Chapter 46: His Life On Her Arms
[EXELLOR ONEIRO'S POV]
I remembered the time, that I was innocent from the truth. Everyone wanted something real, and didn't buy the fairytale bliss made by purely lies and imagination, just like storybooks. But somehow, people managed to weight the two: some preferred fairytales, while some preferred reality... but the two had this similarity called time. Time is real. Neverending. Continous.
I, realizing such thing, gave meaning to my whole existence. Fairtytles have their happy endings, while reality has only endings. Both had endings. But the end meant another beginning.
When Don Kael told me about his wife's death, he knew it was the end of him... but for some reason, it became a new beginning for him. He wanted to end himself at that time, losing the meaning of life, but instead, I came as his beginning.
He sat on the ground as he watched me beating up those goons who tried to rob him while walking near the street where I live. I didn't know his purpose as of why he was there, but gratitude filled his eyes as I helped him stand up.
He saw me as a girl wearing a cape. But now, I've realized, that he was the one that's wearing a cape.
He attended my wounds when we got to his mansion, which screamed the definition of silent and loneliness. I sat on one of his sofas, as he treated my stab wounds from the unknown men who attacked him. He told me that he was ready to die at that moment, 'till I came.
He didn't know, that the time that I was ready to dissapear, he came.
He became a family to me. He didn't fail to show his honesty and pure innocence from all his words to his actions. He would always smile whenever he would hear his favorite songs on his gramophone with his old vinyls cd's. He would always laugh whenever he'll tell a childhood story to me while we ate breakfast, lunch and dinner. No doubt ever came out from me because he really is the truth.
I couldn't imagine his name, now carved on a grey, marble tombstone. Beside her's the tombstone of her wife, Portia. I could still feel the presence of his sons Jacob and Jadon, both with their own families.
“Oneiro...” Jacob called my name behind me. I stood and turned around, just to see both of them smiling.
Don Kael introduced me to Jacob and Jadon and they've treated me well, like a family would do. Instead of feeling anger, they felt pity towards me. I guess it's because they understand. They're very matured people, which I liked.
“Hmm?”
“Kausapin ka daw ni Attorney Abinsay... Tara?”
Attorney? But why?
Left with questions, I am now sitting opposite to Atty. Danny Abinsay. He introduced himself as the legal lawyer of Don Kael. They decided to talk in my house, where we talked in the dining room.
“Nandito kasi ako, dahil mayroong naiwang last will si Kael. Nais ko sanang basahin para sa'yo dahil nakalagay dito ang pangalan mo... magmamana ka ng ilang mga assets niya since, he umm... passed away.”
I couldn't comprehend what to feel. I don't know if I'll smile or not, as Atty. Abinsay started reading Don Kael's last will of testament, written on paper. Even though it's written in English, my head would translate it quickly into gibberish, out of confusion, and surprise.
“... So in short, kapag sumapit yung araw na ika'y mag disiotchong taong gulang na, maililipat sa iyong pangalan ang mga legal na papeles ng mismong lupain niya rito, kasama na doon ang mansyon. Ngayon, dahil 16 ka palang, ay hahawakan na muna ito pagsamantala ng panganay niyang anak na si Jadon.”
I couldn't help but let my mouth open like a goldfish in shock. I never knew this happened. I never knew by the time I got my scar on my head, he wrote his last will, and his sons are his witnesses. The farm business will be theirs, but his land and house will be put under my name. I just couldn't... find the proper words to say.
I got back to the fields. Instead of the morning sun, the cold breeze greeted me in a such, gloomy feeling. I lied down on the grass, looking up at the orange sky...
If you could still hear me, I offer my presence as gratitude for the gift you wanted me to have, Don Kael. I thank you for being a family to me, even if we do not share the same flesh and blood. You have an innocent heart, and I wouldn't forgive myself for what happened to you. I know you'll tell me I should forgive, but for this time, I can't...
Change became evident after a few days. Paul suffered from a clinical depression. He doesn't talk much, and just stayed at his room all day. When I tried talking to him, he wouldn't reply at the other side of the door. Since Timothy, her father's currently jailed, his Uncle Fred went to his home from the United States, to take care of him. When his friends knew about it, they were extra worried, and would give moral support to him, but that wasn't easy.
As days passed by, his condition worsened. Sometimes, he would just try to break things and go crazy. Everytime that happens, I would run from my house to his, just to calm him down. Surprisingly, my presence calms him down. I would hug him to tightly, letting him feel that I wouldn't... I wouldn't let him go. 'Cause I wouldn't really let him go. He would break down, afterwards.
It's like my routine everyday., but I never get tired of it, just to see another smile on his face. Just liked I hope for my father to smile again. Speaking of him, he got hospitalized too, and having therapies. He changed. A lot.
