Green Harbor

CHAPTER 16

Zelena and Keone clinked their glasses together, looking out in the distance. At the beautiful and busy city of New York City. They were having a tour around the US, bagging trophies left and right. Keone makes really good spaghetti, he's quite of a chit-chatter, too.

"I like to read stuff that just stays with you." He said one time.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Well, there are books that serves as advice, there's one that walks you through a really sad reality, the kind that horrifyingly describes the world we live in." Keone stares at the sky with soft eyes. "But I like stories that keep you up all night. Regret and pity for the characters."

"That sounds cool. I felt that before. Watching Bambi as a kid." Zelena laughs. A child suffering loss. His parent. Children are innocent and dependent but up until that moment in that movie, you don't just see a child. You see someone who was forced to grow up. She joins Keone staring at the sky, she took in a deep breath. "I felt like I was born 29 and grew up to be just a big child."

"But I don't see you like that." Keone was looking at her now.

"I don't want to know how anyone sees me." Zelena looked at him as well. "All I do is wanting to be surrounded by things I'm familiar with. I'm familiar with my father, and with my sister. Everything just keeps flying before my eyes. When I thought I'm done suffering, the next thing I know is I'm about to be out in the open again. I just wanna go home. To what my home used to be."

"That's valid. Only... Life never lets you rest, you gotta be prepared to be hit when you least expect it. Without letting it get into your head. Without letting it pushing you far back in your cave." Keone replies. He spoke so gently, as if he was whispering to a child. "You can't stay in this balcony forever. Someday you may never see me again. Someday your legs won't work anymore. You would never grow, not while you long for a world that took place in the past."

A long pause occurs between them. Keone has always been there ever since she was a skinny pale 8 year old. They went to the same school. He was a boy who never gets himself all dirty and sweaty like the rest of the boys in their class do. He liked collecting bugs and look at birds. Ever since rumor went around about the abuse Zelena faced at home, all they ever do is pity her and treat her gently. It felt nice, alright, but it started to become a little insulting.

It never changed what happened at home. Zelena could still focus on her studies well, there was no need to push her aside and give her high scores before anyone even got to answer the tests. She doesn't need a shortcut in the canteen line. Only Keone was understanding. Keone was one of the only people who has seen her break, and it didn't scare him away. Only Keone would never speak to her like she could easily break. Keone only meant well. Zelena was an idiot to him. But still, he stayed.

"Why do you — Why do you stay with me?" Zelena asked.

"You don't want me to stay with you?"

"No, no. What I meant was, well.. Your father is arrested."

"That wasn't you."

"Of course it's not because of me, Keone. Katha. Didn't she harrass your father out of nowhere?" Zelena held her breath.

Keone nodded. "It's not her, too Zelena. She was going through a lot. You were in a really hectic state, like you said, it all happened really quickly, it's not a surprise that stress would affect her, too."

"Keone, you don't have to be against yourself, you shouldn't be justifying me doing you wrong—"

"Don't make it all look like I have this some sort of grudge against you. All of this, this isn't about me, Zel." Keone got up and entered the room when it got too cold outside, Zelena following him.

But he does. He does have a grudge against her. Why else would he set off that bomb in Katha's car, thinking it was Zelena in it?

——

Celestia Villamor was fortunate she was welcomed into Zelena Luka's hotel room. She pictured the shock in their eyes the second she would introduce herself as their boss. But that's not the most amusing part of that night. Zelena Luka wasn't even in that hotel room. Just a man. His tone expressing urgency and anger, he seems to be speaking on the phone.

——

A week later, Zelena, with her toothbrush in her mouth, turned on the television to listen to the news. It was 10 A.M, Bacolod City, Philippines. She left the remote on the table while she goes to wash her mouth.

She listens to the lady in the television reporting events from different parts of the country as she gets her breakfast ready.

"This was just in, PNP released an official and exclusive update on the murder of Kathamina Luka from months ago. A suspect by the name of Keone Caballero from La Carlota was arrested last night at 12:45 A.M. after a call from Villamor Publishing House's Cayla Villamor, who claimed to be a witness."

The cooking oil on the pan was bubbling. So was Zelena's anger. The worst thing about walking into a room with your eyes closed is not the obstacles you'll bump into. It's the voice that reassures you they will be your eyes. There was definitely something he was not letting her see.

——

Cayla Villamor was on the phone, climbing down steps, on her way to her car. "I'll meet you there for lunch, yeah? Thank you, take care."

As she was seated in the backseat, Cayla breathed with both anger and satisfaction. Villamor Publishing House was slowly dying. Every man and woman refused to partner up and help out. Mama wasn't of any help. Only thought about her own publishing house. Only thought about waving Zelena Luka's success in front of both Cayla and her father's faces. She has never seen Mama that scared before, after finding out Keone Caballero's bombing would bring the publishing house down.

Cayla made a deal that fulfills and gives what she and her Mama wanted. Cayla will help out framing a different person to take Keone's place, if Mama agrees to partner up. It will save both of their publishing houses.

She said no. Cayla didn't hesitate to call the police right away. Yeah, Mama yelled at her and doesn't want to be in anything that has to do with her. But it will not undo the damage it will bring to her publishing house, built from the roots of selfishness.

Cayla twisted the doorknob to her office and found Zelena sitting on her seat, using her computer. Cayla rushed to see the screen and saw Katha.

"12 knife wounds on the chest. Health-risking liquids injected into her system. I would've felt much better she had turned into ashes instead." Zelena whispered. "Bet you felt so good no one was trying to grab your tail."

Cayla's eyes burned and she felt a huge lump blocking her throat. Zelena stood up to face her, a corner of her lips raising. "I would've forgiven Keone. I would've been able to look you in the eyes without the urge of stabbing them out of their sockets. Things would've been different, Cayla. The thought of knowing you were the real suspect all along just now angers me so much."

Humanity survived only by stepping on things they see as inferior and useless. And Zelena is willing to stab anyone's socket if it meant eliminating just a few amount of liars in this city.