SEAN'S POV
"Philip?"
I called his name after some moments of observing him. There was a narrow slit between two stretches of curtains covering the ICU glass windows. Only one was allowed to visit each time, so I had to wait outside. I just couldn't barge in even if I wanted to; I was afraid I was just paranoid. I trusted Philip ever since I started taking over the business, and he never once failed me except for occasional, wrong information.
His eyes grow wide for a mere second, expressing his surprise, but he was quick to get back to wearing his usual, calm demeanor behind the mask he wore.
"Sir, I'm sorry for Dr. Red," he commented, turning a little to glance at Red.
I nodded, then asked, "Why are you here, Philip? You should be resting by now."
It was a long day for the two of us since I had him do many things regarding the transfer of business ownership under the TAG Group of Companies to Red
RED'S POVI dreamed I was standing on a mountain top, looking down at the cliff below. The stiff breeze coming from the sea that sprawled beyond the cliff ruffled my hair into a mess. Instead of listening to the chirping of the birds, the gushes of the wind, and the rustling of the leaves, I heard the beeping of machines.I felt the omen of death coming closer to me. Suddenly, I heard someone whispering into my ear. I listened carefully, and those whispers came with a sob. Who could be sobbing for me? I'm already alone in this world, and Eric did not love me enough that he would cry for my departure. Then I remembered I was already with Sean, but he, too, hadn't learned to love me yet. He was kind and showed me the respect I hadn't experienced with Eric. However, he also was not perfect. He loved someone else, and they were soon having a baby!"Red, please hang on. There are so many things you need to know. T
RED'S POV Eric understood that I did not want to hear those words. Throughout his creepy confession, I looked somewhere else. Where were those sweet nothings when I most needed it? I already got so fed up with his foul mouth and complaints that recalling a part of it made me feel sick. "Red, how did this happen to you?" I slowly turned my head to look at him, relieved that he changed his topic. I pointed a finger to my throat, telling him I could not speak yet. Sore throat is common in patients after extubation, and hoarseness of voice persists after a few days or even weeks. "I see. If you're bored later, and if you're no longer tired and sleepy, we can exchange messages." Just when he has the time to chat or exchange messages with me?I rolled my eyes, and he looked away, pretending he did not see me. My silence probably told him that I no longer wanted his presenc
RED'S POV I scoffed as I reread Eric's message. Of course, he wouldn't say anything nice to the man who gave me worth. He just wanted to let me feel that Sean just played with my feelings because he perhaps thought he was taking advantage of my vulnerability. He tried to prove it to me that I didn't deserve any special affection from powerful men like them, and that only he could bear with someone like me. I would never allow him to break my self-esteem again. The bed at my right ride side sank, and soon, Sean's arms draped around me. He then pulled me up and placed my head in his chest. "Have you already decided on the design of your gown?" Sean asked as he stroke my hair with his fingers. I shook my head then wrapped my hand around his abdomen, hugging him tightly. Though I already started to harbor doubts at him, every time he showed me his gentle and caring ways, I always melted like wax against a burning c
RED'S POV After a few days, my health improved. My voice also came back, though it still sounded hoarse. I only came back to the hospital once for my last hemodialysis and the removal of my intrajugular catheter afterward. An intrajugular catheter is a type of catheter inserted into a vein in the neck called an intrajugular vein. The catheter is used as a route for the exchange of blood from a person's body to the dialyzer and back to the body. The moment Sean wheeled me to the Hemodialysis Unit, a bouquet of red roses beside my assigned dialysis machine met our eyes. I pulled in a deep breath, wondering how Sean felt about this. "How does he know I will be here?" I whispered to Sean's ears while my eyes roamed at my left and right, looking for signs of Eric's presence. "Good morning, doc. Someone delivered these flowers for you," the nurse assigned to the unit greeted us with her bright smile while simultaneously loo
RED'S POV Sean looked around with watchful eyes, so I understood that he did not want to talk about Patrick here. I dropped the topic, and he kept his silence. However, his choice to keep his silence gave me a clue that Patrick was behind this. And the more my suspicion grew that he was the famous business tycoon the newscaster meant. Why would Sean do this? Why the hell would he support Patrick's moves against the president? And why would he risk his reputation over this crime? Just how deep was their grudge towards him that they need to involve innocent lives? Once we were back at our room in Laminae, I brought up the topic again. But before that, I decided to hit his weakness - every man's weakness- so that he would open up to me. No matter how I felt silly for thinking that it would work, I still wanted to give it a try. I no longer wanted to complicate things over this damned mystery. I went to th
