CHAPTER 38: Armando ’s Death

KATE’s P.O.V.

A week has passed, and I’m not yet sure if I’m going to accept that deal of my director to went home to the Philippines. Though I also wanted to grab it since Dad is sick and I wanted to be with him. I’m just too afraid to face the hurtful reality again. My life here in Paris became a fairytale that would make me feel hard to believe about everything that happened back in that country.

“So, what are we going to have for dinner?” Fiona asked enthusiastically.

I’m very thankful that she’s here. She never failed in lighting up anyone’s mood. I’m sure that she’s going to be a good wife someday.

“Uhm... Anything? You can chose whatever you want,” I stated, too lazy to think of something that we should eat.

“How about brownies? What do you think?” she asked, smiling from ear to ear.

“Really? For dinner?” I chuckled to myself.

“What? You told me to choose anything, and I want brownies, Kate...”

“Psssh. Whatever. Then go ahead and bake some.”

She clapped her hands like a kid before pulling out the instant mixture of brownies in our cupboard.

“Here... You're definitely gonna love this one.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

I sat down on the couch, turning on the television before I took a deep breath. The film playing on our television is the same movie that Elijah and I watched before we did that thing... The first time I surrendered myself to him. I smiled, then blushed. I miss him so much. I just don’t know where to start again.

“Fiona?” I called her name.

“Yeah? I’m busy here, you know.”

I looked at her direction, and she’s currently mixing the instant mixture of brownies with water. I glared at her, and she put on a peace sign at me.

“Sorry... I’m just joking. What is it?” She raised both of her brows, wanting to find out what my question is.

“Where did you get this film?” I asked, pertaining to the romantic movie currently playing on the television.

“Uh, that one? I bought it to the movie store nearby. Do you like it?”

“No. I love it... Very much.”

I looked away, but before that, I saw her shook her head several times before chuckling to herself. I’m definitely in the mood to watch this kind of film while eating some brownies.

Fiona sat beside me, maybe waiting for the timer of our oven to stop. She looked at me, and I stared back at her.

“What?” I asked.

“You remembered something, don’t you? It is Elijah?” I looked away, blushing. “You know, maybe I was destined to bought that film...” she stated and I laughed.

“What?” I tried to suppress my laughter, but I failed miserably.

“You know, maybe fate made me chose that film for you to remember something... Or maybe, it’s a sign that you should come home to him...”

A sign? That’s not impossible at all, I guess. But maybe she’s right. Fate is making a way for us to be together again. It’s doing everything it can just to lead me back into his rectifying arms.

I was about to say something when we heard the oven’s timer. Fiona instantly stood up to get the brownies, and I just shut my mouth up. A few moments later, she came back, holding a plate of brownies in her hand.

“Here you go...”

“Thanks.”

I picked up one and took a small bite. This wasn’t so bad for dinner at all. We ate while watching the movie, before my cellphone suddenly rings and I quickly picked it up.

“Hello, Mom?” It was my Mom.

I motioned to Fiona for her to lessen the volume of the television, and she gladly did it. That’s when I only heard my Mom’s few sobs. I instantly got worried, wanting to find out the reason why.

“Kate...” she trailed off

“Mom? Are you alright? Why are you crying?” I asked.

“Your Dad... He had a heart attack...”

“What?!”

I was bombarded by the bad news, and Fiona looked at me with a worried expression plastered upon her face. I couldn’t believe it. It only feels like yesterday when I last saw my Dad personally and he looked so fine and healthy. And now Mom’s telling me that he had a heart attack. How come? I badly wanted to know about it.

“How come, Mom? You said he’s fine...”

“T-That’s what I-I thought t-too... But I was wrong. He’s still in a critical condition right now... Kate, please... Come home now. I need you...” she sobbed.

“Mom, listen to me, okay? I’m coming home tomorrow... I’ll find a way to book a flight right now...”

“Kate...” She’s still crying.

“Mom, just calm down, okay? I’m dropping the call now. I’ll find a way to get home as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Kate. I’ll wait for you... Your father will wait for you...”

I nodded, as my tears continue to flow out of my eyes. When I dropped the phone, I completely burst out into an unstoppable tears. Fiona scoot a little bit closer before she patted my shoulder.

“Come, Kate. I’ll help you packed up your stuffs... You need to get home as soon as possible,” she stated, helping me stood up.

