Against All Odds

Chapter 3

Not long after the press had left the hospital, Damian hurried after Vanessa leaving Julia to the nurses. They pushed her back to her ward even though she tried to protest.

" Vanessa, hold on. That was Julia", he said with a little hesitation in his voice. If only he knew what her problem was at the moment, he would kindly leave. It was just too early and things were happening fast, way faster than she had expected them to. Vanessa had barely escaped her mum's question on how she got the money then the brain behind it just shows up? Hell no! Vanessa wasn't ready for this.

She took a halt and held the wall beside her. " She's my ex girlfriend and nothing is going on between us", Damian confessed. Vanessa was amazed. Why exactly was he telling her that? They barely know each other and he owed her no explanation to whatever he is doing with his life. Why is he acting like the few days togetherness they had meant anything reasonable? Vanessa chuckled.

She held the wall, her back against Damian and peeped to get a view of her mother. The woman was sitting down with her hands folded in a fist and tossed to her cheeks. Vanessa felt her stomach rumble. Just when Damian wanted to peep as well, she pushed him back. " Why? What are you hiding?", he asked.

Vanessa had read about rich and spoiled kids who always want to have their way. So, she garnered some nerves and was ready to face Damian like the characters in her favorite books who stood up for themselves. Even though, deep down, Vanessa did not want it to get to such extent.

" Look, Damian Hyacintho", she pronounced the 'cintho' more like ' shendo"...

" You owe me no explanation as regards whatever drama is going on in your life. We had an agreement; you kept to your own side of the deal and I'm going to do that as well. You don't have to tell me about your ex girlfriend, we are not dating..."

" We are married" he responded. Vanessa exhaled the air that had gathered in her chest as she said her last statement in one breath. Is this a joke or what? Why was he suddenly acting up? Vanessa nodded her head.

" The last thing I want to happen right now is for my mum to see you. I don't have the courage to lie to her. Just leave me alone right now. My father is still in the theatre room and ..." Vanessa pauses and raises her eyes to disallow the tears from skating through her cheeks. Damian placed a hand on her shoulder and patted it. " Don't forget the deal", he said and walked away.

What kind of human being was he? She was just about to cry and the least he could do as a gentleman was admonish her not to or better still, give her a hug or even say something remorseful. But, he was different. Vanessa was also the controversial one here. If Damian had offered those things, she definitely would have turned him down or embarrassed the rich dude. " Nessa, maybe you're being to hard on yourself. Just breath and act like nothing's happened"... With that single thought, Vanessa pulled out a tissue paper from her back pocket and wiped any traces of tears in her eyes.

Then, she smiled making sure that she wasn't about to tear up again.

" Mum, I know Dad will be okay", she said to her mother. The pain in her mother's eyes could be seen clearly. The tears had them, her face carried the weight and her body was seemingly weak just like a person beaten by pain.

Deep down, Vanessa knew it was all acting. Nothing was going to be fine. Their father's diagnosis over the years had shown his condition to be critical. He has been on medication since then and not for once had his condition improved. The surgery which was their last option wasn't even guaranteed to be a successful one. More than anyone else, Vanessa's mum knew this.

She turned and her teary eyes met Vanessa's. The young lady nodded her head while her mum fell into her arms.They really were bonding well.

Five hours passed but there was still no news as regards her father's surgery. Her mum had fallen asleep while she tried to stay awake whilst dozing off at intervals. After a long wait, the doctor finally stepped out of the theatre room while Mr. Leonard was transferred to another ward. Vanessa tapped her mum as the doctor approached them.

" Did he make it?" That was the first thing she asked him. One could say she had dreamt about the surgery all through her sleep. " We encountered some difficulties while undergoing the surgery so...", Vanessa's heart was crushed into pieces. She placed her hand on the chest and leaned against the wall behind her. Pound after pound, her heart nearly exploded.

" We couldn't carry out the surgery. He will have to be stable before we can try" the doctor concluded.

Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut. A wave of relief brushed her almost crushed heart. But then, is it a news of relief? The surgery couldn't take place. So...her father will certainly still be on the verge of loosing his life. Vanessa held her mum as they both walked to Mr Leonard's ward.

" Mr Leonard cannot continue in this condition for long. I was only able to give him some medications that will cover up for at least a little longer before we operate on him. His blood pressure keeps going high whenever we're about to begin the surgery. If I ignore it and go ahead with the operation, he will six feet under the ground immediately after it", the doctor explained.

Vanessa and her mum didn't say a word. Guess both were speechless. Moving in and out of the hospital for what was like five years now and then spending the whole time in it for almost two years was enough to make them mute.

" I'll refund the money for the surgery..."

