“We did not know anything about this,” the elder Vero replied with a troubled expression. Franco was worried about Denny and Denisse colliding with each other again.“I was annoyed at how he looked down on Aleah during that time, so I told her Aleah is my wife,” Denny smiled as he told his dad about what happened. Franco Vero was astonished to see a different side of his youngest son, despite how he assumed the topic to be sensitive. Considering it had anything to do with Denisse, the father was quite admitted he expected Denny to express annoyance. But that assumption seemed to have been flushed, totally vanished. He could not believe what he was hearing, and so he could not keep asking to clarify things. He will have to tell his wife about it later when Denny leaves to go to his villa by the mountainside. “You mean Denisse went to your place recently?” Asked the father. “Yeah,” Denny laughed breathily. “She seemed to know I have someone living with me in my house because she was
When Denny arrived at where Trisha was with his mom, Chloe, the two ladies were lively talking. Trisha had her back to him while his mom was facing his direction, but he heard Trisha laugh softly.“Come on in, you two!” Chloe gleefully waved her hands at the father and son as they approached the dining hall. Trisha turned her face to look at the incomers. She smiled; although her smile was as polite as earlier, Denny did not see any hint of distress in her mien. Denny walked to sit beside Trisha, but Chloe asked her son to sit on the spot between his mom and dad while Trisha would be alone on the other side. “I will take the seat right across from yours, mom,” Denny politely declined. Chloe laughed when he heard her son’s response to her requests.Trisha could not make any comment. She did not know what to say, either. She bit her cheeks discreetly. The meal went harmonious. The family would speak of business Trisha was not familiar with, so she meekly sat along with the Vero famil
Denny kept observing Trisha as they left the residential compound, but he could not detect what was wrong. He could not even point the thought out because it was so faint to tell, although he could sense it somehow. Trisha was on her best behavior. She was polite as usual, obedient, and silent when not asked. “Honey…?” Denny called out casually.Trisha replied right away. “Hmmm, yes?” “Is there anywhere you want to go?” Denny asked. He was satisfied to hear her respond comfortably. It made him realize he might have just been overthinking. She did not sound any different, nor were her reactions and all. He drove slowly to wait for her answer to his queries. He was hoping she would say she wanted to see her mom. It’s been a week since the last time she went to visit their patient. He could suggest going there, but Denny wanted to hear Trisha’s thoughts.“I cannot think of anything other than my mom, but I can go there alone next time,” Trisha replied politely. Then a thought suddenl
“Which way?” Asked Denny as he led Trisha into the hospital lobby. There was the information desk facing the entrance; from there, they would have to choose which direction to go, to the left wing or to the right. And by the end of both hallway directions, there were the elevators to take them which floor they were going to see their patient’s ward. Next to the lift was a fire exit on the right. Trisha did not reply verbally; instead, she pointed at the elevator to the left. Her mom’s ward was on the fifth floor of the left wing of the building. They walked a few more steps to get into the lift with Denny’s right arm still hanging on Trisha’s shoulders. Anyone to see them would never have thought they are just bound with a client and service girl arrangement. The man was somehow protective of the girl not to be bumped around with many people walking along, and across the hallway going in and out, while some were from the same and opposite directions to where they were heading, while
Claudette concluded on her own that the two were romantically involved. She was convinced she was right based on a few points she considered. The two came on a weekend. The man expressed personal gratitude even through a simple word of saying he was thankful along with a firm, warm handshake, with his left hand atop Claudette’s hand in his hold as they shook. In Claudette’s understanding, his gestures were indeed conveying sincere appreciations. She was happy they were glad of her services. “I actually do that. The doctors here said it would motivate the patient to regain consciousness when they hear someone constantly speaking to them. So, I would read her this book whenever I seat her beside her,” Claudette replied. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Murphy!” Trisha’s voice was shaky as she looked up from the other side of the bed, embracing her mom cautiously. Trisha felt emotional. She was glad even to only hear that her mom would regain her consciousness. She’s been on the hospital bed
Denny went to speak with the doctor in charge and came back with Trisha alone with her mom, Elaine, in the ward. “Honey…? Where is she?” Denny pointed at the chair where Claudette was seated when they arrived earlier. “I asked what she wanted to drink and eat for snacks so I can go get something for her, but she insisted she would buy so I can spend some time alone with mom,” Trisha replied.“She is so kind,” Denny moved closer and whispered to Trisha. “I like her a lot!”Then Denny moved back to look at the girl on her face with a silly smile. “But don’t let her know about that, okay?” Denny murmured again. “She might like me back. I am afraid of that happening.”The two shared suppressed laughter with their hands in their mouths, covering, as they both looked back in the direction of the door. They seemed to have the same fear that the person they mentioned was already back and heard what Denny just said. “I like her, too,” Trisha shrugged her shoulders as she giggled after maki
