Monica
Attention
The sound of a ticking monitor.
"We're losing her! We need more blood!"
I can't see the clouds anymore.
"Page the relative and inform them that we need more blood!"
I was at the mall parking earlier but this place is different.
"Stay with us, Miss Carluccio. You can't die."
I closed my eyes because of the throbbing pain in my sides. Little did I know where I am but all I could think of right now is to sleep. I can't feel my body anymore and I'm in no control. I can't talk nor I can't move.
I don't know how much sleep I had but I was in another room again. All white and quiet. The cold from somewhere hits my bare skin. I moved my fingers just to check if I have control of my body again. I can feel it. I fully opened my eyes but all I can see are blurry things.
"I will take her to Manila. Sa akin siya titira. We didn't know if she's still safe here."
"Matteo, you know how dangerous it is to move back to Manila for her. Mas delikado pa kaysa dito na dalawa tayong nagpoprotekta sa kanya-"
"But we can't protect her! She's lying helplessly in that fucking bed! Unconscious. We went too easy for her and they took advantage of it."
"We were too busy to even care about her. What kind of protector are we if we left her side? We know how stubborn she is."
"Francis, I can't lose her. I made my promise to Uncle Massimo."
"We all did. And we will keep that until she's safe."
Are they still fighting over me? I thought they were in Manila?
They noticed that I was conscious already. My cousin hurriedly called the doctor and came back with five healthcare providers. They checked my vital signs, my movements, my speech, and everything. Francis insisted to check it twice so they all did.
"She's all normal. We just have to be careful with her sides as it is not yet fully healed. The nurses will visit her every day to change her dressing." The doctor said.
"Thank you, doctor."
"Thank you, doctor."
When the doctor left my room, Matteo immediately came to me and kissed my forehead. Stroked my hair again and again while talking. I squinted because his face was so close to mine.
"I'm so sorry, Monica. I shouldn't have left you. If I know that this will happen to you, I shouldn't have left." He apologized.
"I would be willing to quit my job to be with you,"
I pushed his chest with all my might and made him back out. My sides begin to hurt because of that so I twitched. Francis attended to me when he noticed that I'd like to sit up. He pressed a button on the remote to make my bed into an obtuse angle.
"Are you crazy? Your job provided your lifestyle. You can't just quit it because of me."
"But you shouldn't go without anyone on your side! Carter was on his day off and you should have brought another bodyguard with you! And who told you to drive by yourself?" He nagged off.
"Matteo, I am not eighteen years old anymore. I can go to whatever place I want. I can drive whenever I want. And I don't need a bodyguard."
"Look what happened to you. Look at yourself! This could not have happened if you listened! You are so stubborn. The surgeons risked everything just to save you!"
"If you're going to nag your anger at me, please. I just woke up. I've had enough shit. I know what I have done and I cannot undo it. So if you will not stop, nag your bullshit outside this room."
I turned my face away from him. I got annoyed by his nuisance. I heard his phone ringing so I turned to him again. He sighed and brushed his hair before turning to Francis. He looked tired and frustrated by the caller.
"It's the court. I have to answer this." He said to Francis.
"Go. I'll take care of her." Francis said.
"Thank you," my cousin patted Francis' shoulder before leaving the room.
As soon as the door closes, I sighed. My side aches again so I touched it with my free hand. The doctor said that the stab was too deep and it damaged my spleen and I lost a lot of blood during the surgery. They had to get some blood from Matteo and luckily, we have the same blood type. They closed my spleen first before transfusing Matteo's blood into my body. I survived the surgery and didn't have any post effect so I was immediately transferred to a private room like this.
Francis dragged the monoblock chair and placed it beside my bed. He sat down and sighed, then looked at me. I can't read his expression but his eyes were soft.
"Why did you leave the house?" He carefully asked.
Is he mad like my cousin? Should I answer that question or it will just make him angry even more?
"Do I really have to tell you everything I do? I just want to go shopping." I said.
"Why did you leave without anyone with you? I specifically said that you shouldn't leave the house unaccompanied, right?" He was still calm.
If I answer his question, we will just keep repeating it and maybe that will cause a fight. I already fought with my cousin and I am tired of it.
"What about you? Why did you leave the house without informing me? You left me lying on your bed alone. And when I woke up, you're gone." I changed the subject.
There's something that happened between us the night before the accident, the second time we became intimate again. It was wonderful and I felt comfortable doing that again with him, unlike the first time. I dreamt of waking up with him beside me or staring at me and waiting for me to open my eyes. But he left.
He held my hands that were on my lap.
"I'm sorry. Something came up in the office and I have to be there."
"You should have informed me. Write a letter or something. I don't even have your number so I can't reach you."
"I know and I'm sorry. It will not happen again. I will put my number in your phone next time."
This is wrong. Then and now, this is wrong. I shouldn't have let myself simp over him. Look what had happened. I should stop this desire.
Besides, I am married.
I don't want to be called a cheater.
