Lost in the Devil's Heart

Chapter 2.2: Testing the Heart

"A note asking to go on a trip?" my brother, Devi, muttered as he returned to my empty room. As I found out later, he instantly snatched up the piece of paper I had left on my vanity table and unfolded it.

​Brother Vi, if you're reading this note, the very first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and calm yourself down. You are strictly forbidden from getting angry, and you are absolutely not allowed to throw a tantrum. Even if you do throw a tantrum, I'm still not coming back right away because today you already promised that you would give in to whatever my heart desires. You are absolutely not allowed to swallow your own words! For now, I'm asking for your permission to go on a trip with my friends for just two or three days, okay, Brother Vi? Please? I'll contact you tomorrow to give you an update. I promise I'll be a good girl and won't do anything to make you worry.

​Devi's blood boiled like wildfire the moment he finished reading my note, yet he found himself completely powerless to do anything about it. After all, he was the one who had blindly promised to give in to my every whim. He whipped out his phone and dialed my number, but his calls failed to go through. He tried again and again, but the result remained stubbornly the same.

​"She actually went as far as turning off her phone... that little troublemaker," Devi growled. In an instant, my status in his mind had officially plummeted from his 'beloved little sister' to a 'little troublemaker.'

​"Being around bad influences for too long has completely ruined her character," he muttered bitterly. The moment those words left his lips, Pita's face immediately flashed across his mind. Out of my three close friends, he dumped the entire blame squarely onto Pita's shoulders alone.

​A Luxury Beachfront Hotel

​"Open the door for me, quick," Al directed Pita as they finally reached our hotel room. His arms were currently occupied, securely cradling my petite, slender body against his chest.

​"And to think she boldly claimed she wasn't sleepy at all, only to be the first one to pass out cold," Marco mumbled under his breath, teasing me. I had confidently insisted earlier that I was having too much fun to feel tired, yet I was the one who had abandoned them all for dreamland.

​"Just let her sleep," Al said softly, standing over the bed with his hands on his hips after gently laying me down, gazing at me while I was dead to the world. "She's never traveled such a long distance before, so she's probably completely exhausted."

​"Look at you, protecting her like a shield," Marco noted, giving Al a knowing look. "Are you actually serious about her?"

​"I think I am," Al confessed. Even if he wanted to hide it, he knew he had to be honest with Marco so they could figure things out together.

​"Well, if you aren't absolutely sure about your own feelings yet, don't you dare go throwing your charms at her. Don't break her heart; she deserves better."

​"Throwing what? Whose heart are you talking about?" Pita's voice suddenly cut in. She had just finished carrying my luggage inside and hadn't quite caught the full context of their hushed conversation.

​"Nothing at all. Come on, let's go get some sleep," Marco said smoothly, wrapping an arm around Al's shoulder to steer him out before Pita could interrogate them further.

​"Yeah, let's go. I'm exhausted," Al agreed, letting Marco lead him toward their own room.

​Pita stared after their retreating backs, her eyes narrowing with deep suspicion. Those two were undeniably hiding something from her. How on earth am I going to get them to open their mouths and talk? she wondered.

​The pristine white sand blended beautifully with the crystal-clear turquoise water. A gentle, refreshing breeze swept across the coast, and as the morning sun cast its brilliant, sparkling light over the shoreline at 7:00 AM, the entire atmosphere felt breathtakingly fresh. The hotel's meticulous landscaping—boasting neat rows of towering coconut palms adorned with vibrant little flowers clustered around each trunk—elevated the scenery to another level of coastal perfection.

​Pita and I were currently lounging on a pair of beach chairs, waiting for Al and Marco, who had walked off a few moments ago to order breakfast.

​"Hanni, I really think you should turn your phone back on and give your brother a call," Pita suggested, leaning over toward me. "Just let him know you've arrived at the hotel safely and that everything is fine."

​"My, my... are you actually worried about my brother, Pita?" I teased, throwing a playful, knowing smirk at my friend.

​"Are you insane? You know perfectly well that I absolutely detest your brother," Pita snapped back with a heavy scowl, thoroughly displeased by my insinuation.

​"Then why on earth are you nagging me to call him?" I asked, my face practically glowing with mischief.

​"Because I'm terrified that your overbearing brother will march down here and drag you straight back home before we even get to enjoy our vacation together! You know exactly how crazily power-tripping that man can be."

​"You don't need to panic. Before I slipped out, I already left a detailed note for him."

​"Still, I think it's much safer if you just call and give him a proper reassurance."

​"Fuuuor crying out loud... fine, I'll call," I relented.

​The exact second I restored my network connection, my brother's incoming call instantly flashed across the screen. My heart gave a violent thud against my ribs. I stared at the vibrating phone for a long, terrifying moment before finally gathering enough courage to slide the screen open.

