Chapter 2

GOLD DIGGER

Rosell slowly opened her eyes. She saw the white ceiling, realizing she's in the hospital. Feeling a little bit weak, she used her strength to sit.

Thoughts of last night entered her mind. Feeling a bit nervous, she checked herself, and felt a bandage on her head. This injury might be the cause of her falling on the floor. Aside from few scratches and pain on her stomach, she didn't feel anything weird on her body.

'What happened last night?' she thought to herself.

Suddenly, the door opened and two men wearing police uniforms entered. She felt relieved at the sight.

"Good morning, miss Rosell. We're from the City Police Office. We just want to ask you a few questions for the yesterday's incident," one of them said.

She nodded and uttered an 'okay'.

"We want you to tell us everything till the smallest details you remembered, okay?"

And so, she did. She told them everything that happened last night. From the bouncers to the office. She still feels scared about the incident, but she bravely told them the truth. This is for her and Maya's justice.

"Thank you so much for cooperating, miss Rosell."

"No. I should be the one to thank you. You saved us last night from that dirty old man. I'm so grateful for your response," she sincerely said to them.

"We're just fulfilling our duties, ma'am. We'll go first. You can rest now."

The cops left her room. She felt at ease now, knowing that Simon and his subordinates had been caught finally. He has been acting like a boss in that area, scaring people and extorting money from them. He has learned his lesson now.

The nurse went in to check for her. She was told that she could be discharged in the afternoon. She just needs to rest for a bit.

“Finally, Maya will not worry about that old man anymore,” she sighed again. Her eyes widened at a sudden realization. “Where is Maya?!”

She just remembered her friend, ‘What happened to her?’

She immediately got off the bed and went out of her hospital room. She looked around the area, and saw a nurse just getting out of another room. She then asked her. “Hi, miss. Which room is Mariyanna Aguilar in?”

The nurse stopped on her tracks to answer her. “She was in the room I just went into. She’s sleeping, but you can enter now,” the nurse said, smiling. She uttered a small thanks to her then went on her way.

“Woah,” she muttered after seeing the room which her friend is in. The room is spacious. Seems like it’s a VIP one.

‘Did the policemen gave her a special treatment?’ She just shrugged the thought.

She saw her friend lying on the hospital bed, so she walked closer to her. Looking at her friend sleeping calmly, makes her feel at ease. At least for a moment, she wanted her to loosen up a bit and not worry about their problems.

Moments later, she saw her friend creasing her eyebrows.

“I won’t forgive qsbxjdncmdks…” Maya is muttering words she couldn’t understand. Maybe she’s having a nightmare. Rosell thought carefully before waking her up.

“Maya. Wake up.” She called her a few more times before the latter woke up.

Maya opened her eyes slowly then looked at her. She immediately got up and hugged her which made Rosell shocked.

“Are you fine, Rosell?” Her friend looked at the bandage on her head. Worry could be seen on her face.

“I’m fine. I’m hard-headed, this won’t kill me,” she said, smiling to assure that she’s alright.

The woman sighed for relief. “Good. I thought something bad has happened to you, Rosell. I’m very sorry that I can’t do anything last night. I tried to help you but…” she stopped talking as her tears fell off.

“Don’t worry about it. Why are you so emotional today? I know you’re not a cry-baby.”

She continued to hug her and just cried on her shoulders.

“R-rosell,” her voice is shaking. Is something bothering her?

“Hmm?”

 Her hug tightened, but she’s not saying anything.

‘She’s really worried about something.’ Rosell thought.

“How long have I been here?” she asked which made Rosell look at her confusedly.

“Aren’t we here since last night? I haven’t visited you because I just woke up.”

“Are you… sure?” she’s even more confused because of her friend’s words.

“What kind of question is that, Maya? The policemen helped us yesterday, right? Good thing that they came on time. Simon has been caught, and I’m sure he has a lot of charges. Don’t worry about that old man anymore. We’re safe now.” She said trying to assure her friend.

Maya held her hand tightly. “They’re lying, Rosell.”

