Haim's Paradox

DE LA CRUZ’S SON-IN-LAW

“Household terror: the Clark family had been brutally massacred by a mysterious man who broke into their house. The culprit is still on the loose…” the newscaster said.

Haim woke up with swollen eyes, tired body, and heavy heart. His arms and legs may be hurting, yet he is suffering more from emotional distress. He opens his heavy eyes, discerning the noise of the television which was left on and his new messy bedroom. He recognized that his room was bigger than before. He had a terrace where he could see the exquisite view of the neighborhood. His walls were white and black painted and there were five minimalist paintings hanging on it. He was astonished by the wealth of Grace’s family. Haim could only recall that what happened yesterday was all unfortunate. He just could not see any positive side; there was no clear evidence to find the culprit and he had no choice but to live with De la Cruz family and with their contract.

Exhausted, ashamed and in pain. Haim does not even want to go out of his bedroom. All he did was grieving all along. The servants of the wealthy family just can do nothing to let Haim eat nor entertain. His mind was full of dark memoir, yet he had nothing to do with it but to cry. Grace was short-tempered and since their maids can do nothing, she came into Haim’s room by herself. She let the servants to get the keys to open the door without Haim’s permission and entered the chaotic suite which was caused by Haim’s madness.

“WHAT ARE YOU EVEN DOING HERE?” Haim shouted.

Grace suddenly embraces Haim. No matter how Haim fighting her clutch, she never loosens her grip.

“Just rest in my arms. Don’t fight it. Just cry or do whatever you want I will never let go. I am here for you.” She calmly said.

Haim just suddenly burst into tears. “WHY? IN ALL PEOPLE WHY ME?” He releases all his distress by shouting and grieving. Grace tightens her grip on Haim. She was hurt seeing her beloved man agonizing. All she could do was to hug him until he calms down.

After an hour, everything was on serene. Haim ceased from grieving, so Grace invited him to eat with her.

“Thank you,” Haim said

“Huh? We haven’t eaten yet.” Grace’s confused answer.

“No, thank you for soothing me down,” he replied.

Grace just smiles back at him. Haim was still ashamed, yet he could not refuse the invitation of Grace because of what just she did from him. The servants have prepared much food for the two of them. Again, Haim was impressed by their wealth.

“Why did you do that?” Haim asked.

“Do what exactly?” Grace replied.

Haim looked at her with a face gesture saying, “you know what I mean.”

Grace smiled as she said, “Uh, I think it was just my normal habit, to calm people in distress. My mom used to do it with me every time I feel sad or anxious and it helps though, so I think I must do it to you also, besides, I love you.”

Haim reacts disgusted but deep inside, he was intrigued by Grace, even though her selfishness was the reason why he is under the contract, that he could not refuse nor decide for himself.

“So how was the case?” Grace asked.

“Don’t even start it.” Haim replied.

Suddenly there was an awkward silence on the table.

After their breakfast, the two mind their own businesses. Haim wanders at the mansion, while Grace goes into their enormous garden.

Grace is still in confusion, wondering why Haim hates her. All she did was to give Haim the life that he deserves. She thinks that she could give him the comfort he needs. Little did she know that her parents have arranged a contract to the family of Haim. She had no idea from her parent’s doings not until she stumbles on Haim.

Grace tripped down yet Haim caught her on time. Grace could not walk properly because of the incident, so Haim carried her to the nearest white bench he could see. Their view was so alleviating. They could hear the birds chirping and the burble came from the huge fountain in their front, where they could see the sculptures of the nymphs enjoying the water flow that was being poured by an angel. The sky was on serene and the air was soothing. The soon to be a couple adores the fascinating sight. Grace looked at Haim’s winsome face facing the blue skies.

“So why do you hate me that much?” Grace breaks the silence.

Haim just sighed to her, so she repeats her question.

“Do you really not know?” Haim asked in anger. “You were the reason why I am here in the first place. Your parents arranged a fixed marriage for us because of your selfishness. Maybe we could live wealthy, but I am imprisoned by that bullshit contract. Maybe because of your wealth, no, maybe because of your influence that might be from foul secrets from your family, mine was massacred.”

Grace was offended, she knew that her family was clean and would never do such things as illegal. Moreover, she was dumbfounded by the contract that Haim mentioned, knowing she had nothing to do with it, yet she kept her silence in view of the fact that she knew that Haim was eaten again by his emotions and just could not hold back. She chose not to say anything and just walked out limping. Haim just ignored her.

After a while, Haim felt bad for what he did to Grace, thinking that after what Grace had done for him, he offended her in return. So, Haim finds Grace to apologize.

On the other hand, Grace went to her parents furiously. She argues about what they did to Haim, whereas she was told that Haim happens to love her also, yet it was not.

