Chapter 8

AT the gate of the Morales' house, Alexis brought Enrique.

"Come in first." Enrique invited the two because he wanted to be with the girl.

"It's okay, Sir Enrique; I still have to take her to the hospital. Please just tell your father that I'm leaving."

Enrique nodded. "Okay," he smiled, knowing that this would not be the last time he and the girl met. He looked at her. "We'll see each other again, miss," he assured himself.

Shola just looked at him. For her, there is no reason for them to meet again.

Alexis waited for Enrique's car to get inside before they left.

While they were on the way. "Are you okay, Miss? Is something hurting you?" Alexis asked the woman.

Shola wondered why he seemed to worry her; she was okay; she didn't feel anything hurt. Maybe he thought she was hurt because she sat on the semen earlier. What happens just now is nothing to her; it's even worse when they climb a tree with Abet; sometimes she falls to the ground and his brother laughs at her.

"Where do you live?" Alexis broke the woman's silence.

Shola wondered where exactly? he didn't know anything because she told the man that he lived in a tribe; he didn't even know where it was; even if it was north, west, south, or east, he couldn't say which one.

"Miss...? Wait, what's your name? I'm Alexis," he introduced himself.

"Shola," she responded without hesitation. She didn't even think twice about saying her name; she couldn't take it back because it had already been said. "I'm really stupid; why did I say it?" she hated herself.

"Shola, it suits you. Goddess name to be praised. And you're beautiful!" What he said was no lie, and it came from his heart.

"Thank you, but I think of myself as simple."

"No, you are not; you have something so beautiful and exotic."

"Really? What's the..." she thought about what the man said before putting her index finger on the sensei. "E... exotic, you say?"

Alexis smiled because the girl was cute. "Believe me, Shola. Exotic, that's unique to everyone as long as it's beautiful; I can't explain how beautiful it is."

Shola looked at the man differently because she heard him say her name. Was there something strange that she just couldn't say? She noticed the man's smile. She stared at him, and suddenly her heart skipped a beat. She felt her chest and felt her heart beating fast. "Huh! What is this? Why is this? What is happening to my heart?" she asked herself one after another.

If in their tribe, all men were called by her name, Shola, she didn't feel anything, but now she feels something strange that makes her heart tickle.

Alexis felt the woman's gaze on him. He doesn't know, but he's happy. "Why?" he asked.

"Huh, why? What for?"

"Ah, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Is it bad?"

"No, if you like, you will stare at me forever; it is my pleasure," he said directly.

"Huh?" Shola's face went into motion as she uttered "For life? That word is just for a couple who are together for life. You mean you want to be with me for life? Or become a wife?"

Alexis smiled as he felt the woman's innocence. He wanted to say yes, but it was too early for this. Now he knew that the day would come, and the time would come for that matter. And he knew in himself that Cupid's arrow had struck his heart for the woman. Love at first sight, no. He had felt it once before. True love, maybe. "Oh, here we go."

Shola looked at the height of the hospital where her surname was posted.

"Monticello Hospital," she read.

"Yes, it used to belong to the Monticellos." Alexis answer.

Shola looked at the man because of what he said. "Before? Why now?"

"Because there are no Monticellos here, it belongs to the Morales now."

Shola clenched her fist at what she heard. "Why the hospital belong to them? Is supposed to belong to the people here."

"The citizens can't do anything here because they are in charge of this town; the town's name used to be Monticello, but Fernan changed it to Morale."

Shola looked back at the sign again.

"It's a good thing the name of this hospital wasn't changed; he wanted it, but the doctors didn't want it because they said, "It's only right that Monticello left a memory here; let's go inside to see you, and when you finish, go home and rest."

To be honest, there was nothing wrong with her; she didn't want to do a check-up. But now she wanted to go inside to feel like Monticello.

When they were already inside the hospital. Shola feels so good. Like she wants to stay at the hospital.

As the nurse looked at Shola, her eyes were moving around. "Sir, ma'am doesn't have any scars," said the nurse.

"Are you sure, Miss?" Alexis assured. 

"I said I was fine," Shola replied.

