Chapter Three: Helen, the Enemy

I did not even realize that there was media surrounding the entrance of the hotel. Their cameras blinded me, so I shrunk my eyes just so I could see clearly. The guards tried stopping them, but they kept capturing us, especially the other guests in front of us.

“Mr. Rodriguez! Please let us have an interview!”

“May we know what is your next project in the city?”

“What can you say about the new elected president of the country? Mr. Karlo Rodriguez, please answer!”

My ears were ringing of the name of the man beside me. When I looked at Karlo, that is when I realized that his hand was holding tightly on my knuckles. My eyes went down to my hand holding his wrist, his other hand was on my waist, and his head alternately looking side by side, as if we were in a pedestrian lane and he is protecting me from the fast cars which are the reporters and media trying to bump us.

It felt like a slow motion and his touch was giving electricities in my body. I should move away, but people might notice and his image would stain just because I am scared of him. Instead, I just looked away and let him drag me inside the hotel.

“Sorry,” he immediately said and let go of me when the guards closed the doors of the lobby.

“For what?” I asked while arching an eyebrow.

“For holding you. It’s just that you might get dragged by the reporters,” he answered and gulped, highlighting his thick Adam’s apple.

“What’s the big deal? They know we are husband and wife. Of course they will assume you are protecting me.”

“I am protecting you,” he emphasized.

I rolled my eyes. “You are just overreacting, like my parents,” I commented and bumped his shoulder before I went my way to the venue, following the guests with fancy dresses and suits in front of me. “Stupid guy…”

There were opened doors just not far away from the main lobby of the hallway. People in front of me were going that way, so I assumed that it was where the party is ongoing. With a high forehead and straight walk, I strode into the party, knowing that I am beautiful and elegant.

It was not new to me to enter a fancy party like this one. Champagnes. Good modern orchestra. Wealthy guests. Businessmen. Politics. Banquet. Everything felt like royal, just like the life I have been exposed to ever since I was a kid.

“Oh, my god, is that you Minerva Santiago?”

I instantly looked at the person who called my name. The excitement did not fail to show across my face and gasped when I saw one of my college friends. Helen Palma. We hugged each other and almost jumped as if we were still in high school.

“It’s been one year since I last saw you!” she exclaimed.

“I know, right, Helen?” I replied and pouted. “It felt like I was imprisoned.”

“Well…” Her smile grew wider as she looked behind me from afar. “Who would not want to be imprisoned by your hot and handsome husband?”

I furrowed my eyebrows and also looked at the direction where she was looking. I could not help but arch my eyebrow when I saw Karlo in the middle of a group of businessmen. He was having a formal smile while talking to them, but what taken me aback is the woman beside him. She was gorgeous and formal. She would whisper to his ear and they would both laugh as if what she said was funny. It angered me the way he just smiled with her. Like who the hell is she?

“Tss,” I hissed and regarded Helen who was still drooling over Karlo. “Let’s have champagne?”

Just like what Karlo said, I spent the night of the party drinking champagne with Helen who I did not see for a long time after we graduated in college. I could not even pay attention to the future married couple because Helen distracted me to her interesting life in America as a manager of cosmetic lines.

“Wow, you have become successful,” I commented. “I wish I could be like you.”

“Hmmm, that’s flattering, but no one would like to be me,” she said and guided my shoulder to the way of the balcony of the venue. “In contrary, every woman would want to be like you.”

I watched Helen closed the gap of the curtains on the doors of the balcony, shrouding the fun party behind. The balcony was silent and peaceful with the stars and city lights surrounding us. Now that we were both alone, the sparkles of her emerald dress were astonishing, but mine was more sparkling. Indeed, she was really pretty. If I were not studying in my college campus, she would be the queen bee.

“To be like me?” I echoed and giggled, now sipping my champagne. “Can you stop joking?”

“No, I am not,” she said and raised her champagne glass with a meaningful smile on her lips. “Ever since we were college, I have always admired your beauty, your talent, and your personality towards others. Not to mention your confidence and smart brain.”

I shrugged and sat on the surface of the railing. She was only watching me while playing the champagne on her glass.

“But you are also pretty, talented, and smart!” I praised her.

“Not like you, though,” she continued and her sweet smile slowly crept into an evil one. “That is why my admiration became jealousy. I did not like the idea of being the second one. And in every second, I have wanted you dead…”

I could not even have a reaction to what she was saying when she pulled out something from her purse. My eyes widened and my heart started to beat fast when I realized that it was a gun. I gasped, breathless of what she was doing. She was pointing it at me.

Why does she have a gun?!

“Helen?” I called her in fear.

She just smirked and tilted her head. “Thankfully, our families are enemies,” she said before pulling the trigger.