CHARACTERS:

Akihiro Van Mendez

Louise Isabela Rios

Lori Vera

Jamie Hernandez

“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE VAN?!!”

I snapped out of the nightmare, my body felt cold, and my forehead is sweaty. “when will this
crap stop” I murmured to myself. Its been half an hour, still I am lying in my bed until I decided
to get up and took a shower, as I walked down stairs I saw my parents quietly seated at the table,
the silences gave me chills and anxiety “are you sure about this Van?” Mom asked, I just nodded
and took my seat. “just be sure you won’t pull stupid stunts in there, I will no longer clean up
your mess child” dad said while staring at me straight in the eye, hearing that made me infuriate,
Victor Mendez, my father, he’s ex-military making him as the alpha in the mansion, making
everyone as his pawns, and directing everyone under his order. Everything about him itches me.
It makes me regret carrying his name with me.

“I don’t need you to take care every mistakes I’ve done” I said and stood up and left the
mansion. This will be the last time I’ll see this hell-hole.

I was staring at the window of the car, having flashbacks that day. “did you kill that lady Van?” I
kept on answering this question for two hours, yet no one in this room is taking my answer. “for
pete sake how long will this interrogation take?” I said. They released me to the interrogation
room, I feel like a criminal right now. As I walked to the hall way I already saw the vision of my
father from the back.

“What did they do to you? Did they push you too much?” he sounded concern, but I wasn’t
buying any of it. I know that there’s a consequence for this stupidity I was into.

“No” I replied to him.

The car suddenly stopped in front of a three-story house, it was huge. The landlady seemed to be
waiting for us. I got out of the car greeting the landlady. “Good Afternoon Ms?” I said. “Lori,
Lori Vera” she replied. “You must be Van Mendez?” she added. I just nodded and grabbed my
belongings in the car. I was observing the structure of the house, the interior was minimal but it
is quite comfy. I wasn’t paying attention with Lori blabbering about things.

“Where are you enrolling for the second semester Van?” Lori asked.

“I already enrolled at Clark High, since it wasn’t that far from here.” I said. We reached the third
floor of the house. And Ms. Lori knocked on the Room 0847, I must’ve forgot that I will be
having an acquaintance staying in this house. A guy opened the room and helped me with my
bags.

“Jamie Hernandez” he said while offering his hand. Jamie is an athlete basing on his height and
body structure. He has a fair skin tone, round eyes, dark brown hair and a scar on his neck.

“Van Mendez” shaking his hands.

“You two seemed to get along already, that’s nice.” Lori said. The room was huge in my
reference we had a dinning area, a mini longue, and two separate rooms. Which means.. I will be
having my own bedroom. A relieved it is. I unpacked my clothes and other essentials that I
brought with me. I spend the rest of my day staying in my room that day, I was being pessimist
and aware about the odds that can happen around here.

The next day

I manage to woke up early and got ready before my roommate woke up. While walking down
stairs, I met a lady running up stairs, her skin was fair, almonds eyes, and wavy hair. I just
continued walking, and bought a canned coffee from the vending machine outside the house.
Clark High was a walking distance from where Lori’s house is located, it is just few blocks
away.

I arrived at the campus, just in time. I couldn’t avoid the stares of people in the hallway, I shrug
it off. “I already know I am good looking, so please” I whispered. STEM A west wing room
8456 I looked at my schedule slip, making sure I won’t enter the wrong room. As I entered the
room, I suddenly got the attention of the class, the teacher greeted me and so was i.

“Introduce yourself Mr. Mendez” the teacher said.

“Akihiro Van Mendez, I came from Southville University, I guess I’ll be joining you for this
semester” As I walk my way to the empty seat at the back, I couldn’t ignore the fact that they
were staring at me. Took my seat. I turned my head twice when I saw the lady running herself
upstairs awhile ago. she must be a boarder like me or she has other business. During the
discussion I was too preoccupied and distracted, when out teacher called me. I stood up and
looked at everyone, this is intimidating the lady slides her notes but I ignored it and answered the
question.

“A human person has 46 chromosomes in total, each parent will contribute 23 chromosomes to
the offspring that will occur on the crossing over process” I answered. “Stop passing your notes,
you’ll end up getting yourself in trouble”

“Louise Isabela Rios, oh and you’re welcome by the way” she smirked. “ I am Jamie’s girlfriend
“ she interlude. I ignored her after that. I wasn’t interested about her either nor anyone else.

