Hello, Kenzo

Painful Lies

My heart raced with my breath as I rushed to my assistant. My head was in a panic, trying to get hold of the emotions torturing me from within.

"Hilary!" My voice rang in the halls as I approached my suite.

"Miss?" my assistant came rushing to me, and I assumed she already knew.

"What have you done?" My voice trembled in dismay while I gripped her arm tightly.

Never in my life did I worry about going back to nothing as long as I had my family, and now the fear has gotten the best of me. It was not just my family that I was about to lose; if they learned about my decision to keep Kenzo, I would lose both of the most important things in my life.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to post it online to expose you; I was just so proud of my shots; it looked so breathtaking, and I wanted to show it off! I'm sorry, Miss! I'm sorry!" Hilary pleaded with, her eyes red and puffy as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

"You are useless!" I hissed angrily. "Damn you! Why couldn't you stop yourself?! This is all your fault!" I snapped at my assistant as I walked past her before grabbing my suitcase and starting to dump my clothes in.

"Know that I hate you so much right now. I want to pluck all your hair off, but I cannot because it was not your fault alone! After I leave, take care of Kenzo. Take him home. I'll just have to do something about the things you messed up!"

"But how about the contract?"

"I don't care about that contract! We could do well without it, remember? For now, I had to prevent the greater damage to come!" I mumbled as I searched for my phone and started dialing. Once someone picked me up, I spoke through gritted teeth. "Tim, I need a ride! Hurry!" I hung up as I started walking outside after changing into black pants, a black leather jacket, and only a bag pack.

As I reached outside the hotel, I saw Tim coming with his motorcycle. He stopped in front of me with the smile I always loved about him.

"I know this is..."

"Just treat me to dinner," he shook his head, interrupting me, and he gestured for me to get on his back. With no hesitation, I jumped onto his bike.

"Thank you," I whispered to Tim from behind while I clung onto his torso while he rode his motorcycle like a pro, weaving around cars and pedestrians on the streets.

"Where to?" he yelled, asking while we surpassed the line of traffic.

"To the airport!" I yelled back.

"Got a ride already?"

"No! I am just going to try to force my way in, since people here like the dirty way!"

He smirked and nodded as we sped away. He went faster this time as the street got clearer as we headed to the airport. I could not help but admire the simplicity of the sight along the way, and while I was lost, thinking of things I could do to stop my mother and father from cutting their ties with me, we arrived at the airport, making a full stop in front of an airplane.

"I could save you time?" Tim offered a hand after removing our helmets.

"But why?"

"Well, I tried, and I have no regrets. I stopped the news from spreading. I know you are out to get to your family, so I am helping you. I already accepted that I cannot have you, so I am back saving you until I am no longer available all the time," Tim explained shortly, with no heavy hearts or anger evident on his face or emotion.

I smiled gently as I took his hand, and no words were left to speak as we stepped inside the plane. The doors closed behind us when we entered the plane, making sure no unwanted person would find us.

It was a quick trip and didn't take us an hour before we landed back in Manila, and though I refused Tim all along the trip that he did not have to take me home, he insisted that it was my only way to lessen his pain of being rejected.

"Thank you so much! I owe you my life!" I held his hand as I jumped off his motorcycle upon reaching the corner near my parents' house.

"Yeah, you do owe me a lot. Now go," he pushed me, and I left, running to our home. My legs felt heavy seeing the café closed as I approached closer, my breathing was heavy, and I could not help but gasp. There were no lights on and only darkness around. My heart dropped even more as I entered our house and ran up the stairs.

"Mom? Dad?" I called out for them, hearing no response. A lump formed in my throat a tear rolled down my cheek as I roamed around the whole second floor, and they were nowhere to be found.

"Mom, please!" I called again, running down the stairs and rushing to the kitchen, but they were not there either.

I was not ready for this, nor had I seen myself without them, and what was worst was that they had taken Vri with them. My knees felt so weak that I tumbled down on the floor as all the feelings I experienced back when I was with Dein were coming back.

My parents had been through a lot, and I knew once I brought them pain and heartache again, Mom would not even think twice about leaving me all alone, as I never learned from my mistakes. But what I had with Kenzo now was not something I could just throw away; I just needed to keep it hidden until the time was right. The thought of my parents leaving me alone made me cry harder. I could not lose them until my sobs stopped abruptly when I heard the door open, followed by hurried footsteps.

"Stella?" My mom's voice echoed, and she knelt beside me. Her voice was filled with surprise as her arms were around me instantly as I hugged her back, feeling my shoulders tremble and stroking my hair with another as a few tears fell to her lap. "What's wrong? What is happening?"

When I pulled away, she looked at my eyes. I held her hand and looked at her sincerely. "Had any news about me come to you? Where have you been? Do you have Vri with you?"

She looked at me, confused, but nonetheless answered. She stood up and let my hand go. "I guess it was true? Based on your reactions, ghad Stella! You have done it again?!" My mom's voice went high; it cracked, and tears were forming in the corners of her eyes as she began to tremble in sobs.

"Mom, no! Please listen to me! Please believe in what I say!" I begged her as I slowly stood up and looked at her as tears spilled from her gloomy eyes, the sadness clear in her expression. It broke my own heart knowing that I caused her distress by bringing the worst experiences from the past.

"I don't know anymore, Stella; we decided to close the café for today as news about you...about...I cannot speak of it! It was too immoral; I could not bring myself to speak about it! People would only come to spit insults at us; the pain was more painful than what we went through three years ago when you let yourself be fooled by men!"

"Mom, no! The news was a lie! Some people who could not handle their hidden envious desires would go all out just to tarnish my reputation. Please, Mom! I would never do what I did last time with Dein. I am smarter now and I know my worth. So please, where is Vri?" I begged her, though I had a hunch that she would not let me see her for the time being.

"I'm sorry, Stella! But I cannot let you see your daughter for the time being. The truth was, I am not mad with the issue of you about the abortion, as I believed you wouldn't stoop low with such actions. What I was concerned about was you not getting the contract because you had been busy with a boy seven years younger than you!"