In the whole day, I just stayed in Dela Fuentes' house, helping them do some errands. I spent most of my time thinking about how I could help Henry fall in love with Sonia without actually falling in love with me. I am not dumb nor blind to not notice how Henry stated his feelings for me. He even kissed me!
It so impossible that he already has romantic feelings for me. We barely know each other, and we can't be together. I will leave this place soon; I miss my family already. I can't be attached to this place; I do not belong here. This is all just temporary.
"What happened to your stuff?" Cristel asked me when we finished cleaning her room.
"We already met Sonia and she agreed on Henry's proposal," I answered.
She gasped. "What? They are getting married?!" she exclaimed.
"What? No, silly! Henry will court Sonia, first. I am looking forward to their marriage, though." I smiled.
Cristel looked at me with curious eyes. "Why are you pushing those two to be in a relationship? On Henry's tone of voice, he doesn't want Sonia, anymore. I bet that he like someone else and he is already moved on to her childhood friend."
I shrugged my shoulders. "They need to be together, that's for the best."
"I don't really get you. I keep refusing to myself that you have hidden agenda," she said.
I have!
"I need to do some important things before I can finally go home. Can you tell me more about Lieutenant Henry?" I sat comfortably on her bed.
She sighed and sat beside me. "Well, Henry Dizon is a heartthrob when he was a high school student together with his best friend, Alfredo. And I must admit that I am one of their stalkers back then. But unfortunately, Alfredo never looked at me and Henry was secretly in love with his girl best friend, Sonia. Henry is the son of one of the most influential families in this town, the Dizons. They contributed a lot in terms of money, but they are very private people."
"Even your father doesn't know their whereabouts?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yes, not a single person. So, I am very curious about how you met Henry or at least know his name when you are from another town."
I can't answer her question. How can I answer that?!
"M-My grandpa knows them." I lied. Geez!
"Really? Your grandpa is very lucky then!"
I am very glad she believed in me. If she questioned me more, I will be doomed! I can't just tell her the truth, not yet!
So, their family is very private. Why they are something in me that wants to dig further on Dizons? It was never stated in the diary that Sonia gave to me. Or it was?
I went back to my room and get the diary. I searched for something suspicious and four pages from the front, I found a very disturbing 5 sentence paragraph.
The Dizons got shot to death,
Blood all over town,
The killer thinks no one survived,
I proved them wrong,
Only Henry survived.
What? What happened?! I can't believe it.
Is this one of the reasons why Grandpa Henry was very grumpy as his grandchildren talking about him? His family was massacred. Did they find the killers? How Henry survived and lived after the incident?!
"I need to see Henry," I said to myself and ran out of my room.
On the living room, I saw Cristel and Mrs. Dela Fuente laughing at each other. I don't want to disturb them, but I need Cristel.
"What is it again, Aliyah?" Cristel crossed her arms.
"I need to see Henry."
Her forehead creased. "Again?"
"Yes, he needs to know something very important. I need to warn him about something tragic," I whispered the last word.
Cristel became serious. "What is happening? Why are you shaking?"
I am, indeed, shaking. I am not aware.
"Please, can you help to talk with his family?" My voice is almost pleading.
"I-I don't know what's going on and you know, it is nearly impossible to talk to them. They never let ordinary people talk to them, even my father never had a chance," Cristel said.
I need to find a way; I can't let that happen. "Help me see Henry one more time, please."
Cristel agreed and now, we are on our way to where Henry is. I stopped walking when I saw him laughing with Sonia. Cristel noticed it too so she looked at me.
"Do you still want to talk to him? He looks so happy; he's enjoying her company. And, I think, the whole town is enjoying the view, too," she said.
I roamed my eyes on the whole place and I saw people having wide smiles on their faces while looking at the lovely couple. This what I want, right? They are finally getting to know each other in a deeply romantic way. Not just a friend.
"I will just talk to him when he is already free," I said in a low voice.
"But you said it is urgent and important." She stopped me.
I am very confused right now. I don't exactly know what my real agenda in this time and place is. Do I need to be a bridge on Henry and Sonia's love story? Or do I also need to save Henry's whole family?!
"Wait, why are you crying, Aliyah? What's the matter?" She caressed my back.
"I don't know what to do anymore, I just want to go home," I said while crying, heavily.
"If you want to go home, we can bring you home. My father owned a car, remember? We can drive you there, why are you crying?" Cristel is very concerned for me.
But it is not easy as that.
"Why is she crying, Cristel?"
I knew that baritone voice and it sent shivers down to my spine.
"Lieutenant Henry, I don't know. She keeps saying that she wants to go home. Where's Sonia?" Cristel is the one talking to him.
I felt his hand touched my back. My hands are covering my face so I can't see him. I just know that he is so near to me because I can feel his warmth against my body.
"What's the matter, Aliyah? Why are you crying?" he asked me with his soft voice.
I am feeling frustrated right now. I badly want to stop what is going to happen, I am very desperate to fix things for the better. I want to save him from pain.
"Aliyah," he called my name.
I slowly removed my hands from my face and the first thing I see is his nut-brown hooded eyes that complimented his thick eyebrows.
"Aliyah," he called me again but this time, with a serious tone.
"Be okay." The only thing I have managed to say.
He creased his forehead, very confused about what I just said. "I am okay, you are not. What's the matter?"
If there is any person that knew more about the Dizons, it is a Dizon. I need Henry this time, I am going to use him again to save his family. But knowing him, I need something I can exchange with my favor.
"Can you tell me something about your parents?" I asked him without even hesitating.
He narrowed his eyes towards me. "What about my family now?"
He won't tell me, I know. He won't trust me this one. He is becoming suspicious; I can see it in his eyes. And I think I need to stay a little longer. I am delaying what am I supposed to do.
"I will let you court me, and I will not push you to Sonia, anymore. Just tell something about your family that can cause their lives in danger."
He became shocked at what I just say. So, do I.