Trisha turned her head away from Denny and faced her mom instead. Her tears started to cloud her eyes again. She bit her lips not to let her cries out of her mouth. She clearly understood what Denny had just said right now, but she could not respond right away. She was feeling torn between accepting or declining his offer of financial assistance. It wasn’t for herself alone. It was for her mom, most especially. He also mentioned being a philanthropist, which surely meant he was going to donate a considerable amount to get the procedure done with the best outcome. Yet, Trisha was still worried about what she might have to do to return such a huge favor from Denny Vero. When she was with Chloe earlier, and Denny was not by her side, Chloe spoke to Trisha with her honest and frank thoughts. Trisha realized that Denny did not know his parents already knew everything, the facts, not what they feared his sister, Denisse, might have told them. She was actually glad Denny accepted her sugge
Claudette was already about to enter the ward when she heard the man who introduced himself as Denny Vero called for Aleah so sweetly and concerned. She smiled. She just confirmed her thoughts that this two are romantically involved. She silently placed the food she bought and the change on a chair by the door before she lightly knocked and waved her hands to say she would be right back. Trisha bowed her head lower when she heard the knocking on the door. At the same time, Denny turned his head to look back and saw Mrs. Murphy pointing at the purchases she brought while she hurriedly exited the ward. Denny wasn’t able to say anything before the lady disappeared from his sight. He went to get the drinks and handed Trisha a cup of tea. There were two, so he supposed the other one was for him. He took a sip, and just to say anything. He urged Trisha to try hers, too.“Honey, the tea is good. You should have a sip while it’s still warm.”But Trisha placed her cup on the bedside table ne
“Honey…?” Denny called out carefully.Claudette was already about to enter the ward when she heard the man who introduced himself as Denny Vero called for Aleah so sweetly and concerned. She smiled. She just confirmed her thoughts that these two are romantically involved. She silently placed the food she bought and the change on a chair by the door before she lightly knocked and waved her hands to say she would be right back.Trisha bowed her head lower when she heard the knocking on the door. At the same time, Denny turned his head to look back and saw Mrs. Murphy pointing at the purchases she brought while she hurriedly exited the ward.Denny wasn’t able to say anything before the lady disappeared from his sight. He went to get the drinks and handed Trisha a cup of tea. There were two, so he supposed the other one was for him. He took a sip and just said anything. He urged Trisha to try hers, too.“Honey, the tea is good. You should have a sip while it’s still warm.”But Trisha place
Trisha turned her head away from Denny and faced her mom instead. Her tears started to cloud her eyes again. She bit her lips not to let her cries out of her mouth.She clearly understood what Denny had just said right now, but she could not respond right away. She was feeling torn between accepting or declining his offer of financial assistance. It wasn’t for herself alone. It was for her mom, most especially. He also mentioned being a philanthropist, which surely meant he was going to donate a considerable amount to get the procedure done with the best outcome. Yet, Trisha was still worried about what she might have to do to return such a huge favor from Denny Vero.When she was with Chloe earlier, and Denny was not by her side, Chloe spoke to Trisha with her honest and frank thoughts. Trisha realized that Denny did not know his parents already knew everything, the facts, not what they feared his sister, Denisse, might have told them. She was actually glad Denny accepted her suggesti
“She is so kind,” Denny moved closer and whispered to Trisha. “I like her a lot!”Then Denny moved back to look at the girl on her face with a silly smile.“But don’t let her know about that, okay?” Denny murmured again. “She might like me back. I am afraid of that happening.”The two shared suppressed laughter with their hands in their mouths, covering, as they both looked back in the direction of the door. They seemed to have the same fear that the person they mentioned was already back and heard what Denny just said.“I like her, too,” Trisha shrugged her shoulders as she giggled after making sure Claudette wasn’t back just yet. She played along with Denny’s joke not to let the lady Murphy know they liked her so much.“Kidding aside, she is awesome,” Denny cleared his throat before he made known to Trisha his honest opinion about the lady taking care of the patient.He also heard from the doctor and nurses he was able to speak with that Claudette is doing her duties more than a mere
