Two Of Hearts

4.2 - The Sisters

Seyren's POV

The next morning, I awoke earlier than anticipated.

I had planned to help with breakfast again, as I wanted to make amends and contribute to the meal.

I had barely managed to fall asleep at 1 a.m. after taking a shower and struggling to settle despite my overwhelming fatigue.

Yet, even though sleepiness still clung to me, I roused myself.

It was 6 a.m., and after a brief exercise routine to shake off the drowsiness, I made my way to the kitchen.

"Good morning, chef!" I greeted cheerfully, skipping a few steps as though I were a child excitedly entering a playground.

"You're up early, Madame Seyren," he acknowledged with a warm smile.

"I want to help with breakfast so I can serve something to Elowen. I feel I owe her an apology." I explained, which elicited an even broader smile from him.

"And this is your solution? Cooking breakfast for her?" He asked, still smiling.

"Exactly," I said, my delight evident as he grasped the intent behind my gesture.

"Very well then, Madame Seyren. Suit yourself," he agreed, his tone supportive.

"Yes!" I celebrated with the enthusiasm of a child who has just received a long-awaited gift.

"What's for breakfast today?" I inquired with a friendly tone.

I stood beside him, observing intently as he prepared bell peppers.

"Breakfast burritos. I'm making extra because Miss Elowen will likely take some with her to work. Would you like to take some for your work as well?" he offered, and I nodded eagerly.

"Start by slicing the white onions. They taste better when sliced," he instructed, and I promptly followed his direction.

I immersed myself in the preparation-slicing onions, large tomatoes, and avocado, and even learning to make homemade hot sauce.

We spent over an hour cooking. The other maids were astonished to see me in the kitchen.

"Madame Seyren, what brings you here?" Manang Marie asked when she saw me. She had entered to ask Chef to prepare lemonade.

"I'm just helping out. I also want to learn, and it's a way for me to apologize to Miss Elowen. I heard she didn't eat last night while waiting for me," I said with a wide smile, laughing shyly.

Manang Marie's heart seemed to soften at my words.

"Oo nga pala, hindi siya kumain kagabi dahil hinihintay ka niya. Pinipilit namin pero ayaw niya. Madamr Elowen is truly such a sweet person," Manang Marie agreed.

"Unlike Miss Azara, who has a cold heart," Chef added, surprising both Manang Marie and me.

"Huy! Jose, baka marinig ka nun" Manang Marie reprimanded him.

"She won't hear me; she's probably still asleep. She might not wake up until noon. Besides, what I'm saying is true-she's so demanding and has such a poor attitude," Chef said, his voice tinged with a sorrowful tone.

He used to speak about Azara differently, even when she was moody.

"She's becoming more irritable as she gets older. She's difficult to deal with," Manang Marie whispered, as though sharing a private grievance.

"Why? What's the issue?" I asked, my curiosity piqued by the sudden change in sentiment towards Azara.

I used to be the only one bothered by her, but now it seemed many shared the sentiment.

"There are many issues, and she's often the cause. Especially when she was the only one living in this house? Dati, gabi gabi mo siyang maririnig na umuungol dahil kung sino sino ang dinadalang lalaki." Manang Marie recounted with an indifferent tone.

I listened to their complaints, my curiosity waning as they continued their story.

"Yes, she'd demand food in the middle of the night right after their s*x, and it was difficult to prepare. Finding the ingredients was a hassle. She stopped doing that when Miss Elowen moved in, but she's still demanding about her food," sambit naman ni Chef. I nodded and resumed my task.

They continued sharing their grievances about Azara until Elowen walked into the kitchen, surprised to see me.

"Good morning, Madame Maddy," Chef and Manang Marie greeted her.

She greeted them back, and her eyes widened upon seeing me.

"Why are you up so early? You should still be sleeping; it's only 8 a.m." she expressed with concern.

"I was just helping with breakfast. In fact, we're done now," I said, presenting a plate with a burrito.

I approached Miss Elowen and offered her the burrito.

"I'm sorry for coming home late last night. It wasn't intentional. I ran out of gas, and my phone battery died," I said gently.

"And what does that have to do with the burrito?" she asked.

