Chapter 32

JOSHUA’S POV

“Just rest; I’ll wake you up when we reach home.”

Ish nodded and completely dozed off as she rested her head on my shoulders. We’re already here seated on the plane back to Baguio after all the trips we’ve had. It took us the whole week to visit all the places we wanted to. My original plan to have a trip around the world with Ish; I even booked to every possible romantic places we’d be going after the reception party but after what happened and Ishita bringing me to Sagada, there were a lot of changes on my plans. I talked to Ishita and suggested that we’d just continue on with my plan travelling overseas but she said that it’ll be more tiring for both of us to travel overseas and that’s when she suggested to why not just travel but only around the Philippines. I doubted that at first though it wasn’t a bad idea, but I wanted to show Ishita a grander place and event coz I really think she deserves to see the grandest things and places of the world. That was my plan but then I just went along with Ish’s plan to travel along the places here in the Philippines and it pretty was just as beautiful as what i expect it to be.

After our one-day stay in Sagada, we traveled all the way to Batanes by noon that day. Batanes is an archipelagic province of the Philippines and is famous for its scenic waters, terrains and clean environment. We sure did enjoy the scenic views out there and came next to Pagudgud and trust me when I say Pagudpud was one of places we enjoyed to stay most. It’s just very clean and nature-wise place. We went to every places we could think of and those short times we spent in those places were just the happiest moments for the both of us. Especially that I’m with Ish, it never felt more special. And now that we’ve decided to go back home from our happy trips, we were both very much reluctant to do so. I even tried telling her we could extend another week for our travels but she talked to me that it’s not a good idea leaving everything at home for long. Especially mom and that’s when I realized she was right. I totally forgot everything; the disputes, my company, the issues I left from home and work, I just completely forgot everything and all that mattered then was Ishita. So we had to go back home now as I needed to secure things regarding mom’s incident. I will make sure not to let this pass ever also with Ish’s issue. Though she told me not to do anything anymore regarding her case, I just couldn’t get myself at ease if couldn’t just give one big punch to their faces at the very least; I won’t settle for less like this even if Ishita disagrees.

…..

“Welcome back! How’s your trip?”

Upon reaching home, Ate Rosa was the first to welcome us as she helped us put down all our luggage which literally were just full of pasalubongs (gifts/token) from all the places we’ve visited. I didn’t mind when Ishita picked every what-nots that she thought would be nice if we take them home at least as remembrance.

“It was the greatest, I swear!”

Ishita says as I only chuckled watching her drag Ate Rosa and continued to tell stories of our trip.

“Where’s mom? And Layad too?”

I asks as I couldn’t see them anywhere in the house and that’s when Ate Rosa heaved a deep sigh as though very much disheartened by a certain thing.

“Your mom is in her room. From the day you left for your trip, she didn’t pretty much get out of her room and so I had to bring her all the things she needed. She refused to go out or even just eat one proper meal.”

All my worries were then piled up upon hearing Ate Rosa’s story and I was about to go see mom upstairs when Ate Rosa stopped me telling me mom just fell asleep for now. She also told me that mom never got to sleep very much worrying everything about me and I never felt so guilty about anything especially regarding mom.

“You okay? Just sit and rest first and we’ll go check on mom a little later okay?”

Ishita says as she dragged me to the sofa patting me on the back. I smiled at her and nodded as I pulled my hair out of mixed emotions. I was too overwhelmed with joy of the past trip I had with Ishita and totally forgot everything here at home and the guilt is slowly seeping through me. I couldn’t even talk to mom upright after finding out everything. She must’ve though I was angry at her though I was raged for quite a big matter but I wasn’t angry at her at all. I could’ve just faced her a little more before going on a trip. But at that time when I heard of her being raped, I was just completely eaten with raged I never knew off completely disregarding what my mother would’ve felt all this time. she must’ve been fearing everything all this time. she must’ve been feeling all alone all this time and I never felt a strong pity on anyone ever.

