Emily's Pov:

My phone almost fell off my hand, hearing such words from Mia while Rose just scooted more closer to the phone, ready to hear more from Mia.

Hesitating, I adjusted the phone in my hand. "Are you sure that you're pregnant?"

"Yes. I am. I checked it in a pregnancy kit-"

"Mia, those results can be wrong as well-"

"I got full checkup from the hospital, Emily. They told me I am one month pregnant, and they also asked me to come for regular appointments for better care and development of a baby."

My mouth opened in awe. "When did all of this happen!?"

"Go easy." Rose whispered to me.

"I was caught off guard when Jake initated-" Mia started but I cut her off.

"He initiated all this!? What did that excuse of a burned potato did to you!?"

"Well he was heavily drunk that day and he didn't know what he was doing-"

"Did he force himself on you then!?" I snapped at Mia, anger boiling up inside me.

"No. He didn't 'cause I equally wanted him as much he wanted me, then I couldn't help but remember all those times when he didn't notice me-"

"So he didn't notice you that's why you went and slept with him!?" I said to her, tasting bitterness of my own words in my tongue.

Mia started to cry. "I didn't mean to, Emily. I really didn't mean to but everything happened so fast that before I could think what's wrong and what's not, we were already doing evrything forbidden!"

"But he was fucking drunk for God's sake, Mia! Don't you know he doesn't remember things he does when he is drunk!? Did you seriously forgot all those drunk encounters we had with him, where he would forget everything the very next day we would meet him!?"

"I knew it. And I tried to convince him, with all my might that we shouldn't do it, but when he started to touch me, I forgot everything, never thinking of the consequences that may follow after."

"Mia, you should've done better than that! I mean what the hell did he even do to start all this, to which you lost all your self control and went along with his pace!?"

"He fucking kissed me, Emily! What should I have done to stop him, tell me! A girl can only endure her feelings for so long until the guy stops to give any signs of ever reciprocating her feelings! But he touched me the way I wanted him to and I.." Mia stifled a sob, inhaling deeply and I could imagine her tired condition, with her flushed cheeks and red swollen eyes. "I felt loved that day. Truly and undeniably loved for the first time in my life. That's why I didn't stop him. It seemed too good to be true and I didn't have any courage to betray my heart anymore."

I sighed in defeat. "But still, you could've been precautious enough in these aspects! It's not that you don't know anything about sex and it's consequences."

"I admit that it's my fault but-"

"It's not about admitting your fault, Mia! You have the results of your mistake and now-"

"Mistake!? You think what we did that night was a mistake!? Why is that 'cause the last time I checked, you always wanted me to end up with Jake, howsoever it may happen!"

"Yes I wanted that and I still want it, I will always want you to be happy, Mia but this time he used you-"

"He didn't use me! I wanted him-"

"But he didn't want you the way you wanted him though! It's called using someone!"

"Oh and you never, even for a single moment thought that Jake might actually like me a bit, right!? Some friend you are for sure, Emily when all this time I gave you my full support for your love for Edward! I never said to you that 'Edward doesn't love you 'cause he will love Lara no matter whatever sacrifices you would do for him! I never said to you that Edward used you all this time! All this time when you were considering his happiness over yours, he was busy fucking his girlfriend senseless in her house! I never said to you that Edward doesn't need you! He will never need you 'cause he is a selfish best friend you met purely by your bad luck!"

Rose turned to look at my face, her own face betraying any hints of nonchalancy as she took a deep long breath to see tears falling from my eyes. Gripping the nearby chair silently, I sat on it, feeling Mia's words slowly crushing my already broken heart.

Averting my gaze towards the ceiling, I titled my head slightly backwards, as mositure pooling in my eyes now trailed down my cheeks and fell silently on my side.

Rose narrowed her eyebrows in concern, as she mouthed sympathetic words to molify me and I nodded slowly at her, raising my hand to tell her I was fine.

Which indeed I was.

I mean I had to get over Edward.

But if I couldn't endure such harsh words of truth from my own friend, then it was almost impossible that I would ever be able to forget him in any given time.

"I am sorry, Emily. I shouldn't have said that to you. You were always a good friend to me and I'll never want to hurt you intentionally-"

"It's alright, Mia. I don't mind." I whispered briefly to her.

"But I was rude to you when you always supported me-"

"You just spoke the truth. There is nothing wrong in it-"

"I really behaved like a bitch to you, Emily. What I said doesn't hold any truth at all. I am sure that Edward will stop being a jerk to you-"

"We shouldn't be sure about the ending, Mia. It doesn't always go the way we want it to."

"But I will continue to hope for the best. After all, you have been his best friend for twenty years already. If he still didn't fall in love with you, then I really doubt if he was even a man to begin all this with. I mean any guy would fall head over heels in love with such a cute, caring, loving, hot and sexy wife like you-"

"Edward doesn't think I am hot and sexy." I said, laughing bitterly at her choice of words. My eyes pricked with the remnant of moisture as I wiped the corner of my eyes with the back of my hand.

"Did he tell you that himself?"

I hesitated."No. He didn't but I know what he thinks about me. He doesn't have to tell me everything, you know."

Mia sighed, and I felt the slight frustration in her sudden intake of breath. "Emily, why do you keep on thinking of all the utter bullshits of life!? I just don't understand the reason. You really need to increase your opinion about yourself sooner or later. I mean you should have some self-respect-"

"Having self-respect doesn't actually change the reality, Mia."

