Chapter 2 For my baby

"Serena, don't mess up," she whispered, looking at her, her voice barely audible. She took Serena's hands in hers, her grip tightening. "After tonight, you're on your own. You have to live with your... family." The word felt like ash in her mouth. Inside, Emiko felt a sharp pang of guilt towards Damien.

Serena looked back at Emiko, her eyes with vision blurred by tears and a tear-stained face. "I just want to die, but... Emiko," she whispered, her voice breaking like a cracking glass. "But... Emiko... I have no choice; everything I do is just... for my baby. I don't want to cheat someone for my fault... because I can't...."

Emiko stepped closer and gently wiped Serena's tears away. "I understand, Serena. I do. But... this path you've chosen won't be easy. Just promise me you'll stay safe."

Serena shook her head slowly. "Damien will never forgive me," she murmured, her voice trembling. "He was the best brother and mother to me. I can't even think how he can... accept this."

Emiko pulled her into a tight hug. "I have never had a sister in my life. I always think of you as a sister," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I can manage your brother, but once you leave here, keep your life hidden. Please... Don't let anyone find you. Go somewhere they won't be able to find you."

Serena nodded against her shoulder, whispering, "Um...I won't."

Emiko watched the clock at nearly 3:58 AM, and she realized there were only two minutes left before the shift change.

"Okay... we have only two minutes. Just go..."

Serena wiped her tears, a fleeting, bittersweet smile touching her lips. She walked to the window, glancing back at Emiko one last time.

.

"Don't burn the kitchen like here. Let Ethan handle the cooking for some days. We will meet one day no matter what," Emiko teased, attempting to lighten the mood.

Serena chuckled faintly and shook her head up and down, her smile a fleeting glimpse of the person she used to be. "Goodbye, Emiko."

"Go, Serena. It's time," Emiko said, her voice barely holding together as she watched her friend climb out the window and into the unknown.

Emiko shifted her imagination at 8:00 AM; the ship buzzed with activity as the wedding preparations reached their peak.

William's mother approached Emiko in the rushed hallway, and her concern was evident. "Is the bride ready?"

Emiko stood tall and managed a small smile formed on her lips, her fingers clasped tightly in her dress. "Yeah... I think she is."

William's (Groom) mother looks at her up and down, a skeptical arch to her brows, "What she is... What do you mean?"

Oh! Shit! I almost forgot to tell you. Serena wants to get ready by herself. She didn't want to bother anyone." Emiko leaned closer to her face, lowering her voice. "She said... she wanted to surprise William. Don't tell him."

William's mother nodded, eyes widened, mouth opened slightly. "Really... she's so thoughtful. It makes me more eager... how she looks in a bride dress." Then, she hurried off while talking to someone on the phone.

Emiko exhaled a relieved breath. "Shit, I have unlocked a new talent!" she murmured, a spark igniting in her chest. "I think I'm good at acting now! I want to go audition!" But the second thought crashed down like a bucket of ice water: her smile faded, her brows narrowed, Audition...or jail? Emiko thought, the two words echoing in her mind.

"Emiko...." Damien's voice cut through her thoughts.

"This man is my problem; even I can't daydream." "Tawagoto..."

The morning illusion shattered when Damien burst into anger, his voice raw with disbelief. "She's gone," he growled. "What the f*ck did she do?"

The clang of metal on metal made Emiko jump. Damien had punched the door hard in rage. His knuckles were slowly bleeding from where he'd punched the steel door.

"Dami!" she screamed, tears flowing down her cheeks, her heart pounding against her rib. "What are you doing, Dami? You're hurting yourself! Please stop doing this... She grabbed his injured hand, but he flinched away.

Then, he paused to process everything, he turned to her side, his jaw clenched, his eyes blazing in fury. He gripped her neck towards the wall, lifting her upwards. Her toes brushed the floor. She struggled against his hold, her eyes wide with fear.

"How did this happen? You're the one who is always with her."

"Tell me, Emiko..." he shouted, looking at her face, his neck veins popping out while he talked.

"Dami... Please...."

"Do you know about this already? Right? You seem suspicious from the start."

His hand tightened on her neck, another hand balanced on the wall. "You two already planned everything, right?"

"Dami..." she strangled against his grip, her voice barely a whisper. The pressure was intense, her throat tighter, and everything was starting to blur.

"Dami...please... I can't breathe...." Her vision blurred, his anger merging with the throbbing pain in her head.

Suddenly, there was another shrewd voice: "What the hell are you doing?!"

Damien's came to reality; his grip loosened slowly, his fingers trembling. He pulled his hand away from Emiko's throat, his eyes widening in horror as he looked at the marks he had left on Emiko's neck. "What...what the fuck...did I just do?" he stammered.

Emiko coughed too heavily, struggling to regain her breath.

Blackwood's voice crashed through the room, cutting through the silence. "For your sister's sake, you're going to kill your wife?!" He glared at Damien, his face contorted with rage.