AMEIRA

Some parts of this chapter might trigger the audience, so please read at your own risk.

Y E A R 2006,

T W E N T Y-S E V E N T H O F O C T O B E R

T R I A L C O U R T

"We jury, in the case of The Republic of the Philippines versus Aleja Montevallo find the defendant guilty beyond reasonable doubt for the crime of parricide." The clerk of court's voice echoed within the walls of the regional trial court.

He then continued, "That on or about October 25, 2006, in the City of Manila, Philippines, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the said accused did then and there willfully and feloniously, with intent to kill and taking advantage of Alejandro Montevallo, his legitimate father, killing the latter by poisoning him with a currently unknown deadly substance and thereby, hereby sentence him reclusion perpetua or imprisonment for forty years. Court is adjourned. Order in the court." The gavel banged as the order was announced.

Aleja Montevallo, with his mouth shut and eyes on the ground, remained stolid during the entire trial and even now while standing in front of the attendees. Only a few words escaped from his mouth every time he was questioned. There is no desperation for proving himself anymore, he knows he will never win.

He was guarded by two police officers on his sides as they made their way towards the exit. His gaze raised toward the side of the complainants, the victim's family; his family who only wanted the power and wealth of his beloved father.

His thoughts wandered into the deep abyss of why's. He was never interested with his father's money, he had no desire for billions of monetary inheritances, all Aleja wanted was to be the architect he longed for.

But now he'll be behind bars for years and his father, the remaining being who was with him as he nurtured his childhood and began his adolescence, joined his mom in death. They do not always see eye to eye on things but not in his entire life it crossed his mind to put his own father to death with his own hands.

"Enjoy the prison life, brother," his older half-brother whispered with a grin while he tapped his shoulder.

Aleja's jaw clenched, throwing him a side eye. But the latter only held a chuckle, fueling the boiling anger inside Aleja. His hands balled into fists, trembling at the sight of a lady wrapped in black clothing that's worth a king's ransom.

The evil woman his father had met before he was even born. His father remarried after the death of his mom and tied knots with this woman.

Her heels clacked on the floor as she exited the courtroom. A pair of black sun shades masked her façade with grief. Aleja never doubted how great of an actress her step-mother is, and he highly doubts those sunglasses truly hide red and puffy eyes from mourning.

"I'm sorry Mr. Montevallo, I lost the trial. I'm sorry," Aleja's lawyer said.

"It's fine. I know you're just doing this for a living and I won't blame you for that."

Shock plastered in the lawyer's face. It seems to him that Aleja knew he was paid to lose the trial. The lawyer cleared his throat as he tried to regain his composure.

Before he could even step his foot out of the court, his heart eventually shattered into pieces when he saw his ex-girlfriend who broke up with him upon knowing that he was accused of killing his own dad. She sided with his step-mother and is now with Leon Sebastian, the friend who had betrayed him as well.

He began to tear up as he watched how Leon wrapped his arms around the woman, he dreamt of building a family with.

His life dramatically turned upside-down. Much more painful than he imagined. He had dreams, but now even the people he loved were taken from him. He fought his tears as they walked, legs slightly weakened in despair as his thoughts wandered, what would happen next? Will he let himself rot in jail while the real murderers bathe in paper bills?

Will he let his father die for nothing?

When he thought it was the end, wrath fueled rage; burning up his desire to put justice in his own hands.

He will come back and make them pay.

M E A N W H I L E,

Q U E Z O N C I T Y, M A N I L A.

Ameira awakened from deep slumber when she felt hands caressing her legs up to her thighs.

But instead of moving away, the six-year-old kid squeezed her eyes shut and silently cried. Her frail body shivered in fear, arms shaking intensely as her uncle removed her undergarments. It was fast but to the eyes of the little girl, everything happened in slow-motion.

She felt how it slowly slipped down her waist, down to her legs. She could imagine the face of her uncle as he devoured the sight like a salivating predator.

The small wooden bed waggled when the old man laid on top of the little girl and began molesting her.

Tears rushed down nonstop. Shaking tiny fists. Mouth gaped open, whispering words of helplessness, begging it to stop.

It continued even until she became numb. There was a slight pain in her head, and the pain intensified as if her head's about to explode. Her mind drowned in flashbacks of her being touched.

Her ears rang and she could hear nothing but her cries and screams. Memories of her parents almost ripping each other's head off their bodies. The nightmares of living in streets, in houses where she knew no one, in dark places where bad things happen. Her weeping fell on deaf ears.

