Chapter 41: Chapter 41

Rodriguez noticed his wife staring at him and decided to scold her for not helping.

"You know honey, you always insist on doing everything but today, you don't seem to want to help. Are you alright?"

She was stunned.

"I'm alright. I just don't see the need to go with them. We can go on our own."

"Nonsense. You hardly relate with anyone, I'm doing this for you."

"Are you sure or is it something else?" She spilled before she could think straight.

"Ok. What's wrong?" Rodriguez demanded, getting closer to her.

She could barely breathe seeing him so close to her. Her self defense instinct went haywire.

She almost compulsively took out the knife she has hidden on her to protect herself.

She hadn't slept last night, not with the fear that he would kill someone and when she did, the terrible nightmares interfered.

"Maybe you shouldn't go." Rodriguez put in.

"I'm going!" She almost yelled.

She had to keep a watch on him. He was a maniac and was dangerous to everyone.

"Call the police!", A part of her murmured.

Maybe it was right.

Rodriguez left her and she used the opportunity to search what was in the basket Rodriguez had fixed up.

Nothing much, just the checker blanket and some sandwiches.

She heaved and fixed the basket back before Rodriguez returned.

Grrrinnnggg! His phone rang.

She picked it up and checked the caller's ID.

"Chale."

She picked it up and listened.

"Boss, I have been watching the girl. They're getting ready for the picnic. She doesn't suspect anything."

A lump made her instantly stop breathing.

Rod was spying on Adriana, This was bad!

"Hey." A voice said behind her and she instantly felt her spine get the chills.

"Who's calling?" Her husband quizzed as he approached her, more like speedwalking.

She instantly cut the phone and turned to face him.

"It was Nathan." She lied.

"What did he want?" Rodriguez queried, collecting his handset from her.

She was glad she had already deleted his call history.

"He just wanted to know if we'll meet him at his house?"

"Of course we will," Rodriguez replied and resumed parking.

"Which Park are we going exactly?" She asked, wanting to know how much information her husband knew.

"Friendship park." He answered.

Fuck, he knew!

Seeing him concentrated on what he was doing, she contemplated hitting his head with a vase.

It could render him unconscious but it could also kill him.

"Tell the police before it's too late." Her conscience advised.

Her belly ached just then. It felt like a message from her child.

She couldn't just bring herself to do it plus she had her secret fears.

What if she was taken for acting as an accomplice?

She did know of the murder and said nothing.

A million thoughts bothered her but she didn't know what path was safe.

She left for the bedroom and took her phone.

It was either she informed the police or Nathan.

Her mind went back to the drawer. She approached it and opened it.

The metallic device laid there most probably thrown carelessly by Rodriguez.

She took it out and examined it.

It would take her nothing to use it against Rodriguez.

She immediately pushed away the dark thought.

How could she even go that far?

She made up her mind to call Nathan but backed down at the last minute.

"Hello?" She heard Adriana say.

She couldn't say it. She just couldn't do it. She was too weak to betray her husband. The golden band on her ring finger burned, forcing her to remember the vows she made to Rodriguez on their wedding,

To stand with him.

She cut the call and sat on the bed feeling empty and wondering what to do now.

She felt helpless and desperate at the same time.

Adriana would be in constant danger near her husband and here she was, being selfish.

But, at the right moment, she remembered Miranda.

She grabbed her phone and furiously searched her contacts.

She found it and instantly called.

"Hello."

"Hello Miranda, can I talk to Adriana?"

"Oh, she's gone with Nathan already."

"Good. Does she have a cell phone so I can call her?"

"Yes. Nathan got her one yesterday."

Thank God, She said aside before speaking.

"Can I get her number?"

"It sounds urgent, is everything ok with you and Rodriguez?"

"Oh yes."

'Just that he's now a maniac.'

"Ok. I'll send it to you if that is ok," Miranda said.

"It is. Thanks, Miranda."

She cut the phone and tried to think of what was going to happen next.

She planned on telling Adriana that she might be in danger and since Adriana didn't know who was calling, she would be worried but at high alerts.

"Honey! Its time to go!" She heard Rodriguez yell from the sitting room.

"I'm coming." She sent.

Her phone chimed, checking it she saw it was a text from Miranda.

She silently prayed she could so what she had in mind before heading downstairs.

