11 – Accepting Lies

When Carol left the room that morning, she saw that Jun and Ricki were already in the living room. Carol turned to the kitchen and Troy, as usual, was preparing breakfast. Carol went into the living room and approached Jun. She reached out in front of Jun's face.

"Where's your cell phone?" she asked.

Jun hissed in annoyance, but he handed the phone to Carol.

"All day yesterday you were just playing with your cellphone. You seem to be getting addicted," Jun teased.

"You are right. I'm addicted to watching the collection of videos on your phone," answered Carol.

Jun stared in shock and was about to grab his phone, but Carol had already backed away.

"But, you shouldn't keep dirty things like that on your phone. I'll delete it for you," said Carol.

Jun immediately jumped to his feet and chased after Carol who had turned and ran towards the dining table. Carol's escape is interrupted when she bumps into someone. Troy.

"Jun, stop it," Troy scolded Jun.

Like yesterday, Jun immediately obeyed Troy.

Carol was about to enter her room with Jun's cell phone, but Troy held her hand.

"Where are you going? No breakfast?" the man asked.

"I'm … not hungry," Carol replied. She had to find out about her father. "I'll eat when I'm hungry," Carol said as she let go of Troy's grip on her hand and rushed into her room.

As soon as Carol entered her room, she immediately sat on the edge of the bed and searched for her father's condition. As James said, the media had already reported about her father's condition, mentioned about the heirs, to the funeral preparations.

Carol tears fell just think about how this time her father was surrounded by the people who set up his death so much .

***

"Troy." Ricki's call took Troy's gaze from the door of the room where Carol was.

When Troy looked at him, Ricki squinted out. "There's something I want to talk to you about."

Troy glanced at his room once more before nodding and leaving the house with Ricki.

"Did you see any suspicious people around here?" asked Troy.

Ricky shook his head. "Not that, but … I guess you should see this."

Ricki opened a program on his cell phone and gave it to Troy.

"Yesterday, I checked Jun's phone to see his search history. The girl finds out about her family. I think she's got her memory back," Ricki said.

"She never lost her memory in the first place," Troy replied coldly.

Ricky looked surprised. "What? What do you mean?"

"James knew her and he made her feel as if she had lost her memory. According to him, the girl is in danger and she will be safe beside me." Troy snorted sarcastically.

"So she's been … lying to you all this time?"

Troy nodded. However, his brow furrowed when he saw Ricki's cell phone screen moving on its own, opening a search engine and typing in Harlan Hariandy's name. Then, came the terrible news article.

Harlan Hariandy is critical.

Inheritance announcement.

Funeral preparations.

The news that James had mentioned last night actually appeared there.

"Rick, don't tell me this…"

"Yeah, that's Jun's current use of cell phone. That girl …"

Troy didn't wait for Ricki's sentence to end and immediately ran into the house. He stopped in front of the room where Carol was and pounded on the door. No answer.

"Car…" Troy covered his mouth again when he realized he almost made a mistake. "Rose!" Troy call her loud.

Soon, the door to the room opened. Carol appeared smiling, but there were traces of tears on her cheeks.

"Yes?" Carol even sounded so cheerful.

Troy frowned. This girl …

"Where's Jun's cell phone?"

"Ha?" Carol looked surprised that Troy asked that.

"Give me Jun's cell phone," Troy asked.

Carol looked confused. "I … uh, still use it."

"What for?"

Carol didn't answer right away, looking unprepared for the question. "I… uh… that… I was actually trying to find out my family…"

"And what did you get?"

Carol shook her head. "There is not any. I don't remember anything."

The girl didn't even blink when she told the lie.

Troy reached out. "Give me Jun's cell phone."

Carol frowned. The girl looked reluctant, but she finally gave Jun's phone to Troy.

"Is it because I don't want breakfast?" the girl asked.

Troy also wished the reason between them could be that simple.

"Don't go anywhere without Jun and Ricki," Troy advised.

Carol sighed. "Okay, okay. I'm not going anywhere. So, can't you give Jun's phone to me?" The girl asked with a pitiful face.

Troy's gaze fell on the remaining tears on the girl's cheeks. He clenched his fists when he felt the urge to erase it. Troy sighed.

"Jun has to use it for work," Troy reasoned.

Carol frowned. "But, yesterday…"

"He's at work today," Troy cut in.

Carol sighed. "Okay. But, tell him to lend me his phone again once he finishes work."

Troy didn't answer and turned to leave with Jun's cell phone in his hand. Jun, who was already at the dinning table, stared at Troy in surprise, but Troy shook his head slightly and threw the phone in his hand at its owner.

"I'm calling you on important business, so keep your cell phone with you," he said to Jun.

Jun just nodded though he still looked confused. When Jun turned to Carol who was behind Troy, Troy looked back. He saw the girl looking down. However, when she looked up, she was already smiling broadly and said,

" Today I'm going out with Jun and Ricki . "

"No," replied Troy.

"Why? I'm going with them. You said I can't go anywhere without them. That means, if they're with me, it's fine for me to go anywhere, right? "

"Please," Troy pleaded emphatically, "don't make trouble after trouble for me while you stay here."

Carol frowned slightly, but she wore an annoyed expression. " Why are you being so fickle? You seem really angry that I refused to eat your cooking this morning. Is not it?"

That excuse would be better than the real reason for Troy's sudden temper this morning.

"Are you afraid I'll faint again?" the girl pouted. "Okay, okay, I will eat. Are you satisfied?"

The girl went to the dining table. In fact, she still managed to annoy Jun by kicking the chair Jun was sitting on.

Troy sighed and turned to leave, he was about to leave, but Carol called out to him. Troy paused.

"Are you ready to go to work? No breakfast?" the girl asked.

"I'm not hungry," Troy replied without looking at Carol and continuing on his way.

When Troy arrived in his house yard, Ricki followed him.

"What's your next plan? What are you going to do with that girl?" asked Ricky.

Troy frowned at the memory of his first meeting with the girl. The girl who should be dead appeared before Troy with white dress stained with blood. If it weren't for Troy being so kind to save her back then, she would have lost her life by now.

"Make sure the girl is safe," Troy said. "I gave him a second life. If anyone has the right to take his life, it's me. I'm the only who has the right after her life."

***