Ricardo squeezed his phone. Sandra’s command left him powerless. Quick and thorough, those were the two absolute things that needed to be prioritized right now.
“Boy.”
Ricardo immediately contacted Boy. Just like Sandra, he did not waste any time and got straight to the point.
“I’ll pay you double. I want you to take care of Velia before the end of this month.”
That was it. Afterward, Ricardo ended the call with a panicked growl.
*
A faint breath of relief escaped Velia’s chest. Faintly, a smile curved on her face, right after the call she received had ended.
“How is it?”
Mecca could not contain her curiosity upon learning that it was the hospital who had contacted Velia that afternoon. Considering Harry and the surgery, it seemed to be good news, given Velia’s smile.
Velia nodded. “Everything is going well, and Harry will undergo surgery next Sunday.”
Now it was not just Velia who smiled with relief, but Mecca as well. As someone who knew the exact problems and misfortunes they faced, it was understandable for Mecca to feel that way. At least she knew that one step had given them a new hope.
“I wish you both the best. May Harry’s surgery be successful, and may he recover soon.”
“Thank you.”
Velia’s joy did not last long. Just a few minutes after the relief of Harry’s upcoming surgery had settled in, a thought crossed Velia’s mind. It quickly replaced her sense of relief with another confusion.
“Just one thing,” Velia whispered uncertainly, “I don’t know if I can accompany Harry during the surgery.”
Mecca understood Velia’s concern. It did not need to be explained explicitly; she knew exactly what was making Velia hesitate.
“That will definitely be a lengthy surgery. What reason can I give to get permission to leave?”
Mecca fell silent for a moment, pondering. “Can’t you say that a family member is sick?”
“He knows everything about me, including my family. I can’t lie to him with that excuse.”
“What if you say you want to visit and accompany me while I’m sick?” Mecca suggested, not running out of ideas. Now she seemed confident in her suggestion. “Maybe he’ll believe it.”
Velia hesitated. Judging from Lucas’s nature, she was not sure if it was a convincing reason. But there was no harm in trying, right?
“I’ll give it a try.”
Unfortunately, the more Velia thought about it, the more unsure she became. It was not without reason; the idea was filled with risks.
On the other hand, Velia realized that she could not possibly ignore Harry’s surgery. She could not be that heartless and leave Harry to struggle alone while memories of the past haunted her mind.
Harry was the one who stood by Velia during her darkest times. He was the one who strengthened her when she wanted to give up on life. Harry held her hand and led her back into a path that seemed dark and bleak.
“Carter.”
Velia closed her eyes as her tongue called out the driver’s name. Carter, who was focused on the road ahead, glanced briefly at the rearview mirror.
“Yes, Miss?”
Velia gave in. She could not ignore the nagging feeling in her mind, which was in a constant battle with reason.
“Can we stop by the hospital we visited yesterday? Just for a short while.”
“Alright.”
Carter’s quick response furrowed Velia’s brow. It made her slightly uncomfortable.
“Carter.”
Again, Carter glanced over. “Yes, Miss?”
“You didn’t ask about my purpose?” Velia asked, unsure. “Usually, you always ask.”
Carter smiled softly, his expression showing comforting warmth.
“Mr. Hernandez said if you weren’t feeling well. So, I thought that’s why you want to go to the hospital.”
“Lucas said that?”
Carter nodded. “A few days ago, he asked me to take good care of you. He’s concerned about your health.”
Lucas’s face instantly filled Velia’s mind. She was taken aback by the unexpected attention. It momentarily evoked a sense of guilt, making her breath heavy.
Forgive me, Luc.
For reasons she could not comprehend, Velia felt a sense of unease weighing on her shoulders. She, who was initially impatient to visit Harry, now felt uncomfortable being in the hospital room.
Velia reached for Harry’s hand. She held his helpless fingers gently, showing utmost caution. For a few moments, she did not say anything. She remained silent, only staring at Harry’s face, which had grown thinner day by day.
“Harry, I have good news for you. You will undergo surgery soon.”
Velia managed to utter two sentences, and in return, she received a long exhale. The burden she felt seemed heavier than expected.
“To be honest, I’m not sure if I can accompany you later, but I will try,” Velia continued softly, taking a deep breath. “I don’t know if Lucas will give me permission to go or not.”
The moment Lucas’s name slipped from her lips; a sudden discomfort pulsed in Velia’s chest. The air she breathed turned hot and felt like it stabbed her lungs.
“I hope you won’t blame Lucas. Not now or later when you’ve recovered. I’m not defending him, but-”
Velia lost the strength to continue her words. It was not just a feeling of heaviness anymore; it was guilt. Not just towards Harry, but also towards Lucas.
Two men. Reality only presented an unfavorable situation. Caught between the pressures of reason and the desires of her heart, Velia found herself in between.