"But it sure can make painful conditions tolerable in the toughest moments of your life!"

"I am not trying to make anything tolerable here, I just want peace of my mind-"

"Which you can easily get by listening to my advice." Mia cut me off, agitation evident in her words. "Properly"

"And that strikingly hyperactive life-changing advice would be?"

"It would simply be to get this all over with already."

"Care for a short elucidation?"

"I am simply asking you to confess your feelings to Edward."

I chuckled at her smooth words. It wasn't that it was the first time Mia had advised me to do something like this. In fact, if my memory serves me right, then she was the only person who had been drilling into my head this significant piece of advice for a long time and I, as a stubborn daughter of Hitler as I ever was, never paid any heed to her words.

Standing from the chair, I walked towards my window. With the corner of my eye, I saw Rose following me like a hawk, her ears planted firmly like a parasite on my phone. Cool but indifferently warm breeze engulfed my features in a tight hug as I leaned on the windowframe, admiring the peaceful weather.

"Are you understanding what I'm trying to say here?" Mia asked again, her voice coming out impatient.

"For someone who has a degraded brain of a human, I happen to understand english too well, don't you think!?"

"And somehow that degraded brain managed to get a hold of Degree of medicals all by itself!?"

"Well that was purely a matter of coincidence-"

"So why don't you ever apply your rare coincidences in the case of Edward!?"

"Mia, I am not trying to joke here-"

"Neither am I. If I must say, I am speaking only the truth here."

"You mean to say, normally you incorporate lies in between your sentences!?"

"Are we talking about normal things here!?"

"You're not going to let it go, right!?"

"Do I look like I'm that easy!?"

I sighed in defeat and Rose smirked in satisfaction at Mia's words, earning herself a glare from me.

"You know it's not going to change anything between us, right!?" I tried to convince Mia, knowing too well it's not gonna work on her.

"We're not going to know unless we try, Emily."

"You seem too confident in advising me when you're on the same boat as me-"

"I'll change that boat when the time comes."

"And when will your time come then?"

"Maybe after you confess to Edward?"

I raised a eyebrow at her words. "Is that a deal?"

"No. It's a challenge!"

"But why should I do it first though? Why not you!? That's unfair to me 'cause as far as I know, you also-

"Because you had a crush on Edward way before than I even met Jake, and so that makes you more eligible for confession-"

"Eligible? Are you seriously bringing all those painful tortured years of my life in considering my eligibility of this stupid deal of who-should-confess-first between us!? That's called cheating! It's illegal in terms of court and law-"

"It's my final verdict. Consider it or live in the hell forever!"

"Are we playing some sort of law and order here!?"

"No but still it's my-"

"Don't you think that you should confess first, Mia!?"

"Why should I do it? I told you I would do it only when you-"

A wicked grin spread on my face. "Think about it, Mia. Carefully. You're pregnant with Jake's child, after spending only-mighty-holy-God knows how many passionate hours of your night with him. You have a part of him growing slowly and slowly like a coconut-"

"Coconut?" Mia interrupted and I heard Rose snort beside me, before she scooted closer to the phone, ignoring my hot glares at her.

"Yes. Like a coconut. It's small at first-"

"Every growing being is small at first, Emily! Do you think you came straight from your mother's uterus-" Mia started to rant but I cut her off.

"Vagina" I filled in for her.

"It all goes inside and comes outside from down the gutter anyway." Rose muttered, rolling her eyes at my precision.

"Gutter?" I cocked my head to my side, pressing the word.

Rose pointed her index finger at the bottom of my jeans. I blinked twice at her and then at her finger which was raised erect, too proudly for being a mere human finger.

"That's not a gutter, Rose! It's an essential part of a female reproductive system-"

"You mean vital organ for getting fucked and for automatically shooting out babies like a bomb!?"

I gawked at her bold words. "Yes but that's not a corect term you should use-"

"It doesn't change the fact that it's still down there, right!?" Rose pointed her finger right at my abdomen and I flushed in embarrasment. Turning my head around quickly, I searched for Micheal to see if he was suddenly transformed into a bat to hear this humiliating conversation which I was being subjected to without my consent, and I sighed in relief seeing him using his phone and doing something on it.

If only his house be blown in a heavy tornado so that he might leave quickly from here-

"You don't listen to anyone, do you!?" I hissed at Rose, my lips pressed in a thin line.

"After all, I am your friend. I wonder who should I blame now?" Rose shrugged nonchalantly, tucking few strands of her scarlett hair behind her ear, playing all innocent and childish with me.

I cleared my throat deliberately, wishing to continue the flow of the previous conversation. "So as I was saying that something is growing slowly and slowly-"

"Are we talking about coconut again?" Mia interrupted in between making Rose chuckle behind me.

I smiled at her words. "Yes. And-"

"So can we now talk about my human baby who is far from being compared to any living form of an animal or worse, plants with an honorable mentions of trees and shrubs!?"

My lips curled up in a grin. "You mean you want to talk about foetus?"

"Sounds very logical to me." Mia said, her voice sounding relieved.

Many thoughts got shuffled in my brain as I wondered about the future of my friend. "What have you planned about it then?"

"About what?"

"Your pregnancy, Mia. What would you do about it?"

Silence stretched between us for long minutes as Mia took her time in contemplating her decision. "I don't know what to do, Emily. I am in a strange dilemma."

I glanced at Rose who merely threw me an annoying and impassive look making me roll my eyes at her.

