Chapter 4

                        It's been week since I've receive the message. And I've already made up my mind to give the digging work to my investigator, who’s also a friend of mine.

                        Meanwhile, I've been busy with my shoots and career. I tried my best not to overthink about the message. But there are times that I am spacing out.

     

                    "Can Clint do this?" my stylist, Cruella, asked me. She's pouting her lips like she wants to kiss. Her right arm was angled and the back of her palm rested on her chin.

   

                    "For God's sake he’s a boy, Cruella." The photographer laughed and I just shook my head.

   

                    Everyone in the room knows my attitude. They comprehend that I simply don't get along with my co-workers and laugh with them as if we are friends. But they know that I can tolerate their humour.

   

                A little laughter can relieve stress and lift the gloomy mood. After all, this work can be stressing as fuck.

   

                "Why would he do that?" I asked while she is delicately applying make-up to my face. I was already dressed for the shoot and a little retouch for my face is all that is needed. Good thing that she didn't touch my hair today.

   

               "Well, Miss Lia," she paused and changed her brush, "he's quite shy to admit that likes you."

   

                My brow raised on her statement. I look at her and she leaned over to whisper at my ear.

   

                "I heard from the others," referring to the other crew on set, "that he has a crush on you."

   

                I scoffed and she just giggled. I don't do sweet. Moreover, I hate talking nonsense. For years of working in different countries, brands, and people, I learned how to shut my mouth instead of talking bullshit.

                  

                After the retouch, I dismissed Cruella and let her enjoy the resort the brand booked for us to shoot their new product.

   

                I let the wind ease my tensed shoulders while I sit in my chair sipping my cocktail. The ocean view from here is amazing. I can see waves crashing to the shores. Seagulls were making their annoying sound and children were giggling in the sand.

   

                A perfect view for a perfect vacation, if only that thing exists today.

   

                I'm too caught up with my work that a get away from the world is all I needed. I just hope my dad will approve my vacation leave for a month.

      

                I continued to day dream about my perfect vacation when someone cleared his throat beside me.

                        "Hi," he greeted and sat in the vacant chair.

   

                    I rolled my eyes and wished that I left my bag there, just so no one can disturb me with their small talks.

   

                "Yes?" I asked still looking at the ocean.

   

                   "Don't you want to talk to me?"

   

                    "No."

      

                    "Come on, within a few minutes we're going to be partners," he said. Still, I paid no mind and just pretend he doesn't exist.

   

                    He can talk and grumble in his seat for all he wants.

  

    

                "Can I-"

   

   

                    Thankfully, before his mouth can ask me stupid questions the photographer made a queue to start the shoot.

   

                    I glanced at his direction and his annoyed expression was evident.

   

                    Good for you!

   

                    "So, Lia. I want you to look at the camera as if you are staring at those children earlier." I nod at the director's command and posed for the camera.

                        Camera flashes here and there. All I did was pose, giving them my stoic expression.

                        Maybe this is how I really look at the children playing in the sand. Quite bitter if someone would say, but that’s how I look at them.

   

                    My partner on the other hand was awed by how I pose to the camera. He should be! He is lucky to have such partner like me, and only a fool will ever talk shit about it!

                        We had our photos together after few solo. Boy it is difficult to be partner with him, his shoulders are always tensed and he probably needs a medic.

   

                  After a series of clicks, flashes, and commands, finally the shoot was over. I gave each one of them a small smile and excused myself to leave.

   

                       Others were staying overnight to celebrate the success of the one day shoot. And as much as I want drink liquor with them, I need to leave before the annoying human can catch up with my pace and talk to me.

   

                    "What's the hurry?" Clint shouted when he saw me leaving the resort.

   

                    "Going home" It was a cold response. I heard him grunt and catch up with my speed.

   

                I walk faster and stopped near my car. Pressing the unlock button and clicked the door open to throw my bags inside.

       

                 "What's your problem?" he asked when I opened the door and went inside.

   

                "Nothing’s wrong."

   

                Before he can place his arms on the door I ignite the engine and shut it right before his face.

   

                    "Damn it!" I heard him screamed. I rolled my eyes and shift the gear to reverse. I am so ready to leave this place.

   

                    I thought he was too dumb to let my car bump him, but I guess he has some brains too.

   

                    I manage to leave the resort without him chasing me with his own car or running until gasps for air. 

                        If ever he did chase me it would be a struggle to lose him before I can go to the province.

                        I rolled my eyes in that thought. I focused on driving feeling the mood of independence and freedom.

   

                    Traffic sucks when I arrived at the highway. Even the air conditioning system of my car isn't enough to protect me from the heat. Cars were honking everywhere and this irritates the hell out of me.

   

   

                    I turn on the radio and scanned through the stations when a headline made me stop. News from a local radio station and the anchor’s voice is captivating.

               

                    "Phoenix of Ascension is back in our Country! Yes! You heard it right! They are back."

