Chapter 2: Parents

"What are you talking about? M-My family? You know my parents?" I asked.

My voice was full of hope. I've never felt this way before and it's so overwhelming.

I stepped closer to him, demanding an answer at the sudden mention of my 'family.'

He furrowed his eyebrows after seeing my reaction, not expecting me to react that way. He seemed stunned but I did not ask further so we won't lose the direction of the conversation.

That doesn't matter to me now, all I want to discern is if he knows something about my parents.

"I'm not buying your lies and actings, Sereia Villamor." He strode closer, towering over me. "Just tell me where your parents are and I'll let you go, safe and sound."

I eyed him full of turmoil. Why does he persist in asking me where my parents are? If I knew, he wouldn't have to ask me multiple times.

I wasn't able to answer him because I didn't have an answer to give in the first place. Why don't he listen to me?

I slowly shook my head. I don't think we're having useful communication here, we're both looking for my parents to each other.

"Are you sure you did not abduct the wrong person here?" I asked.

I'm starting to put together a lot of questions in my mind and I don't know how to quit it so I can calm down. My emotions weren't comforting.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He looked up at the ceiling and heaved a deep breath for the second time, I guess he was trying to pull his patience back to him.

"Yeah right, you're not going to tell the truth that easily," he mumbled which did not pass through my ear.

I stood up firmly, not wanting to lose my ground. I don't know where my parents are and I know myself that I'm not fabricating so I should be confident in confronting him.

"I am confessing the fact here, and I think my honesty deserves honesty. Where are my parents?" I asked again.

"Damn! Can you stop foraging me with your falsehoods? Do you think I am that dupe to easily believe you, huh?"

"Do you think I'm lying?! I don't even know where my parents are because I just exited from the orphanage when the men took me!" I wasn't able to control the volume of my voice.

"Now we're talking about the orphanage, how brilliant the idea Villamor! If you're telling the truth, spill the name of the orphanage and I will confirm it myself."

The blood on my face was depleted when he said the words. My eyes widened and the thump of my heart made twice as much as the thought of him going there.

If Mother Fatima, our mother superior knew where I was, she'll surely take me back to the orphanage. If that comes about, I'll never see my parents again.

"N-No..." I said trembling.

He huffed. "No? Why? You're scared your lies will be exposed?"

I shook my head.

"T-That's not it... The mother superior can't know my whereabouts. I-I don't want to go back there," I stuttered. "You know... just ask them if you want, but I'm begging you, don't tell them where I am."

He stared at me with an empty attitude.

"Give me a justification, just one and I will see what I can do."

I did not forfeit the opportunity.

"She will deprive me of going back to the orphanage, if that happens, I'll be left with no choice but to become like them. I-I don't want to... I need to find my parents," I answered still shivering inflicted by nervousness.

"Why the fuck do you keep on claiming that you don't know where your parents are? Did they drill you that well? Or are you born with those acting skills?" he stated full of sarcasm.

I shut my eyes and bit my lower lip to stave off myself from exploding. I don't think he'd ever believe what I was saying. He kept on saying that I was lying.

There's no chance in this conversation.

"I don't get why you took me here to get information but you'll not accept anything that I say to you."

I looked him in the eye yet he averted his gaze. He looks like torn between believing me or holding into his assumption.

Fine, this is my last straw. I'll try to communicate with him, calmer this time and if nothing happens, it's time for me to leave and do my business alone.

"My name is Seriea Villamor. My parents are Kleva and Oliver Villamor. I was seven when I got separated from them, I lived in the Harmonica St. Buenavista Homes, the orphanage where I resided for twelve years. I don't remember our address, our province, or even the school where I used to study."

He veered his gaze to look at me. I hope this time he'll be open to hearing from me. It's so hard to make him believe that I was telling the truth.

"Why are you separated from them? And how come twelve years have passed but they never made a means to search for you?" he asked. There's still an indication of suspicion in his voice.

I looked down, not preferring him to see how sensitive I am when it comes to this topic of my life.

"I don't know how it all happened, all I know was it was our family day, maybe I got lost because there were many people that time. And why didn't they search for me? I don't know either. I don't have answers for that."

All my explanations were genuine. No spice of lies. I've never been this honest to anyone except Mother Fatima and Devika, but if this man will be my way to see my parents, I will be entirely honest with him.

Minutes of silence had passed. He kept on staring at the floor while sighing. I can see through his eyes that he's having a hard time.

I intentionally shut my mouth so he could think well. We need to calm our nerves if we want to know the truth. We both appeared to be frantic to see my parents.

