Chapter 70

"Where are you going?"
We were stunned and at the same time looked at the stairs. Both sighed after seeing Zi and Fergus, held by the opponents. They have a gun right!
"Kiesha ... Kiesha ... Kiesha," the demon repeated. He was holding a baseball bat.
"You're too strong you're really a woman. You even managed to hurt me."
He was about to grab Kiesha. But to protect it, I bravely intervened.
"Stay out of my way woman, if you don't want to die."
"I won't let you hurt him either," I replied emphatically.
"Is that so?" it raised its carrying rod.
I closed my eyes. Waiting for the pain to spread throughout the body. Nothing should have happened. I am standing safe and sound with Kiesha- in front of me. And there's a ... blood gushing throughout her legs.
Oh my God!
"Kiesha ... your baby!" I cried as he attended. I wrapped my arms around her. As if it could help ease her pain.
This can't be true!
Aside from the loud heartbeat and cries coming from my own mouth, I heard nothing else. This time I no longer knew what to think, what needed to be done.
The next thing I know, Fergus gently snatched Kiesha from me.
He sat it on his lap. Weakening also caused by lost blood in the body.
"Baby, I'm sorry ... I made an agreement with him in exchange for your safety of our child. I never thought this will happen. Sorry ..."
"That's really sweet," the demon laughed out loud, "But she took everything from me. Because of her curiosity, all my fantasy faded. Spencer is gone, my son is gone, our dreams-"
"Why are you blaming Kiesha for your misfortunes?" Zi suddenly entered the conversation, "You yourself ruined Spencer's life. Kiesha just came to fix everything, but you only added to the guilt. Everything started when you killed Kianna ... You are the cause of all. "
"Shut up! You don't know anything."
"We know everything," I growled, "You just lost your son, did you kill him right away?"
'No! It wasn't even your child '
"Destroy the family and reputation. It's not like you're making a fuss, you're going to hurt others. Just move on!"
"You're another one," he angrily snatched the gun from the crew's hand. When pointed at me.
This is what he is originally good at. Killing those who speaks nothing else but the truth. It hurts him to hear the truth caused by unreachable pride.
"Might as well die with Kiesha."
He fired two consecutive shots.
For the second time, I waited to feel the pain I had once experienced. Pain that is probably the last. Because I will rest well afterwards. I firmly closed my eyes, halting my breath.
But just like what happened before, I didn"t feel anything weird all over my body.
I slowly opened my eyes. Such was the depression while looking at the dying figure of Zi. I fell with him. Holding his affected chest, he cried out loud.
This is not true, it is not possible.
I was just dreaming. I want to wake up, please.
I don"t like it. It"s just a nightmare going on right now. There is no way it was true.
"Zi ... Love please wake up, don't leave me. Don't leave us," I whispered, sobbing.
He reached for my face with difficulty, while one hand reached for my palm.
"I-I love y-you ..." he struggled anas, "Take ... c-care of- of yourself for me. And-" he brought my hand to his mouth. A few kisses were awarded here, "For our b-baby ..."
No!
I shook. He can't say goodbye. This is not yet the right time to say that. He can still see the growth of the child I am carrying. Our child needs a father!
He had many plans for us. All of that cannot just disappear.
"Please hang in there. Don't leave us," I cried even more.
"Throw that into the sea."
I was alerted and tightened my grip on him even more.
The staff just left Kiesha, who wanted to come with us even though it was difficult. While I was fully determined to protect Zi's body. They had to beat me first before they could succeed.
And they did. The next thing we saw, they threw him in the water.
"You bastards!" I stood up and they shouted angrily.
I tried to jump in the water. He is still alive, I have to save him. But the guards strongly resisted.
It all seemed to stop with me. Even the heart has lost its appetite. Simultaneously with Zi"s disappearance was the disappearance of my dreams.
What's the point of living, when my strength is gone?
Why is this world so harsh on me? Why do I have to leave Zion too?
I was fainting on my knees. The only thing that can be done is crying because there is nothing ... Nothing.
