“Calm down, Giggy! I'm going to wrap some band aids around your cuts, okay?” Ken murmured as he caressed my shoulder in a comforting manner.

He turned around and walked to the bathroom to get the first aid kit as he asked, “Huh, you're a woman with high tolerance, yet you looked like you were in so much pain. What would have happened if I wasn't here?”

I almost scoffed at him as I glanced at the cuts on my hands.

“Of course, he has treated me so good for the past nine years. What would happen if he hadn't been here?” I asked myself.

I shook my head as I muttered, “You don't matter to me anymore, Ken. I'm not willing to stay in a false relationship.”

By morning, my wounds worsened and throbbed painfully. I noticed this as soon as my eyes fluttered open.

I groaned in pain as I stared at my fingers which had band aids covering them.

Ken noticed this and grabbed my arm to make me sit up.

I groaned once again as I wrenched my arm out of his grip. However, he gave me a flirty smile and wrapped his arms around me.

I resisted the urge to kick him away. Fortunately, the hug didn't last long and it wasn't too intimate.

“Morning, sleepy head.” He murmured.

I moved back and shuddered, feeling repulsed as I yelled, “It's so early in the morning. Can't you let me sleep peacefully?”

A worried look showed on his face as he asked, “You look so pained and you were hurt pretty badly yesterday. So I'm driving you to the hospital.”

Even though I wanted to protest since I wasn't too hurt and my heart was broken by him, I sighed and climbed out of bed.

As we entered the hospital, we spotted Poppy standing in line at the pharmacy stall and there was a bandage on her forehead.

Ken’s bright and caring personality quickly dimmed.

He left me and jogged to Poppy. He touched her bandaged forehead gently as he asked, “What's going on?”

Poppy grinned at him and then her gaze landed on me.

“It's just a head wound. So you guys came to the hospital to see a doctor too?”

Ken looked nervous as he moved his gaze back to me and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead.

He nodded, “Exactly. My younger sister's hands were cut up yesterday and it became worse this morning. We're here to see a doctor.”

I was so accustomed to Ken calling me his younger sister.

Since he made me swear to keep our relationship a secret, he has always referred to me as his best friend’a younger sister whom he was watching over.

It was just a few of his tightest friends that were aware of our secret relationship.

Poppy’s grin widened, “Since she's your guest, you must watch over her and take care of her. Anyway, you guys can move on now. I'm heading home after I pay for my drugs.”

She pointed at the pharmacy and we followed her gaze to see that it was her turn.

She paid for her drugs and Ken walked closer to her then turned his back to her as he said, “Climb on. I'm going to give you a piggy back ride to your car.”

He glanced at me as he said, “Giggy, don't go anywhere, I'll be right back.”

When this scene unfolded in front of me, I felt dizzy and I gripped the door beside me, unable to reply.

He didn't even care to ask if I was okay with it. As soon as he said that, Poppy climbed onto his back and he took her out of the hospital to the parking lot.

The truth was that, even though he pretended well, his true emotions peak out whenever he sees Poppy which shatters his pretence.

However, he didn't seem to take notice.

I laughed sarcastically as I shook my head then made my way down the hallway to the doctor's office.

It turned out to be very serious. The doctor examined my wounds and said that they have been contaminated because of not using first aid immediately when I got the cuts and bacteria have landed on the cuts and multiplied.

I felt worried for my health and I wanted to find Kena and tell him about my condition like I usually told him everything. However, I remembered that I couldn't do that anymore.

I laughed sarcastically again as I watched Dr. LeBron clean my wounds.

“After I'm done, I'll write a prescription and you'll go down to the pharmacy to pay for your drugs.” Dr. LeBron informed me.

“Okay.” I replied with a sigh.

As soon as he was done cleaning my wounds, I made my way to the pharmacy and bought my drugs.

However, I was having a headache and it made it hard to open my eyes.

There was no sign of Ken and I had no idea if he was going to return to take me home.

I had no way of getting back home since I didn't have any money on me and he drove me there. So I had to contact him.

I texted him, [Where are you? I'm waiting for you at the hospital.]

He texted back after a few seconds, [I apologize for leaving you there. I was going to return to take you home, but when we reached Poppy's house, she started experiencing migraines and I had to stay to take care of her.]

When I saw his text, I called him since he didn't say whether he was returning or not.

“Here are your tickets for the movie, Mr. Ken Russo.” I heard a man say as soon as he answered the call, but he sounded far away.

“Alright.” Ken replied to the man, his voice also sounding far away.

I heard them even though he pulled the phone far away.

So I tried to comfort myself as I said, “Don't worry, I can take care of myself.”

However, he said, “You should take a taxi home. I'll tell you all that you want to know when I get back.”

It was obvious that he was just going to tell me more false information.

I was so angry that I ignored him and hung up.

I remembered that I could call an Uber driver to take me home since I didn't have any cash on me and Uber uses online payments.

So I ordered an Uber and it took me home.

However, Ken didn't return home for that night or the next night.

I couldn't sleep because of a party that was going on in an expensive club that was in the next street. The music was too loud that I could hear the lyrics clearly and the beats.

When I walked out earlier, I saw lanterns floating in the sky and I knew that the party goers were setting off floating lanterns into the sky.

I grabbed my laptop and continued working on a design since I was a graphic designer for a film industry.

As I was creating my design, I received a notification from my Facebook on my laptop and I checked it to see a story.

Poppy had posted a video of the floating lanterns as music from the club blared on.

I could hear Ken's voice in the video while he stayed off screen, "After years of wandering, I find my way back home, and here, the lanterns float high in the sky, a warm embrace in all their splendor!”

