CHAPTER 23: Worried Sick

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

After I went home from the reunion, I instantly called Erevell, hoping that she would answer me. But to my dismay, she didn’t. I don’t know why, but I got a feeling that something bad happened to her. I do trust my instinct, because every time that I feel something like this, bad things often happened.

“Tired, son?” Dad asked as he saw me taking out a cold water from our refrigerator.

“Slightly...” was my short response.

“Did you enjoyed the night?” he asked, looking confused at my answer.

I knew that he can heard it all from my voice. I didn’t enjoy the night, that was obvious. Maybe he just wanted a confirmation or something.

“Nope, Dad. I met some of my few friends from way back in high school... And the girl of my dreams...”

“Really?” he asked, amused. “Then why are you sad? Did something bad happened?” His brows are almost touching in confusion, forehead creased.

“She’s... Married, Dad.”

“What?! Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah. And the funny thing is that she’s married with on of the greatest bachelors here in the Philippines, as you said,” I stated blankly.

“Darren Herrera? Is that why you’re asking me about their family earlier, son?” I nodded, before I saw his face looking very serious. “That was... Bad, I guess. You’re girl was lucky enough to find someone like him. Though she would be luckier if she had married you instead.”

I chuckled, knowing that Dad was just saying that to make me feel better. Though I know that he’s pretty much disappointed at the fact that I didn’t get the girl that I like... Causing his dreams to have a grandchildren vanished in our minds. I just sighed, before I finally decided to go to my room and get some sleep.

“I got to go to bed now, Dad. I’ll just text Mom before I sleep.”

“Alright then, son. Take a good rest. Good night.”

I nodded, before I proceeded to my room. I lay down on my bed, before I texted Mom to give her an update. After that, I try calling Erevell again, but she still didn’t answer my calls. I was starting to get worried sick, thinking that maybe something bad indeed happened to her... Or to her Mom.

Because of that thought, I couldn’t even sleep. So I decided to roam in the internet first to find something connected to Darren and Claire. Something that could lead me to find out the truth about them. Until some familiar name caught my attention.

“Attorney Gomez...” I whispered unconsciously.

He’s the guy who’s driving an elegant limousine over Kate’s house back when we were still in high school. I couldn’t forget that day for it was the very first time that I experienced a real date... With a wrong person.

I found out that he’s a very close asset to Herrera’s family, and he handled most of the critical cases of the history. But despite of him being a popular lawyer, I also read some article that this guy could also be trusted in creating fake agreements and contracts. That’s when my heart started to beat so fast, thinking that my doubts could be possible.

As I stalked Claire’s Facebook account, I found out that her father is having some kind of an illness. Her mother already died, and she lived with her father and her younger sister now, named Alexa. She’s the only one who could provide something for their family... And I know that Claire could do anything for them... Even being a fake wife to a rich bachelor.

I closed my laptop, before running my palms along my face. Damn. I feel like I’m getting closer and closer to the truth by each passing second. Just... What the heck? Did Claire really swallowed all of her pride just to be able to provide for her family? If she wanted a financially stable man, she could’ve just marry me instead of that guy and I’m going to make sure that I’ll treat her right with a respect and love her wholeheartedly without any hesitation.

I opened my laptop again, before I decided to book an appointment to Attorney Gomez. I badly wanted to find out the truth, and if this guy is going to lead me there, then I better take my chances, I guess.

After I finished researching about them, I decided to get some sleep, for I knew that maybe tomorrow is going to be a long and very tiring day ahead.

The next morning came, and as I check my emails before I get up, something caught my full attention. It was an email from Atty. Gomez’s secretary. I got an appointment with him, a week from now. I sighed, thinking that it is still a long way to go. I guess I still need to wait before I find out the truth.

I prepared myself before climbing down the stairs. Dad is already there, getting ready for his work as well.

“Good morning, son.”

“Good morning, Dad. I texted Mom last night and I haven’t got a reply yet.”

“That’s alright. She called me earlier, and I think you’re still asleep so I didn’t wake you up anymore. But she’s fine, son. So don’t worry now.”

“Glad to know about that.”

“Take a sit and have something for breakfast.”

I nodded, before sitting on the opposite side of the table. I joined him in for a breakfast before he finally bid his farewell, going to his office dressed up in a nice suite and tie. Again, I was all alone in this house.

An because I have nothing much to do, I decided to call my bestfriend again. Thankfully, she finally answered. But I prevented myself from getting my hopes too high after hearing her Mom’s voice, instead of hers.

“Hello, Gab? Is this you?” I can heard the amusement in her voice.

“Uhm... Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, my! I can’t believe it’s really you! How are you?”

