"You came home early, why?"
I pursed my lips into one thin line and sighed heavily. I went to the kitchen and Zed followed me there, He is confused and clueless because I went home early than my usual off shift. I get a glass and poured a cold water, I then sat on the high chair and faced him who also sat in front of me.
"I resigned," I simply said and shrugged my shoulder a little, as if it was just nothing and it does not affect me at all.
He then creased his brows. "Why?"
"I don't know, I just need a rest," I answered and drink my water empty. I poured the glass once again because I still feel thirsty. I need more water because it was like I will collapse here in any minute.
"What did Mister Ramirez said?"
I looked away from him when he mentioned that man. Just by hearing his name, it was like I have been fucked up and everything seemed to flashback. Yeah, everything. About what happened at us back in Canada and the conversation we had lately. Everything is fresh in my mind and I just want to forget everything because it pains me.
"It is fine with him."
"Oh, he has to find another secretary, then. Anyway, good for you. I see that that guy is no good for you. It will not be healthy if he is always around you."
"Yeah," I just said in agreement. He is right. It is not good for me whenever we were around each other. I do not know what actually the reason is but really, we are no good for each other.
Zed let me have my rest and he did not bother me anymore by asking some of a little things that has something to do with Kiel – I mean, Mister Ramirez. It is a good decision that I resigned. Just like what I said, I will never regret my decision right after later.
By the way, while I am heading home, like what I have used to, I observed everything around me and nothing change. There is still that "pair" of eye that is following my every move. I have to worry less because I do not want to stress myself more. I do not want to live with fear and being upset all the time. If I am destined to die later, tomorrow, or whenever it is, I do not care anymore because I already have nothing with me but my dead self.
Everything is fine even if I die now.
My death is no one's loss, though.
"Maybe we should see Mister Deguzman?" I suggested Zed while we were watching movies in the living room together. I chewed my popcorn and looked at him with my questioning eyes.
He then shrugged his shoulders off. "If you want."
"Hmm, what if that "someone" will still follow us there and know what we were doing?"
He smirked. "No one can escape away from my uncle."
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. Let's just see about it."
I ended up shutting my mouth. What does he mean about that, though? No one can escape away from Mister Deguzman? Does that mean that his uncle is not afraid of anyone, instead, he was the one feared? Hmm, that sounds cool and intimidating at the same time.
When ten in the morning strikes, I prepared myself and so as Zed. I get my coat and leather jacket and looked at myself in the mirror, just wearing my underwear. I scanned my body and when my eyes dart near my neck where my mole is, my brows creased. I went closer to the mirror to see myself and my eyes automatically widened when I saw something horror there that freaks the hell out of me.
"What the fuck?" I cursed and get the small camera from my mole. I gritted my teeth and faced the camera, right in front of my face. I looked at the camera with my angry face before I uttered. "I will bring you to death, fucker."
I then stepped on the camera and stepped on it. To be so sure that it will be ruined, I squeezed it against my slipper. I then heard a knock from outside which is Zed. "You okay there, Tal?"
I bit my lower lip and closed my eyes, I then gasped. "Yeah, I am fine."
"I heard you yelled. What's wrong?"
I shook my head even though he was not watching me. "It was just a fucking cockroach."
"Woah, a cockroach? We should clean my unit as soon as possible, then. Maybe later? What do you think?"
"Yeah, maybe later. Anyway, I will just change my clothes. Wait for me there."
When I heard his footsteps away, I clicked my tongue against the insides of my cheek. I could not help but to feel so angry about what I just found in my body. A camera, huh? When was it put in my mole? I did not even notice it! Even when I take a bath and I rub my skin, there is no any signs that there is a camera sticking in my neck. How annoying! I will really kill that fucker who put camera on me!
I just changed my clothes and looked at myself again. I look fine as fuck and I want to laugh because of it. Fine, huh? If I look so whole in my outside view, well, if you are me, you will hate yourself to death. I am too broken inside that cannot be fixed anymore. Too many regrets, too many pain, How I hate this life.
"Let's go?" Zed handed me his right hand and I gladly accept it. He kissed the back of my palm first before we headed to the door, ready to get off. I just forced a smile at him when he glanced at me to see my face. "Your ears are red," he commented and opened the door. We both went out. I have my purse with me and nothing else. Well, I have my phone and money in my pocket.
"Oh, why?" I raised a brow at him. "What's wrong with the red ears?"
"You know, your ears will turn red when you are angry, too happy, and feeling hot."
I hissed. "I am feeling hot."
He nodded his head but it is obvious that he was not convinced to what I told him. "Yeah, you are too hot to not feel hot."
I chuckled and hit his shoulders a little. "Silly."
