Page One : How it started
1408 Words
It felt like just yesterday that Ariana had arrived in Kapuk and started working as an executive at V Fashion—a label founded by Tina, a well-known trendsetter in the fashion industry.
Time flew too fast.
Five years ago, Ariana was a clueless country girl from Aro who got lost in the city, struggling to find a job. She had passion, but not the qualifications to back it up. She hadn’t gone to fashion school. She didn’t come from a wealthy family who could fund her dreams. And she had no connections. She had nothing but stubborn determination.
Tina started her business seven years ago. No one could keep up with her pace. She was known as the iron lady of the fashion industry—owning nearly a dozen famous labels across different markets, each with its own identity. For two years, she suffered from manpower problems. Then she found Ariana.
That day, Tina saw desperation in Ariana’s eyes—the hunger to prove herself. She never regretted hiring her.
With Ariana by her side, the business grew rapidly in just five years.
Almost midnight.
Ariana sat alone at her desk, putting the final touches on her annual campaign proposal. The budget made her want to scream. The numbers didn’t match the expected output, and she had spent three nights fixing it after office hours.
It had to be done tonight. Tina would review it in the morning before moving on to the next task.
She clicked Submit.
Then she glanced at her watch. 12:05 AM.
“Oh crap,” she muttered, shoving her things into her backpack.
“Tina will forgive me,” she whispered as she rushed to the elevator, the last person leaving the twenty-first floor.
The lobby lights were dimmed after midnight. The security guards patrolling the building gave her some comfort—otherwise, the empty office building would’ve been terrifying.
Why am I suddenly scared? I’ve done this so many times. Nothing ever happens.
She walked along the sidewalk, arguing with herself.
Ghosts don’t exist. Even if they did, why would they bother me?
Then she laughed quietly.
Well, I was always with Tina and Leo before. Of course ghosts would be afraid of Tina. She’s scarier than any of them.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the bright city lights that stung her eyes.
Then she realized she hadn’t eaten dinner.
She turned onto a smaller road. It wasn’t as crowded, but there were still people walking around. Laughter and chatter drifted from a nearby street café, filling the air with warmth and comforting.
None of the stalls caught her interest. She walked into the nearest convenience store and bought toast, a bento, some snacks, and drinks.
She paid, then sat alone on a bench in the park.
The dim lighting soothed her eyes. She watched young skaters playing—don’t their parents worry about them?—breathed in the fresh air, and caught glimpses of a movie playing at the outdoor theater.
She checked her phone. Willy.
Her brother had sent countless messages since afternoon. Willy was the type who would send a thousand texts if Ariana didn’t reply.
Okay, Wills. Relax. I’m replying.
She sent him a quick message, then replied to the rest.
Once, Willy had shown up at her office building just because she hadn’t replied for three days.
My phone was broken, Wills. I was going to buy a new one after payday. What’s wrong with you? It’s not like I’m dead.
A notification popped up. Calendar reminder. She stared at the screen.
EXCLUSIVE ADS & BRAND AMBASSADOR APPOINTMENT – PROPOSAL DUE
Her brain froze.
She had just survived the never-ending budgeting hell. Now she had to prepare proposals for a new campaign.
Oh my God. Time really flew.
She grabbed her hair. The proposal was due tomorrow.
“Don’t panic,” she whispered to herself.
She opened her backpack, took out her tablet, and checked her notes. Relief washed over her.
In the afternoon. I can still do this.
She took a sip of her drink—then froze.
Oh no.
She tugged her hair again. After the proposal, I still have to prepare the model lineup. Who would take this job on such short notice?
Her chest tightened. She was on the edge of tears.
She hated making mistakes. It was why she’d become a perfectionist. Whenever she messed up, she couldn’t even bring herself to talk to people.
Her eyes stung—but it wasn’t frustration.
It was her contact lenses.
She took off her glasses, ready to remove the lenses and throw them away. Then—
CRACK.
Something hit her lenses. Everything happened too fast. She gasped as the glass shattered in her hands.
“What the hell was that?” she squeaked, her voice trembling.
Blue stains splattered across her clothes, wrist, glasses frame, and face. She stared at her reflection on her phone.
Paint.
She looked up. A man stood nearby, holding a long-barreled paintball gun. What kind of i***t brings a gun—even a toy—into a public space?
“Are you okay?” the man ran toward her.
“What’s broken? Did we hit you?”
“That was dangerous!” Ariana snapped, inhaling sharply.
She checked her watch.
2:45 AM.
“Oh no…” she whispered.
“Oh no,” the man echoed, panic in his voice.
____
Aston and his friends—Henry, Ali, and Luca—had just finished their concert at the stadium. It was the final show of their national tour. Their world tour would begin soon.
They went to the park, beer cans in hand.
At first, they played around at the skate park. Then they sat on a bench. Henry, already tipsy, opened Aston’s bag and pulled out a long-barreled paintball gun.
“Put it down! That’s not funny!” Luca snatched it from him. “You could hit someone!”
“Why… are… you… carrying… this?” Henry giggled. “Shoot me! Shoot me!”
“I brought it to play in my garage,” Aston said. He hadn’t touched the beer. He preferred to drive after concerts, cruising alone until dawn to calm his body down.
“You should unload the paintballs!” Luca checked the barrel. “So this i***t doesn’t shoot anyone—”
BANG.
A dull shot echoed through the park.
“What the hell was that?” a woman’s shaky voice cried.
The four of them froze.
Luca’s finger was still on the trigger.
“I—I didn’t mean to,” he whispered.
A girl was standing by the bench, wiping her face.
Aston rushed forward.
“Are you okay? Did we hurt you?”
She sighed, clearly exhausted. “That was dangerous. Don’t you think?”
Aston’s heart dropped.
Her glasses were shattered.
Her clothes, face, and hair were stained blue.
“Your glasses…” he muttered. “I’m so sorry. We’ll pay for everything. The glasses, the watch, the clothes—”
She glared at them.
“Forget it.”
She slung her bag over her shoulder and stood up—then stumbled slightly.
Her vision blurred.
She wasn’t wearing her glasses anymore.
Aston stepped forward. “At least let me help with your hair.”
“Why my hair?” She pulled out a mirror. Then her eyes filled with tears. “I have to cut this now. How are you going to help?”
Aston tried wiping the paint with wet tissues.
It didn’t come off.
“This is bad…” he muttered.
“I’m leaving,” she said. “I have something important to catch.”
“Let me take you home,” Aston offered.
“No,” she said firmly. “Do I look like an i***t who jumps into a stranger’s car?”
“The first train won’t run for two more hours,” Luca blurted out.
Aston kicked his leg.
“I’ll take a taxi,” she said and walked away.
Aston chased her.
“It’s late. It’s dangerous. We’re really sorry. We’re not bad people.”
“I’m too tired to even scream,” she said weakly.
“Then don’t scream,” Luca joked.
Aston kicked him harder. She disappeared into the dark.
Luca sighed. “Well, we tried.”
“No,” Aston said quietly. “We didn’t.”
He turned and ran.
- Writer
