The Truth About Lying

ories brought by the weather, his unease is due to the thought that his younger sister and grandmother alone at home- an old house that he would

ould have less to worry about. Still, the damn woman was stubborn about keeping him and his si

He had been tightening his belt since he started his teenage years. It wasn't just to

person anyone would expect to be sick. She brings light to a room with just a smi

n the same place since then- family, job, family, job, family, job, and friends. His best friend would often rem

rtender and manager of Dish, one of the fa

that look on the younger man's face. He had let him work for him sinc

guests who knew how to play the instrument, but he's still waiting for the day that the once happy

there was a time that he was expected to be the boy who would put Green Valley on the map of the natio

rest day," the owner says, "you can have

"I'd accept that o

morning, he would be serving at Moe's Diner; Wednesday and Thursday, he'd be at the Pearl Grey Café a

dwell on what he didn't have much more on what-ifs, the fact that his sister's doctor said the treatmen

unless you get to sign a record label, one which Sebastian has no time to look for, he didn't need anything else but the food on the table, a roof over his head

high school that Fred and Sebastian went to, says as she walks out of the kitchen, he

ce and start a conversation, one which she had been waiting for so long. It is no secret that she has been eyei

thing about her eye candy. Sebastian was a simple man wit

going

d Alma turned t

how much his sister and grandmother mattered to him, he was always car

can't drive in this

s already on his way out of the employ

would understand if you do

ed, "it's' just a little rain. I

ody up and ran to his car. He turns his eyes to his annoyed wa

wner teased, "or should

so I can curse you al

rs a shot of tequila for her.

toward him, "Give me the whole

Green Valley's newest resident, well, unofficially new

, was a town out of a storybook with its Victorian and Mason houses. Commonly passed by buses or visited by tour

an, that was saying a lot, even after she left her home country and moved halfway around the world, in a town where she knows no one, you'd think she was braver t

an't drop you off

e, "You should get going; you don't want to

t her physical safety; Green Valley wasn't just named, so just because of the mount

ranky man at the back agr

s too busy to pick him up. Deep inside, July was pretty sure his son was attempting to escape the agonizing long drive with him, throwing the other pas

new home." he says, "And listen, July, you seem like a nice girl, so be careful here, a

d out that Gerry liked to quote himself as if he was one of the wise m

say about smal

e you'd hear is the

ven past the very town the last ten years hearing the same relieved sigh of every passenger he picked from the very bus stop th

, Gerry." She says, "Ha

pocket, "And take this, in case you need to book a ticket, cal

e older man, "Thank you for the welco

ver before he pulled out back into the road. The moment the taillights of the bus disappeared, she sighed and looked up the sm

cross the night sky, followed by roaring thunder.

ontact with within Green Valley to inform her of her arrival;

es

Michelson,

while. Are you in the airport no

except for her honeymoon and that time during her teens when she was drunk enough to drive across the boundary of to

tative tone; it's hard to explain what it sounds like, but one thing she can say is that

m agree to leave London was one ordeal she wouldn't want to go through again. So the moment he gave

eason to herself, the very reason that could have made his first decision of

ready i

irl reprimanding the old woman at the end of t

at the bus stop waiting for this damn rain to let

d, hearing the disgust in the woman's voice, "I mean

and her proprietor's disgust, she was slowly feeling that she was better

to stay in," she continued, "not rats an

e. Though it did make sense, in a way, Green Valley was pretty far from other towns, and from what she had read, i

ather would make it pretty ha

b, shower but don't get in the tub. Do you have water with you? Wait, let me call Andrew and tell

line had already been cut off, and she was still stuck in t

ienced being stuck outside in the middle of a rain shower in London, so

land of the f

ep before it pulled over in front of he

you al

ice falters, reveal

to an inn? I ca

ne; I ca

ched across his car and opene

the car that looked warm and dry; maybe accepting help won't be so bad; she'd lea

into the car, "Thank you so much; uh,

"You took a wrong time

e weather; everythin

will you b

rame yet." She says

ng into before making the turn, "Road Side Inn is not the best place for a girl to stay in,

a temporary home to move into by tomorrow, my landlord is unable to pick me up tonight