Little Ameira cried her heart out, until-

"AAAAAAAAH!"

As quick as a lightning, she grabbed the knife hidden underneath her pillow and stabbed her uncle's neck.

She held it tightly and pushed it deeper.

"Die! Die! Die!" Little Ameira screamed, letting out a loud, stretched-out, and wild maniacal laughter as she simultaneously stabbed him. With all her strength, she pushed the old man's convulsing body, suffering in the throes of death.

His fall made a loud bang but Ameira was unbothered, a loathsome grin plastered on her innocent face. She sat over him, not minding her ragged and torn pink dress, and stabbed him multiple times in the face, neck, chest, and abdomen. She paused when she reached his privates. Sinful privates.

Her eyes brightened. The corners of her lips curved slightly upward, showing her teeth.

And she cut it off. The entire room filled with laughter.

Y E A R 2009,

I N T E R R O G A T I O N R O O M.

"Why did you kill him?"

"Your question is wrong..." The woman leaned back in her chair, staring at her handcuffed hands. "The question should be: what did he do to me, for me to kill him?" She grinned.

The inspector's eyebrow raised, then her forehead wrinkled. "Well then, what did Mr. Xiao Lin do to you, for you to kill him?"

"He raped me." She regained her blank façade while staring straight at the inspector's eyes. "He raped me and when I told the police, no one believed me. No one dared to hear my claims and instead accused me of being a liar just because I wanted to "ask money" from him. So, I let him pass. But he did it again, again, again, again, and again. He did it so many times that I-"

"You killed him?" the inspector said, cutting her off. It was as if he wanted to shove on her face that what she did was wrong.

The accused gritted her teeth, eyes fuming in anger. "Yes. And no matter what, I'll still kill him!"

The inspector laid an envelope on the table between them. She opened it and placed photos of about ten men who died in mysterious deaths. "Can you tell me what happened to them? Or simply, how did you kill them?"

She only gazed at the photos in front and met the inspector's eyes with a grin.

"If I'm not mistaken, these men had clean records and were not involved with you. Then why would you kill them? Looking back, you said you were raped by Mr. Lin but there wasn't even a single proof that shows you were raped," the inspector explained, unbothered by the accused's sharp gazes. "And yes, we received the report about you telling the authorities that you were raped. They refused to engage with your accusations. You know why? Because there is no evidence. You can't show us strong evidence that you were molested. You further told them that he was physically hurting you but look at you-the day you came into the station, there were no wounds and injuries. How can you prove-"

"Am I not enough evidence?!" The chair made a loud screeching noise when the accused violently stood up, slammed her palms on the table, and held her face close to the inspector's. "I have explained you many times already that I was injected with a drug which I don't fucking know the name but I'm sure this is its effect. And what? No one believed me! You do not believe m-me!" As if on cue, the tears she tried to hold eventually rushed down her cheeks.

Behind her strong and rageful demeanor is a miserable girl, no one dared to lend a hand. Trembling, she managed to return to her seat.

She heaved a sigh. "Why am I even explaining myself, no believe me anyway. Wasting my time is no use, your system is long crooked." Her sharp gaze pierced onto the inspector and she grinned. "Yes, I killed him. And I will do it again if I have the chance. I will kill assholes like him. Now, make sure I've got nowhere to escape or else..." Gone was the devilish curve of her lips. "I will kill you. I will make you feel how hard it is to be deprived of justice and to not be heard."

The inspector swallowed a lump on his throat before asking her questions again. "You were the murderer of these men as well, aren't you? Why don't you confess everything now? Why did you kill them? Tell me your motive."

The accused only let out a laugh. "What am I-why am I going to explain? Whether I'm guilty or not, I'll still end up in jail anyway. Whatever reason I'll tell you, you won't believe me because it was already proved that I've killed them. Of course, you won't listen because you only wanted me to explain my side as the suspect. You won't lend me your ears if I tell you my story as a victim." Tears welled up her eyes while chuckling hard.

"Then, I'll confess." She leaned closer towards the inspector, looking at him straight in the eye. "Your girlfriend is about to meet...death." Her words were almost whispering but it was loud and clear in the inspector's ears.

As if a reflex, the inspector pushed her hard and she's back on her seat. He stood up, catching his own breath. His brows furrowed, palms curled into fists, eyes fuming in anger while the woman only stared back at him with a grin.

