Two Of Hearts

5.1 - Fools

No one's POV

"When you told me we're going on a date, I'm expecting you'll bring me to a restaurant." Azala looked around her surroundings, feeling a bit irritation and disappointment.

"Not in a cemetery"

Her boyfriend laughed heartily, believing her to be jesting.

Liam wrapped his arms around Azara from behind in a tender embrace, but she stiffened and pulled away, clearly uncomfortable.

"I just want to introduce you to my half-brother and parents," Liam said with a gentle smile, trying to lighten the mood.

His girlfriend, however, remained stoic, her face betraying no emotion.

"Fine, but don't touch me," Azara said sharply, crossing her arms over her chest and turning her attention back to the grave.

Her posture was closed off, signaling her reluctance.

Liam, though disappointed, respected her wish and remained at her side, standing silently as they faced the graves.

He could sense her discomfort but hoped that this moment would bridge a gap between their worlds.

"Mom, Dad, this is the woman I've been talking about. After ten years of courtship, we're finally together. And Marcus, my brother, here's the girl I always wanted," Liam spoke with a mix of pride and sadness, addressing the graves of his parents and his older brother.

His words were a tribute to his long journey and the importance of this relationship to him.

Azara's gaze remained fixed on the grave as she asked bluntly.

"How did they die?" Her question, though direct, was asked with genuine curiosity.

Liam was accustomed to her forthright manner and wasn't offended.

Her tendency to speak her mind without a filter often left people unsettled, but it was part of her unfiltered personality.

Her reckless approach to conversations was both her strength and her flaw.

"My brother was the first to die. He was stabbed multiple times by a student he had bullied. My mother, devastated by his death, ended her own life. My father, grief-stricken, was tragically hit by a car on the night after the burial of both my brother and my mother." Liam explained, his voice tinged with sorrow.

Azara listened, her expression softening slightly as she processed the gravity of his words.

"He was a classmate of Elowen's back in middle school. Remember him? The overweight boy she called a monster because he was always bullying someone" Liam said with a faint smile, trying to add a touch of levity.

He pulled out a cigarette, lighting it with practiced ease.

Azara, realizing the context, turned her gaze back to him with a look of contemplation.

"He was a bully, that's true, but no one deserves such a fate," she said quietly.

Liam exhaled a cloud of smoke, his eyes reflecting a mix of regret and understanding.

He offered her a cigarette, and after a moment of hesitation, she accepted it.

She lit it, drawing in the smoke and letting it swirl around her as she pondered over their conversation.

"The one who got stabbed ten times with a pen?" Azara asked, seeking confirmation. Liam nodded solemnly.

"Yes and hindi pa nahuhuli ang kriminal na batang gumawa nito... It was a brutal scene. I saw him lying there, covered in blood, and that was when it hit me just how many demons walk among us, disguised as ordinary people." Liam said, a dark smile playing on his lips.

Azara found his statement oddly amusing, perhaps due to the absurdity and grim humor in his perspective.

"You're actually crying. It's the first time I've seen you shed tears," Azara remarked, noticing the tears that had formed in Liam's eyes.

He quickly looked away, trying to compose himself.

"I loved them deeply," Liam said, his voice breaking slightly.

Azara nodded in understanding, her own expression softening as she absorbed his vulnerability.

"To Liam's parents. Don't worry, I'll take care of your son," Azara said, her words making Liam's eyes light up with gratitude and relief.

Her assurance was a balm to his wounded heart, and he brushed away the sudden tears that had appeared.

"Now that you've made the introductions, how about we go on a proper date? I'm getting bored at home, and I haven't had any new projects because of these damned stitches," Azara said, her tone light but still tinged with irritation.

Despite her playful manner, her frustration with the situation was evident.

Liam agreed to her suggestion, and they left the cemetery together.

As they got into Liam's car, Azara wrinkled her nose at the strong smell of gasoline.

"Why does your car smell like gasoline?" she asked, her voice tinged with annoyance.

"I bought a gallon of gas earlier because one of my cars ran out. Some spilled, and now the car reeks. I plan to get it cleaned," Liam explained, trying to alleviate her concerns.

As Azara considered this, she questioned her own choices.

