Hello, Kenzo

Lies and Truths

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The fireworks went off in a deafening roar across the sky. It was a spectacular display of color and noise, a show of celebration for all those who had made it through the year alive and well. While everyone was in high spirits, and though I am nothing but thankful for another year to come, I cannot help but long for Kenzo to be by my side on these special days.

"Mommy! Happy new year!" Vri rejoiced as she jumped up and down while happily watching the sky light up with different colors.

"Happy new year, baby!" I kissed her and caressed her hand while a sharp sting of pain throbbed in my chest as I remembered Kenza.

Vri would be happier to have a sibling in moments like this.

I took my family, all my employees, and their families out for celebration this new year at a resort I bought in Batangas for celebration and vacation.

"Now, let's eat and have a feast!" My father called as he laid out the dishes on the long table outside, with an overview of the sea.

After we ate, everyone settled in their rooms, and I put Vri to sleep. Then I went out to walk by the shore and called Kenzo.

"Hey, I missed you!" Kenzo answered in the first ring.

I didn't answer right away, so he started talking: "Hey, how are you?" His voice sounded so worried.

"I'm fine, I just missed you badly. I just want to fast-forward time and be at a time when we will not have to see each other secretly and that we could spend time together anytime we want. So, how are things back home in Pangasinan?"

He laughed humorlessly, saying, "That's a relief! I thought you were having a blast; you finally realize someone is so much better than me!"

"Whatever! I thought you were having a blast, and even greeting me passed by your mind already." I sounded a little hurt.

"You know I cannot just call you." Kenzo sounded apologetic and sad.

I forgot we were both holding back on our limitations as our families wouldn't be that accepting of our relationship, so we had no choice but to settle with whatever we have right now.

"Fine! See you in three days! Now go get some rest; I love you!" I said while smiling, as I could not stay outside longer while on the phone or Mom would find it strange and make up assumptions in her mind.

But he did not respond; instead, he just put down the call without even saying goodbye.

Three days have passed so fast that I am driving back to Manila for work and to see Kenzo.

As I reached my apartment, I threw my bag on the couch and locked the door after entering. The door closed with a loud thud, as I intended to do out of frustration. I slammed the key on the kitchen counter before pulling out my phone to contact Kenzo. He had not contacted me since New Year's Eve, and it was pissing me off.

"Come on, pick up!" I hissed while I arranged some of the foods my father prepared for me.

But he did not pick up. I tried calling him all day, and I got nothing until I had to go to school, sleepless once again and lost in disappointment the next morning.

"I could have let him go if he had asked me to; I do not intend to force myself on someone who is not interested!" I mumbled while I stacked on the folders I was going to score to prepare my student's grade.

"Hey! I'm having a monologue again!" My co-teacher, Nai, came from behind. "Missing Kenzo, ha!"

'Whatever!" I huffed and continued working with all that in front of me.

I am still trying to finish the last page before leaving in ten minutes, so I can go home and contact Kenzo again.

"You know what? Why don't you just come with us for the late Christmas and New Year celebrations? Let him have a good time; he'll come back before you know it. You should not let him be overwhelmed by the thought that he is your world. We don't do that, right?" Nai winked and left me.

She had a point, but to think I had to act tough just to look less desperate—I didn't think that would work with the situation now. I just didn't want to hold back with whatever I could do to save this thing I have with Kenzo for the lifetime I have been looking forward to my whole life.

By the time I finished my work, I walked helplessly to my car to go to my apartment and try contacting Kenzo again, but Nai was there waiting for me already, smiling like a cat on the hood of the car.

"I thought I had to make sure!" she smiled when I came close.

"Do I have a choice now? I guess I don't, right? So, where to?" I asked in a very low, uninterested voice.

"Ahm! I suggest we go to a mall first to change, and then we go to the club where everyone is waiting; would that be alright? You know, we cannot just go wild with our uniforms in public."

I rolled my eyes and exhaled desperately. "Let's go!"

