A week had passed since the first day Azora heard the words about God, and Lamech noticed a change in her behavior. She always carried the Bible that Zion had given her to every patient, and he often saw her reading it on the balcony while facing the vast ocean glistening under the sunlight.
He wondered about this change in Azora because, according to Hana, Azora wanted to get his attention. But since she started listening to Zion, it was as if she no longer sought his attention, and didn’t get lost in thought when he didn’t give her attention. Thus, he found himself not worrying as much about Azora spacing out, which gave him more time to look into the situation at his office and Alibata’s in the city.
Alibata told him that the tension in the city hadn’t eased. Clasiso continued to suppress all Briones’ businesses. The head prosecutor of the City Prosecutor Office appealed to suspend his license, but Alibata managed to prevent it. Lamech had submitted a notice to leave at the Regional Prosecutor Office, so his vacation in Santander was legal.
He sighed in relief because of that. What he was concerned about was what Alibata had said, that he would do something that would surely affect Azora’s future, and reminded him not to leave the woman no matter what happened.
He couldn’t refuse this request. Besides genuinely liking Azora, he had no plans of leaving her. And now that he thought her condition was improving, his resolve was even stronger. He also informed Alibata about Azora’s improving condition, and it made Alibata happy.
“Lamech?” Hana called.
He turned to the woman standing at the terrace entrance. “Why?” he asked.
“Someone’s looking for you outside. His name is Robert,” she said.
Lamech frowned, trying to remember who Robert was. Then it suddenly clicked that this was the man connected to De Lapaz. He nodded at Hana and followed her.
Azora was still asleep in their room. It was only just past five in the morning. He didn’t go to the building behind the large house where the married doctors lived; instead, he preferred to stay with Azora in her room, especially since she was afraid to be left alone there. However, he had noticed in the past few days that she no longer freaked out when left alone in the room, thanks to her change in behavior.
“Did he say something?” he asked Hana.
“No. He didn’t. He just wanted to see Azora, but since she’s still sleeping, I didn’t bother her.”
“Good. Don’t bother my woman while she’s sleeping.”
Hana chuckled softly. “You really love her.”
He just smiled and said nothing. He looked ahead, pondering why Robert had visited the institution. He hadn’t met the man yet, but he noticed how Azora seemed to trust him greatly, which only increased his desire to meet him.
A few moments later, they reached the living room of the large house. He saw a man sitting on a one-seater sofa, eyes fixed on his cellphone, wearing a leather jacket. At first glance, he knew this man was just a visitor at the institution.
The man looked up when Lamech stood in front of him. He even saw the screen of his cellphone, playing an apocalypse movie.
The man stood up and put his cellphone in his pants pocket, extending his hand. “You’re Prosecutor Lamech Lepanto. I am Robert,” he introduced himself.
Lamech looked at his outstretched hand before shaking it. He gestured for him to sit while he took the seat opposite. Hana excused herself to check on the cooks in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
Robert looked at him. “Is Azora here?”
Lamech nodded and cleared his throat. “What do you want from her?”
“I wanted to talk with her.”
“About what?” He couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at his statement.
Robert smirked. “It doesn’t concern you, Prosecutor.”
Lamech’s eyes narrowed at this. He had tried to research Robert De Lapaz online but found nothing. He couldn’t find any information about Robert.
He was about to speak when a woman’s voice interrupted. “Robert? What are you doing here?”
He stood up and turned to see Azora standing a few meters away. He signaled her to come closer, which she did. She was still frowning at the man sitting cross-legged.
“Let’s talk,” Robert said curtly.
Lamech glared at Robert as Azora agreed. But Robert just smirked at him as he led Azora outside the large house. Lamech’s eyes narrowed even more, especially when Azora told him not to follow them outside. His eyes narrowed further at her words. It seemed just yesterday that she would space out if not given attention.
Instead of defying Azora’s wish, he chose to sit back on the one-seater sofa and waited for the two to return.
But after waiting for a few minutes, Hana called him to the dining table. It was past six, and most patients were already awake.
When he reached the dining table, Azora’s seat was empty, so he excused himself from the doctor and searched for Azora outside the large house. He didn’t know that he and Azora had missed each other, so after a few minutes of searching outside, he went back inside to retrieve his cellphone from the room and find a signal to call Robert.
But he saw Azora and Robert laughing in the living room when he entered. They had already eaten, and Azora hadn’t waited for him because she had been hungry for a while. He shrugged it off but felt a tinge of disappointment. Even so, he ate breakfast alone. He was surprised to see two patients with anger issues, according to Hana, taking their seats.
The two patients didn’t usually join for meals, so it was the first time he would eat with them. He didn’t waste the opportunity and introduced himself to the two patients.
But they just looked at him and then returned their attention to their plates. He didn’t see anything wrong with them occasionally eating together. But he remained silent.
After eating, he went to the living room and sat next to Azora. “Do you want to roam outside?” he asked.
She shook her head and turned to Robert. “I don’t know where they are now. They didn’t even let me know they were leaving.”
Robert frowned. “That kid loves to play hide and seek, huh? It’s the same situation when the nurse told me that the boy and Anya had left the hospital. They left without telling me. But more importantly, Japen paid the hospital bills.”
“Paid?” Azora frowned. “I thought he didn’t have money?”