"I'm sorry for being late last night; I guess I needed a little more 'wrap' in my life to make up for it. Here's a burrito to show I'm all 'rolled up' in apologizing." Mabiro kong saad.

She scoffed and laughed at my silliness.

Pati si Chef at Manang Marie ay nakitawa na rin.

"Silly girl, you don't have to do that. Naiintindihan kita." She pinched my cheeks at I pouted like a kid. Umiling din ako since I don't like the way she's talking right now.

"I'm doing this as a gesture of gratitude because you've always been there for me," I said softly, making sure my voice carried a warm, sincere tone.

"I recall the hardships you faced when we were all living together at Tito Elliot's house, and I never want you to feel alone like that again. Now that I'm back, I want to make amends and show my appreciation."

As I spoke, I noticed Chef Jose and Manang Marie exchanging knowing glances and heartfelt "awwws."

Their reaction indicated that my words had touched them, and a hint of envy was evident in their expressions.

Elowen, too, softened her demeanor. She gazed at me with a gentle look, her brown eyes reflecting a warmth that matched her words.

"My baby is really sweet. Alright, I'll accept your gesture," she said, her voice laced with genuine affection.

"That's the least you deserve," I replied confidently, handing a fork to Manang Marie and serving Elowen with a flourish.

Elowen's eyes widened in surprise as she tasted the burrito.

"This is delicious! Are you sure you made this?" she teased, her tone filled with playful skepticism.

I nodded enthusiastically, eager to affirm my efforts.

"I'm in disbelief," I feigned disappointment, playing along with her jest.

"I did make it, right Chef Jose?" I turned to our chef for confirmation.

He gave a nod, backing up my claim with a supportive smile.

Elowen's laughter filled the kitchen, making me realize her playful intent.

Her teasing was all in good spirits.

I feigned a scowl, narrowing my eyes at her. She mimicked my expression with a mischievous grin, adding to the light-hearted exchange.

"You did a fantastic job. I truly believe you cooked it. Let's eat this in the dining room; my neck is getting sore from looking up at you," she said with a laugh, her comment about my height bringing a smile to my face.

As we were about to leave the kitchen, we encountered Azara, who was glaring at us with clear disapproval.

"Good morning, sis. Seyren made some burritos. There's one for you in the kitchen; just get it if you want," Elowen said with a bright smile, clearly unbothered by Azara's presence.

She then walked out of the kitchen, leaving me standing in front of Azara.

I remained in place, facing Azara.

Our eyes locked in a silent exchange.

I offered her a genuine smile, despite the usual friction between us.

It was a gesture of respect, acknowledging her position as my elder even though I often found her behavior irritating and too childish for her age.

"Move," Azara snapped, her voice sharp and commanding.

I took a step back and shifted aside, giving her space.

She shot me a contemptuous glare before turning on her heel and walking away.

I followed her with my gaze until she disappeared from view.

Sungit.

After she left, I refocused on Elowen, who was calling for me from the dining area.

Her presence was a comforting reminder of the positive connections in my life, making me feel more at ease despite the earlier tension.

After a satisfying breakfast with Elowen, I readied myself for another workday with a blend of routine and anticipation.

I chose to dress for comfort and functionality: high-waisted jeans, a denim long sleeve shirt, and my trusty brown leather jacket. I casually slipped my badge and gun into the back of my jacket, preparing for whatever the day might bring.

I opted to leave my hair unstyled.

It had grown quite long, and taming it felt like an unnecessary chore.

A quick glance in the mirror confirmed my decision; a messy, natural look suited the practical demands of the day.

To keep my energy up, I packed two burritos as snacks, considering my tight budget.

My tendency to overspend on non-essentials had left me financially strained, making these snacks a sensible choice.

Nakalimutan kong broke nga pala ako.

Arriving at the headquarters, I was greeted by the usual hum of activity.

The search operations that had kept us occupied the night before were wrapped up, leaving me with a sense of anticipation for the day ahead.

I joined Detective Guerrero for an interview with Mr. Kim, the victim's former adversary.

Our hopes of uncovering vital information were dashed as the interview proved fruitless, providing no leads.

