Alexandra Verlino

Ep 17: Care and Trust

I thought everything was fine a moment ago! I don't waste time to tell YHS that I want to take a break for today. I give excuses that I'm tired and really want to get home so I can rest properly for the rehearsal and real concert tomorrow. He gave me permission as I was doing so well during rehearsal.

I don't remember being so fast in running. I take our manager's car and drive so fast I don't even know the speed I'm driving. I'm lucky that the area is secluded or else I would already escorted the cops with me to the scene. As soon as I reach the place, I jump out of the car and quickly look around for Stella. I can see blood on the road with her family crying by the side of a lying body covered with black cloth. I guess even the ambulance weren't called because of the seriousness of the situation. I still am looking for Stella when two people wearing nice suit come out from the house holding gun in their hand. My surprised face finally gets to calm down when I see Stella is walking behind them safely. I dash to her and pull her aside for explanation from the very beginning.

She seems like she's not ready to talk and just pass me the blackmail letter. The letter was pressed against my chest. I can see her cloth is stained with some blood, but I don't notice any injuries yet, as I am not able to fully check on her. Her body isn't able to even turn to look at me. Her vision is locked to the place where the black cloth is located. Her hand seems like she's shaking from some traumatized incident that happened right in front of her eyes. She walks slowly approaching the body lying on the ground. I don't have time to read the letter yet as I am more concern on her wellbeing, so I rush to hold her from going closer. One, is because I believe she still is traumatized with what just happened. Second, is because I want to prevent her from collapsing as her body seems really weak to even stand up straight.

She tries to push me away, but I strengthen my grip on her. I don't actually catch the sight of her crying, but her body languages are enough to tell me how broken she is right now. All her other family are crying without much sound as they don't want to attract people's attention. Even in this sorrow situation, they need to keep it low and keep their screaming to themselves. How cruel can this world be? What did they ever do wrong to those people?! I realize we all need to handle the situation quickly before it becomes a hot topic. Some sign was given by a man that I don't recognize to the bodyguards, and they took the body inside the house.

"Don't we need to at least prepare a ritual for him?" I ask.

The man looks at me while I'm still holding Stella under my grasp. She already is so weak and is only hanging on me to keep her stand still.

"We'll talk about it inside. Come," he turns to everyone so we all can go and discuss the matter inside.

I reckon it is safe to go inside the house since Stella was coming out from the house just now. I do need explanation on what is happening, but I think the only person who can talk without having to suppress the emotion is the man that invites us inside the house. All family members, including Stella is now too downhearted to even think of other things.

As we all take a seat somewhere on the lacerated sofa in the living room, the man orders his bodyguards to serve everyone water so they can calm down a bit. This must have been a long day for them. I really could not focus on anything else yet, until Stella finally drinks the water I feed her. Then I make sure she is calm and ready before listening to the conversation. Although I really want all of them to just sit here while I go talk to the man, I know the family also had a say in this situation. They might not agree on our decision regarding this matter.

"Do you want to stay while we all are having a discussion?" I make sure I ask before I start my questioning regarding this matter.

She nods. Slow, but I know that eyes. She is very well focused on what is happening on her surroundings. She just doesn't have strength yet to recover from her sorrow. I understand that feel. It is painful. To lose someone in the blink of eye. Right in front of her. She doesn't have to tell me that much to comprehend what is happening around here. She called me, told me her dad was no more, with a muffled voice, and when I came here, bodyguards are holding guns. It means she witnesses her dad being shot in front of her eyes. All of these are clues, but I still need more details about the perpetrator and the reason behind this homicide.