The gray clouds start to pour tiny raindrops from its pouch. Brian is now irritated by the fact he waited for Sheila for almost an hour in a shed for them to go to the club's room.
"Oh come on, I cant wait any longer than this. " ,he said anxiously while trying to check both sides of the road for the presence of Sheila. But nobody appeared.
"Gosh!" he spouted.
"This is why i hate to team up with slowpokes!"
After a few minutes of murmur and anxiousness. Sheila began to appear from a distance. Upon seeing Brian in a distance, she raised her hand and waved to Brian and started to run timidly. Brian, who noticed Sheila as she waved his hand, sighed on relief.
"What took you so long? Alam mo kanina pa ko nandito. Ang usapan 8:30. Eh anong oras na?" Brian asked furiosly. Upon saying those words he checked his watch to see what is it.
"Oh, lampas nine na." he added.
"Sorry, nagka lagnat kasi ang yaya ng bunso namin kaya nag offer ako na ako nalang maghahatid sa kapatid ko." she explained while trying to wipe his forehead with her handkerchief.
"Sabagay ganyan naman talaga mga babae. Hindi lang mabagal, nagpapahintay pa." he said while he turned his back on Sheila.
"Kala mo naman kung sinong maganda." he added.
"Hoy!" she shouted.
"Anong sinabi mo?"
"Wala! Tara na late na tayu sa appointment natin." he said.
They then started to head for the club room. Since they are both in the same club, the University Writers Club, the two teamed up to create a good piece since its a must for newbies in the club to create one.
"Anyways, anong magiging genre nang story natin?" she asked.
"Mas gusto kung yung Sci-Fi para mas may thrill yung story." she added.
Brian did not respond to Sheila but started to take some things upon entering the club room. There was nobody there so they just wrote on the Borrowers Book yhe things that they took. Even left unattended, the place is still secure because of the surveillance cameras attached to a corner so if one might take something, the culprit will still be caught.
"Iba yung story natin, kung sa kanila fiction lang na mga love stories ang gagawin. Yung satin, real life na love story." said Brian after a long silence in him.
"At kaninong love story naman? Sayu? Eh wala ngang ka kilig-kilig mga naging relationships mo." Sheila then burst into laughter. She knew Brian ever since grade school so she knows every detail of his life then on.
"Bakit? Sinabi ko bang sakin? Kung makapang asar ka, akala mo naman na nagka boyfriend na." he defended. Brian also knows tat Sheila is not yet allowed to have any relationships. He is also tasked by her parents to check if there's someone taking his moves on her.
"Yung boss ni daddy gusto daw mag share ng love story nya. Si Mr. Franko DelaCruz. He was interested on sharing it nung nagka usap sila ni papa na sumali ako sa Writers Club ng university natin." he said.
They waited for a taxicab outside the campus for their trip. Sheila was now excited for what Brian said. Knowing that Mr. Franko DelaCruz is one of the most handsome guys of his time. She couldnt wait what he has to tell them. He had the looks and the riches to have any woman she likes. Now in his sixties, the man allegedly had his health dropped about a month ago making him hospitalized for a while now.
At last a taxicab haulted in front of them. Brian asked the driver to drive them to St. John's Hospital, one of the best facilities in the country. Its not much of a surprise for a billionaire to be hospitalized in a well known hospital like that. He dont just can afford the bills, he is even one of the top stockholders of the institution.
Upon arrival in front of the hospital, they then headed up for the front desk. The attendant greeted them cheerfully and asked whom will they visit and what's the reason for the visit.
"Uhm, what room is Mr. Franko DelaCruz?"
Brian asked the cheerful attendant who then checked his computer.
"So you must be Mr. Brian Fuentes and Ms. Sheila Sy? Good morning sir, Mr. Franko is expecting you to come."
So they were personally leaded to where Mr. Franko's room is. Needless to say, the two were amazed to the stunning feature of the hospital as it dont look like one. Its more of a five-star hotel building than to be called a hospital. With great chandelier hanging from the ceiling, to the well furnished hallways.
After riding the elevator to the top floor. They then stopped on room 2434. It is said that on the top floor, only the richest man on the country can afford the luxury of being medicated here. Even if that was to be expected, the two cant help themselves from admiring the beautiful display of the hospital. Its more of a paradise to make you feel comfortable than to be worried of the patient.
The attendant, who guided them then held her ID and showed it to a guard securing the entrance of Mr. Franko's room. After a few moments, the guard then opened the door with a keycard inserted with his ID.
Mr. Franko's room is well designed to suit his taste of luxury. It's his own room of the building so whenever he will be hospitalized, this room would be his temporary abode. The room is furnished with maple wood flooring, vases that was auctioned from Los Angeles by Mr. Franko himself a few years back, a small chandelier designed with precious stones and a masterbed with the finest linen cloth. If one is to be hospitalized here, one would rather stay there forever than going outside.
After to what seemed to be eternity, Brian saw an old faced man, with beard shaved to see the full outline of his face, showing the once admired looks in the country, now being pale and lacks joy in life.
He was accompanied by his personal nurse, much more of model than a nurse, she smiled and greeted them. They were then offered a seat. The attendant who guided them excused herself to go back to her post.
Mr. Franko, who was glad to meet the two, helped himself to get up. His hands signaled them to come nearer.
"So you must be Mr. Simon Fuentes' son. Im glad to meet you again young boy." Mr. Franko said.
A sweet smile in his old face is carved in it. Even in his situation, it did not stop him to still have the smile that was naturally in him.
Brian nodded in agreement. He know Mr. Franko very well because he is his fathers employer. Brian's father, as one of the managers close to Mr. Franko, has spent two decades of service in Mr. Franko's firm.
"And whos this beautiful young lady with you? I suppose this is your girlfriend?" Mr. Franko said while drawing a close look at Sheila that is now seated beside Brian. Sheila, who hates being asked like that, never felt like on the hot seat as Mr. Franko had the calmest face in the room.
"Uhm no sir, she is my childhood friend, Sheila. Ms. Sheila Sy. And Im working with her for this story that you will tell us." Brian explained.
Mr. Franko remembered the reason why they're here. He looked at his nurse which understood immediately that Mr. Franko wanted her to leave the room for a while.
After his nurse was gone, he then cleared his throat and started to speak.
" Well, you might think its easy for me to find my love of my life because Im rich. They say, I have the looks to deceive women. But what if I tell you, the one and only woman I falled inlove into does not look at those things. She knows the real meaning of love. And I know I cant have her.
Brian was puzzled to what the old man said. Does he mean, even if others think of him as a successful man, theres still part of him that was a failure. A part of him that he cant fulfill.
Mr. Franko saw that the two was bothered.
"I know its hard to believe a story like this. Thats why I want you to hear this." he said.