My Little Obsession

03

Months had passed since the day Aoom had tried to buy Rassami's trust. Since then, her obsession with Meena had only grown. Every day, Aoom closely observed the girl's routine, carefully monitoring her every step. She didn't want Meena to escape that life unless it was through her. To ensure this, Aoom discreetly deposited significant amounts into Rassami's account, enough to cover their monthly expenses, but not so much as to lift Meena out of her modest life.

Neither the mother nor the girl ever discovered where the money came from. The anonymous transfers were a mystery that allowed them to live a little more comfortably. Aoom knew that keeping Meena close required a delicate balance between control and generosity.

And as Aoom obsessively watched over Meena from afar, the cracks in her sanity began to widen. Each passing day without the girl at her side felt like a fresh wound, gnawing at her thoughts, driving her deeper into a frenzied state. Her control, once ironclad, slipped like sand through her fingers. In the shadows of Bangkok, she became a figure of raw, unpredictable chaos; each of her crimes more brutal than the last, as if the violence could somehow fill the void inside her.

Whispers of her name crept through the city's underbelly, dripping with fear and reverence. Aoom's cold, calculated nature unraveled into something far darker, a woman possessed by a need she couldn't satisfy. Her enemies now spoke of her in hushed tones, fearing the brutal unpredictability that had overtaken her, while even the citizens began to view her not just as part of the criminal underworld, but as a storm of violence and obsession, one that could tear through their lives at any moment.

One ordinary morning, as Meena was preparing to leave the house, something caught her attention. At the entrance of the house, there was a mark: a black cat drawn with precision. Meena crouched down to look closer, feeling a chill run down her spine. She knew what that image meant. It was the symbol everyone in the city feared.

The presence of the mark brought conflicting feelings to Meena. On the one hand, she knew it meant protection. No criminal would dare touch a marked area. But on the other hand, it also meant that crime was, literally, on her doorstep. Safety had a price, and Meena wasn't sure how to feel about it.

Meena entered the house, her mind swirling with thoughts. — Mom, did you see the mark at the entrance? — she asked, trying to hide her worry.

The woman, who was in the kitchen, looked up from her pots. — Yes, I saw it but I'm still not sure if it's a good or bad sign.

— Neither do I. — Meena responded, biting her lip. — It means we're under mafia protection, but it also means we're at their mercy.

Rassami sighed, wiping her hands on her apron. — These past few months have been so strange, Meena. The money that keeps appearing in our account out of nowhere, your school fees fully paid off, and now this mark... And that feeling, like something is constantly surrounding us.

Meena nodded. — I'm scared too Mom, but at least we're safe, for now.

Across the city, Aoom was in her office, watching her organization's activities with cold satisfaction. Engfa entered, bringing a report on their latest operations. — The new shipment has arrived, and the buyers have already transferred the money.

— Good. — Aoom replied without looking up from the documents. — I'll prepare the contracts for the purchase of new shares in Brazilian companies to launder this money. We can't leave any loose ends before we head to Phuket.

Engfa, noticing her sister's somber tone, sat down in front of her. — What's going on, sis? You're still thinking about that girl, aren't you?

Aoom raised her eyes, her cold gaze softening a bit. — She's different, Engfa. I can't explain it, but I need her.