I try not to let the sounds of overlapping conversations between the policemen outside the room engulf me into a panic. I had lied in many questionings many times now, what was the issue with this one?

The issue is I count eight officers, eight pairs of eyes that will be observing me as I answered the questions. Blurting out one wrong word, moving a muscle or breaking facial expressions will cause a lot of trouble for me.

The woman who was going to interview me introduced herself as Captain Lee and the person who was sitting beside her was Detective Ayaz, the detective who questioned me when Helena first attacked me in the house. There was a recorder placed right in front of me on the bed, which made my palm sweat even profusely as they can rewind the tape to listen, so I can't even make one small hesitation. Three other officers standing behind the both of them, while thankfully the remaining three stood outside in the hallway. It was not like the pressure wasn't enough.

Captain Lee intertwined her fingers together on her lap. "I apologise if all this feels overwhelming, surely you can understand the severity of this case."

"Of course, I will help in any way that I can."

She nodded her head before reaching to the recorder and pressing the on button. "I assume that Mr Fletcher has told you that Ms Belinsky died and how she died?"

I nodded my head.

"Can you speak up for the recording?"

I got embarrassed at that. "Sorry, uh, yes."

"Do you have any idea who was the one who shot her?"

"No." At least I don't have to lie for this.

"What would you say your relationship with Ms Belinsky was?"

"I knew her through Breton, as they... were dating." And she revealed she was my father's ex-girlfriend and that she was responsible for Zari's death.

But it was not like I can say that as they would start digging into my father and Felon will be involved. Then he would go on a rampage and many lives would be lost.

"And what about your relationship with her daughter, Leah?"

"We've gotten quite close and were very supportive of Breton and Helena's relationship." Hoping that we would become sisters, and now we might actually be biologically related.

She then moved on to ask the basic questions; what time Breton and I arrived at Helena's house, which officer followed us there and how Breton, Leah and the officer were knocked out. I did say that Helena was the one who drugged them, since it's quite given.

But I'll spin it around later.

Captain Lee cleared her throat, "So now we'll be getting into the difficult part of the questioning. Feel free to take your time answering the questions." She gave me a reassuring look before looking down at her notepad.

Just going through the story I was going to tell in my head one last time.

"Can you describe the person who stabbed you?"

"The person was wearing a black hoodie and a face mask covering their face, I could only see their eyes. It's a medium brown colour. I couldn't tell if the person was male or female. Not quite tall, just a little taller than me."

She gave the officers behind a look before turning back to me. "Those descriptions are similar to the ones you gave about the attacker who attacked you in your house less than three weeks ago. Do you think it's the same person?"

"Yeah, it does seem that way."

"Take us through what happened right before the person appeared to the moment when you were stabbed."

"So when Breton collapsed onto the floor, I ran to him to check if he was alright. Then I heard a click on the door and turned around to see that person, holding a knife." My mind flashed back to when I felt the coldness of the knife on my throat and turning around to see Helena. I inhale a sharp breath to shake those memories away.

My mind then snapped back to reality, and I remembered I was in a room with a police captain, detective and three officers. Detective Ayaz spoke up, "It's alright, take your time."

I took a deep breath and continued, "I immediately started running and the person caught onto me, pinned me onto the ground and stabbed me with the knife."

"And when was the last time you saw Ms Belinsky?"

"Uh I think she went outside to take out the trash."

"Okay, that'll be all. Thank you for your cooperation, Tiana." Captain Lee reached for the recorder and turned it off. "We'll keep you in touch with any new developments on the case."

I really hope I've given them the narrative that the 'person's' real target was Helena and not me without actually saying it.

With that, all of them left the room and I let out a sigh of relief. I took out the burner phone Nicandro somehow planted it there and saw if there were any new messages, and none. A nurse then came in and I quickly hid the phone under the blanket. She brought in my personal belongings and I looked at my phone, which glitched when I tried to turn it on from the huge inflow of messages.

I spent a good fifteen minutes replying to the messages which include Sha, Sherwyn, Zach, Fidyana, Ms Zhang, Peter, classmates and teachers. My heart dropped when I saw a message from Leah.

Leah: Hey. Sorry I didn't come to visit you this morning when you woke up. Been having to deal with a lot. I'll be occupied with something for the next few days but I'll definitely come to see you soon.

How am I supposed to tell her that her mom was who she was? That she lied to her about who her father was her whole life?

I sighed and told her to take her time with everything and hopes she feels better soon. Even though I don't feel anything from Helena's death, I do feel for Leah for losing someone she loved. And now she's an orphan, like me.

Lunch was served soon later and I finished it quickly. Breton then returned from his break, stayed with me for a while before returning back to his office after I reassured him I'll be fine. I went to check the burner phone again, still nothing. I went to check my smartphone and no messages.

I seriously don't know how I was going to be locked up in this hospital for the next week. The thought of escaping this hospital has crossed my mind a few times now. I know I was not actually doing it, I was running on a thin thread with the police and the last thing I need is to be restrained. But that doesn't mean I can come up with scenarios on how I was going to do it, like in a spy movie.

