V. Assisted

It is an impending sense of dread for Essi that Gwyneth would still arrive any time sooner. If it were not for the bad weather in Manila, Gwyneth would have not been stranded until this time. Essi could still prepare for her arrival while managing all her wits and peace. But it was harder to deny that all her reasons to stay calm were leaving her grounds.

“Why are you nervous? Did you meet some bad guys on your way?” Paco asked as he stood up from the long bench situated near Essi’s abode. The nineteen-year-old man went to Essi with the chivalrous endeavor of assisting her about whatever may come upon the lady.

At first, he was not there out of his desire but because his mother instructed him to. He had to make sure that Essi is still on her normal psyche as a good tenant that will efficiently pay monthly dues to them. But now, Paco is convinced. Gossip seemed to not cease against Essi and has only evolved to accuse her with desperation for love. Indeed, those things were harsh. To compensate for his time and guilt, he excused the task as if it is his own will to see how Essi was doing. Perhaps, he could receive foods he never tasted in his life too – even some chocolates that he can bring to school.

Essi only shook her head as an answer while her eyes were on the food box. She glanced at Paco while handing the food out, “Do you like some Cassoulet? It is still warm.”

Without a hint of reluctance, Paco received it. He had a swift smile before looking at her again. “Well, how was your day? Where have you been?” he asked with warmness, cautious in himself if he sounded too interested.

“The usual,” Essi replied soullessly.

“And you heard similar accusations again or even worse?” Paco tried joking it out to ease the tension. He didn’t know it was unhelpful until he realized it after a few seconds. He would have punched himself but Essi was gentle with her response. 

“It was not like that. I have other problems, too, you know?” Essi stated while unlocking the door. She tried turning the lights, but the lamp flickered in faulty glints.

Paco offered to change the light bulbs for her. As the lights got better, Essi invited Paco to her living room.

“You know what? With all of this fuss happening to you and your fiance, then why not conduct a DNA test to confirm your claims? I mean, we can at least give you the benefit of the doubt. We can give you the chance to prove that Riley is Oneil.” Paco has the basic solution for resolving the problem but has no idea what Essi’s other concerns were.

“Well, what do you think will happen once the result comes out?” Essi challenged so that Paco will arrive at her thoughts.

“If almost a hundred percent confirmed? We will be convinced. Even Riley.”

“And what do you think would happen to Marika if the results come out?”

“Well, you should not care about how much it affects her. It’s not like we have ever seen a Riley Ramirez before. You never know. What if she is all making this stuff up since she was this insecure about being the single one among the Sanchez ladies?”

“Wait, that is a little harsh,” Essi defended. It surprised Paco but Essi was only trying to put herself in Marika’s shoes. It was something that the latter never did to Essi since her arrival. “What if Marika also has a strong basis about Riley Ramirez? What if she might have confused a real person with another real person?”

Paco scowled, frustrated by Essi’s kind of logic. “I don’t understand. The DNA result should at least resolve all this confusion.”

“It only offers concrete answers but not compensation. What about the person named Riley? And the people who believed in Oneil as the Riley Ramirez they knew? The DNA result is not enough to silence their real memories with him, and if I will take him, who will be the Riley Ramirez to remain with them?”

Paco nodded at Essi’s explanation. “Interesting. I thought you never cared about the people who dealt with your fiance.” He guessed the same plan that she had and that was to find the real Riley Ramirez.

“In fact, in this age and knowing what kind of connections you can secure, it will be easy for you to find the real Riley Ramirez,” Paco commented which surprised Essi.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I think that you are not an ordinary person. For me, you’re someone that can tell other people easy to work for you,” Paco carefully replied. He never had any idea about Essi’s real background. He cannot rely on how other people see Essi.

“If I could do that, then I wouldn’t have been here.”

By this time, Paco cannot help but ask her again why Essi was not looking for others’ help. “Do his parents know about this? You could have asked help from them and especially from your parents.”