"Are you sure you can handle the pregnancy? Will you keep the baby then?"

"I wouldn't ask that question if I were you." Rose said, raising one eyebrow at me.

"Unfortunately, I don't intend to behave as myself today." I said to Rose, who ignored my words like a fly sitting on her cupcake, making me turn my attention back to Mia again. "So? Did you think about it?"

"What do you think I should do?" Mia asked me.

"I think-"

Rose snatched phone from my hands and put it over her ears. "I advice you to let me take over this matter in my hands. I give you my words that there'll not be a single trace of any evidence left behind the murder scene and not even the experienced sons of the most fucking experienced and renowned detectives would be able to find his corpse which would be buried deep down the litters by then and about remnants, I can't guarantee you anything but if I'll feel even a little merrier after killing him then you may get the chance to recover his bones in the end. My sincerest apologies will always be with you-"

I grabbed my phone back roughly from her hands. "Rose! Have you lost your rubbish female mind?! That's Mia! Our friend and you're talking with her like this!? I mean yes, you can joke with her but what type of joke was that?! As if you would really kill Jake for-"

"I wasn't joking about the murdering part though."

"Then learn to joke with your friends. It comes in handy-"

"I would have acted upon your suggestion fast if it weren't for the fact that I am just behaving as a caring friend who is concerned about her friend's present state and so, I can decline your spiteful advise with my own consent." Rose yelled at me, her words coming out too dignified for her own good.

I shook my head, staring at her incredulously. "It wasn't any spiteful advise. And I am also your friend if by any means, you happened to run into some unfortunate accident and lost your valuable piece of a little corny brain to forget such an important event of your damned life!"

"Of course, you both are my lovely friends, though sometimes, I may doubt the credibility of my choice of friends, considering the amount of selflessness you two have in yourselves, but when your unpleasant time comes, Emily.." Rose put her right hand on my shoulder and I looked at her in confusion. "I can arrange even more advanced methods of burial for Edward, even better than what I have planned for Jake-"

We heard Mia snort from the call and a small smile broke into my own face, seeing Rose trying to stifle a laugh, which eventually transformed into a huge grin across her beauiful face.

"I will consider it as a grim joke." I said, chuckling vibrantly.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Emily?" I heard Mia call my name.

Immediately, both of our attentions turned towards Mia. "Yes, Mia. I am listening."

"Do you think I should tell Jake?"

"I.. umm..I don't know actually. If you take my advise, I don't think you are really ready for bearing a child, both physically and mentally. It can be a grumeosme experience for you and for your career, if things didn't go your way. It's tough to nurture a child and give him care and attention. For now, my opinion would be to prefer an abortion-"

"No! Hell never! I don't want to abort it-"

"Mia, are you out of your mind-"

"I want to keep the baby. It's mine-"

"And Jake's as well. He deserves to know about it-"

"I'll tell him when the right time comes-"

"You don't understand the situation, do you!? Boys get scared when they are told of pregnancy out of nowhere!
They see it as an complusion to commit to that woman, and trust me, you don't want Jake to love you back just because he thinks you're his responsibility!? Would you ever want him to kiss you just because he's feeling guilty of everything he ever did to you!? Love is anything but an actions of a sudden guilt! I mean you weren't even in a relationship with Jake and now you are pregnant with his baby! What do you think he'll say!?"

"Then I'll not tell him anything about my pregnancy."

"Think straight, Mia! This baby will hinder all your prospects of ever having Jake-"

"I'll not choose anything above my baby!"

"Not even Jake?"

Mia took a deep breath. "If possible for me, then yes. Not even Jake."

"But he is the father-"

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him, I guess. After all, I am doing everything for his sake. He wanted me out of his life, I am merely doing what he wants. His life is a mess and he can't tolerate that it's all because of me. It can be anyone but me, he thinks-"

"Did Jake say all this to you!? Is that why you left him all of a sudden from that farmhouse!? Mia, you need to have some faith in yourself-"

"It doesn't matter anymore. I am fed up with everything-"

"That's why you want to bring the baby in this world!? Just because you're fed up with everything?! That's why you don't want Jake to know anything about-"

"The baby is mine, and so are my feelings and my future! So now I just want to live for myself and care for things which are mine!"

"You have to wait some-"

"I haven't left anything behind to wait for it-"

"But that baby needs his father."

"And I want my baby all to myself. I'll give him everything he can ever need. I'll be both his mother and the father and not a single day, he would be able to say to me that he misses his father in his life-"

"You're being too hard on him now, don't you think!?"

"I have been nothing but soft to him all this time, Emily. And I was going to continue being fragile if you wouldn't have remained me of how boys are scared of being informed of pregnancy. And here I was planning to tell him about it so I want to sincerely thank you for being so supportive-"

I closed my eyes in despair and cursed myself under my breath. "I didn't mean it that way, Mia. I swear I never meant-"

"I couldn't feel anymore grateful towards you, Emily!"

"And I would have killed you with my bare hands, if only you were here!" I yelled at her, sensing my anger and frustration boiling my holy blood now.

Mia chuckled to herself. "I miss you, Emily. I really do."

"I miss you too, you rotten dangling dung of a pregnant hairy sheep! First, let me explain myself -"

"You already called me shit, what else do you need to elaborate!?" Mia said humorously.

"Don't try to distract me-"

"I miss Rose too. How is she!? Is she still behaving weired!?"

