HIDDEN SECRET

WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT

Chapter 8: What happened last night

The following morning, the house felt unusually quiet.

For the first time in days, Pricy woke up without anyone calling her name. She stared at the ceiling for a long moment before slowly sitting up.

The silence was suffocating.

Ever since her mother's death, every corner of the house reminded her of what she had lost.

Unable to stay in her room any longer, she got up and walked toward her mother's bedroom.

The door creaked softly as she pushed it open.

Everything was exactly the way it had been left.

The neatly arranged dressing table.

The familiar scent that still lingered in the air.

The framed photograph resting beside the bed.

Pricy's chest tightened.

She sat down on the edge of the mattress and gently picked up the picture frame.

A sad smile appeared on her face.

"Mom..."

Her voice trembled.

"Everything feels so empty without you."

Tears gathered in her eyes.

"I miss you so much."

She ran her fingers across the photograph.

"If heaven is real, I hope you can hear me."

A tear slid down her cheek.

"I still don't understand why this happened."

The pain she had been trying so hard to suppress finally broke free.

"Who would do something so cruel?"

Her grip tightened around the frame.

"Who would take you away from me?"

Her breathing became uneven.

"But I want you to know something."

Pricy's eyes slowly hardened with determination.

"I promise you, Mom."

She stood up.

"No matter how long it takes..."

"I'll find the person responsible for your death."

The room suddenly felt colder.

"I don't care who they are."

"I don't care how powerful they might be."

"I'll uncover the truth."

Her voice cracked as tears rolled down her face.

"And when I do..."

She clenched her fists.

"They'll pay for what they did."

The promise echoed through the silent room.

A promise born from grief.

A promise written in tears.

"I love you, Mom."

Pricy carefully placed the photograph back on the bedside table.

After wiping her eyes, she took a deep breath.

Life wouldn't stop because she was hurting.

And neither would she.

An hour later, Pricy had showered, dressed, and left the house.

She found herself standing in front of Betty's door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Come in!" Betty called from inside.

Pricy stepped into the room.

Betty immediately narrowed her eyes.

"What's up with you?"

Pricy forced a smile.

"Nothing."

Betty folded her arms.

"Should I believe that?"

Pricy looked away.

"Of course."

Betty sighed.

"Did you cry again?"

The question hit directly where it hurt.

"No."

Betty raised an eyebrow.

"Pricy, I've known you for years."

She walked closer.

"I know when you're lying."

Pricy laughed weakly.

"Then I guess it's obvious."

Betty's expression softened.

"You don't always have to act strong."

For a moment, Pricy almost broke down again.

But she quickly changed the subject.

"So..."

Betty squinted suspiciously.

"So what?"

Pricy adjusted her handbag.

"I'm going somewhere."

Betty looked her up and down.

"Dressed like this?"

A mischievous smile appeared on Betty's face.

"Wait..."

Her eyes widened.

"Are you going on a date?"

"What?!"

Pricy's cheeks instantly turned red.

"No!"

Betty burst into laughter.

"Then where are you going?"

"I'm going to see Mike."

The laughter stopped.

Betty gasped dramatically.

"Mike?"

She placed a hand over her chest.

"Wow."

"What?"

"When did you start going to visit handsome boys without inviting me?"

Pricy rolled her eyes.

"You're impossible."

"I'm serious!"

Betty pointed accusingly.

"You've changed."

"I haven't."

"You have."

"I haven't."

"You have."

Both girls suddenly burst into laughter.

For the first time in days, Pricy genuinely smiled.

Betty noticed.

And that alone made her happy.

Pricy grabbed the door handle.

"I'll be back soon."

Betty waved.

"Fine."

Then she smirked.

"But if wedding preparations start without me, we're fighting."

"Betty!"

The room exploded with laughter again.

"Bye!"

"Bye!"

A few minutes later...

Pricy arrived at Mike's house.

Her heart beat strangely fast.

She wasn't sure why.

Maybe because she hadn't seen him in a while.

Or maybe because Mike had become more important to her than she wanted to admit.