"Yes, she was fine, sir," the nurse said too.

Since there were no visible scars or anything on Shola, they immediately went out.

When they were heading to the parking lot of Alexis' car, they met someone, and Alexis greeted him.

"Mayor?"

"Captain Alexis, what are you doing here?" the man looked at Shola.

"I'm checking her up, Mayor." Alexis looked at Shola too.

"Your companion is beautiful, Alexis. Your girlfriend?"

Alexis didn't answer right away; Shola answered because she didn't know what is girlfriend meant.

"Yes, I'm his girlfriend."

Alexis suddenly looked at the woman with a frown. He wanted to correct it, but she had already said it. And he didn't want the woman to be shamed.

"Good then, aren't you going to introduce me to your girlfriend, Captain Alexis? Oh, I will do."

It was obvious that the mayor was into Shola.

"I am Mayor Roco Arco." He extended his hand to Shola.

Shola just looked at the man's palm. She felt something about the man.

"Didn't you understand what I said? Tell me your name too, and then put your hand in my hand," he even pointed to her hand.

"I'm Shola."

"Shola, what?"

"Shola Mo..." she stopped. It's a good thing she didn't say Monticello was intact. "Shola Padilla."

"Nice meeting you, Shola Mo Padilla; take my hand."

Shola was forced to take his hand.

Shola stared into his eyes as soon as they shook hands.

Shola saw what happened to her family and the man who was holding her hand.

Boss, give the girls to us; they are beautiful.

That's not in the plan; I'm still nice to them.

The mayor squeezed the girl's palm. "Your hand was so smooth," he said.

Alexis clenches his fist; he knows the mayor was a womanizer. Because he was mayor, he can't do anything now. Even he wants to pull Shola's hand.

Shola let the man hold her hand. "You animal, you go first!" in her mind.

The mayor smiled lightly, thinking that the girl liked what he did.

"Ehemmm, Shola. I'll take you home; I know you're tired." Alexis pulled Shola slightly away from the mayor.

All the people who were with Fernan when the crime they committed against the Monticello family happened were given positions in the town, including vice mayor, mayor, and others.

"Mayor, we'll go ahead of you."

"Alright, Captain Alexis and Shola, where do you live?"

Shola didn't say a word now that she wanted to stab him with a knife she had hidden in her thigh.

The mayor just shrugged his shoulders when Shola didn't answer.

When Alexis got away. "What a beautiful girl!" He grinned as he thought she would be his, even though she was the captain's girlfriend. He's the mayor; he's just a captain.

When they were in the car. "Shola, why are you telling the mayor that you are my girlfriend?"

"Why is it bad?"

"N... no!"

"What does girlfriend mean?"

There was surprise on Alexis' face; why didn't she know what "girlfriend meant? "Where did she come from?"

"Why don't you answer me?"

In Alexis's mind, why would he tell the girl the truth when she found out what it meant? He might take back what he said.

He smiled, and his answer was different. "Where is your house, Shola?"

Shola asked herself again. "Where exactly?" She couldn't say that she lived in Monticello. "Go ahead," she just said.

Alexis went straight to the end of the road. The Monticello Mansion is at the end. Alexis stopped because there was no other house except the mansion.

"Monticello Residents," Shola read.

"Shola, where do you really live? There is no other house here but the mansion of the Monticello; do fa;ily, behind there are houses,  you live there?" he asked. 

Shola didn't seem to hear what Alexis said because her eyes and mind were focused on the mansion. Shola opened the car door and immediately came down.

Alexis followed. "Shola?" he said.

"Thank you; I'll be here; go home."

Alexis wondered why Shola came down. "But I won't leave you here, Shola."

"I'm fine; thanks again; I'll just walk home," she lied.

Alexis was not convinced by what Shola said. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, so you can leave me alone, thank you."

Alexis did nothing but leave the girl. After he got into the car and moved forward, Shola waved at him, and he did the same.

"Who are you, Shola Mo Padilla? And where are you from? Why did you suddenly appear here? You're a mystery to me, but I'm going to find out who you are." Alexis glanced at the side mirror; Shola was still standing, watching him go.