“FALSELY ACCUSED?!”
These words made Angel lose her cool.
She loves Belinda, and she is willing to take a bullet for her. Belinda is like both a sister and a daughter to Angel. She admired Belinda’s demureness and beauty way back when Belinda had it all. Still, she fell in love with her when Belinda transformed from a princess to a queen. A queen that is willing to conquer all just to survive and achieve her dreams.
But this love is not enough.
This love will not surpass Angel's love for her father and for the cause that cost him his life.
Falsely accused?
Belinda said many other things after this word, but these two words lingered on Angel’s mind. Like a sounding bell, a monotonous key played on the keyboard- it is annoying, and something should be done for it to stop.
Angel sauntered towards Belinda, staring at her blankly as she walked closer.
Belinda stepped back. Angel’s eyes are cold. But even so, Belinda would not back out at her words; this is what she knew to be the truth.
This is what she wants to believe as the truth.
Angel is now standing in front of Belinda, staring at her coldly. Belinda opened her mouth to say something, but Angel raised her hand and slapped Belinda hard as fast as lightning. Belinda is shocked, but Angel is unfazed, just like a strong queen in front of those who want to sabotage her kingdom.
“Falsely Accused?”
Angel’s eyes are full of rage, something Belinda did not picture out happening; in fact, Belinda had run this event so many times in her head. Still, this scene is not one of those she expected to happen.
Belinda was too stunned to speak. She held her red cheek and looked at Angel with confused yet annoyed eyes.
“Your Father is Falsely Accused? Of what? Of whom? My father lost his life because of the truth, and I will not let you tarnish his image! What do you mean Falsely Accused? Everyone in the list, all those mighty names- oh so perfect family are tainted with black! Not even one of them has an innocence to claim, not even your father, Belinda! Your father knows that. Even your mother knows that is why she took her life! Do not take it out to my father!”
“I do not believe you! It is your father who ….”
“It is my father who is trying to set things right, and that is why he lost his life!”
Angel grabbed a bulky suitcase hidden under her bed, pulled out a thick file, and threw it over to Belinda. Belinda looked at the file and couldn’t believe what she saw!
“This couldn’t be true! This can’t be true….” Belinda could not finish her sentence as she looked into her beloved father's ledger and images that prove his death. Belinda is an Accounting Student, and she is familiar with the check and balances. There is no denying that something is wrong with how the numbers tally under her father’s name. Images and reports, conversation clips, and much more deny his father’s innocence, and it is just too much for Belinda to handle.
Belinda remembers those days when she never really questioned how her father got a lot of money. Sure, she is a businessman. Belinda just assumed that Bussiness men have ATMs with unlimited withdrawals. Now she questions herself why she did not question her father back then.
A trip to memory lane brings Belinda back to one of those innocent nights when she was still a college freshman and asked for a sample ledger when she saw his father holding one. Belinda’s father’s got angry for some reason, and now Belinda understands why.
Rivers of tears have flown out of Belinda’s eyes. She cannot believe all of these. She refuses to believe, but is there anything else to do when concrete pieces of evidence are in front of you?
Belinda rushed outside the apartment with puffy eyes because of crying and a hazy mind clouded with mixed emotions.
“Belinda!” Angel shouted as she tried to stop Belinda, but Angel’s efforts were in vain.
Belinda ran outside, unclear of where to go. She even left one of her sleepers on her way down to the apartment. Still, Belinda didn’t realize it because her eyes couldn’t stop crying. She cannot believe that the hate for Angel is something the latter do not deserve. On the other hand, Belinda can’t hate his father because even if these allegations are true, in Belinda’s mind, her father is the most loving in the world. He just did what he could to provide everything to his luxurious daughter.
Belinda blames herself.
If only she had not been asking for more. If only she had been more contented with not having the latest gadgets and the last season's shoes.
This is what runs into Belinda’s mind. She decided to blame because this is way easier than blaming anyone else, especially her father.
“This is all my fault. I should have been the one who died and not my parents!”
These thoughts started as showers and grew like a storm inside Belinda’s head. Slowly, the idea crept into her whole being and led her in front of the vast Han River in the middle of heavy rain.
The Rain.
Is the friend who always sympathizes with anyone who is in pain.
The rain soaks Belinda’s body while she is blankly staring at the vastness of the River under her.
Mind Blank.
Belinda reachers for the railings in the River.
Life’s unfair
Thoughts on her mind.
It is my fault. I killed them.
Belinda is now standing on the other side of the railings on the river, ready to dive her hands are on her sides.
Eyes closed.
The rain is getting stronger.
And I even sold my only friend.
A deep breath.
One.
Two.
Three.
Belinda lets go of the railings, waiting for her fall.
But.
A hand grabbed her from behind.
It is strong.
It is sturdy.
It is familiar.
“Are you crazy?!”
Shouts the voice from behind.