⚠️ Trigger Warning: This chapter contains inappropriate and sensitive word or description that are not suitable for young readers.
The brown ankle strap heels of a middle twenty's woman create a sound in a null hallway towards the Governor's office.
Her black shoulder length black hair sways to the same direction when it touches her pastel brown jumpsuit paired to white ¾ length raglan sleeve.
On her front, a blue ID sling hangs around her white soft neck that dictates her job. As she parted her pinkish heavy upper lips, she released a statement that no one heard.
“Ano ba ang susunod kung pupuntahan?” Managing her temper to scold his partner due to his not existing on her side, she found herself seeking her phone to her designer flap bag that she brought from Paris, France that enveloped an elegant aura to her on that day.
Living in a middle class family is not a problem, the only problem is the family. Like others, she used to live her life by herself due to the unending work of the parents, wala nang oras na natitira para sa kaniya. Well, she doesn't need any time from them because she is used to it. What she seeks is a friend, a friend like others that can comfort and can rant together with her.
When she found her phone she dialed his partner so that he could get her. After the call she texted the address where she is currently visiting. The woman in a blue jumpsuit turned around when she heard someone call her name.
“Miss Larke Borne, thank you for the time to visit us.” She faced a man who was much taller than her, an inch taller than her actually. Wearing black Fair Isle type of sweater, Larke slowly recognizes him due to the typical color he wore.
“There is no reason to thank me, Eion. I'm just here to deliver some message for my dad. Sinisigurado niya na dapat malaman ng ama mo ito kaagad. Wala naman akong magagawa kundi sumunod sa utos ni Ama, mawawalan ako ng trabaho kapag hindi ako sumunod.” mahabang sabi niya sa kaibigan.
She heard it chuckle after what she said. “Sinabi mo pa, you know that I know Tito too. By the way, mag co-commute ka na naman? Ihahatid nalang kita tsaka pauwi na rin ako sa bahay.”
Both of them decide to go inside on the silver closed metal box called the elevator. They keep talking about something that they mutually know, until the elevator stops at their destination. The empty and few cars sleeping in the dark parking lot faced them.
Eion started walking away from her. He also bid goodbye to her. Nasabi niya kanina na may susundo sa kaniya maya-maya kaya ayos lang mauuna na itong lisanin ang establishemento. Ayaw sana ng lalaki na iwanan itong mag-isa pero nagpumilit ang kaibigan kaya wala na siyang magagawa.
Before stepping in on his car, Eion gives an assured smile to her friend, Larke. That smile is the same as before, the smile that can keep the eye of the people who can see it. The smile that nobody can resist to fall in love.
Even she can't resist it. She waved her hand too as a goodbye to him and thought of something.
“Okay, I think I know some of the reasons why my friend keeps falling in love with you, Eion Yui Lapaz.”
🎭🎭🎭
“Sir, someone wanted to call you on the phone. It's Mr. Timothy Rodriguez of Rodriguez and The Company.” A woman wearing black pencil skirt paired with white blouse peek on the door after Ms. Borne and the son of his boss — the son of the current Governor entered the same elevator.
“Connect me to him, Sarah.”
The secretary nodded but before she left the slightly open door she left a seductive look to him that made the Governor gulp.
“Got it, Sir.”
He reached the telephone while adjusting his necktie, waiting for the call connecting to his line.
After a few minutes of discussion, Mr. Lapaz will bid goodbye to his friend.“I will send you the email afterwards, Mr. Lapaz.”
“Thank you Mr. Rodriguez. I am looking forward to our project.” Then, he ended the call.
While he was waiting for the email mentioned by Mr. Timothy Rodriguez earlier, something pop-up on the screen of his laptop that he opened while he's busy on the line with the current president of the best company in town.
Kumulubot ang kaniyang noo. An email pop-up out of nowhere. An email that he never expected. He automatically ended the call after the short message from him.
“Sarah, please reach this sender to me,” utos niya sa kaniyang sekretarya pagkatapos pindutin ang intercom na nasa ibabaw ng kaniyang mesa. “ASAP!” tiim bagang niyang pagtatapos sa kaniyang salita.
‘This lady get into my nerves for so many years. Sa pagkakaalala ko ay wala na ito sa Meteo, bakit nagparamdam ulit siya?’
Due to his preoccupied mind, hindi niya namalayan na nabali niya ang hawak na ballpen na para sana isulat ang pangalan sa kung sino ang nagpadala ng mensahe.
“Sir. Sir, Airon Lapaz.” pagpupukaw ni Sarah sa amo. Nakita niya na may dumi ito sa kamay. Hindi lang pala ito isang dumi kundi isang tinta ng ballpen na kasalukuyang pinagpipiraso ng kaniyang amo gamit ang isang palad lamang.
“Balitaan mo ako kung kailan siya dumating o darating.” nagkuyom siya ng kamao bago niya ipagpatuloy ang kaniyang nais ipagawa. “Pagmasdan mo ng maagi ang apat na ’yon lalo na si Gwyneth. Alam natin na may alam ang babaeng ’yon, siguraduhin mong hindi magsasalita iyon sa iba lalo na sa mga kaibigan niya.”
Tumango na lamang ang sekretarya at umalis na sa opisina.
In the hallway of the 3rd floor, the Governor's office was placed. Sarah Mae Ino, the longtime secretary of the current Governor.
She worked as secretary before he was running for Governor of the town of Meteo.
She placed her phone to her right ear to call someone. In a few rings, a sweet voice of a woman she hears.
“Yes, Sarah? Good day to you. Did you have any problems there?”
Sarah makes sure that there's no one who can keep eyes on her before she speaks. “Cut the kind words, Larke. Governor Lapaz has already investigated you. You should be careful.”
The unknown dangerous woman calmly answer her. “Oh honey, ikaw dapat ang mag-ingat baka isang araw makakita ka ng isang bangkay na babae na palutang-lutang sa ilog ng Meteo.”
“Is that a threat Larke or a caution?” Sarah asked.
May narinig siyang busina ng kotse, tansiya niya nasa kalsada ito ngayon.
“Both,” tumawa ang nasa kabilang linya. Iyong tawang mahinhin na hindi makabasag pinggan pero kung ito'y kilalanin mo ng mabuti — ang may-ari. Huwag ka nalang magtangkang kausapin ito lalo na kung tungkol iyon sa buhay niya.
She's a bitch. A bitch living in a middle class family, a family she didn't own.
“Thank you for the information, Sarah Mae. I’ll make sure that you’re secret — no, a secrets of yours will always keep in the cabinet who guarded by my demons. See yah.” Naputol na ang kanilang usapan ng binabaan siya ng tawag.
Lahat ng parte ng katawan niya ay nanginginig. She will only choose the best choice so that she will surely win. She will only choose the choices where her secrets will always keep. Even the closest person of her life will lead into danger. She will take the risk just for her secrets sake.