"Long things short, Rose is anything but Rose and her brain always floats in a pile of delicious gutter, just like she thinks babies come out of gutter!"

Rose looked unaffected with my harsh words and I bit my tongue to hide my disappointment at my efforts to insult her. I sticked my tongue out at her and Rose waved her hand nonchalantly at me.

"She insulted you, right!?" Mia asked, her voice full of mirth and a little hint of excitement.

"Nah! Actually Rose is out of words! She is speechless, too embarrassed to even insult me back-"

"I don't think any actual words are required to insult you, Emily." Rose cut me off in between my craziest ideas to insult her again.

I shot a dirty look at her. "What did you mean by that!?"

"She said you're not worthy of her words." Mia said to me, feeling quite elated at my insult.

"Someone understands me very well." Rose said, blowing air over her long fingernails, looking too innocent for someone who owned two guns and God knows, how many weapons.

Did she have some rifles in possession as well?

What about shotgun? Handgun? TMP? Mine thrower? Butterfly killer!?

Did she have like whole room filled with her armaments?

What's her favourite weapon then!?

Bazooka? Matilda?

Or maybe grenades?

My eyes sparkled with mischief as I laughed wickedly in my imagination and rubbed my palms in excitement.

Maybe I should ask Rose for some of these armaments in near future.

After all, it's all for self-protection anyway!

Edward owns a gun then why can't I?

I am equally eligible to have a gun just as Rose, Edward and Jake are!

But what about Mia, then! She also needs it just as much as I do.

"Do you have a gun, Mia?!"

"What? Why would I need a gun!?"

"For your safety against inevitable dangers! So do you have it or not!?"

"Well I don't really have it-"

"That's it! You need to protect yourself, Mia! How can you be so careless about these things, especially when you're at your weakest moments of life where anybody can easily take advantage of you-"

"And you think I would let them do it!?"

"Well I didn't actually mean it that way of course-"

"Just because I slept with Jake in my emotional turmoil doesn't mean that I would do that with anyone who comes by to coax my carnal desires!"

"I know you-"

"It was nice talking to you after a month, and I teribbly missed you all-"

"You have to listen to me properly, Mia! It concerns you-"

"Listen to you taking only Jake's side in whatever he does, right?! So that you can manipulate my decision and alter my situation anyway you want-"

"You have got it all wrong-"

"No, for the first time in my life, I feel like I am doing the right thing."

"That's where you're wrong, Mia! Try to understand!"

"I didn't call to fight with you so please, just let it go already-"

"Jake has finally come on terms with his feelings. He likes you back, Mia. He really does. It's just a matter of time before he would claim he loves you too, so please, don't back out now. It's everything you've ever wanted to come true and you need to be optimistic about all this. I admit Jake took a lot more time than was required to reciprocate your love but now- Mia! Hello! Hey! Are you there! Why aren't you replying-"

Rose snatched the phone from my hand, threw it roughly on my bed and turned towards me, only to meet with my infamous glare.

"What are you doing!? I was talking something important with Mia-"

"She hung up, didn't you know that!?"

I sighed and looked at Rose with defeat and resignation. "I shouldn't have said all those things to her, right!? She would have told Jake about her pregnancy if only I didn't stick my gummy ass-"

"She already left everything from the start, so it's not that you triggered her into doing anything wrong." Rose placed her left hand behind my back and caressed my spine upside down, her actions calming my raging nerves a little. I was feeling sad and I wanted nothing more than to to crawl around any corner of my room to cry all night.

Without any interruption.

"But it was her time to get a happy ending! Why does a baby has to come between them!? Why in the name of-Why of all the times, now!?"

"It's not just anyone's baby. After all, it's of Jake's-"

"That bloody son of a raped buffallo! I would peel his hanging dick off his balls and stick its pieces back into his egoistic face with a burning candle!"

"That would indeed be very entertaining to see but you shouldn't be this violent-"

"Says the one who is always read to kill someone-"

"Not someone. Men. Just men." Rose clarified herself, glancing beiefly at Michael who was going to turn into a brown lizard very soon, aiming to climb off my high wall to hide behind the curtains of the ceiling.

"That's very sweet of you, Rose-"

"I don't want your sympathy-"

"I wasn't sympathising with you. I was just trying to sound casual and sarcastic-" I told her.

"That you can never be, so end of every topic here-"

"But what about Mia-"

Rose raised her hand at me to stop my ranting, putting her phone on her ear in an unusual determination. She tapped her shoes impatiently on the floor as the time lapsed inevitably and no response came from the other side, until finally she slumped lazily on my bed and stared at me with an impassive expression. She dialed the number yet again and this time, the annoyance on her features was well labelled and obvious to me.

"Yes! Now you pick up my call!? No! Hell! Why're you giving me your fucking malarial reasons! I don't want to listen to anything. Yes. Yes. Right? I am not in New York right now, so go and send my application of sudden leave to the headquarters and yes, email me all the documents and history of progresses made in that 'Emerald Robbery Case' quickly! Don't you go around slumping like a fucking wine barrel just anywhere 'cause when I return, I'll check your progress and character report in serial order. And tell Adrian to send me those audio calls saved in my computer. My password? Last four letters of my surname and first five letters of my account number! So what!? It's not my fault that you don't know my bank account number, go and find it out-And yes, put me on conference with Alyssa, right now!"

"Rose-" I moved forward to talk to her but she cut me off rudely.

