Chapter 44
That night, Juana's father called her and asked her to come home.
"I'm sorry for hitting you" he said.
"Selena wants to see you before leaving. She's leaving at 5am tomorrow. Everyone wants you back home" he said with a pleading tone.
"It's okay dad" she said
"Are you coming?"
"No. I'll be there tomorrow before 5am to see Selena. I'll be okay, don't worry about me"
"Say hello to granny for me" she added
"Where are you staying?" He asked but she had hung up before he finished.
"Your dad?" Colin asked. They were both sprawled on the rug in the living room, side by side.
"Yes. He wants me home"
Colin sighed. He didn't know what to say. It was only 6pm. They both lay down facing the ceiling.
The next day, Juana woke up late, and Selena was already gone before she got home. She thought Baron would be mad at her because of that but he wasn't. Instead he was mad for something else, that Juana could not place her hand on, until he voiced out.
"You were at Colin's, weren't you?" He asked quietly but angrily
"Yes" she replied looking into his eyes. She was ready for anything. At least he hit her once already. He didn't say anything further until she walked to her door.
"I went to see your mom today" he said, the anger disappearing from his face. So now it was _your mom_ and not *my wife*.
"Okay" she replied and entered her room. What did he expect her to say? That he was still a good husband? After she has caught him with Selena kissing and rocking each other, not once but twice?
"Juana" he was at her door now. Juana stretched her legs on her bed and opened her windows to let the sun rays in.
"Juana, I want to talk to you" he said sounding like a repentant child.
She got up and opened the door gently. Then she turned her back to him.
"My daughter" he said, and it felt strange. They had grown distant ever since Selena came back into his life. Their close bond has thinned away because of that bitch of a witch, as Juana called her in her mind.
Juana sat on her bed and opened her book. She was not going to write anything tangible, she only wanted to avoid looking into his face.
"I know I have been unavailable to you physically, but mostly emotionally. I have not been fair enough in the past months" he began
Juana scribbled gibberish in her book
"I've not even sat you down once to ask you about your emotional and love life. I'm really sorry, sweetheart" he said. "Please forgive me"
"You're a good man, but you've been corrupted of recent, daddy. Why don't we talk anymore? When did we begin yelling at each other, and hitting each other? Why did we stop talking about mom? Is she insignificant to us now?"
"No I still love her"
"I don't think so" Juana said. She felt like walking out of this conversation. He suddenly looked frightened.
"Why would you say that? Of course I love her and I'll love her forever"
"Why are you cheating on her then?"
Baron raised his brows.
"She's not even dead yet" Juana added.
"Stop it. Stop that already, she's not going to die" Juana went to the bathroom to wash her face.
"Juana, I'm not cheating on her. I'm still in love with her"
"Who is Selena then? What's she doing in your life? Why were you both kissing and smooching like...
"You know what? We'll talk about this later, okay? I need to get somewhere " he said and hurriedly left the room. Juana let out a long hiss. How can men be so wicked? If Colin did that to her, she'd slit his throat. Just then, her phone began to ring.
She ran to take it and it was Colin.
"Hello. Are you cheating on me? If you do, i promise to slit your throat" she said. Colin laughed heartily "How are you?" He asked
"I'm fine"
"That's good. I just called him few minutes ago"
"Dr Paul?"
"Yes. We're going to get him an apartment. I will go check the houses on King Street. Will make sure he doesn't stay alone"
"That's great. It must not be within Jason's reach also. Jason should not know we're moving him out"
"Exactly. And I also think we should let an elderly person know about this"
"No I don't want us to report Jason. I'd be betraying him if I leak his secrets, he'd never forgive me. Let's do this first, we can talk to dad about it later"
"Dad?"
"My dad"
"Why can't we tell him now? He might help us with the finance"
"No not now. We'll tell him later. I have enough money in my account. Besides we can sell his old house and use the money"
"Yeah, all right"
"So...?"
"So??"
"We'll be seeing him next Friday. To talk to him about it" Colin said with a tone of finality
"Okay"
"Be good honey"
"You too. Bye"
That night, that cold June 21st night, Juana went to visit her mom. She looked normal, except that she still has her eyes closed and she couldn't speak.
"Mom, you're the only thing I want for my birthday. Please wake up" she said to her. She was not allowed to wait for a long time. She had to leave after ten minutes, unlike the usual forty minutes of visit.
At home, Juana thought about their plan. If Dr Paul was successfully relocated, then Jason would not be able to harm him. She thought if it was a very good idea. It was a good idea, but she didn't know if it was 'very good', if it was the best thing to do.