“We just want you to be happy our dear. We don’t want you to be lonely in your remaining time, that’s all.” Grace’s father said.

Meanwhile, Haim is still on his way to find Grace. He came back and forth to the hallways, until he heard people in a feud. He secretly sneaks to the side of the door while listening to the quarrel.

“I have nothing to do in my life and I do not care even if I am dying alone, if that is what you really want to hear. Just please, do not manipulate people. Let Haim have his desires and will. Even the fact that I am really in love with him, just let him be free to choose a woman for him and do not concern yourselves if I am not his. That is love!

I really do have heart and admires him a lot, yet I could not be happier seeing him in despair of being my prisoner.” Grace’s genuine speech.

“But our love? We cannot handle seeing you being jealous nor woeful from him,” her mother replied.

“Have you really heard of what I have just said?

Are you really deaf?

Are you numb?

I AM MISERABLE SEEING HAIM ANGUISHED!” Grace shouted.

“Maybe Haim was right. Maybe you have the means to be a noble, yet you disgusted me from your selfishness.” Grace walked out and slammed the office’s door of her parents and went on her bedroom brisking fiercely.

Haim overheard their argument. He realized that he was wrong all his time from judging Grace’s intentions. He felt really bad from all his doings and he thought of fleeing away from them.

Immediately, he packed all his things and wrote a profound apology letter for Grace, yet Grace caught him equipping his belongings.

They looked at each other’s startled faces.

Grace ceased straight away Haim from leaving. “Is it because of what I just did earlier? I am sorry for that and will never interfere in your personal life, but please don’t leave this house.” Grace said

“Don’t mind me. There is nothing to worry about. I will just leave, yet I will still stand on the agreement.” Haim replied

“THAT CONTRACT AGAIN! DAMN! Just forget about it, I will void it myself. Just give me one week and everything will settle. Let us help you with or without that settlement.” Grace’s furious answer.

“I don’t need your pity,” he counters Grace.

“But please, just give me one more chance to help you out. I am really worried about your sake. I will do everything you want just to let me aid you. I could not forgive myself for seeing you vulnerable again. If it is not your will to marry me, then let it be. But please… just please, don’t refuse.” She begged Haim.

“OKAY STOP!” Haim shouted. “I overheard your disputes to your parents and I just felt really bad after everything that I just did to you insensitively. After all the unfortunate events, everything that I did was all wrong. I could not handle my conscience seeing you being offended by me. The void was all on my mind and I was imprisoned myself for eternity. Maybe my life was chaos in ethereal after all.”

Grace could not help herself but to care more about Haim. She suddenly grasps his hands and says, “I forgive you, if that is what you really need to hear. It was nothing after all and if you are really in complete distress then you can share it with me. Let me experience your pain so you won’t be alone anymore. I am willing to be part of your ethereal despair, no regrets.”

Haim’s heavy heart soothes, yet it pounds very fast as if his blood is running faster than the usual through his vessels. He felt butterflies in his stomach and could not help but to kiss Grace.

Grace was astonished, yet she kissed Haim back through the night. Everything was love. The ambience was different than before. It was not hot nor cold. It was pure endearment. They slept on Haim’s bed.

Haim suddenly in darkness. He could not see anything but the shade of distress. The vicinity becomes eerie. Promptly, the dullness becomes a dreadful scene. He saw the silhouette of his family’s reaper smiling at him. He was in complete tension seeing the culprit finding another victim. He saw the man holding a sharp knife aiming for an unidentified woman grasping her child. Haim recognized that it was not his mother, yet he was furious again seeing the murderer kills another helpless people. He fiercely charges to the shadow of the man, yet suddenly he was chained. His arms, his legs and his neck were shackled. He was powerless again on the scene and in complete woe watching the killer spontaneously stabbing the woman and her child without any compassion.

After the reaper was satisfied, he suddenly vanished, yet the corpses were still in the sight of Haim. Their blood overflows until it reaches the feet of him. Haim was very stressed and anxious, then he screamed loudly.

He immediately woke up from a complete nightmare. He was glad to know that it was only a dream, yet he was really disturbed. Grace also awakened from Haim’s shout.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

Haim became conscious of his surroundings. He was in his messy bedroom sleeping with Grace but naked. He recalls that there was something that happened between him and Grace last night. Haim suddenly pulled up his pants, took his shirt and went out from his bedroom saying, “dress yourself Grace, I am going out.” He went to the bench of the garden without a proper goodbye to Grace because of his embarrassment. He still could not believe of what just happened between them. He could not identify if he hates nor likes the circumstance. He was baffled, yet the only thing that he knew was that his distress despite the nightmares and the unfortunate events, promptly soothes.

Haim faces the blue skies, wondering for the unpredicted future that is waiting for him.