Chapter 34 The old man- glimpse to the cure
1878 Words
Lucio called the number back to see who was calling him a few times. It keeps on ringing, but no one is taking the call. He tried Aria's phone, and it was now open, but she was so busy that she did not notice her phone ringing.
"Come on, answer me!" he whispered while his mind wanted to blow.
It urges him to be more bothered and concerned.
"Thank goodness, you finally picked up the phone," he exclaimed.
"Young Master, I am glad you called. I have been calling you using my phone but I got no answer." Selda was the one who answered the call.
"Where is Aria? What is going on?" he said impatiently.
He could sense that something had happened.
Selda reported to the Young Master, "Madam isn't feeling well. She is frustrated with Fortune's condition. He has been in the emergency room for quite a long time now. He was admitted last night to the same hospital."
"What happened to the triplets?" he asked.
"Young Master, Madam is very worried and afraid. She needs you badly," Selda continued.
He does not understand everything that Selda has said. All he knew was that Fortune was dying and the doctors could not do anything. He brushed his hair up and wanted to cry. He has to make a choice.
"Can I talk to my wife, please?" Lucio says.
"I am going to call her because she was outside the emergency room. Please hold on!" Selda told Lucio as she was approaching Aria, who was sitting still on the bench waiting.
Selda gave the phone to Aria and informed her that it was her husband who was on the other line.
Aria is begging for her husband's time and attention.
"Sweetie, I have to check first if I can fly home. The trip has just begun. Tell me what exactly happened," Lucio said.
Aria did not like Lucio's response, and she felt neglected.
"The company is far more important than our son. Is that it?" Aria confronted him.
"That is not true. I have told you I will find a way. It is not that easy. How's Fortune now?" Lucio asked in his defense.
"The doctors are trying to stabilize his condition. Hopefully, his body will respond. They do not know what to do since they have never had a case like this. I want you to be here. Our son needs you and I can't do this alone. I feel like I am the one dying," she pleaded.
"Please wait for me," his only assurance
Lucio called his secretary to find a replacement for him. He could not just stand there or focus on the trip if his mind was left behind. He was troubled. He took the very first flight the next morning, and he did not care who would take his place on the trip. His family matters more than anything. He never heard anything from Alexander.
"They might be very busy," he only uttered while on a plane.
He couldn't take a nap because his mind was scattered. All he could do was take deep breaths while waiting for the plane to land. After the long flight, he transferred to his private chopper to take him to Siquijor. He did not bother to stop at his pad. He wanted to see his family. It was already ten in the evening when he arrived at the estate. It was so dark and pure silence was all he could hear. He instructed the pilot to stand by until he said so, just in case he needed him, he was available. He led him to the villa, and even Reyes was surprised upon seeing him there.
"You came in too late, Young Master. You should have informed us so we could prepare what you needed." Reyes asks him as he assists the pilot to enter the villa to stay for that night.
"I don't need anything for now. Please let our pilot stay here until I make an order. I have to go to the hospital to check on Fortune," he said to Reyes, who seemed unaware of the happenings.
He was in a hurry before it was too late. He asks for the keys to the mansion because he wants to take a glimpse of Lucky and Charm. He was about to take the elevator, but before he reached it, he heard a chanting sound. He couldn't hear it clearly, but he was sure that it was coming near the library. He opens the door, but the chanting continues, and there is no one in there.
"Anything else you need, Young Master?" Reyes said from his back.
He did not know he was following him.
He honestly said, "I thought I heard something coming from the library, but I can't see anything."
"I am hearing nothing," Reyes insists.
He recalled, "Alright, I must go check the twins," he recalled, and took the elevator to the second floor.
The door was open, so he easily entered the room. They are both sleeping with their babysitter next to them. He was relieved that the twins were doing okay. He slowly closes the door and changes his clothes. Every second is valuable, and so he hurriedly ran down to the car park. He drove as fast as he could to reach the hospital. From a distance, he saw Aria with her hands on her forehead. She looks so stressed and tired.
"Sweetie, how's everything?" he checked with her and kissed her on the lips.
"I am glad you are finally here." She said firmly.
"I can't just disregard and allow you to face this all alone," he reassures her.