"Hey!"

I snapped my head to the source of the voice. Sha, Sherwyn, Fidyana and Zach burst into the room carrying balloons and gifts. Sha quickly rushed towards me for a hug and I heard Sherwyn's voice in the background, "Be gentle!"

"Yeah yeah, I know!" Sha replied back before she hugged me gently. "You really really scared me, girl." She whispered.

"I know, I'll try not to get stabbed again," I whispered back and both of us broke into laughter.

She propped herself next to me on the bed. "See, I told them that you would be joking about it already. Sherwyn was very clear in making sure we watched our words."

"Hey, it can't hurt being safe rather than sorry!" Sherwyn retorted back.

I chuckled in response, "Well I appreciate your concern, Sherwyn."

"Your welcome, Tiana." And he did a dramatic bow for the full effect which had all of us laughing.

Sherwyn, Fidyana and Zach then took turns hugging me and giving me my gift. Sha gave me a sauce to put on the meals served here if they're too plain and Sherwyn gave me a book called 'The Selection'. The book is about a prince choosing his future wife from a group of women, and this book is part of the series. I immediately thought of Nicandro and wondered if he had read any books about princes. Even so, Spanish princes. It must be weird reading a book using his royal title, but with the character completely different from himself.

Fidyana and Zach gave me a facial set; like those you bring on a vacation. Inside the bag, there is a recyclable toothbrush, a small tube of toothpaste, facial wash and body wash. They then passed me the big chunk of work which I insisted they bring here, as it would be a good distraction from not feeling trapped in this hospital.

Naturally, I was filled in on all the drama which happened in school while I was gone. A couple in my class got together, a fight broke out in the canteen because of queue cutting and of course, the mid-year examination schedule came out. Fidyana and Zach left after that and the atmosphere has died down.

"All seriousness aside, are you sure you're okay?" Sherwyn asked from across the room as he was laying on the couch.

"Yeah, it's alright if you aren't," Sha adds in. "I wouldn't be either after I got stabbed."

My mouth is itching to tell them what really happened but I won't risk their safety. "I'm not alright, but at least now it's over." Lying to them is more difficult than to the police.

Sherwyn looked over at me frowning, "Over? Wasn't the person not caught yet?"

"Yeah, but I guess it's over for me. The evidence is all pointing to that Helena was the target, not me.

"Well good, because I won't survive without you on coming out." Sha nudged me gently on my shoulders.

My eyes widened a little, "You're thinking of fully coming out?"

"Woah, slow down there. I'll get there but not yet. I just came out to my older sister yesterday, after I heard that you woke up. Just felt like it's a sign." I got teary-eyed at that. "Aw, don't cry! Your incident just taught me to appreciate life a little."

"I'm still so proud of you either way." I managed to say with my voice breaking a little. Must be the drugs making me all woozy.

"Damn I feel left out." A voice broke the moment.

Sha rolled her eyes, "Then stop laying there and come here, Pinoy!"

Sherwyn joined us on the single-sized hospital bed which could barely fit the size of the three of us. "Don't know about you, but this kind of screams threesome for-"

Before he could finish the sentence, Sha took the pillow she was leaning on and threw it at him. Sherwyn was shocked at her reaction but quickly recovered from it and threw it back at her. Sha's previous smirk turned into a shriek before she put on an 'it's war' face. Sherwyn got off from the bed and took the pillow from the couch and threw it at me.

My reflexes were fast enough, thanks to the karate class and blocked the pillow from hitting my face. Sherwyn failed to try to hide the surprise on his face before he got hit by two pillows at the same time.

After coming out of the shower which I spent almost an hour in as my movements slowed me down, I heard a vibrating sound and immediately knew what that meant. I made my way quickly to my bed without tearing my wound and picked up the call.

"Nicandro."

I held my breath as I waited for his response.

"It's so good hearing your voice." It came out as a whisper.

I frowned at that. "Why are you whispering?"

"Oh um, my entire family is next door. We're getting ready to head over to the court now."

Oh my god! The court!

I started stammering, "I-I'm so sorry, I completely forgot! I just-"

"You were unconscious for five days, Alveanea. Cut yourself some slack." He said it in an amused tone.

"Okay... but you shouldn't be talking to me right now, you should get ready and calm your nerves," I said nervously, not wanting to hold back his entire family.

"Talking to you calm my nerves."

I chuckled. "Good, because at least I'm doing something. Making up for causing you to worry non-stop the past few days."

"I'm just glad I'm talking to you now." I really wish he would stop saying those things and using that voice.

"And I'm just glad I'm able to calm you down because you don't sound nervous at all," I stated, knowing there's an underlying meaning.

He caught onto that and sighed, "It's not like I want a royal title anyway, deep down I'm hoping that we'll lose. But then the consequence of it is that my family's name will be shunned."

Seems like we're both trying to escape our birthright.

He cleared his throat. "I should go now, we're heading over to the courthouse soon. I'll talk to you when it's over, whether it's as the prince of Spain or just Nicandro."