“Hey, don’t keep it to yourself. We’ll be figuring things out with mom, together. I’m just here so it’s okay to talk out with everything. I’m here ready to listen.”

“You’re the best Ish.”

I say and smiled at Ish as I told her to go upstairs already and take a shower and rest even. She reluctant nodded and smiled telling me to call her if I needed anything. She told me to rest also as I only nodded with a small smile. I watched as Ish strode upstairs and looked back at Ate Rosa. She gave me a mixed look, both glad and sad.

“Where’s Layad anyway?”

“She’s in school. I think I haven’t told you yet that I already enrolled her to a private school. I was worried she’d be getting attack since there will be a lot of people there but she said she’s brave enough to go to school now. She’s been asking for both of you every day and I couldn’t tell her that you two went on a trip as surely she’ll nag about it. So you two better have good explanation to her later.”

I softly laughed hearing Layad’s little antiques as I let Ate Rosa excused when she told me she’d just go check on mom. I wanted to go sneak a peek on mom too but I didn’t know why I was feeling a bit reluctant to see her for now. I felt like if I go and see her now, I would literally breakdown and she’s already broken right now so I didn’t want her to see me breaking down as well. I can’t let her feel worse than she is already feeling now. I then went to the terrace and made a call to my secretary first asking him about the company.

“The transaction regarding the Calendula oil production is going smooth for now sire. And about the posting of official statement, the media is reacting a bit on the opposite ends making an issue to our consumers but we’ve already blocked some outlets. But pretty sure the blockage would only take few more days from now til it’ll collide. We will soon be receiving more reaction from the public if we don’t move a little faster than now. That’s for now the issue we’re currently facing; aside from that sire, everything in the company is being handled well enough.”

“Okay, good. and instead of blocking media outlets, let’s just go all out and have the boards prepared for a public press conference. Let them talk about the production. I’ll give permission for y’all to release the researches of our product. It’ll be released sooner or later so let’s just get it out ahead of time. That’s a plan for now so make sure nothing will arise in between. I trust that the issue will be arranged the moment I come back.”

“Yes sir, understood.”

I ended the call just that and then dialed another number. with two rings, my private investigator then answered.

“Anything new with the investigation?”

“Yes sir. We just completed all the investigation perfectly just in time when you called and….”

His voice lingered with the lines as though he was doubting whether to continue or not.

“What’s the matter?”

“Sir, I suggest we talk these in person—”

“It’s me who decides what to do so you better drop anything you know now. I don’t have time to go see you.”

There was a moment of silence on the other and I was about to outburst when he began to speak.

“We already found and tracked down the ones who raped Mrs. Isabella and I sent you just now all the details of the men via email—”

“Men? You mean to say it’s not just one who did it?!”

I tried hard not to go berserk as I clenched my fist hard. I clutched on the rails of the terrace trying hard not to burst just now. I need to hear everything but the familiar surge of rage I felt from hearing Ish’s case was again here slowly eating me and I don’t want to go all out especially that I’m already home where everyone could possibly see me outraged.

“Yes sir, precisely the case. It happened nearly 2 and a half decades now and the incident repeated thrice at the least.”

I couldn’t help myself punching the hard wall by the now as I kept my insides still as possibly as I could.

“I sent you the details and every evidences; cctv footages, screen captures and sound records I could possibly get a hold of. And everything I sent you is the original copies sir. One of them is already dead, 12 years ago from a car accident. Two are now in the prison after being caught raping the daughter of the certain big politician in a foreign country and they’re currently held captive by the country still. And the last one is surely lucky for his own good. he now owns one of the biggest casino bar in Bangalore, India. That’s for now the gist of their details. I will send every details one by one sir.”

I heaved a deep sigh and tried controlling my breath as I held tight on the phone.

“That’s a good job you did for now. I will have to check all of it and I’ll meet you the soonest possible I can. Keep all of the bastards on track and report to me everything that’s happening to their lives; every details, from their family to their relatives. Everything.”

