DANGER
1573 Words
CHAPTER 52: DANGER
Anita is kind just like how Doctor Gonzales described her. It was later that day Raquel meet Anita when she paid a visit for the pair.
“I was worried when I saw the two of you in the riverbanks. Oh god! I felt like I am going to have a heart attack by the sight of you, Raquel, and Oh! Your wounds!” Anita exclaimed.
Her voice is loud, it echoed to the wall, but it was her expression that put ease Raquel’s worry, and fear. She may be old, white hair may lay sprouting on top of her head, but Anita moves as if she were much younger than her age. And Raquel…actually likes here.
“I owe you, our life.”
It was true. If it isn’t for Anita, Raquel and Eliot may have died, and she couldn’t let that happen, not when she hasn’t found out the truth yet, and the identity of those men. Raquel knew who have may sent those men after them, but she was still unsure, not when it is still not yet confirmed. It could be David, who may have any idea what has been going on between her and Eliot, but he doesn’t seem like he knows something as they talk. If he has any knowledge of the affair, David will not just neglect it. Same as before, he would lock her up…beat her into a pulp and much worst.
The only option left was her mother, and Mrs. Duke…. Raquel witnessed how scary she was once mad.
“Don’t worry about it.” Anita waved her hand.
“I’m just glad that the two of you are okay—well, you maybe, but I am hoping that your husband will wake up soon. Oh, poor soul.”
Her cheeks flared at what she said.
“E—Eliot is not my husband.” She cleared her throat.
She was hoping he is, but that would be impossible. Only of David annulled their marriage, which wouldn’t happen, knowing that it would revoke his relationship to her family.
He likes Grace or so Raquel thought.
“With the way you look at him with those eyes, girlie?” Anita teased her. “You can’t fool me. That look is what I often give to my husband, Florencio. And your gaze is no different to mine, Raquel. I could see it.”
And she’s no fool to be oblivious about her feelings.
“Right.” Raquel chuckled lowly, before averting her eyes to Eliot on that bed, immobile, and breathing on the tube that was attached on his mouth.
“You are worried, aren’t you?” Anita heaved a deep sigh.
“I am.” Raquel admitted.
Each single day as stood by his side, she couldn’t help, but asked a lot of what ifs. That if it wasn’t for her, then maybe Eliot’s life wouldn’t be put at risk. He wouldn’t be here fight to survive, and to live. He wouldn’t be here in this mess if she had not involved him in her life. Her f**k up life woven by lies.
“Hey—Oh! You’re here, Anita!” Doctor Gonzales stormed inside the room.
A nurse was in pursuit on his tail.
“And hello you too, Doctor.” Anita gave her a cheeky smile.
The surprise on his face disappears. It was immediately replaced by a glee smile.
“I never knew that you are going to visit my patient this early.” Jerome walked to where they are. He gave a small smile to Raquel. “And good morning, Raquel.”
“It wasn’t a good morning for me, Doctor.” She joked.
“Well. I can see that.” Jerome pointed at her face.
She could tell why.
The black bag underneath her eyes suggested that she haven’t had enough sleep yet, when she regains her consciousness. She just couldn’t close her eyes. Whenever she tried to, she would be bug, afraid that when she woke up the next morning, Eliot’s condition might have gotten worst.
That’s what Raquel fears the most.
She let out a sigh.
“If you continue doing that, you might be lying on that bed again.” Jerome walked around and stood on Eliot’s side.
He checked his vitals and see if there are any changes on his condition…but nothing Not even a reflex. No movement either.
“Can you tell me when Eliot would wake up?” Raquel is hopeful.
“Not yet.” Jerome shook his head, sadly. “There are still no changes on his conditions. All we are left to do was wait, Raquel.”
“But for how long?”
“Your patience would be able to tell you how long.” With that said, Doctor Gonzales left along with his company.
Anita also bids her farewell.
Alone, she sits by his side, and grab his hand. It still feels warm, but her heart is empty.
A single tear fell from her eyes.
“Please wake up, Eliot.” She pleaded, bringing his palms to her lips as she planted a soft lingering kiss on top of it. “I—I promise…I promise that I wouldn’t push you away again.” Her voice slowly breaks. “I…I love you, please wake up, baby.”
But in between her sobs, a familiar voice speaks, and she stunned, shunned on her feet, when Eliot’s hand grabs her own.
“Y—you should have told those words sooner, so I could wake up much earlier, Raq.”
She quickly lifted her head. The distraught fades, replaced by mixed emotions that she couldn’t tell.
Eliot is awake…and although death knocked through his doors, the man is…triumphantly grinning.
“Raquel is a feisty soul; don’t you think so?” Jerome shut down the door behind them as they enter her office. “Never losing hope, waiting for Eliot. How rare.”
He continued, sitting on his swivel chair as the nurse listen, when he blabbers.
“Damn, I wish I could find somebody like her.” He chuckled.
The nurse only rolled her eyes.
“You’re hopeless.” She whispered.
“Why? I am already getting older, so it’s only normal, if I seek intimate relationship… or perhaps.” He looked at her, smiling from ear to ear. “We can both try.”
“Dream on, Gonzales.” The woman took off her mask.
That’s when a silhouette joins the pair.
“Stop it you two.” It is a woman. Her voice is much stricter.
“If it isn’t Anita.” Jerome gestured to the vacant sofa that was placed inside his office. “Have a seat, Madame.”
But Anita did not even smile.
“I am not playing some jokes with you, Jerome.” She warned him. “Give me some details about the men, Agnes.” She turned to look at the nurse.
“They had been here awhile ago. Madame, but don’t worry, the staff didn’t tell them anything.” She reassured her.
“Ver well, and any reports of whoever may be paying them?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Not yet, but our own men are working on it.” Agnes continued. “May we have asked what is the purpose of it, Madam? It just that…you were protecting them…when they have a bounty on their head.”
“Which I am responsible to, Agnes.” With that said, Anita slowly tore off the mask she wore. The skin peeled as it come right off easily replacing the old layer with a flawless one. She strips the clay totally revealing the person behind Anita’s deception. There stood, a middle-aged woman, her eyes are fierce, and her lips are set into a straight firm line as her presence emits power…and authority she never had before. “Raquel is my responsibility.”
Only Raquel because she knew that she could used her for her revenge. Indra thought, Raquel’s mother, who planned everything from the beginning.
“YOU ARE ALL STUPID!” Enraged, Lauren screamed.
She was mad. How can she not be? They lost sight of Eliot, and up until now, there are no reports about them.
“We’re trying to find them, ma’am.” Giovanni’s lips are bleeding when Lauren slapped him hard.
“You better do.” Lauren scowled at them. “Now, get the hell out of my sight!”
Because she knows what she is capable off.
Giovanni and his men leave. But Lauren’s anger has been fueled, when she felt a presence and heard footsteps heading to her direction.
Her jaw clenched.
“Don’t you poor bastard understand than when I told you to leave, then you should leave?” Blinded by her fury, Lauren grabs the vase in front of her, and throw it with full force to the person behind her.
She could tell that it is a man, but what was strange is the fact that he remains still and did not budge.
“If you are going to aim, make sure that you are doing it right.”
Her anger diminished.
When her vision cleared, realization hit Luren. It isn’t Giovanni neither any of his men. In front of her was a familiar figure she hasn’t seen for long.
“Conrad…”
And there, the son she long stood…and his left cheek is bleeding.
- Writer