"You!" He pointed his finger at her. "If anything happens to my girlfriend, I swear, I'll kill you with my own hands!" he roared in extreme anger. Veins bulging on his neck as he screamed while beads of sweat made their way down his forehead.

The tables have turned.

It is him who's in rage now and tears began to form in his eyes. Frantic with worry, he grabbed his phone and called his girlfriend's number when it occurred to him. How did this woman know that he has a girlfriend?

Slowly, he turned his head towards the girl only to see her sitting upright, hands clasped and staring blankly back at him.

His trembling hands were cold and sweaty while he held his phone in his ear. All of a sudden, an officer entered the interrogation room bathed in sweat and racing to catch his breath. "Y-Your relatives called. The car boarded by your family exploded while on their way home and..." The officer paused, he wasn't sure if he should tell him.

The inspector dropped his phone and marched towards the officer, violently grabbing him on the collar. "T-Tell me!" he cried in gritted teeth.

"Y-Your girlfriend was said to be the suspect."

A tear fell from his eye as he let go of the officer. He froze in place and when he recovered, he immediately went towards the girl and slapped his palms on the table.

"Where is she?!"

"Poof! She's gone. She ended her life after knowing that your family died.

F I F T E E N Y E A R S A F T E R

"You're my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin, you're my sweetie pie. You're my cuppycake gumdrop soogums boogums, you're the apple of my eye and I love you so and I want to know that I'll always be right here, and I love to sing sweet songs for you because you are so dear." Aimee sang with a wide happy grin as she drew Hello Kitty's face on the cupcakes, humming as she squeezed her piping bag.

For the final touch, she grabbed the bottle of pink sprinkles and showered it above the cupcakes. She stepped back, arms on both sides of her waist as she stared at the pretty pink cupcakes. Her grin grew wider, eyes squinting like a kid.

She craned her neck, eyes wandered around the small kitchen. Flour was everywhere as if it was snow, some bowls were left untidied on the sink, but the girl only smiled; lips sealed together while she rubbed her neck. A kid in a kitchen, played with tools and mixed ingredients. That's how it may look like but beneath the surface, the kid knows what she is doing.

"You're my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin, you're my sweetie pie," she chanted once again. The oven timer rang and she marched her way towards it, wore her oven mitts and took out the freshly baked cake. Eyes closed as she sniffed, and the warm, sweet, cheesy aroma almost watered her mouth.

Who would've thought that this kid runs a cake shop she rents every month of October?

And the cake shop is always the talk of the town for its sweet, appetizing pastries. She's a bit messy inside the kitchen but it is undeniable that her cakes are both attractive and delicious... Due to the demand, she now has resellers and conducts deliveries. But the Ameira in AMEIRA'S SUGAR PLUM SWEET CAKES remained anonymous where only the real owner knows.

After doing the strawberry cheesecake's toppings and decorations, she immediately boxed the cupcakes she made earlier. Fifty cupcakes in ten pink boxes, everything Hello Kitty as what the client has requested. After closing the lids, she placed the popular unicorn logo of the shop on the box's top surface. The strawberry cheesecake then made its way inside a box, packed and now ready to deliver.

Aimee leaned against another baking table behind her. She smiled then yawned, causing her eyes to water. She wiped her cheeks and corner of her eyes using the back of her hand. She heaved a sigh of relief after glancing at her unicorn calendar on the wall.

Her cupcakes and cakes are now for delivery. Might as well take a long nap after cleaning the mess and baking a few more cupcakes for display.

She began picking up the used bowls and utensils, washed them thoroughly, wiped them dry and placed them back on its resting places. She wiped the countertops, removed the flour, wiped her sweat with a clean towel of hers, and went on cleaning the rest of the baker's tables all while singing the same sugar plum song with her sweet, youthful voice.

Meanwhile, Aleja's forehead wrinkled as he tilted his head up to read the giant pink storefront sign.

AMEIRA'S SUGAR PLUM SWEET CAKES.

He couldn't help but stretch his lips into a smirk. His eyes squinted as sunlight hit his face. When he looked straight, he saw his faint reflection on the glass walls only to reminisce memories.

Fifteen years after being imprisoned for a crime he did not do; he finally exited the walls of the city jail. Aleja is extremely determined to be free because he knew, without a doubt, that the real murderer is still out here, fostering evil. Sure, he wasn't the first of his kind that was accused and jailed without doing anything wrong, but he will not keep silent about it and make them pay.

