Chapter 57 : The Waiting is Over

Leonardo’s (POV)
"The moment has arrived," Leonardo's doctor declared, a sense of anticipation evident in his voice. "Later this afternoon, Leonardo, we will remove those bandages from your eyes." Leonardo's heart raced as he absorbed the doctor's words. The long wait was finally over, and he couldn't help but wonder what the outcome would be. Regardless of the results, he knew he had to face it bravely. One thing was certain - he had promised Angela that he would share this moment with her, the very first day he opened his eyes.
In his room, Leonardo found himself lost in thoughts, a mix of anxiety and doubt swirling within him. He tried to push away his apprehensions, focusing instead on how he would tell Angela about the unbandaging later. Her comforting presence would mean the world to him. Time seemed to stretch endlessly as he counted down to the afternoon when the doctor would return.
Suddenly, the door creaked open, and a familiar, soothing voice greeted him. It was his nurse, checking in on him. As much as he appreciated her care, all Leonardo longed for was to hear Angela's voice.
"What time is it?" Leonardo inquired, his eagerness betraying his emotions.
"It's nearly noon," the nurse replied before she left the room, leaving him to his thoughts once more.
Leonardo's heart soared at the thought of finally being able to see Angela. He couldn't recall how many days he had spent in the hospital, yearning for her presence by his side. Ever since his admission, he had made use of a talk-back phone, a thoughtful gift from his mother, allowing him to reach out to Angela.
Dialing her number, he could barely contain his excitement as the call connected. Angela's voice came through, inquisitive yet filled with tenderness. "Who owns this phone? Is someone else with you?"
A proud smile graced Leonardo's face as he replied, "It's mine. My mother got it for me so I could call you."
Throughout his hospital stay, Leonardo would call Angela every night, especially after the operation. Her unwavering support and comfort were a source of strength for him. She always reminded him to pray for the success of the surgery, assuring him that everything would turn out fine. "I'm counting down the minutes to see you, Angela," he said, his voice filled with excitement and hope.
While Leonardo waited eagerly for Angela to walk through the door, anticipation filled his heart. He braced himself for her arrival and for whatever the world had in store for him. The outcome of his corneal eye transplant was uncertain, with the doctors predicting an 85 percent chance of success. Yet, the remaining 15 percent held no fear for him, as long as Angela was by his side.
After what felt like endless hours of waiting, Leonardo heard footsteps approaching, and the sound of the door opening brought hope to his heart. "Angela?" he asked eagerly, longing to see her face.
"The doctor is here, Leonardo. It's time," his mother, Mrs. Vera, informed him, and soon enough, the doctor's voice confirmed his presence.
"Leonardo, it's time to remove those bandages," the doctor said confidently, ready to proceed.
"Wait," Leonardo interrupted, stopping him in his tracks. "We'll wait for Angela before you remove the bandage. I want her to be here, to be the first thing I see when I open my eyes."
The doctor agreed to give them a few more moments, but as time passed, Leonardo grew agitated. His mother tried to persuade him to let the doctor proceed, but he held firm. "I'm worried about them. They should have been here by now."
"I'll call them," Mrs. Vera suggested, dialing her phone as the doctor and nurse prepared to remove the head bandage. However, there was no answer from Angela's phone, leaving Leonardo even more anxious.
With his mind racing, Leonardo couldn't help but imagine various scenarios concerning Angela's whereabouts and well-being. His desire to hear her voice and see her face grew with each passing moment.
"Okay, Leonardo, start opening your eyes slowly," the doctor said gently, sensing his impatience.
Leonardo waited another minute, but eventually, his patience wore thin. He opened his eyes and was disappointed to see only blurry figures in front of him. His frustration increased as he received no news about Angela's location.
In the following days, the doctor explained what he could expect during the recovery process, leaving Leonardo in the care of his mother. "Please try to reach her again, Mom," he pleaded.
His mother made several phone calls and finally spoke with Andrew. "They were on their way, Leonardo. But they got caught in heavy traffic," she relayed.
"She's still missing," Leonardo mumbled, growing increasingly anxious.
Mrs. Vera comforted her son, advising him not to let anger cloud his eyes as it would be detrimental to his recovery. Nevertheless, Leonardo couldn't shake his restlessness and dissatisfaction with his blurry vision.