"Can't you see I'm in middle of a very important call right now!?" Rose said to me, trying to pretend to be angry on me before she winked at me, hinting me to play along.

That must be a very professional call to her, then.

I decided to play along.

"Oh so you're gonna eradicate poverty and terrorism around the whole world with that call!?" I pointed my finger at her phone before looking back at her with my questioning glare.

Rose threw me a death glare and I danced my skull like a zombie in front of her.

"Do I look like any ancestor of Nelson Mandela to you!?"

I scowled. "Your mom wasn't an...." I pretended to think throughly. "African so it's a no from me-" I stopped speaking seeing Rose busy in her call again.

"Alyssa! Where the hell were your updates for the last few weeks?! I told you to give me all the latest intel related to that 'Monissa serial murders' right?! And how is that case progressing anyway!? Is there any recent murder related to that particular location? No? Alright then, I want you to arrange all the names of victims and survivors of that case in a decreasing order and send that pdf file to me in few days. Sure, I'll visit your office anytime soon."

Rose smiled briefly at something said to her by Alyssa and she put her phone from her left ear to her right one, which I took it as her rare sign of interest in something.

"I told you many times not to flatter me with your British blarney. That makes my rage go-Who says I am smiling right now!? You!? Who cares what the hell do you even say!? Anyway, I want you to do something for me? Now what? I know. I know.
That's why I had already deposited enough money in your account, if only you would bother your lazy fatass to check your bank account."

Finding some spare time to myself, I busied myself in making my bed and readjusting some books, files, documents and clothes in my closet. I glanced at Rose, who was still busy in her call and decided it was better to leave her alone after all.

"Yes, so I was saying that can you find me any secluded room, no no, it should'nt be that sophisticated, just should be spacious enough to eat, sleep and wake up alive. Yeah, and I had emailed you one number and all the details related to that person are linked in the next document, no, not in that account, your 'PantyPanther' account-oh my bad, yeah yeah, on your 'PinkPanther' account so keep texting me any movements related to that number. Where she lives, where she goes, who she meets with, which food she eats...I want you to inform me of everything going on with her!? Okay? Can you do that for me!?"

Rose smirked produly at her friend's response before looking at me, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Yes, that's the spirit I want! Keep it up. Yeah. I had something holding me up here for a time being but I'll return there soon, and when I return, I want everything back in the place as usual. You can call me nagging granny after I hang up. Sure. I'll do it."

"Be careful and try to sleep less at night 'cause your life is at risk. No, I won't cry a tear at your death, you know that, and even if I utter a single sob at your funeral, that'll be because I will lose one of my most trusted confidential comrade and it would take me years to meet someone like you again. Anyway, no I wasn't lying actually."

Rose smiled again and hummed in approval. "Yes. I know I'm selfish. You keep reminding me of my good traits everyday. But I'll hang up now. Sure. Will do that. Good night."

Putting her phone in my desk, Rose walked towards me but I ignored her and stirred the strawberry shake in the container deftly, before placing three glasses on the table and poured light pink shake inside them, one by one.

"Emily." Rose called my name.

I looked at Michael and walked towards him with a big smile plastered on my face, brushing past Rose, not forgetting to bump my arm roughly on her shoulder.

Rose stumbled back a little with the effect of push and I pulled Michael with me towards my desk, taking one glass of shake in my hand and extending my arm in front of Michael. "Here. Take it. You must be tired of standing like a young cow by now."

Michael blinked at me and I passed him my best smile ever.

"I really am fine, Emily Mam-"

"You can call me Emily. I already told you this many times already that no formalities are required with me. Come here and sit-"

"But you are the wife of Sir-"

"Emily, I am talking to you!" Rose yelled at me once again but I didn't pay any heed to her words.

"Not anymore. We are divorced now. You can treat me like a bachelor. After all, we both are of same age-"

"What I'm trying to tell you is very important-" Rose intervened again.

"You didn't tell me anything until now!" I yelled at her and stood up from the bed to walk towards her.
"Here. It's your share." I placed cold glass of shake on her hands with some effort, frowning at her attempt to resist my actions.

"I don't drink-"

"Don't lie. I know it's your favorite."

"That was many years ago. I am not a child anymore."

"You were never a child to me, Rose." I put my hand on her shoulder and hugged her briefly. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You need to become benevolent and cheerful, like the one you were, before you went-"

"I'm leaving for New Jersey tomorrow night."

"What!? Why-"

"I need to settle some important pending matters there. And also..." She removed my hand from her shoulder and turned around to stare outside the window, ger gaze fixed on the beautiful moon peeking from behind the night clouds. "My friend needs me."

"You're going to help Mia?" I asked her, standing beside her to admire the beauty of nature myself.

"Yes. She needs someone there to support her, offer her some sympathies. That's why I asked my friend to make some arrangements for me-"

"Is it the same friend you asked to spy on Mia?"

Rose looked at me in disguised incredulity. "Yes. That would be Alyssa to you, my accomplice."

I nodded in approval, crossing my arms across my chest. "That would account for why you gave her your close friend's contact details so easily."

"She is a trusted comrade to me."

"Just so you know, I am also supposed to come under the same category as her." Feeling offended, I fixed my gaze on Rose who was staring back at me with her own questioning stare. "To you."

"But you already have Mia's number-''

"I am talking about you, Rose and you know that."

Rose sighed in disapproval. "I already trust you enough-"

"There is never 'enough' between friends, Rose!" My eyes glistened with moisture and I took a deep breath. "Or maybe you never considered me as one?"