RED'S POVI laughed softly at what the designer said, earning me a confused gaze from both Sean and the designer. Eric planned to take me back, so maybe, he prepared ahead for my gown. Through the years of choosing by himself the dress I would be wearing on all the occasions I attended with him, I no longer wondered if he made another one for me."I'm just wondering who the woman Eric is fooling around with, this time.""I can't imagine how he fools around with someone new but still insists on winning the previous one." Sean scoffed, gathering himself a curious glance from the designer."It's his business we shouldn't be meddling with," I answered, trying to cut off the topic."As long as he won't meddle with the present."I winked at the designer who then looked at me, perhaps finding herself trapped within our discussion."What would you like to suggest, ma'am?" I asked her opini
RED'S POV Since I held too many doubts at him, and since I was too afraid to give my full trust because of Calla, I also didn't want to deceive myself, nor give Sean false assurances. Until now, he didn't dare to tell me about her. If it were not because I could also justify his action because Leila told me about the call from the president, I would have made it a big issue. If it were not also for the assurances of both Dina and Patrick, I would have called this relationship off. Aside from that, Sean had maintained his warmth towards me, and he was always on my side. I couldn't forget how he cried and how scared he was when he learned that the bug bit me. I could not put aside all his efforts in giving me his time for this relationship to work. What remained a mystery was the reason why he said he had been thinking about me for so long. Had he been stalking at me while I was yet a st
RED'S POV "If only I knew you would say this once we are in this place, I would have brought you here a long time ago," Sea laughed out loud, making other tourists turn their heads at us. "The people are watching us," I cringed in shame as some of them smiled and teased us. "They will have to watch us. Wait." He crouched again and let me hop on to his back. I no longer refused; I would not win over him, anyway. Soon, we entered a long, dim-lit tunnel, and once we were on the other side, we turned left, and I gasped at the magnificent view before us. On one side, the sprawling ocean glittered against the golden glow of the rising sun. On another side laid the vast stretch of hills and plains, including the famous navigational lighthouse. I stood watching in awe at this splendid view before my eyes. As the people took time to rest after picture-taking, Sean suddenly stood up. I wondered wha
"This is a mistake," I said, breaking the silence and awkwardness. "Because you thought that another man is coming in?" he said, and his lips broke into a tender smile. He strode fast towards me, then wrapped me right away in his arms. "I miss you, babe," he said in a hoarse voice, hugging me tighter. "I missed you so much." "You have no right to say that. In the next few hours, you will already have a new bride." Sean then held me at arm strength and looked into my eyes. "Mia?" "Who else?" I replied, my voice startingto crack. "My mother has long adopted Mia as my little sister. I'm sorry for not telling you this because it was part of the plan to mislead President Ric and his allies." My goodness! I felt like a candle, melting in too much shame. "I have always told you that there's no one else in my heart, long before I found you." Sean cupped my face, and when he was about to bend his h
I furrowed my brows while I took the paper bags from her hands."Dr. Mia would like you to be there at her garden wedding this afternoon."I froze in my seat, unprepared to take the big blow. Sean and Mia are getting married today? Why hasn't she told me about it? Is she afraid to break the news to me because I am sick?I felt a lump sticking inmy throat, summoning the floodgates of tears behind my eyes to open up. I chuckled loudly, but my tears trickled endlessly that I couldn't brush them enough with the back of my index fingers."Look, Dr. Red, the garden is already ready," the nurse said as she walked towards the glass wall, peeping throughthe narrow slits betweenthe curtains.I jumped off the bed after a while then sauntered towards the glass wall. A beautiful flower garden greeted my eyes, and there were rows of chairs and tables indeed, wrapped in cream and burgundy pleated skirts.I scanned the place furth
I ran to the window and parted the curtains to the side. I looked over the direction of the Kalasag Hill, and just as I anticipated, I saw black clouds of smoke rising from the forest. Instead of losing my strength in fear, I felt an adrenaline rush from within me. I stormed out of the room, and without heeding the manager's yells, I ran towards the direction of the forest.I felt within me a prodigy of strength that none of the resort’s staff was able to stop me. Not long after, I heard the sound of the galloping horse’s hooves.“Ma’am, hop in!” the manager yelled at me while I moved to the side to give way.I saw him pulling short both the reins. Then he braced one hand on the horse’s neck, holding the rein tightly and grabbing its mane. Raising the other rein up and back, he then pulled it toward his shoulder.The manager then got off quickly from the horse as soon as it pulled to a stop. Without waiting for his inst
