Chapter 05

despite Hera walking and blurring her eyes due to forming tears, she suddenly bumped into the young waiter who was holding a tray of wine glasses. So, he dropped it and it broke on the floor.

Because of this, he grabbed the attention of their guests. He turned to them and looked at him.

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I really didn't mean to bump into you," the waiter apologized to him while picking up and cleaning the broken glasses.

The girl could not move. He was confused about what to do and seemed to be rolling his eyes around. Bon noticed her immediately so he approached her and held her by the arm.

"Ms. Hera, are you okay?" he said worriedly while making sure he had no wounds or scars on his body.

"Bon," said the girl softly. The conversation between the two was interrupted when his father came on stage and got their attention.

"Attention to all the beautiful beauties and gentlemen attending this occasion. I am very grateful to all of you for attending the twenty-fifth birthday of our unica hija Hera. Besides, tonight only you will hear important news to share with you all. I urge you once again to attend the important occasion or day of my daughter and my soon-to-be son-in-law Adante Kier Bautista, for their upcoming wedding." When the gentleman pointed out the behavior of the young man, they immediately turned to Adante and they applauded together.

The young man raised the wine glass he was holding and drank the contents of the white wine in one gulp.

Hera also looked in Adante's direction and happened to catch a glimpse of him as well. She smirked at his lips, but he just glared at her and turned his attention back to his father who was currently standing on the stage.

“Bon, do you know all this? do you also know that they are planning to marry me to that man?” he asked with tears dripping from the corners of his eyes. Bon was speechless and just bowed in front of him.

"Why are you not talking? quiet means yes. So, that means you are also their accomplice." After saying that, he got out and went straight to the parking lot.

"Ms. Hera!" but Bon immediately followed him.Mr. Marcaida noticed them, so he got off the stage and followed his son.

“Hera!” he called the girl. He stopped and turned to his father.

“Hija, you have nothing to worry about. You know we are only doing this for your sake, besides that Adante is a good person. He is different from all the men you have met, he promised us that he will take care of you and he will never hurt you. " Her father explained, but the girl smiled and wiped the tears from her eyes.

"And you believed right away? how confident are you in that person? what did they give you in return to get you to marry me to him? is it because of money again? the company? or because until now, you still can't accept that brother Dennis died and I took his place? or because I don't have a child—" he stopped speaking when he suddenly felt a heavy and strong slap from his mother's palm.

"Don't mention your brother Dennis here! you are in no position to reprimand him for what is happening now!” furious and tearful his mother told the girl.

Hera held her cheek and looked her parents in the eye.

"Hera," called his father who was about to approach him but he just turned his back and walked away from them.

"Ms. Hera!" Bon called to her while knocking on the car the girl was riding in. Hera glanced at the windshield and ignored him after leaving the hacienda.

As the gentleman was very worried about his son that something bad might happen to the girl, he immediately got into his car to follow their son. His wife followed and went with him.

Bon was very surprised when their couple passed in front of him.

"Sir. Marcaida?” he was surprised to see the couple in the car. He also seemed worried that something bad might happen to the Marcaida family, so he got into his car and followed them.

"Adante, son. Follow them, you will be the future of their company. So you just have to treat them well and treat them as your real family. Let's go, before everyone gets caught." Order of Mr. Baptist to his son Adante.

The young man immediately obeyed his order. He got into his car and drove it quickly.

Three vehicles are currently following Hera. But he didn't realize that he was following him from behind.

Mr. ran fast. Marcaida drives the car to catch up with his son. He lowered the windshield and called her name over and over.

“Hera! stop the car!" he yelled, but Hera drove her car even faster and led them.

His father didn't budge and started running even faster.

"Hon, we are too fast." Worried and afraid of her husband's promise. But he didn't listen to her and just focused on their son's car.

"Hon." He called his wife again. Mr. turned around. Marcaida to his wife, and only then did he realize that he was afraid of the speed of his driving. That's why, he tried to slow down the car they were riding in, but still nothing changed in his running speed and it only accelerated.

"Honey!" Mrs. Marcaida shouted when she saw a white truck coming in front of them. When his wife turned to face him, he immediately turned the car he was riding in but it hit the side of the bridge and ended up falling into a deep creek.

Hera briefly glanced at her side mirror and quickly braked when she saw the accident that happened to her parents.

