It Started With A Lie

--Chapter Four-

     "I will. Thanks a lot."

     "Do not try to contact me ok? Leave without looking back and go as far away as possible."

     They hugged each other. "Leave your phone. Leave your ATM as well. Everything you need is inside this backpack. I had arranged for someone to take you outside the city. From there, you are on your own."

     "Leave this hotel as soon as you can. Ayaw kong madamay ka sa sitwasyong ito."\

     Jeana nodded and urged her to go. Sinilip muna nito kung may tao sa hallway at nang makitang wala ay sumenyas ito sa kanya. Itinuro pa nito kung saang direksyon siya dapat dumaan. Good thing that Jeana's boyfriend is an owner of a high-end security agency. Ito ang gumawa ng paraan para ma disable ang ilang camera sa hallway ng hotel without notifying the hotel's security team.

     Ngayon ay kailangan lang niyang makaabot sa parking lot. Naroon ang taong binayaran nila para mag-pick up sa kanya at maghatid sa istayon ng bus palabas ng siyudad. From there ay mag-isa na siyang bibyahe patungo sa kung saan man siya dalhin ng kanyang kapalaran.

    "WHY ISN'T SHE here yet?" tanong ni James sa kanyang assistant.

     "May inutusan na po akong tao para I-check si Miss Alessandra," sagot ng babae.

    "May inutusan? Bakit hindi na lang ikaw ang nagpunta para mag check?" mahina ngunit pasinghal na sabi nito.

      The assistant murmured an apology bago ito tumalikod para sundin ang iniutos ng boss.

     "That anxious to marry your bride?"

      James turned to meet the smiling face of his younger brother. Rayven's smile was dashing but it didn't reach his eyes. Sa mata ng mga bisita at iba pang naroroon,looking at them from a distance, it was a scene of a younger brother congratulating his older brother on his wedding day. But for those who are aware of the brothers' feud, the atmosphere was filled with tension.

    "I don't remember inviting you here."

      "Oh!" Rayven chuckled. He reached for the invitation inside his suit and showed it to James. "You probably forgot to tell our "step-mother" that I'm blacklisted." He gave emphasis to the word "step-mother" to taunt James. "I can leave if you're really uncomfortable to see me around as you tie-the-knot."

      Sasagot pa sana si James ngunit naagaw ang pansi nila ng dumating na si Valeria.

     "Oh, Rayven, dear! It's good that you are here for your brother."

       Both men turned to their step-mother who was smiling like a clownfish while walking towards them.

       "You sent him an invitation?" James confronted her, his eyes narrowing. "You did not even ask me if I wanted his presence here."

        Saglit na napatda si Valeria ngunit agad itong nakabawi at mahiinang tumawa. "Come on, James. Rayven is your brother and this is an important day in your life." She reached to fix James collar before she stepped to Rayven's side and put her arms on his. James instinctively looked their entwined arms and frowned before looking away. Hindi naman nakalagpas sa paningin ni Rayven ang reaksiyon ng kapatid.

        "Send someone to fetch for Lessandra, Valerie." Wika ni James bago tinalikuran ang madrasta at kapatid.

      "Don't mind your brother, Rayven. Tensed lang 'yan masyado dahil sa ikakasal. Wedding jitters, you know," baling ni Valeria sa binata. "Have you seen your father?"

       Isang nakakalokong ngiti ang isinukli nito bag pasimpleng iwinaksi ang braso ng babaeng nakapulupot sa braso niya. Pagkuwa'y nagtungo siya sa isang bahagi ng garden kasunod ang kanyang assistant.