I heard a knock on my door.

Getting up from my bed, I went to answer the door knowing exactly who it was.

"Come on in." I smiled, holding the door open for her to get in.

"Here is your cell phone. I'll come back to get it later okay?"

"Thank you Ha na." I smiled at my newly found friend/nurse.

"You are welcome Ria. I'll see you later."

I shut the door after she left before settling back on my bed.

Searching through the contact list on my cell phone, I clicked on the number I wanted to call and dialed it.

After the third ring, the voice from the phone spoke to me.

"Timothy and Jane Kim's residence. How may I help you please?" Mrs. Kim said.

After leaving L.A several months ago, I severed all means of connection with the outside world. I needed a head space from all the drama and heartbreak.

It wasn't ideal but it was what I thought I needed at the time.

Now hearing Mrs. Kim's voice again had brought back all the pain.

A sob constricted in my throat, cutting off the words I wanted to say.

"Hello?" She spoke again, this time with a little bit of concern.

It was quiet for a while. I was starting to think dialing her number was a bad idea and thinking of putting the call to an end. But what she said next broke my heart all over again.

"Ria?" A sob tore from her throat.

"Ria darling, it's you isn't it?"

"Mrs. Kim." My lips quivered and a new sob threatened to break out.

"Oh child! Timothy and I haven't heard from you in months. We were so worried about you."

"All we do know is that you are in Korea and that's it. Are you okay? Everyone is so worried about you Ria."

I swallowed the sob that threatened to escape and wiped off my tears.

"Mrs. Kim, don't be worried because I'm fine. Please tell everyone not to worry okay?"

"I miss each and everyone of you." I began to cry.

"Oh Ria, do not cry. It breaks my heart to see you in pain. When are you coming home? Don't you think it's time you come back home?"

I sucked in a breath before releasing a deep sigh.

"What's wrong Ria? Talk to me."

I got up from my bed and walked to the window, looking at the beautiful night view of the city of Seoul with my phone glued to my ear.

"How is Kay?" I asked silently.

Mrs. Kim took a deep breath before giving me a reply.

"She's okay I guess. But I must tell you the truth, none of us is happy about your sudden disappearance, especially Kayla."

"She must be really mad at me." I thought sadly.

"I think you should come home Ria. Please come home now."

"I don't think I'm ready." I spoke, drawing out slowly.

"When will you be ready? Is it after my demise? After Timothy is dead or after Kayla is a grandma or Dante-"

My eyes went wide immediately she pronounced his name.

My Dante. My sweet Dante.

"How is he?" I cut her words short.

"Who?" She asked furiously.

It was so obvious she wasn't agreeing with me not coming back. I could feel it.

"Dante?" She sighed before speaking. Her voice came out softly this time around.

My lips quivered upon hearing his name and I choked back a sob.

"That poor man. Since you left, he buried himself in work. Even though he was here with us in L.A, we hardly saw him."

"My heart really breaks for him each time I remember him. He had it worse among us all."

I could no longer fight back the sobs this time. My heart was breaking all over again.

"Ria darling," Mrs. Kim said softly

"Come back home now."

The conversation I had with Mrs. Kim played in my head repeatedly all night.

I did a lot of thinking and realised now more than ever that I had done everyone wrong.

I had left without leaving them the option to persuade me to do otherwise. I had broken their hearts and now I feel so ashamed.

I knocked on the door to Mrs. Jung's office and waited for permission before going in.

"How's my favourite patient doing today?" She smiled, offering me the sit across her.

I mumbled a 'thank you' before sitting down.

"I'm okay. How are you?"

"I'm very fine thank you."

"Are you ready for today's session?"

I should say yes, take my session as I used to, go back to my room, eat, sleep, wake up and continue the circle.

But my heart felt the opposite today.

I want to go home.

"Mrs. Jung"

"Yes Miss Lee?"

"I've decided that today will be my final session with you."

"May I know the reason why?"

"Because I'm going back home today."

----------------------------------------------------------

Cici has been gone for a while now. If I'm going to escape, there's no better time to do that but now.

"Focus Ria, you got this."

If I'm going to break out of this car trunk, I'll need to pry the trunk latch open and in order to do that I'll need some kind of instrument.

"Think fast Ria. Think."

I used my hand to feel around the car trunk, hoping to find something useful to save myself from sudden death.

It took a while but eventually I found a screwdriver.

Perfect.

After trying for so long and the car trunk won't open, it was obvious I had failed.

But I wasn't planning on giving up.

Not me and definitely not today.

I used my legs to feel around the car trunk one more time and this time I found a tire jack.

I used the tire jack to push on the center of the trunk near the latch, and surprisingly I ended up breaking it.

I wanted to scream for joy but I was more than afraid of getting caught. Instead, I opened the car trunk as slowly as I could, and got out as fast as I could.

I sighed, feeling a huge amount of relief.

I wonder why she came to her parent's home though.

I thought, taking a proper look of my surrounding.

