Chapter 91: Chapter 91

Wilbur

“Eduardo was murdered last night in his cell” she blurted out and my heart fell to my feet

“what!”

Damn it! Derulo, Coloy and Maxwell, is this what you meant by giving me a sign that you can do even the hardest thing?

“hey aren't you going to say something? I know you're awestruck but you've been staring at me with your mouth agape for over six minutes and it's starting to freak me out” Wini said and I cleared my throat and looked away from her. I looked at the food and I knew I no longer wish to eat

“I know it's really hard for you to digest this news but, you have to be fine. Okay?”

“it's... It's not that Wini” I said sadly

“then what is it?” she asked. I looked at her and decided to tell her. She's the only one I could trust

“Wini... I'm in trouble” I breathed out

“trouble? The last time you said that to me was.... Wait... Are you seriously in trouble?” she asked and I nodded

She gasped “did... Did you kill him?” she asked in a whisper

“what! No!” I defended

“then what is it? That look you're wearing tells me there really is trouble”

I looked around to see if anyone was watching or close enough to eavesdrop. No one was but I wasn't satisfied

“let's go to my studio” I said and she took up her purse. I pulled myself up and we went upstairs to my abandoned studio. It's been awhile since I last painted or took any pictures there

“what is it that you don't wanna tell me in.—”

“—they're back” I cut her short

She furrowed her brows “who are the “they”? She asked.

“Derulo, Coloy and Maxwell” I said and she gasped. Her eyes widened and she even stepped back

“back? Back for what? Why are they back?” she asked

“Mari. I think they decided to stop me because I love her. They're still angry with me, they said I either leave her or they'd kill her. They don't want me to love” I said sadly

“Mari is in grave danger. If you don't leave her soon they might kill her like they killed Cleopatra” Wini said and gulped down

Cleopatra was a girl I was beginning to develop feelings for after I began to study outside the house. I was still with the guys then and they warned me to not go any further. They reminded me of the oath and I waved it off. I was planning to even ask her out and have a girlfriend for the first time but the next thing was the news about her death. I knew the guys did it and they didn't even deny when I confronted them.

“I can't let them touch Mari. Mari's my life Wini, she's my life” I admitted and sat on a stool. Wini bent down in front of me and placed her hands on my knees

“Wilbur. I know you love her. You can't do without her. She's the only one who's been able to get you to love her deeply and forget about all the insecurities that stopped you from letting yourself fall for Layla and the rest girls you tried to date. I'm sorry I have to say this, you have to break up with her”

I stared at her without a word. I didn't even have anything to say. All that was in my mind was how broken both Mari and I would be without each other

“I know how dangerous those guys can be. I'm suspecting they killed Eduardo cause you told me they don't really like him too. Those guys are psychos that would do even the most inhumane thing”

“I'm certain they killed Eduardo too” I said and she sighed and walked to a painting I had covered

She uncovered it

“wow” she muttered. I looked at her and also at the painting

“isn't this ready? Do you have any other work to do on it?” she asked

“it's been completed for some months now” I answered

“then why don't you...”

I cut her short “cover that back and let's focus here” I said and she rolled her eyes, covered it and turned back to me

“so what's the plan?” she asked

“I'll break up with her. Because I know Mari, she's got poor acting skills. If I tell her my reason for the breakup she'd be paranoid and it'd been written all over her face that she's scared of something. And their informants would figure out I told her. She wouldn't even act like she's broken but instead scared so they'd know. Plus, she's already having insecurities since Eduardo's abduction. I don't want to add to it” I explained

“okay, can we tell Eliza?” she asked. I shook my head

“they warned strictly not to tell anyone. I'm only telling you because I trust you and you've known almost all my secrets since when we were kids without them knowing you do.”

“or else they'd have my head” she said

“I can't believe I'm really going to hurt Marigold.” I muttered and palmed my face

“hey don't feel down. We'll work things out. Maybe we'll tell dad to be of help to us again. Before things go too far, we'll stop this nonsense”

“I just hope so” I said

Mari

It's been two days since I angrily left Wilbur's house and he didn't call or text me. He didn't come to the house either. That's so different of him. Normally if I get angry with him, he would not stop bugging me until I forgive him fully. Two days ago, I angrily left his house and I expected him to call me and apologize as usual but he didn't. I thought maybe he'd call in the evening but he still didn't. Throughout yesterday he didn't call even after I gave him two calls which he missed.

“why are you pacing here and there? Is something disturbing you?” Eliza asked. She sat on the high stool and rested her hands on the marble platform standing in the middle of our kitchen. We used it as a table whenever we felt like having snacks in the kitchen. It was actually made of concrete but covered with beautiful and smooth marble tiles.

“it's Wilbur. He hasn't called me yet” I said worriedly

She picked a red apple from the fruit bowl in front of her

“even after you called him last night?” she asked and took a bite to eat

“yes. He didn't even text me to tell me he's busy or something. I don't know what's wrong. After acting all weird at his place he's now avoiding me?” I asked rhetorically

“hey don't put it at that so soon. Things like this happen in relationships. He'll come around don't worry” Eliza said and I sat on the high stool opposite her. I placed my phone beside the fruit bowl

“come on, take an apple” she cajoled and I slowly took one

“should I text him? He might reply” I said

“he'll reply. Come on text him” she replied and I took my phone again. I texted him HEY WILL, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? I GUESS YOU'VE BEEN BUSY. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF TILL WE SEE. I MISS YOU

I sent it and bit my lower lip.

Please reply soonest. I really want to hear from you.

“I heard something terrible today. Not like it's really terrible but it's well... Whatever. Eduardo got murdered”

“what!”

“in his cell. That was two days ago”

“oh my God! How? Who could have had him murdered?” I asked and she simply shrugged.

My phone beeped and I quickly checked it to see if it was him. But no, it was customer care services