The Fiancé

Tremors ran through me like the exhilarating rush of a child's first rollercoaster ride. In the dim light, I found a body sprawled out. It was as lifeless as last year's Christmas tree, and the metallic tang in the air gave it away.

"No way!", I stammered to myself. "I'm not the culprit here, right?" Yet here I was, in the heart of a crime scene that looked like a rejected horror movie script.

Shivering, I huddled in the corner, tears streaming down my face like a faulty faucet. The fear was so thick you could slice it with a knife.

And then, the sound of footsteps. You know, the kind that make you want to hide under your bed. My heartbeat became the percussion section of an orchestra in overdrive.

The door creaked open, and in walked someone as dark as burnt toast.

"Who's that?"

His icy gaze, as cold as the heart of an ex, pierced through me.
I
wanted to call out, to scream for help. But it was like someone hit the mute button on my voice.

Why, oh why, was I suddenly auditioning for a mime?

His footsteps grew louder, and I felt compelled to flee, but I had no escape route. As he drew closer, my entire body trembled with fear.

Then from the faint light that filtered through the ajar door, my eyes widened in disbelief as I recognized the face before me. I was utterly shocked and surprised to see the very person standing right in front of me.

Language: Filipino and English