C10 Trapped In An Alley

Athena’s P.O.V.

Using the new Helena’s account, I searched for my old Famebook and read the posts from my real timeline. All public posts came from my original schoolmates and I just couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

Oh, come on, people! It has been a year and yet, your recent posts still consist of ‘rest in peace’ messages? Can’t you just move on? You, guys, only pretend that you were concerned about me when you were really not. Plastics!

Aside from Helena, I had no other friends. Dad had decided to separate us in school because people would only be confused to think who was who. And what would I even expect for a father who already had a favored daughter? He would sometimes cut his work just to personally fetch Helena after class… and what about me? I had no other choice but to wait for Ricardo to pick me up from school.

Well, Daddy didn’t care at all if I went home past curfew hours. Of course, for him, I did not exist. But even though they had already finished dinner, Helena would still join me at the long table because she does not want to make me feel alone. My twin was truly affectionate and caring, why would she have to die of all people?

So in my school, I doubted if they ever knew that I had a twin sister. I chose not to talk to anyone, except teachers. Most of the time, I preferred to be alone.

Oh, let me rephrase that—I always wanted to be alone. At least, alone but not lonely. I loved just being with myself and that was ‘self-love’ as they say.

What would you do to so many friends when you didn’t know who would bite you like a real snake? Well, it was true when people say that snakes in the forest were now living in the city.

And what would you gain from friends who would only betray you in the end? Nothing, only hurt and heartaches. I had more than that because of my father, I did not want them to add to the pain I was suffering. I always had trust issues and I was proud of it.

I was still the same Athena when it comes to my thinking. I did improve a little in terms of academics but overall, I was still me. I didn’t even know how I was able to perfect the Physics exam earlier! I just pretended to be reviewing in the house last night because Dad was watching me in the study room. But then, I believed that only my name died and that… nothing had really changed because I was still a bitch.

Pretending to be Helena was not easy… and what made it even harder was the fact that I had to feign to be the complete opposite of what I was! It looked like I was a nightmare dressed like a daydream all along.

“Helena…”

I jolted when someone suddenly spoke from my back. It frightened me to the point that I almost dropped my tablet. Not knowing what to do next, I immediately placed it back inside my bag.

Shit! My tablet’s screen currently displays my real Famebook account. Did he see it?

“And it’s you again, Rivera! You know what? You’re too annoying! Why do you keep on following me?” I lowered my voice so as not to disturb the other students studying and researching in the library. “And w-when did you get here?” I asked him while silently scanning his reaction if he would tell me the truth or not.

“I just arrived. Hmm, why?” he replied in confusion.

“Are you s-sure? Y-You didn’t see anything?” I asked him again.

“Should I see something?” he asked back with furrowed eyebrows.

“Hmm, nothing.” I faked my smile. “Okay, I’ll leave you here.” I immediately created a gap between the two of us.

“Wait, Helena!” he called me out again.

I was walking away from him, but he was such a jerk. He was still chasing me after. He crept the hell inside of me. I did all my might to run like a marathoner but damn it! Why was he always following me? Couldn’t he just leave me alone? I was already outside the campus but I saw him still following me when I turned my head on him.

Who would have thought that I, Athena Cari, the rebellious Delgado daughter, would run like this? My goodness! I had nothing to fear. All my life, I was intrepid. I would never do this even in my dreams. And when Helena died, I know… I had nothing to lose.

I was just a transferee here. I wasn’t able to memorize this place and I didn’t have any plans to, especially when I was used to getting picked up and dropped off by Ricardo. And because I focused on turning and crossing every corner just to avoid him, I guessed I got lost.

Damn it! I hate you, Rivera. I really do! I stomped off my feet like a child in tantrums when I realized, I couldn’t make my way back to the school.

After turning left on the last corner, I got trapped in a dimmed alley even though it was still daytime. For that, I stopped. In front of me were three ugly men who, based on their looks, might be drug addicts.

“Hi! Are you lost, Miss Beautiful? Come on, I can show you the way. All you have to do is to stay beside me. I’m Jonathan, but you can call me Athan for sure,” the fat one introduced himself.

I narrowed my eyes while stepping backwards. Did he mean, for short? Oh my God! Rest in peace, English.

“And so? No one is asking for your name, idiot!” I shouted back.

“Stop your illusion, bro. She’s mine! She’s my girlfriend and she’s just paying me a visit, you know? So how’s strolling around, sweetheart?” The man in the middle intervened after he threw his cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. He had red and swollen eyes, making me cringed.

“I would love to become an old maid for the rest of my life, instead of becoming your girlfriend even just for a minute. You crazy son of a bitch!” I screamed whilst stepping backwards.

“What did you just say? Do you want us to go to the beach, honey? Sure! Fuck the two of you and get lost! Don’t make my angel get mad at us. Can’t you see? She’s my guardian angel who came from heaven above. If her wings came back, she would leave me again and fly away from here. Look at her eyes—green! They were so magical, I am melting with her stares!” The super-thin guy said before grabbing my right arm.

“Ouch! What are you doing? Let me go, you damn loser!” I kept on pulling my arm away from that cobra-faced freak. It was disgusting that I could smell his stench on my skin.

Yuck! It looks like they had never taken their baths for one-month long!

“Wow, bro! I was amazed. Your guardian angel here was so fearless. What I liked the most are those playing hard to get and I guessed, she’s the right one for me! Come to me, baby. I’ll make you happy!” The fat guy said while looking at me from head to toe.

With all my strength and with the faith to get out of here, I was successful enough to get rid of the chaotic guy who was holding me. Using my left hand, I pushed him in the chest and pulled my right arm. I continued flinching backwards… until something made contact with my back. I leaned my body on something behind me and my heart began to jump.

“Helena, are you okay?” he worriedly asked. I wasn’t able to answer him immediately when he gently grabbed me and pulled me to his back.