"Do you realise that there's something that happened between us? We just had sex, not once but twice and it was so wonderful. I can't believe that we did that. I can't believe that I threw myself on you." I said.
We started as friends until we became enemies since he betrayed me. And now... we had sex. Just wow. Looked at how it turned out. But it has to stop.
"What happened between us-" I cut him off.
"are null and void. We should forget about it and that will never happen again."
He stopped caressing my knuckles. Stopped all his movement and avoided my eyes.
He slowly withdrew his hold on my hands. He created a small distance between us by leaning backwards. Finally, he looked at me.
"You want to forget what's happened that night?" He asked.
"Yes. That's the right thing to do." I said.
It was as if I felt a pain in my chest when I said those words. The answer to his question.
"So, all of that is not true?" He asked again.
"We are just carried away by the influence of the alcohol. Our actions are not clear and we lost control-" he cuts me off this time.
"We did it twice, Monica. The first time, you were right. We got the influence of alcohol and that's the right excuse for it. But the second time that we did it... there is no alcohol involved. Our actions were both clear and we both knew what we did."
He was right. I cannot deny the second time.
I don't want to deny it. I just want to forget about it because it should never happen.
We shouldn't go any further.
We were interrupted when my cousin entered my room with a weary face.
He closed the door and sighed deeply, "it's a call from the court." He said.
"Why are they calling you?" Francis asked my cousin. He turned to him and changed the direction of his attention. Not to me anymore.
"They need me in Manila again. Today is the second trial of my client. I just rushed going here because of Monica, I was so worried. I forgot about my work."
He just made me an excuse.
"You should go. I'll take everything in my hand from here. You need not worry." Francis spoke again. I looked at my cousin since he was staring at me.
"Go. Don't even think of staying just because of me." I turned away.
I don't want him to think of me and forget about his work. His job is as important to his clients. He is their hope and tool for justice. And I am just a spoiled brat and a stubborn woman who gives them headaches. He shouldn't put me first.
"I owe you a lot, brother. I will be back once I finished this." I heard him say.
"I will come back, Monica. I'm sorry to leave you again." I felt his presence beside me and he kissed my temple.
The door closes signifying Matteo's departure from this room.
A couple of days passed after staying in the hospital since my accident. I finally got to leave and go home but I am accompanied by Carter and Francis from my behind while waiting for the car. Francis forbids me from going alone again whenever I please to go. I am not to leave the house without a chaperone or if Carter is not with me. The security in the house was tripled and there are a lot of tension in the house when we arrived.
"Clearly, your killer knows where you're staying so I added more guards in the house. You don't need to worry since Carter and I are here. But you are not to leave the house unchaperoned anymore." Francis' litany while entering the main door.
He really went back to being strict and tight on me. I feel like he closes himself on me since I told him those words.
I don't know anymore how to approach him.
"Yes, Mr Rodriguez. I understand." I said.
He stopped walking and faced me.
"Francis will do,"
He walked away after.
He turned cold again. I stared at him while he walked up the stairs to his office. He was greeted by the maids but he didn't even look at them. His attention cannot be bent on others.
I was called by one of the maids for breakfast. Francis was also there and barely eating. His focus is on his laptop beside the plate of his food. Even at the dining table, he is doing work. His breakfast became work.
I sighed heavily before putting my spoon and fork down. "I would like to go out in the town," I said to break the silence.
"Yeah whatever you want. Just go with Carter." He said coldly.
"Are you not going to ask me for my reason?" I asked.
It's just absurd that he's not interrogating me whenever I want to go out of the house. Is he not worried? Didn't he care about my agendas? Is he not curious at all?
I received no answer from him and he just drank his semi-cold coffee while looking straight at his laptop.
I was ignored at the dining table the whole breakfast. It vexed me that it seems like I was craving his attention. It's been two days since the accident and he did not talk to me for at least a sentence. If I will not initiate a conversation, he will not talk. He will answer my questions but that's all. Nothing more. He's returning to his cold treatment towards me.
"I think that it's not a good idea to go out in the town, signorina. Your killer might still be on a hunt for you. It's better if you will just stay home." Carter keeps convincing me while climbing up the stairs towards my bedroom.
"I will be dead by nightfall if I choose to stay inside this house,"
I opened my door. Since Carter is not allowed to enter inside, he stopped. It's not really a big deal for me to invite a man to my room. Unless we're going to do something. But he's always standing at my door, waiting for me to come out or order him around. I just want him to rest or at least take a seat.
"You can come in, Carter. Please seat on the sofa. You've been standing forever." I said.
"I'm okay, signorina. I don't need to seat. I'll just stay here in case you need me." He turned down my offer and just fixed his stand beside my door.
That day, I went out in town with Carter. Everywhere I go, he stays behind me. Nothing unusual happened. I went shopping, had coffee, and ate lunch and dinner with Carter. And of course, I did not pay for everything. Carter did, he insisted.
