Chapter 10: The Revelation

Zephyr Romeo's POV

I slowly opened my eyes. Even though my body still ached, I tried to sit up because I realized the room I was in was unfamiliar.

"Dad?" I called out when I saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, reading the newspaper.

"You're awake." He stood up and walked over to me, sitting beside me on the bed.

"Where are we?" I asked, glancing around the room. It looked neglected, as if no one had lived there for a long time.

"Don't you remember this house?" he asked, furrowing his brow. Suddenly, memories flooded back into my mind.

"Is this our old house?" I asked, and he smiled in confirmation.

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, my voice trembling with confusion.

"Sorry, son. I shouldn't have let you meet the public yet. You got hurt because of me. So, I had to hide you."

"But, Dad, this isn't your fault," I said, placing my hand on his shoulder.

"From now on, you have to stay here," he said.

"But, Dad, I can't. I still have things I need to do," I said, resisting.

"I can't risk your life again. Please, just stay here. I'll take care of our enemies."

I stood up, holding my shoulder where I had been shot.

"Take it slow," Dad said, supporting me as I tried to stand.

"I'm fine, Dad. I can still wear my disguise. They won't recognize me."

Dad stood and looked me in the eyes.

"Can you please stop this?" he asked softly.

I let out a bitter laugh. I couldn't back down now.

"Are you serious? You're the one who wanted this," I said, my voice rising slightly.

"That's exactly why. I want you to stop. I've moved on from your mother a long time ago."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing loudly. I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

"Why are you so selfish, Dad? You want me to stop because you've moved on?!" I wiped the tears from my eyes and looked at him. "What about me? Even now, the memories are still fresh—how that woman tricked us. And I won't allow any woman I meet to have an easy life."

"Do you love Trina?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

Why is she suddenly part of the conversation?

"What?"

"Is Trina like the woman you want to hurt and destroy, like the others?" he asked.

I clenched my fist at his question.

Tsk.

A woman is what a man needs. She'll be his partner in life. She'll love him, understand him. She'll stay with him through the hard times and the good, until they grow old and die.

But when I was a kid, I didn't see any of that in my own parents. All I heard were arguments and the sound of bodies slamming into each other every night, followed by crying as if someone was dying. I would cover my ears, trying to block out the sounds of those sobs because they haunted me in my nightmares.

Mom and Dad— they never got along. Mom had another man, she was cheating on Dad. I grew up angry at my mother for leaving us for another man.

When I'd come home from school, I'd find Dad drinking alone in the living room, with the lights off. Whenever I'd approach him to greet him, his sad face was always there to greet me. I felt sorry for him, and that's when the anger started building in my small heart.

I still remember the words Dad whispered to me before I went to sleep:

"Zephyr, son! When you grow up, don't be like me, losing your mind over a woman. You should be the one they lose their minds over. Get back at them for me, son! Make them pay for what they've done. I want you to destroy the lives of all the women you meet, just like they ruined mine."

Those words stuck with me. Every time I woke up in the middle of the night because of the sobbing from the other room—Dad was crying. I'd approach the door and press my ear to it. His sobs were heart-wrenching, and it felt like I was the one in pain. I clenched my small fist and promised myself that day I would fulfill his wish, that I would make every woman I met suffer, and I would find the woman who caused all this—my mother.

I looked at Dad, and the anger in my heart flared up as I remembered those moments.

"Yes! And I will do everything to destroy her and every woman I meet. I'll pretend I love them, like Romeo the nerd, and once they fall for me, I'll ruin their lives—just like that woman did to you!"

I couldn't stop myself from shouting at him. Remembering that past, I couldn't hold back the fury building up inside me. I wouldn't stop until I got revenge on that woman. If it weren't for her, maybe we'd still be happy, a complete family.

"Son, I'm sorry." Dad's apology confused me.

What did he do?

I looked at the door as it slammed open, and I saw the woman I never expected to see here.

"T-Trina?"

"You're awake... Romeo or should I say Zephyr Romeo Anderson!"

"What are you doing here?!"

"Sorry! I was worried about you, so I followed you... I shouldn't have. Maybe I wouldn't be hurting like this." Tears started to fall from her eyes, causing a sharp pain in my chest.

Did she hear everything?

Why am I feeling like this? I shouldn't care if she finds out, and I should be happy because I've already hurt Trina.

But why am I not happy right now? Is it because I couldn't do what I wanted with her, since she found out?

I looked at Dad, who was looking down. I clenched my fist. I felt betrayed by my own father.

"Trina, let me explain—"

I didn't finish my sentence because she slapped me hard across the face.

"This is for the lies you've told me and your mother."

She slapped me again.

"This is for making me feel like I was loved, when it was never true."

She turned away, but then she faced me again, tears streaming down her face.

"Congrats, Zep. You won! You've played the role of a great liar perfectly!"

She screamed before walking out of the door.

Trina's POV

After what happened that night, I didn't go to school. I also resigned from the bar because I knew I would see that liar there.

I felt so foolish, so many times I had suspected his true nature, but I ignored it. The pain was overwhelming, and I never thought I'd be hurt by another man for the second time.

"Child." Mom's voice called to me, and I felt her sit on my bed, but I still didn't get up.

"What really happened? I keep finding you crying at night. Did you and Romeo fight?"

Despite trying not to cry, I couldn't stop the tears. I looked at Mom, and worry was written all over her face.

"Let's not talk about him, Ma, please." I said, finally getting out of bed and heading for the door. Mom followed me, and I went straight to the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"I'm just worried about you, kid. You haven't been going to school, and you resigned from your job. If there's something wrong, I'm here for you, I'm your mother—how could I not be there for your problems?"

I put the glass down in the sink and clutched my chest. My eyes couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

At first, I cried softly with my back turned to Mom, but when I felt her arms wrap around me from behind, I broke down, and all the pain I was holding inside exploded.

"Ma! It hurts so much! Why is this happening to me? Ma, I can't take it anymore! It feels like my heart is being stabbed over and over!" I cried out loud, my knees giving way as I collapsed to the floor.

"Sweetheart, you'll get through this. I'm here for you. Just let it all out, let it ease the pain you're feeling."

"Mom!" I looked up at her as my tears flowed faster.

"Why did I deserve this? Why can't I ever be happy? Why do they always deceive me?!" I screamed, overwhelmed with anger and sorrow.

I stood up and opened the fridge. I saw the tuna that Romeo had brought for me, neatly wrapped in cling film.

I clenched my fist and took the tuna out, throwing it on the floor.

"Did he think he could win me over with this? That jerk!"

Mom tried to stop me, but I wouldn't listen. I stomped on the tuna until it was crushed.

"Ah!" I screamed, collapsing to the floor.

"Enough, sweetheart!" Mom hugged me tightly, calming me down. She was crying too, and I felt guilty for my outburst.

"I'm sorry, Ma," I said, returning her hug.

"It's okay, sweetheart. I know how much you're hurting because I've been through it too. I'm your mother, and I know how deep your pain runs."

I held my head, feeling dizzy.

"Ma, I feel so sleepy again," I said faintly, and then everything went black.