As for Jamiel and Chris, they were still the same. Hmm... the only people that never changed. She's still sarcastic, he's still reserved.
I don't know how I did it. I don't know how I coped up inspite of the things that happened. I'm bruised, scarred and injured, but no wounds can stopped me from continuing what I do.
Visiting the mansion, I couldn't imagine that it turned into a war zone. Out of all that, he's the only one that didn't survived. The policemen and other armed men got in the hospital so soon (and got to know that both sides wore some protective armor againts bullets). I went to his room, where everything seemed so normal. From his tall bookshelf filled with encyclopedias and references, to his old cabinet where his clothes are, no one tried to mess the room up. I smiled when I noticed the vinyl on the gramophone. I pushed the needle down on the vinyl, as it started playing an old song.
~ Fairytales can come true, it can happen to you, if you're young at heart! (young at heart!) ... For it's hard you will find, to be narrow of mind, if you're young at heart! (young at heart!) … You can go to extremes, with impossible schemes, you can laugh when your dreams, fall apart at the seams..~
I smiled, as nostalgia hits me quickly, like a truck.
~And life gets more exciting, with each passing day, an' love is either in your heart, or, on the way! Don't you know that it's worth, every treasure on earth, to be young at heart! (young at heart!) … For as rich as you are, it's much better by far, to be young at heart! (young at heart!)... And you should survive, to a hundred an' five, look at all you'll derive, outta being alive! And here is the best part, you have a head start, if you are among, the very young at heart!~
Don Kael was young at heart. I knew it from his smiles.
~Don't you know that it's worth, every treasure on earth, to be young at heart! (young at heart!) for as rich as you are, its much better by far, to be young at heart! and you should survive, to a hundred an' five, outta being alive! And here is the best part, you have a head start, if you are among, the very young at heart!~
***
“W-Wait! A-Aalis t-tayo?” Rhianne was surprised, shook her head in disbelief, while I stared at the cold woman sitting in front of us two.
Rayanne called us in the office, the next week. Since the one week sembreak is over, we had to go back to school. But after exams, she needed me and Rhianne to the office, only to announce her anonymous, heart-stopping decision.
We were going to the States. As soon as possible.
“I couldn't risk it, Yanne.” she answered for her daughter, her cold demanour still evident on her tone. “Not after Timothy's goons went after us.”
“They're alive.” I could sense the dissapointment in my own voice.
“Half of them escaped from the hospital. And now, Timothy's still has his eyes on us.”
“For how long, we will be staying?” Rhianne asked.
“2 years.”
“Wait?! Ma, baka naman eternity na iyan! I can't stay for so long in the US!”
“I can assure you, that we won't be staying there for so long. I've been working with the best agents I've got to catch all of them... 'till then, we'll live there, I'll be the one to fix the papers so you'll get to finish high school. And if needed, I'll deport Raoul back to Greece.”
There was silence, as Rayanne tried to read any reactions from my face. I only returned an 'okay' stare.
“Sure... But why didn't you tell me you knew Timothy has a syndicate group?”
He smiled so bitterly, and avoided my gaze. “It's his business. If I'll blow-up his scheme, not only we will be endangered, but his own son's life.”
“Isn't that what happened?” Rhianne couldn't stop herself, not after what she had seen how Paul suffered from all this.
“I know. But I can't take the risk if I expose the young Funtelo everything at a young age. This time's the right time for him to know.”
“Hmm... business.” Rhianne scoffs.
“You'll understand when you'll be in my place Rhianne, and you...” Rayanne pointed a finger at me, “... will understand when you'll be the next owner of the construction business that Raoul started and built. I'll buy it's stocks, soon after we fix the papers.”
I spent the night, just... thinking about that decision she made. Managing the company's a big responsibility. I don't know how I would start. Everything just came out so randomly. I'm really saddened to the fact that I have to leave Paul here. My minds battling about it. It gave me a heartache. If I couldn't help him that much here, how about there, miles away from him?
The silence from the fields gave me comfort to think. I looked at the twinkling stars, how they shined before darkness.
I feel like I'm still lost, despite the success of getting truth, and justice. I felt like... I needed to find myself. There's this uncomfortable feeling inside me, that keeps me from forgiving myself. I'm something broken. I needed to find the pieces that will complete me. I'm a mystery already solved, but I'm a clue, for another mystery.
I needed the time alone. The reason why I didn't protest about Rayanne's decision.
My phone suddenly vibrated inside my pockets. I checked and see that Kylie's calling me.
“Yes?”
[E-Exellor! S-Si T-Trev! A-Ayaw m-magbukas n-ng p-pinto! N-Nawawala y-yung s-susi–]
My heartbeats got rapid, as I quickly rode to Don Kael's motorcycle, going to the Funtelo Residence.
