This Ain't a Fairytale

Chapter 30: The failed k********g – returning as Anna

“You better stay where you are if you don’t like to break your neck.” I said as he laughs creepily.

He is about to walk towards me again when the door of one of the stalls beside me opens and Clide and Zyrem walk out of the next stall beside the stall next to me and stand in front of me blocking my view. Mera walks out of the first stall right next to me and she stands beside me crossing her arm on her chest.

“You were right; he is following you.” Mera said with a smirk as we all look at the man who is now wide-eyed looking at the others.

“H-How did this happened? You all left. Wait! You all planned this. You trapped me. The two guys left but never leave so was with her.” He said shocked looking at me angrily.

“Ping pong, you’re right. We planned this to catch you. But you are wrong about one thing. The two DID leave and went to the car. It was the time you come here that mattered. After all, we need to prepare this all.” Mera said as she smiles cunningly.

Zyrem and Clide run towards the man and in mere seconds Clide is holding him down. While Zyrem hands me the camera. I scan through the images to see all photos of me and my companions. I am right that he is following me right from the start, I see a picture of us walking out of the elevator of STAR company and a picture of us walking into the car.

“Touché you can be a great photographer with this quality of pictures. It’s just a pity you used it for doing bad things. Now, tell me who paid you to follow me?” I said as I stand in front of the man who is pinned on the floor by Clide.

The man just grins and looks away. I am starting to get pissed though it is useless for me to ask that since I already have an idea that either my uncle Marz or aunt Joleene might have been the mastermind. Those two are my suspect or it can also be my cousins but they are not going to do this stupid thing rather they might do something more than this. This is like old-fashioned plotting. If those cousins of mine, they might do something more terrifying like what kids nowadays do.

“Well! Perhaps Clide and Zyrem can make you talk. I’ll warn you though, they are trained for this. It will be very painful.” I said and I turn to leave while Rose follows after me as she grabs my arm.

“We will be at the bookstore, gentlemen enjoy.” Mera said with a cold smile as we walk out of the door and we heard the first punch.

Mera places the out-of-order sign before we walk out of that hallway.

“Do you think it will be okay Mera? I mean, letting Clide and Zyrem do that.”

“Don’t worry Clide and Zyrem will not overdo it. Besides if he won’t talk I already called a friend of mine in the police to come and get him.” Mera said as we head towards the book store.

“I don’t know, I’m not sure about this. I don’t want Clide and Zyrem to be in trouble.”

“Girl, they are your bodyguards. They OUGHT to be in trouble. Don’t worry too much, everything will be alright.” Mera said.

After an hour of strolling the book store Clide and Zyrem join us. I look at them worriedly and they just act as if nothing happened. I look at their clothes to look for any evidence but they are way too clean. I see no drops of blood, no smudges, no watermark, no dirt, and no even sweats they look so clean and handsome. We went to the coffee house where Mera asks them the questions I want to ask.

“He said he was ordered by their boss who was paid by a man wearing a cap and a sunglass. They were approached when they are drinking in an alley. The man gives a specific instruction to kidnap you and….” Zyrem stops that I and Mera look at one another.

“What?” Mera said as Clide and Zyrem are reluctantly looking at each other.

“He wants them to do what they want to do to you but to make sure that you will die. He even wants them to send your corpse to your parents.” Clide said as my eyes widen and Mera gasp then clench her fist and hit it to the table in anger she suddenly stands making her chair fall on the floor.

“W- WHAT! What a devil thing to do. I got the feeling that the one who paid them is one of your crazy relatives. Oh my God! I really can’t believe this. It’s a good thing we catch him before he could succeed in his mission.” Mera said while I am still taken by surprise.

“He said he has some companions waiting on the parking lot. He was supposed to take you and d**g you. He then will carry you to the parking lot where the others are waiting.” Clide said making me shiver in frustration.

Mera holds my hand as she sits back on her chair that Clide fixed for her. I look at her then I smile bitterly, this is why I have doubts about my Cinderella-like life here. But I am not Cinderella who will wait for a prince to save me or just look at the floor as they bully and insult me. I will have to show them another side of me, I’ll show them that they have hit a thicker wall that can give them back the pain but more pain.

“So- So what did you do to that man?” Mera asks when I can’t still talk due to being angry and thinking deeply about who has the guts to pay someone to kill me.

“Your friend together with the other police came to take him. Then they arrested his companions in the parking lot. They said they’re going to send them somewhere they cannot be freed to until they will tell them who their boss is and who paid them.” Zyrem said and I close my eyes before taking a deep breath.

“I got the feeling that this is just the beginning. Let’s find another place to forget about what happened here.” Mera said as I just nod as I smile bitterly and take my bag on my chair before looking at the others.

“Let’s go to the movie. I saw that the movie showing now is Despicable 3 it will be fun.” Mera said as I follow behind her after Mera swipes again her gold card to the machine to pay our bills. We head towards the counter where tickets are sold. Mera paid the ticket after we get to argue who will pay and we end up laughing together.

“I really can’t believe that we’re arguing as to who will pay. When we were Rose and Anna we always ask each other for a treat.” Mera said laughing as we walk into the movie room.

“I know right; this really is a crazy thing to happen.”

“Yap, let’s forget our worries and just imagine that this is a happy date. Right Clide?” Mera said as she grabs Clide’s arm and pulls him beside her as we enter the room.

