A Walk by the Bridge (part 1)

A Walk by the Bridge (part 1)

It has already been two weeks after the incident, after the death of John Albert Tristan. People were still shocked that a kind and famous person was already gone in their world in a blink of an eye, people were still mourning the loss of the showbiz industry as they visited the funeral of him, people still cannot believe what happened. The full article of the murder was published by numerous news paper companies a week ago, five days after the day of the crime. The people were shocked by the news and were puzzled as to why someone would do such a thing to a kind person— they knew John Albert Tristan as someone who has no haters— a rare instance in the world of actors and actresses. And yet they were welcomed by the news. 

Of course, the whole story was not published, there were some omissions from some part. It is so— by the reasoning of the police— to keep the investigation as clean as possible and to keep the people from pestering them, they already had the media to do that, they need not have another bother on their works. While the police were busy with gathering more information and investigating what happened, the crowd from the showbiz industry were going on their ways home one by one. The funeral was done and they have already placed John Albert Tristan in his resting place. The funeral was done in the house that Auria and John bought for themselves, for the future that they could have had if he was not brutally killed that night. 

“I really am sorry for your loss, Auria. My deepest condolences. If you need anything, just call me, I’ll be there for you.” John’s mother said before giving the actress a tight hug and waving goodbye before boarding a vehicle together with her husband. Other peers also did the same before waving goodbye and driving their car. “Are you really sure you are fine by yourself?” Auria’s manager asked. Auria only nodded as a response, to which her manager did not trust, but there is nothing more she can do, Auria was adamant to be left alone so that she could have some peace. “I’ll be fine, I promise. I just need to some time and space to process these things,” Auria said. Her manager was still adamant on not leaving her alone, but cannot do anything else as she was pushed outside the door. With a last goodbye, Auria closed the door and let out a deep sigh. 

‘What a long day.’ She thought to herself as she went deeper into the house. The house that she and John dreamed of living in and having their own family. From the hallway to the living room, it was all marked with the dream of them two. The living room was designed with beige curtains, a small crystal chandelier and the furniture were off white and wicker tan, while the walls were painted white. Paintings hung on the wall showcasing some of the photos of her with him, some of their awards together and the things they liked the most: hiking and eating out. The floors were carpeted in grey, Auria took in the designs of it as it was John who thought of the living room. 

The kitchen and backyard were of her reign, she was free to do anything about those two. The kitchen had a huge space, Auria requested as she likes to cook. The kitchen were of brown accent, most of the cupboards and things there were made of wood. She also requested that there be an island counter for her to prepare things, along with cabinets to store her favourite pots and pans. On the side of the kitchen was a glass display were the imported and expensive china wares were on display— ones they rarely use and merely for display really. The backyard on the other hand contains her mini garden. It was supposed to be a mini farm from where they could grow their own food together, but for now, it only contained a few herbs and flowers. ‘I don’t think it will ever become a garden now anyway,’ Auria thought to herself. 

The place was overflowing with memories of her with John, from the design of the place up to a misplaced book or trowel in the garden. It reminds her too much of John to the point that a tear had cascaded down her cheeks and she has yet to notice. She only did so when she heard a knock coming from the main door. Quickly wiping her tears, she opened the main door. “Oh, thank goodness you are here, Miss Auria,” Jack said with a smile. Behind him was Azrick who was finishing his smoke. “We came here as soon as we can, Mr. Tevyat said he obtained a new lead from the police.” Jack said excitedly, but his excitement died down when he noticed how Auria was in a mess. 

No make ups, no elaborate dresses or anything, and her eyes were a bit puffed up from crying. “Oh, I am sorry, miss. That was insensitive of me. Would you like us to…” Jack’s voice trailed down as he looked towards Azrick, as king for help. But the Private Investigator was too preoccupied with his smoke to notice, and it would be a slim chance for him to notice as he does not pick-up social cues or even understand emotions itself. Jack looked back to Auria, hoping that he was not so rude to the mourning woman. “We can go if you want,” Jack said. 

But Auria did not register anything that he said. She did not understand anything at all. All that she knew at the moment was that the house reminds her too much of her love and it is painful to stay there any longer. So at a split second decision, she asked the two men to be with her. “Can you join me for a walk by the bridge?” she asked with her voice so small it was almost inaudible. “Please?” she added. Jack looked at her with worry, reminding her that “but it is too dangerous for you to go out. The killer could still be out there.” But Auria was adamant to go, saying that the house was too suffocating for her.

