Forty Nine

I approached Winter.
“Go home first. I'll take care of Gianna until she wakes up. I'll call you right away." I told them.
They nodded and walked out of the hospital. I approached Lance as well.
“Go home too. I know Laila is looking for you there. I'll just call." I said.
"Are you sure?" he asked me.
After Aldo left, my phone rang, and Bianca called. Scared attacked me. I don’t know what to say. Will I admit to her that Gianna was shot and is in the hospital right now? I went inside her room to accompany her. I decided to just answer the call.
"Hello, how's Gianna's condition? Oh my God! "I don't know what to do when something bad happens to her," said Bianca on the other line, which caused me to frown. I heard Bettina cry, and Darius comforted her.

"I did everything to catch the suspect, and Gianna is safe. The bullet that hit her in the back has been removed, but she hasn't woken up yet. " My answer.
"Did she got fight there that’s why she’s been shot?" Darius asked.
 
I didn't say anything, so Bianca answered her husband's question.
 
"My nephew's attitude is kind, Darius, so I can’t even imagine she was shot," said Bianca, crying.
 
"All right, just call here again when Gianna wakes up. I'll comfort Bianca first because she's so worried that she's planning to go home to the Philippines," Said Darius.
 
"All right." I said as I hung up the phone.
 
I approached Gianna and touched her face. She is still beautiful, even while wearing an oxygen mask. I hope she wakes up soon because I can’t bear see her in this condition. I don't know why they still doing this to Gianna, but I'm here. They can shoot me instead.
 
I sat down next to her and held her left hand. And then my phone rang. I looked at it and saw Darius calling.
 
"Hello, Darius. How's Bianca? " I will ask.
 
"She's already asleep. It's good that I talked to her in depth. " Darius replied.
 “Wait a minute. How did Bianca find out what happened to Gianna? I didn't call right away because I wanted to think first about what to say to her so she wouldn't panic. " I said.
"Your ex-wife Natasha called her." Darius replied.
My forehead furrowed.
"Will the two of them meet or know each other?" I will ask.
"I don't know, Marcus, Bianca didn't mention that to me either. I just accidentally overheard the two of them talking. And they seemed to be fighting. I was so curious to ask what the two of them had in common. But I respect Bianca's silence. But I felt something weird, as if I was right that they were related to each other, "said Darius.
"What about Gianna's parents did you know?" I also asked.
"No, Marcus. In the past, I didn't like to ask because I valued Bianca's privacy. She has the right to keep personal things. But now I am so curious. " said Darius.
"All right, rest there. I'll let you know if I find anything, "said Darius once hung up phone.
I sighed.
Gianna told me that Bianca used to be her mother's sister. It's possible it's Natasha. I was not asked if her mother and Bianca were the only sisters or if there were others. If my suspicion is true, I will not accept.
No way! I admit I'm not the first man in Bianca's life. I accepted her past because I loved her so much back then. But when my suspicions are so true, I would be better off drowning in my seat right now. What a twist of fate just in case. I'm in love with my ex-wife's daughter, who is the half sister of my children. It would be better to just get shot than to find out that the things I thought were true.
 
Three months have passed, but Gianna still hasn't woken up. And Bianca and Darius have returned to the Philippines because they are very worried.
 
I stayed in the hospital because I wanted to be the first person Aurora saw when she awoke.
 
