the savior

“Mom.”

I held my mother by her shoulder while she’s happily playing with her granddaughter in the living area. Her face is filled with joy while rocking the five -month -old baby in her arms. I smiled when I saw the contentment on her face.

Who knew the great Isabella Andrado-Fuentebella will retire to business just to solely tend her years in pampering her grandchildren? Surely not the young me who witnessed how tight and disciplinarian she is.

She was even more cruel than my father. He never dared to go against my mother. She is the rule of the house. No one can say otherwise. I still remembered how we shivered because we didn’t reach our quota grades in elementary.

Those were the days. When we were in our high school years, Gideon and I would always top the class. But I lost it all out when I’m in college. I became a rebel son before ultimately knowing my way back home.

My mother drastically changed when dad died. Her views in life took a different turn. She lie-low from the business industry and lived a contented life as a grandnanny as what she wants to be called, to her grandchild and future grandchildren. Sometimes she still loves to throw parties like the luncheon earlier.

I thought she was going to end her ludicrous interference in our lives, especially mine, but it only got worse when Gideon got married. She continued to convince me almost every day to also tie the knot.

She had set-up countless of blind dates for me which I specifically prioritized not to attend. The latest is inviting me to a family dinner with a very willing woman of her choice without me knowing about it.

She looked at me first before looking back at my cute little niece.

“Mav, I want another grandson from you. Please give this family another one. My wish is for this house to be full of my grandchildren. Get married already. Stop playing with women around.”

I just shook my head. Here she goes again. I sat down next to her and stroked the baby’s cheek with my finger. I smiled when she made a sucking sound.

“See? Even baby Puffle agrees with me. Right baby?”

She rained kisses on Puffle.”

“Mom, don’t pressure me. We’ll get there just not this time. And Puffle is here for you. I’m sure she’ll make you occupied forever.”

The baby laughed. She reaches for her gold necklace and tugged at it.

“Oh, you like my necklace? When you’re old enough, grandnanny will give you everything you want. You are really my granddaughter, baby. Always the fashionable one.”

I smiled as I watched them. I’m happy that mom is happy. I’m happy that I’m finally seeing her shed her formal and strict self. What I just don’t like is that her uncalled attention towards my single life.

“I still think you have to get married and have kids to stop your philandering,” she insisted.

“Mom, even when a man is married and has kids. If he wants to cheat, he will cheat.”

She raised her brows at me.

“Your father is not like that. He didn’t have any other woman during our marriage years.”

I sighed at the memory of my mother planting spies all over dad’s team back then.

Almost all of my father’s personal bodyguards are from the Andrados’ security team. I no longer wonder why she is so certain that dad never betrayed her in their entire marriage life.

“That’s because dad is a great man and a very loyal husband to you.”

She smiled at the memory of her late husband.

“I know. I picked the right and honorable man.” She stood up and danced with the baby in her arms. “And I know you are also an honorable man, Maverick. Both of you and Gideon. Remember when you were in college? You kept telling Paz about this girl you love. What’s her name again?”

A hazy memory is trying to materialize in my head but it’s just too vague. I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t know. Can’t remember. Why?”

“You loved that girl, whoever she is. Paz would let me eavesdrop over your call. You were not talking to me back then because you’re still angry at me for forcing you to study in a boarding school. You came back to your senses after that. Now back to this girl. I still remember how you would say so many good things about her. It’s the first time I’ve heard you say those things about a girl. You were so in love then. I guess she is also the reason why you wouldn’t want to go back to us when we wanted you to.”

I thought about what mom said.

“Really? And here I am thinking I’d been immune to love virus all my life.”

Not anymore. I thought while thinking about Fem. That woman changed everything in me. I thought I would finally get over my madness over her when I got her in my bed but it only got worse. She’s like a drug and I got addicted to her. I look for her presence every day. I want to see her. Always

Thank god I got her pictures but still, they aren’t enough. I want to touch her, feel her smooth warm skin against mine. I want her to always be by my side forever.

I just keep myself from going crazy by watching her from afar. I make sure to pass by her apartment every morning just to try my luck if I can see her. I gotta see her only once. I came back on the same day, stayed for another hour and got to see her. I went home with a big smile on my face.

One of these days I’ll see her again.

My cell phone reminder rang. I stood up and kissed her on the cheek.

“I better go. I can’t have this conversation again with you knowing that I’ll be bombarded with countless blind dates after this. Stop it already, mom. I better go. I still have an empire to run.”

I reached out and kissed Puffle on the cheek. The baby cooed. I laughed.

“All the hard work and yet, you still consider having a family,” my mother snided.

My phone beeped. My heart automatically leaped at the sound of the call tone I specially designated for Fem. Smiling, I pulled out the gadget and read the message.

Can I call you?

“You can be right or wrong, mom.”

Her face brightened. It was like she heard some very good news.

