Vier watched as the sun rises from the horizon. He was sitting on the beach, waiting for the sun to shine on the island. Yesterday, he asked his people to search for Ellaine but they couldn't find her. Perhaps, today, they'll be more lucky. He just hoped that nothing bad happened to her.
Vier tried to stand up but suddenly fell back. There was suddenly a pounding headache in his head, along with his quickened heart beat. He felt dizzy for a moment and a little bit nauseous. Something about those symptoms made him uneasy. The last time he felt that way was when Yago met with that horrible incident. Could it be that something bad happened to his brother?
"Sir Vier!" from a distance, he could hear a maid in his mansion shouting. "Great news! Miss Ellaine is finally back!"
Vier was stunned. That sure was a good news. He tried to stand up and steadied his footings. With large strides, he followed the maid back into the house. "Ellaine!" he called out. But Ellaine didn't seem to hear him. He was about to call her name again when he suddenly noticed a man standing with Ellaine at the front door. He was chatting happily with his fiancee.
Vier's eyes darkened. Who is he? Why did Ellaine come back with him?
***
"Miss, I have something to report." It was Tiger on the phone. She was at the office when she suddenly receive his call.
"What is it?" she said nonchalantly. "Speak."
"Miss, Mr. Vier dela Vega was injured last night. Someone tried to assassinate him. One bullet entered his body, while another one scratched him in the head."
Arianna's right hand holding a pen in the moment trembled. She let go of the pen and stood up anxiously as her mouth quiver, unable to let out a sound.
"Miss? Are you still there?" she heard Tiger ask.
She struggled to take a deep breath, trying hard to calm her racing heart. "Is that information reliable?" she asked. She was shaking, wishing in her heart that the news wasn't true. It was odd but at the moment, it was like the night when Yago was ambushed was being repeated in her mind. Was it post-traumatic disorder being triggered by the news? Or was she really concern about that man?
"Miss, it's positive. The bullet that entered his left chest was successfully taken out after a few hours of surgery, but he is still unconscious at the moment." Tiger reported calmly.
Left chest? Did the bullet missed his heart? That was Yago's heart. Arianna asked the victim's whereabouts before asking her assistant: Candice, to take her there. She couldn't drive herself with her hands shaking so much and all. It even took her a lot of effort to stand straight and walk after her legs weakened during the phone call. She was dazed the whole journey but her mind was blank. She didn't even know how she get to the hospital. Candice just dragged her until they stopped in front of a room.
"Cousin, this is the room. I'll return to the office first." Candice said as she twist the door knob and pushed Arianna gently into the room. She smiled at her stupefied cousin before turning to leave. She had never seen that expression in Arianna's face before. It looks like someone has finally won her heart. He better not die yet or else her cousin would surely lose her mind.
"Sister in law..." Erica said as she saw the woman coming in. She stood up and hugged Arianna, her eyes swollen perhaps due to crying for a long time. "I'm sorry I wasn't able to inform you. I was shaken up and muddled... "
"How's your brother?" she asked as she patted her shoulder. Erica pulled her to sit and throw a glance at his brother lying unconscious on the hospital bed. An oxygen mask was covering almost half of his face. His forehead was bandaged.
"The doctor said the surgery was a success. But I'm still worried." the girl replied.
"You've been here since last night right? Why don't you go home first and rest? -No, that place isn't safe anymore. Go straight to my place. The security there is way better than your brother's condominium. I'll stay here in your stead." Arianna suggested- or more like ordered, as she fished out her phone and dialled a number. "Tiger, you're near the hospital, right? Escort Erica to the South mansion. Keep her safe."
Erica stared at Arianna as she was talking on the phone. Such a strong and admirable woman. She's still composed and calm at a time like this. Is it because she thinks Vier isn't related to her? She'll never know how much Arianna was panicking inside. How her mind was in great turmoil at the moment. But as Yago taught her in the past, weakness is something you have to hide, until you can't endure it anymore....
After Erica left, Arianna stayed to look after her brother. She sat beside his bed and stared at his face. Is this how Yago looked like after the ambush? Was he also this helpless? She felt pain in her heart the more she look at him. Although she believes that Vier stole Yago's heart, she still want his heart live on. Even if it's to beat for someone else.
Arianna felt her eyes sting. Tears thretened to fall from those orbs but she held them back. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Vier is going to be alright. There's no reason to cry...
When Yago woke up, a white ceiling greeted him. He felt the oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose and took it off as if annoyed by the thing. By the looks of it, he's in a hospital. Great! He survived yet another assassination. His luck is not that bad, he thought. He tried getting up but his left chest suddenly hurt. He felt his head and his chest and suddenly heaved a sigh of relief. Those stupid snipers aimed at his head, and also at his heart, but both missed. How lucky is that?
He smiled at the thought, but it froze instantly as he turn to his left. Arianna was sleeping on the armchair next to his bed. Her head leaning towards him. She looked uncomfortable sleeping sitting up. He reached out to touch her hair, but she sensed it instantly and opened her eyes, astounded.
"You're awake!",she exclaimed.
"Yes. Thanks for staying with me." he answered.
Arianna was silent for a while, before her relax expression changed into that one of irritation. "You almost got killed, you know why?" she asked, staring straight into his eyes. "Because you're stupid. Why would you expose yourself like that when you know your life is under great threat? Are you really Yago's brother? Why are you so dumb? You can't even protect yourself!"
Yago was flabbergasted. The sudden scolding took him by surprise. He felt a little ashamed as he was Yago himself, but he had been very careless this time. It really didn't feel like he was himself at all.
"If it was Yago lying here injured, would you say the same thing?" he teased her.
Arianna thought for a while before giving her reply. "Of course not." she answered. "If Yago was as careless as you, I've been long dead already." Yago was the reason she's alive and well. The security he put around her was very excellent. She believe that the only reason he was assassinated that night was because he let it happen as Tiger told her. He tried luring the cicada out not knowing the Oriole was behind.
Yago smiled awkwardly. Indeed his own security this time was lax. It's a good thing the men he assigned to protect Arianna was the best among his men. Lying on the bed injured, is better than watching Arianna occupy this bed herself.
"Don't smile like that just because you survived." she continued scolding him. "You owe Yago that heart. You must keep it alive! You almost got it pierced by a bullet last night!" she added as she pointed a finger at his chest.
"Yes. I promise." he replied with a nod. "This heart is Yago's.... and yours as well. I swear I'll be more careful next time. I'll keep this heart safe for you." he assured her with a sweet smile.
Arianna blinked twice as she pondered upon his words. Why does it feel like something was off about those sentences?