CHAPTER 18: the Investigation

KATE’s P.O.V.

I don’t know how many days it took me to find something suspicious about Claire and Darren. But waiting for apparently nothing bored me to death, I guess. It’s been more than a month since I last saw the both of them personally. Though I often see their faces on photos provided by Detective Suarez.

“So, I want us to come all together at Darren’s engagement party. I wanted the both of you to show support to my bestfriend’s son,” Dad stated, before taking another bite to his breakfast.

I tightly gripped on my spoon and fork. Why does he needs to say that in front of my face? And to Mr. Herrera, why does he even invited us right after what his son have done to me? Do I really deserve to be treated like this?

“I won’t come out there,” Mom firmly stated.

“Try me, Katheryn.” Dad glared at Mom, so I decided to cut their conversation off before it turned out to another useless argument.

“Sure, Dad. We will go. Right, Mom?” I looked at Mom before holding her hand at the top of our dining table. I gently squeezed it, and she jut nodded at me.

“Fine. We’ll go, Armando. Just don’t push our daughter to socialize with those people who hurt her.”

“Come on... Don’t be such
a drama queen. It’s just a party. And besides, who wouldn’t be amused to see that our family is still complete?” Dad shoot a meaningful look towards Mom.

Mom stood up, before stomping away from our dining room. Dad just chuckled before grabbing his coat to go to work.

“I’ll be leaving now, Kate. Please tell that to your Mom. And please, go and get something nice to wear for the party.”

“S-sure, Dad.” I answered, unsure.

Without any words, he already left. I sighed, realizing that I’m alone again. Mom is probably at her room right now, crying silently while suffering in pain. As much as I wanted to join her, I did’t want to ruin her peacefulness. I know that she doesn’t want to let anyone see the real person she is. She’s just like me, good at keeping secrets and pretending to be tough in front of others.

I have better things to do rather than to sit here and think about some random things. So I decided to go shopping and follow my Dad’s instructions to get a nice outfit to wear for Claire and Darren’s engagement party for me and my Mom. I get my purse and the key of my car before leaving the house. I didn’t bother to ask for Mom’s permission for I know that I’m just going to disturb her thinking.

I drove, and then arrived at my destination. I went into my favorite boutique shop to pick out some beautiful dresses and any other accessories that I can get for me and my Mom. I enjoyed shopping, I guess. For it relieved my stress and I temporarily forget about everything that’s causing problems into my life.

I was about to leave when a familiar face caught my attention. The last person I wanted to see for today. I can still remember how he looked at me with disgust in his eyes that night, as if I am the baddest person he’d ever seen.

My eyes widen as he turned his gaze upon my direction. I quickly looked away, not wanting to see his judgemental eyes. I decided to leave, and pretend that I didn’t saw him but I just felt him walking towards me before I could even move a muscle.

“Kate... Hi,” he greeted me like nothing happened before these past few weeks.

“Oh. You’re here...” I casually stated.

“I know you saw me earlier. Why didn’t you approach me?” he asked, looking at me intently.

I stopped walking, facing him with a furious expression plastered upon my face. I wanted to slap him just to be a reminder of what he’d said to me the last time we saw each other.

“Why would I? I know you’ll probably ignore me. I’m a worst person, right? That’s what you said...”

His face suddenly became soft. He then reached for my hand, holding it with his electrifying touch. I looked down, feeling uneasy and uncomfortable at the same time.

“I-I’m... I’m s-sorry, okay? I didn’t mean what I said. I just wanted to teach you a lesson... Darren and Claire... Please let them be, Kate. I know that they love each other.”

I removed his hand from mine. I glared at him, thinking how can he say that in front of my face.

“So that’s it? How about me, Elijah? Claire took everything away from me since high school. Out of all people, you should be the one to know all about that... Or did Claire already poisoned your mind too?” I asked, raising one of my brows.

“Kate...”

A memory suddenly came back to my mind. It flashes like a lightning, refreshing my brain with the painful scars that I got from Elijah... He denied me as his friend... In front of Claire.

“I was there...” I whispered.

He looked at me in confusion and worried as well. He tried to reached out, but I didn’t let him touch me again.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“I lied to you... I was there, Elij... I heard it from you. I’m not your friend, right? You denied me in front of Claire. Do you know how much it hurts?” I bitterly laughed at myself. At first I thought it was funny, but I guess the joke is on me right now. “Of course you don’t... Because you didn’t even care. I don’t know why you did that, but whatever your reason is, I wouldn’t accept it.”

“Kate... Yes, I did that on purpose... Only because I wanted Claire to leave me that day... Because I was waiting for you... I waited for almost three hours up there, Kate... I waited just to know your name but you didn’t came.”

“And do you expect me to believe that?” I asked feeling annoyed.

“I’m sorry... I didn’t know I hurt you because of that...”

I was about to say something when my phone suddenly vibrated. I looked away from Elijah, taking out my phone from my bag. I saw the name of the messenger and I instantly got numb. It was Detective Suarez, saying that he got some information about Claire and Darren just for me. I hid my phone, before facing Elijah again.

“Don’t waste your time for someone like me, Elijah. I need to go now... Bye.”

I walked away and I didn’t bother to wait for his answer. My mind was already fully occupied of what Detective Suarez had told me about. He also sent me the address where to meet him. I drove all the way from the mall towards that place just to see him.

I stopped my car, seeing a motorcycle parked on the side walk. I opened the door, and he came in. He handed me an envelope and I opened it. I was surprised to see Claire and Gabriel... Kissing.

“What?! How... I thought Darren and Claire...”

“That’s what I thought too, Ms. Frias. But clearly, on that photo is Ms. Braganza and Mr. Elizar... Sharing a kiss.”

“Ms. Braganza?” I asked, confusedly.

“Claire isn’t having an affair with Mr. Elizar or what. Because the truth is, Mr. Herrera and her isn’t even married at the first place.”

My eyes widen, unable to believe what he’d just said. How come? Everything about them looks so real... And now it was all fake?

“Is that true? How come? How and when did you found out?”

“I’m a detective, Ms. Frias. That’s what I do.”

I can’t believe it. Now I finally got something against Claire. Something that can ruin her whole life. I wanted to scream out of joy, celebrate or do any victory dance, finally having the evidence that I needed. The only problem is, how will I reveal the truth to the people? Then I remember about the engagement party... That’s it. The perfect time and place to get even to my old bestfriend. Finally, I got the chance I needed after almost a decade.