Chapter Four

Damon's point of view.

“At bakit naman namin gagawin ‘yon? Ung kalive in partner niya, comatose. Tapos ang gusto mo palayasin namin? Tao ka ba? Ang gwapo mo pero demonyo ka e, ano?”

“Charity!”

“E kasi namam, kung makapag desisyon itong, mamang ‘to?!”

I put the suitcase in their small table at the sala. Charity opened the suitcase. She looked at me with amusement and confusion.

“You're pregnant. Working. A daughter and a mother. She's not even your relative.” I clearly stated. These people are too kind and naive, only if they knew that the people who let them stay in their nest was a leech, fraud and a kidnapper.

Charity bit her lips. Her mom approached her but was not impressed with the money. “Napakalaking pera naman n'yan.”

I simply smiled at them, “Final offer. Just to think of it, I want to rent their unit. Just cast her out of your place. Whatever way it is.”

Charity closed the suitcase. “Okay, anim na buwan na naman silang walang bayad. Hindi kasi mapalad si Cael sa mga trabaho. Si Angel, sakitin kaya hindi kayang kumayod. So, ako na bahala sa gusto mo. Pwede ka na umalis.” She commanded.

I stood up from the lousy sofa. “Make it as soon as you can.”

And then, she nodded.

Susubukan ko ang lahat ng paraan na kaya ko just to make their lives worst. I'll make sure Cynth will have justice.

Ang hindi ko maintindihan, sa lawak ng pilipinas sa slum area pa kami magkikita. He managed to run away with my money and he will just settle at the slum area that he could think of.

With the love of his life in a slum.

Stupid. Peace of a shit.

I stared at the city lights. A great view from my office sipping one of our latest releases of whisky. “Micaelum Hernandez and Angel Artego are both alive.” Breaking the silence between Maev and I.

He is at my office, organizing some office stuff.

“What?!” He stood up from his chair, confused as he walked back and forth.

“They are both alive in a slum.” I turned around at him. “I did check the location of the Fort Bonifacio tenement's location. It was a pretty big mistake to put up a new building.” Trying to change the topic between us.

Maev's forehead frowned at me while was filling his own cup with tequilla. “Pero, that's not even for sale and its a public housing project. Marami tayong i-ri-relocate na tenants if that's really what you want.” He took a sip to his cup. “Where the hell did you see Angel and Cael?” As he sat back on the sofa.

I put a silly smile on my face as I put down my whiskey. “Fort Bonifacio Tenement.”

Maevrick sarcastically chuckles as he takes another sip to his cup. “You don't like that pretty place. Gusto mo lang silang gipitin.”

“Exactly.” His face lightens up and leans toward me.

He seems so interested now. “So, you and Cael met? Are you going to sue him now?” He asked.

I shook my head, “How?” I swing myself around in my swivel chair. “How can I sue him? He is in a coma.”

Maev slowly clapped his hands and laughed at me. “You've got to be kidding me…”

I gave him a smirk as I took another sip. What a small damn world, and I am Cael's karma.

“I don't.” I whispered between my sips. “I really did crash my Rolls-Royce into his body.”

I show how Maevrick's expressions changed, from a happy one into a worried sick face.

I can't blame him for it. Cael was a brother to us. We treat him as a family.

“What the fuck?” He sips all the tequila in his cup. “Bakit mo ginawa ‘yon? You're putting the law in your hands!”

I took another sip again, as I shrugged my shoulders. “It wasn't my intention to run over his body. I saw him look so clueless and anger pushed me to run over him.”

“Hit and run? You really did that? That far?” Maverick's judges me.

“Nope, sinugod ko siya sa hospital. i helped him and Angel.”

“What?! You hit both of them?!”

I quickly denied it. “No!” as I fill my cup again. “Angel passed out…” Her face creates space in my head. I was mad at her. She's evil and hot. But when I saw her again, it felt like I found my Angel. “There's something different from her, she's not her old self.”

Maevrick frowns at me. “What do you mean? Like she's no longer a runway model hot chick?”

I nodded. “Yes, exactly. The way she stands, walk and move. It was so familiar and different.”

“Are you attracted to her?” Maevrick's voice changed to serious one.I look at his face. Expression of anger.

“No.”

His expressions lighten again. “Because if you do, I’d be hating you. Just pick a different woman!” As he took a deep breath. “Artego is somehow connected to Cynthaella's death. Imagining you marrying her is making me more angry.”

“No way. Stop dreaming about it. Mas gugustuhin kong mamatay at makasama si Cynt rather than that.” Then I give him a death stare.

“Don't kill your self. Just give Ella some justice, move on and live your life.” he advises.

I shook my head to disagree. “I'll ruin their lives. As soon as Cael wakes up, wala na siyang mababalikan.”

Maevrick clapped his hands. I really don't like his attitude most of the time. He's good at switching his moods and I haven't adjusted to it yet.

“Full of vengeance. How can I stop? I am not my late half sister.” As Maev drank all his drink walked towards me and paced my back. “Natalia Zuello is back here in the Philippines, focus on her. I'll be going to Luchein's to check the latest design of the hotel.” He was about to leave. 

I was just staring at the bottle of alcohol in front of me. I can see Angel's face but her voice… “She sounds like Ella,” Maevrick took his steps back to my table. “Her hair reminds me a lot of my late Ella.”

