HER BESTFRIEND IS A MAN

"Stella, we managed to find Karen near the river of hope. But... she's gone. Karen is dead, Stella."

***

Seven days after Karen's death.

First Metro, New York.

First Metro has been abuzz with the news of the disappearance of Karenina Baker-the top-performing employee who always ranked highest in the entire office building-for two days. The commotion in the office building, which is synonymous with its top performers, became even more intense after the news of Karen's disappearance was upgraded to a sad news. Karenina Baker was pronounced dead when she was found by police near the river of hope, which is located quite far from the office building.

Samuel Johanson - Karen's cousin - along with Antoni - Karen's father - and the local police managed to find the poor girl at nine in the evening after searching for a dozen hours.

Samuel was probably in shock from seeing the body for the first time with his own two eyes and asked permission not to enter the office building for a few days after his cousin's death.

Today, the most popular guy in First Metro finally showed his nose. He went to the office building and shocked the employees at First Metro with his appearance. Samuel walked through the gate without any expression, trying to avoid the curious stares and whispers of the other employees around him who wanted to know about the reason behind Karen's death.

There were rumors that Karen committed suicide because she was bullied by a senior the previous day. But rumors are rumors, unproven.

Samuel then arrived at the office. His eyes stared at the long board with the name of the room attached to the door hesitantly as he let out a long sigh before finally entering the room.

Samuel immediately cast his eyes around, looking for his friends who were also in the room, but something bothered him. He quickly entered and ignored the curious stares of the other employees to immediately sit next to Stella;the popular girl in the office building and one of Samuel's best friends. "Stella?"

The girl who was engrossed in a novel with both ears covered by a headset noticed the presence of someone next to her and turned her head. "Samuel?" Stella hurriedly took off the headset and turned off the music from her cell phone. "Are you feeling better?"

Samuel smiled and nodded. "But, why are you alone? Where are the others?"

Stella sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "Everything's changed, Sam," she said sadly.

He furrowed his thick eyebrows, not understanding. "What does that mean?"

"Let's talk in the park during break."

***

Samuel and Stella sat together on a wooden chair in the corner of the office building's garden. There were several large shady trees behind them, while colorful flowers that the staff had deliberately planted in plastic pots lined the sides of the garden, complementing the shady atmosphere created by the greenery in the garden itself.

Stella took a sip of the coke in her hand and gazed longingly at the field across the park before finally speaking. "I don't know why either. But everything changed after they found out Karen died, Sam."

Samuel set his tea box aside and gave Stella a curious look. "What does changed mean?"

The girl who let her long hair down her back shrugged her shoulders and turned to Samuel. "As you know, I've been alone since Karen died," she said sadly.

"Where has Clara been?" Sam asked curiously. "Don't you two always go everywhere together?"