Money and power are ruling the world the bad way.

He needs to get out of prison without the person who threw him in, knowing. Hence, he knew he needed to take risks. He became a hitman working for politicians, killing high ranking government officials. Through this, he was able to enter and exit the city jail. Instead of cash, he asked for them to help him be released earlier from prison which they gladly agreed.

Aleja's jaw clenched as he stared at himself.

Now that he's free, he can finally put into action the plan he had thought of for years behind bars.

Justice will be served by his own hands. The evil must pay for its sins and suffer more than what the innocent had. 'In a world where justice is a marionette of money,' he thought, 'sometimes it must be you who must handcuff the devils to death, yourself.'

Knowing he's not entirely free because of the case filed against him, he must not be involved with even the simplest trouble. While executing his revenge, he knew he must also find evidence to finally clear his name and prove himself innocent. Being out here still is an uncertain freedom since his politician acquaintances only managed to alleviate the verdict that instead of forty years, he was out fifteen years earlier. He will then take this opportunity to seek vengeance against those who jailed him and find the real culprit of that incident fifteen years ago.

After fifteen years, it's his first time to step in the streets of Manila and breathe the outside world's air. The long time he spent inside the city jail slapped him on another truth; he's not getting any younger. And today, other than his release date, also happens to be the day of his birth. The same day that drastically turned his life upside-down. He despises this day so much, he never had plans on celebrating it,' but plans change,' he thought.

"Where are you? Where's the cake? Have you bought one already? The kid wants you to hurry, it's also his birthday, dude!"

He sighed, holding his phone near his ear.

"I'm about to. Calm your rumbling stomach, Kendrick," Aleja speaks and drops the call even before Kendrick could reply.

He never thought that a cake shop would be the first place he would visit the day of his release. He wasn't even able to visit his dad's grave.

After having another sigh, he finally entered the shop and was greeted with everything pink and unicorn prints and stickers.

"I look like a dad, buying a cake for a daughter's birthday," he whispered, slowly shaking his head. It was only then he realized, he's alone.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" he said, his deep voice echoing across the room. No one have answered yet. He took the chance to grab the free cookies placed by the counter. "Not bad. Not so sweet, not too plain. It actually tastes good," he said to himself and grabbed more, hiding it in his pants' pocket.

He slouched slightly and wandered his eyes on the cakes displayed in the pastry display cases. Every delicacy looked appetizing. A small smile formed on his lips when he saw that round, rocky road cake.

"Kendrick left me a thousand, I just hope it's enough," he murmured.

When he stood upright, he saw a glimpse of the kitchen where a girl in a messy bun and a bandana headband walked around. He noticed white spots on her neck, cheeks and even on the hair, which is obviously flour.

'Tasty cookies but does she bathe with the flour?' He thought.

And then he heard her hum and sing a familiar nursery rhyme.

"You're my honey bunch, sugar plum, pumpy-umpy-umpkin, you're my sweetie pie. You're my cuppycake gumdrop soogums boogums you're the apple of my eye and I love you so and I want to know that I'll always be right here, and I love to sing sweet songs for you because you are so dear."

Unconsciously, his lip curved into a smile and then he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the countertop and watched the girl bake and sing. Aleja took several bites on the cookie from the free cookie basket as he seized the opportunity to witness a slight behind-the-scenes of how the cake shop creates its delicacies.

His smile reached his ears when the girl began to dance while humming. Sure, he enjoys this peaceful scene, he did not even notice he was slowly banging his head to the beat as the girl sang. His heart softened at the sight. He felt like he was apart from the world when he was behind bars, he lost his freedom, he felt caged; witnessing someone do what she loves and dance like no one's watching, he felt he can be free too. He wants to be free from all the burden of the world. This girl made him feel happiness like no other, her calming voice took him to a paradise of smiles.

At that moment, his soul knew meeting this girl was not an accident.

"Done!" Aimee heartily smiled as she finished drizzling sprinkles on the cupcakes icing. One-by-one, she placed them on a decorative tray to display on the counter.

Holding the tray's handles with both hands, she turned around only to freeze on the spot. Someone was staring and smiling at her. Before she could even move, her eyes were immediately captivated by his manly smile. 'The most beautiful smile she had ever seen her entire life,' she thought. He looked stunning with his pepper stubble and deep brown eyes.