“Really? Then bring her here as soon as possible. We will schedule the wedding now.”

I shook my head. “I’ll go. Don’t worry, I’ll be here next week for your event.”

“You better be. Better yet bring the lucky one with you,” she persisted.

I was still shaking my head when I left the living room. I met Sheri carrying two empty cups of coffee.

“You’re leaving already, Maverick?”

“Yes, where’s Gideon?”

“He’s in the garden. Talking with a client on the phone.”

“Thank you.”

I followed the path to the garden and saw my brother putting his phone down.

“Hey bro! Are you going home early? Come on! We’ll stay the night here. Sparring?”

“Next time, bro. I have work to do. Can I ask for a favor?”

“Shoot.”

I grinned.

“Make a baby again so that mother will stop forcing me to get married.”

My brother also grinned.

“I like that. I’ll tell Sheri about your suggestion.”

We both laughed.

“Good! Now I really have to go. See you next week. You better prepare your body bro if you don’t want to be beaten.”

My brother just laughed. When I got in the car, I called Femella first. She picked it up on the first ring.

“Hi, Mr. Fuentebella?” A man answered it instead.

A knot formed on my head.

“Who’s this? Why do you have Femella’s phone?”

“She gave me this. Man, can I ask for a favor? Femella badly needs your help. Just don’t tell her about this. Please.”

I turned on the engine and started driving. I was suddenly nervous.

“Where is Femella?”

The big gate opened and I went straight out.

“S-she’s with me.”

“Why? What’s wrong? Give her the phone. I’ll talk to her.”

I accelerated the car. I have a different feeling about this.

“She’s unconscious. I mean, she was conscious when she called me but she’s sleeping again now.”

That’s when my emotions exploded.

“Fuck! What did you do to her?! What happened?! Where are you? I’ll kill you if something happens to her!” I shouted.

I clenched my teeth and gripped the steering wheel. My heart was beating so fast. I was driving way beyond the speed limit.

“Man, I didn’t do anything to her. I just saw him lying on the road unconscious. I was still talking to her when she called me. I took her to the hospital but she still insisted on going home when she regained consciousness.”

“Where are you?” I repeat the question again. I took a deep breath to control the emotion.

“We’re outside your building.”

“Stay there. I’m on my way. Don’t turn off the phone.”

I don’t know how I got there in just fifteen minutes. As soon as I parked the car, I went straight to a white Sedan in the parking lot and knocked on the window. The door to the backseat opened and I saw Femella. Her condition almost knocked me down. She’s very pale with her eyes closed, and hunched over the chest of the man who had followed her to my hotel. It was as if my heart had been stabbed at the sight of her. I carefully picked her up and motioned at my men. I glared at the man who looked down.

“Come with us.”

I entered the entrance and was immediately surrounded by a security team led by Jex.

“Jex,” I said firmly.

“Sir.”

“Call Dr. Cruz immediately.”

“Right away sir.”

“And interrogate him.” I’m referring to the boy whose name I still don’t know. “I want to get to the bottom of this.”

“Yes, sir.”

We rode the elevator with a female staff member. Femella moved into my arm and moaned as if in pain. Her face is riddled with pain. She was so pale that it brought too much fear to me. My heart was pounding with so much fear and worry.

“Shhh. It’s okay. I’m here, babe. I’m here,” I said to soothe her.

I immediately deposited her on the bed upon entering my unit. The staff took care of her immediately while I was restless as I paced back and forth in the room to check if Dr. Cruz had arrived. My cell phone rang. I didn’t realize that I was shaking. I calmed myself before answering Jex who informed me that the doctor was coming up. The doctor was also informed about the diagnosis from the hospital where Femella came from.

I waited for the doctor to arrive and delivered him right to the room. I went out first to get some wine. I downed out a full glass. I sat on the couch and shook my head. I cursed while silently blaming myself. If I had been there by her side, this wouldn’t have happened. I didn’t talk to her for a few days so it happened.

It seems ages had passed before Dr. came out. I stood up and waited for his diagnosis.

“Doc, how’s Femella?”

“Don’t worry, Maverick. The patient is in a stable condition. It was a barbiturate overdose. It’s good that she was taken immediately to the hospital for the medical intervention. It could have been fatal. I recommend complete bed rest for the patient. I also prescribed medication.”

I breathed a sigh of relief at what the doctor said. I closed my eyes and exhaled.

“Thank goodness.”

After thanking the doctor, I went back to the room and sat down next to Femella. With my still cold hand, I caressed her pale cheek. My hands went to her palms and brought them to my lips. I planted a kiss on her hand.

“You’ll never suffer like this again, Fem. I promise.”

I stayed up all night looking at her, holding her hands, kissing all her pain away, and making sure to ward off the bad dreams.

I decided that night that no one will be able to lay a hand on her. Never as long as I’m alive.