“Understood sir.”

“Okay, that’s it for now. I’ll call back later—”

“Sir…”

I was cut when the investigator talked again and seemed to have something more to say.

“I told you I’ll call later. That’s enough information for now—”

“There’s one certain thing I found out except the rape case of Mrs. Isabella—”

“What the fuck! I told you I’ll call later for other things!”

I burst as I glared at my phone. I was trying really hard not to burst and this fucking guy is pulling the trigger. I was about to end the call when my hands literally stopped all the way through with what my investigator said.

“Come… come again?”

“Mrs. Isabella bore a child. She had a daughter.”

I couldn’t process what the investigator just said. I was left both confused and shunned.

“What do you mean she had… a daughter?”

“Precisely the thing sir. She bore a child after the multiple case of her being raped—”

“What—where’s this daughter now? Why has she not talk about it with me until now? Why—just how?”

I didn’t know how to react and just piled him questions he for sure doesn’t know either. Like what the hell is this now? How can I have a sister without me knowing? Though I practically understand that Mom could’ve been scared of talking about her rape case but hiding about a sister of mine is just another thing? How—why?

“Where is the daughter? Did you find out anything about her? Is she…. She can’t possibly be…dead, isn’t she?”

My heart literally pumped so loud and fast while imagining the fact that mom could’ve hid the truth of my sister and endured all the pain, sorrow and misery by herself with both her rape case and the loss of my sister. And I couldn’t help myself from tearing with the situation my mom could’ve been in with all the things that’s happened to her. My heart literally ached for the thought of my mom’s suffering through these years, alone.

“She’s perfectly alive sir—”

“Where is she? Did you find her? Find and track her this instance and I want you to do it fast—”

“I actually have her tracked now sir since I knew you’d be needing it once I’d tell of the details. I already have here all the details about the daughter. Should I send it to you now sir? But I’d suggest you come see the details yourself sir….”

His words lingered as though again reluctant of something.

“I told I can’t. I don’t have enough time to be meeting you personally.”

I’m literally feeling like I’m about to get crazy with all this information now and I couldn’t contain myself from tearing up; these are just too much to handle now. I should’ve ended the call then and hear these latter infos the next time. But now that it has come to this, I need to hear everything.

“Correct me if I’m wrong sir, your wife’s name is Ishita right?”

I felt my brows furrowed.

“What the fuck does my wife have to do with any of this?”

I was already confused of everything and now he’s suddenly mentioning my wife all of a sudden.

“Sir, I have to say sorry for this but your wife—”

“What the fuck! Ishita is not even part of this case! I don’t remember telling you track on Ishita again!—”

“Ms. Ishita is the daughter of Mrs. Isabella sir.”

3RD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

The whole world seemed to stop as Joshua froze on where he was stood just about the main door. He didn’t know and was never sure of what he just heard.

“Who is…. The daughter of who now?”

Joshua reluctantly asked as he gulped his non-existing saliva feeling his body begin to tremble. He knew and he believes that whatever this is about he is to hear is just complete bullshit but his body just voluntarily reacted and he’s now having cold chills and sweat.

“I tracked down Mrs. Isabella’s daughter and I found that she left her daughter at an orphanage in Delhi; Love and Care orphanage is the name if I’m not mistaken. Mrs. Isabella left her daughter there when the baby is just days old—”

“What bullshit is this! What the fuck are you talking about now?! Are you fucking kidding with me now coz I for sure am not kidding aside when I tell you now that I’ll kill you!!”

“Joshua?”

Just then, Joshua turned when he heard his mom. He totally froze upon seeing his mom walking down the stairs and looking all thin. Isabella looked so tired and seemed sick and Joshua’s pain double seeing the state of his mother.

“Are you okay? What are you doing outside? Come on in son.”

He hears his mother say softly as Joshua only stood there still frozen and not knowing what to do.

