Let the Light Begin

Chapter 36: Faded

I am nowhere in mom's house and I can see the difference in the design compared to our house. My mom loves light colors. I didn't know that my mom also painted. It's been a week since I was at her house. And I just have the time to wander here. This is a huge house for just two people. My aunt said that this is the house where my mom and Tita Lavinia lived before they were married. I just notice that there are lots of trophies and achievements of my mom joining some singing contest. She is very talented. I wonder why I haven't tried anything like that before. I just saw lots of her pictures when she was young and I can see the resemblance to myself. I love how they manage to take care of this house for a year. I know that my mom didn't live here when I was born, even before. The house is still clean and the furniture is still there. Aunt Elizabeth said to me that she managed to have the same look as what my mom loves as much as possible. That's the only thing that she could do for her sister. I am nowhere in my mom's room. I saw her clothes when she was young. They are still there. I can see no dust in here. It looks so new and has never been touched. I am now sitting on her bed touching it, "I love your room, mom." I said. Her room is bright as the sun.

My mom loves seeing the view of the sun and even the moon. That's why her room had a huge window that could see the view of the night and even the day. I went to her drawer to see more of her things. And I see lots of jewelry here, from gold to silver. I tried them all, even her clips and ponytails. She is a sophisticated woman. While I am trying her clips, I accidentally drop them on the floor. I picked it up and then I saw a box under her bed. It was like an old treasure box and dust. I thought this house was being taken care of, but I think this is the one that wasn't seen by anyone. I tried my best to reach it and after a few minutes of trying, I finally had it. Out of curiosity, I tried to open it but it was locked. I wonder where the lock is. I put it back under the bed. I'll try to look more here in the house. I think she just hid it somewhere there. My mom hides something in this house. Good thing that I came here. I wonder more and this room is at the end of the hallway. I went there and opened it. It was not locked. When I entered, there was a music room. I think this is the room where my mom is practicing her song. I even saw the piano and I tried it. I remember the song that I first heard from my mom.

Heaven's gift to me just the way you are,

A newly aged child from a distant star

It feels so good just to be

So close to your love, you are heaven's gift to me.

I let my tears fall while I am using this piano. All the memories that I have from my mom are all that I am remembering right now. After I use the piano, I let my hand touch the piano. It's been a long time since I saw her using a piano. I went to the back of the piano when I saw a shining thing. I picked it up and it looked like a key. I suddenly remember the lock of the treasure box in my mom's room. I immediately went to my mom's room. "Hi, Annie! I've been looking for you. Where have you been?" I was about to go when I bumped into my aunt. What is she doing here? "I am just wandering here in the house. I got bored." I said while smiling and hiding the key in my pocket at the back of my shorts. "I see, did you like your new place?" She said, "Yes aunt, I love this place. Can I stay here for good?" I wanted to stay here to see more about this place. I know there are a lot of hidden things here. It will be helpful in my parent's case. "Sure, after all, this house was in your name." I think my mom put my name on this house to see more about this place. I have this feeling that she had a reason. Why is it? For the past years of my existence? I only know now about this place. Little by little, I am now connecting the dots from the past. "Really?" I said out of shock, for her to know that it was my first time to know it, technically. My grandma told me that my parents left something on me that I still didn't look at. I also need to take care of it, especially about what my dad hides. "Yes, darling. After all, you are the only child that she had." She said while caressing my face, "Did you eat? Come, let's have dinner downstairs. For a while, I will stay here." When I heard her say that, I didn't know how I would find more in this house when she is here. What if she put some CCTV here or there and bugged it? Tomorrow I will take care of that. I need to find out some bugs here. Maybe I will know more about her agenda for me. "Until when, Aunt?" I asked. She smiled, "I'm still thinking about it. Your uncle is still busy in London. I think after you graduate, you can come to our home," she said. Before that happened I should think and act fast. While I was still there, "Let me think about it," I said, and we went down to have dinner. I saw lots of maids and guards here. ''Your friends, when will they sign the contract?" She said while putting a napkin on her lap, "I will ask them, aunt." I said. I looked at the table and there was lots of food on there. "Eat a lot darling," she said. The way she talked and acted is really with poise. I didn't see anything that made her look like an ordinary person. "Do you have a class for tomorrow?" She said while chopping the food. " I don't have." When I started eating, I looked at the table. I didn't know what spoon I would use. There are lots of spoons and forks here. I look at my aunt while she is busy chopping her food and look at what she is using. I imitate what she used. I am not used to this kind of life.