Standing before the door, she took a deep breath and knocked.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Footsteps approached from inside.

The door slowly opened.

Mike appeared.

His messy hair suggested he had just woken up.

For a moment, both of them simply stared at each other.

Then Mike's eyes widened.

"Pricy?"

She smiled.

"Hi."

Mike blinked several times as if making sure he wasn't dreaming.

"What are you doing here this early?"

A playful smile appeared on Pricy's lips.

"What?"

"Am I not allowed to visit you?"

Mike laughed softly.

"No..."

"I'm just surprised."

Mike stared at her for a moment before stepping aside.

"Sure. Come in."

Pricy walked into the house and quietly shut the door behind her.

The delicious aroma of breakfast immediately filled her nose.

Mike pointed toward the dining table.

"I bought breakfast. We can eat together."

A smile appeared on Pricy's face.

"That's thoughtful."

The two sat across from each other and began arranging the food.

Suddenly, Pricy stood up.

"Wait! We can't eat without drinks."

She marched straight to the refrigerator and returned carrying five bottles of alcohol.

Mike nearly choked.

"What?!"

He stared at the bottles in disbelief.

"There are only two of us here. Why five bottles?"

Pricy shrugged casually.

"Because five is a nice number."

"No."

Mike immediately removed three bottles and pushed them away.

"Leave two."

Pricy frowned.

"Jeez. Are you scared?"

Mike folded his arms.

"Not scared. Concerned."

"Don't worry. I won't get drunk."

Mike laughed.

"That's exactly what drunk people say."

Pricy rolled her eyes dramatically.

"You're annoying."

"Drink one first. If you're still sober, maybe I'll consider giving you another."

Her playful expression slowly faded.

She lowered her gaze.

"Mike..."

The sudden sadness in her voice made him pause.

"I just want to forget everything for one day."

She swallowed hard.

"I want to stop thinking about my mom."

The room fell silent.

Mike's expression softened.

Without saying a word, he pushed one bottle toward her.

Pricy forced a smile.

"Thank you."

The two continued eating.

One bottle became two.

Two became three.

And before Mike realized what was happening...

His phone rang.

"I'll be right back."

He stepped outside to answer the call.

Ten minutes later, he returned.

Then froze.

"Oh my God."

Four empty bottles sat on the table.

Pricy was resting her head against the wood.

She slowly raised her face.

"Do I look drunk?"

Mike stared.

"Very."

"No, I'm not."

"Very."

She pointed at his drink.

"Give me yours."

Mike couldn't help laughing.

"You've had enough."

"Please?"

"No."

Pricy suddenly slammed her forehead onto the table.

"Ouch."

Mike immediately moved closer.

"See? This is exactly why you're done drinking."

She pouted.

"You're mean."

Mike sighed.

"Come on. Let me take you to the guest room."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

She suddenly gasped.

"Watch your back!"

Mike instantly turned around.

"What?"

The moment he looked away, Pricy grabbed his drink and emptied it.

Mike slowly turned back.

She grinned proudly.

"What drink?"

For several seconds, neither spoke.

Then Mike burst into laughter.

"You tricked me!"

Pricy pointed at him.

"No. I tricked you."

A few moments later, her head dropped onto the table again.

Mike shook his head.

"This girl..."

He sat beside her.

"Come on. Let's get you some sleep."

Pricy narrowed her eyes.

"Wait."

Mike paused.

"What now?"

She blinked slowly.

"Do you wear makeup?"

Mike nearly fell off his chair.

"What?!"

"No."

She squinted suspiciously.

"Hmm."

Mike tried lifting her again.

But she grabbed his shirt.

"Wait."

"What?"

"You look cuter than before."

Mike froze.

Pricy's drunken eyes locked onto his.

"Will you be mine?"

His heartbeat instantly accelerated.

"Pricy..."

She smiled lazily.

"I said I'm not drunk."

Then she reached up and gently touched his cheek.

Mike stopped breathing.

"What are you doing?"

"Shhh..."

Before he could react, Pricy leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss against his lips.