"What did the doctor say?" Darius asked me.
 “Gianna is okay. Her body is responding to the medications. We'll just have to wait for her to wake up. " I reply to Darius.
“Go home first and get some sleep. We're here, "said Darius.
I shook. I'm just stay here, Darius. I want Gianna to wake up, so I'm the first one she sees." my answer.
"We understand you, but we also don't want you to get sick," said Darius.
I just nodded and walked out of the hospital and got into my car. When I got home, I found Natasha sitting in the living room. My forehead furrowed. Didn't this woman go home? I think this house has been turned into her house. It looked at me.
"I didn't know you could sacrifice yourself for that woman," She says.
My forehead furrowed.
“You're really crazy. I didn't know that you would fall in love with a woman like her. Poor you, Marcus. You're rich and a billionaire, but you're not attracted to anyone. The woman you love won't like you. How will she feel when she finds out the truth?” said Natasha, causing my forehead to frown.
I did not speak. I just let her speak. But Natasha also fell silent, as if something unexpected came out of her mouth.
"Go on, Natasha, why don't you continue what you're saying?" I said.
“Are you still going to stop when I'm so curious? What does Gianna really know? "
Natasha leaned back on the couch and continued speaking.
"Gianna is my daughter, to my first love." Natasha said, as if she just didn't care what happened. It was as if she was just telling a story about what happened to her neighbor. But for me, that had a huge impact. It was as if I were deaf to what I heard. I wouldn’t be like this today if nothing happened to Gianna and me, plus the fact that we had a one-night stand. So this woman had the guts to abandon a child because she married me? How did it manage to darken such a thing? Natasha laughed.
“Why you keep quiet suddenly Marcus? You didn't think you would know my secret? You fell in love with your wife's daughter and your children's half sister," said Natasha to me.
“What a shame!”
I laugh at the reason to stop Natasha from laughing.
“What's wrong with that? And one more thing: I want to tell you that we've been separated for a long time, so I'm no longer your husband and you’re no longer my wife. And as for how I feel about your daughter, there's nothing wrong with that. As long as she is not my son, there is nothing wrong with that." I said.
And Natasha was stunned and suddenly laughed, which echoed throughout the house.
“Is that so? You're okay, but what about Gianna? I know she won't love you when she finds out the truth because family is more important to her." said Natasha, causing me to worry.
“That's why I didn't feel the slightest bit of pity for you, because you're a demon," said Harley, as it suddenly appeared in front of us.
Natasha suddenly fell silent.
“It's a good thing no one inherited your behavior from one of us. If I only knew your past, I would have preferred not to have life. You took good care of me, but you still have a child who suffered because of your action. If not, I hope if you’re not ready to get pregnant don’t be get involve to a man, "said Winter and turned to Natasha.
"You know, our life was peaceful when you left, but when you came back it was chaotic. Maybe you can just leave again. I wouldn't be surprised if you were involved in planning to shoot Gianna."
And I noticed Natasha's eyes widen.
“What are you saying, Winter? You have no right to accuse me of a sin I didn't commit. even if you turn the world upside down. I'm still your mother," said Natasha, whimpering in anger.
"I hope you didn't just become my a child because you're ungrateful!" Natasha shouted.
"I wish you hadn't been my mother!" she shouted too.
"Because if you really loved us as your children, you wouldn't have left us." said Winter.
It all came out that Winter was upset with Natasha because of the hurts and sadness she had hidden it a few years ago.
“Is this the habit you taught to our children, Marcus? Look at her. She is disrespectful not to even respect me as her mother! " Natasha shouted out of anger.

Winter suddenly left without warning, and I followed her too. Natasha was left irritated with annoyance. My brain is divided now. I want to believe that Gianna is Natasha's child, but my heart refuses to accept it. I don’t know what really happened in Natasha’s past, but in her dealings with her, it seems like she is not her child. And now she will suddenly admit to me that Gianna is her daughter.