"Let's go to your place, Guillaume hacienda? I wanted to meet your family and, of course, your Tita Melissa." She said and smiled at me. I am still not used to her. I always think that she had planned something for me. I couldn't read her moves. "how do you know Tita Melissa?" I said. "We became friends in London." She said and smiled again. "Did you know what happened to your grandma?" She asked. I know what happened to her. My family doesn't know that I saw my grandma. I am visiting her secretly. It is for her safety. "What happened?" I asked. I need to be more careful about telling her something. Me and Tita Melissa talked about this and I said it was for their good. At first, my Tita didn't want me to be involved in the Castro, but I needed to. This is the only way to know more about my mom and what Elizabeth is plotting. "We are going to visit her tomorrow also." She said, "Do you have plans for the next day?" I drank my water, and one of them called to pour it. I said thank you before I answered her, "No, I haven't". She called one of the maids and whispered something. Our table is not typically a table, it is a long table and we are both at the end of it. That's why I can't hear what she is saying and we are the only ones who are talking. If no one was talking, the atmosphere was really quiet. "I asked for wine, had you drink?" I had better not drink it. "No aunt." She smiled, "Anyways, I decided to teach you some things that your mom learned from me." She said, and the maid poured the wine into her wine glass. I can see that she loves drinking. "You need to learn how to act gracefully, Annie." She said. I just nodded. "Sure, aunt. I am done eating. Excuse me for now, I need to go back to the room," I said. She just nodded and smiled, "Goodnight darling." She said. I went up and I could see my mother's room. I am not using it because, for some reason, aunt Elizabeth doesn't want me to go on the east wing. I went to my room and looked at the ceiling. I'll wait until midnight. I need to go to the east wing to get the treasure box.

When it was midnight, I silently went outside. It is dark but I can still see because of the moonlight. I walked silently to my mom's room. But before I went outside, I decided to lock the door of my room. Starting the day that I lived here, I always locked the door for safety. I need to be more careful and I also have a knife in my pocket, for self-defense. I also have a gun under the pillow. So far, I still haven't encountered any danger in this house. I silently opened the door of my mom's room. Good thing that this door is not loud. I looked at the surroundings and looked under the table. The good thing is that the treasure box is not huge and not heavy. I can easily lift it. I had in my hand the treasure box. I silently opened the door, but I immediately went back to my mom's room when I heard steps coming toward me. ''She is not in her room.'' I heard from the outside, it was a man's voice. I slowly locked my mom's room and peeked through the door and saw who was outside. I can see a man wearing full black. I can only see their eyes and they have a gun, s**t. I only have a knife here. I looked at my mom's room and the window was the only way out. ''We needed to find her. Our boss is losing patience.'' They are two of them, ''Did you try looking at this room?'' I was about to think fast and decided to go out using this window, ''There is someone here.'' The other one said, ''s**t, we need to go.'' They went away and I can still hear footsteps. I tried to peek and I saw aunt Elizabeth holding a flashlight and had the keys. I immediately hid under the bed. I think she will come here. She doesn't have any idea about the two men who are planning to get me? I said in my mind. I could hear that she was at the door of mom's room. ''Divina, I missed you,'' she said. I could see her steps and she sat on the bed. 'You know what, your daughter is as beautiful as you. I can see her as you when we were young.'' she said and I could sense that she was crying while saying it. ''I will protect her Divina, I will.'' She said. Now I am having second thoughts about aunt Elizabeth. Does she want to protect me? After minutes, I could see her walking out of my mom's room. I waited for two more minutes to go outside. I went out silently and went to my room. I locked the door, even the window. I decided not to sleep. I hid the treasure box in the cabinet and locked it. I made a hidden cabinet here in my room where all the things that I need are there. I went to my bed and looked at the ceiling, thinking about what my aunt said a while ago. Did she mean it, mom? I made up my mind. Who are the men who wanted to get me? How did they come inside when we have lots of guards here? Are they one of our maids or guards? I pulled my hair. I can't take what's on my mind right now. I need to become alert. I need to. This is the only way to save my life...

I woke up when there is sun's rays touched my face. I decided to sleep at 4 am and now it is till 5 am. It is really hard to sleep. I have lots on my mind, more questions that came. Nowadays, it is hard for me to trust anyone. The ironic part is I fully trust my friends compared to my family. And now, I've been thinking about who is my enemy. I remember when Jenlyn said that Tita Lara is the one who gave orders to follow me. My grandma told me the truth that she also ordered me to follow her to know if I am fine or not. Now, why did Tita Lara do that? What is my connection to her and my parents to her? Did Kyo know that or not? Or did Kyo let me fall to him because it was part of her mom's plan? Does Lovely also know what her mom is looking for her?

