A toast

I ran away, not even knowing where I should head to and where was the exit to this palace-like place. I saw a door in the corner and decided to go there and hide.

Funny how good I am at hiding.

It was all dark but odd. I looked for a light switch and I did find it. When the lights turned on, a huge family picture was revealed in front of me.

I just laughed like crazy while holding my stomach and ignoring the tears that began to fall. I came to my senses. I also violently wiped the tears that were falling from my eyes while smiling bitterly at the picture in front of me now.

"All this time, I let myself be played by this family. Lara is the sister Canim was talking about, and Lara is the sister who's trying to hide her real identity from me. For what?"

I circled the whole place, trying to steady myself despite what I discovered.

When I noticed a photo frame hidden on the side, I went to it and looked at it. I took a deep breath and stomped on that photo, causing the frame to break. A mixture of laughter and tears reigned in my body as I watched a woman next to Canim, wearing a cocktail dress like the one I'm wearing now, and the smile on Canim's face that I'd never seen before was noticeable.

"Hi, you must be Via. What makes you special that Canim has to use me to fulfill his own desires?"

I took off the bracelet I was wearing, and I looked like a lost soul, like a madman talking to a photograph. "It must be yours, now take what's yours."

I threw the bracelet on the picture frame and closed my eyes. I'm trying to understand why all this has to happen to me. How weak am I to be used to nothing?

I then opened my eyes, composed myself, and decided to finish what they started. But this time, as Kaesu who is brave, Kaesu who doesn't hold back, Kaesu who doesn't just get trampled on.

I left that room with a mixture of anger and hatred. I don't know what paths I took, and my feet just took me to the party.

It's so beautiful. Think how quickly you can be fooled by beautiful things. I've been fooled once; happy endings only happen in fairy tales indeed.

I wasted no minute and took a glass of wine as I walked in the aisle enjoying the eyes feasting on me. I can see those curious looks, those annoyed looks, those mad looks, and especially those two pairs of eyes I am looking directly at right now. The eyes of Canim were full of fear and Lara's eyes were full of worry.

"Oh, come on guys, let me enjoy the way you played with me. Quite a schemer but interesting," I stated as I got closer.

Some called security, but they knew they couldn't come closer. I saw the face of their precious father, who didn't want a single stain on anything.

I bowed down to him to mock him and said, "I'll just have a toast, sir."

I turned around to face the people and raised my wine.

"I just wanted to make a toast to this beautiful friend of mine. Who became my friend for a little while? It's a shame because it was only for a little while, but who cares? Cheers to all the lies and exploitation."

I finished the wine I was holding in one gulp and laughed. I faced Canim and Lara again, who were both uneasy about where they were now.

"There will be no Kaesu who is weak. There will be no Kaesu who can be easily defeated, and you have never met a Kaesu. Because I swear for the rest of my life, I will carry my hatred and anger towards you both."

And with that, I left the stage elegantly, making sure I had the perfect entrance and exit that the whole town would feast upon.

I was leaving the place when Lara suddenly blocked me.

"I'm amazed at how fast you run. Do you love chasing people?" I asked, having no emotions left about this nonsense.

"Please let me explain." she tried to hold my hands, but a bittersweet smile formed on my lips that made her withdraw her hands herself.

"I know you won't believe me but please, just kindly hear me out," she begged while I stood there.

She was about to speak again when a warm suit covered my shoulders.

"Lara..." I heard Antonio's soft voice but with a tone of warning to Lara.

She was left with no choice but to nod. She turned around, and I badly wanted to hug her. My tears wanted to escape again as I reminisced about those wonderful days I spent with her. I badly wanted to chase after her, I badly wanted to stop her and tell her to let this work between us, but my feet seemed to be nailed to where I was standing, and my heart felt like it was being squeezed by pain.

"Lara?" I tried not to crack my voice and tried to keep it emotionless because I didn't want them to see me as weak.

She stopped, but she didn't turn around to see me, so I continued.

"Tell your brother about the 10 million that I owe him? Let him expect it by tomorrow in his bank account."

Antonio suddenly pulled me out of there. I didn't resist. It was better that I didn't see her walking away from me because it would just break my heart into a million pieces even more.

I don't know where Antonio took me. All I know is that I'm crying while hugging my knee. I felt like being choked as my heart went heavier. I feel like I'm going crazy, as if I just want to shout everything until I'm hoarse. Hoping the moment I lose my voice will be the same moment that the pain I feel will also disappear.

"Has anyone told you how beautiful you are tonight? I could barely find enough words to describe you when I saw you coming down the stairs."

My tears seemed to recede when I heard Antonio's voice. I almost forgot that he was still there.

I raised my head and looked at him. I don't know why I couldn't be angry with him even though he was smiling in this kind of situation.

"Have you found it yet?" I asked.

He nodded and replied, "Most people would say that they saw an angel with their naked eyes open. But I would dare say, I saw the bravest woman I have seen in my entire life, walking down those stairs like the most mesmerizing masterpiece that has ever existed in this universe. Though something was missing."

"What?'

"Her smile."