I sat straight and watched the buildings and establishments from the window. The people are busy, the sidewalk was almost filled with employees going home from work. Far from San Marcelino where you can sight the ocean almost everywhere.
"Villa Rosa, ma'am?" he asks.
I sighed and turned to him. "Yes, Mang Carding, please don't tell Mom and Dad that I'll be staying there tonight."
He nodded at me and focused on driving.
I faced the window again. The earlier full of buildings, establishments, and busy people slowly changed into trees and mountains. The dusk was clearer in sight. The dull orange and peach skies seemed to give me sadness.
I flinched when my phone rang. I got it from my bag and stared at the registered name.
"Ellie..." I whispered.
I bit down my lip and cancelled his call, but after a few seconds, he called again.
I cancelled his call again, I was about to slid it back to my bag when I received a message from him.
Ellie: I know you're in Queensland. I'll go there tomorrow.
I sighed. I put my phone back to my bag and stared outside.
The beauty of the sunset only intensified my pain. Even if I want to ignore it, it's like a nightmare following me everywhere. I squeezed my eyes when I felt the searing pain slashing through my heart as Villa Rosa beamed at my eyes.
It has been months when I left this place. The place where Hezekiah and I planned our dreams. Where we faced tomorrows together, happy and unproblematic. Where... we still love each other.
"Are you sure you can manage alone?" Mang Carding asked me with a worried voice.
I dropped my travelling bag to the sofa before facing him.
"Don't worry about me, I'll be fine here," I said.
He slightly scratched his head before looking at me hesitantly.
"How about Madam? Does she know you're going?"
I nodded ay him and picked my bag agaih
"Just don't mention to her that I'm at Villa Rosa. You can go home now. Thank you, Mang Carding," I muttered and walked upstairs.
I heard the door locked and the noise of the car's engine roaring into life.
I silently walked to my room. I'm still home alone. I was completely alone. My mind, body and my soul was devastated.
I slowly laid my back against the bed and snuggled into the soft and warm eiderdown duvet. Even if I tried to close my eyes, I just can't. This pain eats me alive. Swallowing me whole with full of despair. Slowly, my unending tears cascaded.
I cried slowly, and the soft hum of my voice echoed throughout the empty room. I don't know when I could still stand the pain. When I could be strong enough to face these obstacles. And as usual, I cried with tears on my eyes.
The lines of glares that shot for my eyelids awaked me. I got up from bed quickly with a light feeling.
I cooked for myself and ate alone. It's not hard adjusting myself to my old routine. I did this ever since Hezekiah was gone.
I planned to have a general cleaning in the whole house for today, because ever since I went away, I gave my maids a well-deserved vacation.
Back then, I couldn't even hold a sweep or even a vacuum cleaner, now, I'm slightly knowledgeable in using these because of my work at Alessandra's.
I smiled widely as I stared at the result of my hours of cleaning. It was already past two in the afternoon when I finished cleaning the first floor. There's still two floors left but I'm already drained of energy.
I was sweating so hard when I slacked off the sofa. I shut my eyes for a longer moment and lolled my head sideways. But before my butt could even get heated from seating, I heard a few horns of a car outside.
I shook my head. I'm sure it's Ellwood. He already said that he'll go home. I didn't bother to change because I'd shower after letting him in.
Wearing my spaghetti strap top and short shorts, I got out of the garage to open the gigantic gate.
My forehead immediately creased when an unfamiliar car greeted me. It was a black Montero Sport, the windows were heavily tinted so I can't peek to recognize the owner.
I hesitantly stepped back and tightened my gripped on the gate as I waited for someone to arrive. The owner turned the engine down and after a few seconds, the person I least expected got out of the car.
"M–Marcus?!"
I stepped back in bewilderment. Marcus took his sunglasses off and looked at me with his dark hollow eyes. "Can I talk to you?" he said.
I nodded impassively and led him inside the Villa. I don't know his purpose of travelling here, but I'm sure it has something to do with Gabriel and Alessandra.
I decided to change my clothes and wore a black T-shirt and white walking shorts. I went downstairs and directed towards the kitchen to make him a drink.
"Have a snack." I offered him a slice of cake and an orange juice.
"Thanks," he replied.
He didn't complain and silently ate a small portion. He swallowed it before sipping his juice from the long glass. My lips moved while watching him thinking deep.
"H-how did you know about this house?" I started. I cowered my head because I don't want to stare at his eyes full of suspicion.
"I've been here before with Gabriel," he answered without hesitation.
My lips formed into a gape. It took me a second for the new revelation to sink in. My back straightened on mu seat as I looked at him with my furrowed brows.
"What... do you mean?" My forehead released cold bullets of sweat while looking at him.
"When he remembered a few things about his past three years ago, we came here first but there's no one..." he said while shrugging.
I gulped. My breaths came in sharp pants. My heart wanted to explode by the discovery.
"He knew from the very first that he had an amnesia. Alessandra also knew about his condition. We didn't keep it a secret to Mom, too."
He stopped for a moment and sipped his juice, while I was still not breathing, anticipating for his next words.
"We also went to the Municipality of Queensland. We reported about his condition. And we heard that there was a big reward for whoever finds him, but apparently..." he paused.
I gulped again, suppressing the air inside my chest.
"Your... Mom.." he said slowly.
My shoulder slumped down. Hot tears ran down my face and the muscles of my chin trembled. I want to break everything out of anger after I heard him say those words.
"No, she can't do this to us. She can't..." I sobbed, trying to convince myself that he was just lying.
"Gabriel really wants to remember his past. Not only for himself but also for you. But unfortunately, it was hard for him to turn his back on everything when he can't remember..." Marcus added with a hint of seriousness.
I shook my head at him. I can't accept his explanation. It was clear. Mommy tried to stop Hezekiah from returning to my life. She manipulated the law and she even added value to the reward for Hezekiah.
What she did didn't hurt me. What hurts is she lied to me. Until when will she manipulate my life? I can forgive almost anything but this is too much!