“Sir; I’m sorry to report you about this but you need to know the truth. Ms. Ishita is the daughter of Mrs. Isabella. I’ve already confirmed it by getting both their DNA’s and I also got testimonies from the orphanage. I showed the photo of Mrs. Isabella and they perfectly remembered her as the one who gave Ishita to them almost 24 years ago.”

Joshua was left with all his blood dangerously running out. His raging insides suddenly froze and his mind stopped circulating all of a sudden. He just went blank as his hand holding the phone literally just dropped to his side as he watches his mother looking at him with confusion and worry all at the same time. Joshua right there and then didn’t know what to feel by looking at her mom. He didn’t know if he should go and shout at his mother and ask her why she would ever hide about his sister. He wanted to ask if Isabella already knew that Ishita was her daughter. Joshua wanted to go and shout all the blame on his mother that if she actually knew everything, she would’ve told him for him not to even marry Ishita, his fucking sister!

“Joshua?”

Just then, as Joshua’s entirety was trying all its best to hold out and not to go berserk with everything; Ishita came out of nowhere and now walking down the stairs looking at Joshua with the same confusion and worry like Isabella. Both the ladies were looking at Joshua with worry as he was just standing there looking suddenly pale and restless. His wholeness just looked different. Ishita then began walking near Joshua but was left stunned and confused when he walked back and away from her. She looked at him straight in the eye and there Ishita saw everything in Joshua’s eyes; pain, sorrow, devastation and every possible emotion she could name, it was all in Joshua’s eyes.

“Joshua? Are you okay—”

“Don’t!”

Everyone but stunned when Joshua suddenly shouted and held his hand out gesturing Ishita not to come any closer to him. Joshua stepped back yet again as he felt his body slowly succumbing to his emotions. He was slowly being eaten with all that he was feeling then and he couldn’t hold out any more. Any moment later, if he stays in there with both ishita and Isabella, he was to go completely crazy.

“Just don’t come close. Stay away from me.”

“What are you saying? Joshua, are you—”

“Don’t fucking come closer!—no, I won’t come close to you, just stay there. I will leave myself—I—don’t come close, please—just don’t. if you come any more close than this, I might lose it for real!!”

Everyone including Rosa who just came out of the bathroom was now left confused and stunned with what Joshua was suddenly acting and saying.

“I—I can’t do this anymore—I’m sorry.”

“Joshua? Joshua!!”

“Joshy, where are you going?! Joshua!!”

“Joshua!!”

Not looking back even once, Joshua run to his car and drove to who knows where his hands would drive him to. He lost it. His mind gave up on the thought that everything is over. He wanted to burst; it was what he wanted just a while ago but his body just stayed frozen. He wanted to cry his pain out but his tears seemed to just froze as well as his foot stepped on cruise control and sped the hell out of his car. He couldn’t care less of anything as he sped overtaking all the cars in front of him. His eyes held nothing; blank as he felt his body completely eaten by what seems to be what his mother felt all these time, wretchedness.

“If saying I regret meeting Ishita would let this fucking pain go away, then please; hear me, I REGRET MEETING ISHITA! I REGRET EVERYTHING! I REGRET—”

Joshua stepped on the brake all of a sudden and cut his own words as like a slideshow, Ishita’s images of her smiling face flashed on his very own eyes; the memories, the places they’ve been, the words and just completely everywhere in his memory was Ishita’s image. Every corner of his memory was full of Ishita’s image and it was killing him big time. the pain was too much and with one more flash of Ishita’s smiling face, Joshua shouted and banged his head on the steering wheel. Tears started to flow like a strong forge of river. It was as tho his tears were trapped somewhere and piled and now being released as it flowed aggressively.

“If fate could’ve been a little nicer, I would do anything to keep you in my memory better. But not even fate was on our side; Ishita, for once and always be, you are my love, I’m sorry that now I have to give up on you with these fleeting mem’ry left at hand.”