Finally, after a few minutes of bickering between his assistant and the actress, Azrick spoke up. “Sure, we will accompany you. Get dressed and we will wait here outside,” he said with his gruff voice, a bit gruntled as he just finished his cigarettes. Auria smiled at her before closing the door and heading to her room to get dressed. Jack looked at him with annoyance and disbelief. “Are you crazy? Why would you say yes to that?! Her life could be in danger! Have you forgotten what was written in the letter?! That evil is watching her every move and most likely wants to do something to her. This is, this is outrageous.” Jack fumed at the decision of his boss. They are both aware of the dangers that Auria could face once she is vulnerable outside, and yet Azrick is okay with that?

Azrick, having enough of the childish reaction of his assistant, responded, “Oh shush will you? Nothing will happen to her since we are with her, we can protect her. Besides, it is a peaceful and beautiful day out there, it would be a shame to let it go.” Mr. Tevyat nonchalantly said as he looked at the sky— not too bright, but not too sunny either— just right. However, Jack still fumed against Mr. Tevyat. He adores the actress that he is worried for her sake, and yet here is the most famous Private Investigator not caring at all to the safety of her client. A few minutes later, Auria went outside her house— their house— all dressed appropriately. “Let’s go.”

Despite the good weather outside, there were only a few people walking by the park. Some of them were just passing by, others were walking with their dogs, but there are those who look at the scenery. No one bothers to approach the famous Auria Martinez. Well, why would they do that when there was a menacing man that was beside her. At first, the bystanders were alarmed at the presence of this man— tall, big built, has a black coat that covers his stature and a fedora hat— he certainly looked mysterious, but they experienced relief when they recognized the man. 

Azrick Tevyat can be seen walking with Auria Martinez at the park, then to the bridge that connects the park to a lake. The park was filled with lush green grass, the trees were full of leaves and blossoming flowers and the birds flying by were having a feast with it. The park was old, but maintained well: the benches were always burnished and replaced if there was any defect on them, the railings were made of metal and made sure to always be painted, the plant boxes were made of bricks to make sure that it is sturdy and can withstand all weather— it also doubles as a sitting area for those who wanted to stay near the flowers. 

Once they arrived at the bridge, the two of them stopped to admire the entirety of the lake. Mr. Tevyat was silently observing his surroundings and Auria let out a deep sigh as she stared at the water of the lake. “How do you do that?” Auria blurted out.

“Do what?”

“That. How do you become so emotionless that not a single emotion or feeling can affect you. How do you do that?” Auria clarified. She desperately wanted to know how to become void of emotion or feelings as her feelings right now were a heavy burden to her. She wanted to feel nothing at the moment. “I just want to relieve myself from all these burdensome emotions.”

Mr. Tevyat looked at her with his stoic face, the only thing is that his brows were scrunched together due to what the actress said. “I do not know what to tell you honestly. I did not lose all those emotions in a single night. It took many many years and a ton of sour experiences in my field.” He grunted as he pulled his pack of cigarettes, but decided not to light one as it is a park. You cannot smoke in the park. Azricked looked at the actress who was lost in her thoughts again, it has been the fourth time she stared at something today. John Albert Tristan’s death was heavy on her. He wanted to help the poor lady, but he did not know how. He is not well- versed in these kinds of things, he usually just ignores it and stores it in a jar inside his head, and when it needs to be let out, he just goes to the firing range and there he pours everything out. 

“Well, at least the scenery takes my mind off of some things. That is the nearest thing to not having emotions,” Auria mumbled out. Still, Azrick heard what she said, he tried to think of something to say to somehow ease what Auria from what she was feeling, but he could not think of anything else. “I am here! Here’s your ice cream!” Suddenly, Jack came into the picture, holding an ice cream cone and two ice cream cups. “Sorry for the wait, the line was so long,” Jack said. 

