Lie is needed to protect the Truth

Chapter 1 Present

Author's note: there might be some grammatical errors on the way, I apologize for the inconvenience. I'll fix them up later on. 

'What a rainy afternoon.'

I said to myself, as I gather my things on my desk looking through the glass window of the office. It was slightly dark despite the time which is just around 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

As I step out of the building I try to find my umbrella in my bag.

"Fudge!"

I whispered to myself as I realized that I forgot to take my umbrella with me before I went out of my car.

'Well, time to run now Eika' I said to myself getting ready and keeping my folders safe and intact inside my bag. As I settle and switch on my car, my phone vibrates, telling me a reminder "Happy Birthday EK!".

"Oh that was today, I totally forgot about it. Ah.. that reminds me, that's today......" I said as I try to forget the events that took place two years ago on the day of my birth.

                                                                                     Two years ago

I was on my way home from celebrating my birthday with my family.

"Alas, this day is so tiring," I said sighing out the exhaustion of getting another year older than my yesterday self.

Oh! I need to call him. I suddenly remember and press one on the screen.

Ring ring

Hey, it's Kane. I can't take your call right now, so leave a message.

Hmm, straight to voicemail....is he tired from the business trip? I thought to myself as I drive through the dimly lighted highway.

As I park my car inside the garage, I noticed that the door is slightly swinging open just enough space to peak through the inside of the house.

Maybe he left it opened for me

I thought to myself despite it being unusual since he won't usually leave a door open knowing that there might be some robbers or so. I shrugged the thought off and just went out of my car and gather some of the gifts I've received from my family

"Vincent, I'm home" I called for him but my voice just echoed throughout the house.

"Hmm.. strange, his keys are here and his coat," I said to myself as I put down my things on the dining table beside the bag of Vincent, which is also on the table.

"Vincent?" I called out again thinking that maybe he is just in the living room, but he's also not there.

I check inside the TV room, bedroom, in his study, he's nowhere to be found. Lastly, I walk through the end of the hallway I noticed that the door of my study is slightly opened. I sneakingly walk towards my study for some reason and when I was about to reach for the door handle, my phone rang so loud that it echoed all around the house. I nearly fell on my knees due to the unexpected sounds of my phone. I held the doorknob for some support and answered the call. It was from my sister, Brea.

"Eika! Are you okay?!" Brea worriedly asked me.

"Sis, I'm home and okay. Why are you shouting? I nearly dropped--." I replied to her but she cut me and heard her talk to my parents but I can only hear a few words maybe she tried to cover the mic of her phone.

"Mom, Dad, she's okay.....she's fine..."

"Oh, c'mon you just saw me an hour ago. You miss me already?" I jokingly told her but then I heard my mom cried in relief

"Hey, why's mom crying?" I asked.

"She was so worried because of the news. Thank god you're fine." Brea replied to her sister in relief. "Oh, I see.." I replied nodding thinking that she could even see me. But wait she said the news...

"How about Vincent?" Brea then asked

"How about him?" I replied in a form of question thinking why would she asked for him. Then I just realized that I was looking for him and I was standing in front of my study this whole time talking to my sister. As I open the door and made my way inside my study, Brea continued to talk on the phone "Is he okay? 'Cause we just got a call from the-----" The sound of Brea's voice then turn into a blur as I dropped my phone on the floors of my study and shakingly reach out for the armrest of the sofa for my guests which was placed in front of my desk.

"V-v-vincent..." I called out for him but my voice cracked from what I'm seeing.

Author's Note: the title of this chapter can be both represent the meaning of present as time and gift.

Disclaimer: This is a work of Fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, places, events, businesses, and incidents are either from the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any media that will be used in the future will be credited using the author's note at the end of the chapter.