Two weeks later.
Veronica inaudibly approaches her aunt's grave, watching her brother paint it with red paint. He stands back and crosses his arms over his chest, not intending to betray his presence until he spots her himself.
- You don't have to sneak around. I'm only doing what Aunt Danielle requested. Although, in this way, I want to make her happy.
- The same way you made her happy by letting her die in your presence? - Her gruff answer makes the boy stop his work and turn to face her.
- She just didn't want to die alone. She didn't ask any of you because you would have prevented her from leaving and would have unnecessarily interfered with the agreement between her and the demon. It wouldn't have changed anything, and it would have further angered Steven. He could then pour over her last request and pick on our family again. She had no choice, so at least she protected us. You should be grateful to her. I am," declares the teenager, straightening his legs. - And stop calling me a cold-blooded psychopath. Don't think to yourself that I wasn't horrified watching her kill herself. I was like hell, but I was reassured by the thought that she wasn't dying alone, that I was by her side and she could leave this world peacefully.
- That sounds terrible, Eric. Can you hear yourself?
- Think what you want. I know mine, you know yours. I am sorry that you think I am a monster. It's been that way all your life because you didn't trust me, and it's the same now. It hurts, Veronica. Furthermore, it damns well hurts.
Tears appear in his eyes as he hands her the brush in his hand.
- Finish my work and, by the way, talk to your aunt. Maybe you'll at least cool down a little.
The 17-year-old watches her brother until he disappears from her sight. She sits down on the bench that is in front of the grave and looks at her aunt's picture.
- Did my brother really fulfill your last request? Why did you ask him to do something so terrible?
- Danielle was a peculiar person, so I'm not at all surprised that her last request was like that, too.
The girl looks at Uncle Jin as the man sits down next to her on the bench. He leans forward and squeezes his hands into one fist, resting his hands on his knees.
- Do you mean asking Eric to accompany her during her death? - Jin nods his head. - Aren't you already angry with my brother for not helping her and letting her die?
- At first, sadness spoke through me because I lost her. I didn't mean to hurt Eric, I yelled at him unnecessarily. The more days passed, I began to understand him. I began to understand them both.
- In what way?
The man smiles slightly.
- I wanted to help her, but what did I really want to do? Nothing. I didn't have any idea. That day I left her at the table and went to your father. I guess I hoped that her words regarding the deal with the demon were a joke and nothing would really happen to her. She had cheated destiny dozens of times in her life. She was like a cat that always fell on all fours. It seemed to me that she had seven lives. That was not the case at all. Eventually, the day came when she had to leave, when she had to leave me....
- Only Eric was able to say goodbye to her....
- And I think that's what pleased me the most. She did not die alone. Your brother was with her until the very end. He is a very brave man. You can no longer punish him.
Veronica looks with surprised eyes at her uncle.
- But still...
- I have already reconciled. I understood Danielle's decision. You should, too. You can't blame your brother. He wanted good for her.
- Uncle...
- Was painting the monument red her wish? - He unexpectedly changes the subject, and the teenager nods in response. - In that case, let me finish it. I want to spend some time with her. Besides, it's freezing today and I don't want you to get cold. In a few hours, you have to go back to Horace Mann.
The brunette smiles slightly, then nods.
- I will do it only because you tell me to, handsome uncle.
The man looks at her with amusement in his eyes.
- It's funny how much you resemble your father.
*
While at Horace Mann, Eric is walking down the main corridor when he spots Miranda. He runs up to her and grabs her hand, turning her in his direction. The girl chastises him with her eyes and is about to leave, but he doesn't let her.
- Enough of this. No one will treat me like a monster anymore. You've been pouting at me since New Year's Eve, you've been avoiding me, you would rather not talk to me, moreover, my sister is killing me. What do you want from me? After all, I haven't done anything wrong.
The 16-year-old squints her eyes and looks at him in silence for a long moment.
- Didn't you do anything? So next time don't piss like a pig, and you'll remember your sins, you mangy bastard.
The brunet crinkles his eyebrows and lets her go, and she takes advantage of this and crosses her arms on her chest, pouting like a child.
- And can't you explain to me like a man what I did? I was drunk, you're right. That night, I overdid it with alcohol because I was worried about my sister, so I completely broke down.
Miranda snorts under her breath.
- So maybe it wasn't a broken movie because of alcohol, but you were possessed by a demon? Could be it was Steven lying on top of me in the chair and kissing me as if he wanted to rape me?
The teenager opens his eyes wider in surprise, pressing his finger to his chest.