I saw Winter's car leaving the house. I followed her driving away from the house. I don’t want to be with Natasha somewhere. Luca texted me saying that Winter and Timothy were at her house. I already knew what they were going to talk about. I entered Luca house and found the three of them sitting in the living room. When I entered, the three of them looked at me with sadness in their eyes.
"How did that happen, dad? It's not that we dislike Gianna as our sister, but you love her so much, "said Luca.
"Luca, there's nothing I can do. I won't push the complicated thing.” My answer:
“It's that woman's fault. If we can still choose who can be our mother, we've already done it, "said Luca.
“Everything will be alright. No one is to blame for what happened. We are victims of time and circumstances.” I said.
"How's Gianna?" Luca asked.
"She hasn't woken up yet. I don't know what her reaction will be when she finds out her mother is Natasha. " I said.
"Who would be happy then, dad?" said Winter
"She will probably be hurt, and we will still be affected. I can't accept she being mad at me because she might think her mother abandoned her and came to us, "said Winter.
"You're grown up, so I'm sure she won't react like that, just in case." was my answer.
"I'm worried, dad; it's been five months and she hasn't woken up," Luca said.
"Let's not lose hope. I know Gianna will wake up." I said.
As far as I know, I don't want to approach Gianna anymore. because I suddenly woke up to my illusion.
I slowly opened my eyes. simultaneously with the movement of my hand and foot. My eyes roam around and saw my aunt staring at me. My aunt's eyes widened when she saw me awake.
“Oh my God, Gianna! You're awake. Thank God, "said my aunt.
And then the doctor came up to me and he removed my oxygen mask. And he asked me.
"How do you feel? Are you in pain?" the male doctor asked me.
“My back was just aching, but aside from that, it's gone, Doctor." was my answer.
"All right," said the doctor once out the door.
"Are you hungry yet, Sweetheart?" my aunt asked me.
I shook. "I just want to drink some water, Aunt." was my answer.
I wanted to see someone, but I don't think he went to the hospital here.
I drank the water my aunt gave me.
“Marcus has been watching over you since you were shot, so we sent him home when we came from Los Angeles because he doesn't have a good night's sleep."said my aunt.
As if she knew what I wanted to say.
"Do you want me to call him and send him here?" asked my aunt.
I nodded. My aunt left and went out of the room.
Bianca called to tell me Gianna was awake and she want to come and see her. I'm glad she woke up. But I felt like I was afraid to face her and embarrassed after I found out about Natasha’s revelation. I just told Bianca that I would go, but only later because I'm still busy now. I also told Harley that Gianna was awake, so they went to the hospital now.
I immediately turned to the door of my private room when it opened. Maybe Marcus came, but the faces of Winter and Pia opened up to me. They were both crying while looking at me.
“Girls, I'm alive. So you don't have to cry there. " I joke with them.
“Crazy, you scared us too much, but you still managed to make fun of us like that? You slept for five months. Who would be happy then? "said Winter.
“Have you eaten yet? We can buy you food, "said Pia.
"No need. I just finished eating. "My answer
"Daddy will visit later," said Harley.
I don't know why my view about Marcus changed. Was it because of the bullet hit at me? I noticed that I was looking for him. I felt that I missed him terribly. But why do I feel like he's avoiding me? Because Pia and Geoff have left.

Then Lance and Laila visited me as well as Thompson, and he still didn’t came. Now I feel like it hurts to be ignored. Maybe it was jealousy because I brought Harry to his birthday before I got to the hospital. I can go home now because I'm okay. My wound is no longer so painful.

Only Aunt Bianca and Uncle Darius followed me. I slowly got out of the car and entered the mansion. All the housemates greeted me. And I just smiled in response. They have all returned from the provinces. Not surprisingly, I slept in the hospital for five months.
I sipped a glass of beer.

"Aurora is Natasha's daughter." I said. Lance and Thompson gaped.

"What the.." Lance said.
"How did that happen?" Thompson asked.
“I don't know. Natasha suddenly admitted her past when we talked. There seems to be something wrong.” I said.
“Why, when you were still together and had three children, didn't she even think to admit to you that she had another daughter? Even now, she knows that you love Gianna so much, "said Thompson.
"I thought about that too. But I just let it go. I just avoided her because it's so ugly to hear that I like my ex-wife's child. " I said.
“There's nothing wrong with that. The only problem is that there are so many narrow-minded people, "said Lance.
“When you got affected to what other people say, you lose. What are your plans now? " Lance asked.
“I don't know, maybe I'll never go near Gianna again. She'll just walk away from me when she finds out the truth. " I said
"Won't you even visit her?" Thompson asked.
 
"No."
 "You're so unfair then, she should also know the truth," said Lance.

"Natasha has the right to say something about that because she's the mother. I said.

"All right."

I left my room because I wanted to go out because I was feeling lonely inside the room. I want to go to the city and freshen up. I just got dressed because my wound can't be washed yet.

