Truth and Lies
I was almost out of my mind when we arrived at the building where I assume my father is hiding. How did he know all of this? I don’t know.
”Why are you doing this, Angelo? Why are you helping me?” I asked eagerly while he unlocked one of the doors in this building.
He smiled lightly without looking at me. “I know you’re loyal to your man now. I just knew you wanted to help him with his errands.”
My brows shot up with his shady answer. What?
When the door finally sprang free. I saw the inside of the place. It’s a studio type apartment, nothing seems to look so special. The single window at the wall has broken glass. There are empty bottles of beer everywhere, and the smell… suddenly sent a gruesome memory in my head I can’t exactly figure out.
I unconsciously walk inside which Angelo let me do it. I don’t even know why we are here, or who’s place it was. I scanned the whole place looking for anything and the next scene surprised me.
The image of my father coming out of the single door inside zipping his pants up while puffing a cigarette. My pupils shook in shock. I already knew our purpose here but seeing him here still shocked me.
I couldn’t utter any words, especially when our eyes met. He seemed shocked for seconds but that shock faded away immediately. He put the cigarette between his fingers and there, I saw his piano like teeth when he showed me his crooked smile. Flashbacks of me in the mall came crashing. I am not mistaken. That was him!
”Oh! My lovely daughter is here.”
Seems like I’m nailed into where I am standing. The next thing I knew he came near me and embraced me. I heard the door from my back shutting. I may look composed but deep inside I’m breaking down.
The way he caressed the back of my head sends shivers to my body. It’s enough to make my legs shake in horror and fear. The trauma of my past came back to me in a snap.
”I know you’ll look for me.” he said. He held my face with his palm. Just seeing his face is enough for me to break inside. I’m so afraid that he’ll lay a hand on me like he used to do before. He might look subtle and calm right now but still, I am scared.
“Alberto,” That’s Angelo’s voice.
I saw how my father’s attention went on him. I was still looking at him with shock and horror. Something’s not right. Just by seeing him act like this, I know something’s not right.
“Angelo,” he greeted. He immediately puffed his cigarette to finish it fast then he went to his ashtray and killed the cigarette completely.
”I’m sorry I didn’t believe you. I really thought you’re playing shits with me.” he chuckled hoarsely.
”What do you want?” he walked into his fridge and opened it. “Fuck, I only have beers in here. You want some?” he offered to me and to Angelo. I don’t know how Angelo answered but me, I was just completely staring at him.
He opened the bottle of beer and jugged it. I can’t help but notice his thin frame. His ragged looking clothes and his long hair. He’s a complete mess now. He didn't look so well before but now, he’s gotten worse.
”Why don’t you come and sit down here?” he asked me, pointing the chair on the small table.
Without even thinking I followed his order. And damn, I think it’s also because I feel like I’m gonna fall into the floor because of how weak my legs feel.
”How was that motherfvcker? That asshole,” he sniffed and drank his beer. “He fooled the shit out of me. If I see his face I’ll slit his throat to get back.”
My breath hitched hearing him uttered those words like it’s nothing.
”I know you’ll be looking for me.” he glanced at Angelo who’s leaning on the door. “This man right here helped me and gave me this place. He told me he knows you and that you’re looking for me. How were your plans? Did he finally believe you? I know you so well. I knew you'd use your head to fool that man.” he chuckled.
My jaw dropped and all I could do was to look at Angelo with so much anger. The expression on his face didn’t even change. He just looked at me with a straight face.
”Though, I wanted to kill that man myself, I couldn’t do it. He’s heavily guarded. That motherfucker uses his dimes so well.” he laughed.
I held my hand together to stop it from shaking. I don’t want him to notice how I am so affected with all the words he’s uttering. He’s speaking those words like it’s just a normal thing. Talking about killing people is a normal thing for him.
”What?” he laughed seeing my face. “You’re surprised to see me? You thought I’ll be one of those men in jail?” he shook his head.
”T-they are looking for you.” all I can say.
His jaw moved. “I know. It’s been months and they are still not getting tired of it. I was actually getting sick of hiding. Gladly, this young man found me.” he smirked and looked at Angelo.
Little by little, from his own words I’m picking up all the pieces and understanding it all. He’d been hiding all this time and based on his stories, he already knew the recent events and information, and I’m guessing it’s all because of Angelo. This evil angel looking like a face did this all. I can’t help but to feel delirious just by thinking about that.
”So what are your plans now? He told me you both had an ally. What’s our next plan? Should we ask for money first before we kill that man?”