Suddenly, the door opened again, and Andrew's apologetic voice came through. "I'm sorry, Sir."
"Angela?" Leonardo called out with hope.
"She's not coming, Sir," Andrew stammered nervously.
"Where is she? What happened to her?" Leonardo's anger flared.
Andrew began to recount the events. Angela had asked him to stop the car abruptly, and she got out to tell him that she couldn't go to the hospital and that she was quitting her job.
Leonardo's anger boiled over as he yelled, his emotions overpowering him. Mrs. Vera rushed to his side, trying to comfort him and soothe his anger. "Let him finish, Leonardo," she said softly, gently massaging his back.
As Andrew continued to recount the events, Leonardo's face turned crimson with rage. "Where is she?" he demanded, desperate for answers.
"She got out of the car while we were driving here," Andrew stammered, recalling Angela's determination to leave and never see Leonardo again. It was clear to him that Angela had planned this, wanting to avoid facing him. And with each passing word, Leonardo's anger intensified.
Andrew hesitated before revealing the painful truth. "She was seeing a man, Sir."
"What?" Leonardo's voice boomed, shocked by the revelation.
"As Angela stood outside the car, a man approached her," Andrew continued, "They seemed to know each other, and they left together in a cab."
Fury surged through Leonardo's veins. "What man?" he clenched his teeth, demanding more details.
"I believe Angela was having an affair with him," Andrew confessed. "He was tall and handsome, and they looked like they were deeply in love. When I saw them kiss, I knew I shouldn't interfere, so I let them go."
Mrs. Vera held onto Leonardo's arm, trying to provide comfort amid the heartbreak. She knew how traumatic this revelation was for him, and she wanted him to focus on his well-being. "Leonardo, don't let this ruin your success. Forget about Angela," she urged.
"No!" Leonardo's fury intensified, and he tightly grasped the bedsheet. His jaw was clenched with determination. "She owes me an explanation, Mother." Then, he turned to Andrew, his voice unwavering. "Find Angela and bring her back here."
Mrs. Vera hesitated, torn between wanting to protect her son from further pain and understanding his need for closure. "Leonardo, perhaps it's best to give her space. You have your journey to focus on now," she suggested, hoping to guide him toward healing.
But Leonardo was adamant. "I need to hear it from her, face to face. I deserve to know the truth," he said resolutely.
Leonardo's heart was shattered by the revelation of Angela's betrayal. He was filled with frustration, longing, and anger, unable to comprehend how she could have another man in her life while promising to be there for him. He never suspected her of such deception and believed he was enough for her.
Despite Andrew's efforts to locate Angela, there were no positive updates, and she remained nowhere to be found. The sleepless night weighed heavily on Leonardo's mind, consumed by thoughts of what Angela had done to him.
The next day brought no relief as Andrew returned with more bad news. "I don't know where to find her, Sir. It seems like she's hiding with the man who took her," he confessed.
Leonardo's heart sank further as he mumbled, "I want to go home, Mom." He was discharged from the hospital and returned home with clear vision, thanks to the protective eyeglasses he wore.
In the pink room, Leonardo tried to make sense of Angela's sudden departure. He opened all the cupboards, finding them empty, indicating that she had planned to leave him. The pain of rejection stung deeply, and he continued calling her, hoping for an answer that never came.
The next morning, Leonardo approached his mother, seeking Angela's resume and application form. Mrs. Vera grew concerned about her son's eagerness to find Angela. "Leonardo, let her go," she pleaded, understanding that searching for someone who didn't want to be found would only lead to more heartache.
But Leonardo's determination to find her was unwavering. "I need to know where she lives. Perhaps she's at her house right now," he said, still clinging to the hope of reconciliation.
Mrs. Vera implored her son to stop chasing after Angela and to accept that she had chosen to leave. "She's hiding, Leonardo. There's no point in forcing her to come back. She quit her job now that you can see," she reasoned.
"I'm not going to let her go that easy, Mom!" Leonardo yelled, his emotions running high. He was determined to find Angela, to seek answers, and to confront the pain she had caused him. "I will find her," he declared firmly.