Chapter 2 Suicide

Camellia was completely drenched by the rain. But she wouldn't budge. Staring helplessly at her father's grave made her motionless. But the tears wouldn't stop pouring down her face.

What do I do now? She kept asking herself.

She never dreamt of a big future, you know, the one with a husband and kids, building houses and traveling the world? She never dared. For some people, they never get lucky enough to experience that much good stuff. Camellia never believed she had any luck to begin with.

But God, she was content with her little, imperfect life. And she always wanted her own little family and for her kids to get to meet her father. For her kids to have a grandfather with them for as long as possible. How could fate be so cruel as to take away her little dream?

Now she's left with nothing. Completely nothing. Only pain and intense agony. And a dark sensation pulsing through her nerves.

A loud voice was screaming in her head. She was trying not to pay attention to it. She'd rather listen to the smaller voices. The easier voices. The ones telling her that she could forget. She could pick up the pieces of her life and move on. She could travel to a different city and start anew.

She could, but then she'd have to forever live with this agony and resentment. She'll never be able to forgive herself for not trying to at least find out why they did that to her father.

So maybe the louder voice was right. Listening to it was hard. But she couldn't shake it off either.

Could she do it? Could she really take revenge for her father? Where would she start?

Her eyes trailed down her father's grave. Fresh tears streamed down her eyes.

She can do it. She has to do it. It'd be too unfair to her father if she didn't at least try.

“Please watch over me. Please guide me.” She prayed over her father's grave and turned around to leave.

It was then she realized she was the only one in the cemetery.

Even the men who'd claimed to be her father's acquaintances were gone. She didn't know when they left. She didn't even get to ask their names. At the very least, they might know something about her father's death.

She'll have to find them. If she's to get revenge for her father's death, she'll need them.

But how is she going to find them?

Camellia shook her head. She'll have to worry about that later. For now, she needs to go home, get out of these clothes, and go to the police station. They must have already started investigating her father's death.

A few walks away from her father's grave, she got accosted by an elderly man. Crooked teeth. Ruffled clothes. He looked like he was some cleaner of the place.

“You're all drenched,” he said, handing her a black umbrella.

Camellia hesitated. “You're all drenched too, Sir. You'll be needing it more.”

“No, it's alright. Take it.” The man insisted, gently pushing the umbrella into her grip.

“Thank you.” Camellia shuddered from the cold. Honestly, she did need the umbrella.

She opened it and covered herself. Taking more steps out of the cemetery, something written on the umbrella caught her attention.

“CUPCAKE.”

Her brows knotted. She turned around instantly, and she could have sworn someone had been staring at her. But there was no one. Not even the old man who'd handed her the umbrella.

Goosebumps filled her arms, but she tried shrugging them off. It was all in her head. Yes. All in her head.

With that, she continued walking. She took a taxi home. Her very small and lonely apartment.

She went straight to the bathroom and had a hot bath. Crying in the shower was inevitable. It was literally the worst day of her life.

She couldn't stop crying.

But somehow she managed to get dressed. She packed her long brown hair into a ponytail. She wore her casual outfit of ripped jeans and a crop top, and then boots.

Then she headed outside and took another taxi to the police station. She knew her way around because she'd been here a few times. For fighting. It was something very normal around where she grew up.

She went straight to one of the officers' desks. He'd been at the hospital. He wanted to interrogate her, but the men, the ones who claimed to be her father's friends, wouldn't let him. They said it wasn't the right time.

He looked up and leaned back with a sigh as she sat down.

“Good evening, Sir. I'm so sorry I couldn't speak to you earlier today. I had a lot going on at that time.” Camellia began, rubbing her hands nervously.

“Sure. I understand. We just wanted to ask you a few harmless questions.”

“I'm here now.” She was anxious to know if there was any clue as to who did that to her father. But she had to wait for him to be done with interrogating her before she asked.

“Alright. First, is there a reason why your father would do that?” The officer began with a straight face.

“Would do what?”

“Commit suicide.”

“What?” Camellia couldn't believe her ears. “You think my father committed suicide?”

“That's what it looks like.”

“Why would you think that?” Camellia stuttered in disbelief. Hot tears were beginning to sting her eyes.

“Well, for starters, there's no evidence that he was murdered. There weren't any scars. He wasn't bleeding.”

“What if he was drugged?”

“None of that happened, Miss. But we did find a huge quantity of liquor in his system. Did your father have a drunken history?”

Camellia hesitated. Yes, her father was quite the drunk. But he knew how to be sober too. And he knew better than to jump into a river sober or drunk.

“Miss? Answer my questions honestly.” The officer persisted.

“He drank sometimes. But that's not a reason to believe he committed suicide. My father wasn't a maniac. Only a maniac would jump into a river on his daughter’s birthday. You have to believe me. He'd never do that.”

The man sighed. “I'd love to believe you, but the situation says something different. Your father likely jumped. There's nothing that proves he was murdered.”

“What about his coworkers? You should invite them over for an interrogation. They might know something.”

“Those men said they didn't know you or your father. They were just following an order.”

“What?” Camellia was pale. She couldn't believe her ears. “Are you serious?”