He handed the ice cream cups to Auria and Azrick, surprisingly, Azrick likes ice cream. Auria silently took the ice cream cup and ate it in spoonfuls, still silent and staring at the lake. The assistant of the private investigator looked at him with a raised brow, silently asking what had happened in his absence, but all the answer he got was a shrug in his shoulders. ‘Well, what did I expect to get from him? He hardly has any emotions.’ Jack mentally told himself as he took a lick of his cone. But Jack was still concerned for the safety of the actress. Being outside makes her vulnerable to attack and the relentless media that would approach her later on. 

The assistant fidgeted in his place and only stopped once the private investigator noticed it. “What is it?” Azrick asked.

“I really think that she should not be outside. It is still too dangerous,” Jack replied. His voice was full of worry and protectiveness towards the actress. After all, he would regret and blame himself if ever something happens to his idol. “We should get her back to her house now, before something happens.” Jack walked towards Auria who was still silently eating her ice cream and staring at the lake. Azrick stopped him and grabbed his arm before he could ever reach the actress. 

“What do you think you are doing?” 

“I am taking her back to her house. I am telling you, it is dangerous out here.” Jack protested as he tried to take his arm away from Azrick’s grasp. “No you are not! We are staying here!” Azrick whisper- yelled at his assistant. 

“Why then? Explain to me why we are letting her outside.” 

“Well, she said she does not want to remain inside her house as it is too much painful, with the memories and all, so I let her be here.” Mr. Tevyat reasoned to his assistant, only for Jack to retort back, “Oh please, don’t bull with me. You did not do this in our other cases! I still remember what you did to Mrs. Cabrera when she wanted to get out of the house since she was always reminded of her husband’s death!” this time, it was Jack who whispered- yelled. Jack could never forget how cruel Mr. Tevyat looked like at that time, he practically tied the poor woman to a chair just to prevent her from going out of the house. Mrs. Cabrera cried a lot but her tears and sobs fell into the deaf ears of Azrick Tevyat. ‘Poor her.’ Jack silently pitied the woman as he cannot do anything to help her. 

Azrick remembered the case and he cringed internally at his actions. But he has a justifiable reason for what he did— he suspected the woman to be the murderer of her husband, and he was right. The woman gave in after a solid 30 minutes inside the house, being reminded of what she did to her husband. “I had a reason for that. I have a reason for this too.” 

“Oh yeah? And what is it? Pray tell?” his assistant inquired, a brow raised as his arms were crossed, annoyance clear in his face and voice. Azrick inhaled and let out  a sigh before looking back at his assistant, who was still looking at him with annoyance. “Look, I know you would not like my reason fo—”

“I never liked any of your reasoning for these kinds of actions.” 

“ —right… so, my reason for this was to somehow lure out the murderer.” At that sentence, Jack’s eyes widened with surprise and disbelief. “WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!” Jack yelled, catching the attention of the actress and of the people nearby. Azrick quickly grabbed his face and muffled Jack’s shouts and retorts with his other hand. The assistant thrashed and wriggled from the grasp of his boss, but it was all for naught since Azrick is much stronger than him. 

“Wha- what is going on? Is everything alright?” Auria asked while walking towards the two bickering men. “Yup, everything’s fine. Someone is just overreacting over a pineapple pizza.” Azrick responded before restricting Jack even more. “Ignore us, just, go and have some peace. You need it.” Azrick urged the actress to go back to her own world, but Auria was a little hesitant since she wants to help the poor assistant of the private investigator. But after a little urging and an encouraging nod, Auria went back to the bridge and let Jack and Azrick go about their business. 

The assistant was then able to let himself go from his boss’ grasps. “What was that for?” Jack whined while trying to catch his breath.  

“To shut you up. There is no need to get riled up. I assure her safety. I am here, you are here too. Surely we can defend her from any danger that comes her way.” Mr. Tevyat explained to his assistant. Jack was still busy catching her breath and massaging his cheeks that hurt due to Azrick’s hold on them. 

“You never offered to be a bodyguard in our other cases.” Jack responded, walking towards Azrick and settling beside him. 

“She’s a special case. Especially when we read the contents of the latest letter sent to her, I cannot help but feel worried for her, that it is true that danger is always lurking near her.” Jack said, his face stoic but the tone of his voice changed. They never let Auria read the newest letter from the murderer, not when they have read how gruesome the contents were. 

However, while the two men were having a discussion of their own, Auria was left in her own imagination, in her own memory train as she stared at the water of the lake.