***
I waste no time, and went up to his front door of his bedroom, where Kylie kept knocking at his door. Beside her was his Uncle Fred, who looked surprised at my appearance. Her face lit up when she saw my presence.
“Ayaw niya magbukas ng pinto! Kahit itulak ko parang may naka-block sa other side!” she explained.
I first, tried knocking to his door, and calling his name, but to no avail, no one answered.
“Tinawagan ko si Greg! Kaso ang tagal! Si Jay naman bad timing, kasama ni Dad! Ang tagal tagal niya diyan! Natatakot ako!” she kept talking as I find ways to open the freaking door!
“Pinilit kong sirain yung pinto pero hindi ko alam kung ano bang ginawa pa niyang pang barikadahan sa side ng pinto niya!” Fred butts in.
I pulled out a knife from my pockets, and stabbed the side of the door knob.
“You're going to buy another door for this...” I whispered, before taking a few steps back, and landed a hard kick on the knife, that broke the knob... and the lock. With the help of Fred, we both pushed the door with all out strength. I felt adrenaline rush ran though my veins as I saw the door slowly revealed his messy room. I stepped back one again, and this time, landed another hard kick at the door, breaking it as it fell on the door, making a sharp sound of a thud.
Behind it is where I saw Paul lying on the floor, with pills on his hand!
“PAUL!” I quickly ran to him and held his pale face. I stopped the threatening tears that's gonna fall down my cheek. What happened? Why did you do this to yourself? I'm still here Paul...
“OH MY GOD! TREV!” Kylie covered her mouth with her hand, as she stared at the almost lifeless Paul.
Quickly, I gathered all my strength to carry him downstairs and watch as I passed by Rhianne's shocked look at the house's main door archway. I quickly undressed my jacket to tie his body in front of me, as I rode the motorcycle to go to the nearest hospital with him.
I couldn't recognize my own heartbeats as every second passed, I felt his skin against me. I could feel the weird sensations in me when I felt his cold lips brushing my neck, while I drove. I couldn't help but smile, remembering his sweet kiss on me. He made me feel complete even though I know I'm not. He made my world so colorful, that I forgot the blacks and whites.
When I got to the ER, doctors and nurses assisted him quickly, putting and injecting some dextrose on him, and check his vital signs.
“Ano pong nangyari sa pasyente?” a nurse asked me.
“Overdosed.”
“Any relation to the patient?”
“U-Uh... he's a f-friend.”
Soon after, Fred followed, along with Trevor's friends, Kylie, Gregor, Jayvee and Rhianne. Fred took care of his hospital bills and needed papers to give him a room after the examinations needed to avoid the drug from poisoning his body.
I closed my eyes shut, praying to myself that he will heal. He should not decide to end his life 'cause there are still people who are willing to stay beside him. I know his mother's death, traumatized him already from... love, and now, his father's imprisonment, traumatized him from everything he believed was true. It was like... the world lied to him. The world made him live in a beautiful bliss.
I never believed in bliss, 'cause I've never seen it. Only in his eyes. So, I had accepted truth that easy. I coped up easier than him. But I will never get tired of staying beside him. I'll watch him move on from all of this and treat everything as a lesson, or a memory that will remind him of the word truth.
I brushed Paul's hair with my hand, as I watched him sleeping, later on. After the checkups, and the needed examinations for him, the doctors told us that he's okay and we should only have to wait for him to wake up. He's now in a hospital room, out of the ER. I carefully studied his face: his jet-black messy hair, fair skin, strong jawline, red lips and his rose cheeks... I couldn't imagine, that this beautiful being is given a twisted life, inside of a blissfull lie.
“Eh... mag-nobyo ba kayo ni Trev?” suddenly, Fred asked behind me. He is sitting, not too far on a sofa near the bed. Glancing at him, he had a smile on his slightly-wrinkled face, as his eyes traveled down on our intertwined hands.
“... Parang ganoon, po.”
“Kaya nga nagtataka ako kung bakit ang bilis kumalma ni Trev tuwing pupuntahan mo siya. Habilin ko sana sa'yo na... 'wag mo siyang iiwan. Alam mo naman ang nangyari sa kanya ngayon. Kinakailangan niya ng mga taong laging sumusuporta sa kanya. Hindi naman ganoon ako kalapit sa kanya, ngunit may concern pa rin ako sa kanya. Kaso nakikita ko ang pagbabago ng emosyon niya t'wing nandyan ka. Sana talaga, makita ko kayong... magkatuluyan...”
I couldn't accept the fact that I need to leave him soon. I couldn't accept the fact that I might hurt him again.
I'll tell him, this time. I hope he'll understand.