   

   

                        "They are back already? I haven't had my vacation." I shook my head. The cars moved and I waste no time stepping on the gas to move along the traffic.

   

                        Phoenix of Ascension is an international band where my schoolmates from college support. They are quite popular here in Esterlight, as they first had their international concert here. I know and met the members in a brand ambassador’s conference. 

   

                       It took almost two hours to arrive at the mall where I used to shop back in college. A lot has changed over the course of seven years. Just like how I used to ride a cab to go here to meet my friends, but now I am driving my own car.

                        I parked in the VIP garage and went outside wearing my baggie jeans and oversized sweater.

    

                    The temperature form the sun made me too sweaty for my outfit. But if I don't wear this, many will take pictures of me going in this mall meeting someone.

   

                    The last thing I want to hear from the news, is me meeting some private investigator in public.

   

                        I entered the mall using the fire exit. I headed towards the secluded restaurant at the edge of the building.

   

                      It’s no ordinary restaurant. People who come here, isn’t looking for food and simple relaxation. Workers inside isn’t here to cook and serve for ordinary people either.

                    "Took you long enough" She smirked and lit her cigarette. I scoffed and remove it from her hand.

                   

                       "Traffic sucks," I whispered and took a sit on the highchair that was placed beside her.

       

                        The restaurant has no windows and only light bulbs in the ceiling served as lights for the whole room. A mellow music was played on the background, enough to mute the outside noises, giving more privacy to those who really need it.

   

                        "Traffic always suck, Emilia." She scoffed and grabbed her cigarette again. She placed it on her mouth as her hand click the lighter to light it.

   

                        Smoke came out from her mouth as she sighed. I covered my nose with my handkerchief and let her smoke until she finished her stick.

   

                       "Can't you be little earlier than the usual?" Her pink pixie cut hair bounced on the air when she shook her head in disappointment.

   

                        "If you want me to be early tell it to my manager." I rolled my eyes.

   

                        What’s with her today? She is more bored than usual.

                        She just shrugs and handed me a brown envelop.

                        "I meant this," she muttered and left me in the bar.

   

                         "Summer!" I called but I just heard a chimed on the door. The woman just left me with this. I glance at the brown envelop, still having thoughts if I should open it or not.

   

                           I sighed in annoyance and ordered a spaghetti and coke while waiting for her again. I finished eating my snack when she arrived, wiping her hands with clean wipes, thoroughly checking if there were visible stains.

   

                            "What's this?" I asked her, grabbing the brown envelop from the table and raising it.

   

                        "What you've asked from me?" she sarcastically answered and sits beside me again.

   

                            "What should I expect from this?"

   

                        "I don't know, you asked me to find everything about him. So I did."

   

   

                        "You could've catch up if you were a little early, you tardy woman." She scolded me and drinks the remaining coke from my glass.

                      I opened the brown envelop and saw polaroids of Cairo Jose Buenavista with his family. A happy family indeed. There were some pictures of Cairo holding a kid, if I were to estimate the age it is around four to five years old. It was a candid photo that was taken in a park somewhere in the province.

   

                         But a photo of him kissing a woman in a restaurant, located beside the resort where we just had our photo-shoot made me crumple the paper.

               

                     "Same goes to you," I answered.

   

                     "Don't compare me to you, Emilia. We both know I did whatever I could." She slammed her fist on the bar, making the other costumers to look at us.

       

                        "You know nothing, Emilia."

   

                         "Oh yes, I do. You coward," I added. Annoyance was evident in her face but she remained steady in her sit.

   

                      She can’t just scold me for being tardy, when we both know she’s the same.

                      "Who would ever think that you can leave your child with her father, without any care?" I whispered. I saw her raised her brow and glared at me.

   

                         She's always a coward for hiding from the truth that she abandoned her child.

   

                       I heard a glass shattered on the floor. I look at it and saw some drops of blood flowing from Sumeria's hand.

   

   

                        “You even told everyone you’re dead. But you are just here, roaming around Esterlight, hiding yourself in the shadows, away from his sight.” I even clap slowly to show how fucked up she is.

                                                “Poor child of yours, mourning for her late mother. Her ‘late’ mother is here enjoying her freedom, away from the responsibility as a parent.”

                                                She mocks me, I mock her back.

                           She looked at me in the eyes and her mouth opened to roast me.

   

   

                            "You hypocrite. You and I will never be the same!" she screamed, earning attention of the whole restaurant.

   

                                                I saw some women, looking amused. Gentleman were smirking, expecting a cat fight.

                                "You!" Her bloody index finger pointed me, "left her to a stranger for your damn fame! You can't even say hello or goodbye to her!"

   

                           There was silence. Only her deep breaths can be heard.

       

                        "I-"

   

                           Before I can utter a word, she continued,

   

   

                            "You hypocrite! Insulting me about my family, when all you did was leave your daughter to a stranger and expect them to treat her right." she laughed with remorse and walked out of the restaurant, leaving me with strangers who’re probably judging me now.

                                                Damn her!