Chapter 35: Innocent yet guilty

King and Gio brought back the drunk Leandro to their boarding house.

The drunk Leandro was lying on his bed. Gio was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee. King was half lying on his bed.

"Do you think it was alright?" Gio asked.

"Whether it's right or not, it doesn't matter now. The plan has been executed. There is no going back." King replied.

"But, Leandro was right. We are violating Jovanni's rights. We even drugged him..."

"I know, but I said I will take responsibility. Jovanni can hate me alone, in case he cannot accept it. I just want him to get over Kirt and ruin that jerk's dignity. Let's see how his face turned ugly after seeing this." Kirt said while spinning a mobile phone in his hand.

"Don't you think it's quite risky? What if you fail to destroy that phone. That video might spread. It can ruin not only Jovanni but Pia too." Gio was worried.

"Don't worry, I know that IT expert very well. He can be trusted. After that bastard played the video, this phone will self-destruct. No one can retrieve the files recorded here."

"I trust you." Gio said. "But I feel guilty. We have wronged Jovanni, and that girl too."

"We may be wronged Jovanni, but not Pia. Can't you see how eager she was? Jovanni is young and handsome. She is a pick-up girl that is used to selling services to old and ugly men."

"She is what?" Gio yelled.

"She is on the city's green book."

"What the heck is green book?!"

"It's a secret book where ladies who sold that kind of services are listed. It is mostly for tourists."

"So, you are giving her to Jovanni. What if she got some STDs!" Gio yelled again.

"Don't worry. She's only listed two months ago. Though she looks wild, she is still pure. She didn't sell her body yet."

"How did you know?" Gio was skeptical.

"I knew her personally. We came from the same hometown. She's a junior nursing student at BU. Her family was doing well before, but his father got sick. Their wealth was depleted in his medical fees, so she was forced into that kind of business. She was boyish before and had no boyfriend, so she asked me to do it with her. You know what I meant right?" King asked.

"Yes, I know."

"She asked me to do it so that she can finally offer herself to those customers because she needs more money. She's now supporting her study, and her father still needs medicine. She's the eldest, so she needs to finish her study to support her little siblings. Gio, I won't harm Jovanni. Well aside from hurting his feelings, I won't push him to an edge where he's going to fall."

Gio was listening intently, stirring his coffee.

"I know you won't, but knowing Pia's pitiful story, my guilt doubled. Jovanni and Pia, are both pitiful... King, calling her a pick-up girl is quite disrespectful. She's forced to do it."

"I know. I just blurted it out. I don't mean any disrespect. I know Pia won't do that job if she wasn't forced to. I know no woman would want to be listed on that fucking green book if they weren't in dire need."

The next day, Jovanni was sitting opposite Pia on the same balcony. There were two cups of hot coffee and cookies on the table in between them. Pia was stirring her coffee, while Jovanni was just sitting still. He was lost in his thought. When he woke up, he was already on the bed in the room. Pia was beside her. When he recalled everything, he clenched his fist. He was upset, angry, embarrassed...his emotion was chaotic, but he cannot bring himself to hate his friends. He knew that his friends, especially King were just thinking of his welfare, it's just that, their means were improper and inappropriate.

"Pia, I'm sorry..." Jovanni said after a long moment of awkward silence between them.

"Jovanni, you don't have to. The fact is, you are helping me too. You see, I am in this kind of business, but my purity is holding me back. I don't want to give it to those lustful men. To tell you the truth, I asked King to do it with him... Good thing he arranged it with you. I have no regrets, really. If only...

"Pia..." Jovanni cut Pia's words. "I sympathized with you. If this happened before I meet Kirt, I will be responsible... But, I can't. I can't wrong you and myself too. Pia, my heart is broken by Kirt, but I can only mend it myself. This broken heart of mine can't take you in, so... I am sorry... About what happened to us last night, I can't take responsibility..."

"I know!" Pia answered and laughed bitterly. "Jovanni, I do like you the moment I saw you. And at this moment, if you ask me to be your woman, I will agree even if I need to put everything aside, including my future...and my family's welfare... Hahaha I can't believe this is how crazy I become when I like someone..."

"I am sorry..." Jovanni was very apologetic, but he can't just change his mind out of pity.

There was a moment of silence. Pia regained his composure after a while.

"You don't have to... Between the two of us, you are the wronged one. You are set up and forced to do something against your will, so Jovanni, you don't need to apologize. You don't have to feel guilty."

"Thank you." Jovanni sincerely uttered.

Pia smiled, staring at Jovanni's face. Then she stood up.

"So, I guess everything ends here. Jovanni, I'll head first." Pia stood and left.

"Pia..." Jovanni called. Pia's steps halted, she turned back. "Please live well..." Jovanni said. He wanted to advise her to find another job, but those words didn't come out.

"I will!" She said waving her hand.

After Pia left, Jovanni leaned on the couch, closing his eyes. He had just woken up, but he was exhausted.

Few minutes after Pia left, Jovanni heard footsteps entering the room. He thought his friends were coming, so he just sat still, but a familiar yell echoed not long later.

"Jovanni!"