I couldn’t hold it anymore.
”We don’t have an ally and we are killing nobody.”
His brows shot up.
”The authorities are looking for you and you shouldn’t be running away from them. After all, you deserve to be in jail. You deserve to be punished after all that you did to me!”
I am shaking. His eyes that are fixed to me didn’t even flinch or change emotions.
”Aciel did nothing to you. In fact, he saved me from all the agony I’ve gone through while I’m in your custody. He saved me from the nightmare that you gave me. You should be glad that he only wants you behind bars and not below the ground because honestly that’s what you deserve!”
Beads of tears fell in my eyes, and those tears are all the mixture of everything that’s been kept for so long. Anger, agony, longing and pain.
”Ha! Haha! Hahaha!” He laughed like a crazy man.
The small room reigned with his crazy laughter. He even stood up and walked back in front while still laughing. I watch him go crazy. He faced me and pointed to my face. His lips cracked with an unreadable smile as he did that. I’m fazed.
In one blink, I felt a strong pain in my face and all I heard was the sound of his palm into my face. I immediately tasted blood on my mouth due to so much impact.
”Alberto!” Angelo came near me.
I was out of words. You know that feeling when your mind just went black out because of all the things that’s happening. When you mind just chooses to space out rather than to think about what’s going on.
”Slut!” My father spat. “Ungrateful whore!” he added.
“This is not in our consensus Alberto!” said Angelo while he tries to protect me.
”No! Get out of the way you asshole! That is my daughter and I have the right to do whatever I want to her.”
I put my palm on Angelo’s shoulder to say it’s alright. He eyed me and my lips that’s currently bleeding a little.
I face my father. “Right? You’re my father who is supposed to protect me and shelter me but all you did was abuse me and exploit, is that it? Is that what you mean when you say you can do whatever you want to me?”
His face is burning with anger.
”All my life I’ve been so weak and frail. All my life, I obeyed you because that’s what I thought was right. I was so afraid that if I disobeyed you it would send me misfortune and that misfortune means not being able to see my mom.” I cried and said with full courage.
”That young me is gone. This is me now. And for this I owe to all the people who showed me love, who gave me what I deserve and made me feel that I’m a human. Now I know why mom didn't come back. Now I know why she chose to not go back to you.”
He tried to lay a hand on me again but Angelo was quick to butt it. He went in front of me to protect me. My father got so mad and frustrated. He palmed his face and turned his back then faced us again, after.
”You,” he pointed to my face while I’m behind Angelo. “You’re no different from your mother. No wonder you look like her.” He chuckled without any humor.
”You mirrored your mother so much that even her desperateness and foolishness passed into you.” he laughed. “Assuming and gold digger whore!”
My pupils shook. I don’t know what he was trying to say but I stayed silent.
”Why? You fell in love with that man? Because of his face? His fortune? What? You’re no different from your mother, Alia. Both of you are foolish for that love. Too hopeful that men like that will treat you like their queen and their only one.”
”Don’t mention mother here. She has nothing to do with all the crimes you committed.” I barked out.
”Oh yeah? Says the one who knows nothing.”
”Of course I know it all. Mother took care of Aciel when his parents died. Mother looked for me everywhere while you hid me and ran away, pretending that you’re running away from the authorities. When in fact, you were just hiding me from them!”
His mouth went wide open because of his smile when I said that. He finds my statement ridiculous.
”Who told you that? Your mighty CEO lover? I pity the both of you. Both foolish and ignorant with all the things that they believe.”
I gritted my teeth. “Don’t try to twist the story. I know who I’m trusting.”
He nodded. “Of course. Two fools would make a great pair right?”
”Shut up!”
”I killed the parents of that young man.”
My whole world stopped. Suddenly, I was tongue tied. I shook my head lightly and slowly.
”No.”
”Yes. Do you wanna know why? “
”Shut up,” I whispered under my breath.
He ignored me. “Because your whore mother is way too crazy for his father.”
”Stop telling lies.” My voice cracked.
”You think telling lies would benefit me from all this?” he shrugged. “That’s the truth, Alia. And only your mother and I know that. And of course, that young man’s parents who’s in heaven now.” he mocked.
”Shut up!” I cried and tried to reach him but Angelo stopped me. I almost forgot that he’s here.
”So go on! Try to live happily with your man and see what he's gonna do once he gets to know that your father is the one who ruined his perfect happy family.” he smirked. “And oh, his so-called ‘mother’ who took care of her due to her undying guilt.”
