DAYMARE 18: Friendly Fiend

Two days passed and my brain was still full of questions. Since the other day, we haven't talked to Riegel again.

"Redo that. That one goes here," My trance returned when I heard Lorean's voice.

"You've been empty-headed for a while," Vance said.

It's Saturday, and the three of us are currently working on a group project that we will submit on Monday. I have volunteered here to work at my house to avoid visiting other people’s houses because I already have a lot on my mind. I have no idea what to do with the project because I can’t focus.

“Ah, sorry.” I scratched my head. “Anyway, let's take a rest first.”

I went to the kitchen to prepare snacks for them.

“Let me help you,” Lorean followed me into the kitchen and insisted on helping me.

She poured the juice from the pitcher into the glasses.

Mama, Vea, and Janey just left this morning because they were going to visit a relative who had died in Metro City. They haven’t been here for four days. I did not go because, apart from having no housekeeper, I didn’t want to associate with our relatives. Plus, we have a group project. Good thing Mama gave me a lot of money to spend on our project and for living alone for a while.

“We should conduct our group tasks here.” Vance smiled.

“Yeah. It’s cozy here, and we can finish it on time.” Lorean agreed. “What do you think about that, Lewin?”

I smiled. “Sure, just let me know so I can ask Mama’s permission.”

I grabbed a biscuit from the table, but noticed that there were no strawberry-flavored biscuits left.

“You want strawberry?” Lorean gave me her opened pack of strawberry-flavored biscuits. Only two left since she’d already eaten one.

“Uh, no. You can have it.” I grabbed the blueberry flavor.

“If you don’t mind, you can have mine. You were looking for a strawberry flavor. Sorry, I got it before you can have it.” She smiled, then grabbed the blueberry-flavored biscuit from my hand.

I smirked. That was cute of her.

“Thanks,” I uttered. “I thought you’d like the blueberry better.”

“You’re right. But I switched to eating the strawberry because my brother, Lloyd, loved this.”

The place went silent.

“Come on, I’m okay now, Lewin,” she smiled and winked.

“My sis’s fave is blueberry too. And because we have the same taste, we often fight for the blueberry.” Vance chuckled, sharing some info about his sister, too.

I couldn’t help but feel bad for them.

“Vea and Janey don’t like any of it, haha!” I added to uplift them.

I don’t want to force them to tell me about the death of their siblings, but they’re opening it up to me without me asking for it. This job would be easier than I thought.

“I miss my sister. It’s just sad she died early.” Vance mumbled.

“Lloyd was a bright student. He always wanted to manage businesses.” Lorean reminisced too.

“Yeah.” Vance looked at me. “Lorean’s brother and my sister, Nicole, were super close with each other; that’s why we became best friends too.” He smiled.

How sweet of them.

“Too bad, they died in a way I never expected. It was brutal and inhumane. It wasn’t done by a sane person at all.”

What Lorean said left me speechless.

“If you don’t mind me asking, what makes you say it wasn’t done by a sane person? Was Hestral insane?”

My question might sound insensitive, but I’m getting the best part of this conversation.

Lorean stared at me. “If you saw their mutilated bodies, you would know.”

“That girl did us a big injustice. Our siblings did nothing wrong to her, and this is how she treated them.” Vance thought it over.

It’s getting awkward, so I offered them more food to lighten the mood.

While the two were eating their snacks, I took my tablet to read CURIOSITY KILLS. I haven't been able to read it for a long time. There is an update. After reading the last updated chapter, I was stunned again. Almost everything in the story is happening to me right now. What’s especially surprising is that the protagonist in the story still does not have a specific name.

Is this what Riegel was referring to? The ghost who killed Hestral?

"What are you reading?" Vance asked.

A bright idea came to me.

"Guys, try reading this."

I showed them both what I was reading. They both have accounts on this website. This app indeed is popular.

"There's no such story here," Lorean said.

I immediately checked her cellphone, and she couldn't even search for CURIOSITY KILLS.

"Me too," Vance added.

The same goes for him.

Our foreheads furrowed. My mind screams it’s impossible.

With all the creepy stuff happening to me, I’m losing it. There’s this girl always begging me for help. She keeps popping up, not just in my dreams, but even when I’m wide awake. And then there’s this ghost that shows up out of nowhere, staring at me like it’s waiting for something… but I have no clue what. On top of the weird things keep happening around me, including Hestral’s case… are all mysteries I can’t shake off.

What Riegel said also continues to haunt me. How was Hestral killed by a ghost? Nonsense.

Despite this, I am happy that my friendship with these two is back. Somehow, something good has happened to me.