The Key

September 9, 2018

12:51 pm

Felicia del Mundo

Carlos and I are on our way home. Thank God it's a Sunday. Our drive home is a smooth lane that does not ignite fury. While Carlos is on the wheel, I cannot help but think about Guevarra's words right before we ended the conversation.

"How do I hold the key to solve all of this?" I asked Guevarra. "I know nothing about her 'husbands' and claimants."

Somehow, Guevarra managed to laugh it all off to himself. He has a laugh that mocks another person's stupidity. As his laugh died down, he looked straight at my neck as if he would behead me with a sword.

"Pretty little pendant," Guevarra remarked. "It must have cost millions."

Somehow, I felt a bit prouder about this. Knowing that my lover could give a million-dollar worth of necklace just goes to show his desire to keep me.

"Carlos gave it to me," I said smugly. "It's a wonderful gift, am I right?"

He just smiled half-heartedly. It's like he cannot believe that I just said that. "Felicia, you do know that Carlos left his family to be with you, right? All the money he has comes from his job. He does not have the millions of the Silang family."

So, now he's undermining my lover. I cannot help but began to round on him. "So? That does not mean that cannot earn millions from his job as an economist. He is at the top of his class and going stronger in his field of work."

Guevarra sighed and lowered his voice. "Yes, Felicia. It does not mean that way. Carlos cannot and have not used his money nor his family's to buy you that necklace."

The realization just came to me. Of course. A black diamond, like any other diamond, is expensive. Why would he even buy me a necklace for no occasion at all? The truth hurt me so much that I felt my voice running dry.

"What are you trying to say, Guevarra? Is it enough that you are already undermining me and also my lover?"

He just gave a triumphant smirk. "Ask Carlos yourself. He will explain himself to you."

I want to ask Carlos myself. I look at him as he drives, but he seems to hardly hide anything. I am so confused about the matter that I cannot help but sigh. All I could do is look out the window.

"What's wrong?"

I look at him again. "Huh? Sorry, what is it?"

"What's wrong?" he asks again gently. "Something is bothering you. I know it."

I look at him once more. I see his gentle encouraging smile. As much as I want to speak, I feel myself stopping short that. I feel the pendant on my neck as I think things through. Where would he get this necklace if he can't afford it?

Suddenly, I look around. We are near our home. It is a peaceful village away from the world that bothers us. Children are playing by the streets. Parents are simply watching as they have their cup of tea. At the end of the street is a modest two-storey home, fit for a soon-to-be marred couple. He parks the car at our self-opening garage. As he was about to open his door, he notices that I am not moving from my seat. He turns to me.

"Is everything alright?" he asks again.

I take a deep sigh. "Carlos, how much is the necklace?" I ask him bluntly.

"What?"

"The necklace you gave me earlier," I say to clarify what I meant. "How much is it?"

He just smiles to brush it off. "You don't want to know, Felicia. It does not matter anyway. It is for you and it suits well with you."

Something is ringing badly here. What is he hiding? How can he not tell me what this necklace costs?

"You are not telling me everything," I say flatly. "Why can you not be honest with me and tell me where it came from?"

"Felicia, the necklace is – "

"Damn it, Carlos! I just want to know how you got this, alright? Stop lying to me!"

By that time, I could feel his annoyance burning. He grumbles to himself as he walks out of the car and opens my side of the car. He pulls me from my seat and shuts the door of the car.

"Let go of me, Carlos!" I exclaim. "I only want an answer to a question."

"I shall give it to you then," he answers with a grumble in his tone.

He hastily unlocks the door. He does it so carelessly that I feel cracks as he opens the doorknob. He slams the switch for the lights and slams the door open. He pulls me to our room and finally lets go of my hand. I see him biting his lips in spite of all of these. He searches through his drawers and hands me a box.

"Open it," he says bluntly. "There. Find out where that necklace came from."

In my sheer annoyance of his actions, I take the box away from him. I carefully open the box to see the foam holding the necklace in it. Beneath the foam, I see a paper underneath it. I take the foam off to see the note. I open the note carefully. What lies before me is a note that I cannot understand.

"Happy Birthday, Felicia. Thank you for continuously being a good friend to me.

If you don't like the necklace, give it back to where I bought it. I understand that you don't like expensive jewelry coming from me anyway. Love, Christine."

What does she mean?