Adler's Legacy #1: Subtle Romance

Chapter Thirteen

SHIEN was sitting in the waiting area when Valencia finally found him there. Evidently, Arianne required immediate medical attention and was rushed there. She was incredibly anxious and could feel her heart beating so damn quickly. Makulimlim ang araw na ito at bahagyang umaambon. Mabuti na lamang at may dala siyang payong habang papunta rito sa ospital. Mabilis niyang nilapitan si Shien na kasalukuyang nakayuko habang nakasalikop ang sariling mga kamay nito.

Ramdam ni Valencia ang pangamba ni Shien. She had no idea what had happened, but she could tell Shien was worried.

Valencia reached for Shien. Nag-angat ito ng tingin at napalitan ng kislap ang mga mata nito. "V--Val..." Shien uttered her name.

Tumango siya at umupo sa tabi nito. She was carressing his back while straightly looking at him. "Anong nangyari?"

Shien heaved a sigh. "We finally talked," anito. "She filled me in on everything, including details regarding the unborn child she was carrying. It was never mine, Val. I was correct. Nothing happened between us." dagdag pa nito.

"That's good to know," tanging sabi niya. Ginagap niya ang kamay ni Shien at pinisil iyon.

"S--She was planning to file a case against her husband."

Tumango si Valencia bilang tugon kay Shien. Gusto niya pang magtanong pero natatakot siya na ibuka ang kanyang bibig. Natatakot siya sa magiging sagot ni Shien sa mga katanungan na bumabagabag sa isip niya. Hindi pa rin klaro kung anoman ang namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa ng kanyang amo pero sa nakikita niyang pag-aalala nito sa dating nobya ay napapaisip siya kung mahal pa ba nito si Arianne.

Shien was looking at her, and she saw that. He was about to say something when the doctor came in and asked for Arianne's family.

Shien got off his chair. Valencia also got to her feet.

"Are you the patient's family?" Both of them were asked by the doctor.

"Yes. What happened to her, Doc?" Shien asked with worry. His voice was just a little bit shaky.

"She's doing fine now. You shouldn't be concerned about anything at this point. Also, the baby is doing well. She just needs to heal from her wounds and get some rest."

Iyon lamang ang sinabi ng doctor bago ito tuluyang umalis. They were told by the nurse that Arianne was moved to her room. Pinaasikaso na pala iyon ni Shien. Mas mabuti raw na nasa ospital muna si Arianne para bumalik ang lakas nito at mas maaalagaan pa ito ng mga doctor sa ospital.

Sinamahan ni Valencia si Shien sa kwarto kung saan nakalagak si Arianne. Natutulog pa si Arianne. Hindi na muna nila ginising ito.

Maya-maya pa ay nakaramdam siya ng gutom. Si Shien ay nakahawak sa kamay ni Arianne habang natutulog ito. Halata sa mukha nito ang pag-aalala. Naiintindihan niya naman si Shien pero mas lalong nadadagdagan ang mga katanungan niya para sa binata.

"Sir Shien..." tawag niya rito.

Natigilan si Shien at napabaling ang tingin sa kanya. "Yes?"

Hindi napigilan ni Valencia na mapasulyan sa kamay ni Shien na kasalukuyang nakahawak kay Arianne. He was really worried for her. Iniwas niya ang kanyang mga mata roon a muling bumaling kay Shien. "I will grab coffee for you. Aalis na rin ako after, Sir. May aasikasuhin ako sa opisina." aniya. She was trying so hard to control her emotion.

Pakiramdam niya ay ang bigat ng dibdib niya. Parang may mabigat na bagay na nakadagan dito. She was feeling unease and she wanted to get out of this place.

"Kailangan mo ba talagang bumalik sa opisina?" tanong sa kanya ni Shien.

Valencia gulped hard. "O--Opo. May mga hindi ako natapos doon dahil sa biglaan ninyong pagtawag." she lied.