CHAPTER 31: The Revelation

CLAIRE’s P.O.V.

I stare at her as she made her way to the crowd. I don't know why I’m feeling nervous right now. I think something is up and I don’t know what is it yet.

Darren wrapped his arms protectively around me as he saw the person I’m staring at. I badly wanted to ask him what is she doing here, at our engagement party. But then, I remembered that Mr. Herrera and Kate’s Dad are best of friends.

“Are you okay?” Darren asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Dad invited Mr. Frias and his whole family here, that’s why Kate came,” he explained, even though I didn’t ask for it.

“Come, let us sit with Elijah.”

I nodded before following him into where Elijah’s currently sitting at. We sat down, and some servants offered us drinks. I declined it, for it smell differently weird.

“Why didn’t you get one?” Darren asked as he took a sip from his glass.

“It smells weird.”

Elijah and Darren just laughed at my response. They tossed their glasses before drinking again. Finally, Darren started another conversation with his best friend.

“I’m surprised you came here,” he stated.

“Of course, I will! It’s your engagement party, bro.”

“But I thought you didn’t want to come to any party at all? Did this party became an exception?”

“Yeah. Because both of my friends are involved in this one. Also, I’m looking forward for your wedding in Paris. So please, don’t cancel it.”

Darren and I both laughed. I hope that’s how easy it works. If it is, then I’ll be glad to marry this man beside me. I felt his hand reached mine and squeeze it tightly. I smile at him. It felt nice for a moment, seeing how happy he is with me.

“Congratulations, bro,” Elijah suddenly stated.

They both stood up and hug each other. This kind of friendship... This is the one that Kate and I had once before. I looked away from the boys, turning my gaze to wherever Kate is right now. But I couldn’t see her anymore. She’s completely out of sight.

“Hey, future daughter in law.” I was stunned when Mr. Herrera greeted me with a smile.

“H-hi.”

“Is everything alright here? You look pale,” he asked, worried.

“It’s because your making him nervous, Dad,” Darren stated.

Mr. Herrera chuckled, before calling someone from behind us. There, I saw Kate’s parents. Mr. Armando Frias and Mrs. Katheryn Frias. They smile towards my direction. I can sense the fake from real ones. I’m not sure if they can still recognized me, but I highly doubt it. They were always gone whenever Kate and I have a sleepover to their place.

“I hope you two don’t mind, son, Claire. I invited my best friend and his whole family.” Darren just gave them a tight smile.

“Hey, Darren. Congratulations. Your Dad and I finally talked about what happened. For a moment I was mad but after some time, I finally realized that we’ve been unfair to you. I’m very sorry, Darren. We didn’t know that you already have someone special,” Mr. Armando stated before looking at me from head to toe.

“That’s fine. I apologized for not telling you about my wife, either. This is partially my fault.”

“That’s fine.” They shook hands.

Mr. Frias also offers a handshake to me. I gladly took it, smiling nervously at them. Mr. Frias smiled back at me, but his wife didn’t. She’s looking at me with a despair in her eyes, just like how Kate did.

“Oh, Kate is here,” Mr. Frias stated as he saw his daughter walking towards us. “I’ll introduce her to your wife, Darren.”

“No need, Mr. Frias. I think that they already know each other.”

“No, we haven’t meet yet,” Kate quickly answered, opposing Darren’s statement.

“Then come and meet this lovely lady. What’s your name again?” Mr. Armando asked me.

“Claire.”

“Hi, Claire,” Kate greeted me bitterly.

“You don’t have to do this, Kate,” I heard Mrs. Frias voice for the first time, whispering to her daughter.

“It’s fine, Mom.”

“Alright! So we finally knew each other. Should I tell them to start the program?” Mr. Herrera asked when he noticed the tension between us and his best friend’s family.

We all just nodded in agreement. Mr. Frias and his family turned around, finding their own seats and table. As they vanished from our sight, I suddenly felt dizzy. I almost loose my balance but thankfully, Darren was still paying his attention to me.

“Hey... Are you sure you’re alright? Do you want me to call an ambulance or something?”

I chuckled, trying to look fine in front of him.

“There’s no need to overreact, Darren. I’m fine,” I told him.

“If you say so. I believe in you.”

I smiled at him and he nodded once. The program starts, first with the speech from different unknown people, saying their wishes for Darren and I. I didn’t listen, for I know that the wedding wouldn’t happen after this.

As the dinner started, the servants brought us different delicacies and drinks. I felt hunger rushed through me, but I couldn’t eat for some reasons. I often glance at Kate and she wasn’t eating same as me. But I can see that she’s drowning herself in alcohol. I want to know why. I think that something is very wrong with her tonight.

