"Yes, we argued but I left her after that to get a drink to sober her up. When I went back, that waiter was lifting her body and I even helped them." Vinno explained himself.
"What about you Ms. Noreen Amato? Her sister, Ria D'Aboville, told us that you are very angry with Ms. Bia D'Aboville which could be the reason for you to murder her."
"What!?" Noreen can't believe Ria's statement. She looked at Ria with unbelief in her eyes. "I admit. I'm mad at her and thinking of erasing Bia from this world but---"
"Noreen..." Vinno looked at her with doubt.
"See? She's the culprit all along! She wanted my sister to die! You should put her to jail." Ria said with anger. "You! B*tch. How dare you? My sister is your best friend! What a shameless b*tch!?"
"Will anyone please hear me out first? I will never do that! And for your information, we settled our issue before I left her sitting in that sun lounger. Maybe... Maybe she tried to commit suicide for some reason. I don't know." Noreen was trembling because of fear that she might get jailed. She looked at Vinno to support her alibi. "And I met Vinno on my way. Right, Vinno?"
"B-But you just came from the pool where Bia was pushed. I can't tell if... you're telling the truth. I'm sorry." He looked away that Noreen felt betrayed by the man whom she loved so much.
"W-What? Vinno! We both heard the splash! I was with you when things happened. Please... believe me." Noreen's tears fell out of hopelessness that no one can prove her innocence.
"Or maybe..." Ria snapped her fingers when she made up something in her mind. "You two are making some plot to kill my sister? Because you have an affair, right? So if my sister dies, you're free to be together!"
"Ria!" Noreen's face was all red because of annoyance. She couldn't hold her anger and was about to rush to Ria when the authorities prevented them from making another scene.
"Look at her officers. She looks so guilty because what I've said was right!" Ria secretly smirked.
"We're sorry Ms. Amato but you must go with us. No one witnessed the incident and you are the one who has the strongest motive to kill---"
"I witnessed everything." Everyone looked at Ferran who just came back from the resort's clinic. He looked at Vinno and Noreen. "Neither of the two did this attempted murder."
The waiters, policemen and some staff murmured. Everyone wonders who the real culprit is.
"Ms. Ria A'Boville was the one who pushed her sister." Ferran said confidently.
"Do you have any evidence to support your claim, officer?" One of the policemen asked.
"About that..."
***
"Uncle! There's a murder happened here." Blair said while running out of breath.
"I know. Where's the recording? I need it right now."
"How did you know that---"
"That's not important. Your phone, please." Blair slid her hand in her pocket but her eyes widened. "Where's the phone?" Ferran asked.
"I'm sure that it was here. Where... damn. My phone's missing!"
"What? How?"
"I don't know, uncle. The culprit tried to get it but... Oh no! Did she get it and deleted the recording? Damn. I'm sorry, uncle."
'F*ck... I thought this is going to be easy like it used to be.'
"Where did you last see your phone?" He asked, hoping that they could retrieve the evidence.
"Follow me."
Unfortunately, they couldn't find the phone.
"I swear, uncle. It was here somewhere."
"Forget it, Blair. Don't get yourself involved in this mess."
"But how can you prove—"
"I will find a way." Ferran messed up Blair's hand while thinking how to prove that Ria D'Aboville is the culprit.
"Uncle," He looked at Blair. "Is the victim already dead---"
"No. She's recovering."
"I thought... Never mind."
***
"Officer?"
"I—" Everyone's waiting for his response when someone cuts him off.
"Uncle!" Blair caught everyone's attention, and she felt embarrassed after a moment of silence.
"Young lady, no one's allowed to just enter a crime—"
"Let her." Ferran said. "What are you doing here? Didn't you understand what I had told you earlier?"
"I just want to give you this." She waved the phone in front of her uncle.
"How..." Ferran's hope uplifted when he saw Blair's phone.
"Well..." She put her hand at the side of her lips to whisper something. "Don't get mad, uncle. Officer Alfarez's son, found this and returned it to me." Blair sounds nervous.
"Let's talk later." Ferran looked at Alfarez's direction together with his son who's watching them from afar then faced the culprit.
"Ms. Ria, I heard you loathe your sister because she always caught everyone's attention, she is always in the 'spotlight' and your parents always favored her." Ferran already knew the reasons, and thankfully, he got the solid evidence.
"What are you talking about!? I love my sister very much! You don't have any evidence to prove what you're saying! I'll sue you for wrong accusation---"
"Nah! Of course I have evidence." Ferran smirked before his face turned into a cold one. "This is the evidence." He showed them Blair's phone then played the recording.
['Her dead body is probably floating in that cold pool right now. Poor Bia. Well... she deserves that. She always had everyone's attention, she always had the spotlight and even our parents' favor. She left nothing for me so now. Hah! Everything she has will be mine... Rest in peace Bia baby. Hahaha. *thud* Hey! Little b*tch! Mina! Chase her! Faster---']
The police immediately handcuffed Ria before she even escaped from them.
"Let go! She deserved it! Why is she still alive!? You should just let her die!" Ria shouted like crazy. A lady in her late 40's appeared in front of Ria. "Mom..." The lady, Ria called 'mom', slapped her hard, enough for her to face left.
"How dare you!?" The veins in Mrs. D'Aboville's neck almost shows. "You know what? It's time for you to know your place. You're just adopted. Yet you are craving for more?"