It took us almost an hour to get to the place where Mister Deguzman is. We went to his house and Zed said that there is nothing wrong if we go here since he and his uncle were close to each other and their relationship is good, they are cool. The matter is just that, I am taking advantage of him just to get through with the case of my parents. I am kind of abusing his relationship with Mister Deguzman for me to have a favor and requests that Mister Deguzman never approves to anyone other than me.
"Good morning, Sir," I greeted him when we saw him in the living room of his house. He is currently sitting on their sofa and is reading a newspaper.
"I did not expect you here today," he said and renewed his sitting position. "Sit. Maybe you want a coffee? Zed, get her one."
I sat to the seat near him and forced a smile. Zed excused himself first to go to the kitchen, probably getting me a coffee. There is no need because I just had coffee lately but I am too shy to refuse Mister Deguzman's offer. "I also did not expect myself here," I said with an apologetic laugh.
"What brings you here anyway? Well, I should not ask anymore. About your parents' case, you don't have to worry because I am near to knowing the culprit."
I pursed my lips. "Can you tell me who?"
"Not sure yet."
"Just a clue," I insisted which made him to hiss.
"Don't ask me about that. There is no way I'll tell you."
Woah, hold up. That's kind of frankly rude and I have to get used to his attitude. He really is this. He will not hesitate to throw anything towards you, not knowing that it might hurt your ego and self-esteem.
I just nodded my head and did not say anything anymore. We just had a little conversation but the annoyance that crawls in my system was like for forever. He irritated the hell out of me this early. I did not show it to him, though. Talia, stay still and everything is fine.
"Here," Zed went in and put the coffee in the table. I smiled at him while he sat beside me. "What have you talk about?"
I looked at Mister Deguzman and he seemed like he did not hear Zed's question. He is acting deaf now, or maybe he just actually don't care. "Just a tiny one about the case," I simply answered him and reached for the coffee. I then sipped a little.
His brows raised and leaned against his seat. "What about it?"
"He said that he is near to get to know about the culprit, then I asked for any clue but he did not tell me."
He chuckled like there is something funny. "How about you? Any suspicions?"
"Nah, I am still searching about it. Anyway, you told me that you will tell me what you've seek about the case, right? Tell me about it."
He shrugged his shoulders. "It was Finnick Alonzo I am eyeing. I dig dipper about his background record and I saw traces. He is the co-worker of your mother back then, and also, that man has a crush on your mother."
My brows creased. Finnick Alonzo, huh? One of the suspects. I did not talk and I just let him to continue. I noticed that Mister Deguzman is also focused on listening to Zed.
"I visit Finnick in their house and I asked more about their relationship with your mother. He said that he just have a crush towards her and he cannot do such a thing, killing her. Even if he is serious and genuine saying those words, I am not satisfied. I searched more and there, I've found out that he has nothing to do with your mother. His record is clean," he ended his sentence with a hiss. I then looked at Mister Deguzman who also gaze at me. Seems like we were thinking the same thing.
"Who are you eyeing at?" Mister Deguzman asked me that made me gulp. Should I tell him about it? Heck, of course I should.
"Is it safe to talk about that here?" I asked, feeling conscious all of a sudden. I mean, someone might already listening to us!
"I am living alone here, and my place is safest than anything safe," Mister Deguzman told me, confident enough. That made me feel relieved.
"Alright. Sorry. But uh, I am focusing on Hanz Xiro Ramirez."
The side of his lips raised, amused. "And?"
I looked at Zed. He was now so serious looking at me and anticipating for my answer. I then looked again at Mister Deguzman to tell him about my investigation of that Hanz Xiro Ramirez, Mister Ramirez's twin brother.
"He is my boss' brother," I started. "Obviously, they are the known Ramirez because of their wealth. There is nothing wrong with his record, probably being cleaned, perks of having so much money. But then, there is a time Mister Ramirez, Kiel Alexandro Ramirez, Hanz Xiro's twin brother, told me that his fiancée died and was killed."
"Wait, he told you about that?" Zed asked, curious. I just nodded my head and proceeded already because I do not want him to ask such a thing that involves around I and Sir Ramirez. He might think of something.
"He said that his fiancée's killer is already dead," I paused and bit my lower lip. "I don't know but the way he said that, there is something weird. He is looking at me with like anger, it is clearly not seen but I am sure of it."
"What is your point?" Mister Deguzman raised a brow. "That your parents was the one who killed his fiancée and on the other hand, they killed your parents as a payback?"
A tear started to form in my eye. "N-No," I said and shook my head solely. "My parents are not a killer. Probably, they were just blamed for Mister Ramirez's fiancée's death. My point here is that, nothing in the suspects is the killer."
Mister Deguzman looks amused. "And who do you think?"