After I got dressed, I left the room. I came across my aunt who was feeding her baby milk. I approached them in the living room and kissed the baby.

"Where are you going, Gianna? You just got out of the hospital," my aunt asked.

"Aunt, I'm going to the city. I want to air out." was my answer.

"I can't. You have to rest, "she says.

"And then it's not too late to shoot you. How can I get you back? I don't want anything bad to happen to you again.
"I can't take it anymore," said my aunt.
"It won't show up because he made a mistakes. So I hope you don't think too much because it's not good. " I said. My aunt sighed.
"Even when you're so stubborn," she just told me.

I was walking out of the mansion. and looked for a taxi that could be boarded. My phone rang, and Bianca called. I answered it.

"Hello Bianca, Why? " I told her on the other line.
"Gianna got out and went to the city, " she replied with a worried voice."

"What? He just got out of the hospital. And then the person who shot him has not been found. " I said.
"That's what I said, but she didn't listen, If only the situation was the same as before. Are you busy right now? Can you follow him or even call him to take him home? " Bianca begs me.
"All right. "

I answered the phone at the same time. I have arrived in the city. And I immediately went into the refreshment store because I wanted to eat ice cream and cake. I understand Aunt Bianca because it's really scary. But nothing happens when I send my fear. I sat in the vacant seat while waiting for my order.

But when I turned to my side, I saw an old woman who looked at me too much and smiled. Suddenly, my forehead wrinkled. Because his smile was like he knew me. He seemed to be in his fifties. She couldn't bear to look at me as she approached. How are you? I can't be wrong, even though you were young, I know your face when you grew up. You're a beautiful woman, "said the old woman, and sat down in the empty seat in front of me.
"I'm fine. have we meet before, ma'am? " I asked her.
"Yes, but you were young then, around six years old, so you don't remember me anymore." The woman said to me.
Now I'm curious about who this woman is. I want to ask her a question, but it doesn't seem necessary because I think she intends to tell a story.
 
 
"We used to be neighbors, and your mom is my friend," she says.
I was suddenly nervous about what he said. I know this woman is the key to me knowing who my parents are.
"Really?" The woman nodded and saw the sadness pass through her eyes.

"Didn't your aunt Bianca tell you?" the old man asked.

"No." I only answered because I was confused by what was not told to me.
"Life was hard then, especially since you didn't finish school, so when you got sick and got dengue, your parents got into trouble trying to find money, but they didn't find anything, so what they did was adopt you. But they love you. Your parents just did that thing to save your life, "said the old man.
I want to cry because I feel sorry for them. My aunt didn’t even say anything about it. He forgot or he deliberately didn’t tell me.

"Do you know where I prayed because of the aunt I grew up with?" I said. The woman nodded at me and fiddled with her phone.

"To her. She's Natasha Salazar. The rich woman in our area back then. She was still single when she adopt you," said the old woman to me.

Suddenly, my eyes widened, because who would have thought that the woman who adopt me was the ex-wife of the man I love? But I wonder why she didn't recognize me when we met on Marcus birthday. What could have happened?

"We've already met that, ma'am, but why doesn't she know me?" I said. The old man smiled.

"Because you only lived in her house for two days, because when your aunt found out that it was Bianca, she went home to the Philippines to take you to that woman.Your aunt was working abroad at that time, so she paid for everything that woman spent and took you. I don't know what Bettina's reason is why she didn't tell you the whole story," said the old man.

"You can visit my aunt's house. This is the address. Please write it on your phone, ma'am. " I said.

The old woman nodded and I wrote my Aunt's address.

"Can I ask for my parents' address? I want to go see them. " I said.
The old woman's face brightened.

"All right, They missed you. They didn't go there because your aunt took you to the city. "
I wrote down the address and the woman told me to leave. And then also came my order. I started eating and I was always looking at my phone hoping Marcus would say hello to me, but nothing happened. Maybe he really doesn’t want me anymore. Why does our situation seem to be reversed now, as if I am the one chasing the two of us again? I sighed.