"A-Adopted?"
"You even tried to kill my daughter! Haven't we welcomed, dressed, and fed you enough for you to do it!? So ungrateful! You embarrassed my family! You will rot in jail!"
"Mom! Please, no! Mom! Help me! I'm your daughter!"
Two cases were closed after that night.
+++
The weather is fine and the sea is calm. Some noise was heard near the entrance of the subdivision where Alfarez residence was located.
Trestan went to the supermarket to buy some things he needed. While riding a bike to go home, a basketball from somewhere hit him straight to his head causing him to lose his balance.
"Sh*t." He hissed. He got small scratches on his arms and knees, and the things he bought scattered near the bike.
He stood up holding his head before looking at the ball rolled three meters away from him. He heard laughter not so far from him but Trestan being his usual self, ignored them all.
"Head shot!"
"What the!? Hahaha!"
"Nerdy mute! You alright?"
"Hey j*rk! Get the ball!" One of the players shouted but Trestan looked at the open court where everyone was looking at him. He chose to just gather his belongings.
Even Blair and Alexa are there watching the game, and they both witness how people make fun of Trestan, especially Blair who somehow felt concerned.
"Is he deaf?" One of them asked.
"I don't know. Maybe."
"I heard he's mute. Maybe deaf too."
"Pity him. Tsk."
Someone also riding a bike came to get the ball. He dribbled the ball while getting near to Trestan.
"You okay?" The bald guy asked Trestan but again he just ignored him and left after.
"Hey, bald!" The player shouted. "Wanna play with us?"
"Uh... No thanks." He watched Trestan acting tough, and letting those sh*t slide.
'He hasn't even complained. When will he grow and learn how to fight?' Bald guy thought.
"Alexa is here. You know?" One of the players grinned.
"What!? Where?" He looked around and didn't sweat to find Alexa because everyone pointed their fingers to her. "Hi, Alexa!" He shouted while waving his hand.
Alexa looked away, and ignored him. She felt embarrassed of the attention she was getting because of that annoying bald guy.
"Ey!"
"Haha!"
Blair teased her best friend because the bald guy likes her so much and he even confessed his feelings for her so many times but got rejected for the nth time.
"Changing your mind?" The player asked.
"Nah. Maybe next time!"
"Give us the ball then."
"Sure." He smirked before throwing the ball straight to the basket. Everyone shouted with amazement. The bald guy winked at Alexa before he left.
"Kuya Aquilo!"
"Hey, Cally. Where's your brother?"
"Inside."
"Okay." He went inside like he owns the house.
"Hey, uncle!" He greeted Timotheus who was watching the news in the living room. "Where's Trestan?"
"He's in the kitchen." Timotheus said casually. It was as if they were just friends.
"By the way uncle, I'll sleep over here tonight."
"Sure."
"Thanks!"
He proceeds to the kitchen where he can find Trestan. "Hey, cous'!"
"What are you doing here?" Trestan asked while chopping some vegetables.
"I'm just concerned, you know?" He sat on the stool of the mini bar after grabbing the red apple at the center of the round table.
"I don't need your concern, you know?" Trestan said with sarcasm.
"How's your head?"
"I said, I don't need your concern."
"Well, I'm just worried that your head was shaken and your intelligent brain... you know, turned into dumb one." He made fun of his cousin Trestan.
"If you don't have anything sensible to say, just get lost." Trestan was trying to make Aquiro out of his sight but this bald guy really has the confidence to annoy him 'coz they are too close for Trestan to get mad at him. "You're getting into my nerves. Annoying."
"I really am."
"Glad you know. So will you, get out of my sight before—"
"Mom and Dad will not be at home later." Aquiro interrupted him.
"So what? The least of my concern."
"I'll sleep over here."
"You what? Come on." Trestan's life will always be in chaos every time Aquiro's around. "You have your own house, you know."
"I know. I know. It's..." He looked at the red apple with some bites. "It's just lonely to be alone."
And there was a silence for a second but Trestan broke it. "When will Ate Cza return? It's been two years."
He is not the usual Trestan everyone knows.
He's comfortable talking with his cousin, Aquiro Alfarez. They considered each other like best friends but not at school 'coz Trestan always wants to be alone when the surrounding is a bit crowded or full of strange people.
Aquiro is a friendly one so many students know the famous bald guy at school. In contrast, Trestan doesn't want the attention Aquiro gets so he distances himself for his own good and his cousin understands that part.
"I don't know. I don't think she will come back. She has her own life. She wants to be so independent." Sadness filled his voice.
"You miss her." Trestan smirked, time for him to annoy Aquiro.
"No way."
"Yeah right. Deny it."
"What are you cooking?" Aquiro changed the topic that made Trestan shake his head.
"Uhm... Pinakbet."
"Pinakbet? What was that? First time hearing that kind of food."
"Ah... It's some kind of mixed vegetable food with... uhm... shrimp or fish sauce."
"Where did you learn that food?"
"My mom taught me." Trestan answered while mixing the vegetables.
Aquiro cleared his throat while observing his cousin. When it comes to conversation about Trestan's mom, it's kind of a sensitive topic but this time, it seems like Trestan didn't react or notice it.
"It's delicious and one of my favorites too."
"Maybe I should try it."
"You should."