Hate

"Bruh, you've got issues," Silver said, looking at me like I was filth.

"Save your advice. You need it more than I do," I replied, continuing to eat.

I ignored the blatantly hostile glare from Ariana, who was clearly realizing how her plan to make me feel jealous—or whatever—had flopped.

"How do you know my boyfriend?" Selena's voice cut through the tension. I caught Rizel watching with interest.

What the hell is she still doing here?

Sigh.

If I didn't know she was secretly a masochist, I'd say something downright immoral just to get her off my back. But that wouldn't work—hurting her only makes her more into me.

"So, you guys are in a relationship?" Eloisa asked, returning with a tray of food.

"Yes. He asked me out—literally on his knees, begging. I couldn't bring myself to say no," Selena said smugly.

I didn't bother contesting her claim. If I tried, she'd probably target my balls again. Besides, if this nonsense could get this girl off my back, I was all for it.

"Huh, I didn't know you were such a romantic fellow," Silver laughed, nudging me.

Sigh.

I forgot about this idiot.

"Well, whatever," I muttered.

"Really?" Eloisa asked, her gaze locking onto mine. Her lips twitched, her smile barely holding.

"Why do you care?" I shot back, my tone sharp. "Shouldn't you be with your fiancé right now?"

And then… her smile fell.

"Oh, she's engaged?" Selena chimed in, her tone unnervingly cheerful.

Huh? Why does she sound happy about that?

Come to think of it, I did tell her about Eloisa and the others when we were stuck in that cursed place together. So why was she acting like this was the first time she'd heard of them?

"!"

Could this have been her plan all along? To solidify her fake status as my girlfriend while keeping the enmity alive?

Hm. Well, that wasn't really my problem.

"Yeah," I replied, finishing the last of my food.

"You can order more," Selena offered, but the thought of eating more in this pressure-cooker atmosphere was enough to give me indigestion.

"You know," Eloisa started, her voice cutting through the air like a blade, "I found someone. She might've been the one you thought I was."

My smile vanished.

"Where?" My voice was cold, the weight of her words sinking in.

"Long gone. She showed up a year after you disappeared," Eloisa replied. I could see Rizel trying to etch every word into her memory, her focus unyielding. Even Ariana looked shocked.

"Where?" I asked again, sharper this time.

[It's probably to my advantage not to tell you this… but I will. You have to get out of here. The dark energy is already sufficient.]

I didn't need it to tell me. I'd already felt that familiar sensation—the one that made my eyes turn amethyst. But I couldn't stop myself. When it came to her, I always lost control.

"As I said… gone," Eloisa repeated, stabbing at her food as if nothing had happened.

"Um… who are you guys talking about?" Ariana asked, her voice tinged with unease as she sensed the cold atmosphere.

"Gone where?" I demanded.

"To hell," Eloisa replied, her smile twisting into something maniacal.

Wait. No. That's not possible.

How could I fall for such a cheap trick? There was no way in hell she found her before I did.

"You… killed her once, didn't you?" she whispered, and I froze.

No.

It can't be.

"So I helped you do it. For a second time," she said, her grin widening.

[Ryan! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!]

"You…" I stammered.

"I can tell you her name," Eloisa taunted. "If you don't believe me."

"…"

"She told me herself," she added, her grin stretching. "Though not willingly, of course."

"…" All I could do was stare at her, my mind reeling.

This can't be happening.

I'd searched for three whole years, only to be told she was there all along?

THIS CAN'T BE FUCKING HAPPENING.

"What did you do to her?"

"Are you deaf?"

"What?"

"I…" Eloisa began, then stood up and smiled. "Renay. That was her name."

"…"

"What are you guys talking about?" Ariana's voice faded into the background.

I was blank.

I WILL KILL HER.

I WILL FUCKING KILL HER.