"I see. I still need to confirm that before I will believe you, but believing you doesn't mean I'll trust you."

Finally, he spoke, his voice was gentler this time. Maybe he has cleared his senses and reflected on them carefully.

I felt solace when I heard his acknowledgment, at least I knew I was telling the truth and nothing to worry about.

I saw him turn his back on me when I did not say a word.

"I'll be back. I just need to go to the orphanage you mentioned," he plainly said and opened the door, ready to exit.

Wait, he's leaving?

"How about me?" I eagerly asked.

He looked at me over his shoulders. "Stay here for the meantime. I'll be asking someone to bring you food. And please, don't do anything ridiculous. Let's try to settle things, let's talk when I get back.

—

"How is it, Madam? Did I cook well?" Rosia asked while she was watching me eat the food she gave me.

She is the man's maid who came to deliver my meal. I easily got comfortable with her because she's very babbling and she's not far from my age.

Rosia never got to introduce the man a while ago that's why he's still a stranger to me. I wanted to raise a question but I don't think that's a good idea. Besides, she might not tell me the name of me.

I decided to stay here and wait for the man to come back. I want to talk to him about my parents and why he is looking for them. I have a bunch of concerns to ask him and proper communication would certainly solve them.

"You have a talent, it's so tasty," I complimented her.

She smiled widely and giggled.

"Thank you, Ma'am. Anyway, that's my specialty, I always cook that for Sir Zadkiro whenever he is tired from work," she said with high energy.

Zadkiro? Is he the man that I've talked to?

"Oh yeah! I missed informing you, Ma'am, sorry. I am Sir Zadkiro's long-time maid that's why I know a lot of things about him. I hope you don't find me bragging, I'm just proud that I sustained a job for a long time," she apolitically said after she noticed the confusion in me.

"So his name is Zadkiro." I glanced at her. "Do you have an idea why he brought me here?" I asked.

She stared at me for a minute, her eyes carefully observing me. I was in a state of confusion when she suddenly laughed hard as if a funny joke had been stated.

I already stopped eating and looked at her. I didn't know what I said that made her laugh that much.

"Wait sorry." She composed herself. "You don't know why you're here? Gosh, I thought you were Sir Zadkiro's girlfriend. Sorry," she said and cracked up again.

Girlfriend? I don't even know him that well.

"I was taken here without my consent and he did not allow me to leave." I paused. "Maybe he was out there verifying my testimony a while ago, he doesn't believe me when I answered his queries honestly."

When I looked at Rosia, the confusion that I felt was passed to her. She was staring at me with her eyebrows crinkled. Just like her, I'm also interested in why I am here but I have no option but to wait for that man— Zadkiro to come back.

"I don't get it," she mumbled which was enough for me to hear.

I nodded, agreeing with her.

"Same here."

I continued eating my food and Rosia left with my empty plate afterward, she told me that she couldn't stay there for more than one hour because she had a lot of things to do in the house. I tried to persuade her to stay longer so I won't get bored but she respectfully declined.

The door was locked and I couldn't get out. I decided to kill my time by roaming around the room. There's only one bed and a single sofa here with a glass table in the center.

I noticed how fancy the room is despite the lack of furniture for a normal room. There's no other door here aside from the door leading the way out. The windows have railings and there's no veranda.

I sighed as time went by, I was starting to get bored, the room was too quiet and I had no one to talk to. I suddenly missed Devika, she's a talkative one and if she's here, I'm sure we can stay here for a day gossiping about random things.

I sat on the bed and looked outside the window, it was already dawn. The sky was starting to get yellowish and it was very soothing. I couldn't help but start reminiscing.

I didn't know that leaving the orphanage would cause me this feeling. I couldn't help but to miss the atmosphere there. The loud noises of children playing and their chants.

I missed the place already, but I am determined not to go back there again. I have a personal business to do. I may still be immature and I may make mistakes in making decisions but I will not give up. I already started it.

I stopped thinking deeply when the door of this room unlocked unannounced. I immediately stood up when I recognized the man who entered the room. It was Zadkiro.

He looked at me with his serious dark eyes before he closed the door behind him. I saw how frustrated he was even though he tried to hide it.

I wanted to speak and ask him what happened but before I could even utter a word, he finally spoke.

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't know you were innocent," he whispered and looked down feeling a hint of shame.

I only looked at him still puzzled why he was apologizing. I want him to continue talking first before I get in so I won't ruin how our conversation will go.

"I went to the orphanage... I asked for your information and they said you were missing and they couldn't make a report because you don't have a family to file one."