Rose shook her head as she came forward to touch my hand but I took steps away from her, leaving her hand to remain still in the air instead. She looked at me and then at her empty hand which she curled into a fist and kept it by her side. I felt guilty leaving her in such a vulnerable state but my annoyance and hurt kept me from molifying her.

"I am sorry." Rose whispered, looking down and I smiled a little and put my right arm around her neck, pulling her closer to me.

She looked at me incredulously as I put my head on her shoulder. "We sure have grown up a lot, don't you think?"

"Except you, I suppose everyone have."Rose answered and I smacked her arm playfully. She put her arms around my back, her lips curled up in a rare beautiful smile. "But why do you ask this?"

Pretending to think, I pouted my lips. "That's because now we're hiding things with each other when we used to share every thing, back then when we were young."

"You always believe what you want to, you know that?"

I removed my head from her shoulder and looked at her with an utmost incredulity adorning my features. "That means you lied to me about your life, all this time, right?!"

"You can still believe what you want to."

"Then I believe you must have a very big reason for hiding those things from me."

"Indeed I have, but I ought to have even bigger reason to tell you everything now."

"And what that reason might be?"

"Can you guess?"

"'Cause you're feeling guilty now that I've mentioned how horribly you have treated me all this time?"

"Shouldn't you say this this to Edward instead?"

Sighing in defeat, I looked at her. "I wish I could, but you know the reason."

"That you love him very much?"

I chuckled. "Not anymore. I'm trying to get over him now."

"If only falling out of love was that easy." Rose said to me, sarcasm dripping from her words.

I chuckled heartily. "You'll have a taste of it for sure, I'm telling you. I curse you to writhe and suffer the same as me, and Mia with the power bistwoed to me by all those years of unrequited love I had survived with bravery and passion until now!" I pointed my index finger at her dramatically and Rose smiled evily at my immaturity.

"Sure. Sure. Whatever makes you happy."

"I'll only be happy if you promise me never to hide anything from me." I extended my hand towards her, asking her for her dedication to our friendship. "Ever again."

Rose stared at my hand, lost in her own thoughts.

"Promise?" I asked her yet again, waving my hand in front of her obstinate form.

Hesitantly, she lifted her right hand and brought it closer to my hand but stopped in between, leaving a space of just an inch between our hands. I looked at her but she avoided my gaze and just as I was about to ask her why she stopped in mid, she put her hand on mine, and squeezed it gently. "I promise." She smiled weakly at me and I covered my hand with hers, my heart feeling giddy at this older yet strangely new bond formed between us.

"So can I ask you anything now?"

Rose hesitated and looked down but then she lifted her face, strange determination lining her strict features. "Sure. Go ahead. Ask me anything."

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to ask her all sorts of questions which had been itching my intestines for answers since the day Rose came back. "What type of job do you do?"

Rose tilted her head, raising her eyebrow. "That's it? You wanted to know about my professional life all this time?"

"I want to know everything about you, what you did when you went to New York to why you came back home so suddenly. I want to know everything there is for me to know."

Rose nodded in understanding, her lips pressed in a thin line. "I'm a reporter."

I scowled at her."That's for others to know. I want to know about your real job, Rose"

"You never miss a thing, do you?" Rose scrutinized me carefully, her words more deeper than before.

"Learned from you, I guess." I grinned nervously.

"You're a fast learner, Emily. Like always. That's a very good thing in you."

"And you're pro at changing the topics."

"I am good at many other things actually."

"Like what? Killing people and burying their corpses in the most unapproachable places?"

She laughed at my words and turned around to see Michael, before walking towards him and taking a seat beside him.

"There is nothing unapproachable for the law and the police. Evidences will always be found here and there to incriminate you, no matter how better you are at slicing someone's throat and burying the suspected weapon deep down the earth's core."

"And suddenly you're taking the side of the police-"

Rose threw something on my side and I caught it almost as it was about to hit the floor. I raised it to my eye level only to have my eyes pop out of my sockets to see what it was.

"How do you come across this, Rose?" I held the golden-blue badge in my hands, pressing my question.

"I killed a person and stole it very elegantly and stealthily from him. That was a very smoothest I had ever killed any person in my life and that murder had been very lucrative and remunerative to me, don't you think?"

"Are you fucking kidding me!?"

"As a matter of fact, yes. I am."

I glared at her. "That is not an area of joking, Rose! I want an elaborated explanation of how you accquired-"

"This badge belongs to me."

I gawked at her, curling my fingers tightly around the badge. "Oh my God!"

"Yes. I know. I know." Rose waved her hand at me, nodding her head.

Michael raised his eyebrow at my sudden outburst and tried to look at the object I was holding in my hands. With little struggle in between maintaining his nonchalant taciturnity form and his giant curiosity crawling nervously on his nerves, when he indeed became successful in catching the glimpse of the desired object, he sat still on his place for minutes before he turned around abruptly to look at Rose in an absolute incredulity.

"Is this really true?" I asked Rose and she hummed in response.

"Wow. I never thought I would ever see you in a job like this."

"Everybody's future changes once in a lifetime."

"But yours has turned out quite beautifully, even more astonishingly acceptable to me, I guess."

"I'm glad then-"

"But do they really hire someone as younger as you in such a courageous job?"

"Have you started doubting my bravery and courage now?" Rose asked me, dangerously narrowing her eyebrows at me.