"He is stable now but there is no guarantee until he can respond to the doctor's first aid. We can't even bring him to Manila or other faraway places because it might put his life at risk," she explained.
"Let me talk to the doctor," he said.
Lucio looks for the doctor who attended Fortune's case. They talk discreetly, trying to find out what's best for their son. Aria is taking a glance at a fortune in the emergency room. She can't even go near him any longer, and that makes it hard for her. She can only check on him for a few minutes before she will be kicked out of the room. They are saying that his case was delicate and complicated.
"We will transfer him to a different hospital nearby. We will look for alternative options to save him from his current situation," Lucio said.
"But they said that Fortune can't afford to travel to far places," Aria insists.
"Yes, he can. We have to take a risk if this means finding a better solution for him. Trust me, okay?" Lucio exclaimed.
"Alright," Aria replies to her husband.
"He will be alright," Lucio guaranteed to his wife.
After they had signed the waiver and settled the bills, they immediately made the transfer. It was a thirty-minute drive from the hospital. They did not have a hard time with the transfer because of the referral made by the first hospital they came from. They placed him in a private room with personal nurses and private doctors to monitor his condition.
They are in the lobby holding each other's hands. They feel stronger and more positive whenever they have each other.
"He will be fine, he will be!" Lucio said.
"I didn't have any idea what I missed and in what way I made a mistake," Aria blurted out.
"No one was to blame. We can get over this together," Lucio said.
"I know you wouldn't believe me or hear me out, but it is not only me who has a negative vibe in the house," Aria started to open up about her experiences.
"What do you mean?" Lucio asked, curious.
Aria told him about what happened and what she had been dreaming about before Fortune was attacked.
"I do not believe in those. Besides, I have no experience of such crap," Lucio claimed.
"I know. I do not think they are real, but I am not the only one. I am afraid that this might have caused Fortune's unidentified illness. He can see and feel something strange around the house," Aria would insist, but Lucio just gives him an unbelievable look.
Lucio did not make any statements, but it gave him something to think about.
"I shouldn't be bothered by it. I grew up in that place, yet nothing bad happened to me." Lucio stood by his beliefs.
"Madam, Young Master, I am going home to get some food. Anything else you want?" Selda asked.
"Just check with Lucky and Charm if they are okay. Please remind Mayi to be extra careful with the kids," Lucio told Selda.
"Let me go with you. I want to see them too," Aria butted in.
"Alright, I will stay here in the hospital with Fortune. You two must take care of each other," he said his goodbyes.
Roberto serves as the driver. Aria asks Selda to stop by the wet market. She wanted to cook for the twins and Lucio. She wanted to somehow make good meals for them to lessen the tension because of Fortune. They were almost done shopping when Aria noticed the old man selling pendants outside the wet market. He looks familiar to her. She paused for a while and watched him as he was doing his rituals silently.
"Madam, let's go!" says Selda, who is holding two bags of items they have just bought.
Selda also stopped to see what she was up to. Selda unknowingly introduces the old man to Aria.
"Yeah, I recall him. I bought two pendants at once, but I think I have lost them. I can't find the one that I used to keep," Aria stated.
"Do you believe what he says?" Selda asks her.
Selda had served the Moreaus for the longest time, but they did not talk about anything beyond her job. She was professional and very diligent at work.
"Maybe. I don't know actually. Do you think we need his service to treat my son?" Aria asked for her opinion.
"The Head Master will not be pleased," Selda replied.
"Right. But if it is about saving my kid's life, I do not doubt it," she whispered.
"Let us go!" Selda said.
Aria took her last glance at the old man, and he was looking at her. He nodded, like he knew something about her. It is like giving her a hint about something.
She was quite bothered about what happened. She wasn't sure if it was purely accidental or a coincidence. As soon as they arrive home, they go upstairs to the kids' room.
"Mom!" Lucky cried when he saw Aria had just come home.
"Honey, I hope you are well," Aria said while smiling.
She has to look strong in front of the kids.
"Yes, Mom. Is Fortune okay?" charm asks here.
"He will be. The doctors are doing everything they can to save Fortune. He will be home soon, so he can play with you. So you two should follow what you are being told and you will be complete again," Aria reminded the kids.
- Writer
