The Wild Angel

Chapter 13: Confrontation

As Miley continued unpacking, Maeve stared blankly at the screen, her mind buzzing with questions. Could it really be true? Could Azra be... no, it was too absurd. And yet, the coincidences were hard to ignore. She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. This was crazy. But deep down, a seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing, slowly but surely.

From Day 17 to Day 19, time blurred as Maeve buried herself in her thesis, while Azra was consumed with her work at the university. Their interactions were brief—just moments snatched in the mornings on the way to school and in the afternoons on their way home.

But even in the chaos, Azra never failed to surprise Maeve with flowers. Every day, without fail, Azra would present her with a fresh bouquet. But it was always the same flowers: chrysanthemums and calla lilies. At first, Maeve was touched by the gesture. But as the days passed, she began to notice the pattern and feel a creeping unease.

On the afternoon of Day 19, after they got home, Maeve couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She sat down, switched on her laptop, and typed in the names of the flowers. Her heart pounded as she hit 'search,' and her breath caught in her throat as the results filled the screen.

"Chrysanthemums: often associated with death and mourning."

"Calla lilies: a symbol of the afterlife."

Maeve's blood ran cold. The air in the room seemed to thicken, pressing down on her. Why was Azra giving her these flowers? Was it a coincidence, or was there something darker at play?

The more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became. Every little detail about Azra that she had brushed off now seemed to take on a more sinister meaning. The way Azra seemed to know her so well, the mysteriousness of her life, the way she always showed up just when Maeve needed her...

A chill crept up Maeve's spine. Was Azra really connected to death? Was she here for a reason Maeve had yet to understand? The thought sent Maeve's mind spiraling. Fear was tightening its grip on her heart. She stared at the screen and her suspicions were turning into a gnawing dread that she couldn't shake.

Day 20

It was Saturday, and Maeve and Miley were sitting in the living room. Maeve was deeply engrossed in a book, her eyes were scanning the pages, while Miley kept shifting uncomfortably on the couch, unable to sit still.

"Maeve, I need your help," Miley said, wincing as she adjusted her position.

Maeve looked up from her book, noticing Miley's discomfort. "Ano na naman 'yan?"

Miley hesitated before blurting out, "ano kasi eh... May pigsa ako sa puwet! Akala ko pimple lang, pero kaninang umaga, ang laki na!"

Maeve's eyes widened in surprise, and then she burst into laughter. "Pigsa? Sa puwet?! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Miley groaned. "Hindi nakakatawa! Ang sakit kaya! Pwede mo bang... ano... tulungan ako? Like, pop it or something?"

Maeve gave her cousin a horrified look. "Kadiri! Ayoko! Punta ka nalang sa doctor!"

Miley shook her head frantically. "Ayoko sa doctor! May bote ako dito. Ipasok mo lang please!"

Just then, Azra was about to knock on Maeve's door when she overheard the conversation. Her eyes went wide, and she froze in place. The sound of Miley pleading and Maeve's reluctant agreement made her stomach churn.

"Hawakan mo oh. Tapos ipasok mo, dahan-dahan muna tapos biglain mo para pumutok," Miley insisted, pushing her shorts down.

Azra's mind raced as she misinterpreted the situation. Are they...? she thought, horrified. And they're cousins? Or maybe they're not really cousins at all?!