chapter 8

Whose there? Show yourself at once." sneered Nucho.

From behind the tree came a shadowily figure of a girl.

"Don't worry. It's just me, Vivian." she said as she walked towards him with a bottle of wine in her hand.

Nucho stood up hurriedly, "How long have you been there?"

"Long enough to hear whatever you cried out." Vivian said calmly.

"You were not supposed to hear that," his words were unfeeling as cold ice.

"You will have to face the consequences of what you heard."

"The same thing applies to you as well." she said and went ahead to sit in the place where the waves had yet to hit, looking at the sunset sky.

The crimson sunset glow was majestic and beautiful.

Nucho stood behind her, wondering what exactly she meant by saying that and what she might have been doing at the beach, that late and alone.

He walked towards her and quietly sat next to Vivian, staring at the setting sun.

After taking several sips on the wine, Vivian looked at the sea level and murmured, loud enough for Nucho to hear. "You must be upset now, as you sit here alone for a long time. It's said that getting drunk can relieve one's worries, pain, and Enxieties. I don't want to be drunk alone. Do you want to get drunk together?"

Nucho took away the bottle from her. He took several sips of the wine, and a few drops slipped down from his thin lips.

He was a bit tipsy and said, "Having a lot of money, good things, influence, power and being the son of the mayor is fun and all, not until you finally realize and find out the origin of your accumulations, and the secrets and lies you have to hold on to just to maintain, keep or multiply whatever you have. I was just ten years old when I witnessed the first serious fight and argument between my parents. I thought it's just one of their regular arguments, but it was much more. Mom found out that dad was involved in some shady underground business. Whatever it was, it was really serious and bad cause mom was dead serious to stop dad and end his shady business.  Mom kept on trying her best to ignore her suspicions, till one day, when she learned the whole disgusting truth about dad. When dad found out that she was about to expose him, dad stopped at nothing to prevent her from proceeding, that one day he was left with no choice but to take away her life in my presence and blamed one of the works for moms death. Upto now his bars for a crime he did not commit.

God was and will always be unfair. He does not feel guilty at all. He takes and takes, especially the lives of the innocent and the ones we love, and preserves those strong, ruthless, heartless ones. And there is even no sign of stooping, I guess that explains why I turned out to be the way I am, the way I act and treat and react to people. I have nothing left that adds meaning to my life. What else can be taken away?"

He couldn't help himself after drinking a little more wine, complaining about his life nonstop. Vivian just sat there listening.