I looked up to stop my tears from falling. "You fooled me, you guys. You intentionally gave me the wrong copy of the suspects. None of them killed my parents. It was Kiel Alexandro Ramirez, he was the reason behind my parents' death."
Zed and Mister Deguzman looked at each other. I then sobbed because it pains me knowing that it was Kiel who killed my parents. I am sure of it. He was the one who killed them and it makes me to hate him, to hate him more. Pretending like you are not hurt and like everything is fine is like hell. It kills me. The thought of the killer already in front of me makes me want to stab him.
I just know that he was the one who killed them when he told me about his fiancée.
"Well," Mister Deguzman sighed and clapped his hands, he then leaned against his seat. "You bet it right, Talia. He is the killer. He was the one who killed your parents and we don't have the power yet to arrest him because we are not wealthy enough."
I shut my mouth because of disbelief. Money is really everything, huh? You cannot get the justice when it comes to poor that is not rich enough. Justice is low and impossible to people like me, like us.
"What should we do now?" I asked, stopping myself from shedding tears.
Zed then reached for my hand, making me to look at him. "Get his attention, Tal. You should catch his heart and interest, make him fall for you for him to surrender one day because he loves you."
I gulped and almost laughed in disbelief. "Really? I will do that to a killer? I will bear with a killer? Heck, you are kidding me."
"You will do that for you and for your parents," Mister Deguzman said and put the newspaper down. "Look, Miss Hernandez. The only thing we can do to make him rot in jail is to make him surrender, and in order to make him surrender, he must have fall for you hard that can make him to sacrifice his life for you."
I shook my head multiple times. "This is absurd."
"Tal," Zed called and gripped on my hands more. "This is for you and for your parents."
I closed my eyes and shook my head for the nth time. "Zed, I can't..."
"Why?" he asked in monotone, worried. He held my face, I then hide in his shoulders.
"What about you?" I sobbed. "I am getting away from him because I am slowly falling in love towards a killer..."
I felt him stiffened but he was able to make me face him. I looked at him with my pleading eyes but he just kissed my forehead. "It's fine, Tal. If you fall hard, and if he makes you happy, choose your happiness."
A tear fell again. "I am afraid..."
"Don't be. I am here, behind your back. I am always ready to protect you, Tal. Whatever happens, you are still Talia I love. If you love him, I don't have the heart to cage you away from what makes you happy. Go for it. I am the happiest when you are happy."
I could not help but to feel so blessed for having Zed. He is everything. He is someone that no one can beat. He is the best. He will choose everything that makes anyone he loves happy even if that means it will be his loss and even if it will ruin him.
I stared at his eyes with my tears flowing down my cheeks. "I will end up with you, Zed. I promise..."
"Now you're here."After that talk with the Deguzman's, I called Mister Ramirez and asked for a dinner in the near restaurant so we can talk. I want to tell him that I am going to go back at work even though I have not last long for a week after I resigned from work. I did not regret about my decision, my decision just now is regretful. To come back with the man who killed my parents and bear with him, make him fall in love with me and so he would surrender. That sounds impossible but when it comes to justice, everything is possible to me."See you later," I said before I ended the call. I then let out a light sigh and bit my lower lip inwardly. I can do this. I will do this."So, what did he say?" Zed asked me while we were inside the living room. He was watching me talk to Mister Ramirez and I cannot stay calm because of anger. Zed probably saw how awful I am now.I clicked my tongue against the insides of my cheeks. "He will come."He then nodded his head in agreement. He stared at
“Are you mad?”“No, I am not.”I feel guilty to what he has to witness. I may not see him getting mad, but it is clear to my vision that he is in pain. Mister Ramirez was just about to kiss me and I was about to let him be, but he appeared.“I just went by because I can't take it,” Zed added and bit his lower lip. “I can't regulate myself just that. I disdain to see you being smooched.”Oh, wow. What would be his reaction when he knew that I am already not a virgin and that “man” was the one who took it? He might crawl out and feel contempt when it comes to his proficiency that I and Mister Ramirez had intercourse.“I’m sorry,” I said. “I can't promise to not be kissed by him, Zed. You know that I have to make him fall for me, right?”“You believe he will love you already when his lips whiffs yours?”“It’s not that —”“It’s fine, Tal,” he cut me off and held my hand. He then looked at my eyes. “I am just concern. I want to protect you against him but then, that’s the plan in the first