If only. If Velia could go back to the past, there was only one thing she would do.
“I should have fallen in love with you from the moment we met, but unfortunately, that’s not what I did.”
It was strange. In Velia’s eyes, there was only Lucas before. How different their worlds were, and yet they seemed to meet in the middle.
Days passed. Time kept ticking. Apparently, love required more than just a desire to draw near.
Love was a complex feeling. It needed many things to align for the emotions to intertwine and endure. Something Velia didn’t possess.
“There are many reasons why I should choose you, but the opposite seems to have happened. I don’t know why, but…”
Sorrow was palpable in Velia’s voice. It was not just because of the past, but the present reality that was unfolding.
“… it seems like I’m falling in love with him again.”
*
For the umpteenth time, Velia lost track of time and came home late. She cursed herself as she glanced at her phone.
Lucas did not contact Velia. Nor did he send her a message.
Velia did not know if that was a good thing or the opposite. Her feelings grew uneasy with various possibilities that could happen.
Upon reaching the apartment unit, Velia hurriedly searched for Lucas. She was certain that he had already returned, thanks to the presence of his work bag she found in the study room.
Velia froze when she faintly heard a sound coming from the kitchen. She walked over and paused at the doorway, mesmerized by what she saw.
Lucas was there. He smiled and leaned against the kitchen counter, looking at Velia with a radiant expression.
“What are you doing, Luc?”
Lucas did not answer. Instead, he spread out his hands, extending an invitation to Velia.
“Come here.”
Even without the invitation, Velia would have surely approached Lucas. He stood near the dining table, dressed in his office attire without the suit jacket and tie.
The cuff buttons were undone. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, making it easier for Lucas to prepare the dishes on the dining table.
Velia approached, and Lucas reached out his hand. He pulled her close, planting a kiss on her forehead.
Velia’s hand rose, resting on Lucas’s chest, and her eyes closed. She savored the embrace, even if it was brief. A moment later, Lucas turned his body to embrace her from behind.
Lucas presented a scene on the dining table for Velia while he rested his face in the curve of her shoulder. His hands encircled her waist, and he whispered.
“Carter contacted me when I came home. He told me that you were at the hospital.”
There seemed to be an advantage to this position. Lucas would not be able to see the changes in Velia’s expression. Lucas’s mention of the hospital made her heart pound.
“And then?”
Lucas smiled, briefly kissing Velia’s hair. “I thought of preparing a surprise dinner while waiting for you to come home.”
Velia was taken aback. It was not just the spread of food on the dining table, but also the atmosphere in the dining room that seemed different.
The lights were not as bright as usual. Instead, there were two candles in the middle of the dining table. Along with the dishes that emitted a delicious aroma. And a single red rose.
“Luc.”
Lucas’s face shifted slightly against Velia’s shoulder. He tilted his head a little to catch a glimpse of her astonishment.
“This is so sweet.”
Velia’s praise boosted Lucas’s confidence. He laughed, and his embrace tightened.
“We’ve been together for so long, and you’re only realizing it now?”
Velia shook her head in a daze, still captivated by the moment. “No. I’ve known it for a long time.”
“That’s the most appropriate reason why you could fall in love with me.”
Velia’s forehead furrowed, and she turned around. Lucas’s words gave off a familiar vibe, but Velia was not sure.
“I never thought you were a sweet guy. You seemed cold and intimidating. You know, people are afraid to approach you, especially women,” Velia continued in a softer voice. “Although secretly, they idolize you.”
Lucas chuckled briefly. “Seems like I haven’t changed until now. No woman has ever dared to be truly close to me. Let alone near.”
“Has anyone approached you?”
There was a different glimmer in Lucas’s eyes. His response changed the tone of his embrace.
“You’re jealous.”
Lucas’s gaze and words struck Velia right in the heart. She fumbled, but shook her head.
“No.”
A meaningful smile curved on Lucas’s face. Of course, he did not believe Velia’s denial. So, he happily explained a little.
“It can’t really be said that she got close to me. There was someone who once came to my office.”
“To your office?”
Lucas’s explanation paused, and the corner of his lips twitched amusingly. Despite Velia’s denial, his demeanor contradicted it.
“Yes. She came to my office and invited me to talk, but I left five minutes later. That’s it, and there was nothing else.”
Velia blinked, seemingly realizing something. “I-I didn’t ask for your explanation.”
“I’m not explaining anything to you. I’m just telling a story to reassure you that I’m still the same Lucas as before,” Lucas said, as he pressed their foreheads together. “The one you called cold and intimidating.”
The short distance made their breaths caress each other. They exchanged warmth even without significant contact. Only their eyes locked as Lucas revealed his honesty.
“As usual, there’s always an exception for everything.”
*