I looked at the folder on the table. My heart was pounding with the intensity of his heartbeat. Gabriel was still standing in front of me. He didn’t need to do this kind of trick to ruin my life. But he smiled bitterly.
“If you want to hurt me, I’ve been waiting for a long time.”
“Andrea.”
“You really don’t remember what happened at the company anniversary party last year, do you?”
“I woke up the next day, and I was already in the hotel room.”
“Gabriel said he was the one who brought me here because I was too drunk.”
“I never even thought about it.”
But now… a strange fear is slowly creeping into my heart.
“I remember.”
“Then?”
He took out his cellphone and played a video. I took it. It came from the hotel corridor’s CCTV. It was 8:30 PM.
“A man is waiting for me.”
“But… it’s not Gabriel.”
“My eyes widened. The man’s face was covered with a cap. I couldn’t recognize him. He was tall. He looked like a kid. And he was wearing a black sports watch.”
The video ended when we entered the elevator.
“My whole body trembled.”
“I can’t remember…”
“I really don’t remember…”
Gabriel closed his eyes.
“I’ve been looking for you for two weeks.”
“But the recordings from the floor where you went are deleted.”
“It’s like he’s disappeared.”
The silence in the office was heavy. Just as the door opened wide.
—I know there’s a problem!
I heard a familiar voice. Adrian stood in front of me. He was carrying a lunch box. His expression was dark with the expression of a handsome man. He looked at Gabriel. Then came the DNA report on the table. And finally, me.
—Love.
—Am I the one who’s going to slap you?
I stopped. Even Gabriel. The tension in the room suddenly broke with a whisper. I laughed. I don’t know why. Adrian approached and stood in front of me. Like a big dog protecting its master.
—You’re my ex-boyfriend, right?
—Do you know that pregnant women are not allowed to be stressed?
—If something happens to my wife, can you take responsibility?
Gabriel looked at Adrian’s wedding ring. His face was even more tense.
—You really married him?
—Why not?
I held Adrian’s hand.
—At least, he didn’t abandon me.
For a moment, the pain in Gabriel’s eyes disappeared. But it quickly disappeared. He stood up. And left a business card on the table.
—If you want to know the truth…
—Call me.
—That man hasn’t shown up yet.
—I feel it’s more complicated than you think.
After that, he left. He slammed the door. And I felt like I lost my strength. I slowly sat down. At the first time after many months, I felt like I was getting lost. Adrian knelt in front of me. He carefully placed his hand on my stomach.
—Love.
—Hm?
—It’s better if the baby isn’t your ex’s child.
I looked at him.
—Why?
He shook his head. His voice was weak.
—Because… I don’t need to be jealous anymore.
I laughed again. This man is really strange. But before I could speak… My cellphone suddenly vibrated. A message came in from an unknown number. Only one line was written. “Don’t investigate anymore.” “I know who the baby’s father is.” I froze. Adrian read it too. The smile on his face immediately disappeared. Only a few seconds had passed. Another picture was sent. And when I saw it… It was like the blood stopped flowing through my body. Because I was the one in the picture. Last night at the party last year. A man was walking into the hotel elevator with me. His face was covered with a cap. He was unrecognizable. But in his pulse… He was wearing a red bracelet. Exactly the same bracelet Adrian is wearing now. I slowly looked at my younger husband. Adrian saw the picture too. Suddenly his face turned pale. His cellphone fell to the floor.
—Can’t…
He took a step back. His eyes were full of fear. And my heart sank. Because of the first time I met Adrian… I saw an emotion on his face I had never seen before. Fear. And in that moment… I started to ask myself. Was it just a coincidence that my husband was married… Or had he been following me for a long time before we met?
BAHAGI 3: THE MAN WITH THE RED BRACELET
I was just looking at Adrian. I didn’t know how long we had been together without moving. The only thing I could hear was the fast beating of my heart. And the faint sound of the air conditioner in the office. Finally, I was the one who spoke.
—Adrian…
My voice was hoarse.
—Why do you have the same bracelet?
He was so shy. It was like he had just learned. He immediately removed the red bracelet from his wrist and placed it on the table.
—Love, I’m not the only one who has this.
—Many students in our university wear this.
—It’s a sign of the sports club.
But the fear in his face didn’t go away. And that’s what worried me more. If he didn’t hide it, why was he afraid?
—You’ll run away if you see me.
—Of course, I will.
—I’ll run away in ten seconds.
—But you’re pregnant.
Despite the tension, I smiled. Sometimes, I really don’t know if he was serious or not. When we arrived at the old sports complex, it was almost dark all around. The gates were rusted, the lights were broken, and there were hardly any people. We walked in to enter. My heart started racing. Until we reached an old locker room. There was still locker number 27. Exactly like the picture. My hands were shaking as I opened it. And inside… there was a small box. I slowly took it out. When I opened it… it was like the world had stopped. Because inside was an old photo. My photo. When I was in college. I was wearing a graduation gown. But that wasn’t the scariest thing. At the back of the photo was a handwritten note. “For Andrea.” “One day, I’ll tell you everything.” I stopped. I didn’t know the handwriting. But Adrian suddenly blushed.
—Me…
He said softly.
—I think I saw your handwriting before.
—What?
—At my brother’s house.
I looked at him.
—Do you have a brother?
He hesitated. But he didn’t answer right away. It was like he had something heavy to say.
—He’s dead.
—It’s been five years.
Suddenly, the air around us grew heavy.
—How did he die?
—Car accident.
He bowed his head silently.
—But that’s not the only thing I don’t understand.
Suddenly, we heard footsteps. Tok. Tok. Tok. From outside the locker room. We looked at each other. My heart started beating faster.
—There’s someone.
Adrian’s voice was hoarse. The lights suddenly went out. We were all stunned. The room was enveloped in darkness. And only a few seconds had passed… I heard a familiar voice. A voice I didn’t expect to hear there.
—Finally.
—It seems you found the first piece of the truth.
I was so startled. I couldn’t possibly be wrong. I know that voice. I slowly looked over the door. And when the light came on from the hallway… A man appeared. Tall. Wearing a black suit. And smiling. It was Gabriel. But before I could speak… Another person came out from behind him. And at the moment I saw his face… My breath stopped. Because that man… Was exactly Adrian’s look. Like twins. Like a mirror. And the scariest thing… Everyone thought he had been dead for a long time.