If It's Not Love

Prologue

Iñigo's POV... 

I was waiting in her room for a day now. She just need to wake up now. She's been out of consciousness for a day and it's freaking me out.

Iza.

Why were you there?

How did you end up looking like this?

Please wake up.

This is my fault.

I have had my surveillance for that guy since my lead came up but we’ve missed her.

How come we didn’t see that bastard taking Iza?

That bastard!

I’ll kill him.

I leaned in and gently caressed her face. She looked so pale and fragile. The doctor's said she'll wake up anytime soon. They said it's severe malnutrition, dehydration and severe bruises all over her body. Thankfully, there were no broken bones but those bruises will take time to heal. And the doctor also said something that made my blood boil. Raged. She was probably sexually molested. I am consumed by anger just thinking about her being severely hurt and disrespected. I grabbed my hair. I am just so angry. The results will come out later.

This is all my fault. 

I stood up and went to look out the window. I hated it that after all this years, I still care about her so much. But I hated it more that she ended up here, in this way. I felt like my mind will explode anytime soon. She was the only girl I've ever wanted, but she broke my heart.

Am I still in love with her?

No. 

You just care.

Right.

I heard that Austin and her daughter is doing okay now and it's a great relief. Austin’s family has been coming here and there too. They were so worried and they cried when they knew what happened. I also badly want to interrogate AE. but I know she's not in the condition to do so since Austin and her daughter is not totally stable yet. I sighed deeply.

"Sorry if I took so long." Alyssa said as she entered the room. "There was some traffic along the way."

"It's okay." I answered as I went to check on Iza again.

"She'll be okay, right?" Alyssa asked, teary eyed.

I just nodded to give her an affirmation.

She should be okay.

I'll make sure she will be.

Then my phone rang.

"Boss, he's ready for interrogation." my agent said on the other line.

"I'm coming." I said and ended the call.

I look at the unconscious lady lying in front of me. I gritted my teeth as I see her bruises again

"I have to go." I informed Alyssa and she just nodded in understanding...

Whoever did this to you will pay, Iza.

Wait for me.

I'll make them all pay.

***

"So you expect me to just sit here?" I asked calmly and looked at the man in front of me menacingly.

"Whatever." he said and I grabbed his shirt harshly.

"You don't wanna anger me." I repeated with a growl.

He slightly shivered as he looked in my eyes but kept his mouth shut. I pushed him and he fell from his chair to the ground.

"Bring him in my favorite room." I commanded.

His mouth dropped and for the first time I saw fear in his eyes.

"You just lost you chance." I said.

My men went to pick him up and he began struggling.

"Where are you taking me? Where?" He yelled as he screamed. "Isn't this the police headquarters? This is illegal! My lawyer will get back at you!"

"Let's see if you can still say that after your visit in my favorite room." I said and burst out of the room.

I combed my hair with my fingers and turned the table upside down. I felt so so angry now.

I might end up killing someone today.

"Boss, she's awake." one of my men informed me. "Just now."

"I'll follow. Just bring him there." I answered and stormed out of the building.

I'm coming, Iza.

***

I saw a doctor and some nurses coming out as I approached her room. AE and Austin's family are now also there. "How's she?"

"She's not doing good." Her doctor answered.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"She has a post-traumatic stress disorder." He answered. "And that is why, she can't remember anything from her past. We call it dissociative amnesia."

"Amnesia?" I blurted out.

"Yes. Due to severe trauma and emotional stress, she blocked all of her painful memories and it included everything as a defense mechanism." The doctor explained. 

"Oh." I babbled, not knowing what to say. I looked around and see that they're crying.

"Poor Iza." Elena mumbled.

"In most cases, it's just a temporary memory loss." He said sadly. "But the difficult part would be when she recovers her memory, it'll be a whole new psychological battle for her to overcome."

"Sh*t!" I cursed under my breath.

"Don't worry, we'll do everything to help her. As I have observed, she is currently anxious and a little depressed. So, the first goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms and control any problem behavior." The doctor said. "I will be referring you to a good psychologist for further and more personal treatment."

"Please do, doctor.." I said softly.

 "She needs her family. Be strong." He said and walked away.  

"Will you come with me to the office, Sir?" the doctor asked as he turned my way.

"Sure." I answered as I saw them entering Iza's room.

"About my theory of sexual abuse, she was. The results came back positive." He said sadly as I sat on his couch. "And there are hickeys all over her body which proves it more. I'm sorry."

