CHAPTER IV: Change of Plans

After surviving the car collision, Jette immediately looked for a phone… She must inform her parents because they might get shocked knowing what happened to her car. She immediately runs towards the apartment of Drew. He’s always the first person she would think when worse comes to worst.

She entered the door, and found the phone on top of the table… Because she knows the phone’s PIN code, she was able to open it… Using her claw, she tried to unlock the phone but she found it so difficult. She has a bright idea… She tries to use her nose. ALAS! She was able to send a text message to her Mom… “Mom, it’s me Jette. Don’t reply in this number because I just asked the Policeman to allow me to use his phone and inform you that I’m fine and safe. My car had a collision with a truck, but I wasn’t there when the collision happened. I bought something at the nearby grocery store. Thanks Mom.” Then, she immediately deleted the message in the “Sent Items”.

Because of the tipsiness, she’s still so dizzy and sleepy. She falls asleep on the table… Until, Drew saw her.

“Lyke!!!!!!!!!” Drew shouted.

He immediately carried Lyke and hugs her tight. He gives her a lot of kisses and told her, “I missed you a lot, Lyke. You left me years ago… I guess 1 or 2 years?”

“Let’s watch TV first Lyke… Let me carry and hug you because I really missed you…” Drew said.

“You must have been jealous when you saw Annie? That was the last time I saw you near this house…” Drew added.

***On the news***

A car accident was reported today and someone named Bridgette Arden is reportedly missing after her car collided with a truck at around 12:00 AM today…

Drew: Oh gosh. I need to call her Mom. Jette!!!!! Where are you??? I hope you’re alive. I love you so much… ***heavily crying

When Jette heard it, she immediately felt happy and loved. She wonders where Annie is. And a familiar voice she hears…

“Drew, what are you doing there? Why are you crying?” asked Annie.

“Annie, sorry huh… I need to be honest. I still love my ex, Jette… I am so worried right now because she is missing and I need to do something to find her.” Drew frankly told Annie.

“How dare you!??? Go to hell!!! Goodbye!” Annie angrily told Drew and left the apartment.

Jette witnessed everything and she doesn’t know what to feel. She’s still so sleepy. They slept together and she decided to stay at Drew’s apartment until the sun rises. While Drew is asleep, she transferred to the receiving area. She got one of Drew’s free-sized shirt, and she laid underneath it. She covered it with blanket to be sure that Drew will not see her nude.

***5:00 AM

Drew is so thirsty. He woke up to get a glass of cold water.

“Jette?” He whispers.

He can’t believe what he is now seeing. The love of her life… inside her apartment and peacefully sleeping. He fixed the blanket and kissed her on the forehead. He also prepared her favorite breakfast, fried rice and egg, and a cup of hot coffee.

***7:00 AM

Jette opens her eyes…

She saw the face of the love of her life, looking at her.

“Good morning, my darling,” said Drew.

“I entered the apartment without your permission. It was rainy early this morning, my clothes were wet and I saw these clothes hanging in there, I tried it on… Sorry?” asked Jette.

“It’s alright. Come on, let’s eat and drink some coffee.” Drew led her to the table.

“Thanks.”

***

After everything, they did not talk about the past. They just hugged each other and decided to be back in each other’s arms. They asked forgiveness from each other.

***

Because of how hurt Annie is, she made a trap… revenge against Jette…

Annie told herself, “I know this woman has something hidden inside her… I will personally know about it. I need to get my Drew back.”

Annie talked to a detective…

“I need you to know her whereabouts, her schedule, where she is working… everything,” instructed Jette.

“Alright Ma’am, I will do everything I can to know about it,” the detective answered.

***

The detective waited for an hour for Jette to go out from the establishment she is working in. Until, the time has come. The detective starts recording a video of Jette. This time her car is being repaired. She is waiting for Drew outside.

***Phone call***

Detective: Hello Ma’am Annie?

Annie: Why? What’s the update?

(The Detective sent Annie the video)

Annie: Alright. Kill her.

Detective: Huh? I am not a killer Ma’am.

Annie: I will double your pay.

Detective: I cannot do it.

Annie: I will report your stubbornness to your Boss and I will have you fired.

Detective: No, don’t do that, Ma’am. I will do it.

Although the detective is thinking twice, he still agreed to do what Annie told him to do. He came near Jette and the role-playing starts…

“Hi Ma’am. Are you alone here? It’s not safe in this place at this hour,” the detective started.

“I’m good, Sir. I am just waiting for my boyfriend,” Jette said.

“What time is it, Ma’am?” the detective asked.

“It’s 11:00,” Jette answered.

Then while waiting for Drew, and allowing the detective to start a story, all she thinks is the time left.

***11:55 PM***

“I only have 5 minutes left… I need to run…” Jette whispers herself…

“Sir, I need to go…” Jette told the detective.

“Where are you going??!!” shouted the detective.

He grabbed her hand. Shocked by what happened, Jette kicked the detective on his stomach, and she runs fast… The detective follows her… and while running, she feels something’s not right. She feels a burning sensation in her chest, and it’s as if her heart will explode… Then when she looks at her watch, it is already 12:00 in the midnight. She transformed into a furry white dog… The detective shockingly said,” What are you???!!!”