She knew that many men were interested in her, and she had had several relationships in the past.

None of those relationships lasted, often due to her partners wanting either to pursue physical relationships (s*x) or to persuade her to leave her acting career.

Others couldn't handle her abrasive personality.

Only Liam seemed to be able to tolerate her stubbornness and remain by her side.

Despite her often harsh demeanor, she felt a genuine connection with him and decided to be his girlfriend.

---

Seyren's POV

"Una pong nakakita sa dalawang biktima ay ang kaibigan ko po na si Mariz, isa rin po siyang staff sa hotel. Sinabi niya sa'kin na may narinig siyang pag-aaway ng dalawang biktima. Pumunta pa po siya sa akin para humingi ng tulong na awatin ang dalawa pero ang savi ko ay pabayaan na. Siya na lamang po ang pumunta mag-isa at hindi ko na alam ang nangyari. Nakita ko po nalang po na buhat-buhat ang actress na si Azara Cameron ng isang lalaki. Matangkad siya, matipuno, at malalim ang boses. Humingi pa nga po siya sa akin ng tulong para tumawag ng taxi dahil ang sabi niya ay lasing lamang ang actress."

The woman's words from the interview I conducted last week kept replaying in my mind over and over.

I am just now preparing the report for the new witness.

Coincidentally, this so-called Mariz has been missing for several weeks.

After the crime in question, she seemed to vanish without a trace.

She disappeared as suddenly as if she had evaporated.

As I remained focused on my computer, my thoughts wandered back to the man I had seen at the hotel.

I retrieved from my drawer the sketch I had made of the man described by the female witness.

I took out a fresh sheet of paper and began to sketch once more, attempting to capture what I had retained from my photographic memory.

In the quiet of my office, the process of drawing was both methodical and meditative.

I carefully replicated the details, from the man's sharp features to the peculiar manner in which he held himself.

Each stroke of the pencil was deliberate, an effort to reconstruct the image that had been so vividly etched into my mind.

I found it somewhat challenging to draw because I was relying solely on my imagination to replicate what I had envisioned.

My eyes are particularly sharp, a gift I consider to be from God.

Even if the person is 20 meters away, as long as I can see them, I can recognize them.

As I drew, I started with the head and then moved on to the body.

The eyes were the most critical part, as they were the only features I had clearly seen.

The eyes were the only visible part of the person because they were wearing a mask and a cap.

While I was absorbed in my drawing, Detective Guerrero suddenly entered the room, grinning widely.

I quickly hid both sketches in my drawer and watched as he approached me.

"Guess what? We've caught Mr. Kim's killer!" he announced with evident delight.

My forehead furrowed as I stared at him, puzzled.

"What do you mean you've caught him?" I asked.

"We've apprehended him. A witness came forward and identified the killer. During the raid, we found the killer's belongings at his house. The DNA matched the victim's, and the killer's fingerprints were on the knife used in the crime," he explained.

I nodded, listening intently.

"Tama ang suspetsya ko, iyong maliit na bahay sa bukid na iyon ay may tinatago. You know the father of those 8 children? He's the killer. His wife even confessed it to me during the raid," he said with a satisfied smile.

Seeing his expression, I couldn't help but smile back.

He truly seemed thrilled about solving the case.

"That's great. Alam mo na ah." I said, gesturing as if asking for a drink.

He gave me a playful grin, and I responded in kind.

We understood each other perfectly, even without exchanging more words.

"Syempre, lalabas tayo ngayong gabi. Libre ko na ang inumin. Sakto, may bagong bar sa may Dapitan." I just smiled at him as we did a high five.

After Detective Guerrero informed me of the breakthrough, I was once again left alone in the room.

I texted Elowen to let her know that I wouldn't be able to come home early because of our evening plans.

Thankfully, she had plans of her own, and so did Azara, which meant the house would be empty except for the maids.

With nothing else to occupy my mind, I continued working on the sketch of the suspect.

I focused intently, refining the details and ensuring accuracy.

When I compared my drawing to the witness's description, I was pleasantly surprised at how closely they matched.

The long-awaited evening arrived, but I ended up being late to the bar because I had to finalize some details on the sketch.

