"How could you accuse of me of doing such things?" Saint asked his husband.
"How do you explain the 5 million dollars in your account Saint?" Zee barked.
"I don't know!" Saint answered.
"Isn't that convenient." Zee countered sarcastically.
"You don't believe me?" Saint's eyes beginning to brim with unshed tears.
"Explain to me then!"
"I can't cause I don't know!" Saint cried and sat down on the bed.
"Saint... you know you are the most important person in my life. But.. This? The money? The files we found on your laptop? They are classified. Only my assistant and I have them." Zee gripped Saint's laptop and showing it to him.
"I beg you Zee... please believe me when I say I don't know." He looked up and his eyes pleading.
"You cost me a 1 billion dollar project Saint!"
"I said I didn't do it! Why can't you believe me?"Saint whispered and slowly stood up.
"Zee... look at me... please look at me." Saint begged as he walked towards Zee.
"You have to believe me ... I don't know how I got that money in my account and I don't know how those files got into my laptop. Baby.. please... believe me." Saint pleaded while raising his hand trying to touch Zee's face.
"Don't touch me." Zee snarled.
"Zee? Please don't do this." Saint cried.
"That project means everything to me." Zee said.
"I thought I was everything to you?" Saint gave him a bitter teary smile.
"Why do you have to be so fucking greedy? I have given you everything!" Zee spat.
"I have never asked you for those damn things! Never!"
"Then explain to me!!!!" Zee growled.
"I can't cause I don't know!" Saint raged.
Saint stood staring at his husband and his body shook in anguish. His heart was shattered into pieces. How could Zee believe he betrayed him? He did not know what to do. Saint woke up that morning with Zee sleeping soundly next to him. He remembered raining kisses on Zee's face to wake him up. After he had woken up, they had breakfast before Zee headed to his office. Saint spent his day going to the orphanage where he used to grow up to do volunteer work. Had lunch with the staff there and arrived home just before 6 in the evening. When he reached home, Zee was waiting for him in their bedroom with his laptop in his arms. He truly could not explain to Zee because he genuinely had no idea.
"I'm going back to the office. Maybe there's something I salvage." Zee said as headed towards the door.
"Zee... please stay..." Saint hugged Zee from behind.
"I didn't do it Zee... You should know in your heart that I didn't do it." Saint croaked.
"Let go Saint." Zee answered.
"I love you Zee. I would never do that to you." Saint cried.
"Then explain it to me Saint." Zee's voice softened.
"I can't." Saint's body shuddered as he cried.
"There's nothing else to do then." Zee whispered while he pried Saint's arms and walked out of their bedroom.
"Zee.. no! Come back!" Saint begged but everything fell on deaf ears.
Saint could not sleep at all that night. He kept on staring the twinkling of lights coming from Manhattan. He tried calling Zee but he did not pick his phone up. He called Maya who was Zee's loyal assistant but she said she was instructed not to disturb him. By 5 in the morning, Saint gave up the notion of sleeping. His mind was filled with Zee's accusation and his angry face. He touched his chest and tears rolled down his cheeks. It was beyond painful. How could a man who promise you eternity to love and cherish you believe you could betray him? Saint stared at the tattoo inside his left wrist. It was a simple tattoo written 'ETERNITY'. Zee had one across his left chest. Pain tore his heart.
The clock showed 5.15 am. Saint made up his mind that he would drive to Zee's office because he knew for certain that he would be there. Zee had a whole floor in his building that he converted into a condominium. Saint pun on his jeans and dark blue hoodie. He went into the garage and go into his yellow hatchback Mercedes. It was one of the many presents that Zee had given him throughout their relationship. He had more cars than he ever needed and without fail Zee would always find an occasion to buy him something. He smiled sadly thinking how their love had turned from that to this.
By 6 am, Saint reached the private underground parking bay designated just for him and Zee. He parked his car and got into the lift. He pressed 55 and drew a shaky breath. Saint prayed that Zee's temper had subsided. His hands were cold. He could not believe how nervous he was feeling. It's funny because it was Zee, his loving husband. Saint bit his lower lip silently wishing that everything would be back to normal soon. And Zee would look at him not in disgust or anger; but instead love and adoration like before. The lift stopped at the 55th floor and Saint stepped out. He was about to turn right when he heard Zee's voice. He gathered his courage and was about to call for Zee when he stood paralysed with what he heard.
"The 5 million dollars was from the Buenaventura family."
