ENDS

PROLOGUE The scent of rust and fresh blood mingled with the fragrance of expensive sunflowers inside the car. The night was cold, but Enzo was calm as he drove. On the passenger seat sat a bouquet of Mia's favorite flowers. In the trunk lay a lifeless man—the one who made the mistake of touching Mia's waist at the bar the other night. Enzo tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He glanced at his phone wallpaper: a photo of Mia while she was sleeping. He smiled—a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Happy 12th anniversary, Love," he whispered to the air. To Enzo, killing was like fixing a fence. He was clearing Mia's world of dirt, distractions, and anyone who might take her away. They were 'Double Tape'—and this tape was made of blood and obsession. If you try to peel it off, something is bound to break. He took his phone and typed a message. To: Mia (My Everything) "Love, I'm almost there. I have a surprise for you. I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. See you in a bit." He pressed 'Send' before glancing at the last trace of blood beneath his fingernail. He took a wet tissue and slowly wiped it away until his hands looked clean again. The same hands that, later on, would hold Mia's hand to slide on a ring. A proposal was planned. A new beginning. But for those who stood in their way, the end... was already here. ___________Sweet Couple____________ The morning sun hit Mia's face perfectly. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and garlic rice woke her senses. For twelve years, this has been her favorite alarm clock—Enzo. "Happy Anniversary, Love," Enzo whispered as Mia opened her eyes. He was holding a tray for breakfast-in-bed. Mia smiled, her heart still fluttering even after more than a decade together. "You're up so early. I thought you stayed up late for work?" Enzo's spoon paused for a split second. A flash of some unreadable emotion crossed his eyes before being replaced by a soft gaze. "I just had to finish some... pending tasks. So we wouldn't have anything to worry about later in Tagaytay." He kissed her forehead. It was a long kiss, as if he were marking his territory, ensuring she belonged only to him. That afternoon, while Mia was packing, their friends dropped by the apartment to deliver gifts. Bea, Ken, and Jojo—the witnesses to their love story since elementary school. "Wow, 12 years! You guys really are 'Double Tape.' You never peel off!" Ken joked. "Of course," Enzo replied, putting his arm around Mia. "Once you stick your life to mine, Mia, don't expect to ever get away. We're stuck for life." Everyone laughed, except for Mia, who felt a slight shiver at the way Enzo said the word "stuck." It didn't sound like a joke. It sounded like a promise—or a threat. While everyone was laughing, Mia noticed Enzo had left his laptop bag slightly open under the sofa. A black external hard drive was plugged into it. "Love, I'll just put your things away, okay?" Mia shouted from the living room. Enzo didn't answer, busy in the kitchen. Mia picked up the bag, but in her haste, the strap caught on the corner of the table. The zipper burst open, and the contents spilled out. It wasn't just building blueprints. There were photos. Many photos. Mia picked one up. It was a photo of a bloody man tied to a chair. Her eyes widened as she recognized him—this was the man who harassed her at the mall last month, the one who suddenly vanished and was never found by the police. On the back of the photo, there was handwriting Mia knew all too well. Enzo's penmanship. Day 1: He touched what belongs to me. He had to learn. Mia dropped the photo. The coffee she drank earlier felt like poison in her gut. The man who cooked her breakfast, the man who kissed her every night, was hiding filth under his fingernails. Mia rummaged through the bag further. There, she found a thin folder titled: PROJECT: MIA'S SAFETY Inside, every person Mia had ever had a conflict with since high school was listed: Teacher Reyes – The teacher who embarrassed her during a recitation. Rumored to have died in a hit-and-run. Sandro – Her ex-boyfriend who abruptly broke up with her and moved abroad. But why was his bloody watch—the one she gave him—here? Why did Enzo have it? Carding – A driver? Her father? Found dead in an abandoned warehouse according to police investigations. Questions raced through Mia's mind as her entire body began to shake. The twelve years she thought were filled with luck and protection were actually a series of gruesome crimes committed in her name. Suddenly, the room went silent. The noise of their friends in the kitchen vanished. Mia felt a cold presence behind her. The scent of Enzo's sandalwood perfume filled her nose—the scent that used to calm her, but now filled her with pure terror. "I told you, Love... don't look through my things, didn't I?" Enzo's voice was like a whisper from the grave.