The Truth In His Lies

Prologue

"Lucia..." he called after the excruciating silence between us.

Hindi ako nagsalita sa halip ay iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. Pumunta ako sa veranda at inayos ang silk robe at dinama ang malamig na simoy ng hangin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagsusumikap pa siyang kausapin ako ngayon sa halos dalawang linggong hindi ko siya kinakausap. Aside from that, I already yielded. I surrendered. So I don't understand why he's here in my room.

"What made you yield?" Luciano sat across from me. Medyo tumaas ang kilay ko sa tanong niya. Bakit hindi niya tanungin ang best friend niya?

Hindi pa rin ako sumagot. Paninindigigan ko ang sinabi ko sa kanya kagabi. Pakakasalan ko si Samuel gaya ng gusto niyang mangyari but he will never hear from me again. I love him so much but what he did hurt me as much. I am broken and I can't seem to just move on but here I am enjoying the last bits of my freedom.

He sighed. "I am leaving for a business trip to Europe. You wish to never speak to me again, right?" he paused, checking my reaction, "As always, wish granted, princess," he stood up and left.

Gaya ng sabi ni Vivienne, umaakto akong batang hindi napagbigyan sa gusto. As an Alvantin, I was raised like a literal princess, especially under my brother's watchful care. The answer to my whims was always yes, whenever, wherever.

However, I am certain that what I experienced was love and not some whim.

I loved Pietro.

I am certain it wasn't some fleeting, childish love. It was the kind of love that made me willing to risk anything and everything as long as we were together. Yet, it's also the kind of love that allows me to let go so he can be safe and happy, even if that means we are no longer part of each other's lives.

"Ano? Natauhan ka na?" si Vivienne habang sinusundan ako sa pagkuha ng mga libro sa shelves. Ilang beses na rin siyang nasita ng librarian dahil sa pagtatanong niya sa akin. To be honest, she played a big part in convincing me. Nilagpasan ko siya at nagtungo sa kabilang aisle.

"It's the talk of the town, actually! An Alejo and Alvantin marriage will be the wedding of the century!" hinarap niya sa akin ang screen ng cellphone niya, mula iyon sa comments sa school forum. I dismissed her at bumalik sa shelves. Simula pa lang ng pagpasok ko kanya-kanya na silang bulong at kung ano-anong teorya ang binubuo nila for the possible reasons of the union of the two most powerful families.

"I think the Alejos just want to seize AlvaLogix to further InnovaTechX?"

"Isn't it the other way around? The Alvantins are just second to the Alejos."

"Maybe this is the reconciliation of the two families?"

Sa totoo lang ay hindi ko rin alam. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ng magaling kong kapatid. We have a well-known, long-standing feud with the Alejos, a conflict deeply rooted in our ancestors' history. Kaya hindi ko kailanman inasahan ito.

Hindi tumigil si Vivienne kaya hinarap ko siya at muntik pa siyang bumangga sa akin.

"Do you think I'm too young to be married?" niyakap ko ang libro at humilig sa bookshelves. "I just feel like I haven't enjoyed my youth. Ka-gagraduate pa lang natin ng college and I am getting ready for a wedding."

I heard her sighed. Humilig din siya sa bookshelves. Wala pa siyang sinasabi, parang alam ko na ang sasabihin niya. From a very young age, I realized that choosing love would be difficult as an Alvantin. For our people, preserving the lineage, strengthening and building alliances, and continually advancing the empire our ancestors established hold far greater significance than personal feelings of love. These duties and responsibilities are paramount, often overshadowing our individual desires and emotions.