Belinda unwound herself from Juan's arms and got up from the bed. She walked towards the bathroom and closed the door. She looked in the mirror above the sink and saw a stranger before her. Oh, she was still Belinda but she wasn't Belinda. So much had changed in such a short amount of time. She came here to teach, to help teachers be better teachers.She came here to, maybe, learn what had happened to her father. BUT THIS? THIS was NOT what she expected. NOT AT ALL! She was not at all who she thought she was...well, at least half of her wasn't.
"Stop this nonsense! " Belinda looked around the bathroom for someone. Was there someone hiding."REALLY RIGHT NOW!" the voice lectured her. "You forgot me.so quickly! and I even saved your sorry a...!" Belinda closed her eyes. Of course, her wolf. "Sorry...I am new at all.this. I forget I am not just me..."
"We ARE YOU, DUMMY!" the voice said. "Look wolfie, I am not accustomed to THIS...ALL OF THIS... YOU...JUAN...MY SO CALLED FATHER..." she tightened her eyes shut. She breathed in....she breathed out... in...out...
"Belinda? Are you ok? Do I need to.come in there? Your heart rate...your brwatjing...Belinda?" Juan was at the bathroom door sounding a bit panicked.
"I...I..I am...I am alright.Just a bit overwhelmed..." Belinda realized she was shaking and hyperventilating. Juan broke down the door and rushed to grab her before she passed out again. He scooped her up and carried her back to the bed. He gently put her down and climbed into bed with her, holding her while her breathing stablized. He hummed to her and she fell asleep.
Juan did not move. He was afraid to wake her.He wanted her mind to rest. Maybe if she rested well (and she would rest best in his arms), when she woke she would be able to process all that she had experienced better. He knew it was a lot and could kill her father for adding to it by dumping his identity on her. And yet he also understood. After all Smith had taken a lot of time and energy to recruit his long lost daughter here. He supposed that the old man just couldn't wait any longer. Juan chuckled to himself as he was sure her reaction was not what he had hoped. She fainted for Goddess' sake! Juan snuggled her closer and she, adorably, purred and snuggled deeper into him. He was most content right here. Now if he could just get her to accept him 100%. He knew that before she did that, she would have to understand herself for who she truly was. All parts of herself.
Juan fell asleep beside Belinda. When he woke she was still soundly sleeping. It was dark out. The lamp bear the bed had been turned on. He looked around the room. Standing at the window was Smith. The old man was starting out the window lost in his own thoughts. Juan just held Belinda and closed his eyes again.
"I know you area wake, son. Enjoying holding my daughter?" Smith chuckled and turned around to look into Juan's eyes. Juan smiled and took a deep breath in while holding Belinda even closer to him. She stirred, mumbled his name and snuggled into him. Juan smiled deeply and Smith sighed. "Before I even had her I lost her yet again." Smith walked to the door. "I will be downstairs whenever she awakens." He left the room. Juan looked down at the sleeping woman in his arms. "Belinda?" "Hmmm."
"Belinda?" "5 more minutes, ok?" He smiled again..how adorable she is.
5 minutes later Juan shook zbelindaxs shoulder and called her name, "Belinda."
"Ok. Ok. I am awake." She sat up, rubbed her eyes and stretched. She opened her eyes and gasped! "What? Where? What?"
She turned and saw Juan laying there smiling at her, "You?"
"Yes...it's me. How do you feel after a good rest?"
Belinda closed her eyes...took a deep breath in...then slid to the end of the bed and stood up.She straightened her t-shirt and turned around to face him. "Umm. I feel.better. Thank you. Do you happen to have any clothes I could wear?"
"I think you look stunning in that t-shirt." She rolled her eyes at him "Yes, I will have clothes brought to you. Go shower. Your father is downstairs waiting to speak with you...with us." She nodded and walked into the bathroom. There was no door so she just turned on the shower and stepped in closing the shower curtain and stripped of the now wet t-shirt. She showered and turned off the water and reached to grab a towel. Someone handed one to her...she froze.
"Hello? Who is there?" she said.
"It is me, ma'am.Elma. I brought you clothes."
"Oh. Thank you, Elma you said?" Belinda asked to clarify she had heard correctly.
"Yes, Ma'am. How may I help you?"
"You have already, Elma. Thank you for the towel and the clothes."
"Sir provided the clothes but told me.to bring them to you." Elma said.
"Thank you."Belinda said. "Elma, what language do you speak?"
"I speak some English, ma'am and Visayan, as do most here."
"Thank you." Belinda stepped out dressed. "Oh Ma'am, you are so beautiful." Belinda blushed.
Belinda went downstairs. Juan was waiting for her. They both entered the sitting room again together. Her "father" was sitting in the same chair as before. This time Belinda chose to sit with Juan on the sofa. She was holding his hand tightly. Juan chuckled and Belinda blushed but did not let go. In this new , crazy world he felt the safest. Juan was glad.
"Mr. Smith, " Belinda began. "Dad. I am your Dad." Belinda took a big breath and slowly released it. Juan was rubbing the back of her hand in small circles and while it did emit sparks, it also oddly calmed her. "Well, how do I know you are my father? hmm? What proof do you have?" Juan cocked his eyebrow at Belinda and sighed. "Belinda, " Juan began. "No, Juan. I want to hear from him." pointing with her other hand towards Mr. Smith.
"Belinda, what do you need to hear from me to prove I am who I say I am. That I met you mother while in college...that I fell madly in love...that she rejected me once she knew the truth..that I fled back here to recuperate and never could face her again??"
"What? Mother knows?"
"She ... she never told you? You never knew? I thought when you applied to come here it eas because you knew...you didn't know?"
Juan was shaking his head no. Smith sighed. He held his head with both hands. His shoulders began to shake. Was he crying? Belinda looked at the older man and then let go of Juan's hand and walked over to the chair. She knelt before him and took his hands in hers and held them. The older man was indeed weeping. "She never told you." he was nearly whispering. Juan rose and put his hand on Belinda's shoulder to.encourage her. She looked up at Juan then back at the older man before her. "Dad?" she said quietly. He held his breath for a moment and then slowly lifted his head to look at Belinda. His eyes were wide and filled with more tears. He pulled his hands out of hers and reached out to embrace her. "I have waited all your life to hold you. I knew when you were born. I felt your mother in labor. I wanted to come to you both but she had made it clear she would not accept me. I didn't want to cause her pain. I hid here. I told everyine at the University I was doing research. I still check in as a researcher each year. But I could never bring myself to return. I didn't want to hurt her...or you. I...I..." he broke down sobbing again. Belinda hugged him back. She believed him. For some reason, she believed him.