CHAPTER 26

MELISSA QUIZON

"Is he alright, Mommy?" Reid asked me.

We got into Leon's car to follow the ambulance. Racky and I sat in the backseat while Leon drove, and Fier was in the passenger seat.

"Don't worry, Reid. You're daddy's going to be all right." It was Racky who spoke. Reid nodded and just squeezed my neck. He was also different because of the kind of looks given to him by the two men in front.

"You've changed," I said to Racky.

"A little bit, yeah. Not the Racky you knew before." She shrugged.

I noticed my son's deep breathing. He didn't even speak up about everything I did. "He already fell asleep."

"Why did you hide Reid from Wright, Melissa?" The silence was broken when Leon spoke. He glanced at the rearview mirror.

"Not now, Leon," Racky warned.

"He didn't tell you what happened to us?" I asked firmly.

"That's why I'm asking you," he said rudely. That was Leon—arrogant as ever.

"He...dumped me for Claire. I told him I was pregnant, but...he didn't want the child. He...wanted me to abort Reid." I kissed Reid's head. "Can you blame me, Leon? For hiding my son for so many years?"

No one said anything. Silence reigned over us until we reached the hospital. They didn't know anything. It was easy for them to judge because they didn't feel what I felt.

We went to the hospital's private parking space. The media could not enter the inside of the hospital because they were strictly prohibited.

I went down, carrying Reid. The hospital Wright was taken to was the hospital owned by Eugene.

Racky touched my shoulder. "I know it's hard for you to forgive him, but give him a chance, Melissa. He's a better man now."

"Easy for you to say, Racky." I smiled bitterly. "My son and I are going home. You take care of Wright."

"You cannot." Fier stopped me. "There's lots of media out there, Melissa. Stay here first. After all, Wright introduced you as his wife."

"But I'm not his wife," I said emphatically. "And we don't have any clothes with us."

"Is that your problem? Don't worry, Wright ordered his P.A. to buy you stuff before he went to sleep." Racky groaned. "Any minute now, they're coming."

My forehead furrowed. "Were you part of this stupid plan to expose me and my son to the public?"

"What? No. We had no idea that Wright has a child. So we were wondering why you were in the VIP section, knowing that you're mad at him, and why you had a child with you." Could I still believe them?

I could do nothing but stay inside the waiting area. The doctor came out to look at Wright. They said they had put him in a private room, and he should rest for a few days. Fortunately, Reid was out of school tomorrow. This would change everything.

Many people kept calling me, including Ellyza. It was unbelievable that they had found out. I wanted to explain, but my phone battery was drained.

Racky, Leon, and Fier went home. Only family members could enter the private room when visiting hours were over. I put Reid down on the sofa bed so he could sleep. Then, I dressed him in the clothes Wright had bought us.

After I changed my clothes, I went out of the bathroom. Wright caught my attention because he was getting cold. He kept growling.

I approached him. "Wright?"

"It's so cold! Fuck!" He was trembling.

"Shh." I caressed his forehead. His fever was high again. I handed him the second comforter.

"Not enough."

I left to pick up his hot compress and put it inside the comforter.

"It's still cold!" What else could I do?!

I almost screamed when he pulled me horizontally next to him.

"Give me your warmth." He squeezed my neck. I could do nothing but lie down next to him forever. His body was very hot. "Home. This is home. I'm happy you're here, baby."

I touched his back

"Hmm. What are you doing?" he growled.

"When you have a fever, you have to cool this part down. If you cool the arteries, the cold blood will go around the whole body and make you feel better."

"It feels good." He sounded weaker than before. In just a minute, his breathing became steady. I tried to leave his side, but his hug tightened.

Wright was warm. So warm.

His head was on my shoulder, and he was breathing softly on my neck while he slept, his legs threaded around mine, his arm around my waist.

I also fell asleep because I was tired.

I woke up to see a pair of eyes looking back at me. My eyes widened as I remembered what had happened last night.

"No. Don't go," he muttered. "You smell divine."

I touched his forehead and breathed a sigh of relief. "You’re almost fine. You need to eat. Let go."

He did nothing but let me go. I went to the small kitchen adjoining the bedroom and picked up a cup of noodles that Racky had bought before leaving. As I heated the cup noodles, I looked at Reid first. He was still sound asleep. Anyway, it was early in the morning, so he was still in very deep sleep.

"Eat up. You need to take medicine," I said while carrying the cup noodles. I sat down next to Wright and spooned some soup into his mouth.

"It feels so good being taken care of by someone you love," he said happily.

I suddenly felt annoyed by his grin. "Eat it or I’ll throw it at you.”

Wright laughed, but the soup was already boiled, so I had no choice but to take care of this gorilla. I still felt sorry for him. Once he was healed, I would beat him for what he did last night.

"Are you still in pain?" I asked as I continued to feed him.

"Yes...Here. It hurts." He pointed to his left chest.

I rolled my eyes. "Take your medicine."

"I want to pee." He said after drinking the medicine and water.

"Thank you for sharing, ha," I said sarcastically.

I was about to stand up when he stopped me. "Help me."

"What? Your size is treacherous and how can I help you?"

"I can't stand on my own." Damn!

"Tsk." I helped him stand up. I took care not to bump the IV attached to its hand. We entered the comfort room while he was riding with me. I averted my gaze as his hand dropped to his pajamas.

