Beth

A major mistake.

I gulp waiting for her to respond at the same time glancing at him, now mortified of what he said. His face shows he’s clueless about what’s going on. Neither I. Both of us didn’t know why she starts acting cold unlike moments ago.

“What do you want to know about her?” she asks in a cold tone and looks at us with suspicion. We remain stationary, as our eyes remain at her. Yet, her sudden change keeps me going, as if there's more to tell about Alexandra's story. More than everybody knows. If not, why would she act like that?

I get a grip on myself, clenching my knuckles until they grow white. My throat goes dry forcing me to gulp to ease the uncomfortable feeling deep inside me. My chest tightens and my temple aches, waiting for my mouth to speak the words I want to tell her. This is my only chance. It’s a dire situation.

“We want to know Alexandra’s story, Aunt Jessica.” Finally, they come out without bothering too much of her reaction. I choose not to care because I bother more of my grades than her response to my request. My diploma is at stake here.

“Why? Why do you want to know about her, Beth?” Her stares are intense to swallow. Her eyes seem enough to strangle my throat and fall into unconsciousness any time now.

Should I tell her because of my project? That I need Alexandra Montenegro’s story to get an A grade in Mr. Dizon’s class and finally pass my college diploma?

“I want to recall her story you told me when I was young,” Kaiser says, saving me from the deadly stares. Relieved, I release an exasperated sigh. She sips her coffee without breaking lose of her eyes at him. “I r-remember you told me about your friend and your weird relationship with her.”

“Do you think I’m dumb to believe your reasons, Kaiser? Why would you travel that far at this hour for a simple recall, eh?” She sounds sarcastic this time as she sips another drop of her coffee.

I gulp peeking Kaiser, trying more ways for his aunt to spill the beans. He knows I need the scoop that much. “I know there’s far deeper than that stupid reason. Right, Beth?”Her inquiry startles me. Damn, she’s way more intense than I thought she’d be. What should I do now?

If this conversation won’t go well, where do I go next? Kaiser, help.

“Aunt Jessica, how can you resist a request of your favorite nephew?” he pleads like a young, clingy boy. It’s his familiar tactic to manipulate other people’s emotions like he does at me at the cafe. Trying to make them feel bad about something petty.

But for Kaiser, when he wants something, he’ll get it. Even if he needs to look stupid in front of someone, he’ll do it. He’s an annoying, pestering but good-looking man.

She sighs out of disbelief, shaking her head as she places her cup on the table.

A minute of silence follows when she leans against the back of her chair, crossing her arms together. That same moment gave me a good glance at her face, looking more aged than she had in the photo hanging on the wall. “Well, well, well. Fine, I’ll tell you about her.”

She pauses and smirks as she looks at us. We smile, although it feels horrifying, at least she finally gives in with Kaiser’s final sweet blow. When she prepares herself to reveal the least part of Alexandra’s story, I try to keep my impatience in control. I couldn’t wait until she finishes her coffee and starts telling her story.

As she places her cup with a blank stare on it, I gulp. “Alexandra Montenegro. Well, she’s my friend. My close friend.” She smiles, rubbing her fingertips on top of the mound of the cup, dragging her spoon from side to side. The sound it emits create that disarranged melody but satisfying. “I was at my third year in college that time. A student council president in San Nicholas University.”

My gut tells me my assumption is right from the very beginning. That Aunt Jessica is no ordinary woman, given her quick wits and sarcastic remarks. An officer in her student life. Not only any other officer but a president.

“It was during recess time－," she pauses. "－when the college dean asked me to meet Alexandra with a journal she needs to write. So, I ran around the campus searching for her. And damn, she’s difficult to find.”

She covers her mouth when she laughs. I smile thinking of her struggle back then. “After an hour looking for her, I found her sipping a tetra pack of orange juice at the canteen. I gave her the notebook and her eyebrow rose when she grabbed it. Annoyed.”

“She’s quite impatient, isn’t she?” Kaiser asks smiling with her aunt’s story. She nods agreeing to him then she looks at me with a smile.

She adds, “That was the same time when I realized she’s someone who will change my life forever. She fought against the VIPs. The notable bullies."

She tilts the mug, shaking it a bit. "They come from the rich families. She doesn't care about their economic differences." Right from the very beginning, she’s up for justice," she exclaims, as she drinks the coffee. "That’s the thing I’ve admired from her. Until now, that lesson remained in me and your Uncle Lucas.”

Before I could utter a word for my inquiry, she stands to head to her room leaving the two of us alone at the dining table. I fail to notice I’ve been silent all the time. For whatever reasons, there is something about Alexandra that keeps me up. Far different from the prisoners I interviewed earlier. It’s definitely something different. And excitement is an understatement.

Alexandra, what’s your story?

Later, she returns with a book on her hand. A thick book with colorful pastel cover. When she sits, she hands it to me and my eyes immediately fall in love with the design. “The Guy Who Took My Locket: How To Experience Limitless Miracles of Forgiveness. A novel by L. Mendiola.” I read the book title in a whispering tone.

I glance at Aunt Jessica, as I open the cover, flipping through its pages. My eyebrows furrow, wondering what about this book and how it relates to Alexandra’s case. There is nothing. Only random scribbles－underlines, circles, boxes －scattered all over the pages.

“That’s Alexandra’s favorite book. She’s been reading that a long time ago when it was first published. That helps you with your journey,” she says.

“Aunt, what do you mean?” Kaiser asks with a clear sense of doubt in his voice. Her smile feels weird as if something is up. Something is wrong.

From the way she smirks somehow tells me a bad omen is coming next. My gut churn, feeling its twisting motion inside me. “My story ends here, guys. You need to find out Alexandra’s life on your own.”

“But－” I say, but she interrupts it with her palm raised at me. She stands and yawns, stretching her arms up. A distracting alibi, leaving the two of us flabbergasted and clueless. “Sorry, guys. But that’s all for tonight. I want to sleep now. Go ahead.”

We both stand from our seats with fear printed on our faces. She turns and smiles as if she craves to play pranks on us. “Take that book with you. Let it be the start of your journey. If you uncover something about her and if you can tell me her story, I’ll tell you the rest. Now off you go, fellas.”

Without waiting for our response, she heads towards her bedroom and slams the door shut.

“Scheiβe,” Kaiser cusses in German as soft as he could, clucking afterward. I glance at him and back to the book in my hands.

Facing down, I sit back and lean against the back of the chair. I sigh, while flipping the pages without no clue to start. Damn it. “What should we do?”

He shrugs, as he leans against the back of the chair, jaw-dropped and sighed. He rubs his face with his hand and covers it to hide his disappointment and surprise from his aunt’s behavior.