I just nodded, letting her guide me to my room. When we arrived inside, we started packing my things up for me to come home as early as possible.

“I’m going to take care of your luggages. Just go and call the airport if you can get a ticket for tomorrow.”

That’s when things suddenly gets complicated. We are both up all night finding a flight for tomorrow. I need to go as soon as possible but we didn’t find any. The nearest flight date that we found is a week from now, and I don’t know if Mom could wait that long for my help.

I sat down on my bed, massaging my temples as I burst out into tears. Fiona looked shocked, and she instantly came beside me.

“Hey... Don’t cry, Kate. I’m sure we are going to find another way to fix this.”

“But wat if there’s no other way?! I can’t afford to loose my Dad. I wanted to see him as soon as possible... What’s the point of packing up my stuffs if I couldn’t get a flight for tomorrow?!”

I throw a tantrums, but thankfully, Fiona is matured enough to handle me and my dramas in life.

“Take a rest, Kate. Tomorrow we will find the earliest flight possible for you to come home. For now, just sleep. I’ll take care of your luggages.”

I looked at her with my teary eyes before mouthing the words, “thank you.” After that, she helped me lay down on my bed. Out of tiredness and frustration, I instantly lost my consciousness, unsure of what might happen for tomorrow.

The next morning, Fiona and I get up as early as possible to find an airport where I can book an instant flight. But before we can leave, a limousine stopped in front of our boarding house, and there, I saw the last person I thought that would care about me nor my family. It was Dad’s bestfriend, Mr. Darrel Herrera. I guess he really is a true friend to my Dad even before he said anything to me.

“Mr. Herrera...”

Fiona looked from me, then to Mr. Herrera and back to me again. She looked so confused, but after a few moments, she realized that maybe something is up so she just keep her mouth shut.

“Kate... Your Mom ask me to pick you up. I brought a chopper at the top of the tallest building in here. Come, let me take you home.”

I blinked several times, trying to process what he’d just said. Maybe I been too harsh towards them. Mr. Herrera is a good man, and he’ll do anything for his bestfriend just like what Claire did for me before... I wonder how is she... And if Darren did found her, then maybe, just maybe, I’ll finally be happy for the both of them.

“Please, Kate... Your Mom needs you,” Mr. Herrera pleaded. “Don’t let you pride and hatred to get in the way this time. Come with me, and I’ll bring you home. I just wanted to help.”

I nodded, before looking at Fiona.

“I’m entrusting you our business now... Take care of it... And please look after yourself too. Bye, Fiona. I’ll see you soon.”

She nodded, before dabbing the tears at the corners of her eyes. She let my arm go, before getting inside of our boarding house. She helped me get my things inside the limousine before we bid our farewells to each other.

While on the trip, Mr. Herrera and I sat quietly on the limousine, no one wants to break the ice between the both of us. Until finally, we reached the tallest building here, in Paris. His bodyguards helped us get my luggages at the rooftop. There, I saw his chopper and we get in.

“Come, Kate. Your father is waiting for you.”

I thrifty smiled at him, before we wear our gears. After a few minutes, we took off, and then we fly. I tried to get some sleep, but I couldn’t. Until I realized that we finally arrived. Again, I’m home.

We hopped down from the chopper and Mr. Herrera paid a large amount of money to his pilot. He helped me carry my luggages. While walking towards the exit of the rooftop, I finally decided to thank him for doing our family a huge favor like this.

“Mr. Herrera... Thank you so much. This really means something for us. Thank you for doing this favor.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Kate. I owe you one. This is just a little help for my bestfriend.”

I smile at him. I was about to say something when both of our phones vibrated. I took out mine, and he did the same. It was a message from my Mom. I looked at Mr. Herrera’s expression and I could see that we are both thinking the same thing. I opened the message, and that is when I was bombarded by the bad news.

I blinked several times, trying to process what I’d just read. Until finally, I saw how Mr. Herrera burst out into tears while punching the nearest wall in our location. That’s when I was overwhelmed with fear and pain. So it’s true. Maybe we’d read the same thing. I dialed Mom’s number and thankfully, she answered as fast as she can.

“Mom... Please tell me you’re joking in that message of yours...”

I heard her sobs, and tears started to stream down on my cheeks as well as I witnessed how Dad’s bestfriend, Mr. Herrera, is currently grieving right now.

“Please... Mom.”

“It’s not a joke, Kate. Your Dad... He’s dead.”