The White Tulip (Symbolism Of My Feelings)

Intentions

Honey

"Ain't love a bitch?" L's best friend smiled, head cocked to the side as she looked me over. "Just when you meet the man of your dreams, a guy who seems too good to be true, just like that, you find out he is too good to be true. At least too good for you. And the next thing you know you're miserable and alone. Though I must say, I have enjoyed watching your descent. So predictable, so textbook. You know what I mean? You made my task that much easier."

I was totally confused about what she was uttering.

Hyuna's sharp nails were pressing into my wrist. She's freakishly strong.

"You people." Krystal pursed her lips. "You're such fun to tease, such easy targets. You think I set up this whole elaborate ruse just to end it so soon? Sure, there are easier ways to do this. Hell, if I wanted, I could've done away with you in your bedroom, while I was setting the stage. It would've been so much quicker, less time consuming, though dearly, not nearly as fun. For either of us, don't you agree?"

I gaped at her, taking in her flawless face, shiny hair, perfectly tailored black silk dress, flowing in all the right places, all of it highlighting her breathtaking beauty.

"So let's see, you thought I was some kind of goddess. Sorry to disappoint you, Honey, but I'm not." She shrugged, her elegant shoulders rising and falling.

I tried to pull away again from Hyuna's grip, but she gripped me that much tighter, her nails digging in, eliciting a terrible sharp ache as they pierced right through my flesh.

"Now let's just say that I did order Hyuna to let you go. What would you do? Run away? We're faster. Look for your friends? Oops, my bad. They aren't even here. It seems I've put some pills to make them stay in bed." She laughed. "And it looks like our guest of honor is here."

My body boiled in anger. So it was her fault for my best friends being ill. How could she do that? They had nothing to do with anything I was involved in. I couldn't believe Krystal was actually that cruel.

"What do you want?" I said, gritting my teeth as Hyuna tightened her hold, the bones in my wrist giving way, crushing against each other in unbearable pain.

"Don't rush me." The girl with cat eyes said, narrowed her amazing brown eyes on mine. "AII in good time. Now, where was I before you so rudely interrupted? Ah, yes, we were talking about you, how you ended up here, and how it's not turning out anything like you expected. But then, nothing in your life is what you expected, is it? And, truth be told, it never has, was, or I suspect, will be. You see, L and I go way back. I'm talking way, way, way, way, way- well, you get the picture. And yet, despite all of those years together, despite our longevity, you just keep showing up and getting in the way."

I gazed at the ground, wondering how I could've been so stupid, so naive. None of this was ever about any of my friends, it was all about me. And Krystal was also...

"Aw, don't be so hard on yourself. This isn't the first time you've made this mistake. I've been responsible for your demise, for, let's see, how many lifetimes?" She shrugged carelessly. "Well, I guess I lost count."

And suddenly I remember what L said, in the parking lot, about not being able to lose me again. But when I looked at her and saw her face harden and changed, I cleared my mind of such thoughts, knowing she could read them.

She walked around me as she clucked her tongue against the inside of her cheek. "Let's see, if memory serves, and it always does, then the last few times we played a little game called Trick or Treat. And I think it's only fair to inform you up front that it didn't really work out so well for you. Still, you never seem to tire of it, so I thought perhaps you'd like to try it again?"