“Thank you so much, Mrs. Murphy!” Trisha’s voice was shaky as she looked up from the other side of the bed, embracing her mom cautiously.Trisha felt emotional. She was glad even to only hear that her mom would regain her consciousness. She’s been in the hospital bed for almost seven months now. She might have seen the person driving the car when she was hit, but as she was still in a coma, they could not ask her. Trisha and her brother Yohan are still hoping to find the justice they deserve. The police seemed to have no more lead to continue the investigation, and since the Silver siblings did not have anyone influential to ask for assistance, they would have to rely on whatever they heard from their mom’s recollections.It would be tough to hold on to such possibilities, but they believe their mom is fighting within her to survive her situation. And one victory may lead to another if she could point out who caused her so much pain and stole so much of her time to stay healthy and pro
Soon they arrived at the ward where the name Elaine Silver was written on the chart by the foot end of the patient’s bed. A woman was reading a book seated next to the patient. She was reading the book aloud like a mother reading a bedtime story to a kid. She was too focused on her book as she read with enthusiasm and emotion according to the content of the story that she did not notice the two, Trisha and Denny, walking next to the patient’s bed.Denny and Trisha looked at each other with amused smiles on their faces. Denny gave Trisha a sign not to make a sound using his finger placed above his mouth. Trisha nodded her head as she agreed not to make a sound. She was beyond glad and satisfied that the lady Murphy was indeed attending to her mom’s welfare with so much dedication and sincerity. She was also happy that the man beside her seemed to have the same thoughts about letting the lady reading a book continue until she realized their presence. And so she continued to read:“A fath
Trisha smiled happily. Denny saw her serene smile in his peripheral vision, and he felt good. His idea was turning out to be successful. That was what he was hoping for, to make his “honey” smile, not the polite one that her face had seemed to be painted with the whole day, but the pure natural smile she would usually wear on her face when she is genuinely happy.Soon they arrived at the hospital. Trisha was worried he would be late with his appointment.“Honey, I can walk my way into the hospital. You don’t have to send me in,” Trisha cautiously suggested. “You might be late.”Denny chuckled.“It’s okay. You wait for me by the entrance. I will be right back after I park the car.”Trisha had no choice but to do as he ordered. She consoled herself that he should know what he was doing. He wouldn’t insist if he did not have enough time, right?“Okay, I will stand by the entrance door. You can call me if there are any changes,” Trisha raised her purse with her phone and wallet inside it.
Denny paused for a while. He could not say it was personal, but it wasn’t business either. But he did not want to explain further, so he just made his answer short, although a bit ambiguous.“A little of both?” Denny chuckled, helping Trisha to stand from her seat beside him.Chloe was not convinced. Or maybe even if she was, the mother still wanted to spend a little more time with her dear son, so she expressed her disagreement.“I can only let you go early today if you promise to visit us next Sunday again,” she bargained.Denny’s eyes widened in disbelief.“Mom, I cannot promise you that, but I will try,” the son scratched his non-itchy backhead as he replied.“Then you will have to stay until dinner today. What do you say about that, Aleah?” Chloe turned to the girl beside Denny.“I… am…” the service girl stuttered. She did not know what to say, but knowing her answer was awaited, she had to say something. “I’m very sorry, Mrs. Vero, but I do not decide things with…” Trisha could n
“Do you mean to marry this girl?” Franco Vero asked. His tone was still calm, not making his honest reactions known to his dearest son.“As of the moment, and if that is all for me to decide, I might say yes,” Denny chuckled at his sudden realization.The father was baffled by the son’s answer.“What do you mean?”“I don’t think the feeling is mutual just yet,” Denny let his weary mind off him.He felt good that his kind dad asked. He had been holding these thoughts within him. He could not freely speak about it with Don Carlo and Angela as he did not want to worry them for Trisha. But with his dad, he felt the assurance that his old man would understand where he was coming from. Denny let his heartfelt emotions flow.“I can feel this girl is purely doing business with me, and she never flirts nor misleads me to think she fancies me like a woman fancies a man. She is obedient in everything I ask and tells her to do because she is too cautious about losing her job. She has these invisib
As Aleah requested and without fear for Denny to grant them, they got dressed up with the doting Denny assisting his heart's wife; since they weren't legally married yet, in every step of getting her nicely yet comfortably clothed. "We should shop for new sizes of your underwear, honey," Denny gently suggested. "I am worried you might feel discomfort with the ones you used to wear and in your closet right now," he explained eagerly. He knew that pregnant women could be very sensitive, so he tried his best to clear any misinterpretations of his words. Angela excitedly bought Aleah different designs of pregnant dresses and others obviously needed by an expecting woman, but as she had not had the experience to reach pregnancy into a stage where her belly would swell up, Angela did not realize to include underwear in her shopping list. I have been meaning to do so, but as I was not allowed to go out without company aside from the nurse, I was just waiting when we could visit the shoppi