"I don't know how Saint is connected to them."
"Make sure Saint never leaves the house." Zee instructed.
"He usually wakes up at around 8 so your security team has about 2 hours to secure the house."
"Don't question me. I know what I'm doing."
"If he's guilty... no.. no.. don't call the police just yet."
"He's still my husband... let me deal with him when the time comes." Zee ended the call.
Saint felt as if his life just ended. He stayed rooted for a few moment as tears flowed down. Zee still believed he did what he did. He did not even know who or what Buenaventura was. Like a zombie, Saint went down to the garage and got back into his car and drove away. He did not even realise where he was going until he saw his old orphanage. This was home. He stopped his car and went inside. Father Jonathan was sweeping the yard. He smiled when he saw Saint but his smile faltered when he noticed Saint's face.
"My child. What happened?" He asked and he was shocked when Saint fell into his embrace and cried.
The old priest comforted the young man. He ushered him into his office and make the young man sit on one of the chairs. He then hugged him and asked him what was wrong. He knew Saint since he was a small baby. A woman came to the orphanage with a small baby named Saint. He was such an adorable little thing. His mother was a beautiful Asian lady and she begged the orphanage to take her son from her. She said that she could not take care of her baby and believed that sending the child to the orphanage was the best thing he could do for him. That was years ago. After graduating high school, Saint worked part time as a barista at a small cafe near the orphanage, studied at the local college and also volunteered at the orphanage nearly every day. He was such a sweet child and he was still the same even when he was 23 now. Saint was just like a Saint, Father Jonathan thought.
Father Jonathan had no idea what had caused this soft-hearted man to be in such misery. He patted his head and rubbed his shoulders. He kept on asking him what's wrong but he continued to cry. Father Jonathan decided to wait for Saint to tell him what had happened.
"Saint, do you want me to call your husband for you?" Father Jonathan asked.
That made Saint to cry harder. He then told Father Jonathan everything. The old priest could not believe his ears. Zee loved Saint with all his heart. He could see that every time they came to the orphanage together. Saint was his world. How could he believe Saint would do such a thing? Saint was not a materialistic person. Zee should know that. Father Jonathan suspected someone was doing this to poor Saint out of spite. But who? Or how?
"There... There my boy. You should talk to Zee. Clear everything up." Father Jonathan stated.
"He.. he doesn't ... trust me Father. He...wants to lock... me up. I heard ... him said that." Saint hiccuped.
"But you didn't do it my child."
"I .. have ... 5 million dollars in my account and I.. don't know... how it got there." Saint explained.
"Zee thinks ... I... I have betrayed him." Saint continued.
"What do you want to do Saint? How can I help you?" The old priest questioned.
"Make me disappear Father. I don't want him to find me. I don't want to be in jail." Saint cried.
Father Jonathan's bushy brows furrowed as he thought of ways he could help Saint. Maybe he could send Saint to another orphanage? He could work there and he could be as far away as possible from his husband. His heart broke for Saint and Zee. He thought that the two would be together forever. Their love seemed unaffected by frivolous matters. Nevertheless, it was what it was. He could not let Zee get to Saint. He would protect this child even if he had to face the world.
"Saint, my brother Father Andrew is in Wisconsin. He is also running an orphanage there. He might need a someone to help him there." Father Jonathan explained.
"I remember him. He liked to call me Peanut when I was young." Saint shared.
"You could go there. I could tell him that you can help him." The old man explained.
'Thank you Father. You're the only one I have." Fresh tears started flowing.
"Saint... You also have God. He's always with you." The old man smiled and patted Saint's chest.
"Thank you father." Saint whispered.
"What about your clothes? Don't you have any valuables that you want to bring with you?" Father Jonathan asked.
"I have 200 bucks in cash. I think it's more than enough."
"Don't you want to take anything from your house?"
"Security is there by now... and I guess soon the police." Saint whispered sadly.
"Oh my child." Father Jonathan patted Saints shoulder.
"And I don't want anything from that house... or anything from him." Saint said bitterly.
"You better hurry. I shall make some calls." Father Jonathan walked away.
"Father?" Saint said before hugging the old man tightly.
"I never knew my father or my mother. Thank you for being my guardian all this time." Saint cried.
"I will never let anyone or anything harm you Saint."
"Now... hurry... and please be safe and take care. Call me or email me when you get there." Father Johnathan said before Saint left his office.