I watched the video over and over again, unable to stop the sadness I felt in my chest at the realization that they were still together.

I wanted to research their relationship online, but then I realized that I really didn't care, so I continued my work.

That afternoon, I handed my transfer request letter to my Boss, Mr. Dan.

He sighed after I told him that I wanted to transfer to another company back home since I was tying the knot soon.

However, he smiled as he said, “I can't believe I'm going to lose such a hard working employee.”

I was speechless, so I smiled back at him and said, “You're the best boss that I've ever had!”

I texted my co-workers that I was leaving, and they pressed on taking me out for Karaoke night to honor my approaching wedding.

So I agreed and made arrangements for us to go to a Karaoke club that Ken and I usually went to.

It was the only Karaoke club that I knew and Ken told me it was the best in town.

We arrived at the Karaoke club, and when the second person of my friends was singing, I felt thirsty.

So I went to the bar to order a drink when I saw Poppy collecting a sprite from the bartender.

Her lips stretched into a smile, “I didn't know you would also be here! By the way, Ken took me out on our first date to this place back when we were in high school. After that, this place became a second home to us.”

“Oh.” I muttered, not wanting to talk to her.

I glanced at the bartender as I said, “A sprite.”

He handed me one and I turned around to go back to our table since we were strangers.

However, she thought otherwise and said, “Ken bought you a sprite the last time too. You also don't drink alcohol?”

A frown fell on my brows when I heard that.

Honestly, I could drink alcohol. It was just that Ken always stressed on buying non-alcoholic drinks for me and making me avoid alcoholic ones.

He would then say that good wives don't drink alcohol.

To me, it seemed like he wanted me to maintain a good image and good health.

However, I've now noticed that he was just used to doing it.

I never really liked sprite anyway, it was Poppy that liked it.

When I didn't respond, a curious look appeared on her face as she asked, “I have a question. It's been bugging me since we first met. We are kind of similar, aren't we, younger sister?”

That was when I felt so embarrassed and belittled. She looked so proud and I ran back to my group of friends with worry etched on my face.

As I sang together with my friends, I felt happy and light. However, when I was about to forget the bad company I had at the bar, someone I didn't expect to see walked into the Karaoke club.

When he saw my large group of co-workers, he paused.

His gaze captured mine and I saw hate in his eyes. I didn't know what would make him look at me with such hate.

His jaw clenched then he turned right and disappeared into the supply closet.

I saw his text, [Come to the supply closet.]

I was surprised, but excused myself then made my way to the supply closet.

As soon as I entered, he gripped my hair and banged my head against the wall.

He had never hurt me before now.

Shock and astonishment filled me and I realized that he didn't look regretful at all. He looked angry.

“What's the reason for you hitting Poppy? She had a head wound and a headache! I said that I would tell you what you want to know when I get back home, yet you acted rashly.” He yelled as he glared at me.

My head throbbed and I massaged the sides of my temple.

I noticed Poppy through the opened door. She walking towards us as she held her bandaged head and her jeans thorn at the knees.

“I-” I started, but he shushed me just as Poppy swayed on her feet and crashed into the wall beside her as if she was shooting a movie.

He left me and rushed to her. He steadied her and held her arm to support her.

“I was going to make her come to you to beg for your forgiveness like I said I would. You shouldn't have come over to her.” He murmured as his expression softened and warmth appeared in his eyes.

A heavy sigh left Poppy's lips and she pouted, “Don't worry, it wasn't her fault. Go easy on her.”

“Once her brother knows about you manhandling her, your relationship with him will crumble.” She muttered.

As soon as he heard Cody's name, a nervous look appeared on his face, but then it was gone as his anger showed again.

He shook his head, “He is the one that put her under my car, so I have to discipline her as I see fit.”

I scoffed, “What made you believe that I'm the one at fault? Don't you think it's unjust to condemn me without hearing my side of the story? Even in the eyes of the law, a verdict requires proof beyond a doubt. Yet, you've already passed judgment on me, and worse, taken action against me, all without seeking the truth.”

His jaw clenched as his nostrils flared in anger, “You probably had the bartender sworn to secrecy and you tried to hide your misdeed.”

I was shocked and hurt by his words.

A sarcastic laugh escaped my lips, “How do you know it was my fault when the bartender has been sworn to secrecy?”

He scoffed, “Poppy would never lie, especially not about you; we've in the same group of friends for ages, she's an honest person.”

“What about me? Am I a liar?” I asked him as I shook my head in disbelief.

Ken and I have been dating for ages as well, and he should have known that I would never lie to him or at least that was what I expected.

However, that wasn't the case. Being together for ages didn't mean anything to him because of Poppy.

A single whisper from her lips was enough to seal my fate, denying me any opportunity to plead. This was a stark example of bias.

It dawned on me that I was merely a backup, a temporary substitute with no value.

I'd had enough, so I turned and walked away, leaving Ken's outraged shouts behind.

My head was still throbbing and I could feel a bump on my forehead. Not wanting my co-workers to see it and ask questions, I decided to leave.

So I made my way to the secretary’s desk and asked for the bill.

I called one of my closest co-workers, “I need to go home because of something super important. I've already paid the bill, so have fun!”

I was exhausted and staggered back to the community. my keys jingling in my trembling hands. The elevator ride felt endless. My mind raced with thoughts of what to pack, what to leave behind.

The apartment door opened silently,and i was so sick when I stood in the living room and saw what was happening in Ken and Poppy's room through the bedroom door which was not completely closed!