To be honest, my grandmother would pull out he

s us then; I don't want

e new girl a favor and got her ou

o they'd pretty much beli

ust me enough." His smile faltered for a momen

n, small w

nice to know the people you come across the

one, would lik

e her an amused look, "You might want to

you are, I'd take it." She says and reac

lot of me in town, so feel free to ask for help, even if it's

nd, Sebastian Michelson, and again, th

He says, "Se

the car and pulled her backpack over her s

nn as if wanting to run after him. He wondered if he scared her from staying at the inn, he had half the mind of just offering her to sleep at his grandmother's

mentioned was the same woman who hung up on her earlier. I guessed

en Sebastian arrived at the diner, it was all his customers were talking about, no one kne

he night before, July Benet is a nice girl who made the wrong deci

ound the fruit stands

es you wonder where from, comin

d too, accord

ed himself from rolling his eyes and dumping the food he was

t you, but she sme

married men

nd away from all the gossip. He threw the rag on the tray along with the plates and glasses and rushed into t

d come in after school and stay until closing time; Moe even let him do his homework out in the bar when all the customers had been served; that time, Moe

oo busy with school and getting a football scholarship to even worry about those who ba

y amount of money to help with Sarah's medical needs, he was excited to leave Green Valley,

is scholarship was forgotten, the university had told him they'd put it on hold, but that was only un

oclaimed best chef in Green Valley asks as he grills who knows

tian's back story and even got to watch him perform before he gave up anything music-related, whic

de it a point to tease the boy and remind him of his age. A decade later, the younger man reminds him of ho

eftovers in the trash and running the plate

bout the new girl?" Kir

the first person to m

in the middle of the stormy night, without any hist

rst in about

theless, they should know how harsh the locals were on new people; Kirsten tried to escape town by study

asier as she is the late mayor's daughter, who he met in culinary school, and despite being the amazing cook that he is, he chose to open a d

n inn; she'd probably be ou

Harry, their dishwasher, walked into

hem cleaned now," Moe warns, not only his tardiness

der man and turned to his n

andmother showing h

Harry satisfyingly smiled to see tro

or sale." He says, fake

stian snapped, which was a firs

his apron and tossed it over a chair bef

alked past them and straight to

e another hour

t an emerge

't have

he reaches the front door,

him when Kirsten stopped

ust let him go." She wh

s Sebastian who stopped him when he came banging on their front door at six in the morning and begging for a

hat would work for both of them over breakfast that he made him memorize since it was a requirem

r; he even egged their front windows and was caught by Moe and later on punished by making

n being so diligent and good while Harry was the

slapping Harry upside his head and giving him a poin

, it was her dream house. It was designed to be simple, but its elegance gave the home a touch of

s sure that it was too low. So she insisted on taking note of some parts that needed to be fixed and

ocking chairs, the dark tone carpet and drapes had her falling in love with the house in an i

until they reached the staircase; the first room on the right was the living roo

ts or bags, even set your shoes, but by the hallway, the closet-looking door was a very small washroom for g

e brave enough to take care of the cooking, while the dining table's mismatched chairs represented the different personalities of every individual in t

fireplace was set at one side surrounded by wicker sofas; it was perfect f

t she'd be doing that soon, but the thought of people laughing and talking in that sp

mornings she'd be having. The en suite bathroom was shared by the two bedrooms that overlooked the street and looked like it came out of a ma

yet, only because Mrs. Michelson wasn't able to have it cleaned, which July pro

lp; I can send my granddaughter over,

m," July says, handing her the p

ovations; if you want to change anything, you have the right to do so, just don't kno

and

l appear!" the older woman mumbl

last fifteen minutes from the diner to his house, the whole walking in the house and making his presen

id you run fr

upport as he took deep breaths; the ache on his side was ever-present w

boy, who snatched it from her hand, drinking half of its content before pouring it over hi

you're mak

He gasped in

ing out her 60-year-old sassiness. "It wasn't you ove

n took one deep breath and stood at his full height, glar

didn't move in cause you said it would mean paying two of everything, and we didn't need the additional

ey were already exchanging words of anger. Hearing Sebastian's argument

ow, like she backstabbed him, exactly like how he looks when someone mentions his mother, the look of revulsion. He didn't understand that the money they would earn

him until she calmed down. "I swear, Sebastian, you listen to that trouble-making Anderson boy more than