"You said that?""N-No, I did not!" I wagged my head multiple times out of shame. I mean, I really said that but I do not have enough guts to admit that to him, again. I meant that, once. "Kiel, look –""No, don't be too defensive. I understand you."I bit my lower lip and looked away. "Understand?""I know that you love me," he said and I know that he is currently smiling the way he said it. I just let out a sigh and did not talk to him anymore. I just went off out of his office and good thing he did not stop me. He know that I need some time to be alone, especially this time, in our current situation."Oh, hi, Talia!" Dani waved her hands at me while she is in the reception. I waved back and smiled. I then went in the elevator. I want to go to the garden outside of this building. It is silent there and I know it will give me a good time to be out of myself.Upon arriving in the garden, I looked around because I might see someone. Good thing no one is around. I sat on the nearest ben
"Can you tell me?" I am now begging, I know. "Tell me your secrets.""Talia, I can't," Zed refused to tell it to me. I already expected this but I can't help but to feel hurt. "I am sorry but this is my secret left. I want to tell it to you because we promised to each other, no hiding secrets. But this is for good."I forced a smile and nodded my head. "It's fine, don't be sorry.""It is our promise and I should not break it.""I also have one secret left. I guess it will be fair."He was surprised but ended up smiling at me. I guess this is a good understanding to the both of us. My only secret to him is that I had sex with Kiel and about his, I don't know. I should worry less because just like what he said, it was for good."Any plans to see him?" he diverted the topic. I already know who he is referring to."Nah, I will just stay here.""You are out of the work again. You sure you would not back out being his secretary? You know, you don't have to assist and serve him for him to fa
Third Person's POVThe room is swallowed in silence and no one dared to talk. Most of them were terrified just by the presence of the man standing in front of the table; with cold eyes and emotionless face, he looked at his people one by one with clenched jaw."No one catches them?" his cold voice lurks the whole place. Everyone gulped. "I did not expect to have a dumb and stupid workers. I paid you."Still, everyone stayed still, silent. There are fifteen of them and the boss is looking at them like a tiger ready to take over the life of his preys. Then, the man with a red hair, stood up, shaking and cannot meet the boss' strong eyes."We're sorry –""Sorry?" he looked at the red haired man with sarcastic look. "Will sorry make everything right? Will sorry can catch Ramirez and Hernandez?""B-Boss, we promise to get them to you! We will not fail this time! We will do everything!" he said, panicked out of nervousness."As you should," he said in conviction and adjusted the tie of his
"Uncle!"Zed called his uncle, Deguzman. He just finished to talk to Talia. He is currently in the backyard garden of his uncle's house and he saw the man walking out of the gate, heading to his car like going somewhere. Deguzman looked at him with his brows knotted big time."They are calling me," Deguzman simply said and went inside his car. Zed followed him getting away of the place, confused. He doesn't know who he is referring to but he has a tiny idea about that person. He just heaved a sigh and looked at his phone he is gripping on. His shoulders were sagged, disappointed and in disbelief."Talia," he muttered under the air. "I am so sorry," he added, guilt is evident in his voice. He has to shake his head and remind why he is doing this. He need motivation that does not involve to the woman, Talia, because he knew, he is fucked up by himself.He headed inside the house of his uncle and relaxed himself. He has to cool down. While closing his eyes, the face of his very best frie
"No, no... Stop the car!"Talia yelled at Kiel when he did not listen to her. It was like he does not hear. She was already in the verge of shedding tears because of pain, agony and confusion. She cannot believe what she had heard from. It is hard to believe but knowing that it is from Kiel, he always says the truth."Kiel! I said, stop the car!" she repeated her words once again."No, baby, Don't get out. Stay with me," Kiel stopped her from what she wants. When she was about to stop the brake of the car, Kiel held her hand, tight but gentle. "Talia, please, don't. It is danger outside. Stay with me, hmm?"Talia has nothing to do but to punch the window of the car in frustration. She yelled loudly to let out the pain stuck in her chest, but that was not enough. Screaming will never erase the pain.Kiel stopped the car and reached for Talia. He hugged her tightly to make her feel comforted1. "Baby, please. I am here, okay? Come here. Your pain, my pain."She just answered him with a s
"You are doing great, Tali!"Talia smiled at Margo. "Thanks."After one hour of playing with guns, Talia decided to have rest. She sat in a steel chair and wiped beads of sweats that is formed in her forehead. She roamed her eyes around the room and smile to herself. She did not expect nor imagine that she will end up like this, that she will end up here using guns to protect herself. Thinking that her life is in danger and knowing how to fight is exciting. It makes her feel the thrill instead of getting upset.Talia looked up at the man in front of her who handed her a hankie. "Thank you," Talia said to the man whom she does not know. She saw him just now and she did not feel the man's presence inside the room."I am Billy," the man introduced himself and smiled at Talia. "You are new, are not you? And hey, you are with the Ramirez's."Talia nodded her head and reached for a bottle of water, She drink first. "Yeah, I am.""What are you with them? I mean, not to be mean. I was just as