I needed to distance myself from Skylar. He shouldn’t be involved in Anthony’s case. I took a deep breath and looked away. “I don’t know why Anthony did it,” I said.
“If that’s the case, why don’t you talk to Anthony’s father, Azora? It’s easy to tell them that you had nothing to do with what happened.”
I furrowed my brow and stared at him. “Don’t tell me… Did Clasiso send you here?”
He shook his head. “No. But I know the Clasisos haven’t let you be. They want you to speak up, Azora.”
“Why?” I bit my lip. “I already gave my statement to the police, so why are they so eager to hear it again?” I glared at Skylar, but my anger wasn’t directed at him; it was for the Clasiso clan. “Do they think I’ll change my statement? What I told the police was true! I won’t change anything, even if they force me to speak in front of them! They’re wasting their time!”
I shook my head in disbelief, but Skylar fell silent. I looked at him; he was avoiding eye contact. My forehead creased. “Tell me… Did you tell them who I am?”
Skylar blinked and nodded. “I told them who you were in Anthony’s life.”
There was a long silence between us, and before I knew it, my palm connected with Skylar’s left cheek. “H-How dare you…” I whispered, teeth gritted in annoyance. “Who do you think you are to tell them the truth?”
Skylar stared at me, hurt evident on his face. “Azora,” he pleaded. “I’m sorry. They asked who you were to Anthony, and I couldn’t lie to them.”
“Scared?” I laughed bitterly. “You’re not just Anthony’s friend, are you?”
Skylar hesitated for a moment before lowering his gaze. “He was my cousin.”
Again, I shook my head and laughed without humor. I didn’t know how to process hearing that he was Anthony’s cousin. Anthony never mentioned Skylar, never told me his cousin knew about our secret relationship. He kept these things from me. Did Anthony even consider me his girlfriend? Did he hide these details because of his family issues? If only he had told me, maybe I could have helped him deal with Dad’s wrath. Maybe he’d still be alive.
I clenched my fists tightly and turned away without saying a word. Confused, disappointed, angry, and sad-I felt all those emotions. I wasn’t a good girlfriend to Anthony; I was selfish. I regretted not doing more when I watched him die before my eyes. I should have stopped Dad from killing him. I should have been there for Anthony that night. I bit my lip harder and hung my head.
I felt ashamed to have been Anthony’s girlfriend back then. I hadn’t considered his feelings and hadn’t helped him that night. I felt useless. It was too late to regret everything now that Anthony was gone. I couldn’t make up for all the ways I’d fallen short for him.
But if Dad hadn’t killed Anthony, maybe he’d still be by my side, alive and breathing. It was Dad’s fault, not mine. I gritted my teeth. Dad… why did you kill Anthony?
My mind went blank as I stopped walking ahead, staring at the wall in front of me. I hadn’t realized I was walking straight into it; if I hadn’t stopped, I might have hit my head. I gulped hard; my heart felt cold, and I didn’t know what I was doing. But suddenly, someone pulled me back and hugged me from behind.
“Azora…” Skylar breathed. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, his arms wrapped around me, pulling me closer.
“Let go,” I said coldly.
Moments later, Skylar released me. “Don’t think about hurting yourself again, Azora.”
“Stop bossing me around. You don’t have the right to tell me what to do.”
He didn’t say anything more, so I walked away, heading towards the campus gate. I called Robert to come pick me up. I sensed his confusion in his voice when he confirmed he was coming. I nodded, even though he couldn’t see me. That was one thing I liked about him-Robert never questioned me; he always obeyed my orders promptly.
I didn’t have to wait long for him. I saw his taxi approaching and stopping in front of me. I noticed the guard’s surprise when he saw the taxi. I couldn’t blame him; it was the first time I’d been picked up by a taxi.
“Miss-”
But I hopped inside the taxi and told Robert to drive off before the guard could approach.
The drive was smooth. I asked Robert to take me to North Reclamation Area, Capitol Compound Road. I heard there was an ongoing trial in the Regional Trial Court, and Dad was the presiding judge. I wanted to see him and confront him. How could he show his face in court, deciding whether the defendant was guilty, when he was guilty of his own crime?