Essi had a bittersweet smile. How could she even do it with them whom she had quarreled with the night before her flight to the Philippines? Her parents were in extreme disagreement with her plan to invest in the Cable Link and FC Mildea Expressway. These two projects were impeded for many years since many investors took back their investing hands due to development issues in the locality. Essi wanted to defy such fears by extending the cooperation on developing the area for a safer implementation of these projects. She believes that it would create a great change and easier transportation in the community. The details of the project, once it will be delivered, can join the league of world-class infrastructures and highways. For her, it would put the other reluctant investors to shame. Everything is going smoothly for her plans for the investment. But her relationship with her parents is not. She couldn’t take it if she will return to Bordeaux like a jinxed woman.

Only by hearing a short answer about Essi’s quarrel with her parents, Paco could sum up what Essi is facing.

“So you don’t want to face them being this problematic about Oneil with his lost memories?” Paco has a hint that Essi seems to take pride in not showing her failing areas. “Are you a sort of perfectionist? Someone that solves the problem first before others could know?”

“What can I do? Even if I tell it to Oneil’s parents, my parents would know, and it would just get worse since they never agreed with me on coming to the Philippines. Oneil just decided to join me since he knew about the quarrel.”

Paco has his brows furrowed to a persisting confusion. “How about Oneil’s parents? Aren’t they worried about their son not contacting them for how many days already?”

Essi remembered how frustrated Oneil looked while they were sitting next to each other during their flight. He also shared his disagreement with his parents to sell off their only computer part manufacturing company in the Philippines. He was challenged to only return once the problem with that company was settled.

“You guys sounded like children on utter tantrums,” Paco suddenly commented. “You know what? Even if I had a great quarrel with my parents, I cannot last a week or even a day without talking to them. I mean, I would dare to hear their nagging than to go away hearing nothing.”

“That is great of you then,” Essi replied although she could hardly imagine how a seemingly stubborn lad could do that. “But don’t get us wrong. Oneil and I would not dare to bring another problem when there is already a heavy one drifting us from our parents. I believe that I should not make this harder for them. So… I will try minimal ways of recovering Oneil first before taking the drastic measure.”

Paco expressed his sympathy to Essi. Now he knew how Essi was heavily wronged by other people. He could only offer his simple means to help. “I can start searching for the real Riley Ramirez online.”

Essi looked at the young man surprised. It is not about the little thing he can do but the thought that he wanted to help move her. She could at least count that Paco is already believing her.

The young man stood up, assuring Essi to return the food box the next day. He took Essi’s number to give her updates about his search. Essi was left in her house, smiling with the comfort she felt since the time she entered the town. Before stepping away from the bamboo gates, Paco looked back at her.

“Don’t concern yourself about other things, Essi. Commence the test. It is your only strong evidence to take him back.”

Essi only smiled. “Silly child,” she commented. Even without the DNA test result, she could confirm her claims about Oneil to be correct. But she already sent the samples right after finding Oneil’s passport in his office. Nurse Jenny allowed Essi to use her name for sending it. It would not hint to any of the Mercators, Paulssons, and their nearby people to know Essi’s activity, given that the DNA test is only outside the country.

Although she sounded naive for not telling Paco about her leap of faith for bigger things to solve her ordeal, she wanted to know how far would the people interacting with her suggest ways of taking Oneil back. By that, she would see those who consider her claims and those who do not believe them. At least, she can take confident breaths when someone like Paco is around. After all, she heard about Paco’s technical computer skills.

“Ma’am Essi, I already found someone that can trace Riley Ramirez,” Nurse Jenny reported via phone call.

“That’s great. I also have Paco to search for him online.”

“It is better then. But I’d like to call to confirm something.”

The next question brought Essi affright.

“Did you know that Miss Gwyneth is already in our province? She shared on social media how she was able to go through all flight cancellations and arrive tonight.”