She Is Hiding Something

He tried to remember, "I think I can remember"

"I went to her today to ask her about it but she was angry and told me she will never forgive us for what happened to her husband"

"Maybe it's because of her husband's death that why she does not want to talk to us"

"No, I don't think so, she is hiding something from us" he refuted.

"So...you think Nicolas told her everything before he died"

"Exactly"

"Then why don't she report to the police? Do you think she is scared?"

"No, I think Nicolas told her not to say anything because of her children.....And you know Elvira is a strong woman"

"Yeah"

They chit-chatted on their way home...

At Gulod, Novaliches.

After the burial, Elvira and her kids went home after the long day. The door knob turned and the door opened. The light in the house were turned off making it difficult to see. She went to the switch and the light were turnes on. She turned to go to the kitchen and she looked at Nicolas picture.

Sorrow filled her heart as she walked slowly to the picture. She took the picture in her hand and hugged it tightly and began to cry. Her face were red.....

"Anak....." she ran to her daughter

"Anak, don't cry again" she consoled her but she could not hold back her tears as she began to cry. Leonel walked to his mother and began to console her.

"Nay, you will fall sick if you continue to cry everytime. You know, if dad was here, he won't like to see you cry like this. Nay, I won't be happy if you continue to cry" he stretched his hands and wiped the tears from her face.

Elvira knew that this was affecting her children so she stopped crying and immediately dropped the photo in her hand and hugged Leonel tightly

"I won't cry anymore, I won't, I promise" she said like an obedient Child.

Truly Leonel did not like the state his mother was. He wanted to see a happy smile on her face.

"Anak, go and shower first and then you should go to bed since you are already tired"

Truth be told, Elvira was already tired and her eyes were red and puffy. She stood up lazily and walked to her room.

Leonel moved closer to his grandma and asked, "Lola, is mother going to be okay?" and she smiled, "Yes, she will be"

After Elvira showered, she crawled onto her bed and fell asleep.

Next morning.

Ms belen woke up to cook breakfast for the family because Elvira was still sleeping. Leonel came out of his room and saw the table filled with food. Ever since his father died, he lost his appetite for food but today he gained the strength to eat because of the sweet aroma of the food.

"Lola, are these for us" he asked.

"Yes, apo" [TN: Apo means grandson or grand daughter]

He immediately sat on the chair, brought out a spoon and fork since he was going to eat rice and chicken adobo. He began to devour the food. Elvira came out of her room, placing one of her hand on her head.

"Elvira, what happened?" her mother asked.

"Hem..... I'm just feeling head ache"

"Come, come and have your sit". Elvira sat down and eat her food slowly.

"Elvira, are you going to get married again" she asked as she looked into her daughter's eyes.

"No way, mama, I won't let anyone replace Nicolas in my heart" she said with sadness in her eyes.

Why did her mom have to bring up this topic? Is she trying to make her daughter feel bad?

"But what about your children?"

"I can be both their father and mother" she said immediately.

"But.... "

"Mama, if he can love me like how Nicolas loved me, if he can be as gentle and nice like Nicolas, If he can love my children the way Nicolas did, If he have the same features and character like Nicolas, then, I will marry him" she was seething over what her mother said.

After seeing that her daughter was not interested in marrying anyone , she stopped talking and continued eating. Elvira will never marry anyone after Nicolas. People can say what ever they like but she will remain a widow.

As days passes by, Elvira make sure her children will not see her crying again. She played the role of a father and a mother to her children. Ms belen left when she saw that her daughter was emotionally stable.

Miguel on the other hand tried to cover up for his crimes and makes sure the police don't have any lead. He even bribed some police to close the matter since there was no lead.

On Monday morning, Elvira woke up to cook and dressed her son for schoo since Nicolas is dead now, she has to take his responsibilities. She heard a knock on the door and went to open it. She was surprised to see who was at the door.

"What are you doing here?" she was furious but decided to calm down.

"I am here to check on you since I am Nicolas friend and I don't want to fail him" Miguel said

"You don't need to check on us. Nicolas is your friend and not me"

She was telling the truth, she never took Miguel and Dino as her friend. She won't want people to think of another thing so she never befriended them. Even if Nicolas will not get jealous but she don't want to be friends with them.

"About what you said at the hospital.....can you tell me what he told you before he died"

"I don't want to talk to you, I have to take my kids to school" she walked to Leonel and held out her hands to him, "We have to go now"

"I can drive you to school"

"No thanks, can you please leave?" Miguel immediately left the house to avoid more embarrassment. She walked out the house and took a cab to Leonel school.

Miguel actually thought that Elvira was hiding something from him. But is she really hiding anything? I don't think so because that night Nicolas never called anyone.

Later at night....

"So what do you want me to do to them, boss?" a man wearing a black hat with black shirt and blue jean asked.

"Kill them"

"Okay boss" he turned and left the room

"Are you sure, you want to kill them" another man asked

"Yes, I have to. I have a feeling that she is hiding something"

At Gulod, Novaliches.....

"Fire, fire"

Elvira woke up when she heard some people screaming. She stood up from her bed and she saw smoke coming from the kitchen. She moved to the kitchen and saw fire. She ran to her kids room but only found Carissa sleeping on the bed. She lifted her daughter from the bed and placed her on her shoulder. She went out to look for Leonel.

"Leonel anak" she called out

"Nanay" he cries out. He wa trapped in the kitchen where the fire broke out.

"Leonel" she wanted to go to him but the fire was separating the both of them. Some neighbors came in to help the family.

"Elvira, come out now"

"No, I have to save my son" she cried.

One of the neighbors carried Carissa and the other dragged Elvira out.

"No, I don't want to leave my son, I want to save him, leonel" she cried

The other neighbor ran to save Leonel from the fire but it was already late. The ceiling fell on Leonel's head.

"Nooooooo....." Elvira cried