With no breakthroughs, we decided to head to the rural property associated with the case.

The property, once bustling with activity, was now an empty shell.

We meticulously combed through the area, searching for any clues that might have been overlooked.

"This case is turning out to be incredibly challenging," Detective Guerrero remarked, his frustration evident as we stood in the now-deserted garage.

The government had seized all vehicles from the scene since they were unregistered, leaving only the stark emptiness behind.

I nodded in agreement, offering a sympathetic hum to acknowledge his frustration.

"I still have no clue where Mr. Kim was killed. The uncertainty is overwhelming; it sometimes feels like I just want to bury myself in the ground," he confessed, his stress palpable.

"We'll crack this case, Detective Guerrero. We've got Skyler on our team, and she's exceptionally skilled," I reassured him, giving him a supportive nudge in an attempt to lift his spirits.

"We can't just rely on Detective Skyler," he countered, his tone tinged with a sense of defeat.

His lack of faith was clear, but I was determined not to let it dampen our efforts.

I looked around and engaged my photographic memory, mentally replaying the details of the vehicles-colors, styles, and their exact positions in the garage.

I was committed to leaving no stone unturned.

"That's why we need to up our game. We can't let Skyler be the only one who stands out; we need to shine too." I insisted, driven by a resolve to contribute meaningfully to the investigation.

As we reached the far end of the room, we faced a wall painted a surprising shade of pink.

The color seemed almost comical in its boldness, contrasting sharply with typical masculine preferences.

Even the floor was adorned in the same vibrant pink.

The odd choice of color only added to the room's eccentricity.

"Let's head out; we're not likely to find anything more here." Detective Guerrero suggested.

I agreed, recognizing that further investigation in this space might be futile.

As he started walking towards the exit, I took one final glance around the room.

With a deliberate stomp of my feet, I created a resounding noise that echoed throughout the space.

The sound brought a fleeting smile to my face, a moment of levity in an otherwise tense situation.

Detective Guerrero was already several meters away when I realized I might be left behind.

"Hey, wait up, Detective!" Panicking slightly, I called out and hurried to catch up with him.

He chuckled at my urgency, playfully teasing me as if I were a child.

I chose to ignore his comments, focusing solely on leaving the premises quickly.

Upon reaching the parking area where Detective Guerrero's car was parked, I spotted a figure dressed entirely in black from a distance.

The figure seemed to vanish when I looked again, leaving only the elderly couple from the nearby small house.

I scrutinized them with a furrowed brow as I climbed into the car.

The sight of the couple-an ordinary, peaceful scene-was a stark contrast to the unsettling figure I had glimpsed.

We left the rural property and made our way back to headquarters, arriving just in time for lunch.

Upon our arrival at the headquarters, my team and I gathered for lunch.

We settled into the familiar routine of chatting and laughing as we exchanged stories.

I joined in the camaraderie, sharing in their laughter and enjoying the moment of reprieve from the day's demands.

Detective Guerrero was recounting an embarrassing incident from his past as a police officer when my attention was suddenly drawn to a woman entering the headquarters with Detective Skyler.

"Who's handling the Mr. Alvarez case?" the woman inquired immediately upon entering.

I stood up and saluted her, a gesture of respect that she returned with a nod.

"Please interview this woman," she instructed,

"She's a hotel staff member who encountered the killer while escorting Ms. Cameron that night." Her statement caused an immediate stir of anxiety among us, as we realized the potential significance of this new witness.

Detective Guerrero quickly vacated his seat across from me, making way for the woman to sit down.

The urgency of the situation was palpable, and I swiftly removed my lunch from my desk, reaching for a pen and paper.

I was now prepared to conduct the interview, my mind racing with questions and possibilities.

The atmosphere in the room shifted as we focused on the new lead.

The woman, appearing slightly apprehensive but resolute, settled into the chair.

I could sense the weight of the moment, knowing that her testimony might offer crucial insights into the case we were working on.

"Thank you for coming." I began, trying to project calmness despite my own mounting anxiety.

"Could you please start by telling us what you remember from the night you encountered the killer with Ms. Cameron?"

Tinitigan ko siya sa mata at halata ko ang takot na kanyang nadarama.