Hate To Love You, Love To Hate You

You Caught Me

For the following month, I didn’t see Claudia. Once again, she disappeared from my life. It would have been a great deal for me if I hadn’t agreed to help Officer Andrew. Even when I didn’t see her, I also didn’t waste any time. I did my research on her and her family all this time. It wasn’t difficult to find more and more about her – she basically lives on the internet. Also, since her family is well-known in the country, I was able to find out a lot about them as well.

While I was snooping around on her Instagram, I came across a group picture. The picture included five people, including Claudia and that man whom I wanted to bury alive that day, Austin. I squinted my eyes and averted them at the other people in the picture. The man who was polite enough to pull Austin back that night was also in it. There were two other girls in the picture that I didn’t recognize. The picture looked like they were on a yacht. I don’t think this was in the USA.

I looked up at the location to see that they were somewhere in Thailand. The picture was a few months old. All the women were in bikinis. Both men were only in their swimming trunks. They must have taken a vacation there. Everyone was grinning for the camera. I felt envious. There they are – all around my age, enjoying their lives, and then there is me – working day and night to help my family meet the ends. Claudia tagged them all.

The first profile I opened was Austin’s. I opened his profile with the surety that it would be filled with pictures and videos of him living an extravagant life, but I was surprised to find that he had no posts to show. He followed five hundred profiles, while around a thousand people were following him, but he never posted anything. His profile was as empty as my hopes. The small icon picture I could see of him, he wasn’t smiling in it either. He was just solemnly looking into the camera. I huffed and went back to Claudia’s profile.

The next person I stalked was a guy named Theo. He was the same man who was polite to me the other day. Theo didn’t have a lot of pictures to show, just a few. Only one of those pictures was his own. He was grinning for the camera. It was a picture from last fall. He was wearing a maroon hoodie with his hands in his pockets. His hair was messy. He was scrunching his nose and squinting his eyes as he grinned because of the sun on his face. From the background, it looked like he was on a hike or something. The other pictures were just sunsets and beaches.

When I checked the two girls' profiles they were all like Claudia’s – filled with pictures and videos - I would have looked through Claudia’s profile in detail if it wasn’t my time to show up at work again. That day, I returned home after midnight. I was getting antsy. Officer Andrew has called me a few times during this month, asking if I was able to catch Claudia, but my answer to him was the same – no.

I was getting worried that Officer Andrew was going to take this task from me. I wanted the money he had to offer. Since he and I made this deal, I have been picturing a better life for myself and my family and I want it to happen. I don’t want to keep living like this. I need to get out of this loop and only a large amount of money can help me.

It was Saturday the next day. I was at work at the mall when I received a call from Andrew. I was scared that he was going to call off the deal, but I was wrong. He was only calling me to help me. “Didn’t you tell me that you drove an Uber?” He asked.

“Uh, yes. After six, I do.” I answered.

“Do you have a car?”

“Uh, no, but I take my manager’s car. I return it to him early Sunday morning every week. Why?”

“Okay, listen to me. Tonight you don’t have to borrow his car, okay? Borrow mine. Some sources confirmed to me that tonight Claudia and her friends will be going to a club. I want you to stay around that area. They usually get very drunk and end up calling an Uber. You have to make sure that you pick Claudia up, okay? Drunken people make confessions. I will bug my car to record the conversation. Can you do it?” He asked.

I agreed. This could be my chance. It has been a month since I last saw Claudia. She also stopped coming to the restaurant. This could be my only way to get to see her. I need to get the confession from her fast. I don’t want to stick around her and her pretentious friends for too long. So, after my shift was over, I met Andrew near the mall. We were sitting in a parked car. He told me he had a camera and a mic in the car. I only need to try to talk to Claudia. “Listen, if you don’t get an answer from her – don’t force her, okay? This is only our first move.”

I nodded my head. I wasn’t going to blow off this chance by making her suspicious of me. “I have a question,” I said to him.

Andrew nodded his head, “What is it?” He asked.

“ Will a simple confession from her be enough? And can a drunk confession be counted as a piece of authentic evidence?” I asked.

Andrew heaved a sigh, “No. But it could be a step toward more concrete shreds of evidence. It is better to have something than nothing at all.” He replied. “Let’s just take this first step. If you are unable to get anything from her, just try to be friends with her instead. If not tonight, then you have to keep her around to open her up. Don’t miss this chance, Luna.”

I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I just nodded and agreed with everything he said. He left his car with me. I could have gotten a lot of rides for the night, but since I had to be at the given address. I rejected all of them. Around seven in the evening, I parked near the area where the club is. The street had a few high-end clubs. Even when I was out on the streets, sitting in the car, I felt like I didn’t belong there.

I waited for two hours in my car. For those two hours, I questioned everything in my life. It was sad how bad I felt as I was sitting in the car and not utilizing my time to earn money. I don’t remember the last time I had free time. It was probably a few months ago when I got sick and took a day off. I tried to pass time by scrolling through my social media feed. Slowly but surely, the time passed and it was a few minutes after nine.

