The King's Court

III

Content warning: Sensitive description ahead. Reader discretion is advised.

***

Years ago, before I came to understand how the world works, my sister died. No, let me scratch that. She went missing. My family being affluent thanks to my hardworking parents, were the constant target of malicious threats. At first, they didn't take it seriously. The first threat they received was a bomb threat in our house. But days went by and there was nothing. Kaya naman akala ng mga magulang ko wala lang iyon.

The threats continued to come and my parents learned to ignore them. They were empty threats, anyway. Until they weren't.

Nabalitaan na lang naming na wala na si Lorence. She was inside the school. Inside the school premises and the kidnapper still managed to get in and take her.

We did not receive any calls from the kidnapper. I remember my parents were frantic. It was their beloved daughter. Their firstborn. And she just went missing.

Despite the power my parents hold, they failed to find her. The kidnapper did not demand anything. It was as if they just want to take Lorence and that's it.

Hanggang sa isang araw, my parents received a terrible news. The police have captured men in a van with Lorence in it. The police found Lorence sleeping in the backseat. Kahit mainit ay nakabalot ito ng jacket. The police found it odd and decided to hold the vehicle to pass through the border. Doon nila napag-alaman na hindi natutulog si Lorence. My sister, at that time, was in fact, already dead.

Ang malala pa doon, inside her body where her organs should have been, were packets of drugs. Dozens of them were put inside my sister's body in an attempt to transport them across the border. Her organs were not sold. They were just taken out para mailagay nila ang droga sa loob. The information destroyed my parents. It destroyed me. 

It was at that time that I truly understood how the world works. Just because you are good doesn't mean other people will be good. Human beings are selfish creatures. Whether you are good or bad, we all go down to one common characteristic: being selfish.

"Kanina ka pa tahimik, Eve," said Mark next to me. "Are you okay?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya at napangiti. "Yes, I'm fine. I guess it's just the nerves."

Mark answered my smile with one of his own. "How old is she today?"

"Twenty-eight."

"You'll be fine, Eve. Well, the last time we visited your sister's grave, you were hysterical."

Napakunot ang noo kong nakatingin sa kanya. "We visited my sister's grave? When?"

"Almost a year ago. Tinawagan mo na lang ako isang araw na dalawin ang burol ng kapatid mo. I remember you were restless at that time."

It was the other Evelyn he was with. Not me. I wonder why she visited my sister.

"I guess hindi mo na maalala 'yon."

Tumango ako sa kanya and I try to school my expression into neutrality. "What happened then? Did you ever know why I was restless?"

Mark chuckled and shook his head. "You have always been so mysterious. So full of layers. I think it was what draw me to you. I did not know why you were suddenly frantic like that but when you saw your sister's grave, you just nodded. Like you confirmed something."

What other things was Evelyn up to while she was here. She certainly was very busy. Tinanong ko na kay Mark at Arleigh ang mga importanteng detalye na dapat kong malaman no'ng nawala ako but I guess I still have a lot to know.