I looked at the clock at three o'clock in the afternoon and I had no plans to go home to the mansion, so I thought of going to my parents' address, but the place was not familiar to me. Maybe it's on the farm. I went out of the refreshment store and looked for a ride. I called the taxing station nearby. Turning, the driver approached me. I knew the driver's face because it helped me get to the hospital.
"How are you, ma'am?" he asked me.

"I'm fine. Thanks for helping me. " I said.

"Nothing. Where are you going? "he asked me.
"Here at this address," I said, and I showed him the address.

"It's far from the city, ma'am. What are you going to do in this place? "

"Can you accompany me?I'll pay no matter how much. " I said.

The driver nodded and opened the door for me. I went in and sat in the chair. Then I remembered that I hadn't asked for my parents' names. Shit! I knew I would go the distance, but I didn’t know who I would look for. And I also didn’t check who the name on my birth certificate was. I called my aunt.
"Where are you, Gianna?" my aunt opened up to me when she answered my call.
"Aunt, what's the real name of my parents?" I asked him.

Suddenly, silence on the other line.
"Marissa and Lucio Moran. Why did you ask? "asked my aunt.
"Nothing. I just have a use, "I said as I hung up the phone.

"Have you eaten yet, sir? Maybe you want us to go to the restaurant first. I have something to buy. " I said.
The driver nodded, and we stopped at a simple restaurant. I gave the driver money to eat first, and I also bought something to keep me for a while. I walked to the fruit stand and bought a variety of fruits.

I also went to see a cake seller and I bought three, as well as lechon chicken, four kilos. When I came out of the last store I went to, the taxi stopped in front of me. I also do grocery shopping. I don't know yet what I will find there when I go.
The driver had picked up everything I had bought and was driving out of the city. We passed various trees on the way. There were still houses, but when we came to the front, I did not see a single house.
"Are we still far, sir?" I asked the driver.
The driver answers, "I don't know either, ma'am. Let's just ask." I nodded in response.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon when we left, but we still hadn't gotten to where we were going. And we stopped at three people standing on the side of the road carrying firewood. A woman and a man are carrying a son. The driver opened the window and asked.

"Good afternoon. Where is Camp Saavedra here? "the driver asked.
"You're close, sir. You'll see the arch with Camp Saavedra written on it. Come in and you'll see the houses there," the woman replied. I opened the window for myself to ask.

"Do you know Marissa and Lucio Moran?" I asked them. And I noticed the woman and man looked at each other before nodding. All right, show me where their house is. Get on here. " I invite them. They wouldn’t have boarded yet because they were embarrassed. I told them,

"I'm in a hurry because it's afternoon."

And they entered as the driver opened the door. I noticed the woman was always looking at me. And the driver drove to Camp Salvador.
The woman was right because there were houses we passed through a lot. And I find life in this area not very good because I don’t seem to have seen a house with electricity. And the house is all made of bamboo.

The taxi stopped in front of the bamboo house, which was dark inside, and the gas stove that served as a light was clearly visible inside the car. The driver and the three of us came out. And I haven’t been out yet. I saw that the taxi driver had also taken my purchases. I saw the woman turn away from my habit and I heard her say to the woman,
"Why are you just now? Your father has another cough attack. I don't know what to do. I'm confused. " I heard the woman say.

When I heard his voice, I was attacked by nervousness and seemed to want to shed tears.

"Who is with you? Why is there still a taxi?" The woman then confronted the car's behavior.