Epilogue
"Welcome back sissy!" Lorie's exaggerated cry as she handed me a basket of flowers. It wasn't just a simple flower. Based on its design, I can see the flower of the dead he chose to buy for me.
Kiesha was gone, a madman like her also took over.
"Sweet too huh?" my sarcastic response.
"I know," she giggled, "That's how dear you are."
I was just shaken.
I think he became more foolish now. Looking at her this close, I can clearly trace some changes. He lost a little weight due to his usual diet and workout routine. Then its brownness appeared more in curly and dark brown hair. Above all, her fashion sense changes.
She was into dresses and feminine stuffs before. Look at her as a woman, even if it can be said that the chosen job is very cool. It was refreshing for me to see him wearing pants and just a simple white t-shirt.
Lorie and I were too lazy to fix it.
"Don't look at me like that girl. People change you know," she said, defending herself, "Just like you."
Just like me?
Has anything changed in me?
I am still the weakling Geline she used to know. Aside from my new haircut and new style of clothing, I don't think I had a total change.
"Are you still taking care of yourself?" he criticizes as the gaze travels over my body.
How can I recover from everything that happened? Although I want to take care of myself, I don't want to be silenced by the bad images of the past. To this day I still hope time comes back. The more I regret, the more I want to go back.
Especially that moment.
"I thought I'll gonna be seeing Geline Neilani 2.0 right now. But I ended up having a vision of-" she winced. It did not go on to say.
Just in reaction, I already knew what he wanted to say. A pale and almost skinny Gee.
I left the country months ago to find peace and comfort. I first went to Italy and stayed there for a week. Then flew to Switzerland and other part of the world. I was in Hawaii for a while before coming home. He also stayed there for two months with mama's relatives who became citizens of the area.
"Where's the comfort?"
"I've left."
"But anyway, it's nice to see you again," she hugged me tight.
I'm glad to see him again. It was able to survive death the moment it was shot. She almost didn't make it. Good thing, she fought hard for her own life.
Somehow I smiled at the thought.
"Likewise."
Even though I knew nothing, I still tried to look around for Kiesha's volume. I think she's starting to have a hectic day. According to what he said last night when we had a video call, he is going to AF Enterprise today. I guess she's now heading in there.
I wonder what will happen ...
Like me, he also went abroad after what happened. We both try to forget things that will probably remain in our memories for the rest of our lives.
I let go from the hug and took my phone out of my pocket, then dialed her number. His voice that I immediately heard after a ring.
"Where are you?"
"It's still at the airport, the plane I boarded just landed," I answered quickly.
Silence was its unique response back to me. I can hear a man's voice in the background. But not sure what they are talking about.
"Hey, are you still there?"
Curiously, Lorie pressed her ear to the phone I was holding.
"Yes, I am. Let's just meet at the club later. I still have a meeting to attend. But don't worry, I sent someone there to fetch you."
No need. Lorie is here to accompany me on the trip today.
"Just make sure he's as handsome as my Zi," I joked.
Somehow I was able to pronounce his name without crying. And I can pull a joke now, unlike the first months of grievance.
"You are still into him."
"I am always into him. It takes six months to completely forget."
Life is not enough for me to take him out of my heart and think. I miss him every single day. And with just a simple call of his name made me miss him even more.
"Hey cheer up!" soothing it suddenly after noticing the sadness in my voice.
"I know," I laughed a bit. Something I could do to show that everything was fine.
"Let"s talk about your trip to Switzerland later," it changes the conversation.
"Of course, that includes what will happen in your meeting today there. You'll gonna see him again ..."
No matter how many times they go away, destiny will bring them closer and closer. Kiesha can't just understand how strong their love string was. Even apart, he obviously still loves Fergus.
Time heals all wounds. Not yet, but one day, the two will surely forgive and get back together. I have a very strong feeling about it.
"Of course, I'll see dad again."
"I'm talking about your ex. It's been a while since the last time you two saw each other, you definitely missed no'n-"
"Whatever, bye!" he cut me off from what I was going to say.
"Ah, gaga is taking me down," I said almost in a whisper.
"Because you included her baby in the conversation," Lorie commented followed by a deep smile.