The street was practically empty until nine at night. That’s when people started to show up. The more people started to walk into the clubs, the more I felt like an outsider. They were all dressed up, hyped up to partying all night, drinking, and enjoying their weekend. I watched as most of the groups made it in the line outside the clubs. The clock ticked and soon it was ten at night. I texted mom and told her that I would be late tonight. She didn’t question me but asked me to eat something. I smiled. She always texts me at every mealtime, reminding me to eat.

I lied to her that I had already eaten. I hardly ever have a proper meal when I am working – I don’t like to waste my money on food. But this time I was feeling a little hungry and thirsty. I could see a mart at the corner of the street. I decided to buy some snacks and water from there. I stepped out of the car and walked among the pedestrians. I did get a few judgmental looks from some.

They were all dressed in chic clothes, while I was wearing a black hoodie over plain blue jeans. They must not be used to being around people like me. I sighed and decided to ignore them. I lowered my head, put my hands in my pockets, and walked to the end of the street. On the way, I rejected two of the ride requests. I could have made money doing so. I clicked my tongue and shook my head. It was hurting me to reject rides. I was wasting so much time here.

I walked into the empty mart. The cashier gave me a weird look. I wanted to roll my eyes, but instead, I ignored him and walked further to find some snacks and water. Even this mart was better than the regular ones. Rich people really do get the best of everything. I shook my head and pulled a bottle of cold water from the fridge. There were many other options to drink, but I only wanted water, so I didn’t even bother to look around.

Next, I walked to where the crisps were. I decided to buy one pack. I was about to pick it up when my phone started to ring. I pulled it out of my pocket, glancing toward the cashier as his eyes were fixed on me. He looked like he was keeping an eye on me. This time I rolled my eyes at him. If he can be obvious, then so can I. It was from Officer Andrew. I answered the phone.

“Hey, what is the update?” He asked.

“I have been waiting in my car. They haven’t arrived yet. I went to the mart to buy some snacks,” I answered.

“Oh, alright. You must be tired.”

Yes. I was. I was not only tired – I was exhausted. But not just from tonight. I am exhausted from life. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to keep struggling, but Andrew is not interested in my rants. So, I sighed. “I am fine,” I replied.

“Look, I know you are losing possible earnings while working for us. I will compensate you for that. When I come to collect my car, I will pay you for your service tonight.” His words made me smile. Andrew is a kind person. I would have done it for free for him, but I had no choice. I needed the money.

I smiled, “Thank you, Officer Andrew. I appreciate that,” I replied.

I heard the door of the mart opening, following the chattering and laughing of the customers. “Good evening!” The cashier greeted his new customers with a big grin on his face. I already hated this man, but then again – who am I to judge him? He is only doing his job. He knows whom to greet and whom not to greet to make money. I understand where he is coming from – I would have done the same to get tips. Still, it wouldn’t have hurt him to be polite to me.

I shook my head and turned around. I walked back to the mart – where the fridge was. “I have another question, Andrew,” I asked. “How am I going to know which ride request is from Claudia? There will be so many drunken people calling for Uber rides by that time.”

“I will send you her request code.” He answered.

I chuckled, “It must be so cool being a police officer. You can get any information you want,” I commented.

Andrew sniggered, “Only for the cases we are working on. Now, go and keep an eye on her, okay?”

I nodded, “Sure, don’t worry. I got it. I will try to make Claudia talk tonight. And even if I fail to do so tonight, I will try to get close to her and collect all the dirt I can.” I replied.

“Good, best of luck,” Andrew said before we ended the call. I hummed and put my phone back in my pocket. I decided to buy the snacks and leave. I turned around to walk away when I was startled by the presence right behind me.

I gasped and jumped back. “Jesus!” I whispered as my heart was thrashing in my chest. I didn’t even hear this person sneaking into me. I frowned and looked at the man’s face and let out another gasp. It was the same man from before at the restaurant – Austin. I gulped as I stared back into his eyes while he was glaring at me. Oh, shit. Where the hell did he come from?!

My eyes traveled from his face to his shoes. His hair was elegantly styled. He was wearing a black button-up shirt. He had a few of his buttons undone, revealing his sturdy chest. He had his sleeves rolled to his elbows. His veiny arms were on full display. I even detect a few tiny tattoos on him. I looked back at his face. I watched his eye twitch as he glared at me. He clenched his jaws. He looks mad. Oh, shit.

What if he heard me talking to Andrew on the phone? I did say Claudia’s name out loud. What if he rats me out?

I blinked rapidly. What was I supposed to do? Maybe I should just leave. Yes, that would be wise. Forget about snacks, I can come back for them later. Maybe I should just buy the bottle of water and leave. If I leave this situation, I might get spared. I was about to walk past him when he grabbed my arm, halting me from running away.

He pulled me closer to him and lowered his face. At that moment, I was scared. I have been through a lot in my life, and I don’t get scared easily, but the way Austin was looking scared me. He is an influential person. He can get nobody like me to disappear, and the look on his face suggests that he wants to.

“Who were you talking to?” He seethed. His minty breath hit my face as his eyes hardened on me and his nostrils flared. My heart was not beating in my mouth. I tried to release my arm from his hold, but he only tightened his grip and roughly pulled me closer. My arm started to ache.

“Don’t you fucking dare run.” He gritted his teeth. “I heard you taking Claudia’s name. Who are you and what do you want from her?”