“How is she now?” Lorenzo asked after Nicholas stepped out.The man has been in the ward with some other doctors with Leilani and then he breathed out.“She is quite unstable, I must confess. And with our evaluation, other than her physical trauma, she might develop some psychological trauma such as anxiety, PTSD, and emotional distress.”“B… but, she is still undergoing treatment for something like that. Remember?” his voice broke.“I know,” Nicholas nodded his head.“She will be fine, Enzo.”“You know that you have to tell me the truth, right? You must not hide anything from me… not regarding her.”“She is going to be alright, I assure you. We just need to help her manage her emotions better when she is conscious. She has returned to sleep and will be awake soon, okay?”He nodded his head and then sniffed.Perhaps the news regarding Peter had made him more scared and unstable.He had thought that if Peter could lose his life because of the same accident Leilani was in, then his wife
“I should be there with her. You know that,” Lorenzo hissed for the umpteenth time, looking out of the window.“God, you’re so stubborn,” Mia hissed.“What?”“She is awake already. You saw that, didn’t you? It’s been three days and I haven’t seen you take a wink of sleep at all.”“I am okay.”“You just need to freshen up, okay? You will return to her afterward.”“Understood, but why are you following me too? Should you not be with her?”Mia swallowed and shook her head again.They left Leilani sleeping and besides, she wanted to see something else.She wanted to see her brother, Lorenzo, walk in front of her.“Nothing,” she rolled her eyes and then looked away.___The remaining journey home was so silent as the siblings didn’t utter any other words to each other and as they arrived at the gate, Lorenzo gasped at the lady that jumped in front of the car.“Who is that?!” Mia snapped.“That lady…” Lorenzo drew his brows together.“Do you know her?”He tilted his head as he tried to reme
“Goodness, Leila!”Anna palmed her mouth and burst into tears the moment she looked through the glass and saw Leilani.“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know it was so serious!” She cried.Martha watched as the lady continued to cry and after a while, she moved over to her and then patted her shoulder.“She has gotten much better, so, take it easy, okay?”“When can I see her?”“She just fell asleep, so, maybe when she is awake although we don’t know when because she has been sleeping so much.”“I can wait with you guys, right?”Martha shrugged her shoulders off and then moved away from the lady.Anna kept staring at Leilani from where she stood and then muttered incoherently.After a few moments, her phone rang and she removed it from her pocket almost immediately.It was Caleb again.Caleb had not stopped calling her since the day he announced to her of the woman’s condition.He kept calling her every hour to ask if she had gotten a hang of Leilani yet.She moved away from where she stood
Arriving the living room with Mia, Martha and Nicholas, Lorenzo stood up from his chair, and then moved over to Leilani who leaned on Martha.“What are you…” she widened her eyes and then glanced at Mia.“What? What is that that look for?” Mia rolled her eyes.“Lorenzo, you…”“She knows,” he nodded his head and took her gently from Martha.“Mia knows?!” Nicholas and Martha hollered and then exchanged glances.“Why do you all find it so surprising?” She smacked and then moved closer to the couple.“Because… because it is you, Mia! Fuck, what have you done, Enzo?” Nicholas broadened his eyes“She has known about it for seven months, trust me. I felt so much like a fool when I found out,” he shook his head.“Oh, you do not need to be embarrassed, brother,” she patted his shoulder and then took Leilani’s hand in hers.“How did she find out?” Nicho moved over to Lorenzo too.“She's sly, trust me. You don't even wanna hear it.”“Tell me.”When Lorenzo hesitated, Mia breathed out, staring at
As the two men entered the library, Lorenzo shook his head as Mia didn’t stop walking after them and then sighed.“Listen, I understand that you wanna be of help, but now is not the time. I have been working on this for a while and I’ve never needed your help, so please…”“Ouch…”“Leave us be.”“No, no, you cannot force me away, I will not go,” she shook her head, entered fully, and then settled on the couch.“Mia.”“I will not go. I am in this with you. They probably know that I have chosen your side already and what is my gain if I lose both sides?”“What do you want? Money?”“Don’t offend me further, brother.”“You are the one driving me crazy, Mia.”Still, she did not answer, she crossed her legs, and then folded her arms tightly across her chest.“Just leave her be,” Nicholas shook his head.“No, I can’t. That is Mia, remember? A chatterbox! Who knows what she is actually planning?”“Hello, I am still here, sitting,” she raised her hands and waved her hands at them.“I didn’t whi
“What?” Leilani widened her eyes and crossed her arms across her chest.“I am going to help you in the bathroom.”“You even repeated it!” She exclaimed and he laughed.“And?”“Since when have I ever needed anyone to help me in the bathroom?”“You have a wound on your back, Lani. We were advised not to get it wet till it’s time to come for cleaning.”“I can manage.”“You can’t.”“Then… help me get Martha. I am sure she will be more than glad to help me in the bathroom.”“Will it not be somehow if she comes to do that when you have me right here with me?”“Will you get her or would you prefer that I bury myself in the bathtub there?”He breathed out and rolled his eyes, “You’re so stubborn.”“What do you say?”“I’ll get Martha now.”“Good.”He rolled his eyes and then walked out of the room.————“I am sorry for being a bother,” Leilani whispered as the woman stepped in the bathroom with her.“Oh, silly!” Martha chuckled.“I feel so bad.”“I am more than happy to do this for you. How do