"Annie, are you awake?" I went to the door to open it, and its aunt Elizabeth, its too early in the morning. "I'm sorry if I woke you up. Come join me, let's jog." She said. I think I need to jog, I need my stamina to be consistent. "Sure aunt, let me change," I said and I went to the bathroom, to change. After that, we went jogging, aside from her gracefully walking. She is also a sporty one. I remember again what she said last night in my mom's room. "is this your first time jogging?" She asked me while we are walking. I drink my water before I answered her, "Yeah for a morning. I am always jogging at night, it's peaceful." I said. While we are jogging, I saw Lovely and Kyo on the bench of the park. Small world, I forgot that my mom's house is near to Kyo's house. I continue walking not minding them. They also not noticed me, it will be good to lay low with them since they are involved in what is happening to me, "She is familiar." my aunt said and I walked fast since I don't like to be involved with them. "Annie!" Kyo said and run towards me, I faced him and smile, "Oh hey, you are the one who raise a hand for Annie to be a bodyguard." My aunt recognized him, he just smiled "yes mam" he said, "Annie, long time no see. How are you?" Lovely said, I can sense that she is reading my eyes that's why I don't show any emotion to her. "Hi, I'm fine. I'm with my aunt," I said, and I went to aunt Elizabeth, "guys meet my aunt, Elizabeth." I said, "Hello everyone!" My aunt said, "I never knew that you are now staying with your aunt." Lovely said, "why do you need to know?" My aunt said and I think she look furious with that, "I'm sorry if the question is rude. What I am trying to say is, she is living at our house and then suddenly she disappeared. " she said and she never stop looking at my eyes while she is saying that. "I'm sorry it was an emergency. I just messaged both of you that day" I said, "On behalf of what happened. I am the one who should say sorry. I asked Annie not to contact anyone when she is with me. Family matters." She said, Lovely just nod, "It's okay Ms. Elizabeth, we are just worried about her." She smiled at me "But now that I see you. I am now contented. I don't need to worry about you, Annie." I think she is mad at me. But I also can't believe that her mom did it. I am not safe with her family. "Annie, how are you?" Kyo said and he is looking at me sincere. sincerely "I'm fine," I said in a cold tone. Because I can see on my peripherals vision that my aunt is looking at me. I don't want her to notice that I and Kyo have something. "Good to know," he said and I can still see his pain. I'm sorry Kyo, I need to do this. It's for your good. I am still not sure if you didn't know what your mother did to my mom.

I didn't expect her mom involve in my mom's case. I wonder why Lovely didn't put the list of suspects on her board. Maybe she is handling my mom's case or my family's case just to protect her mom. I felt betrayed by her. Why would she teach me to protect myself when the one who wanted me to die is her mother. Maybe her mom, maybe aunt Elizabeth, maybe tita Lavinia. I have lots of suspects on my mind. But I need to act normal. Jenlyn told me everything that she knew and for that, she asked me to act normal. It is good for me to lay low on the people who are involved in my parent's death. Even Kyo is not exempted from it. Even though I wanted to hug or kiss him. I can't. After the plan that Jenlyn and I talked about. I messaged them that I will be gone. And by that aunt, Elizabeth called me. "Let's go, darling. I'm hungry" my aunt said, I followed her and say goodbye to them but Lovely wanted us to join them "Why don't you join us? My treat. It is my way of saying sorry to both of you. Especially to you Ms. Elizabeth. I think I offended you by my question to Annie." she said. my aunt look at me and smiled at Lovely, " I wouldn't say no to your invitation. I wanted also to know more about you. I wanted to know who is Annie talking about." she said, "Annie what are you telling to them?" she said in teasingly voice. I didn't tell anything to her. I didn't even mention Lovely to my aunt. "You will know later," I said. "Let's go. This place is my favorite," she said while we followed her. We are just walking. Since the shop is near. I am looking at my aunt while my aunt looking at me. I am becoming more curious and curious about my aunt and Lovely.

We are on our way to the restaurant that Lovely’s talking about. I can see in my peripheral vision that Lovely and Kyo are looking at our move. It’s getting intense in here. I think there is something that I didn’t know. ‘’We are here.’’Lovely said, ‘’This place.’’ I whispered, ‘’Yep this place.’’ Lovely said. I just whispered it but Lovely still heard it. This place is where I will go before I saved Lovely. ‘’What’s with this place?’’ Kyo said while looking at me and Lovely, Lovely just smiled at her. ‘’Nothing, this was my favorite place.’’ ‘’Hi, mam table for?’’

