50 Days to His Heart

Day 8: Lorraine

I had to run to the nearest  fastfood chain to check out my reflection. People have been staring at me and I have this itchy feeling all over my face and my body. I crossed my finger and prayed that this is not a case of chicken pox especially that I have not gotten news of my children. Now is not a time for affliction not until I see them. I am emotionally struggling now and a physical pain is just too much.

I decided to look for my children myself and just brought with me a backpack with some clothes I can just wear. For the past days, I'd sleep in any place where I can just rest for the night. There was one time I stayed at Luneta Park and pretended I was star gazing but in reality, I was crying and talking to God to help me find my kids. If I could not have Henry back, then Dos and Tres would be enough. After all, they are also from Henry.

I fell in line and wait for my turn to use the restroom and even before I got in, a service crew has told me that 'it would be best if I go see a doctor' because she is suspecting that I have chicken pox. She got a mirror from her pants and showed me my reddish face and I guess she is right.

Oh God! Why now?

How could I see a doctor now?

This morning, a snatcher got my bag with all my belongings in there including my cellphone which has been lowbat for days. I was planning on dropping by a convenient store to charge it but now I have no phone, no wallet, no anything. I am thinking of walking back to my unit but it would take hours. It might also worsen my alleged chicken pox because I'd be exposed under the sun.

I only have 4 five peso coins left in my pocket and decided to call Vianna in a public phone. The three calls all made me leave voice messages and now, I'm left with just one five peso coin.

I had to encourage myself that maybe, just maybe, if I'd call Henry, he would come and rescue me.

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5 rings. Why did I even try calling him? Who knows he could be getting all cozy with Eunice and totally forgot about me.

"Hello?"

"Ahmm... Henry?!"

I answered in disbelief. He answered!

"Lorraine!"

Was he really happy to hear my voice? Or was it just me hallucinating again.

"Tell me where are you?! God, you are making me crazy!"

There he goes again, back to his authoritative, alpha sounding voice as if I am the lowest werewolf of his pack.

"I'm at a public phone near Jollibee, Sta. Cruz but I'm not really sure, Ahmmm. My bag was snatched and I have nothing left with me and I think I have chicken pox and I need to see a doctor and Ahmmm."

"Lorraine, please take a cab and ask him to bring you here in my office. I wanted to pick you up but I can't leave now. Tell the driver that you'd pay him when you get here."

Wow? Did he just say please? And that he wanted to pick me up? Henry is wrong. He is not crazy. I am crazy because I am still hoping that Henry cares about me.

"Thank you."

"Lorraine, you have a lot of explaining to do."

"I know."

I knew it. He is still mad. But I have no choice but to call him. Well, I could have called Juliet too. Why did I even call Henry? My stupid mind. I just keep on thinking about him.

"But..."

The line got cut and Henry was not able to finish what he was saying. But what? What if I just ask the taxi to drop me off at Vianna's?

***

Conrad paid the taxi fare and brought me inside Henry's building. Henry really has almost everything and even if he can marry a woman of his level, he chose me, an ordinary girl, with a father who pushed his daughter into a marriage just for the sake of his own business which at the end did not prosper. Never mind. Everything's in the past now.

I caught Conrad looking at me from time to time. I know he was trying not to stare at me but he could not help himself. I also saw my reflection in the elevator. Now, it is not only my face that has red all over but even my arms and I know my legs have too. I can feel the itchy feeling down there too. Good thing my kids won't have this. They have their vaccine. I missed mine. I'm afraid of injections. I don't like injections. They bring painful memory of my mom back then when she was struggling of cancer.

***

I was dumbfounded when I opened Henry's door. Is this really happening?

"Henry, I cannot breath.... And don't hug me this close I might have chicken pox. This is viral."

"I don't care. Let's just stay like this Baby."

Did he just call me baby? Or do I have to get cotton buds and check my ear?

"Henry, I need to see a doctor."

"Let's have 10 more minutes. I've requested 3 people to come over. Our family doctor, a dermatologist and Vianna."

I felt Henry brushed his lips over mine and that awakened my desire to touch him but I resisted. This is just happening too fast. He wanted me out of his life and I've hurt him too.

"Henry, this is not right."

"Just let me taste you again. I've missed you baby. I miss you so bad."

I don't know what happened but my body has betrayed me. I responded to his kisses. My hands found their way behind his nape and I felt my back hit his sofa.

"I miss this taste. I miss this lips." He whispered.

Am I really doing this with him again? What If this is a trap? But I want this too. Oh God. What do I do?

"Henry." I said while I try to catch my breath.

"I have my vaccine Baby." He explained while nibbling my neck and his hands had successfully unbuttoned my blouse. How could he be so good at this?

"No it's not that. I... I think I have my period."

"I don't care. I just miss you."

"Ah,, ouch."

Henry accidentally hit one of those red thing and it hurt so much. I unintentionally pushed him.

"What happened baby? Did I hurt you?"

"Yes. Look at all these. I think my skin is getting worse."

He brushed his hand through his hair and placed his head on top of mine while he embraced me.

"I'm sorry for just thinking about my needs and hurting you baby. I just thought I won't be able to find you again. I even went to that icecream house near your junior high."

I was surprised with what he said. I did drop by there the other day.

"How did you know about that?"

"Vianna and Adrian brought me there."

"Really?"

"Adrian saw you  in a mall but you walked to fast. We've posted that you are missing too."

"Oh, I've just decided to look for our kids on my own."

"I assume. At first, I thought you kidnapped them again, I even thought that Adrian is your lover."

"My what?"

I burst into laughter.

"What I know he likes Vianna. Not me, although he was kinda my crush in high school, but then I met you."

"Lorraine, I still love you, but I don't know if I could still forgive you."

"I know."

I pulled out from his embrace and buttoned my blouse. What happened earlier was just spur of the moment, a manly need that Henry needs to satisfy. Maybe, just like a werewolf, he just missed my "scent".

"But I still want you in my life baby."

He embraced me again and we both listened to each other's heart beat.

"Let's just stay like this baby."

"Yes daddy. Just like this."

And in an instant I felt joy in my heart. Where is this leading us? I don't know yet but maybe God has seen his daughter crying every night.