" Oh! No...you can keep it until he becomes stable to undergo it" Vanessa cut in. The doctor nodded his head and hung his stethoscope on the neck.

They moved slowly to keep up with her mum's pace. From the look of things, the day had taken a toll on her and she needed a long rest.

As soon as they stepped into Mr Leonard's ward, her mum couldn't help but embrace her husband. The doctor had to excuse them while Vanessa stood by.

Mr Leonard raised his hand and Vanessa slid her fingers into his. She smiled at the old man, trying as hard as possible not to let tears down her cheeks. But, it was too late. They were more than she could suppress. So, she let them flow uncontrollably.

" Dad, don't worry I'm fine", she lied.

Her father rubbed her face with his palm as she held his wrist. " I've missed you so much Dad" she finally admitted.

" I know" he replied in a low voice that came as a whisper.

" Why are you scared dad? The doctor complained of your high blood pressure" Vanessa inquired.

Her father turned his face away. Vanessa, afraid that she had said something unpleasant apologized.

"I'm sorry, I was only concerned. I want you to get well soon..."

" I don't want to never open my eyes again" he interrupted.

" I want to see your mother, your pretty face....I want my heart to keep beating" he said.

Those words were deep. Vanessa sniffled her nose.

Just then, Damian's call came in. It was a video chat. She swiped to the right and the call ended.

" Enough! Both of you..." said Nessa's mum.

" It will only make me restless, sad and heartbroken. Please, just..."

The phone kept pinging while she continued rejecting the calls.

Damian had an awful timing. Why now? Of all times... Vanessa put her father to sleep and finally, she stepped out and swiped to the right.

"Really?" Her face appeared wide on the screen and Damian's too. He looked stressed out. " Hey...I couldn't help thinking that my wife was all alone with my in-laws in the hospital so I decided to check up"

Without allowing him to say whatever he had in mind to say, Vanessa cut in.

" Point of correction, I am not your wife. My name's Vanessa. Call me that" Damian smiled.

" You, my darling is not looking good. Your eyes are heavy. I think you need some rest. How's my father-in-law though?" Vanessa sucked her lower lip and smacked both lips together.

" Are you okay? Is he okay?" He asked again.

" First of all, he is my father and not your father-in-law. For heaven's sake, I am just some girl you met few days ago. We don't know each other. I don't even want to know you. Can't you let that sink?" Vanessa voiced out.

Now, Damian was really getting pissed off. This girl was just getting on his nerves but a part of him doesn't want to let go. It was a battle between his head and heart to call her up several times. The head says,' call once' while the heart says otherwise.

" Look here, Nessa" he called her so casually. " This is a contract but you have to get used to this before we go to my father in Manila"

At the mention of the last statement, Vanessa roared into laughter. " That's by the way, you need a change of clothes and uhm..."

" I am not fu*king going anywhere! My dad is sick in the hospital and you want me to follow you to some " Manila?"

" It's a deal, Vanessa" Damian responded in his defence.

" I fulfilled my part. I gave you the money and you didn't do yours"

" Really?

" Yeah"

"Is it my fault? Your father is not in New York. I thought this whole act was for him. The man is not here. What do you want me to do?

Vanessa ended the call and turned off her phone. She went right back into the ward and sat beside her parents.

" Everything okay?" Her mum asked.

" Of...of...course!" she stuttered. " How's Dad?" Her mum's eyes led her to his face. He was fast asleep.

Vanessa spread a blanket from one of the beds at the ward and laid down. Then, she closed her eyes.

" Nessa!" Someone called out her name. She opened her eyes. " Damian?" She thought it was a dream until he moved closer to her sick father. Vanessa was shivering. Her little secret was about to be announced like some live news. Didn't he take her words seriously? Was everything she had warned him about a big joke to him?

" Is the money not enough? How was the surgery?" Her mum was lost.

"Vanessa, who is this?"

"Uhm-----he's----"

"Damian Hyacintho, son of the richest billionaire in Manila. It's a pleasure to finally meet you, mother-in-law" Damian said with an outstretched arm.

Her countenance changed drastically. Of course! The last word got her surprised.

"Damian, No!" Vanessa whispered.

" Well, yes! ' mother-in-law'..." he repeated as if he read her looks. Vanessa kept waving her hand and whispering ' no!' quietly but he ignored her. She felt like an earthquake should just occur and swallow her up.

" Vanessa, why didn't you inform mom?" Damian teased knowing fully well that the young lady was about to urinate on her body. She gave him a ' please-don't-do-this look'.

Daring Damian, she was simply wasting her precious time.

He turned to Vanessa's mother and her dad who had just opened his eyes.

" Vanessa and I are married" he spilled.