He hurriedly got out of the car and ran towards the scene of the incident.

"Ma? More!” his voice trembled as he called her and tears continued to fall from his eyes.

Despite his walk and when he reached it, he was suddenly hit by a red car.

With the force of the impact of the collision on him, he was thrown and rolled on the road. His blood spread quickly as he looked at the sky.

"Mom, Dad and brother Dennis." He softly kissed his lips with tears dripping from the corners of his eyes. Gradually, his vision became blurry and he lost consciousness for a few moments.

Bon quickly got out of the car and hurriedly approached the lying girl.

"Ms. Hera!" he repeatedly called her name. His attention was also turned to what happened to the Marcaida couple, which is why he was confused and worried by the series of events.

"Hello? We are on Generalo Bridge highway now. Can you please hurry because we need a rescuer here immediately? Three people have had an accident here, so please... We need your help." Adante called an ambulance when he saw what happened to the Marcaidas. His face showed concern especially for Hera. Therefore, he immediately approached her but he was confused as to what he should do.

“Hera! Hera, can you hear me?" at that moment, the girl's eyes opened for a moment and looked at him.

“Hera, can you see me? do not close your eyes.” He promised but he completely lost consciousness.

"Ms. Hera!" called her again. Bon stepped forward and listened carefully to the girl's pulse.

"Why?" Adante asked when he suddenly turned to her.

"I can't feel his pulse." After saying this, he also listened to the young woman's pulse but he suddenly pulled back when he made sure that her heart had stopped beating.

In a few moments, the ambulances and some police arrived. As soon as they arrived, Bon immediately picked up the unconscious girl and ran to the ambulance.

“Help. Help her." he shouted to the first aid responders. When they saw Hera, they quickly let her inside and rushed her to the hospital. The Marcaida couple were also rushed to the hospital, but they were later declared dead on arrival.

While the girl was still in the emergency room and was currently being stitched up for the wound on her head, Bon suddenly fell to the floor when he saw the lifeless couple. He just cried and held onto Mr.'s hand. Marcaida, who now considered him almost a member of their family. The person who helped him continue in life and strengthened his will. When he needed a father to tell his problems he was always ready to listen for him, but now that he was gone it was almost as if a big wall had run over him behind him.

***

Hera's eyes, head, arms, and legs are wrapped in bandages. There are also neck braces attached to the girl's neck.

Right now, only the oxygen concentrator supports his body to survive.

He could hardly move his whole body and he could not speak. He is like a corpse lying down but his spirit is still breathing and awake.

Bon came to him trembling and his every step was heavy. Tears welled up in his eyes and he couldn't believe what happened to the girl.

But he did not get close to Hera because his future husband, Adante, suddenly arrived. He even hit her on the shoulder, but she just ignored it.

“Hera! can you hear me?" he said with concern. The girl slowly moved a finger and the two young men saw it.

Adante smiled and burst into tears, kissing her hand. Bon just turned around and left the room for a moment.

He took a deep breath and leaned his back against the wall. His knees were weak and he still could not accept the tragedy that befell the Marcaida family.

Luis Andrey Bon or better known as Bon — thirty years old. Former best friend and younger brother of Dennis Marcaida, Hera's older brother.

When they were young, he was really close to the Marcaida family. Because of his parents' abuse, they deserved to take him and adopt him as part of their family.

He owes a lot to the Marcaida's, but all of that is because of his best friend Dennis. He chose to serve them as the brothers' personal tutor. Furthermore, he felt that it was better not to be a burden and abuse their kindness towards him.

So in return, he promised the Marcaida couple that one day he would repay the good they gave for him. From then on, he worked hard at night and was a student in the morning. He also didn't want to rely on what the brothers gave him so even though his nose was often bleeding, he continued and didn't waste time.

Dennis witnessed his diligence. He just smiles and marvels at his friend every time he finds him sound asleep on the table and obviously tired.

One day, he spoke to his friend and asked him for a favor.

"Bon, can I ask you one favor?" Dennis said as they both walked in the garden.

"Wish?" Bon said and looked at his friend. They stopped walking for a moment and Dennis faced the young man.

"Bon, promise me that you will marry my sister Hera." He knew that Bon was surprised so he held him by the hand.

"Huh? what are you saying married? Hera is too young for me to marry her and you know that your brother and I are like cats and dogs." He said with a mischievous smile on his lips.