***

10:00 AM

Friendship Park Tijuana

'Friendship park' was nothing like those in the smaller towns. Theirs were miniature formal gardens for the elderly that had retired there for a quiet life.

They had benches, ornamental trees, flowers year-round, and water fountains in clear lakes that were stocked with Koi carp. But not here, here was a park with acres of concrete interspersed with neat grass verges, rollerblading tracks, tennis courts, water parks, and skateboarder basins.

Adriana noticed the vendors were smaller. The music playing clashed from various sources, none of them were her favorite and it made her wonder if she would be able to take her mind off the world here.

The park had lost its purpose and was beginning to feel like a miniature party house.

The sun made it worse. Adriana regretted not bringing any sunscreen and relying on a stupid hat.

She didn't make her irritation known to Nathan. He had dressed for the occasion.

He wore a glowing Whit T-shirt that wrapped his body well, slightly revealing the pleasures within, baggy brown chinos that reached knee length and a green Nike knitted trainers. He was the epitome of perfection.

Adriana had noticed a few girls staring and made sure she made them know it was her territory.

The feeling of watching them leave disappointed or with a squeezed face was highly satisfying. Maybe even the first thing she had enjoyed so far.

"Where should we stay?" Nathan inquired, eyeing the spot close go the girls.

"Near those girls I suppose," Adriana replied, not taking his bait.

"They look hot, Don't they?"

"Good so you can talk with them all day and I can have this day all to myself."

Adriana flaunted her above-average butt at the girls and spread her blanket taking a seat.

"He's so hot. I wonder if he's single?" She heard one of the girls comment.

Adriana boiled but pretended not to mind.

Nathan joined her and then the girls got chatty.

"Hello Handsome what brings you here?"

Of all the wrong reasons to start a discussion, Adriana thought.

She noticed Nathan steal a look at her then back to the girls, he was trying to get her attention but there was nothing in the world that would make her fall for his antics.

"You know, the relaxing atmosphere and to meet great girls."

Adriana immediately turned red. She faced the girls and saw them giggle exaggeratedly.

Not on her watch!

She lingered close to Nathan and kept him in a warm embrace, warning the girls to steer off.

One of the girls got the message but the other one did not relent.

"I'm..." She tried to say but Adriana cut her off.

"Take a hint whore!"

The girl's jaw dropped right open and she stared at Adriana wide-eyed.

"What did you just call me?" She demanded when she got over Adriana's crude comment.

"You heard me." Adriana maintained ready to fight for what belonged to her but luckily Nathan came to the rescue.

"Pipe it down, girls."

"Tell her to take it back! Apologize!" The girl insisted.

"I will do no such thing." Adriana stood her ground, liking where this was going.

"I'll apologize." Nathan cut in, " I started this so if you'll please beauty, Forgive us."

The girl smiled, implying that she accepted Nathan's apology on his wife's behalf.

"Gee thanks but caution your wife, it's not nice to be so crude." The girl said.

"Neither is it to be an impulsive flirt." Adriana retorted.

The girl ignored her and returned to her book.

Nathan fell on the soft cool blanket and turned to Adriana.

She looked so beautiful when she was angry.

"You look stunning." He muttered, running his fingers on her sweaty neckline.

"I guess she's not the compulsive flirt after all."

Adriana knocked away his hand away,

"You are."

"Oh come on, you know I was just doing that to get your attention," Nathan claimed.

"Well, you got their attention. Just let me be Nathan. I'm here to take my mind off it all remember?"

"But not off me, I'm written in her heart and you, in mine."

"Oh, where have you used that like before?" Adriana teased.

Her new phone buzzed and she impulsively grabbed it.

Someone sent a text. It read,

"Someone is watching."

It sounded stupid at first but Adriana suddenly felt her skin turn blue.

She had the feeling she was being watched before but she had shrugged it off as a minor case of anxiety.

Another text came in,

"Someone wants you dead!"

Adriana shuddered, if this was a joke, then the person had better stop.

Nathan noticed her sudden mood change and questioned her,

"Are you okay?"

Another message popped up,

"Tell no one if you want to live."

"Nothing!" Adriana retorted sharply," I just need to...."

"Nathan!" Someone yelled from afar and Adriana twisted in the direction the voice came from.

Rodriguez and his wife.