Another day passed and I am bored to death. Holding my phone and checking my social media while sitting lazily on the couch here in the living room. The maids had prepared for me some snacks and refreshments to keep me full. I was so lazy to even drink the juice they gave me.
While on my phone, I saw Francis hurriedly stepping down the stairs. I got up straight and asked him.
"Where are you going?"
He stopped halfway when he almost reached the main door. He turned to me.
"Heading out," is his simple answer.
"To where, exactly?"
His fit for today is casual and cool. I can sense that it's not a business matter.
"Do I really need to tell you my plans for the day?" He asked coldly.
"No, I just- I just want to know what time you will be home? Or are you going to Manila? Do I need to wait for you?" I don't know if those are the real questions I should be asking him. I can even answer that on my own.
He took three steps in my direction and look at me intently.
"My whereabouts are none of your business,"
He then left me hanging.
Why is he so cold towards me?
Ever since the accidents had happened, he changed. His warm treatments on me came back to being cold and rude.
He wants me to not care about his business so that's what I will do. I changed my clothes and asked Carter to be with me because I want to go to the mall. I want to spend my husband's money on something, useless perhaps.
Francis left his Bentley. Since the Range Rover was burned and crushed due to my accident, he bought another one. So I can use this as well. Carter is driving this car and we are now heading to the mall I told him about. He received a call so he put on his Bluetooth earphone and answered the call.
"We're going to the mall today according to signorina's wishes," I heard him say.
Who's that?
"I also sent a message to Sir Francis. He didn't say anything about it though." He said as an answer to the caller.
He continued listening to the caller and I am not understanding anything about their conversation. I don't know the flow of their dialogue so I just let them. I looked outside from the window and observed the passing trees and houses as we were accelerating.
"When is that?" Carter's tone begins to be more serious.
He stopped the car at the empty side so I started to be curious.
"Why did you stop?" I asked.
"Understood. We're on our way." Carter put down his earphone and ended the call.
He didn't answer me!
"Why did we stop, Carter?" I asked again.
I received no answer from him but I saw him manoeuvered the wheel and the car moves again.
"Why are we turning around?"
He took an illegal u-turn and changed his lane. His driving speed increases so my back hit the backrest of the chair.
"What is happening, Carter? Why are we turning around? I didn't ask you for different directions!" I burst frustratingly.
"I'm so sorry, signorina. We have to go back." He said while focusing his eyes on the road.
"What? What? What happened? Am I in danger again? Is someone following us?" I asked one question after another.
"Shit!" He cursed when we almost hit the public jeep.
"Can you please slow down? We almost hit them!"
He didn't listen to me and just focused on his driving. We are far from the house right now and it will take ten more minutes before we could arrive, as per his speed of driving.
"You are on the news, signorina. About your accident."
I stopped thinking for a moment. I sank into the information that Carter has said and hurriedly opened my phone to check. My hands are shaking and I feel like my whole world had crashed. I am all over the news about my recent accident both local and international. I took a while on checking everything from the published magazines and newspapers and even on the internet. I could see my face in there!
'Heiress of Carluccio's, stabbed publicly'
'Monica Carluccio, received a tragic accident. Stabbed and unconscious.'
'The Italian heiress on the mall parking lot'
'Mistery of Monica Carluccio's accident'
Those were some of the headlines I have read about me. My head aches every time I tried to read about them. How could this happen?
My phone dropped because of my unsteady hands. They were shaking.
Nonno shouldn't know.
Carter grunts that made me turn my attention to him. I saw that we arrived at the lane going to the main gate of the mansion but he didn't continue.
"What now?" I stuttered.
"There are a lot of reporters at the gate, signorina. We can't pass through."
Carter was right. The reporters are interrogating the security guards from the outside of the gate. They wanted to go inside the mansion, that's for sure. And they want to question me, I am certain of that.
"Can you come closer to them? Just get close and be discreet." I ordered Carter to move the car.
He did it and we are now a meter away from the commotion. I lowered my window just enough for me to hear all of them.
"We just want to interview Monica Carluccio. We have to cover her accident!"
"We have a lot of questions for her and we know she's in there,"
"Have some decency! Signora Monica is not here! Leave before we fire a gun and call the police." I heard a security guard shout.
Almost all of them are guarding the house and have gathered in front of the gate to stop the forces of reporters. Some guns were aimed at while they were being talked to.
"Stop lying. We know she's there."
"Monica Carluccio! We are from the ABC News! We just wanted to ask you some questions!" One of them yelled as if I was really inside the mansion.
One of them turned my way and I don't know if they saw me or not. I closed the car's window immediately and since it is tinted, they cannot see me. She talked to the others and all of them turned in my direction. And now they are running to get close to the car.
Flashes of cameras slipped through the glass windows that blinded me for a moment. There were murmurs and I can't understand what they were saying. Camera flashes and talks at the same time.
I covered my face with my hands to protect myself from the flashes.
"Go now!" I hissed.
"Where do you want us to go?"
"Anywhere! Anywhere away from this!" I yelled.