“Oh, am I seeing correctly?!”Shane hollered the moment Mia stepped into the living room and they all turned to look in her direction.“Hi, fam!” She waved her hands at them and then walked fully into the room.“Thought you have decided to live there forever,” Agnes grunted.“I could, you know. But, you are my family regardless.”“No one actually cares where you decide to live. You do not even need to tell which side you are on. We know already,” Arthur hissed.Mia rolled her eyes and turned to walk away before she stopped abruptly and then turned to look at her mother.“You amaze me, mother. You really do.”“What is she saying?” Agnes snapped her brows together.“She was in the hospital for a week, but… you never showed your face… neither did you call.”“So?”“I really have no problem with them…” she glanced at her brothers.“I have no problem with them not visiting. I really do not expect anything from them, but, you?”“Don’t rile me up, Mia. Just get on your way.”“No! Your suppose
Shane raised his brows as the door to his room pushed open and Arthur barged in.Sitting on the couch, he leaned in, crossed his legs, and then tilted his head.“Ah, you have finally come to see me.”“Why? Have you been expecting me?” Arthur walked fully into the room.“I know you, Arthur. I know when you know something. Or, when you have something to say.”“Oh…” Arthur nodded his head and then folded his arms tightly across his chest.“Spill.”“Why don’t you start?”“Why should I? You came in here because you have something to say to me, is that not it?”“Regardless, I would like you to speak first,” Arthur shook his head.“Welcome to the staring competition, then.”“Tch, you asshole,” Arthur smacked his tongue.“What?”He covered the space between them and without saying another word, he pulled Shane up with his collar and then shoved him to the side.“Why?!”“Do you know what kind of pickle you put in?” He pointed his index finger at him.“Me? Pickle? Speak straight, brother,” he f
“No, no, no, this is not possible. This cannot be possible,” she shook her head, taking multiple steps back.“Where is she going?” Mia rushed over to her and took her hands in hers.“What is wrong?”“I can’t… I can’t take this. I can’t… no, no,” she sniffed, yanked her hand gently from Mia’s, and then wiped her tears with the back of her hand.“This is too much. I can’t…” “You know what, guys,” Martha clasped her hands together.“Let’s leave the two of them for a while. We will return to celebrate with them,” she ushered them out and then turned to leave too.After they were out of sight, with the door closed, Lorenzo stood up from where he sat, covered the space between them and then pulled her into a hug without saying anything.“I know this is going to overwhelm you. I know it does,” he said, as he patted her back.“Lorenzo, you can’t do this… again. No, please.”“Why?” He bore his eyes on her as he broke the hug.“I don’t… I don’t deserve this.”“How? In what way? Talk to me.”“
“I can't find Lorenzo in the room. Did he go somewhere?” Leilani asked Martha as she descended the stairs.“Enzo? I think he’s somewhere in the perimeter. Do you wanna go to him?”“Yes. Could you tell me where he is?”It’s been three days since she resumed her class and so far, it was better and together with Anna, they had been staying back at the academy for two more hours just to practice as the competition was fast approaching.If it was up to Anna, she really doesn’t need to be staying back as she could do all the practice that she needed at her space. Unlike her.“Let me take you to him,” Martha stood from where she sat and took her hand in hers.“You do not need to bother yourself, Martha. Just tell me where he is.”“Come with me, really. We could have a little chit-chat while we walk also, don’t you think?”She nodded her head and chuckled gently, “I agree.”Together, they exited the living room and then started to walk slowly around the house.“How has it been? At the Academ
Mia glanced at their grip that was both on the bottle of apple cider, looked up at the man again, and then snatched it from him.“Thank you,” she raised the bottle gently, and then dropped it in the basket in her hand.She turned around and moved away from him to continue with her shopping, but then, she felt his movement behind her.“Mia…”She ignored it and kept trailing her fingers on the goods on the rack.“It has been… a while.”“What?” She turned around swiftly and beaded her brows.“I mean…” he swallowed and smiled.“I haven’t seen you in a while.”She looked at him from head to toe, chuckled dryly, and then shook her head. “Oh, please.”With that, she walked away from where he was and moved fully to another compartment.Jason stood still in his position for almost a full minute before he exhaled and shook his head.He had just been disappointed.He had expected that the woman would flash him her usual wide smile and then call his name the way she used to.But, he was wrong.Sh
