Without thinking of anything but my father and how bad his condition is, I promptly head to the dresser, grab my purse and car key. When I looked back, Gabriel was no longer at the door. I didn't even see him in the hallway as I made my way towards the stairs and hurriedly ran to the door.
I had no time to think where he might have gone, I cared less. All I am concerned about now was my father's welfare. I was about to open my car when I heard a voice behind me.
"We'll be taking this."
My head automatically looked back only to find Gabriel standing beside one of his extravagant and luxurious cars. The back doors were already opened, so was his driver waiting patiently inside the driver's seat.
I don't have any time to argue with him, even if I don't really intend to bring him along with me, I didn't think twice of his offer. I moved at a rapid pace and got inside the back seat as he also did at the other side.
"Where to, Sir?" The driver spoke after starting the engine.
"St. Dominic Hospital. Make other routes to escape the traffic" He spilled the words on my behalf.
My mind was in total chaos that I didn't bother to ask him how he knew where my parents were. I just sit still and look outside the window as we head out the gate.
'Please Lord, don't let anything bad happen to my father. I don't know how we can deal with it, especially my mom, if ever. Make him well. Save him please.'
While on the road, I continued wiping my eyes as my tears seemed never ending. Though I have a grudge against them for hiding to me the truth about the money, I still love them both so much. They are all that I got in this world and losing any of them will totally tear me apart.
"Dad… Don't stop fighting… I'll be there with you soon…" I murmured softly underneath my breath.
All my life, my father taught me to be brave at all times, to never give up on what I believe in because wishes do come true at its proper timing, and not to buckle under strains and adversities. He taught me that and I kept it inside my heart for as long as I could remember. But now that I am facing one of the most difficult times in my life, knowing the one at stake was the person who taught me to fight, I couldn't help but to be shaken. I have never been this frightened all my life. Never, not until now.
As memories of my father and I during my childhood flashes back in my mind, I felt something warm touch my hand. Slowly, I moved my head to see what it was, only to get shocked upon seeing Gabriel's hand on top of mine.
"Everything will be alright. Don't lose faith" He whispered gently without removing his gaze ahead of him.
What I heard made me blink, not just once, but sequentially. I couldn't believe what I just heard. I must be out of my mind with all the emotions I am feeling at the moment.
'Did he really say that? Did it really come from him? From the mouth of a highly arrogant Gabriel Levine? It's impossible for him to say such gentle and sincere words. My ears must be playing tricks on me.'
"Excuse me?"
"I already called the hospital while waiting for you at the garage. I told them to have your father be assisted with the best doctors the hospital has."
I stared at him in stunned silence as I tried to repeat what he just said inside my head.
"But why?"
The words came out stupidly even before I could refrain them from coming out. He gazed back at me with troubled eyes, forehead creasing at the stupidity of my question.
"Why? I am still human and I still have a heart though I seldom used it. And besides, your father is still my legal father-in-law."
***
GABRIEL
I don't know what's gotten into me the minute I saw the amount of pain and fear in her eyes after that phone call she'd received. I have never seen her that afraid and that fragile. Like she was a delicately rare piece of art, a priceless masterpiece, that cannot be touched by just anyone for she might get ruined if handled wrongly.
Something inside of me got stirred with the sight of her tears. Something unexpected happened inside of me when I heard her fear that somehow shaken my tower of defense. I knew what it was.
I tried not to get affected by the sight of her, to stick on who I forced myself to be for years and to not let myself crack. But that part of me, the old me, is somewhat prevailing at some point.
Part of me wants to cage her in my arms and soothe her fears away, to remove her worries and brush off her tears. There's a portion inside of me that wants to be the shoulder she could cry on during this tough time of her life. That old version of me wanted to be there for her. But, a much deeper part of me reminds me of who she was, of what she did to me years ago and how she ruined my life that made it too difficult for me to restart and rebuild myself. This new version shoveled into my face all the pain she had caused me. He slapped me with the reality of how hard I had to deal with several therapists in years just to recover myself. That is why I am now torn between being a human or being a villain.
The moment the car stopped, we swiftly headed to the ER and saw her mother sitting alone and waiting silently in tears. Angelou quickly sprints towards her.
"Mom!" They hugged, both in agonizing tears as they cling to each other for strength. "What happened, Mom? What did the doctors say? Any news from them about Dad's condition?"
"No updates yet" Cecille managed to say after wiping her daughter's teary eyes.
"How did it happen, Mom? Who shot him? And why?"
"He called me earlier this morning, saying that he will head to the bank to withdraw the money. I told him to wait for me so I could accompany him, but he insisted that he could manage it on his own. He told me he would go home for lunch, after dropping the money at his office, but he didn't come back" She paused exhaustedly, wiping her own tears that continuously streamed down her cheeks. I listened intently to her. "I called him several times, but he wasn't answering his phone. Until I received a phone call from one of the nurses here, stating that your father was rushed here because of several gunshot wounds."
"Oh my God… No" Angelou stammered.
The moment I saw how Angelou's legs began to wobble as her standing became unstable, I rushed towards her without second thoughts. I steadied her in my arms with only one thing in mind… She needed help.