, it's my house,"

ncially irrational for you to live here w

eighteen soon; w

vering, and though she is fully capable of taking care of herself, she is still under my care; until then, I

ant to argue with his grandmother or that it was awkward to have the said argument in front o

onger be his; the only sense of freedom that he had hoped for to get in having a

s the beginning and end of it, and she had a feeling unless she stepped in, the bad

lmost a whisper. "But this is my home; this is t

knew everything that he had given up for his sister, everything he had done for their family, and taking away the home that held every bitter memory of his parents w

nk wouldn't even make a dent in what they'd have to pay for when she pushed through the transplant, which was slowly looking bleak.

Mich

standing on the other side of the island; she needed

don't mean for you

smile, "I completely understand where your grandson is

is, she would be out that door in a minute and never to shadow the front steps again. The next step would be Sebast

your grandmother's account, and I need the place to stay in, cause like you said, Road Inn is…" the mention of

ropo

t her idea. More hopeful, though. "H

use

bout me living alone, and he's worried about his home; you are just across the street; I don't

e rate?" The Michel

remembering every room she saw earlier, "Besides, this is too big for one person; I just

s, July; I'm sure I can m

Thank you fo

t ni

e related though. Last night showed me what kind of person he is; I can trust a reliable guy like him a

His grandmother

July quickly says, "Or if Sebast

tian cut her off

randmother, who was just

ure about

hankful for her maternal care eve

don't think there's an

y the end of the day, but it's not like he ever cared about the gossip, and she trusted both of them, her grandson wa

bout time that her grandson is talked about for having a lady in his life

med a smile to her landlords,

"if my grandson would be living under your ca

use

en's friends do, at le

r hand, "I think that deserv

to her grandson expecting a thank you at least, but of course; ther

some groceries, so if

an can d

ve wo

er nudging his ribs with her elbow, probably bruising two of his bones; it

He mumbled, holding

his grandmother, making him raise

on't h

shrugged, "let

r backpack from the top of the island and pulling it over her sh

oor on t

ave that r

ha

room, not to mention

he grinned, "Besides, the gues

hair flew behind her, and the moment she was out of si

e hell,

with a lady now

er," He reminds her, "I think I have eno

it showed with her look and stance, "If I still need to nudge you

d a See you later to the new girl leaving Sebastian with

d men mixed is enough

from the looks of it. The weather from last night came back with a vengeance and reduced the customer in half the last ten minutes

she walked around town and decided to do the groceries tomorrow, bright and early, hoping she could borrow

es food which was Buckmead, and even that early night, there were more than

the rain just begun minutes before she came in. The good thing about Buckmead, it was, usually, most people from nearby towns or tourists,

an I ge

uscles underneath. Unlike most boys back home who'd flex their muscles to impress her, the bartender did nothing to

just sod

her a once over, "Y

n't d

n men on my bar." He poured a can of soda in a glass with ice, moved it a

t." Shakin

your coat for

he stupidity, "It was warm when I left ho

hile, I suggest always keeping one in handy; I sw

y no

the new girl everyo

t everyone i

sweetheart." He grins and starts on an order for a patron.

s around and sees men groping the barely covered wome

own that we get away with this stuf

, we are finally moving to our open mic, so if you have any requests or would like to s

down the customer's orders, she watched the man who looked more like the one from last night, and

boy." July hears Simon say, "Graduated t

lays

r player and an amazing singer; heard he used to play the piano when he was younger too. Now he's the

e stuck h

younger sister to work abroad, never came back, money stopped coming as well. The same year his sister's health turned for the wo

n, which the cook snatched it from to prepare. It was obvious Sebastian was lost in his thoughts as he just stepped out of the bar and

a prestigious music school somewhere in the country, but he

bout hi

sighed, "The town asshole married the town

?" July raised a br

mer, "but from how Sebastian talks about him, I

t the stage, which was empty for the next fifteen minutes until a man drun

ul song; being drunk shouldn't be a reason to perform this

d be hearing more of songs like that," Simon grins, "might as

her mind if she continued hearing the p