She smiled as sweet as sugar. She left the tray on the table and wiped her hands in the apron before taking it off.

Aleja blinked as he saw the girl up close. Fascinated to how she acts and speaks like a little kid. She did not even bother to remove the flour on her face and fix her hair, but to his eyes she still looks stunning.

"Hi! How may I help you?" Aimee said upon arriving by the counter.

Aleja stood upright and tried to bring back his straight face.

"Uh, this rocky road cake, please," he said, stopping himself to grin widely. "How much is it, miss?"

"It's 850 pesos, sir! Anything else?" Aimee always had this smile on her face every time she talks to customers, her mom always reminded her to do so. She knows smiling has an effect on people, 'look at sir now,' she thought, he's turning pinkish red!

"N-No, I'll only take the cake." Spending a long time in prison made him forget how to talk to ladies, thus his malfunctioning while in front of the girl.

Aimee packed the cake with a smile, even added a free cupcake as part of her yearly birthday giveaway. To her, if it's her birthday, it's everyone's birthday as well. She went back to the counter with two boxes, one with the cake and the other with the cupcake.

"Uh, I did not order-" Aleja instantly reacted.

"I know, sir," she said softly and handed him the boxes. "Happy birthday! Have a wonderful birthday and I hope the cupcake will make you smile!" Aimee wished, both index fingers at the corners of her wide smile. "You look lonely, please smile at me again."

A smile formed on Aleja's face and patted her head. He wasn't sure of what to respond. He hates his birthday, but he never knew this year would be a memorable one.

Aimee, Ameira's birthday alters, always reminded her of her mom, the person who taught her to bake.

"Thank you," Aleja said, words oozing with sincerity. After paying, he exited the shop only to see her still smiling. The girl formed finger hearts at him which made Aleja hold his chuckle.

"Weird but cute," Aleja whispered, shaking his head with a smile before making his way to Kendrick and his friend's family's place.

Aimee's eyes squinted as sunlight hit her face. The light from the sun might be quite blinding, she always loved the warmth it brings as it touches her skin. For her, it's a light and calm embrace, just like what her mom does before.

After a long day at the cake shop, she took a nap and finally removed the 'Ameira' in AMEIRA'S SUGAR PLUM SWEET CAKES before the real owner arrived to take over. Sure, the shop owner was confused at first with the girl's request to rent the shop during October but knowing how excellent Aimee's baking skills are, she agreed and was not disappointed.

The sales of the shop hit the roof at this time of the year, with this, the real owner thinks she does not need to know the true reason behind this rent a shop plot, anymore. Ameira set a single important condition which the owner agreed; Aimee must not do the deliveries. She must not be seen by many though she could still do the customer service at the shop. Ameira did such to keep ten-year-old Aimee safe, in case whatever happens.

Her alters come out unexpectedly, especially when triggered. But neither does she know which one of them will control her next.

Staring at the sky, young Aimee's mind wandered, gone was the huge jolly grin printed on her face earlier. The way her thoughts were reminiscing her childhood feels like Ameira currently shares the body with her as a co-conscious.

Being raised with limits and trained to be always aware of her actions, Ameira was locked in a dark room. She's caged by her own emotions. Scared, she distanced herself from people thus worsening her situation, and now she ended up hiding behind six people of different names and character, all compressed in her petite body; the six of them using the same face as they travel around the city in pursuit of their own desires.

Aimee got back to her senses when a little kid bumped onto her.

Eyes wide open, the kid immediately said, "I'm sorry!" And ran away when he was chased by other little kids while they chuckled.

Aimee smiled with the sight of kids playing. Families were talking, friends laughing as they strolled, and noises of vendor's bells as they attracted customers, sounds that little Aimee recognized. The Circle Park in Quezon city is her go-to place to have fun. Sometimes she would play with the kids or simply watch them chase each other around while she satisfies her childlike cravings with ice cream.

A familiar sight quickly draws pure delight on Aimee's face.

"Cotton candy!"

But instead of rushing towards the vendor, her lips pouted when she saw a kid taking big bites from its hotdog in a stick on the left hand and a panda-shaped cotton candy on the right. She skipped towards the kid with a smile.

"Cute! Your cotton candy is so cute! C-Can you give me some?" Aimee pleaded with a pout and sat beside the kid.

The kid blankly stared at her; mouth gaped open as it was about to bite on her cotton candy. She just threw Aimee a side eye before casually moving away from her.