Cici has always lived away from home. She has her own penthouse, so coming to her parent's home especially when she's supposed to be on the run? I think it's a stupid move but most importantly I need to get out of here fast.

I saw Cici and her parents come out of the house. I ducked down behind the car trunk instantly.

"Call me when you land in Morroco okay?" Her father said, placing a soft kiss on her head.

Morroco? She's fleeing? OMG!

I have to do something. She's not getting away with this, not with everything she's done.

"Does Dante know about your sudden vacation in Morroco?" Her mother rolled her eyes.

"I no longer have any form of relationship with Dante. If you truly love me like you say then you wouldn't go on and tell him about where I'm going or what I'm doing." She spat.

So rude.

Obviously her parents were not aware that their precious daughter was a monster in form of human.

Well it's time they get informed.

Without a second thought, I walked to where they were, my eyes shooting daggers at Cici.

"You." Her mother exclaimed.

If looks could kill, either Cici or myself would be dead by now.

We were both staring each other down, you would think it was a staring contest.

Only that our facial expressions seem deadly if you ask me.

"The Morettis have been looking everywhere for you. Why come here instead of going to them?" Her father said coldly.

"And do you know who was behind my sudden disappearance?"

"How is that any of our business?" Her mother said, her voice sounding nonchalant.

"How about you ask your lovely daughter?" I said, quoting with my two hands.

"And what nonsense are you insinuating young woman?" Her father uttered in annoyance.

"Your daughter worked with my ex-boyfriend, got me kidnapped, tried to kill me, killed my ex-boyfriend may his soul find peace after all he's done, and she even tried to kill Dante."

Both her parents looked at her, hoping she would deny the allegations against her. But what she did surprised them even more.

She took out a gun from her bag and pointed it at me.

Her parents gasped with a look of horror on both their faces.

"Ceilia Ferrari, what on earth are you doing?" Her father shouted.

"You see, I don't know if you are brave or just plainly stupid. You should have remained lost because now I have every reason to kill you."

"You took everything away from me you bitch. I won't forgive you until I end your miserable life."

Uh-oh.

"You can still be forgiven for all you've done Cici. All you need to do is let go of the gun and surrender yourself to the cops."

"Shut up you stupid bitch. I do not need your forgiveness you hear me? Why am I wasting my time listening to your nonsense?" She screamed, tears escaping from her eyes.

"You ruined my life. You took everything away from me. I won't let you get away with it."

Fuck this. If I'm gonna die any way, I might as well say my piece.

"You know what Cici? Fuck you." I screamed, my voice coming out even louder than I thought.

I saw her flinch and knew she was taken aback just like her parents.

"I took nothing away from you. You ruined your own life yourself. You are the cause of your own misery so don't you dare say it's my fault because you know deep down that is not the truth. What you are doing right now is trying to blame me for your own wrongdoings because you are afraid of making things worse for your miserable self by blaming yourself."

"You know what? You are gonna kill me anyway so I might as well let you know now. Dante will never ever love you because you are a fucking monster. You don't even love yourself, how can you make a man love you?"

"Stop." She screamed, one hand clutching onto the gun and the other, clutching her ear.

"I'm going to kill you."

"I've heard that over and over again so just fucking do it. I've never met a lowlife like you in my whole life."

"You are a monster Cici Ferrari and no one will love you if keep living your life this way." I shook my head sadly.

"Ceilia please don't do this." Her father tried to hold her but she yanked his hold off her.

"Maybe you are right, maybe no one will love me. But you know what? You won't be here to see it." She pulled the trigger and everything went still.

I stood there. I heard the gunshot sound, I watched her parents scream but I was also completely lost.

----------------------------------------------------------

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Los Angeles International Airport. Local time is 06:56 AM and the temperature is 12°C.

For your safety and comfort, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened until the Captain turns off the Fasten Seat Belt sign...”

The announcement woke me up from sleep. I felt liquid on my cheek and it turned out to be my own tears.

It's been a year but the memories from my past keep haunting my dreams in form of nightmares.

Wiping my tears off, I got up from my seat.

"To where Miss?" The taxi driver asked.

I wondered whether to go to Kay or to the Kims or-

Dante.

I wondered if he still wanted to see me after how much I hurt him.

I wondered if he missed me, if he still cared-

If he still loves me or not.

I gave the driver Dante's address though I would be back in square one if Dante refused to see me.

What if he's married?

OMG what if he has a wife and his own kids?

"God what have you done Ria?" I muttered under my breath.

The driver stopped the car upon seeing the red light and I looked out of the window, admiring the city.

Nothing had really changed, at least it still looked the same to me.

I know Kay wouldn't agree with me though. She would probably list a million changes that occured in L.A that I didn't notice and bite my head off if I still refused to agree with her.

The thought made me smile and it also brought tears to my eyes.

God, I miss my best friend so much.

But the smile on my face vanished immediately my eyes landed on the Billboard.

Uh-oh.

I always knew happy endings were far-fetched.

Even if I wasn't a believer before, pretty sure I was now one.

"Can I change my destination please?" I told the driver.