"Crying them all out really helps," she said, patting Yohan's back gently.Yohan felt even more free to let his emotions out. He started sobbing. Soon after, he was crying like a little boy in his mom's warm embrace, but yet, his sounds of cries were controlled, not wailing like a girl. His eyes were tightly shut as his face was scrunched up. He cried for a few good minutes. But he stopped when he noticed the person in his embrace were shaking and crying heavily with her embrace on Yohan growing tighter. "I know, it's sad. I also want to cry my heart out, but I cannot let my lovely daughter see me devastated about her brother's death," the woman whispered. Yohan froze. "It wasn't her fault, but she might feel like I am blaming her if I cry in front of her, mourning for my only son's death," the lady continued. Yohan realized he was not embracing his mom. He had mistaken someone to be his mom. Then he felt rationality return to him. "She passed away. There is no way I would have be
A few months later…"Honey, would you like to attend the hearing today?" Denny asked Aleah carefully. "You are my doctor, honey," Aleah softly chuckled. "If you are giving me the free pass and go signal, I would love to," she replied gently. "I am a bit worried you might feel any discomfort, but I can prepare everything we might need, just in case anything happens," Denny spoke softly but with certainty. He would order an ambulance to be on stand-by in front of the courthouse if Aleah decided to attend the last hearing for her mom, Elaine's, murder case. Denny pulled every string, phoned every possible connection he had to make the trial done the soonest possible. One reason was that he wanted Aleah and Yohan, and also Elaine, to get the justice they deserve, but most of all, Denny wanted to solve the issue so he could make his next move. He wanted to propose and ask Aleah's hand in marriage, but he was also giving margin to the possible reaction Aleah would have once she found ou
“Yeah, and I just learned he was a distant relative after the accident with mommy Elaine happened,” Denny bowed his head as he spoke. He could not stare back at Aleah’s curious eyes. “But I have known him as my very own brother.”Aleah’s eyes bulged. She could still recall what Denny had told her about his relationship with his siblings. She was even able to compare and be more grateful that she and Yohan were doing well in their family. “Wha- what?” Aleah exclaimed. “How…?” she asked thoughtlessly. Aleah was shocked. What a small world.“It turned out my mom and dad adopted Desmund and Denisse when their parents died in a car accident. Their dad was a distant cousin of my dad. And during that time, Mom and dad could not have a child of their own, although they kept trying even when they already had Desmund and Denisse, and then I was born,” Denny explained cautiously. He was speaking slowly to entertain any question Aleah might have in her mind as his confessions continued.“They we
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
“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
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
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.
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
“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