"Please, I'm begging you, Bon. Take care of him. I don't want to see her hurt and cry because of another man." He is pleading here.

"What are you talking about, Dennis? why do you seem so serious now? Do you have a problem?" Dennis was silent for a moment. He just bowed and seemed to suppress his emotions.

"I'm sorry, I know you don't like serious conversations. But every time I think about my brother's future, it's like being stabbed repeatedly in my heart." He said and tears suddenly fell from his eyes which worried the young man.

Bon was shocked because this was the first time he had seen and heard her emotionally. He often sees her smiling, happy and always laughing whenever they are together. But at that moment, it seemed that the former Dennis, whom he knew to be brave and energetic, had given up. He doubted that despite everything he had, he was also going through a problem.

It was just over two days ago when Dennis admitted in front of his family that he has Bone Marrow Cancer or Leukemia. The bad news he knew suddenly brought down the Marcaidas. They had almost given up hope of getting their company back together and passing the inheritance to him because of his worsening illness.

Bon didn't show up with his friend for more than a week. He stayed at his co-worker's house for a while, but he preferred not to stay there for a long time so he looked for a place to rent at a lower rent.

He is not ready to face his best friend again after learning of his serious health condition. However, he often passes and stops in front of her house but he also leaves immediately.

Dennis thought that she was angry with him because he kept his serious illness a secret from his friend. But what he didn't know was that he was afraid to face him and see his condition.

As time went on, he gradually struggled and lost weight due to his condition. He's always inside the hospital playing guitar. From time to time, Hera makes her smile and she practices as a ballerina in front of her.

They also did not show or make the young man feel the sadness and pain they felt for what happened to their son. Instead, he and his wife poured all their love, care, and courage into her.

Dennis is like that, so even when the situation is very difficult, he still tries to fight and he never loses hope that he will overcome every test.

But his calmness and courage suddenly broke. They woke up to the fact that there was no hope of prolonging the young man's life.

Mrs. just started crying. Marcaida while her husband hugs her. Dennis happened to peek outside his room and for the first time he saw his parents crying because of him.

So instead of being brave, he suddenly lost hope and feared the future.

He just backed away and sat to one side. There he poured out all the pain and weight that he had been harboring in his heart for a long time.

A few moments later, the Marcaida couple also entered his room. They were shocked to see the young man lying on the floor unconscious.

They immediately called a nurse and a doctor. He laid him down on his bed again and carefully observed the condition of his body.

The doctor spoke to them thoroughly.

"Your child's illness is in the final stage. His condition is worse and more difficult now. I also can't promise that he will have a long life, within this week or maybe after 3-4 days he might be gone. I deeply apologize to you." After the doctor said that, he turned and left his office for a while.

The couple couldn't believe what they heard. Chased by Mrs. Marcaida was the doctor and he knelt before him.

"Please, I'm begging you all. We are willing to pay, no matter how much, as long as you help my son get better. I don't care how long it takes or how much it costs us, if you can just pass his illness on to me I won't hesitate to do so. Doc, Dennis is still young. He is a smart and very kind boy. So, why among the many people who can have such a disease, why my son? Is there really no other way for you to save my son from the brink of death? I'm begging you, doctor. Help my child. It's just me, just take me." Despite her begging, she was released from the doctor's hands. Sitting on the floor and just kept crying. Bon witnessed and heard all her pleas to the doctor. Tears welled up in his eyes and he just looked in another direction to relieve the weight he was feeling.

"I'm sorry, wife. But I'm just a doctor and not God." The doctor answered as he left.

In the distance, he suddenly saw Hera walking towards them and looking at the patients she met.

He was suddenly afraid that the girl might see the pitiful condition of her parents. Therefore, he quickly approached Hera and stood in front of her.

"Brother Bon?" he was surprised to see it.

"Hera, do you know where to buy fruit?" he only asked to get the girl's attention.

"Huh? I saw someone outside earlier selling fruits." He was teaching outside the hospital.

"Is that so? can you come with me?"

"But-" He was about to peek behind Bon, but the young man quickly blocked him and put his arm around Bon's shoulder.

"Come with me, I don't know what fruit your brother likes." That's all he told her.

"Okay, but let's just wait a moment, right?" he also convinced her to go with him. Bon turned behind him for a moment and saw the nurses lifting Mrs. Marcaida, because it suddenly passed out there.