​"Brother Vi, I—"

​"Hanni! Where on earth do you think you are? Why didn't you tell me about this properly?!" Devi's furious voice erupted through the speaker, giving me no chance to speak. "Do you have any idea that I couldn't sleep a single wink last night because of you? I was this close to firing every single servant in this mansion because of your little stunt, do you hear me?!"

​The instant the aggressive verbal onslaught began, I instinctively yanked the phone away from my ear, treating it like a ticking bomb. I hurriedly thrust the device into Pita's hands, silently begging her for backup with pleading eyes.

​"..."

​"Hanni! Why aren't you answering me? Do you even care how incredibly worried I am?!" Devi barked.

​"..."

​"If you keep staying silent, I am going to track your location and come find you this very instant!"

​Hearing Devi's blatant threat, Pita's eyes widened in sheer panic. There was absolutely no way she was going to let that man ruin our happiness. We had been friends for years, and this was our very first independent, private vacation together. If that uptight man came down here and shattered our perfect vacation atmosphere, she would never forgive him.

​"Han—" Devi prepared to roar into the receiver again, but Pita's sharp, defiant voice cut him off first.

​"It's exactly because of your toxic attitude that Hanni didn't tell you anything, you know!"

​"Well, well... if it isn't the rude brat," my brother countered.

​"Yeah, I'm a rude brat, so what?! It's entirely because you act like a controlling old tyrant that Hanni had to sneak out without telling you. You honestly deserve it! Stop acting like a guard dog protecting a bone. Let me tell you something, your sister is a grown woman now, and she's incredibly smart. She didn't run off to do anything reckless; she just needs some personal space and time to breathe with her friends. She shouldn't have to report every single two or three steps she takes to you, do you understand?!"

​"And what business is that of yours? I am worrying about my own sister... Oh, wait. Are you the one who brainwashed my sister into running away?!"

​"Your sister is not a toddler that I can just manipulate and force around! And if you were truly worried about her, you wouldn't be screaming your lungs out at her the moment she picks up. A real brother would kindly ask her to take care of herself and gently remind her to come home safely."

​"Lecturing my sister is my own business... but right now, I am commanding you to look after her properly! When she returns, she must be completely whole and flawless. I am forbidding even a single scratch on her body!"

​Pita opened her mouth, fully prepared to fire back another fierce retort, but the phone was suddenly swiped from her hand.

​"Good morning, Brother Vi," Al's smooth voice took over the call. "I personally guarantee that on this trip, Hanni will have nothing but absolute fun. We won't let her get so much as a single scratch on her fingernails."

​"Al? You're over there with her too?" Devi's tone instantly lost its aggressive edge.

​"Yes, sir. Even Marco is right here with us," Al replied.

​"Hey there, Brother Vi!" Marco called out toward the phone, which Al had smartly switched to speakerphone so everyone could participate.

​"Well, since you boys are all gathered together, just remember to take extra good care of Hanni. I'm placing her safety in your hands." Listening to my brother now, his temper had completely cooled down. Was it perhaps because of the fierce lecture Pita had slammed him with just moments ago?

​"Hmph, look at him acting all dramatic, like he's handing over his final wishes on his deathbed," Pita muttered audibly, rolling her eyes hard at the phone.

​"You crazy brat..." Devi grumbled over the line.

​"Don't worry, Brother Vi, we give you our word," Al and Marco chimed in unison, smoothly cutting off the brewing argument.

​"Let me speak to my sister one last time."

​"Hello, Brother Vi..." I said, taking the phone back.

​Devi went on a lengthy, exhaustive round of instructions, lecturing me on everything from my eating habits, my sleep schedule, down to my choice of wardrobe. It was understandable, considering this was the first time I had ever traveled so far away from his watchful eye.

​Once my brother finally hung up, we turned our attention back to the breakfast spread laid out before us.

​"Hey Al, do you think Hanni will ever manage to get a husband in this lifetime with Brother Vi guarding her like a hawk?" Marco joked, kicking off a new conversation.

​"Honestly, I don't care at all, because I've already firmly decided that I'm never getting married anyway," I replied with complete, unshakeable confidence.

​My casual answer, however, seemed to strike a sharp, uncomfortable chord in Al's expression. Little did I know, if his feelings had previously been a chaotic, uncertain mess about whether he truly loved me, they were now crystalline clear: he would do absolutely whatever it took to win my heart.

​"Well, you're doomed, man..." Marco chuckled dryly, speaking with a completely straight face toward Al. "Do you have any idea that your words just practically murdered someone sitting right here, leaving them suffering a fate worse than death?"

​Al threw a fiercely threatening glare at Marco, silently warning him to shut his mouth. Meanwhile, Pita and I stared at Marco with identical blank expressions, completely failing to grasp the hidden meaning behind his words.

​