"Thanks, God! You're finally awake!"I shut my eyes back when the blinding light of the sun entered my eyes. I then opened them slowly until I got adjusted to the glare. I stared at the woman who stood by the bedside, brushing the tears in her eyes with the back of her hand."Mia?" I exclaimed, my eyes glowed at the sight of my rival in my love for Sean."Why are you here?"Her lips trembled right away, and her eyes welled with tears. "You scared us so much, especially Sean. I got so worried that he might not be able to handle his grief."I furrowed my brows as I gathered back my thoughts on what happened before I drifted off to sleep. The ache on my back, the muscle pain, and my grogginess told me I had been in bed for days. Then, I remembered I was running after Sean and ended on escaping from the president through the cave. And I recalled everything that followed after that. A bronco bug bit me, and Philip's voice was the last thing I heard befo
The manager gestured with his hand to let me follow him to the elevator. Once we were there, he took me to the seventh floor. He waited until I stepped out before he came up by my side. Then he led me to a room at the end corner of the floor. It had mechanical locks that seemed difficult to break in, but the manager keyed in the codes with deft fingers. In less than a minute, the door opened, and he led me inside.My eyes caught the huge screen right away, displaying multiple windows that showed different areas of the hotel. The manager then ran his fingers on the keys, and the lobby where the president and his men were dining,zoomed in.“Did you hear something from them that scares you?” he asked, turning his head to look at me.I just held his gaze, but I did not nod nor shake my head.“Is this the reason?” he asked again, and after some clicks, a window opened to an area by the outskirts of the forest.My eyes flew
I tuned in a sharp ear while I was sipping from my cup, listening to their conversation. Pretending to be occupied, I picked up a magazine from under the table. These men were just a few meters away from me, though a pillar blocked me from their view. I knew they saw me, but perhaps thinking I was harmless, they did not seem to mind my presence.“Have the troops arrived already?” one of the men asked, his voice louder than a whisper. But because of the deafening silence of the place, you can hear even a needle dropping.“Yes, they are already surrounding the forest of Kalasag.”“How far is it from here?”“It’s the next hill from here.”So, I am now in a resort close to Kalasag, Sean’s homeplace. Mr. Ian and all his allies must have brought me here to blackmail me into selling the other half of my shares by using Sean as a pawn. But of all places in the face of the earth, why does Mr. I
I got up from my bed and walked towards the window. Parting the curtains to the side, the blinding light of the sun piercing through the window panes made me close my eyes for a moment. I closed my eyes tightly then opened them slowly until I got adjusted to the glare. The moment I gazed into the distance, all I could see was the rich and sprawling greeneries below the wide canopy of the sky, animated by its sailing, fluffy clouds. From where I stood, it looked like I was on top of a hill overlooking the rolling stretch of farms and plain below.I then looked around the room. My huge bed satatop a carpeted floor under a chic ceiling design illuminated by white, LED lightings underneath a rectangular frame. Aside from a set of couches, a coffee table, and built-in lockers, only a set of television, a phone, and a refrigerator graced the room. But what caught my interest in being here was the glass walls that allowed me to see the spectacular views of the rows of trees, t
I couldn’t seem to imagine that my grandfather had other women. Perhaps, he did it while grandmother was still alive. But who am I to judge him anyway?“It was a short-term relationship with his secretary, back then. When your grandmother found it out, she almost left; but luckily, your grandfather was able to persuade her to save their marriage. From then on, he never had a female secretary, and that was how Philip came in.”“So, Philip was grandpa’s secretary?”“And Sean’s, when he passed away. He is your grandfather’s most trusted assistant.”My heart sank as I heard it. I still remembered how Philip affirmed Hazel’s confession about my real identity. If it were not for him, I would not have trusted Hazel’s claims. If it were not for him, I would not have come to believe that Sean was making lies all along.“Sadly, he has betrayed them,” I said, my lips tur
“Dr. Red, I just received a report that Prospero City is now on complete lockdown,” the pilot told me after I climbed into the plane after our last stopover for refueling and engine checks.“Is it because of the spread of the Bronc X virus?” I asked, stiffening in my seat; my eyes unblinking.“Your city is the only place negative of Bronc X infection,” the pilot replied while his hands were fumbling over some keys on the cockpit. “But it is heavily guarded since Mr. Sean Grey’s business establishments are there. No one is allowed an entry or exit for the moment.”My thoughts then went on Sean and I was wondering if this pilot beside me was the one who transported Sean to wherever he may be at this moment.“Is Sean in Prospero now?” I tried to sound dry, presuming that everybody already knew our status. And surely, this pilot who brought every dignitary to each of their destinations had also