He was dressed in a Hawaiian shirt that showed his bubbly nature and grey shorts that exposed a little more than his tanned thighs. His wife, on the other hand, was dressed in a long summer gown that had printed hibiscus all round and fitted well with her fashion sense and comfort.

Adriana's anxiety grew worse as the couple approached them.

Almost instantly, the serene environment became hell for her. She found it difficult to breathe and suspected anyone that glanced in her direction.

"I need to go." Adriana excused herself before Rodriguez and his wife could arrive.

"Okay. Don't take too long."

Adriana nodded and left for the public restroom.

"Where's she's going to?" Rodriguez queried when he got to Nathan.

"To use the toilet. Have a seat." Nathan nudged, "She'll be joining us soon."

It was like three corpses using makeup to hide their maggoty state. It was bound to ease up the process.

***

Adriana locked the bathroom door to secure herself and try to feel safe.

Her heart beat loudly as she read the messages sent to her by God knows whom.

Why did she even believe it? It could be a prank, someone could just be messing with her head or the murderer was having mere fun with her before he decided to kill his game.

Adriana looked up to the mirror and nearly died when she saw something like someone holding a gun at her. She squeezed her eyes tight and opened them and for a split second, it was just a hallucination.

She got closer to the sink and turned on the tap. The sound of rushing water relaxed her and she proceeded to wash her face.

"You have to be strong Adriana!" She told herself, "No one can get to you."

Her phone beeped again and she checked on it even when she suspected she shouldn't have.

"Have you thought about who the culprit might be? The one who separated you from your loved one and who would do it again."

Adriana remembered the last written words of Mrs. Contreras.

"Ro..."

The phone beeped again,

"Don't you want to know who the chameleon is?"

"Tell me!", Adriana sent back, summoning courage from beyond.

"Rodriguez.", The message read.

Adriana felt numb instantly.

Ro fitted perfectly with Rodriguez.

No! What was she even thinking? That the man who tried to help them would be the enemy but still she couldn't help but think about it...

Bang! Something exploded startling Adriana so much that she cut herself with the mirror right in front of her.

She watched her blood trickle to the floor while she held the cut finger in pain.

She headed immediately for the door scared for her life.

The door was locked! No surprise there.

She had been hinted that someone was out for her life but the giggling she heard just outside the bathroom hinted this was something different.

It was the girls from before.

"Open this door right this instant! I know it's you." Adriana yelled and banged at the door violently.

"Yes." The girl's replied.

"Die of a heart attack bitch!" She heard them mutter.

More bangs followed and the room slowly began to get filled with a stomach-wrenching odor.

It smelt like sulfur.

They used firecrackers. Adriana tried at the door again, feeling weaker with each valiant attempt to force the door open.

Using the last energy on her, she dialed Nathan.

Adriana collapsed to the floor and began to feel the life being sucked out of her.

The wet tiled flooring turned to a blanket of grass. She looked up and caught a blurry figure staring down at her.

"Where did the sun come from?" She asked herself.

She continued to slip away from reality but she got a good look at the person's face.

The whole scenario looked like the nightmares she kept having but this time the man's face was not blurry, this time it was as clear as day.

"You survived." She heard him say.

She was too numb to move or comprehend what was happening but she could see.

"Take her Chale!" He ordered and a man Immediately arrived to do his bidding. She saw herself bring dragged against her will, she felt the pain of the small stones stabbing her and tearing away her skin, it made her cry.

"What are you doing?" She heard herself say even if her lips didn't move.

"Goodbye, Adriana."

The next thing she knew was she was falling from a height, all she could picture was Rodriguez's evil smirk as she plummeted feet below.

Then darkness called her home.

***

"She called me, I wonder what's going on?", Nathan reflected.

Adriana had been gone for minutes now and it was disturbing he missed her call.

"Excuse me, I'll go check on Adriana."

"We'll go with you." Rodriguez asserted.

"No, we won't. Go, Nathan, We'll be waiting for you." Rodriguez' wife cut in.

"Ok."

Nathan raced for where the bathroom was situated and was surprised to see smoke.

It got him more worried.

"Adriana!" He yelled when he reached the door.

It was locked. He banged it hard before realizing it had been sealed from outside.

"Why?"

He didn't dwell on his lingering question before unlocking it and rushing in.