I finished the day, Jamie asked if we could eat dinner together. I gladly accepted his offer and
took a shower. I dressed up and opened the my bedroom door, surprisingly Jamie and Isabela
was sitting at the dinner table.

Jamie asked me while eating, asking where would I go for college. “ I am not quite sure yet
about what course should I take so I am still undecided” I responded. “How about the two of
you?” I asked. “ Isa and I will go for Yale Academia” I just replied while a smile. I don’t wanna
interfere much longer since I suck at socializing with others. It’s not a necessity to have someone
by your side. I’m glad I was raised as an independent introvert. The dinner was over and I stayed
in my room binge watching my favorite anime. It was past midnight when I got up to get some
water from the fridge only to see Isabela on the balcony staring in the sky.

I offered her a glass of water and just then, when I was about to walk away.

“Would be nice if my lips touched yours” before I knew it her lips touched mine and she left our
room. I was left in the balcony trying to gather myself together for her sudden move. I shrug it
over instead, she smelled alcohol and the taste of cigarette lingered on her lips. I woke up the
next day having the same routine as yesterday. I was about to leave when Jamie said “Stay away
from Isa” I closed the door and left the house, it’s not my fault his girlfriend kissed me, it’s not
my business to mind.

I got to my class a bit early so I could read my book in silence. I noticed that someone is staring
at me so I turned around and saw Isabela behind me. “You’re into manga huh?” she said with a
playful voice. I shrug it over and ignored her.

“You’re presences itches me Isabela so fuck off” I said in a cold tone, leaving her on the right
side of the room. The teacher came and discussed about the genetics of a human person. I can’t
help but wonder, how does and innocent looking lady like her, would turn out to be the other
side. I should’ve known better in the first place.

Our class was dismissed earlier today because of the college application program that Clark High
organize. I got home early and slept, since I didn’t have any school to attend just yet. It wouldn’t
be a problem getting in a university. I am confident about my intellectual ability, I am not dumb,
nor stupid.
I woke up with a loud aggressive knock on my door. “Open the damn door Van!” Jamie shouted.
I tried to ignore the banging but I eventually got annoyed and irritated. Before opening the door I
checked the time, it was already 9 in the morning, God I slept so long.

I opened the door and only to see Jamie’s blunt reaction.

He’s in panic and in a state of confusion. “Isabela is missing” he said in a shaky tone. I was a bit
skeptic “is this a prank because if it’s a prank, you’re wasting your time” I stood up and walked
to my room. The next morning people in the campus are talking about Isabela’s sudden
disappearance, I don’t feel anything except for the eager curiosity inside me, waiting to be fed.
Based on the rumors, Isa was last seen at a parking lot located at the back of a dinner near Yale
Academia. In conclusions she must’ve sent her application for the school. I snapped out of it
when the bell rang.

The school admin even launched a search party where Isabela was last seen. Missing posters are
every where in the town, I was still curious about Isa’s parents, it was a week since Isabela
disappeared yet they are no where to be found.

Biology class was over and as I was picking up my stuff when two police man approached me
asking if I am Van Mendez, I nodded and smirked. “here we go again” walking down the
hallway with the judgment of every eyes that lands on me. This is familiar, this isn’t new. A
flashback started when I got inside the car. “Van Mendez you are arrested for murdering Lady
Ramirez you have the right to remain silent, but anything you don’t say may be used against
you”

I requested that they won’t call my parents during the interrogation. I had enough complications
for this day. During the interrogation before they even asked me questions they would probably
ask. “I just moved here a couple of days ago, I only had a few interaction with the missing
person Isabela. The day she went missing I was sleeping in my boarding house, you can even
check the cctv for the evidence, for the emergency ladder located in my window’s room there’s
a near by surveillance camera provided by the home near us” before the officer could say
something I asked a question “So who nominated me as a possible suspect for this case?”

