XXIV

“Do you think he can kill?” A question that leave me silenced for awhile.

“No, no he’ll never do that,” I answered him.

“LEYR—” Sadi came out of nowhere.

“O-oh sorry, did I interrupt both of you?” She look shocked because Krio is still lending his shoulder on me.

“NO!” I insisted and then moved a little away from Krio. Awkward looks from the three of us. I can still see Krio staring at me.

“My head just hurts a little bit,” I added.

“Oh, are you okay?” she asked and checked on me.

“I’m fine,” I said, and smiled.

“Anyway, here’s the video camera you said Krio.” She handed it to Krio.

“Thank you!”

“What’s that for?” Sadi asked him.

“This is my personal gift for Leyra.” He looked at me and smiled.

“For me?” I was slightly surprised. I opened it and try it. And, the first man who I captured in this recording is Kriogri’s face, he smiled and smirked.

“Yeah. Aside from your notes and polaroid cam, you need this. Moments are beautiful when it’s filmed. So, take that as a present from me.” Why is it like that? While he is talking while I was recording this, why does he seem to be in slow motion.

“Are you done recording me?” he asked so I suddenly get to my senses, I stopped reading it.

“Hmm…thank you!” I said and averted my gaze from him.

“Guys, have you heard about the news circulating in Las Haciendas?” Sadi interrupted.

“What news?” I asked.

“Yesterday, they found a body of a woman being killed. They said it was raped. And, today, they found a man’s body beaten, full of bruises and a bullet on his head. .Omg, I really don’t know what’s happening in this place. It’s getting scarier,” Sadi exaggeratedly said.

“Where’s that place?” I suddenly asked.

“It was in the abandoned building in Hacienda de Giaro.”

“Leyra, I know what you’re thinking. We’re not going in there,” Krio said immediately.

“But, what if the one who killed that man and that girl is also that person who killed Klio and ruined my life?” I protested.

“We don’t know what’s in there!”

“How are we going to find out what’s in there if we don’t try?” I insisted, “And, I have this strange feeling.”

“Leyra, I think you should agree with Krio, we don’t know what’s in there. And, as far as I know, Hacienda de Giaro is one of the dangerous place you wouldn’t wish to be. The owner of that hacienda itself abandoned that place and sell it. Aside from being abandoned, it is also prohibited…so, it’s not really safe,” Sadi explained.

“I don’t want to risk it, Leyra. We’ll stick to the plan. Finding the Heirs of Atticus to help you. That’s it. For your peace!” Krio exclaimed and walked out. What is that man’s problem?

“I’ll go check him…you should rest,” Sadi said and followed Krio down. I think she’s really into him.

I wrote down in my notes the place before I even forgot them, without them knowing. After that I lay down on the bed and watched Klio’s engagement ring, the only thing that remains of him.

“I’ll do everything to find justice for you, for us. I missed you so much, Klio. I wish I could turn back time.” I cried when suddenly someone came in and spoke.

“I’m sorry I forgot my pencil.” It was Krio who interrupted my moment. I leaned over and I wiped the little tears coming from my eyes.

“Still good?” he asked.

“Yeah, just lock the door when you leave.”

“Don’t hold back your tears, release the pain. Just know that you always have a person to count on…a-always,” he said, and even before he closed the door it had one last word left.

“I’m sorry. You can’t turn back time.” Then he leave me and close the door.

Its been an hour since I can’t still process myself, I decided to go down with my stuff as always. I want to be somewhere just to relax myself. I saw and heard Sadi and Krio talking in the living room.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Krio asked while doing his artwork, I cannot clearly see what he is sketching cause he is sitting and his angle is facing towards me.

“Uhm…I don’t have a boyfriend,” Sadi answered and I can see her excitement.

“How old are you again?”

“I’m 26,” she said.

“Oh, aren’t you planning to have a boyfriend?”

“Do you want me to have a boyfriend?” she flirtatiously asked.

“Well, it’s a choice that’s up to you..if you think and feel that you needed one, then you should have, well at some point in life we have that longing and emptiness. But, I know woman are capable to be independent and can handle to be alone, that man are no longer substantial to them, and that was a big respect out there. So, it’s your choice.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t be single. I think I already met him.” She smiled and giggled.

“Then congrats!”

“Your girl must be so lucky to have you as a boyfriend.” He stopped for a moment on what he was doing.

“I’m not sure about that…but, what I’m sure about is, I’ll give her the love she deserves and I’ll do my best to protect and take care of her whatever it takes.” He smirked, and continued what he was doing, but he’s not looking at Sadi, he only focused on the sketchbook while speaking.

“She’s still lucky.”

“But, how about you? Do you have a girlfriend?” Krio stopped what he’s doing for awhile when he heard that and when he looked he saw me on the stairs, he stare at me seriously. We are having an eye contact.

