Anika's P.O.V I was wide awake, keeping my eyes closed in my bed and sifting to the other side As I avoided the sun's piercing glares, I pondered how my day would unfold. It marked the first time I hosted a Christmas Eve at my house. Usually, I spent Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and New Year at Laura's with her family after my parents' passing. However, I had decided to embrace change, as suggested by Laura. Despite enjoying the warmth of Laura's family during chilly Christmases, she wanted to try it differently this time, given her parents' absence. I was still thinking about the upcoming party when my phone rudely interrupted my thoughts. I groaned and buried my face in the pillow, reluctant to answer the call. The phone persisted, and I grumbled, annoyed by the interruption to my beauty sleep. "Hello," I seethed, finally picking up the call. "Hey there," Laura's voice brimmed with excitement which was understandable considering she had a boyfriend now. "What's up!" "Go

Kelvin's P.O.V I was about to march over to confront Richard when Anika pulled me back gently. "Hey, where are you going?" She asked, her voice laced with concern as she continued eating her cotton candy. "Look... I just saw something," I began, but a thought struck me. What if telling her causes more harm than good? What if she reacts badly to it? ___ 'Nika... I'm your friend, that's why I get to worry about you, that guy will only hurt you," I recalled saying to her earlier. "He won't hurt me and even if he did, it's my life, not yours, alright?" I remembered her firm reply before she walked away. ___ Anika had offered me a place to stay for the night after the whole incident, knowing I couldn't go out at that late hour and also to help distract her from Richard's words. We spent the entire night watching movies and playing games, but despite my efforts, I could sense that a part of her was still bothered by what had happened. I glanced in Richard's direction, only to find

Kelvin's P.O.V "Thanks, you're my hero," Anika hugged me. "Where have you been all this time?" I turned to face her. "Do you know how worried I was?" I gently lifted her chin, drawing her closer. "I'm sorry, alright? I was just stressed." She hugged me and sniffled. "Are you crying?" I asked. "No," she replied, her head swaying slightly. She's drunk and not being truthful. I stepped back from the hug. "What happened?" I guided her to sit. "Did that jerk do anything to you?" I seethed. "No, you came before he could do anything to me." I sighed in relief. "Why are you drunk then? Why didn't you answer your calls when we were trying to reach you? Do you know I almost passed by this place, but my instinct told me not to? What if I hadn't come and that guy had taken you? What if—" She moved closer and kissed me, silencing me. That wasn't something I expected at all. I had no choice but to reciprocate, kissing her back and pouring out all my emotions and the pain I felt when I th

Kelvin's P.O.V I rushed to my phone, picking it up despite the cracked screen. The content was barely visible, but I didn't care; it could still serve its purpose if that bastard called again. Exiting the office, I headed towards the elevator, fingers trembling as I tried to reach Laura. "Are you okay?" a concerned voice asked behind me, but I was too preoccupied to identify the speaker. Without hesitation, I darted into the elevator and pressed the button for the first floor. Though the voice sounded like Mirabel's, I couldn't spare time for guessing games. My focus was on rescuing my friend and long-time crush from the clutches of the demon named Richard. Exiting the elevator, I hurried to my car, ignoring the inquisitive and worried gazes of the employees on the first floor. Upon reaching my car, I continued dialing Laura's number, frustration mounting as the call remained unanswered. "Why the hell isn't she picking up?" I muttered, exhaling in exasperation. It was unlike

Anika's P.O.V I opened my eyes to a pounding headache, groaning as waves of pain washed over me. Slowly, the agony lessened, allowing me to take in my surroundings. The sterile white walls and medical equipment indicated that I was in a hospital. Originally disoriented, my memory quickly flooded back in a torrent of recollection. The kidnapping, the gunshot, the chaotic scene—each detail resurfaced with overwhelming clarity, leaving me breathless. "Kelvin!" The name escaped my lips as panic surged through me, compelling me to sit up. However, the myriad of wires tethered to me from various machines rendered any movement nearly impossible. My gaze shifted downwards, revealing casts enveloping my legs. Dread settled in as I realized the extent of my injuries. The relentless voice in my mind continued to echo, "You killed Kelvin," tormenting me with guilt and grief. Tears welled in my eyes as I grappled with the unbearable weight of his loss. "Kelvin!" I screamed, my voice thick wit