05

YVONNE LUIS.

MAVERICK USED to compliment me back then to be the kind of person who's good at playing pretend.

He would say that I could have received an honorary doctorate for being one. Eric is such a fan of hyperbolic things.

I am indeed, a great and fucked up pretender, but I have changed now.

I presumed, Eric would have thought right now that I'm not just a good pretender, but also a real witch who conspired against him for him to be imprisoned.

I never wanted that to happen.

I believed him the moment he confirmed that he's probably framed all along.

Siding him for several hours isn't the right thing to do, I know that. I should have called Dawn right away as soon as Eric stepped inside Uncle Bob's house.

He's a cop in Rueme Town and I am aware enough that keeping a fugitive is not far from risking everybody's sake. . . especially mine.

As I sit outside the police station, the sunrise starts kissing the bricks of their town.

My family left Rueme Town after Eric and I ended our. . . this is sickening.

I grunted as soon as I stood up from the bench. I took a glance inside, and they're seemingly in chaos.

His parents came into the police office and saw those cold eyes when they passed my spot? Neglecting their own son is the rational and last thing they can do.

What have you done, Eric? You never did that, didn't you?

I've known him as an aloof type of guy. Awkward, a bit of sarcastic and geeky vibe and somehow I think, those guarantee him, that he can't kill a person.

He even saved an injured beetle back in time we went on a trip for academy camp! Eric kept the insect until it recovers from its damaged tiny black wings.

Right, I can testify that he's innocent!

"Eve!"

A husky voice made me turn my head into the front door of the quarters.

"That guy is mentally impaired." Dawn rushed to me. "I can't believe you dated a psychopath." His tone is evidently disgusted.

I just stared at him and didn't say a word.

"And, I still don't forget that you have a lot of explaining to do." Dawn fixed his khaki sweater and finally, he noticed that everything he said didn't sit right with me.

"Are you mad at me?" He scoffed.

I looked down.

"I am not taking those words back, because what I said is true."

"That's not true." I halted as I gazed up back at his face.

Dawn was baffled, but I don't care whatever comes in his mind for opposing him.

He moved forward and was about to touch my cheek but I slapped his right hand.

"Woah, wait a crappy minute." He chortled a bit. "Turning the tables now? Seriously, love? You can't be that low like him."

Dawn approached me, "I'm sorry, 'kay? I'm worried about your well being."

Lies.

"How does it feel?" I challenged him. "How does it feel getting promoted real quick?" I smirked, "Is it satisfying to see people suffer, and you start living the life you knew you didn't deserve?"

He looked down.

"I can't believe I dated a person like you, Dawn." I said and turned my back at him.

I can't see Eric today, maybe next day I could.

As I started walking away from the quarters, someone grabbed my left arm.

"Where are you going?"

"Fuck off, Dawn!" I freaked as I removed his grip from me. "We are over!"

Dawn flinched.

"There! I finally said it!" I exclaimed as though a tiny thorn that ails my heart for more than a half year is gone.

"You can't do that." He persists with glaring but weary eyes.

"Are you stupid?" my brows furrowed, "We are done! Use your comprehension, Officer Dawn Sanchez." I rolled my eyes and stepped back.

You've gone too far Dawn and I can't tolerate it anymore.

As dramatic as he is, he made a scene.

Immediately.

Dawn knelt down below my knees.

"Get up, Officer Sanchez."

I heard him sniffing.

Passersby are starting to give us strange looks. That is uncomfortable.

"Dawn, get up!"

He looked up with his drenched cheeks. "Don't do this to me, Eve." He pleaded.

I wiped off the forming tears on the edge of my eyes then I looked away.

I both love them. I really do.

But I can't bear what he said about Eric.

Every moment Eric and I had back there at Uncle Bob's house, I craved it all throughout the years he's not around. . . all those years they kept me away from him.

Dawn finally stood on his feet.

Slowly, with his trembling left hand, he pulls out the necklace slung on my neck that I kept hiding beneath my clothes.

The ray of rising sun striked the jewel of its pendant ring. It glimmered as soon as it reflected from the sunlight.

As our eyes met, I bit my lower lip.

A threatening lifetime commitment began to crept my head and heart.