10: Ronquillo's Information

Twirling the pen in between my fingers, barely managing to divert my attention, I halted playing with the pen when the door suddenly burst wide open. When I turned my head, it was caused by Litty, standing in the doorway as she looked down at me.

“You alright, Dee? You’re pale.” Litty placed her bag on the center table and immediately attended to my side, who was laying flat back on the sofa.

“Yeah, just sleep-deprived.” I lied.

I tried my best to hide the internal suffering I felt. It’s excruciating, leaving me barely breathing.

“So, what’s with last night, asking us to meet at six sharp?” Key asked, hands resting on her hips. Her right one carries a large paper bag.

“I’m not the only one who finds Gwen suspicious. I asked Louie a favor.” I sat not heeding to the constant churning of my stomach and the distress galore that was building up from my abdomen to my throat.

Louie sits next to me, opening her laptop, while Key and Litty choose the single seats.

“Ya’ find somethin’?” Key showered her attention to Lou, who nodded her head in response.

Humming sharply, she started, “Gwenneth Ronquillo is the only daughter of Mister Savemonte Ronquillo and her deceased mother, Mistress Felicity Marthda-Ronquillo. Her mother died from heart failure when she was only thirteen.”

Litty raised her hand, stopping Louie from dishing out details. “You mentioned Savemonte, right?” she asked, brows meeting in the center.

Lou nodded her head, she responded, “Yes, why?”

“Mister Ronquillo was my Dad’s business partner in the oil line. One of the shareholders of this school and owned a million-dollar private villa exclusively for the Ronquillo family,” Litty added.

“An old news reported that Marthda's, Mistress Ronquillo's family got kicked out after she died,” Key stated, getting my attention.

“Wait! Does Mister Ronquillo still support the family of his deceased wife financially?” I inquire, brows knitting.

Louie shook his head. “Not a single piece of money was transferred to Marthda's. But,” she turned her laptop full of money transactions transmitted to Marthda's, “there's one member of Ronquillo's secretly transferring thousands to Marthda's. Not that much. The last successful transaction was around eight thousand pesos.”

Key cupped her chin. “Is her father aware?” she asked.

Lou shakes her head again. “Not until the last three online transactions under Gwen's name.”

“Since her father knew, there's a possibility that the reason why she joined was for us to protect her?” I asked, out-minded, eyes digging into the center table, cocking my head a little.

“Does your brain work, Dee?” Litty snaps her fingers in front of me. "We can't protect her from her father. Duh!" she said, tossing her eyes to the back of her head.

I glared at her. That's not what I meant to say! I mean, just a temporary escape from her father.

“Based on some students, bruises and scars were seen on her body when she changed into our P-E uniform. It's the day after she sent money to Marthda's,” Lou seriously stated.

“So, she was beaten by her father,” I concluded.

“And, got bullied because of it,” said Key.

“But, what's the exact reason? I don't get it,” asked Litty.

Lou's face softens. “I feel guilty about this talking 'bout her behind her back.”

I gently tapped her shoulder. “Sorry, Lou. She intrigued me, and she looks real to me.”

Louie sighed and forced a small smile.

“Of course, she will look real because she's human, Dee. Duh!” Litty hollered.

If looks can kill, Litty will be the first to drop lifeless. Her antics were annoying, making me want to zip her mouth to stop her sassiness and shut her up.

“That's not what I meant! I mean, she showed her true self to us.”

“You want to know more, D-T. It's written all over your face.” Key twirled her index finger in the air like casting a spell on me.

“There's this time when I went to the C-R and heard a conversation. I'm afraid what they say was true, that she'll be the reason for our downfall.” I'm afraid that she will be the reason why our friendship will be ruined.

“Do you believe them?” I sighed after Key asked me.

“Dunno. I mean, why do they have to ruin Gwen? They don't know her just like us, right? Or, they do?” My interest in knowing her surpasses my pride.

Key stood up, carrying her sling bag and paper bag. Litty followed suit and marched to her spot.

“We'll find out soon. Don't stress yourself too much,” Key cooed. “By the way, Dad has a gift for you. He just got home from the U-S. I've received a gift from him, too.” She handed me the paper bag.

I took a peek at what was inside and it was a full pack of almonds. One corner of my lips uplifted.

“Me, too.” Litty threw a bag of green tea that I, fortunately, had caught. “That's from Japan. I told Daddy about your condition of having trouble sleeping. He said that green tea helps, it will calm your soul blah, blah, blah. Just add honey. Daddy came home, too, by five. Don't ya' worry, he gave a gift, so accept it.”

Louie took out something from her almost traveler-sized bag. “Dad has a gift for you, too.” She placed the three layers of boxes on my lap. “He knows that you love foods more than souvenirs. I told him because that's what you are as a Taurus. Taurus people tend to love food as a gift instead of material gifts.”

I beam widely at the food in front of me.

“Send them my glad regards. For sure, I'll feel full later on.”

My chuckles halted when my stomach simmered. The corner of my lips twitched. This is bad.

“Eat a proper meal first before indulging that!” Key shouted from the 2nd floor, her spot, and she owned it.

“But, can I taste it a little?”

“NO!” they shouted in unison.