The drive was silent.
It was awkward silence. Sarah was seated at the passenger's seat.
While me and Cynthia at the back. Don't forget Maricar who's loving the tension she created between us.
Gino already knew where Cynthia lived, the first time she fell unconscious, it was him who volunteered to take her home.
And not for long, we entered a subdivision and stopped in front of a black gate. With walls so high, I couldn't even see what's behind the walls.
Well, every walls in the subdivision was like that.
Cynthia stepped out and told us to stay inside the car and she'll have the gates opened.
She rang the doorbell and within seconds, a maid greeted her.
"Iha, why didn't you call for the driver to pick you up?" She said worriedly.
"Yaya, open the gate, my..friends are here to visit." Cynthia said, with a smile.
The maid looked behind her through her shoulder and nodded.
Then looked back at Cynthia, and leaned forward whispering something.
I saw Cynthia nodded and flinched a bit. I wonder what it was.
The gates opened and Gino drive though, and parked the car just in front of the main door.
We stepped out of the car, one by one and I looked at the massive house.
"You people are rich." I mumbled.
Cynthia was too humble to agree, and Gino just shrugged like, Cynthia's home was normal.
Sarah in the other hand agreed on what I've said.
"My parents seems to be here, their cars are here." Cynthia said, leading us towards the living room.
We sat there, and was served with refreshments.
This was way too awkward. We weren't here to chill, but to deliver a vicious spirit to her killers. Indirectly killed her but, they're the culprits.
"Cynthia, why are you home late? Thought it's just exam day?" A woman's voice filled the room from the stairs.
And instantly, Maricar oozed such terrifying energy, enveloping around her.
For sure... That's Cynthia's mother.
"Mommy. Yeah. I got hold up in some situation at school. And fainted. Again. They're here to make sure I came home safe." Cynthia said, as she met her mother and kissed her cheek.
Compared to Maricar who's age stopped the moment she died, this woman was old.
Same age as my mother perhaps. Around 40 something.
Then another voice came, from upstairs, a man's.
"Daddy, no word today?" Cynthia moved up the stairs and hugged him.
"I do. I just came home to grab some documents form my study." He led his daughter down the stairs together.
This time, Maricar's dark energy filled the entire space.
They all felt it. The sudden chill, the drop of the temperature.
But no one said anything about it.
I could see the way they all rubbed their arms.
Gino and Sarah saw Maricar's anger going through the roof.
And then they looked at the couple, looking like a perfect family.
Nobody would think that they pushed someone to her own death.
"Mr. And Mrs. Bartolome, I'm Anthony Magsaysay, this is Gino Uy, and Sarah Estrera. We're Cynthia's schoolmates." I broke the tension first, to distract them.
"Oh Gino, I've seen him last time, such fine young man." Mrs. Bartolome exclaimed.
Sarah frowned from the remarks, and Cynthia fidgeted a bit.
"I'm taken already. Sarah's my girlfriend." Gino pulled her close and Sarah blushed instantly.
I saw the couple looking awkward.
"Honey, he might've thought we're pushing him to our daughter." Mr. Bartolome chuckled.
"Right. Sorry about that. It's just the first time he went here, he tended to our daughter quite well." Mrs. Bartolome added.
"Well of course, anyone would act like that if someone fainted. Gino's such a gentleman. Right man?" I intervened.
Seeing how Gino was clenching his fists.
And what I said added to their lists of misunderstood gestures and actions I did.
Cynthia also thought that way now.
She looked at me blushing. Like I intervened because I was jealous or something.
"The young man's right. Anthony right? Why don't we all sit down. I'll have the maid prepare dinner. I don't want a refusal." Mr. Bartolome said.
Mr. Bartolome's charm was still clear as daylight.
Now I know why Maricar kept falling for the same smile, repeatedly.
Women in love are blind.
For sure.
Sarah's already acting like one..
With Mr. Bartolome's invitation, we all agreed to have dinner in their place.
I messaged my mother that I'll be home late and was in a friend's house.
She replied with okay, and I'll take care of myself. Just ride a taxi home if there's no jeepney or let my father pick me up.
Mother's a worrywart. And I love her for that.
Moments later, we had dinner. We were chatting and all. Then the sitting position was giving it away.
Cynthia sat beside me, Sarah and Gino did too.
And out of curiosity if someone noticed her discomfort when walking, she paused mid bite.
"What do you mean?" She whispered.
"I mean, nobody noticed... Well... You know what I mean." I whispered back.
"No. I just told my yaya that I had my period. She didn't pursue it afterwards." She answered and it was almost inaudible.
And Maricar? She wasn't staying still.
She could manipulate objects, and added toothpicks to Mr. Bartolome's steak.
I saw it. Gino and Sarah did too.
Just us three. We looked at each other, and was panicking on how to stop him from eating it.
"Mr. Bartolome... Nice watch." I exclaimed and forced a smile.
Cynthia looked towards her father and giggled.
"You have an eye for limited edition boy." Mr. Bartolome chuckled.
"Millien, remove the toothpicks now." I whispered so low that only Millien could hear it.
He grunted but obliged. Whatever Maricar was doing, Millien was on it.
"I never signed up for this. I'm not your babysitter." Millien said in distaste.
"Three cookies."
"Five."
"Deal."
Millien hopped away from my shoulder and was no in front of Maricar. Don't know what he said, but the vicious spirit kept her distance.
And the points I collected? Were draining fast. Cookies were the culprit.