Little Aimee only pouted more when the park's joyful noise went silent after a loud slap.

"How many times should I tell you that our problem will only be OUR problem! You don't have to tell your parents about it, Celia! Why don't you use your brain sometimes? What you did only worsened the situation between us!" A man screamed in anger after striking his wife with his palm.

With a hand on her right cheek, the wife cried in agony, "I-Is it wrong to tell my parents the truth? Is it wrong to seek help and tell them I'm a battered wife? Everything I've told them was true, you were never a good husband to me and not even a good father to your children! I'm the one who pays the finances, takes care of the kids, and cooks' food for you! I don't think I deserve to be beaten to death every time you enter our home's door!" The woman chased her breath, trembling in both pain and anger. "I-I'm trying to revive this family...when will you realize your own mistakes?"

Her husband shook his head and sneered. "You're getting insane." He carried his child with him, turned around and was about to walk away when his wife, unbothered by the eyes around her, grabbed him by the shirt.

"Don't you ever turn your back on me! We're not done talking, yet. See! This is the problem with you, instead of trying to fix our problems, you walk away! And where are you going? To your mistress? You have children other than Yana, remember that!"

The man removed his wife's hands gripping on his shirt and faced her.

"Those are not my children. And I wish I really do have a mistress; I want you to know how much I desire to leave you-!"

"BULLSHIT!" she yelled and slapped him. "I gave you my everything! Is this what you'll make me feel in exchange of my love for you, you selfish bastard!" She sobbed hard and almost fell on her knees. Two young boys rushed beside the woman, both crying innocently while holding onto their mother. "W-Why? Why are you doing this? Why did this happen to u-us?!" The woman shrieked, throwing weak punches at her husband.

Boiling with anger, the latter pushed her with all his strength. And the woman fell on the floor with a loud thud. She could hardly breathe. The little boys wrapped their tiny arms around their mother's, without a single knowledge of what's happening.

"Now, you want to know why? Your attitude! Your past relationships ended because of how bad your attitude is! Your friends turned their back on you because of that filthy attitude of yours!" he growled, veins popping out his neck. Furious, he walked away with his little girl.

The woman's wailing, the young boys' sobs, and the loud gossips of those who have witnessed, all together entered Aimee's head and kept repeating over and over like a broken disc track. Aimee closed her eyes hard. Her hands gripped on her head, even pulling hair from the scalp until she heard a loud, long, ringing sound from her ears.

"A-Aaaaah..." Aimee silently groaned in pain as flashes of the past began to play in her head.

"Allen? Where are you going? Why are your bags with you? W-Why wouldn't you answer me?!"

"Can you please stop acting like you know nothing?!"

"But w-why are you leaving?! Are you just gonna leave us to rot here? Am I not e-enough?"

"I can't stand you anymore! I do not want to see your face ever again!"

"M-Mom...Mommy please get out of the room. Let's eat, you need to eat. I want to see you, p-please..." The little girl sobbed as she tried to open the door of her mother's room. After she finally found the key, she opened the door only to witness a horrible sight: her mother bathing with her own blood as she tried to kill herself.

"Excuse me, are you okay?" A lady approached Aimee that was writhing in pain.

"Is there anything wrong? Are you hurt? How are you feeling?" Another one went near and checked on her.

"That man was terrible. Where did he get the guts to argue and abuse his wife, and in public!"

"They could've just talked about it in private, there are kids here, they have kids too! Men are horrible! Poor lady."

Aimee's hands halted from pulling her hair, her body froze from trembling and squirming.

"Hey, are you okay-"

"Of course, I'm okay," she said, nonchalantly. She removed the old lady's hand on her shoulder using only two of her fingers, extending her pinky finger. Her face showed disgust as she wandered her eyes to those around her and stood up.

The concerned women were extremely astonished. They were just trying to help but were rather insulted by her bratty attitude.

"You don't have to care for me, I can handle myself. W-Where am I?" She looked down and her eyes grew wide. "What are these?! Who wears clothes like-argh! Aimee!" Her face crumpled as if she was nauseous.

"She definitely has a loose screw in the head. Weird kid," the other old lady blurted out.

"Well, I'm going! I refuse to be infected with such," another one said, and they marched away from her, still throwing her with deadly glares.

"Whatever!" She rolled her eyes on them and shook her hands off her clothes. "Oh, my god! Calm yourself, Misty! Just calm yourself. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, ex-argh! Where are her bills? I need a makeover!"