“I’m good, ma’am... May I ask about Erevell?” I don’t want to sound disrespectful and impatient, but I couldn’t wait to hear my bestfriend’s voice for I was worried sick the whole time ever since last night.

“Oh. Of course you’ll find her. I’m sorry, dear. She’s still asleep. She’d undergone a minor operation last night and until now she hasn’t awakened yet. I’ll just call you back as soon as she woke up.”

My heart thumped so bad. I knew it. Something happened. A minor operation? Again? How come? It’ been eight years and my bestfriend is still having a series of unknown operation. I’m starting to think how useless and shameless I am for calling myself her bestfriend when in fact, I couldn’t even know what she’s been going through all these years. So I finally made up my mind. When I came back to the Singapore after all of this, I promise to find out the truth about her condition.

“A minor operation? About what? Why?”

“Don’t worry. It’s nothing, really. I will just call you back later, okay?” she stated, ignoring my question.

Before I could even say anything, she already dropped the call. That’s when I began to get worried sick again, and I feel like I’m going to throw up any time soon if her Mom didn’t call me back after a few hours. But thankfully, she did.

I waited for almost two hours before I heard my cellphone rings, instantly picking it up as I heard it vibrated. It’s just two hours, but it felt like years of waiting and being tortured by worry.

“Erevell?”

“Hey...” Her voice sounded off, as if she just woke up from a deep sleep.

“Are you okay now? What happened?” I asked.

“I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. It’s just a minor infection so I need to undergo an operation. But I’m fine now, really.”

“Care to tell me what really happened?”

“Sorry, but I’m still tired. Can’t tell you the whole story yet,” she stated, making me feel really disappointed.

“Fine, fine. Take a rest now. I’ll just call you again tomorrow. At least now I know that you are alright.”

I was about to dropped the call when she said another word, making me stop for a moment.

“Please don’t hang up yet. I still wanted to talk to you. What happened in your reunion?”

I chuckled, before giving her an honest response.

“Honestly, it didn’t go well as I expected. The girl that I like is... She’s married now.”

“What?! How? Are you alright?” she asked, sounding surprised and worried at the same time.

“Hey, please don’t stress yourself about it. It’s a long story. I’m going to tell you about it after you recover, okay?”

“But I’m dying!”

“What?”

“I mean, I’m dying to know! Tell me now, please!”

“After you recovered.”

I heard her groaned in defeat, before I finally hung up the call, smiling to myself for apparently no reason. Maybe it was because of the fact that I just made sure that my bestfriend is just alright now. I sighed out of relief, before smiling again.

One week passed. Finally, after waiting for seems like a very long time, I got my turn and chance to meet Atty. Gomez. As I went inside of the classy and elegant restaurant, I instantly saw him sitting at one table, before he waved at me, looking like he pretty much studied my profile before he considered having an appointment with an unknown person.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Elizar.”

“Nice to meet you as well, Atty. Gomez.”

We shook hands, before he sat down again, motioning me to do the same.

“Please take a seat, Mr. Elizar.”

I did as he told me to before he called the waiter to ordered something for the both of us. I just let him be, for I knew that rich people like him doesn’t want to be dictated by spending their own money.

“I ordered foods for the both of us, Mr. Elizar. I hope you don’t mind my taste.”

“Anything is fine for me, Atty. Gomez.”

He smiled, and I returned the favor.

“Anyways, why do you want to talk to me? Is this a case or what?”

I took a deep breath, scrutinizing whether I should be straightforward to him or not. I guess I just need to take things slowly.

“Do you trust me, Atty. Gomez?” I asked him, making him stop for a moment.

“It was as if you just asked me if I trust a complete stranger, Mr. Elizar. But you don’t look that suspicious, so I guess yeah, I do trust you.”

“In that case, I trust you too. I mean, I heard a lot of things about you, Atty. Gomez. You’re a great lawyer, they said. But I just wanted to know if... I can trust you to help me get a fake contract or something?”

He chuckled, before smiling devilishly at me. I knew it. Something is up between Claire and Darren. Even if I didn’t tell him their names, I could see it in his eyes.

“Of course you can. Is that all? You can trust me with anything, specially things like that. I mean, the most respected bachelor here in the Philippines even entrusted me to create a fake marriage contract for him and for his rented woman.”

My eyes widen in surprise after hearing those words coming from him. Did I just confirmed something? Or do I still need to ask Claire about this? I mean, I’m pretty sure she’s not gonna lie to me anymore if I obviously know the truth.

“A fake marriage contract? How is that even possible?” I tried to act innocently, trying to caught up more information from him.

“That was easy as pie. Creating a fake contract for Mr. and Mrs. Herrera wasn’t that hard at all,” he gloated, and I just got the information that I needed. Claire and Darren... They aren’t married.