“Leyra,” he said.

“What? Leyra’s your girlfriend?” She raised her voice in shocked.

“H-huh? It’s Leyra, look.” He pointed at me. Sadi turned to me and Krio stood up in his seat.

I cleared my throat. “Sorry, did I interrupt your moment guys?” I asked.

“All right, I’ll leave you. Just continue what you’re doing.” I faked smiled, and turned away.

“Leyra, wait!” I heard Krio, but I ignored it I just kept walking until I got out of the mansion.

“Hey! I’m calling you.” He pulled my arm.

“What!?” I shouted, he was shocked, so was I.

“What’s your problem?”

“Just leave me alone! Okay?” I’m worried, I also don’t know why my mood suddenly changed.

“I won’t.”

“You should go back!” I removed his hand and continued walking

“Where do you think you’re going?” I ignored him, I just kept walking until we were far from the mansion. He’s still following me.

After 30 minutes we were still walking, I turned in his direction he didn’t really stopped following me. As we walk he reminds me who he is every time I forgot. I don’t even know where I am going. I stopped.

“Aren’t you really going to stop following me?” I turned around and saw that he was gone. Where did he go?

It’s good that man also felt tired. I was going to walk again, when I heard people arguing, I came back and it was Krio arguing with two boys and he’s holding the girl.

“Get out of here man! That’s my girlfriend. Mind your own business!”

“This bastard? He’s your boyfriend?” Krio asked the girl.

“Y-yes,” she answered while crying.

“Who the f*ck are you? She’s my girlfriend, she’s my property, I do whatever I want and you’re out of it.”

“You’re making your girl a property? That’s why it’s easy for you to hurt her just like an object? Just because she’s your girl, doesn’t mean you own her. Your girlfriend isn’t a property and will never be your property. So, you don’t have any right to abuse her and throw shits on her especially on public. Have a little shame and respect on yourself.” Wise words from Kriogri Lanieri.

“F*ck you!” The guy cursed, and snatch the woman from Krio, Krio grabbed one of his hand. The man got even angrier with Krio. And, the man with him also joined in and punched Krio. Now they are fighting. 2 versus 1 but still knocked down. I didn’t know Krio has a fighting skills.

“Go home and be a man!” Krio yelled at the boys.

“And you, find a man who doesn’t abuse you. You deserve to be treated well. You don’t deserve this bastard in your life,” he told the woman and the security arrived. I approached him.

“Hey! Are you okay?” I asked and touched his face with a little blood.

“I’m good,” he replied.

“Good! Now go home, so you don’t get into a fight,” I said.

“I probably hate myself seeing people being abused and doing nothing.”

“Impressive!” I exclaimed and clapped my hands, he looked at me seriously.

“What’s impressive? I’m just doing the bare minimum of a man’s act. People are being confused on that idea, where in fact it just a normal man should do. There’s nothing to be impressed.”

“You know what, it is really sad to think that those kind of people are rare to find nowadays.” I frowned.

“Well it is, but I still believe there’s a lot of men out there that is still normal, we haven’t just met them,” he said.

“I guess,” I said and walked away again.

“Hey, Leyra! Can’t we just go home?” He held my arm.

“I need peace. I’m fine on my own. You don’t have to worry about me, you can go home.” I sighed, and took his grip.

“You know I can’t leave you right?” While he was saying that, I didn’t hear it much because there were fancy cars passing by, and that caught our attention…that one is familiar.

I hurried to find my photos, and then shoot it was Hyntall’s car. I ignored Krio, I ran and followed him, as if I could catch up. I can hear Krio calling my name. A few minutes after I chased, I also got tired, who can’t get tired of the speed of it? Suddenly, it has disappeared from my sight.

“HYNTAL!!!” I screamed and cry.

“LEYRA!” He shouted towards me and also ran out of breath.

“What are you doing?” It was him who still follows me.

I sat down because of frustration. I heard him having a deep sigh.

“Come on, it’s okay. We’ll look for him.” He sat down and tapped my back. I turned around and suddenly hugged him.

“Why all of this happened to me?! Why? I just want justice? But, why is it so hard? I just want to be normal. I want my life back. I want him back!” I was sobbing in tears.

“I’m sorry, Leyra.” The only words that came out from him. I stopped hugging him.

“I’m sorry.” I wipe away my tears, he took my hand and used his hand to wiped my tears.

“It’ll be fine. I’ll promise. Shhh…I’m here,” he added. After a few moments, I averted my eyes, it already feels awkward. Then, I noticed an abandoned building, it was just near where we stopped. I stand up and we both faced that spot.

“Where are we?” I asked in confusion.

“I guess we found it…the abandoned building,” he said.

“We are in Hacienda de Giaro,” he added and we both looked at each other curiously.