The moment that we entered the waiter asked us, ‘’Good for four.’’ Lovely said the waiter guide us to our table, ‘’Lovely I wanted to ask you. You said earlier that this place was your favorite. Meaning this is not your favorite now?’’ my aunt said. I just noticed that she is minding what Lovely is saying. ‘’Yes. For some reason.’’ She said and still looking at me. Why do I have a feeling that she is just using this to manipulate my feelings? ‘’Annie,What do you like?’’ Kyo said while holding the menu. He is in front of me and I am beside my aunt Elizabeth. While she is in front of Lovely. ‘’I want pancakes and coffee.’’ I said, he smiled, ‘’I will order the same.’’ I smiled, he is so cute. I am looking at him. I can’t take looking at him. I can see the pain but at the same time the happiness on her face. ‘’Ehem.’’ I came back to my senses when my aunt coughed, ‘’I will order the vegetable salad here.’’ She said, ‘’I would like the pasta and coffee here, the usual.’’ Lovely said to the waiter. The waiter write and said that he will come back as soon as the food is settled. After the waiter walk away, a woman wearing a tuxedo came to our table ‘’ Good morning mam’’ she said while bowing at my aunt. ‘’Oh, I forgot this is my assistant Lexy. She needs to be on my side whenever I eat on the outside.’’ Explaining herself to Lovely and Kyo. Kyo whispered something to Lovely and lovely looked at my aunt and me, ‘’Oh that’s the reason why.’’ She said, ‘’I’m sorry. I didn’t know that you are a queen.’’ She adds. ‘’No worries. It is good for my profile to be below here. It is for our safety.’’ I wonder why Lovely did not know about my aunt when in fact she knew everything about my mom. I look at her and she look at me and smiled. But her smile is not typical, she is smirking. ‘’What’s wrong, Annie.’’ Kyo said and worriedly looked at me. ‘’Nothing.’’ I said, ‘’Do you need water? Wait’’ He walk away and went to the waiter to ask for water. ‘’What’s wrong darling? You are pale.’’ My aunt said. I did not know that I am in pale right now. Why do I have this feeling that Lovely has to do with my parent's death? I hate this feeling because she is my angel. ‘’What’s the problem mam?’’ Lexy said, my aunt’s assistant. ‘’Do you want me to take out the food?’’ my aunt said, ‘’No, I am fine.’’ I said to them, ‘’Don’t worry.’’ I add. Lovely looked at me with a cold stare. ‘’Here’s the water.’’ Kyo said and gave me the glass of water. ‘’Thank you, Kyo.’’ He said. After I drink the water, the waiter came to our table and gave us all the food that we ordered. ‘’Here are the two pancakes and coffee, the alfredo pasta and coffee, and vegetable salad. Do you need something else?’’ ‘’No thank you.’’ Lovely said. I was going to eat the food when Kyo hold my arms, ‘’Let me check it first before you eat.’’‘’Kyo!’ ’ Lovely said and we both looked at her, ‘’That’s rude.’’ She said, ‘’Lexy check my vegetable salad. And Annie’s food.’’ My aunt said, ‘’No need, Kyo, Lexy will do it.’’ She adds. ‘’No mam, I am Annie’s bodyguard.’’ Kyo said, ‘’You are still in the process. You are still not signing the paper.’’ My aunt said, ‘’I already did. I sent it to your office. Ask your assistant.’’ He said and looked at Lexy. Lexy just nods ‘’ He already signed it madam.’’ ‘’Still, there is no approve by Ms. Elizabeth.’’ Lovely said, ‘’According to the contract the moment you signed it is you are already Annie’s bodyguard.’’ I looked at him and he is dedicated to what he is trying to say. ‘’Okay. You may do your job as her bodyguard.’’ My aunt said and now Kyo and Lexy both tried our food. I and my aunt are both waiting for their reaction to our food. Kyo also tried the coffee and the syrup, in case. ‘’You can eat, madam.’’ Lexy said and gave it to my aunt, while me waiting for Kyo to react, he smiled and gave me the food, ‘’It is safe.’’ He said. I was about to eat my food when Kyo went down to his seat. ‘’KYO!’’ Lovely said and we are in a panic situation. All of the people are looking at us. I was about to go near Kyo when Lexy pulled me on the crowd even my aunt. ‘’Move!’’ Lexy said and I was looking at Kyo from afar while Lovely is placing the lower palm of his hand over the center of Kyo. ‘’Kyo!’’ I shouted from afar while Lexy is pulling me. I tried my best to get off Lexy’s hand, ‘’I’m sorry Annie, it is for your safety.’’ She said and pulled me to the car, ‘’NO! KYO!’’ I shouted and tried my best to open the car’s door. But Lexy drove fast, ‘’Darling we need to go. I called an ambulance and some bodyguards to get him.’’ My aunt said. Damn it! ‘’No, let me go! Kyo needs me!’’ I said and cried out loud. ‘’Madam?’’ another bodyguard asked madam and I did not know what they are talking about because I am busy thinking about how I am going out in this car but suddenly my aunt inject something into me, ‘’You need to calm, darling. I’m sorry.’’ The last thing that I heard before everything went black was, was ‘’Kyo…’’