"Well, let's just go out of here," I first walked to the exit, dragging the luggage. While the other hand is holding the basket of flowers he gave.
"Where are we?"
"I don't know? I don't want to go home first."
"Joy ride first?"
"Yup!"
At the middle of a busy road, there we are, singing our heart out with a ballad song playing on the stereo. It's been a while since I hear any Filipino music. If then I could barely feel the message of the song, everything is different now. My experiences reformed my views in life.
I do not know where we are going. Even Lorie who's in full control of the steering wheel doesn't have any single idea where we shall pull over. We literally just wanted to entertain ourselves on the pointless trip.
I am so glad I found someone like her. Like Kiesha, she can also accompany my trips in life. As long as he just can't be together, he's unlikely to object there. Despite the loss, I still found new life to defend on. I found a friend and a sister.
Many are lost. Not just life, but dreams. I know it will take forever to move on. But as long as I have someone as good as my sisters right now, for sure I can shun myself away from miseries.
None of myself focused my gaze out the window. The vast ocean was first seen.
Suddenly everything came back to my memory. Especially the image of Zion when he was cast into the water. His last touch and words were still vivid on my memory, as if that incident only happened just yesterday. All the details, the cries of suffering and the last reminder, I still remember very well.
He wants to be a good father and husband. He aspired for safety and good life, but recieved death instead.
"Don't you say you want to go to the beach?"
"You got it Lor ..." I stared at her for seconds, before averting my eyes back to the sea, "Can we?"
"Do I have a choice? You might just grumble if I don't give in."
"You know me really well," I forced a smile.
Without hesitation he followed my wishes. Turn left, onto the small resort where we once did overnight swimming then after Kiesha"s failed love. The place where I had my first kiss under the shades of moonlight. Zion was my first of all, first loved, first kissed. But the last to forget.
I entered the quiet resort alone. Lorie was left in the car because someone was supposed to call a colleague in the new mission.
"Just entrance, ma'am?" polite question of the receptionist.
"Yes ... I've only been here for a while," I handed him the entrance fee after writing the name in the logbook. Then we made our way straight to the beach.
Weekdays so nothing too much bathing. Something I am thankful for because somehow the desired peace of mind can be achieved.
The wind made me feel sad and alive at the same time. It touches directly on some part of my skin and had my long hair dance along with its own rhythm. I am saddened to think of the same violence and coldness of the air the moment he disappeared from me. And as the pain grew along with the wave of memories, I was reminded that I am completely alive. I am hurting now because I am alive.
And I need to continue breathing for him. I need to look at the possible changes and embrace the pain.
I also went back and forth to the sea for almost six weeks just to see his body. No day and hour was missed. In every moment, the only prayer is to see his living image.
Until we finally found him ... I mean, the coastguard found him near a secluded island.
Floating in the water, lifeless and unable to even recognize the face. If it wasn't because of the clothes he was wearing and his necklace with my ring on it as pendant, there's no way I'd think it was him.
I was abroad at the time. I only saw photos from Hans. I was asked to confirm the items they found.
I took a deep breath and looked at the blue sky.
"Love, why do you have to leave me so soon?" a tear escaped on my eyes, "I missed you ..."
I miss you every single day.
"Here."
I was distracted by the presence of the unexpected person.
No one seemed to sit next to me as he handed me the white handkerchief.
I don"t know if I will be shocked or scared.
Am I just dreaming?
"Wipe your tears away with this," he coldly said.
Handing the hankie a little closer.
I floated to accept it and turned the body in front of him.
Am I seeing things right?
Or is it not only my heart that is broken now but also my eyesight?
They sounds exactly the same too.
How come-
"Don't look at me like that. You are creeping me out," he averted his gaze at me and raised an brow.
"You are creeping me out more."
"Tsk!"
he put his hands in the pockets of wearing khaki shorts, then began to walk away.
"Who are you?"
I said, almost a whisper.
I just can't believe what I am seeing right now.
"Spencer ..." he stopped walking, "Spencer Valle."
What the-
Huh ?!
To be continued...