I rushed to get ready, hoping I wouldn't miss too much of the festivities.

Upon arriving at the bar, I noticed that many of my fellow detectives and police officers were dressed casually, embodying a relaxed, almost festive vibe.

Thankfully, Detective Skyler was there too, still wearing her leather jacket and long sleeves, just like me.

I decided to leave my badge, ID, and gun in my moped to keep a low profile and avoid drawing attention to my role as a detective.

"Sorry I'm late; I got caught up with work," I explained as I approached the group.

Detective Guerrero, who was already in high spirits, stood up from the couch and put a friendly arm around my shoulder.

"It's alright, have a drink to start," she said, handing me a glass of alcohol with a grin.

Without hesitation, I accepted the glass and took a sip, feeling the warmth of the drink.

I then sat down beside Detective Skyler, who raised an eyebrow at me.

"Who said you could drink?" she asked, her tone a mix of surprise and disapproval.

I shot her a playful, mischievous smile.

"Oh come on, it's a special occasion. Don't you dare tell Elowen about this, okay? Just keep it between us." I whispered, emphasizing the last part to keep our little secret.

"What if you got drunk?"

"I won't. I'm Verick Lim Jeon, I'm build different" I joked yet her smile faded.

Despite my initial reservations, the evening turned out to be quite enjoyable.

I indulged in the drinks and had a good time, though I didn't drink so much that I couldn't stand or walk properly.

"You know, Seyren," Detective Guerrero said with a bit of a slur.

"you're the most beautiful woman I've ever met."

His cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, and her eyes were half-closed, giving her a tipsy look.

"Thank you?" I replied, unsure how to respond to what seemed like a drunken compliment.

Perhaps he was just expressing his feelings because he was inebriated.

"Thank you? I'm not just complimenting you; I'm speaking the truth," he insisted, his hand resting on my shoulder as he flashed a wide grin.

"Okay?" I was at a loss for words.

His sudden confession left me feeling slightly awkward. He continued to smile and offered me more alcohol.

I accepted the offer and took a hearty sip. As the night wore on, most of the others became quite drunk.

Detective Skyler and I found ourselves in the position of having to call a taxi repeatedly to get everyone home safely.

"You should head home too; I'll handle Anthony," Detective Skyler said to me, her tone firm yet caring.

"I can't just leave you here; I'll help you," I insisted, trying to support Detective Guerrero, who was struggling to walk due to her drunken state.

She'll likely be complaining about a headache tomorrow, I thought.

"I insist, Seyren. Not just as your senior detective but as your future sister-in-law," she said with a knowing look that puzzled me.

"What do you mean?" I asked, but she only gave me an enigmatic smile.

"I said go home. I just got a text from Elowen saying she's back home and she's waiting for you.." She knew exactly which buttons to press.

Realizing I had no real reason to argue, I decided to take her advice. I said my goodbyes and headed home.

Upon arriving, I noticed a familiar car parked outside that didn't belong to either of the siblings.

Once I figured out who it belonged to, I chose to ignore it and continued inside.

As I entered the house, I was greeted by the maids who were busy with their evening duties.

I also ran into Elowen, who immediately embraced me with a warm hug.

"Have you eaten yet?" she asked with a gentle tone. I shook my head and pouted, indicating that I hadn't.

"Let's eat then; I brought something you'll love," she said, taking my hand and guiding me to the dining area.

There, I saw a large tray of pancit palabok, a dish I particularly enjoyed.

"Surprise! I got this for you because I heard you've been working so hard. I didn't get a chance to congratulate you on your promotion, and I'm sorry it took me weeks, but here's a little surprise," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

Her thoughtful gesture made me smile broadly, and I even had tears welling up in my eyes.

I hugged Elowen tightly, overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation for her kind gesture.

The best talaga siya.

When we started eating, we suddenly heard groans that made us shudder in disgust, as we knew exactly where they were coming from.

The unsettling sounds drifted from the direction of the guest room, a place where we usually kept it quiet.

The occasional moan was loud enough to pierce through the ambient noise of the dining area, clearly coming from someone in distress-or worse.

That voice was from none other than Azara.

xxxxx

to be continued....