Nervously, I handed the badge to her and sat beside her, on the opposite side of Michael. "No! Why would I ever doubt something in you which has always inspired me to become a strong and independent woman myself? I was just asking if they hire sophomores and all?"

"I'm just practising there for a time being before I get placement as a real officer."

"Aww my Rose. I'm so proud of you! All this time I had doubted your morals but you turned out to be-Wait, what about the two guns do you own then? Do they give guns to new learners like you, as well!?"

Rose grinned at me and then held out her two guns in front of me. Then, she took one gun and looked at me. "This one is legal, given to me for my safety against unseen danger." She held out the other gun and emptied down all the bullets on her hand before placing it on my bed. "This one is mine-"

"It must be illegal then-"

"It's licensed gun, Emily. I'm totally eligible to keep it with me."

Feeling heavily jealous, I crossed my arms around my chest, my cheeks puffed up in trivial rage. "Sure. You're eligible for this distorted piece of a steel-"

"It's not a steel-"

"Fine! It'a not steel, but whatever it is, I'll never be able to get-"

From the corner of my eyes, I saw Rose slid her one gun towards me. When I looked up, she smiled genuinely at me. "You can touch, hold and examine it if you want, but I don't know when you'll get your own-"

"Oh!! Thank you! Thank you! God bless you all sorts of brains!" Gripping the solid metal in my hands, I reveled at the amazing feeling which shot through my body just as the cold metal touched my warm skin. I grinned in satisfaction and played with it for a while, opening it, closing it and pressing it's trigger again and again, not being able to stop myself.

Suddenly feeling too childish with my own actions, I quickly put the gun on Rose's lap and averted my gaze somewhere else, too embarrassed to even look at Rose or Michael who were now staring at me with strange curiousity and amusement of their own minds.

"Sorry, I got carried away."

"I understand. It happened with me too, when I saw the gun for the first time. But I got over my crush for weapons a long time ago, considering I practically had to live with them 24/7."

"Sounds dreamy to me."

"But takes more time, patience, devotion, courage, intelligence and teamwork than any dream I have ever seen, I suppose."

"But you're a Federal Agent, Rose. It's more than anything you can ever ask for, right?"

"I'm just an apprentice for now-"

"But you have the badge-"

"Badges don't bring justice and equality, Emily. People do and those who do, are given badges as a reminder to continue bringing justice and equality to every wronged person around the whole world." I nodded in understanding seeing Rose put her empty glass of shake on the table. "And besides, I was selected on a merit, among many other practitioners of other branches of criminal investigation, as a rare chance to practise under renowned, experienced but reserved FBI agents in the hope that I'll replace them soon, to walk on the same path they would create and devise me to go onto."

I studied Rose with an open interest.
"But still, I think you shouldn't go alone tomorrow night, considering you must have many enemies-"

"Who says I'm going alone?"

"But you didn't mention anyone else-"

"I'm going with Michael." Rose answered, her gaze fixed on Michael who stood abruptly from his seat to look at Rose.

"What!?" We both shouted in unison.

Rose walked towards Michael, who cringed away from her after her little too big announcement for him to digest in a single day.

"My apologies for not informing you earlier." Rose smiled at him before her eyes turned darker, rare hint of evil dancing behind her dreamy orbs. "But you're coming with me."

"But you didn't even tell-" Michael started to complain.

"Do I need to tell you everything now?" Rose answered him, in her usual arrogant tone.

"He's right, Rose. You should've told him something-" I tried to side with Michael but Rose cut me off, before I could even complete my sentence.

"I need you to bring me a car at 'Sunlight Star Espresso' by 8 in the evening. And when I say 8, it means you should be there, sharp at 8'O clock, by hook or by crook. I won't tolerate any ridiculous excuses-"

"I'll be there in time." Michael answered, his voice coming out a bit frustrated than usual.

"And don't forget to bring essentials with you."

"Essentials?" Michael enquired quickly.

"We would be staying there for more than weeks. So essentials, as in like cloth, food, water, toiletries-"

"But I don't use toiletries-"

"Does the world revolve around you?" Rose asked bitterly and I looked at Michael with pity.

"No but that's the truth. I don't-"

"I'm not going to stop the car even if you ended up blasting your bladders or intestines on the passenger seat and no matter how vulnerable you'll be by then, I would drag you by your ears and make you clean all the mess you'll create in my car with your tongue-"

"So basically you're telling him to bring a toilet seat and take it all the way to New Jersey just so that he could pee there without disturbing your very skilful driving right!?" I asked Rose.

She shrugged. "I don't have any problem. The car is more than big enough for two of us. Back seat will be empty throughout the whole journey-"

"And where would you go if you think you want to slap your bladder so badly!?" I asked Rose, trying to stifle a grin.

"Gas Stations have been maintaining
proper tidy washrooms for years now. I think my bladders can sustain short walks to those washrooms until they get the chance to get slapped-"

"And what if it's too urgent and no gas stations are to be found in a close range-"

"Where am I going!? Wildlife Sanctuary or National Parks where only plants and animals live!?" Rose snapped back at me.

"By the way, sanctuaries and parks are maintained by humans so..."

"So what!? We can't find washrooms in the middle of deep forests no matter how many humans pass by-"

"That's why I'm asking what would you do if it's beyond control-"

"I'd open the car door and make my way through the bushes! Is it too hard to believe now!?"

