Liana sat cross-legged on the bed, rolling her eyes but staying quiet.
After a while, Char pouted, finding nothing. She glanced at Liana, who had that stupid smirk on. Char moved closer to the bed.
"See, Char? You're suspecting everything. You should stop..." Liana's words caught in her throat as the device beeped suddenly.
Char, standing by the bedside lamp, shared a look with her. She switched off the light before opening it. Liana leaned forward, fear creeping up her spine.
Char pulled out a tiny sound recording device. Char's unreadable eyes met hers, and a chill ran down Liana's spine. It had been recording everything they'd said. Their private conversation had been sent somewhere else.
Liana's heart raced, eyes following Char's fluent moves. Char grabbed a jar of chocolates, put the chocolates on the bedside table before tucking the recorder inside. She closed it and carried the jar into the bathroom.
Liana followed, watching silently, a mixture of awe and disbelief on her face. Her friend's detective skills never failed to amaze her.
Char finished filling the bathtub with water before putting the jar inside the water. She took a bottle of new body wash, which seemed heavy, and pressed that over the jar to keep it submerged.
Liana was about to say something, but Char shook her head, making Liana pause. Both girls walked out of the bathroom. Char carefully closed the door behind them before returning to the bed.
Liana sat on the edge, looking shocked with her mouth slightly open and eyes wide. Char lay down and propped herself on one elbow, smirking. "See? I knew it."
Liana slowly turned to Char, "How?" Her voice barely rose above a whisper.
Char sat down, crossing her legs and tilted her head, "Easy. When you were attacked, I realized right then that whoever it is, they knew you were going out. But..."
Liana nodded slowly, processing her bestie's words. Char placed an arm on Liana's shoulder and said softly, "You didn't mention where you were going. So how did they know you'd be at the bus stand?"
Liana's breath caught, and her eyes snapped toward Char. "Maybe… they were following me from the start?"
Char bit her inner cheek, staring out the window, in deep thought. Liana didn't break the silence; she knows when not to ask her friend anything.
After a long pause, Char spoke, "No… that wouldn't be so precise. This was planned. I have a feeling someone from inside the circle is behind it."
Liana swallowed hard and licked her lip, a habit of hers when she is stressed. "But… the circle… they're supposed to be friends. And security."
Char smiled, a trace of sadness in her eyes. "Sometimes, the devil gives us everything we want… and leaves us with nothing."
Liana ran her finger through her hair and hummed softly before lying down beside Char...
None of them said a single word, but they weren't sleeping. Both were lost in thoughts they couldn't escape, minds turning over fears, suspicions, and possibilities that refused to let them rest.
The next morning, Liana's restless sleep broke at the sound of her ringing phone. Her face still buried in the pillow, she groaned and blindly grabbed what was on her bedside table, only to find a chocolate bar.
Without seeing, she pressed it to her ear anyway. "Hello?" Her voice was groggy, heavy with sleep.
Char, still lying beside her, stirred and rubbed her eyes. She squinted at Liana, noticing the chocolate bar in her hand, and let out an exasperated sigh.
Facepalming, Char smacked Liana lightly on the arm. "Get your ass up! Pick up the damn phone," she growled.
Liana rubbed her arm, pouting, and shifted upright. She answered just before the call ended, still sleepy, but her eyes brightened as she heard Ethilia's voice.
"Hello, Liana?" Ethilia's tone was soft but hesitant.
"Yeah… good morning," Liana murmured, rubbing her face with one hand.
There was a pause before Ethilia continued. "Um… Alena wanted to… see you."
Liana opened her mouth to reply, but Char's eyes sharpened. In one swift movement, she snatched the phone from Liana's hand.
"Char!" Liana gasped, glaring, but Char had already ended the call.
Liana clenched her jaw, ready to snap for ruining the only time Ethilia called her.
Char held up a hand to stop her protest. "If that person can plant a sound recorder in your bedroom, tracking your phone and listening to calls is nothing for them."
Liana stared at her phone, frozen. Her chest felt tight, a mix of fear and helplessness weighing her down. For the first time, her own life felt… caged.