“You mean she copied Cynth?” 

Nagkibit balikat ako. I don't even understand how she naturally got Ella's body language. “Maybe and I hate it.” I admitted.

No one could replace her place. Not even her clone.

“What are you planning to do then?” Maevrick asked.

“Caught her in the act.”

______

Wedding day, 6 years ago.

Did she change her mind?

I was standing in front of the church altar, looking at the other side of it, waiting for her entrance. Waiting for Cynthaella Luchien to take a moment of wake before she becomes Mrs. Delvego.

I can't get hold of myself. Nervous.

I tried to calm myself by holding my hands to stop from shivering.

“She's still not here? They left the hotel last hour.” Maevrick couldn't contain himself and stood up. He put a smile on his face and raised his phone. Showing Ella's number that he's dialling. “I'm checking on my sister now.”

His phone keeps on ringing. And ringing. And went to voicemail.

A lot of commotion. From little whispers to mid air conversation. Will Ella become my runaway bride? I don't know.

Maybe?

I took out my phone and dialled her number.

It rang.

Rang.

And rang.

Someone picked it up.

There's a crying voice at the other line.

“Ella? Are you okay?” I whispered beneath the call.

She's crying. Away from the phone's mic.

“Please. Let me go…” She said crying.

Cold blood runs to my entire body.

“Ella? What happened? Where are you?!”

A laughing voice. “See. He will look for you.” It was Angel. Cael's partner.

“Kasal namin. Please don't ruin it. I'll talk to him.” Ella pleases.

“Are you with Angel Artego?!” I asked. I start taking steps outside the church.

“Yes. She's with us.” It was Cael. He took my bride away!

“Bring back Ella here, and let's talk!” I shouted over the phone. “If you lay a finger on her, I'll kill you.”

Cael laughed at me. “Now you know how I feel? Whenever they take Angel away from me.” He sounds drunk.

“Bullshit. Bring Ella her—”

“Cael!” Angel shouted. Gun shots.

And the line got disconnected.

I tried to dial back again. It was out of reach.

Napaupo ako. I was surrounded by our guests but I couldn't hear them.

What happened to Ella? To my Ella?

_________

6 years ago. After the pre-nup shots.

Friends. Fuck him. Fuck Micaelum Hernandez. I heard his footsteps entering my office. I keep on playing with my pen. I can see his reflection against the giant window of our building.

“Do you need me?” Napakunot ang noo ko turning my chair to him. Giving him a death stare, if stares could kill? His head should already have blown up.

Pinaikot ko ang ballpen sa kamay ko. “Don't act like you're a saint. Traitor.” 

He pulled his favorite smile. I want to smash his face. Wrecking it with my fists and tore it apart.

“What are you talking about?” He kept pulling his act.

“Gusto kong ipaalala sa ‘yo. Delvego's Distileria is all mine. How dare you sell it to Gorocco's? Where's the goddamn money?!” In my madness, I throw the pen in his direction. He's shocked.

“You tampered my signature. Really?” I showed him all the papers that Gorocco provided me. The signatures and handwriting matches mine and I know that Cael is the only one who can do it as he is the mischievous between us.

Cael took a deep breath. “I-I just used the half of it, I still have sha—”

I cut his words. “Enough! You already withdrew all of your shares before I left!” All the paper's that I provided have timestamps of his name and signatures that he is no longer part of the company. He started to pick each paper one by one. “You threw away all my hardwork and my trust!”

“I'll fix this. Promise, just give me time.” He begged as he kneeled down.

My visions got black out. He keeps touching me, asking and begging for forgiveness. His mouth, full of shit. 

“Please, Damon! Listen, maayos ko pa ‘to! Kinailangan ko lang ng biglaan, binili ko si Angel! You know how much I love her!” Itinulak ko siya paalis sa harapan ko.

He was crying. “You love her? Using my money? Without my permission?!” 

“Please..” He took steps closer to me. Sa galit ko, binaliktad ko ang glass table na nakapagitan sa aming dalawa. It crashed even though the tile of the office has cracks now.

“You're fired.” Without any emotions.

“P-Pero..”

“Shut up! You're fired and you can now leave. Ngayon mo pa ako naisip gaguhin? You know that my wedding is so soon!”

Bumukas ang pinto. Iniluwa nito si Maevrick at si Cynthaella the love of my life.

“What happened here?” Maevrick askes, gripping his sister back behind him. Cynthaella was also shocked looking at the whole place. I felt defeated. Agad lumapit si Cynthaella sa akin, mabilis niyang hinawakan ang mga kamay ko.

Checking for wounds. You'll see how much she cares about me. “Calm down now, I'm here.” she placed my hands on her soft cheek. I really love her.

I took a deep breath, and I remembered Cael. I glanced at him. “Get lost, Cael.” I grab Ella out of the office. But Maevrick stopped me. He grabbed Ella's arms as Ella was between us.

“Wala kang sasabihin sa akin?” Iritado nitong tanong.

“Kuya, stop.” Aniya ni Cynth. Trying to remove his half-brother hands on her arm.

I threw a death stare at Maev. “You wanna know everything?” I asked him, giving him clues. “Ask that bastard!” Kinalas ko ang pagkakapit niya kay Ella as I caged her in my arms and go out of the office.

Remembering Cynth is my favorite thing. Seeing her in someone's figure, I longed for her.