"Yes. It's indeed very hard to believe but Michael can always bring diapers with him, right!? This way he will stay away from Rose's radar without creating any mess." I advised Michael who literally cringed at my words.

"And don't forget to pack some spare diapers for Rose too. I don't want my
very respectable friend doing her business behind the bushes." I turned towards Rose who was now fuming with anger. "That would be very unhygienic for her."

"What!?" This time Rose and Michael both shouted in unison at my words and I smirked in victory, seeing second hand embarrassment written clearly on Rose's face.

"You sure enjoy saying gibberish, huh?"

"Strangely enough, I have learned this, as well, from you, I guess."

Rose nodded meekly, her body showing tiredness of a day and she passed a weak smile to me. "That's good. I'll be going now. Bye Emily. Take care and be careful. Good night to you." She turned towards the window only to retreat her steps back, stopping in front of Michael, her arms crossed in front of her chest in a menacing glare. "Who're you waiting for? Dancing disney princesses or fire balls from Pokemons!?"

I snorted at her choice of cartoons and quickly put a hand above my mouth to stop laughing out aloud.

"I was waiting for you to climb down first-"

"So I should let you fall down and kill yourself while I stay down to watch such an amusing scene unfolding in front of me, right!?"

Michael looked at Rose with hidden admiration and happiness as a faint smile made its way across his handsome face. "Are you actually worried for me?"

Rose ignored his question and stood beside the window, waiting for him to step on it and climb down first.

When Michael put his step on the window, Rose gripped his arm carefully, though he didn't look like he need any help from the start.

"I can handle now." Michael whispered to Rose, hinting her that she could leave his arm and let him climb on his own now. Rose didn't pay any heed to his words and instead, focused on making him land safely on his feet.

After Michael was down on the railing, Rose left his arm and clutched his hand tighly while he slide his fingers along hers, holding her hand firmly. "Step on that right rod, no! Not that right. Middle right of that metal bundle, you idiot! That dangling loose rod seems slippery to me! Step on the second last rod on your left instead!"

After helping Michael down on the road properly, Rose looked at me and smiled a little. "Take care Emily. And don't stress yourself for those stupid pages which can't decide anything that you've gone through all fifteen years of your life." She pointed her finger at the divorce papers sprawled on my study table and I smiled at her, my eyes pooling with moisture at her genuine concern.

"I will take care of myself. But I wonder one thing though?"

"And what that might be, I wonder myself..." Rose answered in a playful tone.

"What were you searching for here, for which you...stayed outside whole night for days..and almost weeks?" I completed my sentence, struggling to find the right words before looking at Rose who was standing still, her sudden silent and erect posture making me even more suspicious.

"I don't think it's really important to share 'cause it's just a trivial matter, you know all these murder mysteries-"

"I love mysteries, you know that right? My bookshelf and closet are filled with books based on criminology and stuffs based on them though I'm a doctor by profession so you must know of my addiction for murder mysteries by now?"

"I do but still-"

"What're you hiding from me, Rose?"

"Its nothing-"

"And you promised me something just some minutes ago?"

Rose raked her hand through her scarlett hairs, taking a deep long breath. "Look, I do want to tell you-"

"Then why don't you, ever?"

"There is a big reason-"

"Fine, don't tell me then!" I turned away from her, anger radiatiating from my sides. "And don't you ever dare to talk to me again 'cause I hate cheaters. You went back on your promise you made to me in so much honesty, I can't believe it! Why do I always end up trusting the wrong people-"

"Its not about trust, Emily. I trust you. You're my best friend, you know that."

"But you don't know it, right!?"

"I don't want to put you in any danger, there are men who're searching for me like hawks, they trace my each and every action. I don't have a privacy, Emily 'cause wherever I go, I find even my soul stalked by those monsters. Nothing is hidden from them. You'll all be in danger because of me-"

"Who're these men, Rose?! Did they hurt you?! Are you okay!? Tell me-" I gripped her arms with force, shaking her in urgency and concern but Rose looked lost in her own thoughts. She was in a trance.

"Whoever loves me will always die." She cupped my cheeks with her both hands and I saw her eyes raging in a dark storm as a lone tear trickled down her face. "And I don't want anything to happen to you. Or to any of my friends. I've worked too hard to keep those men finding anything about my past life, Emily. Please don't ask me anything anymore."

"Pl..ease.." She whispered to me, her voice trembling with emotions and my heart ached with an unbearable pain, seeing her in this state.

"Shhhh. I won't ask anything, I promise. But just tell me what're you here for and whose men I should stay away from?"

She lifted her gaze to look at me, her eyes swollen red with unshed tears.

"Those men are dangrous, Emily. Never go near around them. That's why I'm more worried. You'll have been more protected and safe with Edward. They don't go after powerful and armed people. But I know I can't ask you to go back now 'cause that would be very selfish of me."

"But still, why did you come back suddenly!? What is that thing you're after, Rose? You have to tell me now. I can't see you in such a vulnerbale-"

"You want to know that?"

"Yes I do. Please tell me. I swear I won't tell a soul-"

"I'm searching for my mom's grave, Emily."

"What!" I snapped my neck to look at her, my eyes bulging out of my sockets but I didn't find Rose anywhere. She was out of my sight before I could even comprehend her revelation.

Hurriedly, I made my way towards my window and peeked from above to see her climbing down the pipes, her sombreness returning back as usual as I wondered how there could be her mom's grave, anywhere around the city...

Or around anywhere.

When she was very much alive at present.