"You can look." I was horrified to feel its breath against my neck.

I blinked. "I don't care. Hurry up, you're so heavy."

"Done."

"Wash your hands, you filthy monster!" I remind him.

I heard the running water in the sink. "Done."

I laid him on the bed again. I fixed his IV.

I walked away from Wright when someone knocked on the door. Visitors are not allowed yet.

"Hi." Eugene.

"Hey. You're here." I smiled.

"You looked haggard." He combed his hand through my messy hair. He touched one of my hands. "I'd watched the news, is it true?"

"No—"

"Yes." Wright's groan. He sat on his bed and Eugene peeked at us. "What's he doing in my room? Why is he holding your hands?"

I came up with a good idea. "He's your doctor."

"He's an OB/GYN, Melissa. Do I look like a vagina?" He disgustedly said. "Even if I am, I don't want him looking after me."

"Lower your voice, Reid's still sleeping," I say emphatically.

His eyes glazed over as he looked at Eugene. "I will never let you steal my woman."

"Woman, huh?" Eugene put his arm around me. "Come and get her from me."

"You son of a bitch!" Wright couldn't stop screaming.

"M-Mommy...."

"My baby." I ran to where Reid was. He hugged me and sighed. He went back to sleep. I gave a death glare to the two men who were now both staring at me. "Both of you, shut your mouth."

"Let him sleep beside me," Wright suggested. I slowly placed Reid next to him. he smiled as Reid's thigh and hand automatically rubbed against his body.

"Melissa, can we talk?" I looked at Eugene.

"No—"

I cut off what Wright was going to say. "Yes. I can't see why not?"

"Mel—"

I glared at Wright. "If you wake him up, he'll probably kick you."

We went out to the private room. There was no one in the hallway, maybe because it was early in the morning and people were still sleeping.

Eugene touched both my shoulders. "Melissa, is it too much if I ask you how did this happen?"

"He... Set us up." My only answer.

"Yeah. I was there. Twenty more steps and I'm by your side but that jerk, bastard, son of a gun, Wright Agoncillo, stole everything from me. And I was standing there, dumbfounded!" I could feel the annoyance in Eugene's voice.

"He set us up and I don't know what to do. I can't move. Words failed me. I was shocked as hell!"

I slipped into Eugene's warm arm.

"Please. Please, stop this pain building inside me, Mel."

I hurt him again. "H-How?"

"Love me back." I bit my lower lip. He chuckled. "Is it too much to asked?"

"Eugene, I don't know..." I'm stuck with two rocks again. "I don't want to use you. You're so precious, I don't want to hurt you."

"The kiss, Mel. Remember?" He pulled away from me a little and stared straight into my eyes. "You felt like you're kissing a friend, don't you?"

"N-No..." Yes. Fuck! I don't want to hurt him!

"Really?" He smiled bitterly. "Melissa, you're not a very good pretender. You're hurting me."

"I—"

"Calling the attention of Doctor Eugene Fuertes. Please proceed to the Emergency Room. Again, calling the attention of Doctor Eugene Fuertes. Please proceed to the Emergency Room." We heard words on the speaker.

We stare. There were no words on our lips.

I touched his cheek and wiped the sweat that came out of his forehead.

"I want you to be happy. Smile for me." I said sweetly.

He smiled. His face dropped and he kissed me on the cheek. "I'll be right back. I don't want you going solo with the bastard."

"Eugene, wait..." I stopped him before he could even leave. "I-I'm at fault for you."

How can I say that he is not hurt? I'm a fool.

I took a deep breath.

"I caught up in a moment. I want to hurt Wright. I can't think of a way so..." I averted my gaze. "I-I told him that you're my boyfriend. You're the one I love."

Eugene could not speak. I also felt him stiffed on my side.

"I-I'm sorry I used you. I know, it's not a good idea but because I can't think of anything else. I made a wrong decision again. I'm sorry. Are you mad?"

"I'm always mad at you, Melissa. It's just that I love you so much, so I'd rather just forgive you." His voice is steady. I made him mad. He placed his thumb and forefinger on my chin to raise it and our eyes would meet. "Look, Melissa. I can't change the fact that Wright is Reid's father. I want to, but I can't. You're just hurting yourself. We know no matter what happens, the time will come when you need to choose between the two of us. Quit using everyone just to hurt someone. "

"In that case, I have to tell Wright I lied?"

"Yes." He says coldly.

"I just did that because I don't want him to think that I still love him."

One of his eyebrows rose but his face was still blank. "Do you still love him?"

"N-Not anymore."

"Deny it all you want, Melissa. Trust me."

"I don't love him anymore."

He took a deep breath then closed his eyes. He shook his head and then removed my hand that was holding his arm.

"I..." I call him. He stopped but he did not face me.

"I won't tolerate your preposterousness, Melissa. For once, make up your mind." His shoulder is stiff while he's talking. "There... I still have a duty."

By the time I could no longer see Eugene's back I had already entered the private room. I came across Wright singing “All Of Me” to the sleeping Reid. He stopped singing when he felt my presence.

"Done ditching your precious loving Eugene?" He says coldly.

"There's something you need to know, Wright."

By the time our eyes met my heartbeat quickened. "I'm all ears."