The next thing that happened, the detective fell down, and the phone keeps on ringing. Jette looked at the phone and she saw, “Ma’am Annie Han calling.”

Shocked by what happened, Jette keeps on thinking that a man died because he saw her transformation. And the worse thing than that is Annie was the one behind all that. She wants her dead. What a soul she has?

***

At last, three days are done… She can focus on Drew without fear of transforming into a dog. She will just cross the bridge when she gets there, and that is after 3 months again.

***

She knows that Annie will repeat that trick again. She will not stop until she sees her last breath. So, she made a plan… She will talk to her in a calm way. Jette knows that it all boils down to the fact that she just loves Drew so much, and she hopes for a long period of time. Although it is not the fault of Jette, but somehow, she contributed to the hurt experienced by Annie. She still believes that there is something good in every person no matter how bad he or she is.

Jette investigated and found the place of work of Annie.

“Annie, can we talk?” asked Jette.

“Bridgette Arden? Hmm… What are you doing here?” asked Annie.

“I know we haven’t talked ever, I guess we need to talk about what happened between us. I don’t want to hurt anyone,” Jette explained.

“But you already did, girl,” said Annie.

“…… ***silence,” Jette cannot say anything.

“And I know your dirty little secret, Ms. Arden,” said Annie.

(Thinking that the detective might have recorded the transformation)

“What are you saying?” asked Jette.

“That you’re a killer,” whispered Annie.

“I will not stop until I see you in jail, you’re a criminal. You killed someone the other day,” Annie added.

“No, it’s not what it looked like. That guy was trying to kill me, and I just kicked him once,” explained Jette.

***

*At the restaurant*

Drew: Why are you staring at your food, darling?

Jette: No… None, darling. I was just thinking about a certain case assigned to me. It’s purely about work.

Drew: Don’t overthink, and enough with work, it’s our date. You need to eat and enjoy the night with your man.

Jette: Sorry, darling. I love you.

Drew: I love you, too.

***

She doesn’t care about Annie anymore, she believes that she knows the law more than her. She cannot do any harm to her. She is preoccupied with finding ways on how to stop the curse… She remembers what the fortune-teller told her… LOOK FOR THE BOOK AND BURN IT… IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE CURSE. DO NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO KNOW ABOUT IT, OR ELSE HE WILL DIE. She then remembers what happened to the detective. It only means one thing, the statement of the fortune-teller is true.

***

Jette decided to visit the old house of her grandpa in the maternal side. She told Drew about it, she said there’s an important occasion there for 2 weeks. It is a 14-hour travel time, and Drew should know about it or else, he will create doubts in his mind.

“Wow, Jette!!! Welcome home. I’ve been waiting for so long to see you again in person,” her grandma said.

“Grandma, I’m also so happy to see you. I missed you and Grandpa, too,” said Jette.

“If I may ask, why did you decide to visit us?” asked Grandma.

“Grandma, it’s been a long time and I want to tell you a very sensitive story, I just need your help,” added Jette.

“***smiled I guess I know it already,” added Grandma.

“Really Grandma?” asked Jette.

“Yes. It’s about your Grandpa’s first curse. I am sorry Jette, darling. You need to stop the curse. You need to burn the book. Your name is written there,” added Grandma.

“Huh? Why? Why me, Grandma?” asked Jette.

“I don’t know Jette. I guess it’s because you’re the one with white birthmark located on your nape,” said Grandma.

“Gosh, it’s right Grandma, I have such birthmark,” said Jette.

(Grandma stands and looks for the book, she handed it to Jette)

“Here is the book, darling,” said Grandma.

(Jette starts reading it. She cries everytime her name is being mentioned in the book.)

***

She left the province with the book, and during her 2 weeks stay in the province, she has finished reading all the pages of the book. At the end of the book, it has a reminder, which reads: “It is unburnable, Ms. Arden… Try your luck to burn it…”

It’s as if the curse is forever and undying. What if her loved ones find or learn about it, they will be cursed as well by experiencing an untimely death. While traveling home, she sees to it that no one will see the book, and no one will see her transform. She promised to herself that the one suffered by the detective will be the first and last death because of her.

***

She visits the fortune-teller the day she arrives home. She immediately runs towards the fortune-teller.

FT: Oh, Ms. Arden, you’re here.

Jette: Yes, Miss… I’ve been sleepless so many nights already.

FT: Let me see…

Jette: Are you sure? You might die upon seeing it.

FT: No, I won’t. It says “anyone who will see you transform will die, not the one who will see this book.”

Jette: I think those are the same.

FT: No, you should learn how to differentiate.

Jette: Please help me, Miss.

FT: Yes, I will do…

Jette: How can I burn this?

FT: You have to burn this book by following three rules that this book says…

Jette: It says nothing…

FT: No… There are rules here… Find it here… Inside this book. Once you find those 3 already, return here… Come back to me and I will teach you how to stop this curse.