“Huh? What do you mean?” she asked her, confused.

“L—

 Maya stopped talking as the door swung open. Lorenzo entered the room. She noticed her friend shivering. Is she cold or is it because of another reason?

“Can I talk to you, Ms. Aguilar?” he asked, looking straight at Maya’s eyes.

“What is he doing here? How did he know that we’re here?” she whispered at her friend.

“Miss Dormitorio, can you give them a privacy first?” Gilbert, Lorenzo’s secretary, asked.

“I’m not leaving here,” she stubbornly said.

“Ms. Dormitorio,” Lorenzo said her name like threatening her.

“It’s okay, Rosell. You can go out first.” Maya said.

“But, Maya—"

“Don’t worry. I’ll shout if something happens.

She just nodded and left the hospital room with Gilbert.

She looked at the latter with suspicious look in her eyes.

“What are you doing here, huh? What do you need from my friend?”

The man just cleared his throat, not wanting to answer her.

“Are you involved with what happened to us?” she asked him, slightly suspecting.

“You’re mistaken, Ms. Dormitorio. Mr. Enzo has clear intentions.” He defended his boss.

“I don’t believe you. I’m sure that you have an involvement in this case. How did you know that we’re in this hospital?” she asked him again.

“We are just helping you both.”

 “Really, huh? Liar! What help? If you’re talking about the contract, that is not helping, but insulting us! Cheaters! Maya will never sign that f*cking contract. She will never marry Lorenzo!” she said after remembering the contract that Maya had told her before.

Gilbert looked at her, shocked. He suddenly got cold sweat and looked around. Seems like he is scared of anyone knowing about the contract.

“How did you know about the contract, Ms. Dormitorio? You should not talk about it. Mr. Lorenzo will get mad at us.” He said, lowering his voice.

 “Ah! So, you are scared of people knowing your evil plans? What are you really planning? What do you need from my friend?” she asked, feeling enraged now.

 Gilbert was about to go closer to her and she was stepping back, when she bumped into someone. She looked back and stepped away from the person.

“Dr. Vester,” Gilbert uttered.

“You again?! What are you doing here? You’re like a chicken just emerging out of nowhere,” the doctor insulted her, ignoring Gilbert.

Her teeth gritted at the sudden insult. A what?! Did he just call her a chicken?

“Are you blind? You rascal! Isn’t it obvious with my clothes and the bandage on my head? I’m a patient here,” she said in a matter-of-fact tone. “I should be the one asking you. Why are you here? Are you gonna bark again?” she even rolled her eyes at him.

The doctor crossed his arms and laughed.

“Why are you laughing? What an idiot.”

He stopped and said, “Why do I need your permission to be here? I am the owner of this hospital. I have the right to come here whenever I want.”

“Am I asking if you’re the owner of this hospital? Common sense, idiot! I’m asking why you are here in front of my friend’s room. There are other rooms you can go to!”

 The guy creased his forehead and turned to look at Gilbert who was silent the whole time they were bickering. He looked back at Rosell again.

“I didn’t know that you’re here. You’re just so full of yourself. I didn’t come here for you. My department is here,” he explained. “And why are you here, Gilbert? Don’t tell me, Lorenzo is in—"

The door opened and Lorenzo came out from the room. Rosell the immediately entered the room, leaving the three guys outside. She’s very angry at the three guys. She locked the door of Maya’s room. After making sure that the men already left, she walked closer to her friend and noticed her spacing out.

“Maya, what did he said? He didn’t hurt you, right?”

The woman looked at her and shook her head.

“Don’t worry. He just came here to talk about the contract.”

“That guy just won’t stop bothering you, if he won’t get what he wants. But don’t you ever agree, Maya. Those evil guys! I’m sure they are planning something again,” she said gritting her teeth.

 Maya is just silent the whole time. Maybe thinking about something. She doesn’t understand her. Why is her friend, feeling discouraged?

“What’s the problem, Maya? Why are you spacing out again?” she asked, feeling a bit worried of her friend’s behavior.