And my tears welled up when I saw the woman's face. I can't be wrong because we look alike from any angle. Even though the woman was thin and had a wrinkled face, And now I just wonder why the woman was looking at me. And I know if my sister was the woman who rode earlier in the car. I didn't go out first; I wiped the tears from my eyes first.
"The woman looking for you is in the car, mom," said the woman.
"Who?" the old woman asked, then looked at the taxi.
I decided to get out of the car. When I came out, my mother's face lit up, her eyes and mouth wide open as if she can’t believe that she saw me and tears flowed as she looked at me.
Slowly, she knelt on where she stand.
"Gianna, Sweetheart, Is that you? You grown enough and beautiful," she said to me as she knelt down crying.
I approached her and made her stand up. She keep on touching my face and my hair.
"Mom, how are you?" I asked her as I hugged her.
"I miss you so much," She said to me.
“Forgive me for what I did wrong before," she said to me.
"We're not going to talk about what happened then," I said.
We went inside the house. And I signaled to the driver that he should enter as well. And everything I bought has all gone inside.
As I entered, I saw a man in his fifties lying on the mat. He was thin and frowned while his eyes was closed.
“Your dad got sick and I don't even have the money to treat him and take him to the hospital. So he's just here at home," said my mother.
My tears flowed. We just met, but this is what I will find.
"Lucio, Wake up. You have a visitor looking for you," said my mother.
My father's eyes opened and he looked at me. His nose is piercing and I think he is not pure Filipino. And I noticed we have the same eyes and face shape. He raised his right hand and just reached for me. I approached him and he got up. He took my hand and his tears started dripping as he looked at me.

"Grace," he said to me.
I have never been called by my second name in my whole life. Just now by my own father, I heard and I feel good. I was relieved that after all these years, I could still see them alive.
“Even though you were young when you separate with us, I can't forget your face. I'm so sorry your father was cowardly, " he said to me as he touched my face and hugged me. It stood up and led me on the chair, and we sat together
“I never thought you would grow up like this and be beautiful. I suddenly gained strength and my pain suddenly disappeared when I saw you, "he said to me.
 
 
And we all laughed. And I noticed my mother's smiling while crying. Suddenly, my personality also formed. I am thankful to the Lord that my condition did not become critical because when I died by chance, I could no longer see my parents.
"We almost didn't see each other, Dad, because I was shot." I said.
My father's nostrils grew.
“Did you have an enemy in the city? Where were you hit? "he asked me while staring at me.
"From my, but I'm okay now."
"That's good. She's your sister, Sheena, and her husband Francis, and their only child, Steven."
The woman and her husband smiled at me.
"She asked us, Dad, they pass us on the side of the road because we were gathering firewood," said Sheena.
My father nodded.
“Sheena, please. Can you please prepare the food I brought? We're going to eat.” I said.

Sheena nodded and took her husband into the kitchen. I stood up and approached the driver, who was outside the house.
“Mom, I'll go out first. Please take Dad to the kitchen. " I told my mother.
As she looked at me, as if unable to believe that I was in front of her, It nodded and I proceeded outside the house.
"Are you all right, sir? We'll eat first and then go to the city because I plan to admit my father. " I said.
"No problem, ma'am. I'm just here in the taxi waiting. I'll go to sleep first,"the driver answers.

"All right.”
I took my phone inside my bag. And I saw many missed calls from my aunt and also from Leon. My eyebrows rose. Is it good that he thought of calling me? I went back inside the house and went to the kitchen. I saw that my father started eating. I haven't entered yet. I heard them talking.
"Aunt Gianna is beautiful, grandpa," said Steven.
"Yes, she obviously has a good life in the city. It's embarrassing for her to see us so poor, "said my father.
"She doesn't look us a poor one. I didn't see any disgust in the way she looked at us. And she thought of looking for you even though you made her adopted to other people. So don't be think like that, "said Sheena.
“Don’t say that again, Shakira! I know my mistakes.” My mother raise her voice.
“Enough. I felt embarrassed when Veronica hear you shouting.” Said my father.
They were silent because I suddenly entered.
“Eat well, Dad, because we're going to the city to get you admitted in the hospital.” I told him.
"How many days have you been sick?" I asked him.
“It's been two months, Gianna. Sometimes it disappears and sometimes it comes back too,"my father answered."
"Because he didn't listen even though he felt bad he was still working," said my mother. Then I touch my father’s cheek.
“I never see this face in long years but if I can see my face shape in the mirror. We had they same, Dad.” I said. He’s smiling to me.
“All of you will be watching over father in the hospital, because I'm going back to the city. They're already looking for me there. I'll just be back in the next few days. " I said. They all nodded. They are all dressed.