"Ahh!" I hissed out my frustration. "Those b**tards!"

"I am telling you this since you are the one in charge of her case. I hope you make sure those people who did this will pay." He said sadly.

"I will, doctor." I said and got out.

I was deep in my thoughts when suddenly nurses came running to Iza's room. My heart dropped and I ran as fast as I can. I was shocked seeing Iza struggling and a nurse injecting her a tranquilizer. Then after a while, she calmed down falling into sleep. I went to her and moved her hair away from her face. I know any second from now that my tears will fall. But I can't.

Iza.

What would I do now?

"What happened?" I asked.

"I don't know, when she saw us. She started yelling and screaming. She keeps telling us to stay away."  Alyssa answered as she cries.

"Don't worry too much. We'll do everything for her." I assured and they all look at me questioningly.

"Was she?" Elene blurted out and I nodded.

A painful sobbed escaped her mouth as Lucio went to immediately hug his wife. Alyssa was also comforted by AE now. After some time, all was silent and I looked at AE. "Can we talk?"

"Okay." She answered.

***

"I didn't know it would lead to this." AE said, teary eyed. "I mean, she was still doing strong before she lost her consciousness back there. I saw her weak and covered in bruises and blood but I didn't know how bad it was and that she was even molested. And she even used her remaining energy to save me from that other guy. Oh my gosh!"

"She's been through a lot." I said and she just cried

"Yeah. Oh my." She said as she wiped her tears. "Iza...I'm sorry."

I just let her cry until she calmed down.

"How did she end up there, A.E?" I asked after a while.

"Her grandfather helped Austin's family from crazy loan sharks before. So these loan shark ended up being locked up in jail with no parole." She explained sadly. "Unfortunately, the boss of this loan sharks is Ali's dad. He tried to escape prison and was shot to death. His mom was devastated and so she killed herself leaving Ali an orphan at a young age. He did it for revenge."

"That piece of sh*t!" I cursed loudly.

I punched the wall beside me to let go my anger and AE just cried again beside me.

***

"AHHHH!!" he screamed loudly as I shoot the ground beside him.

"So you did all that because of your FREAKING REVENGE!!!!??" I hissed angrily and shoot again.

Then I went to him and punched his jaw. I was not contented and so I punched him again and again until my men came to stop me.

"Enough. boss." They intervened as I tried to kick him again. "You will end up killing him."

"AHHHH!!" He screamed again and again and panted as he is almost losing his consciousness. "..Just kill me...instead."

"And let you escape what you've done that easily???" I asked trying get out of my men's grip. "No. No. No. That's not how it works."

"Please..." He begged softly. "Please."

"You went and mercilessly tortured a woman!!!" I yelled angrily. "And you F***ING touched her!!!"

I freed myself from their grip and went straight to kick him hard.

"It wasn't me!" He denied as he coughed out blood. "I swear it wasn't me!!!"

"How dare you?!!" I hissed as I kicked him more and more. "I'll kill all of you!!!"

***

3 months later..

I walked silently inside her room and saw her just sitting in the far end of the bed, writing. I stood at the door for a while just looking at her.

"You're back?!" She said softly as she put down her notebook and pen.

"Yeah." I said and went to sit beside her. "How are you feeling?"

"Good." She answered.

I nodded and silence invaded the room for a while. And then she cleared her throat and looked at me.

"I...I...uhm...I've thought about everything..." she started and then she held my hand with both of her hands. "So...uhm...sorry for not recognizing you...for not remembering anything...for forgetting my feelings..."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"From now on...I will be very good to you.." She said and smiled. "I know I forgot everything but I will try my best to be a good partner to you."

"I..I.." I blubbered. "I don't understand."

"You have been coming here ever as far as I remembered and have been checking on me since I got out of the hospital and never failed to ask everyone about how I was doing." She continued. "So I concluded that you are like my partner, right? Like A boyfriend. Or else why would you be doing that, right?"

She held unto my hands tightly and slowly kissed my cheek. 

"I..." I stuttered again and blushed.

"Am I wrong?" She asked innocently. "Are you not my boyfriend or something? I promise. I will be very good to you." 

"But." I answered.

"We'll start afresh?" She asked again.

Afresh?

"O-okay." I answered hesitantly.

Then she hugged me and I did hug her tightly too.

I'm so sorry, Iza.

Sorry for lying. If this is for you to start afresh then so be it.

I'm very sorry.

One day

***