“I don’t know what to do anymore, Rosell,” her tears flowed down her cheeks again.

She panicked after seeing her cry again. She wanted to ask her but she’s afraid that her friend won’t tell her. Noticing her fists clenching, she must be very angry at something.

“Don’t make me nervous, Maya. Tell me the problem so that I can help you,” she said calming her down, but it just made her friend cry even more. She held her hands tightly, making her feel that she’s just here ready to help her. The woman just continued crying in silence.

She was about to ask her again but the phone on the table rang. It’s Kael, calling. Maya didn’t even bother to move, so she took the phone to answer it.

(Hello, Maya! What happened? Is it true?)

“Hello, Kael. It’s me, Rosell.”

(Rosell, where is Maya? What did I hear about? She’s pregnant?! Is it true, Rosell? Tell me. Why is she with another man?!)

Rosell panicked. What is Kael saying? How did he know about it? The guy is still in Manila. It’s also impossible that Loisa, Maya’s cousin, told him because she knew how envious that girl was.

“Where did you get that? That’s not true.”

(Not true? Why is it in the social media then? Everyone knows about it already! And who is that Lorenzo Tanaleon III? He’s the father, Rosell? Why didn’t I know that Maya has a boyfriend? Tell me…)

Rosell immediately took the remote control and turned the tv on inside the room.

She covered her mouth with her hands after watching the breaking news, where Maya’s face is blurred and Lorenzo carrying her outside of Simon’s bar until the guy’s car.

The headline says, “Tanaleon’s heir caught with his third party, allegedly pregnant with his child. Probable reason for breaking up the wedding plans with Huescas.”

“Maya!” she called her friend.

The woman is just fixed at the television. Her fists clenching tightly while looking on it.

“Let’s just go home, Rosell.”

She doesn’t understand why the two were together last night, outside Simon’s bar. Is she really mistaken about the events last night? Didn’t the cops save them? What is Lorenzo doing there?

Is this the reason why Maya was acting like this?

“Rosell, let’s just go home, please.”

Although she’s curious about the happenings, she just set it aside for Maya’s sake. She just nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.

“Okay, I’ll go process the papers. Just wait here.” She said then went outside.

She went to the billing area at the first floor, but learned that Lorenzo had already paid their stay at the hospital.

“Are you sure about that, miss?” she asked the accountant assigned.

“Yes. It says here that he paid for the hospital bills,” the hospital accountant stated.

“Can’t we just refund the bill he paid? I’ll pay back.”

“I’m sorry, miss. We can’t refund the bills.” The woman told her and just went on again with her work, not wanting the conversation to get longer.

‘What kind of system is this?’ she thought to herself. She was about to go back to Maya’s room at the second floor, but then she bumped into a hard thing and fell, butt first.

“Ouch!” she complained.

“What an actress you are. Bumping into someone then ask for compensation. I already know this kind of trick,” said by a voice she really hated.

She stood up and walked, ignoring his words because she did not have the strength to fight with anyone that day. She just wants to go home and rest.

“I’m talking to you!” he forcibly pulled her arms making her face him.

“Let go of me,” she said, trying to calm herself.

“You are really thick-skinned. I already offered you money but it seems like its not enough. What more do you want, huh?” Vester asked with an insulting tone. “You must be desperate to have a rich husband. I’m not gonna let you! My sister is too kind, letting your friend ruin her engagement with Lorenzo. I’m not gonna f*cking let you ruin her happiness!”

“We don’t have anything to do with your sister and Lorenzo’s affair. In fact, I should be the one telling your friend to leave Maya alone. He’s bothering her and you should stop him.”

“Ha! So, you’re saying that Lorenzo is the one chasing that woman?! You’re too full of yourselves!”

“It’s up to you if you believe us or not. I’m stating facts here. I will not argue anymore so let me go!” using her strength, she successfully freed her arm from his grip. She walked away, but heard him adding another threat.

“Don’t let me see you again, gold digger.”

She stopped on her tracks and replied.

“I don’t want to see you again either.”