“Setting it up? A new workspace?” She raised her brows.“She needs somewhere to practice and paint. I know she is not gonna ask after what happened to the previous one, but it needs to be done.”“Aww, brother,” she sniffed.“You’re gonna keep it a secret from her till it’s ready. Can I trust you on that?”“Of course! I would be so glad to be part of this with you.”“Good. Since you’re in on this too, all you have to do is meet with Martha. I have talked to her too so you both should get started.”“Okay. And… Thank you for this.”“Okay.”“I really appreciate this, Enzo. You have no idea how much…”“Can we leave the cringe part and get back to business, please?”“Ah, you’re a killer joy!” She exclaimed and then he laughed out unconsciously.===Leilani kept walking awkwardly till she arrived at her space, settled on it, and then buried her head on her table.They wouldn’t stop looking at her with pity in their eyes and that was one of the things she hated the most.Anna was not around y
“Oh, come on. It’s been two weeks already,” Leilani shook her head gently and groaned.“You’re not completely healed,” he said.She was sitting on the bed, and he knelt behind her, her bare back facing him.Leilani tightened her grip on the blanket that she used to cover her chest while the man applied the ointment to her wound.This had been their normal routine every morning and night since they had removed the bandage on the wound.At first, Leilani had insisted that Mia would be doing it for her but the man had disagreed, telling her that it would seem weird if she did that for her while she had him around.Still, she had tried to prove stubborn before she eventually agreed that he did it for her.And so far, it was okay.It was as if that simple ritual was making them closer as the two of them always had something to talk about while he applied the ointment and massaged the area of the wound.“I truly believe this is gonna heal so fast and won’t leave a scar,” he smiled softly, s
“Hi, guys! I'm home!”Mia exclaimed as she entered the living room, her handbag hanging loosely on her shoulder.Leilani sprang up from where she sat beside Lorenzo and then gasped.“Sister in law!”“She truly came,” Lorenzo mumbled under his breath and then pulled his laptop closer to himself.The two women hugged so tightly like their life depended on it and after a while, Leilani pulled back and grinned.“You really came!”“Told ya!” They both moved to the side as the men entered with her boxes.“Greetings to you too, brother,” she moved over to Lorenzo.Lorenzo glanced at her, rolled his eyes, and then returned his attention to his laptop.“I know you’re not pleased that I am here, but let me tell you two something.”“What?” Leilani raised her brows.“With me here, you don’t need to visit any marriage counselor or whatever. I am here to give advice and my listening ears whenever you need.”“Since when have we announced to you that we need an adviser?” Lorenzo hissed.“You might n
“W… what is this? What are you doing?”Agnes widened her eyes as she ran down the stairs after her daughter.“What do you mean?”“Where are you going?”She asked.The men who were in the living room preparing to leave the house stopped on their track and then turned to look at the women.“What is going on?” Aaron asked.“I am moving out,” she announced.They all fell silent for a while and then Agnes chuckled dryly.“Is this a joke?”“Oh, come on. Does this look like a joke?”Agnes glanced at the two big bags that the lady had dropped outside.“Mia?”Mia clasped her hands together and then gasped, “I still have more bags up there!”She turned around swiftly and they all watched as she ascended the stairs.“Who knew about this?” Agnes looked around.Shane raised his hands and Arthur shook his head. “No one?” Aaron asked.“Where is she moving to?” Agnes asked again.“I guess we’ll have to ask her,” Arthur nodded his head at the lady who struggled down the stairs with two big bags again.
“Who do you say is moving in with us?”Leilani choked on the smoothie she was drinking and then raised her head.“Take it easy,” he sighed, moved over to her, and dabbed the corner of her mouth with the handkerchief.Frowning gently at him, she pushed his hand away gently and then asked again.“Mia is truly moving in?”“I hadn’t even agreed before she ended the call, thanking me. But I think she is going to move in. We can just tell her…”“Yippee!” Leilani cut him short with an exclamation and stood up.“You are not excited, are you?” he beaded his brows.“Should I not be?”“No, you should not be. I was hoping that you would be opposed to it and then I can just tell her that, ‘no, my wife is not in support of this,” he demonstrated, shaking his head.“Why would you want to use me to lie like that?”“Lie? Come on. Let's just tell her that.”“No! Let her move in. at least, i can finally stop sleeping in your room and stay with her instead.”After she said that, she dropped the straw in
Shane raised his brows as the door to his room pushed open and Arthur barged in.Sitting on the couch, he leaned in, crossed his legs, and then tilted his head.“Ah, you have finally come to see me.”“Why? Have you been expecting me?” Arthur walked fully into the room.“I know you, Arthur. I know when you know something. Or, when you have something to say.”“Oh…” Arthur nodded his head and then folded his arms tightly across his chest.“Spill.”“Why don’t you start?”“Why should I? You came in here because you have something to say to me, is that not it?”“Regardless, I would like you to speak first,” Arthur shook his head.“Welcome to the staring competition, then.”“Tch, you asshole,” Arthur smacked his tongue.“What?”He covered the space between them and without saying another word, he pulled Shane up with his collar and then shoved him to the side.“Why?!”“Do you know what kind of pickle you put in?” He pointed his index finger at him.“Me? Pickle? Speak straight, brother,” he f