Time stopped.

Mike's eyes widened.

His mind went blank.

And just as quickly as it happened...

Pricy fell asleep on his shoulder.

Mike sat there frozen.

Completely stunned.

Slowly, he touched his lips.

"She..."

His voice cracked.

"She kissed me."

A hundred emotions crashed through him at once.

Shock.

Disbelief.

Excitement.

Confusion.

He looked down at the sleeping girl.

"How can she kiss someone and immediately fall asleep?"

Trying to recover, he attempted to carry her.

After several failed attempts, he gave up.

"Why is she so heavy?"

Mike sighed dramatically.

"Forget it."

He covered her with a blanket.

"You're sleeping right here."

And within minutes, the house became quiet.

But Mike couldn't sleep at all.

Because every time he closed his eyes...

He remembered that kiss.

---

The next morning...

Pricy stretched lazily before opening her eyes.

Then panic hit.

"What?!"

She sat upright.

"Why am I still here?"

Mike walked into the dining area wearing an apron and holding a cooking spoon.

"Oh."

He smirked.

"The sleeping beauty has returned to Earth."

Pricy glared at him.

"You left me here?"

Mike nodded.

"I tried carrying you."

His gaze traveled from her head to her feet.

"You were surprisingly heavy."

Pricy's jaw dropped.

"Heavy?"

"Very."

"I am not fat!"

"I know."

Mike shrugged.

"You just carry extra weight."

"Mike!"

He laughed and returned to the kitchen.

"If I had taken you to my bed, the mattress would've surrendered."

Pricy grabbed a pillow and threw it at him.

He easily dodged it.

"You are impossible."

"And you're dramatic."

A few minutes later, after showering and changing, Pricy returned.

The smell of freshly cooked food instantly caught her attention.

Her eyes sparkled.

"Wait."

She smiled sweetly.

"You cooked for me?"

Mike stared at her.

Pricy's smile widened.

Mike sighed.

"Go sit down."

The dining table was soon filled with food.

Pricy took one bite.

Then another.

Then another.

Her eyes widened.

"This is amazing."

Mike smiled.

"Thanks."

"No seriously."

She pointed her fork at him.

"I didn't know you could cook this well."

Mike chuckled.

"Glad you like it."

Pricy continued eating.

Then she casually said,

"Your mom must've taught you."

The smile disappeared from Mike's face.

Immediately.

A strange silence filled the room.

Pricy looked up.

"Mike?"

No answer.

"Did your mom teach you?"

Still nothing.

Something painful flashed across his eyes.

So quickly she almost missed it.

Mike stood.

"Finish your food."

And walked away.

Pricy's smile faded.

Something wasn't right.

Something about that question had hurt him.

And for the first time...

She wondered what secrets Mike was hiding.

---

Later that morning...

Pricy returned to Betty's house.

Betty was already sitting in front of her laptop.

"There you are."

She narrowed her eyes.

"I thought you moved in with Mike permanently."

Pricy rolled her eyes.

"Very funny."

Betty grinned.

"So?"

"So what?"

Betty leaned forward.

"Details."

Pricy instantly looked away.

"There are no details."

"Hmm."

Betty smiled knowingly.

"Interesting."

Pricy frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing."

The grin on Betty's face grew wider.

"You're blushing."

"I am not."

"You are."

"I'm not."

Before the argument could continue, Betty suddenly gasped.

Her fingers froze over the keyboard.

Pricy's expression changed.

"What happened?"

Betty's eyes widened.

"I found them."

"What?"

"The gangsters."

Pricy's heart skipped a beat.

Betty slowly turned the laptop screen toward her.

"I know who they are."

"What?!"

Betty leaned closer and whispered the name into her ear.

Pricy's eyes widened in horror.

Her entire body froze.

"No..."

The color drained from her face.

"That's impossible."

Betty swallowed nervously.

"But it's true."

A chilling silence filled the room.

Because the person connected to the gangsters was someone neither of them had ever expected.

Someone much closer than they imagined.

TO BE CONTINUED...