“They might have used the money you gave them,” Robert said.
Azora thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Anyway, they wanted to settle down, and I’m not against it. It’s just unfortunate to miss a little reunion at these times.”
Robert glanced at Lamech. “How about your father? Did you find a way to contact him?”
“No.” Azora shook her head. “And I don’t want to contact him. I just want to live in peace for now. And Lamech’s here to tell me what’s happening in the city.”
“I hope you’ll contact your father sooner.”
“Why?”
“I think you should at least talk to him. He is facing a great crisis in the city, and you’re the one who could ease his burden.”
Azora fell silent. Lamech remained quiet beside her, listening to their conversation. He occasionally glanced at Robert, studying him. He seemed decent enough.
“Just a second,” Azora suddenly said. “I remember when we first met, you talked about family. I didn’t ask you about this. Are they okay?”
Robert smiled and shrugged. “Do you think I had a family when I brought you to Alcantara?”
Azora frowned at Robert’s words but smiled. “You jerk,” she muttered.
The man laughed before saying goodbye. He had something to do.
“You don’t want to stay or visit the beaches here in Santander?” Azora asked, standing up.
Robert escorted her outside the large house. He shook his head. “The De Lapaz knew I was alive when I helped you escape the hospital. I need to leave this place as soon as possible so they won’t bother your peaceful life with those retards.”
Azora shot Robert a sharp look, which made him laugh. “Go. Don’t visit again,” Azora said, but her tone showed she was joking.
Robert just grinned and waved. Azora stood at the entrance and watched Robert’s car drive away. He had visited just to say goodbye. He was leaving Cebu and going to another province. She didn’t know whether to be sad or happy. Robert had helped her carry out plans that others called madness. She sighed.
Meanwhile, Lamech patiently waited for Azora in the living room, still sitting on the two-seater sofa. After a few minutes, he saw the woman approaching him. He smiled and gestured for her to sit beside him, which she did.
“What’s with that face? Did someone upset you?” he asked, seeing her frowning. He also noticed the sadness in her eyes.
Azora shook her head. “You had your breakfast?” she asked.
“Yes.” He smiled. “What did he tell you?”
“It’s between him and me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Keeping secrets, are we?”
Azora laughed. She suddenly hugged him, burying her face in his neck. “Thanks for taking care of me,” Azora whispered.
A warm feeling filled his heart at her words. He hugged her back and smiled, gently stroking her back. “No need to thank your husband.”
Immediately, Azora pulled away from the hug and looked him directly in the eyes. He couldn’t read her thoughts due to her blank expression, and he was distracted by the pounding of his heart.
“Marry me,” Azora said in a serious tone. She wasn’t joking.
He blinked in surprise and then smiled gently. “After you recover, I’ll marry you.”
“Why are you hesitating? I mean, I’m willing to be your wife. Let’s get married now.”
“We can’t until you’re declared cured. Otherwise, our marriage will be void.”
Azora sighed and hugged him again. Several minutes of silence passed between them until she spoke. “I want to call Dad.”
He nodded. They asked Hana for permission to leave the big house, and she didn’t object.
Azora boarded the car with a smile, which made him smile too. He could see how excited she was to go out of the big house. After all, there were many beautiful sights to see in Santander that they would pass by car.
The car stopped near the port in Liloan, Santander. It was overcast there, so Azora got out of the car without hesitation.
She eagerly ran to the rails and gazed at the bluish-green ocean. The water was green in the shallow parts and blue in the deeper parts. The water was clear, so from where Azora stood, she could see some seaweed in the shallow part of the sea.
“Don’t lean too far over, Azora!” Lamech reminded her, stepping closer with a camera he had borrowed from Hana.
He took a picture of Azora happily looking out at the vast sea. He chuckled softly at her expression. She looked like a child who had just been let out of the house for the first time.
“You like it here?” he asked when he got closer to her.
She looked at him with a smile on her lips. “I love it,” she whispered.
He smiled gently and placed his hand on the back of her head. Together, they looked out at the vast and peaceful sea. Occasionally, waves would kiss the shore, which was lined with small rock formations, a few meters from where they stood.
After a while, Azora borrowed his phone and called Alibata. She didn’t have any trouble reaching him, and she spoke with her father. Tears welled up in her eyes, which she quickly wiped away. She apologized to her father for ignoring and disrespecting him. She talked to Alibata for a few more minutes before ending the call and handing the phone back to him.
He took it and then pointed to an island in the distance with a smile. “Do you know what island that is?” he asked. Azora furrowed her brow and shook her head. His smile widened. “That’s Sumilon Island, part of Oslob.”
“Are we gonna visit that island?”
“Soon, after our wedding.”
Azora looked down at his words. He thought she didn’t like what he said, but when she tucked her hair behind her ear, he saw her cheeks blushing with shyness. He laughed and pulled her into a hug.
They stood there for a few more minutes until Lamech felt a piercing stare from someone. He turned and saw a woman talking on a cellphone while staring at him and Azora.
So, he suggested they go back to the big house. Azora didn’t object, especially after noticing the strange look from the woman.
It wasn’t long before they arrived back at the big house. But Azora stopped in her tracks when she saw someone standing with their hands in their pockets at the entrance.
It was Andrie.