- That I supposedly sexually assaulted you?
- Well, I don't know... possibly Steven? - replies bitingly, piercing him with her eyes. - I felt like trash. You completely overpowered me. You acted like you were hungry, like you wanted to eat me!
Several people look at them with interest. Eric puts his hand in his hair and massages himself on the head.
Eventually, he laughs nervously.
- I swear I don't remember anything....
- And this is even worse, bastard! - The girl slaps him on the chest, grimacing like a child. - You don't remember anything, and my heart was pounding with excitement!
Embarrassed, she pulls her hair back behind her ear, then turns on her heel and walks away with a quick step, not letting him say anything more.
- But I would truly enjoy it if I remembered something from that night.... - mutters the boy under his breath.
Next to him passes Nicki, who even runs away from Henry. The 18-year-old calls out to her, telling her to stop, but she pretends not to hear him.
- Stop acting like a child! - he finally yells as he catches up to her and turns her to face him. - It happened. We got carried away that night, there was a reason everyone claimed we had chemo.
The blonde snorts indignantly.
- Chemistry? What chemistry are you talking about, twit! It's alcohol's fault! Sober I wouldn't touch you with my finger, and you're telling me about chemistry? I hate stupid guys, and you are dumber than an orangutan!
- And yet, you went to bed with me.
The seventeen-year-old covers his mouth with her hand so no one can hear it.
- Don't say it out loud, scab! If only someone finds out about the fact that we had drunken sex, I swear I'll rip your head off!
- You were so wild in bed too!
Henry gets a slap on the head from her.
- Let's never talk about it again. It's not even a chapter that started, it's a special chapter that lasted a while and ended.
- Did you call it a special one?
- Oh, shush, you moron! You're driving me crazy.
- That's because after that night you can't forget me. Be more open about your feelings.
- Don't even try to dream about me! You are forbidden! - he shouts in a whisper, looking sideways. - Until the end of the year, pretend you don't know me.
- By the end of the year you will be my girlfriend!
The blonde shows him the middle finger as he walks away. She's a tough nut to crack, but deep down she adores Henry, although she doesn't allow it to herself.
*
Veronica lies on the bed with Lucas, resting her head on his shoulder. She smiles under her breath, looking at them in the reflection of the mirror.
- I can't believe that the time has come when I can live peacefully. There is no demon with me, I am so calm and happy.
The 16-year-old strokes her hair, happy that everything ended well for them, even though they lost a long-lost family member.
- A stone dropped from my heart that you can finally start living a normal life. It was hard for me to look at your wasted face. You don't even know how much I worried about you every day.
- I thought there would be no more chances for me, but Aunt Danielle actually turned out to be an angel, even though everyone thought she was a walking devil. This woman saved my life, protected our whole family from the curse. She ended it.
- She is a very brave woman, and you undoubtedly possess her qualities.
The seventeen-year-old moves away from Lucas and looks him in the eyes.
- You also did everything to protect me. - She takes his hand, smiling slightly. - My best friend.
- How long will you insist that we are just friends? - Lucas asks in a whisper.
- You're right," replies the girl, swallowing her saliva harder. - We both know that we have much stronger feelings for each other, but it still worries me, Lucas. Maybe I don't have those dark feelings about the demon anymore, but I'm still afraid that if I dare to start the next stage in our relationship, something will break, and I'll lose you completely. I have a terrible character, and occasionally, I don't think about what I'm doing, so if I inadvertently hurt you....
The girl is unable to finish because Lucas puts his finger to her lips.
- This feeling has connected us for a long time, so it might as well happen while we remain friends. Why should we both hurt each other without wanting to go a step further?
They look into each other's eyes, as if searching for answers in them. Lucas is sure of what he wants, but Veronica is still worried.
- What if...
- After all, you yourself kept saying that we are soulmates, and soulmates should spend a lifetime with each other. Were you happy when you decided to have a relationship with Kevin?
Veronica shakes her head.
- Being with him, I thought only about you.
- So what are you afraid of?
- That by loving you even harder, one day I will lose you completely, and then my life will have no meaning.
- We are friends, Vera, I'm not going to pressure you. I want to give you time to think everything over and consider what will be good for you. I will stay on your side, regardless of what decision you make. Remember that.
He kisses the top of her head, then gets off the bed and heads for the door. She watches him until he disappears from her sight.
Veronica puts his hand to her chest, feeling her heart pounding hard. He is the only man on earth who can make her happy with a simple kiss.