BEST SERVED COLD

21

I do feel bad for Zoe.

Hearing about her past makes me understand her actions. Maybe she isn't just purely evil. Something had happened to transform her into a heartless bully who sees others as tools. But does it mean that I forgive her for what she did to me? No.

I wish I could find that strength within me but despite her sob story, all I can see is my own pain and I still need my revenge. I still want Zoe to suffer just as much as I did.

But my concern now is what I'm supposed to do with Abel. What if kidnapping him has had more impact on his psychic than what meets the eye? Our relationship has unfortunately evolved in a more intimate way than I planned for and Abel seems to enjoy it...But does he, really? Once again, I realize that I don't know him at all and maybe I'm in danger by keeping him in my home.

Yet, this worry doesn't have the chance to dwell in my mind. When I pass the gates of my home, I notice that there is a car parked near the entrance and I recognize it as my cousin Bianca's Chevrolet.

Shit.

She doesn't know the code to get inside the villa but as I step out of my own car, I don't see her anywhere and fear settles within me. What if she somehow found a way in?

I let myself in and call out her name. I try to reassure myself that there's no way she could have entered and even if she did, she can't find Abel's hidden studio room. But just as I approach the living room, Bianca pulls me in with a huge grin on her face.

"Hey, Carlita?"

I'm too surprised to react to the hug she gives me. By looking past her shoulder, I just caught a glimpse of Abel, sitting on the couch. He looks just as terrified as me. I stare between him and Bianca. The latter doesn't seem confused so I wonder who she thinks Abel is right now.

"How did you get in?" I ask, failing to reciprocate her smile.

"Your friend let me in." She chirps, pointing in Abel's direction.

He avoids looking into my eyes as Bianca explains more:

"You see, I was ringing your doorbell for like, fifteen minutes. I didn't notice that you weren't home. But then when I was about to leave, I saw your friend through one of the windows. I know you told him to not let anybody in but you know, I told him I was your cousin and I was like, I didn't know that Carlita had any friends."

She laughs. I force a tiny smile.

"He kept saying that he has to leave but I insisted that he doesn't have to change his plans for me. Clearly you guys have things to talk about..."

She gives me a knowing look. I'm so confused that I don't know what else to do except stand there with my eyes bulging out of my skull. Somehow, Abel made his way out of the cage and the studio. The code is the same as the one on my front door so I'm sure he had no trouble opening for Bianca. He could have escaped but he chose to stay. Why go through all this trouble just to sit in my living room and wait for me to find him?

"I just came to see how you were doing since you never call me." Bianca pouts.

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. At least you're not on your own here. That puts me at ease. So...I'll be seeing you around, yeah?"

"Y-yeah."

Bianca waves at Abel:

"Thank you for letting me in, pretty boy!"

I don't know if Abel says or does anything. I just push Bianca out of the living room and down the hall.

"You need to call me before showing up here." I tell her through gritted teeth. "I told you this."

"Ugh, fine. Don't make such a big deal out of it. I just wanted to surprise you...If you were telling me more about your private life, I'd know that your boyfriend-..."

"He's not my boyfriend."

Bianca gives me some sort of malicious look that proves that she doesn't believe me.

"It's okay, I won't tell your mother."

She winks and walks out of my door. I wait until she drives away before closing and returning to the living room, which is now...Empty. Abel isn't sitting on the couch anymore. My breathing catches in my throat. I quickly head to the kitchen in search for a weapon, in case I need to defend myself. My hand trembles as I grab one of my knives. I hope I won't have to hurt him. Whether I like it or not, I can't deny that I've developed some sort of affection for him.

But clearly, these feelings are one-sided. Abel proves it now. I thought he was getting used to his life here but it was just a play...Me, out of all people, should have known but I let myself get distracted by those inappropriate kissing sessions.

I walk out of the kitchen, determined to find him but instead, Abel is the one who comes to me. I collide with him as soon as I'm out and the next thing I know, he's pinning both of my arms to each side of my head. He glances at the knife in my right hand.

"A knife." He says through gritted teeth. "What where you going to do? Slice me up like a piece of meat."

"Maybe." I spit back. "After all, I never know what to expect with you so I can't be too cautious...How did you get out of your cage?"

He smiles, as if proud of his achievements.

"The candies you gave me last night with dinner...They were gums. I saved them to used it this morning to cover the cage's lock so when you used your key, it didn't work...I was so anxious that you'd notice but thankfully you didn't."

"Genius. What about the code on the studio's door?"

"Just a lucky guess."

"Liar."

"...I saw you unlock your phone once and I used the same code on the door...Didn't you learn this during your kidnapping course? You should never use the same password for everything."

Yes, definitely. I've made so many mistakes that I'm embarrassed of myself. Abel's hold tighten around my wrists, his face getting closer to mine so much that his breath fans over me.

"Good job, Abelito." I add in a whisper. "But why didn't you leave, then? You could have returned to your sister and gone to the police to have me arrested...Isn't that why you planned all this?"

He nods slowly.

"It was but curiosity made me change my mind..."

"Curiosity?"

"Your cousin said something about you."

My heart sinks and I finally lose my smile. No. Bianca wouldn't dare spill my secrets to a stranger she just met. But somehow, even before Abel can say a word, I understand that he's aware. I see it in his eyes.

"I wanted to know why a girl who's been taken herself would go and inflict the same torture to someone else."

I blink repeatedly to keep my tears down but they still spill on my cheeks. Abel doesn't stop staring at me, analyzing my reaction.

"I was more curious than I wanted to be free, Carla. Will you tell me what happened to you?"

"You should have just left when you still could!"

And with these words, I manage to take my wrist away from him and swing my knife in his direction.