His eyes Immediately stung due to the smoke and his nose went runny taking a sniff of sulfur.

"Adriana!" He yelled, relying on his other senses to find her since it was difficult to see.

He heard her cough and instantly pinpointed where she was.

She was cold when he felt her. He placed her securely in his arms and dashed out.

By this time, the ruckus had gained the attention of most people in the park and they rushed to the couple.

Adriana was unconscious and he could sense the tension in her breathing.

She needed air.

A good Samaritan got water and doused some on her face and it worked. She blinked and woke up.

"Are you alright?" Nathan quizzed.

"Rodriguez... He..."

"He what?" Nathan asked.

Adriana kept on receiving the terrible pictures of the fate they once encountered.

"Adriana calm down. You're not in the position to talk." Nathan cooed.

"No! She insisted, "He's the murderer. He tried to kill us. I remember Nathan, I remember everything. It wasn't my father, it was him."

"Well...well...well..." Someone clapped from amongst the crowd.

The crowded path away and allowed the speaker to walk through.

Nathan looked up to see Rodriguez pointing a gun at him.

"What are you doing Rodriguez?" Nathan demanded, stiff.

"She's said it all Nathan, Are you so dumb not to believe the truth?" Rodriguez stated.

"You....tried to kill us?" Nathan could not believe his ears.

"I did but I failed obviously and now that the truth is out, I guess I should finish what I started."

"What are you doing Rodriguez?" His wife inquired, in tears.

"I did this for us, Honey!" Rodriguez defended.

"I didn't ask you to this Rodriguez" She muttered, holding her swollen belly, "If you do this, you'll destroy us, You'll destroy out child's future. Think about it, Rod."

"Why would you do this to us? To me... I thought we were friends?" Nathan inquired, still unable to believe all this was true.

"Friends? Hardly! You see Nathan, I used to work in a classy place before I met you. Guess what, I was fired and you know why because women were in the picture. We got fired and our lives got ruined because of his mistake. When I met you, you made the same mistake but I wasn't ready to suffer for your sins."

"You did all these to keep your job?" Nathan and Adriana asked in unison.

"Not just my job but to everyone in your company whose life you could have ruined. I was their savior."

"You're mad Rodriguez!" His wife made known. She fell to the floor and began o sob heavily.

The congregation gathered around we're dazed by what was going on. Someone had called the cops.

"I know you hate me now but I had to do this for all of us, Now I'll have to finish the job, I don't care what happens to me," Rodriguez said, corking the gun and pointing it at Nathan.

"Rodriguez stop... Please! You're not beyond saving." His wife pleaded.

"I'm sorry honey but I've gone a little far. I am beyond saving."

Rodriguez put his finger on the trigger and aimed for Nathan's head. Nathan closed his eyes and expected the pain to come quickly and easily.

There was no use fighting it. It was over.

He felt Adriana hold on to his hands and it made him open his eyes. Nathan felt his face moisten as tears began to pour, likewise Adriana.

There were no words but they could feel their hearts sing.

Always and forever! It said.

The gunshot was heard and a body dropped to the ground.

Rodriguez's wife held on to the gun in her hands shakingly and tried to comprehend what she had done.

"No...." She rushed to her husband trying every means possible to resuscitate him but all means proved abortive.

"I killed him, I killed him!" She kept on repeating and put the gun to her head.

Bang! Her body dropped right on top of his.

Three lives wasted for petty revenge.

The siren noises got louder and soon the park became a hood.

Nathan and Adriana held hands, ignoring all and just sitting like they were the only two in the world.

"I guess you're not the only one who ruined someone's life." Nathan began.

"Which means we were made for each other," Adriana commented.

"I know it's the most stupid thing to stay right now considering all we have been through but I love you, Adriana."

Adriana smiled, wiping away a tear from her face.

"It's not what should be happening right now but what the heck... You know Nathan, remembering everything, I got to know something I never really got to do."

"What's that? Kill me?" He joked.

"No. Remember our first kiss at that restaurant?"

"Yes?"

"I so badly wanted to kiss you back."

"What's holding you back now?"

The ambulance sirens got louder and despite the feeling of despair in the air.

Two lovebirds held hands, staring at the destruction fate had made them cause to bring their reckless souls to meet.

They kissed passionately under the open sky, lost in time and place, not even noticing the heavy eyes on them.

THE END