Love, Lies and Alibis (Henares Series #1)

Ten

Agreement

Laurent Montecino. According to some articles, is my longtime boyfriend. He's a renowned accountant, just like Errol Serrano.

It's probably why the latter knew me.

As I scrolled further, the more I saw images of him. Gamit ang Facebook account na ginawa ni Cassi para sa akin, I begun to stalk him.

He doesn't post status much. His profile picture was updated several months ago. And his latest status was posted five months ago.

I opened his photo albums only to be stunned with what I saw. Tons and tons of photos of us were there. Ang pinakabago ay kuha last year. And the oldest was taken way back 2014.

Mayroong mga pictures kuha sa iba't ibang lugar sa bansa at abroad. We even have pictures during Christmas and New Year's Eve. I have lots of selfie photos uploaded in there, too.

At habang tinitingnan ko iyon ay mas lalo lang nanikip ang dibdib ko. Parang dinaklot ng isang kamay ang puso ko at walang awang piniga ng todo.

Hagulgol ang lumabas sa aking bibig habang pinupunusan ang luha.

I was all smiles in the photos. I must've been very happy with him.

How come I was here? Hinanap niya kaya ako? Did he assume I'm already dead?

Pero bakit nalilito ako? Bakit ako nasasaktan ng ganito? Bakit parang... parang nanghihinayang ako?

"Miss Margo..." Bakas ang desperasyon sa boses ni Cristina.

Kanina pa nito kinakalampag ang pinto. She's bringing me dinner which is completely useless.

Paano naman ako makakakain sa estado ko ngayon?

I feel lost. Confused. Disappointed. And hurt.

At sa samu't saring emosyong iyon, hindi ko malaman kung anong dahilan at nararamdaman ko sila lahat.

Or maybe I knew why I was just denying because acknowledging it would hurt me even more.

I feel lost. Again. Ang pakiramdam ay parang noong unang araw na nagising akong walang maalala. Walang muwang sa sariling buhay. At hindi alam kung sino ang mapagkakatiwalaan. It was a horrifying day in my life and I'm feeling it again tonight.

I feel hurt. Because Jela was telling the truth again. And again, Voyd really did lied to me. I don't know what his motives were, why he's keping me here.

Kung wala naman pala siyang nararadaman sa akin, bakit niya pa ako tinatago rito?

If this is about the kidnapping case, surely we can seek help to th authorities. Hindi niya na kailangang abalahin pa ang kanyang sarili!

"Miss Margo... Please, ho. Kumain muna kayo ng dinner."

I feel disappointed. Disappointed for the feelings he's making me feel aren't for real. That everything I believed in is a hoax.

Maybe I have totally gone crazy. To think and feel this way despite learning the truth. Despite realizing the lies he twisted just so he can keep me here.

I was torn with the realization that I am more pained for believing his made-up lies. Than the fact that I was apart from the man on the screen.

I should be angry right now! Pero bakit disappointed lang ako?

Walang babalang bumukas ang pinto. Tanaw ko si Voyd na nakatayo sa bungad. Clad with gray sweatpants and V-neck shirt with his hair a bit damp.

Mabilis kong hinamig ang sarili at pinunasan ang pinsgi kong hilam sa luha. He entered my room while pushing a food cart.

"I said I want to be alone!" Bulyaw ko kaagad.

Hindi siya kumibo at patuloy lang sa pagpasok. Agad akong sinalakay ng kahali-halinang amoy ng pagkaing dala niya. He parked the cart few feet from the bed. Enough for me to see what's in there.

He has chicken parmigiana for dinner. There's a bottle of wine submerged in ice inside a metallic bucket. May isang mug ng hot chocolate at dalawang baso ng tubig. For dessert he brought chocolate-bourbon cake.

The mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses sprinkled on top of the parmigiana looked very inviting. I felt a slight rumble in my stomach.

Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin habang napapalunok ng laway. Kung inaakala niyang madadala niya ako sa pagkain, nagkakamali siya!

Padarag kong sinara ang laptop nang sumulyap siya roon. Pinasadahan niya rin ng tingin ang mga used tissue'ng nakakalat sa ibabaw ng kama.

"I'll sleep here." Deklara niya pagkaupo sa sofa di kalayuan.

Didn't he hear what I said!

"No you're not!"

Walang pakialam akong suminga sa tissue. There's no need for me to hide. My puffy eyes already gave it away.

"We need to talk, Sia."

"There's nothing to talk about."

Bumuga siya ng hangin. As if he was tired of me. At hindi ko siya masisisi kasi ganuon rin naman ako.

I am tired of my incapability to get my old life. I am tired waiting for my memories. I am tired of guessing which is true and which is isn't. I am so tired of myself, too.

"Not tonight, Voyd. Please get out of my room."

I know it's ironic. Pushing the owner of the house out of the room he provided for me. Pero wala akong panahon para sa 'good manners and right conduct' ngayon. In fact, wala akong gana sa kahit anong bagay.

"No! I won't let you sleep our fight off! Pag-uusapan natin ito. I can't wait for tommorrow!"

Mapait akong napangiti. If we were under different time and circumstances, I would definitely be swooned by what he just said. Iisipin kong may malasakit talaga siya sa akin, sa nararamdaman ko at sa relasyon na akala ko na mayroon kami. Pero hindi na ngayon.

Now all I could think of is that the reason he's being good to me is because he was obliged to. All those good deeds he's done for me were because of the favor he was entitled to return. Whatever those favors were, how big those might be–I will find it out myself one day.

Bumuga siya ng hangin matapos ang ilang sandaling katahimikan.

"Let's eat dinner first."

"I said I'm not—" Natigilan ako sa malakas na tunog mula sa aking tiyan.

I knew Voyd heard that too. Judging at the wide smirk plastered on his face.

"Hungry?" Dugtong niya sa sinabi ko. "Of course you are."