"Thank you for telling me, Cathy. Now I understand why Aiden wants to lure you out. But you don't need to explain it to me. I ... actually I ..." I had a similar case as you. But I can't tell you. Katie continued in her heart.
"You don't have to tell me. I realize that everyone in the world has one or two secrets. I don't want to be someone who is after someone else's secrets. But Kitty, I'd like to know one thing."
"What's that?" Katie was amazed at the serious tone that suddenly emerged from Cathy's voice.
"Are you in danger or something? Are you running away?"
Katie smiled at that. She felt touched knowing Cathy was still worried about her.
"No. I'm safe. Absolutely not in danger. So you don't need to worry."
Katie did not know whether the reason she had run away was that someone wanted to kill her or not. But she knew that she only had twelve years left in this lifetime because of the broken seal. Even so, she did not want to tell her best friend as she did not want to get her to involve in her curse.
Meanwhile, Cathy was relieved to hear that. Then she stared at Katie for a long time with an impressed look.
If only Cathy had known her, Katie could understand. Everyone who saw Katie the first time would look at her the way Cathy did. The gaze of awe and fascination for her beauty.
Since Katie was a child, she had her own appeal as the red queen had its pheromone that attracted around her. If they let the charm worked on them, they would fly over to get close with Katie. But if they break loose from the charm, they would become Katie's most hater.
But, Cathy has known her for almost twelve years. Because of that, she could not understand the meaning of the way Cathy's eyes looked at her.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I know you're beautiful. But this is the first time I've really seen your beauty."
Katie blinked several times, not understanding. For a moment, she felt the two of them were not on the same track.
"You're confusing me. What are you talking about?"
"Your hair is striking red. Is this your real color, or did you dye it? I heard you intentionally dyed your hair. And also, the color of your eyes was so mesmerizing. This is the first time I've seen such a unique eye color. It's stunning."
Katie smiled broadly as she began to understand one thing. Cathy could see colors, at last.
Katie already knew Cathy could not see colors but remained silent because she was aware that Cathy was hiding her disability. Therefore, during her school days, Katie also took part in helping Cathy so that her feebleness was not exposed.
"I'll tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone."
"Eh?"
"This color was my original color from birth. My mother said my hair was like a delicious apple, and my eyes were like sparkling gold. Because of that, many people wanted to kidnap me like for a lot."
"Ah?"
"Luckily, my father was a clever man. He cut my hair short and shaped me like a disgusting boy. I played in the mud, in the forest, causing my whole body dirty. No one would want to kidnap me."
Cathy just shook her head at the unexpected childhood of her best friend.
"Turns out your tomboyish came from your father, huh?" Cathy guessed.
Katie laughed in response, followed by Cathy's carefree laugh. They were still engrossed in conversation as inseparable friends until late at night.
***
A few days later, Katie decided to return to her apartment. Katie covered her head with a scarf and wore sunglasses when she came out so no one would look at her with a strange look.
Once in her apartment, she quickly sprayed a hairspray to camouflage her crimson hair and put on contact lenses. After that, Katie informed her agency that she would retire soon, and her latest record would be her last album.
With her current condition, she won't be able to sing freely. If Katie sings, there will be birds approaching her inevitably or who knows what kind of weather she will create through her singing. That's why she decided to stop singing and ended her contract earlier.
After finishing the recording that made the director satisfied, Katie resigned. Then she went to Charlie, asking for guidance because she didn't know what to do from onward.
"I'm sorry for what happened to you. I have no idea that even here, you won't escape danger," stated Charlie in low-spirited.
Katie only smiled in response. "Looks like I won't be able to sing again. Is there anything else I can do? To be honest... I'm very clueless at the moment."
"What do you want? Just do what you want."
What she wants? Many things she wanted to do. But that was before - before she experienced the ugly incident. And now she only has twelve years to do the things she wants... which maybe she no longer could do it.
Then what she wants now?
Ah, she found the answer. She knew what she wanted.