“Jamie… Jamie Hernandez, he came to our department earlier this morning, saying you must be
involved with Isabela’s case” the officer said. “But how can you be so confident about your
statement?” he suddenly asked. “The Jump-lady murder case, they thought I was the perpetrator,
that I killed the lady. But the evidence that they provided was too absurd. The judge even said
that it was ridiculous right?” I smirked and walked home. I should’ve known that Jamie was
behind this rubbish pull off stunt. I thought of a counter attack that would lead to his down fall.
But I’ve got nothing to start with. “Ain’t Van Mendez for nothing..” I murmured. The advantage
here is that I can playsafe, adding the fact that Jamie is not in a stable state. He can easily slide
any information I need to turn the table. This is my I deny any friendships, they ruin you.
Friends are just excess baggage in life, I have too many shit, why would I carry more?

After Isabela’s disappearance our landlady came, she even brought a stew with her. She checked
our condition since she knew that we were close to Isabela. Jamie ate the stew all for his self, I
didn’t like sharing meals with a moron either, Lori left and said “she’s a sweet child, I hope she’s
doing fine”

I never knew Isa that deep, we never really had a formal conversation with each other. That’s
why it doesn’t affect me at all. While in the other hand, it made a huge impact on Jamie, he
wasn’t himself lately, for the fact that he even told the police officers about me being involved to
Isabela’s case. Maybe he was somehow involve. The only way to make him spill something is
alcohol. Having alcohol through his system would lower down his guards. I bought a bottle of
wine and invited Jamie to join me. He sat in front me with a wine glass in his hands. He started
blabbering about how sweet and tasty the stew lori cooked, and things about Isabela. I wasn’t
interested about these things, until he said something that caught me my attention, I started
recording our conversation to have a concrete evidence on him.

“I want Isabela all for myself, her body and soul belongs to me, someone must’ve knew my
plan and decided to pull it off for me” Jamie said in a solid voice, luckily he didn’t sound drunk
at all.

I stood up when I felt my body falling off, I must’ve drank too much just to get something from
this douchebag.

I walked to my room only to see Lori sitting on my bed with a wide grind on her face, while
holding a gun in her right hand. “what do you think you’re doing?” I asked her. She stood up and
started walking towards my direction and stood straight and got my sense just in case she’ll try to
attack me. “Both of you are stupid” hearing her laughing sent chills down to my spine.

“I see what you’re up to Akihiro, trying to get answers loving the thrill and excitement at the
same time. Not knowing any consequences it may bring you! You are so naïve thinking you can
handle everything life throws you-“

“just freaking kill us already” I cut her off. “ ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND VAN?!” Jamie
shouted at me, i glared at him. “Don’t hold back Lori, SHOOT ALREADY” I demanded her.
She was shocked about my response. “YOU KILLED ISABELA” Jamie said tears were falling
down her cheek, the sorrow, pain and despair started to reflect on jamie’s eyes. “Isn’t she
sweet?” Lori replied while rolling her eyes with irritation.

A moment before we realized that the stew which Jamie ate has Isa’s dismembered body…
“you’re a fucking psychopath!” Lori replied with a smirked points the gun to Jamie. “I wonder
what dish will the both of you serve? Both of you are dumb, just kids running around acting like
you knew everything. A lover and a foe” Lori said. “just shoot already” i had enough of her
foolishness already.

She sat in the middle and waited for us to make a move. Jamie made a move with the ranging
anger inside him. I move that made Lori moving closer and closer to me. She was in a confused
state, thinking which one is which. I caught her off guard slit her face with a knife.

Blood. Confusion. Trauma. Anger.

The room was filled with uncanny silence. The blood coming from my hands. I got myself back
together and called the police department.

The officers arrived, Jamie and I moved out. Goes separate ways in life. I moved far away as
possible, a bizarre memory, a scene I’ll never be able to recover. A moment hidden from
everyone else.

As for Jamie who’s staying at a asylum. A downfall for his own obsession. After Lori got
arrested I came forward with the recorded conversation with Jamie. The officers searched to
Jamie’s belongings and found out that he’s been stalking Isabela from time to time.

Everyone is twisted. Everyone has something to hide.

5 years later..

My door bell rang, and I immediately opened the door “its freaking 9 in the morning”

Someone left a hot pot in front of my door good thing a note was attached. Before opening the
box I opened the note first. I was expecting a letter from the job I applied on.

“JAMIE’S” I opened the box to see a stew, chills ran down to my spine.. “Lori”