Four Hearts Intertwined

Chapter 1- Part 2: Who Unfolds Me

His dead body was found that early morning by a pump boat passing by the sea. He was only identified at the morgue after three days when his sister looked for him and discovered the horror of his brother's incident, and the last person he called was Daniel. Daniel had no idea that his childhood friend had committed a deadly sin. Yet, he confidently mocked around with the ladies inside and outside the University and never dared to check on Samuel for a week.

The parents of Samuel have informed the Head of School about his unexpected death. Because members of Samuel's family were well-known figures in the community, they decided to keep the news to themselves. The Head of School informed the class that Samuel had dropped out and moved to another country. But Daniel was not there since he had been drinking all night and was too drunk to leave his house.

Daniel Wong was the black sheep of the family. His family and relatives were well-known for their political affairs. His parents could not control him, so they kicked him out of the house. They only provided him a monthly allowance to pay his bills, school fees, and personal needs. Although, they did not abandon him completely. They didn't want him to be around them as a disgraceful son in the family with no plans and no interest in what he wanted for his life.

When he returned to school, a classmate told him about Samuel. He was stunned, not knowing what had happened to Samuel because Samuel never missed calling him. Only then did he realize he abandoned him that night (flashback). He rushed to Samuel's apartment after class, only to find out that the apartment had been empty and cleared. He tried calling him but forwarded the call to a voicemail. While he was driving, he thought about where Samuel could be. Then, he remembered Samuel's parent's vacation home that they used to go to during school holidays when they were teenagers. He pushed the pedal and sped up to 150 kph. When he got out of his car, the mansion was quiet. With each sway, the leaves were gently brushed by a tremendous gust of wind. The gate was unlocked, and so he walked in. He pushed the doorbell button thrice, and Samuel's mother opened the door.

Daniel's smile turned into a shock when Samuel's mother slapped his face harshly. His eyes widened as he looked at Mrs. Lee's angry face. Samuel's younger sister Leila saw her mother hit him and was stunned to see him.

"Where were you?! You were the last person Samuel called that night! Where were you?! Huh?! Why did you not help him?!" Samuel's mother exclaimed in grief angrily.

"Mrs. Lee, I- I was, I was, I -" Daniel remembered that he hung up on him when he asked for help but rejected him due to his lust and selfishness. He was speechless and saw Leila behind Mrs. Lee with an angry face.

"I should not have let Samuel trust you. Your parents were right; you are a disgrace to the family. You left him all by himself. Now he's gone because of you!" Mrs. Lee exclaimed, sobbing, gently punching her chest for losing their only son.

Leila holds her mother's shoulder to comfort her. "Mother, you need to rest; I'll handle it from here." Leila furiously looked at Daniel, who was speechless, comprehending what truly happened to Samuel.

"What do you mean he's gone? Where's Samuel? Leila," Daniel looked stunned as his heart throbs tensely.

Leila looked down and clenched her fists with a wave of silent anger within her bones.

"The night he called you was the night something dreadful happened to him, and he was found dead floating on the sea the next morning in the park reserved."

"What? I don't understand-" Daniel was shocked. He felt the eerie tingling from his toes to his head.

"Because of you! My brother is dead! He asked for your help; why didn't you come and save him?! Why, Daniel, Why-?!" Leila exclaimed in tears.

Daniel could not give her a reason why he did not come and save him. All he felt at this moment was regret with a sudden anger—a pang of real guilt on his face. Leila took a USB from her pocket and handed it to him while she composed herself.

"This is a copy of his last voice recording. The police took his phone to investigate further what happened to him in the apartment. He mentioned everything in his voice recorder that I could not even stand to listen to. My brother didn't deserve to be treated this way. And you, the only person he trusted and depended on, took that away, so he decided to end his life! Because of you." Leila coldly said.

Daniel looked at her in denial. In an unrefined state.

"That's all I can do for you. We threw Samuel's ashes into the lake where the two of you used to spend time. Now leave, and never show your face again." Leila slammed the door in his face.

Stiffly standing, Daniel felt the piercing in his heart. He was so shocked that he could not even drop a single tear. His entire body went numb because he didn't know what he just did. In his most profound conscience, he was the one who killed Samuel because of his selfishness. He was the one who pulled the plug that led Samuel to take his own life. With his confused thoughts and emotions, he returned to his car, barely moving as he looked at the far end of the windshield. He didn't want to believe that his only childhood friend, Samuel Lee, was gone forever.