It's been a week since the accident, and Rachel has been dropping by every day after school. At first, her visits were a welcome distraction from my recovery. Her bright smile and bubbly personality lifted my spirits.
But little did I know, she had a sinister plan brewing.
The initial warmth and camaraderie began to unravel, revealing a more mischievous side of Rachel. She started small, devouring almost all my breakfast, leaving me with a measly, crumbly biscuit.
Then, the pranks escalated. I opened the bathroom door to find a lifeless rat perched on the toilet seat, its beady eyes staring at me. My stomach churned.
The final straw was the blindfold stunt.
"Let's go for a walk," Rachel suggested, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I have a surprise for you."
We strolled down to the hospital garden, the sun casting long shadows across the lush greenery. Rachel tied a blindfold around my eyes, her giggles barely contained.
"Sit here and hold this cardboard," she instructed, her voice dripping with innocence. "I forgot something in the room. Wait for me."
I sat, blindly clutching the cardboard, as the minutes ticked by. Thirty minutes passed, and the only sound was the occasional snicker from passersby.
My patience wore thin, and memories of Rachel's troublesome past flooded my mind. I ripped off the blindfold, prepared for the worst.
That's when I saw it: a giant, hand-scrawled sign on the cardboard, reading "Am twenty seven, and very lonely, I need a girlfriend" in bold letters. The surrounding hospital staff and visitors were trying to stifle their laughter.
My face burned with embarrassment.
"Rachel!" I shouted, scanning the area for my sneaky sister.
She emerged from behind a nearby bush, grinning from ear to ear.
"Gotcha!" she exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with triumph.
"If I catch you, you're dead meat…..".
That same day, Rachel and I were lounging in the garden, basking in the warm evening sun. The serene atmosphere was suddenly disrupted by a figure blocking our view.
"Good evening, are you Nate?" a melodious voice asked. "Am Mia".
I looked up to find a vision of loveliness standing before us. Her radiant smile illuminated the surrounding greenery.
"Yeah, I'm Nate," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.
Wow, is she really the girl I saved from being hit by a car, her piercing blue eyes sparkled as she extended a slender hand. Her elegant white gown cascaded down her curves like a river of moonlight, accentuating her porcelain skin.
Rachel's eyes widened in awe, while I struggled to maintain my composure.
"How can someone be this good looking?" I thought, my mind racing.
Mia's raven-black hair framed her heart-shaped face, and her full lips curled into a gentle smile.
"Nice to meet you, Nate," Mia said, her voice husky and confident.
Rachel cleared her throat, breaking the spell.
"Hi, I'm Rachel, Nate's pesky sister," she chimed in, her grin mischievous.
"Delighted to meet you both," she said.
I gestured to Rachel to give us some space, but she hesitated, her eyes fixed on Mia with a mix of curiosity and concern. She took a few steps back, still within earshot.
Mia's expression transformed from sweet to fiery, her voice dripping with venom.
"I sent my lawyer to you the other day, but you refused to sign the agreement," she spat, her words like hot flames. "Was the terms not good, or do you need more money? That can be agreed on. You didn't have to be rude about it and make me come here in person. I'm actually a busy person, you know."
Her tiny mouth moved rapidly, spewing forth venomous words. I stood frozen, dumbfounded by the sudden change.
How could such harsh words emerge from those delicate lips?
"Mia, right?" I began, my tone firm. "If you came here to make me angry, congrats, you're on the right track. But please get this into your thick skull: I don't need your dirty money."
I rose from my seat, towering over her.
"Like I told your lawyer, if you were really appreciative of me saving your life, all you had to do was say thank you."
My voice echoed through the garden, drawing attention from nearby patients.
"I don't care about who you are," I continued. "I didn't put my life on the line to save you because I wanted settlement money."
With that, I turned and walked away, leaving Mia standing alone.
"Don't you know who I am?" she called out, her voice laced with shock and indignation.
I didn't bother looking back.
"I don't care who you are," I replied, my words carrying over my shoulder.
As I disappeared into the hospital corridors, I felt a sense of satisfaction. Mia's true colors had finally emerged.
As I stepped out of the hospital, the warm sunlight on my skin felt invigorating. I had accepted Stacy Lin's offer, and desperation had driven me to seize the opportunity. Little did I know, this would be the start of a tumultuous journey.
"Home sweet home," I sighed, dropping my bags in my room.
The next morning, I woke up early, feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. My mom had lovingly prepared a crisp black suit, and I looked sharp.
I took a deep breath, standing before the company's sleek glass facade. "Here we go."
The elevator whisked me up to the 10th floor, where the Brand Strategy Team buzzed with activity.
As I entered, I greeted my colleagues with a nod, trying to appear confident.
Scanning the room, I sought out the team manager. My gaze landed on a poised figure at the far end, exuding authority. I approached him, files in hand.
"Good morning, sir. I'm Nate, the new team member."
He glanced at my files, his expression puzzled.
"What is this?"
"My files," I replied, unsure.
He swiftly returned them. "I'm not the manager. That's her coming over."
My eyes followed his gesture, expecting a middle-aged woman. Instead, Mia emerged from the door, her piercing blue eyes locked onto mine.
My heart sank.
Mia's lips curled into a sly smile as she approached.
"Nate. Welcome to
the team. I see you're punctual."
Her voice dripped with sarcasm, and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
I'm dead….