But instead of taking her to a mall, I took her to my apartment and asked her to choose from the clothes I am about to release for my brand this coming week.

"Wow! Is this your apartment? This cannot be happening! This is an empire!" she said, flabbergasted, as I showed her to my closet.

As much as I wanted to remain low-profile, at this moment in time, I really do not have any energy to waste trying to cover up my wealth.

"At this point, you don't have to work or teach; you can just go sell these insane dresses and clothes to make money, girl!"

I almost choked on the water I was drinking as I watched her try on almost all the clothes.

"Just shut up and choose, so we can be done with your agendas!"

"Can I have it?" she grinned naughtily.

"Whatever!" I snapped at her and grabbed some simple attire to get dressed.

After an hour, she finally chose what she really wanted, and we drove to the club.

"HIII!" Nai called to some people gathered around a reserved table on the second floor of the club.

I could not help but sigh and follow her, and by the time I reached the table, Nai had sat down, and I froze.

"What the?! Who do we have here?" Kenzo's sister looked over me, and I felt my stomach drop to my feet.

"Ah Nai, I...better be going!" I barely said as my first encounter with Kenzo's sister was not that good, and I could not just face her as my relationship with Kenzo was strictly between us, or it'd be the end.

"Why? What's wrong? I don't think you have to act shameful now; we could bear your presence, as Kenzo told me that you two are not together anymore. So, stay!" Kenzo's sister sounded so sarcastic, I could laugh.

"Ah yeah, but I got..."

I stopped as my heart felt like squeezing in pain when I saw Kenzo approaching with a girl walking beside him, looking the same age as him.

"Hi, brother!" Kenzo's sister said with the most satisfied smirking on her face.

My stomach churned, but I took one step back, kept my head up high, and tried not to show my fear or the hurt.

I felt my knees buckle slightly. But I held my breath and forced myself to stand tall again as I forced myself to look at Kenzo.

"It's been a while," I said, struggling to sound less hurt.

He ushered the girl to sit, and he looked at me with a very apologetic look.

"Stella..."

"So, you are here," I interrupted him. I could not bear any lies to come from him; I might end up hating him forever.

"I asked him to come, since he's been bored at my place since Christmas and New Year's," Kenzo's sister cut in.

My body felt trembling; I clenched my hands into fists to avoid shaking, but I was unable to control my legs as I tried to keep calm and maintain the facade I needed to maintain. It hurts so bad, I wanted to punch him. How dare he lie to me? When I was dying all that span of time, I was with him, unable to make a move, since he said he had gone home to his parents in Pangasinan.

He looked at me with his soft brown eyes, full of sadness, as if he wanted to say something and apologize but couldn't figure out how to start it. It seemed like he did not expect to see me there.

"I'll be leaving then, so you can have a good time. I am not that stupid not to feel the awkwardness I give you. Enjoy." I turned to leave, unable to face anyone in such a state.

"I said, You can stay! I'll pay for you!" Kenzo's sister said again, triggering the last strand of my patience.

I turned around, and my expression was as cold as the ice on the poles.

"I could stay if I want, but you see, I spend my time with a place of my preference. And this cheap bar, I don't think I belong here. I'm going now; please have a great time. I'll pay for your expenses, so spend your time however much you want; I'll pay for a three-day reservation."

I left after paying and ran through the streets of Manila, hoping to lose my tears in the sea of strangers, but they wouldn't stop flowing no matter how hard I tried to push them back. I decided to leave my car and just walk my frustrations out.

"Stella!" I heard Kenzo running after me.

"Leave! Or I'll kill you!" I shouted back and sped up.

But a car stopped, and the girl Kenzo was with at the bar came down and slapped me so hard suddenly that she did not even flinch.

"How dare you..."

"Stop being selfish; you are old enough, but you still act like a child. Your love for Kenzo is weak, giving me a reason to get him from you. I felt so desperate, even asking him to sleep with me in exchange for money, so he can leave his sister's apartment and rent his own, so he can be with you! And now you are doing this? You don't deserve him!"