THE CULPRIT'S VERDICT

There was nothing else I could hear when he uttered my name - my real name. I glared at him bluntly.

"You are mistaking me for someone," I countered as if what he had said did not bother me a bit. But deep within me, my curiosity was kicking badly, clenching for the idea that the person in front of me could be a foe.

"Not really. Your previous action confirmed my suspicion, Ms. Maxine Villafuerte Vista." Maxine Villafuerte Vista, the name suddenly sounded unusual and foreign to me, back when I used to hear it from my mother's mouth, now it came out from his.

"I am not who you think I am, sir, so if you'll excuse me, I need to leave." I jerked on him, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me back in front of him, effortlessly.

"Don't you want to know something? Ask anything and I shall answer, " he said. I looked him in the eyes to see if he was serious about what he just said.

I stabilized my posture and crossed my arms; deciding if I should take advantage of his offer. "Who is Maxine to you, and what makes you think that I am she?" I looked straight into his bluish eyes and waited for him to answer.

"Two people fated together have a string that pulls one to the other. I know it's you, Maxine, even with a change in your personality and appearance, I would know it's you." I loosened my grip on my other arm upon hearing his words. What did he mean by that?

"Would you please elaborate? I'm not really good at logic."

"It isn't logic, Maxine, we are fated to each other. If only-" he paused for a while hesitating to continue his words. "If only your parents did not die... if only that horrible thing did not happen, then we could have had been submitted to each other." I didn't know if my ear canal had been blocked or my eardrum just didn't send the message to the brain as I couldn't quite comprehend what he was talking about.

"Maxine, the day that your parents had died, was the day you and I were supposed to have a pact."

"What pact? Why would my parents do that?" His words were not making sense. I needed to know more. I knew that my parents' marriage was arranged. Did they plan to set mine as well?

"Your parents and mine sealed our fate before we even know it."

"My parents are dead. So whatever decision they've made before, has nothing to do with me now. It should be considered as null." I accentuated my words to make things clear to him.

"It has still something to do with you. If you'll allow yourself to be tied with me, I can protect you from anyone who is after you."

One of my eyebrows reared up upon hearing his words, my feet moved closer to him, "May I ask, to whom exactly are you protecting me from?"

I was completely unaware of his intention, but with all the heavy and huge blocks life had thrown to me, I could easily bump into anything big that hindered my way. Since the day my parents died, I didn't give a damn care about my life. No amount of threat will, nor can ever shake me. I only exist for the sake of revenge, nothing else.

I pulled my head up and took the courage to ask the question I was so eager about. "What now, sir? You can't answer a simple question?" I mocked, teasing him to speak. "Since we are the only ones here, mind confessing anything you know about the death of Maxine's family or should I say your involvement ?"

He didn't answer for a while and stared sharply into my eyes, "I have no reason to plot death to your family, Maxin- Nam rather, if that's what you want me to call you."

"Oh come on, sir, "I rolled my eyes in his seemingly innocent answer. He knew my real identity, when I didn't know anything about him. I didn't remember meeting him, not even once in my life. Wasn't it enough reason for me to suspect him? It's just you and me in this secluded area, why hesitate to confess something?" I gave a mocking look and abruptly changed it into a compelling one with my eyes narrowly staring at him.

"What makes you think that I'm involved in your family's death by the way?" he asked and I wasn't able to answer. I didn't know if it was my instinct or intuition that was scrutinizing me about his involvement, but I couldn't give him an answer as it would confirm his hunch that Maxine and I are one.

"We had a good relationship back when they were alive, you see I don't have any intention to kill them," he continued when I didn't answer him.

"You still don't believe me, do you?"

"I don't know." I embraced my self and walked back and forth whilst assessing if I should believe him or not. My desire to get the justice my family deserved had made me doubt everyone around me, even if I didn't have enough claim nor an evidence to support my suspicion.

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"What makes you so sure that I am Maxine when people believed that she had died in that tragedy?"

"I know you were alive because I was the one who brought your limp body in your uncle's car. Considering that the plot was planned well and that we know nothing about the culprit, your uncle and I decided to let the people think you owned one of those burnt bodies."

He was the one who saved me? Was he the silhouette I caught sight of before I blacked out?

"H-how? Why didn't you tell it to me before? Why say it to me now?

He reached for my hand and placed it over his left palm, sandwiching it with the other. I'd noticed that my square palm and long fingers fit perfectly in his long and soft hands.

He touched my chin and lifted it up, so my ebony-colored eyes meet his bluish eyes.

"Because in the absence of your uncle, I want to be the one who would protect you."

I was looking straight to his eyes carefully analyzing and seeing through whatever was running in his mind. I realized my hand had been comfortable with his other hand for too long a minute; I pulled it off of his hold. "T-thanks but I don't need your help. I will protect myself on my own, sorry but I still need to go somewhere." I pulled myself together and started walking towards the exit, never glancing at the person I left standing alone. Did he mean all the things he said or was he just trying to cover something with his white lie?

Whatever his intention was, I should not just trust him even if he was the one who saved me.

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I said the version of my story, it was all up to her if she'll believe me or not.

When she walked passed me, I felt a pain in my heart. I knew I wanted her since the day we first met. She had changed a lot. Back when she was still a fragile girl being bullied by others, now, she had the courage to stand against her hecklers. I followed her as she made her way out, not really paying attention as to what she would think of me. The girl I was so obsessed about was just meters away, but I should keep a distance to not startle her.

When I reached the gate of my Villa, I caught her slapping her hand on her forehead whilst standing frustratingly beside her car. The wind was blowing the black veil she had wrapped on her neck, but she stood there undeniably beautiful. Her black U-neck t-shirt emphasized her almost perfect heart-shaped face whilst the black pants she wore gave prominence to her long legs. I couldn't help but recall the feeling when my hand grasped the smooth skin on her chin, my heart gone wild and forgot its normal rhythm.

I moved toward her to check if she needed help or something, but I hid behind the tall Acacia tree upon seeing a new Maserati car stop right behind her. I didn't expect someone to come to this place as we didn't have any upcoming events or gatherings. This place only served as a venue for private gatherings. At times, it's deserted.

A guy with an athletic body suddenly came out of the car. His hood was blocking his face, I couldn't quite see if he was someone I knew.

Maxine seemed to know the man for she was conversing comfortably with the guy. I would not fret if he was her friend, but the way his sticky eyes gazed at her was different, it was filled with care.

When he placed his hands on her shoulder, it made me clench my fist. He manly opened the door of his car and let Maxine enter. As he made a hundred and eighty degrees turn going to the other side of his car, his eyes examined the place and made contact with me, that was when I recognized him... Lexter De Guzman, the only son of our biggest competitor in the business world.

Why is he here and why is Maxine with that guy?

To be continued