After that we all head to Sky Mansion. I introduced Mera to mom, dad, and the others. It appears that Sammantha and Henry are still out for a date making me look at Mera. We both enter my room where we will stay for the night before we will return tomorrow noon to Baguio. My brother Rafael’s wedding is the next day after tomorrow so we need to prepare and I need to buy a wedding gift for them. Since I can afford to buy a gift I plan to buy the others some gifts too. I bought some cellphones for each of my family members who have old fashioned ones, mp4 for my niece Clyra who is 4 years old now, and a laptop for my sister Daisy who is back in the province and looking for a new job in Manila. Well, I feel bad using the money my parents are giving me but they clearly want me to use that money. One time they see that I never touched it and they look so hurt. Well, I am already called to be an opportunist by those people who are not really deserving of the money so why not.

“This is my second time here; I can’t believe I didn’t notice how lovely this place is. Well, I can’t enjoy your party that time since I got so occupied thinking about meeting Henry. What are the odds, I really can’t believe that both of our turns to be like THIS?” Mera said as she points at the two of us.

I just laugh as I wipe my wet hair and sit on my dresser. Clide and Zyrem are on my door waiting for further instruction while Beth is right behind me fixing my hair as she dries my wet hair with the hair blower.

“I heard you have one cousin who is staying here at the moment? How is he?”

“Oh, you mean Cole? He is my uncle Marz’s son but I am pretty sure he is here so he can stay away from his parents. He is quite different from the others. He might be cold, silent, and harsh and with an unpleasant attitude but… he seems nice, he is handsome too.” I said as I look at Mera in my mirror.

“Aha, so he is cold but nice, harsh but handsome and with unpleasant attitude but likable. I want to meet this Cole guy.” Mera said making me sigh seeing her teasing smile.

“Milady is right; Sir Cole is a nice person. He was… he was the one who carried Milady that night you were nearly kidnapped. He carried you until here and carefully lead you in the bed. He even called the family doctor and cleaned your wound as he waits for your parents to settle those guys and come see you. He even ordered me to clean you with warm water seeing that you are messy that time and to change your clothes to a nicer one that won’t touch your wounds.” Beth said making me look at her from the mirror in disbelief.

So Cole did that all. Why hasn’t he told me or even ridicule me about it? Cole is somehow hard to understand and confusing.

“Ohhh how mysterious and odd? Will he be a foe in disguise or a friend in distress?” Mera said as she lay on my bed.

“What do you think Mera?” I ask looking at her as she gazes up to the ceiling.

“I have to meet him and get to observe him. But…… if he turns to be a foe in disguise…… I will kill him myself.” Mera said looking in my direction and we made eye contact through the mirror, I don’t know why but I feel threatened seeing how cold and serious Mera is.

“Beth you can go now thank you, tell Clide and Zyrem they can rest for now. I will be fine here with Mera.” I said and Beth bows before she turns and walks towards the door.

 In the morning we spend our time on the plantation taking fruits and riding horses. Then at 2 pm, we prepare to return to Baguio.

“Mom dad these fruits and wines are too much. How can we be able to carry these all back to the province?” I utter in surprise when we see that the car is being loaded with boxes of apples, grapes, and mangoes. I also see two boxes of expensive wines, a famous product of the Villaflors.

“Don’t worry Clide and Zyrem will accompany you. We will be sending a car for your use from our company branch in Baguio. We are sorry if we can’t be able to attend. This is the least we can do as a gift to your family for taking good care of you.” Mom said smiling as she hugs me.

“Mera take care of our daughter okay. Also, take care of yourselves.” Mom said as they kiss me and Mera right on our forehead, I can see that Mera got surprised but she just smiles and nods.

“You have nice parents just like your grown parents back in your province. Remember that time you brought me home and they arrived. They are way too nice to me and treated me as if they know me for a long time. The same as what your parents here did upon meeting me.” Mera said as we are sitting on the passenger’s side of the car while Clide and Zyrem are in front as Clide drives.

“Yah thank God for that, it is only a pity I have some greedy relatives.” I said with a sigh as I look out of the window.

Mera hasn’t got the chance to meet Cole since he was forced by his father to see him discuss the project proposal thingy. Henry and Sammantha also never appeared since they have a business meeting somewhere I don’t give a damn. I take a deep breath when we finally arrive at my boarding house using the car my parents have asked some of their people in the company branch here in Baguio to send us to the hotel where we landed. Mera also went home to her mama Angie, her nanny that stands as her mother as Rose. Clide and Zyrem are with me. Early in the morning, we borrow my Uncle Oliver’s car to go to SM to shop for things we might need in the cold province. We left the car we used since it is full of boxes of fruits and wines and also the paper bags full of my gifts to my family we are going to bring home. I and Rose are still in our get-up as Zam and Mera as Clide drives us to SM.

“Are you sure we are not followed here by some creepy persons who might be paid by your crazy relatives?” Rose asks as we look out of the window.

“I don’t think so. No one of them knows where my real parents found me. All they know is I am found somewhere here in Luzon. I hope no one will find out or my family here will be in danger too.” I said with a deep sigh.

“Yeah, I hope so too. Your family here is way too nice to be involved in such a family feud.” Rose said making me sigh.

I really hope so too, I can’t get the mix in this, or I might end up doing something everyone might hate me for. I can’t let anyone hurt my family just for stupid inheritance.