“Why aren’t you eating, Claire?” Elijah curiously asked, looking from me down to my plate.

Because of that statement, Darren stopped eating too and pay his whole attention to me.

“Do you want me to get you something else?” he asked.

“No, this is fine,” I stated as I took a small bite. It tasted bland.

“Don’t you like the taste of it?”

“Nope... It’s really good... It’s just that...”

“What? I think something is bothering you. You look uncomfortable since we arrived earlier.”

I couldn’t answer him anymore. My eyes were already back to Kate, but she wasn’t on her seat anymore. I searched for her inside of the venue using only my eyes, and there, I saw her standing nearby the technical system beside the stage while talking to the guy in front of the computer.

“Hey...” Darren cupped my face so that I’m already facing him. “What is it?”

“I think something bad is going to happen,” I stated nervously.

Elijah and Darren looked at each other, worried.

“Nothing’s going to happen, wife. I promise. Let us just enjoy the night.”

“But what if–”

My sentence was cut a short by an eerie sound coming from somewhere inside the place. I wasn’t been able to finished it because she–Kate, got my full attention. I think she dropped the microphone on purpose just to get everyone’s attention, including us and she succeeded. Now everyone inside of the venue is looking at her directly.

She’s standing on the stage, holding a glass of liquor with her right hand. She picked up the microphone using the other before drinking the alcohol. After that, she dramatically dropped the glass, causing it to broke and shatters into a million pieces. Some people gasped in shock, while others started to whisper with their seatmates. But she didn’t pay any attention to it. She smiled, tapping the mic.

“Good evening, everyone!” she shouted.

From the corners of my eyes, I saw Mr. Armando Frias stood up and glared at his daughter.

“Get down here, Kate,” he stated firmly, his voice was full of authority.

“Don’t teach me what to do, old man!”

Darren touched my hand to calm me down. Even Elijah was now looking worried at Kate. I didn’t know that she can do something scandalous like this thing. Maybe this is the reason why she’s wasting herself earlier. She planned this all along.

”You!” Kate pointed at my direction. “You bitch! I treated you as a friend! A best friend, even better! How can you do this to me, Claire? How?!”

“Kate...”

“Shhh! Quiet! I don’t want to hear your fucked up voice. That! That woman...” She pointed her fingers at me. “That woman ruined everything including our friendship. She took everything away from me…” She started sobbing uncontrollably.

“Kate, let’s talk about this on a private place,” Darren almost pleaded.

“No! You shut up! I wasn’t talking to you. Do you even know what kind of woman your wife is? Or is she even your wife, Mr. Darren Herrera?!”

Because of that statement, Darren looked down, looking guilty.

“Listen up, everyone! This celebration is void! Do you want to know why? Cause their said relationship is a fake one!” The crowd gone wild. “I hired a private investigator and they found out everything! That woman was a rented one! She’s nothing but a fraud! She’s not a real Mrs. Herrera!”

“Darren, is this true?” Mr. Herrera looked at us, stunned.

“Dad... Please let me explain,” Darren gave him an apologetic look.

“But wait, there’s more!” Kate shouted once again. “My old best friend ruined our friendship by stealing the man I love eight years ago... And now, she took Darren away from me... What a flirt, right?! But that’s not just it. You thought that woman loves you, right Darren?” She look at the man besides me, as if asking him that question of hers.

Darren didn’t answer her. He just clenched his fist, insulted by that remark.

“Sad to tell you the truth, but she doesn’t. Look at this.”

She snapped her fingers, and a picture popped out in the wide monitor. It was a photo of me and Gabriel, kissing. Darren looked at me unbelievingly, brows furrowed. He misunderstood it. That’s what I wanted to tell him about. The moment that Gabriel and I finally bid our final goodbyes to each other. The moment that he kissed me.

“Do you believe me now?! That woman was nothing but a whore. She’s just using you, Darren. She’s only doing this for your money. She doesn’t deserve you. She doesn’t love you. Please wake up and face the fucking truth.”

Elijah rushed into the stage, grabbing Kate to make her stop talking. Kate just pushed him away, not wanting to let anyone get in her way.

“Don’t touch me!”

Mr. Frias finally walked towards his daughter, grabbed her arms and pulled her away from the crowd. It was silence that reign in the room after that scenario.

“Darren...” I tried to reach him but he moved away from me, shaking his head.

“Please listen to me first...”

“No! Fucking no! I had enough!”

He walked away, not bothering the eyes of those people staring at him... Before he vanished inside the room, he kicked one of the tables aside causing it to fall. All the utensils and foods are now shattered on the floor, creating a huge mess. That’s my cue to ran after him and chased him.