Only If

chapter 10 (favor)

ELLIE's POV

It's amazing to know that my 3-gay best friends are now stable in their jobs... Gay at heart but too masculine in appearance... No one will doubt they are gays... They just arrived home from the US, Netherlands, and London. They find time to see me upon knowing I am in the Philippines to have a sort of reunion.

It was a happy time meeting them again....laughing loudly with them... Enjoying the alcohol and spirits. Happy reminiscing our happy-sad days. We had a strong bond when we were in our college nursing days. They trained me to enter all beauty pageants, we do our best to win for monetary considerations to help us pay our tuition. We join every singing contest in town and neighboring towns, we are interested in winning for cash prize. The four of us had a financial hard-up when were still in school. Right after passing the nursing board exam, they fly out of the Philippines. I was left behind because, at that time, I was already falling in love with Ariston, I felt sad leaving and a little later we got married. And that's the time my life I live in misery. 

I am grateful to the spouses Dr. Raphael and Atty. Alyza Mondragon, they helped me in my escape to Bali. There they employ me as a resident nurse in their resort. In time, I discovered I was pregnant with Ella. They helped me with my pregnancy and supported me with my journey.

I was 5 months on the way when I met Ivan. He was so drunk that time and so wasted. I saw him drowning himself on the beach I was there having some soul searching...  I got hold of him until he listened to me to get back to the seashore.

From there, having the same predicament in life, both in sad plight, the friendship between us grows and grows stronger.

We wake up one day having mutual support.

I saw Aris having a drink at a table near us... with angry stares.

Who cares? I don't care about him anymore...A snake will just shred its skin, still remain a snake. The venom it spits will always be as poisonous as ever. The hopeless Ariston del Fierro.

As we were all done with our 4-girlie gathering, we went to the room where they checked in.

Ella is with Ivan in our room... He knows my three gay friends will be arriving so he offered to take care of Ella and let me enjoy the night with the three.

ARIS's POV

A cheater will always be a cheater. She doesn't content herself with one, she got three... What she will do inside a room with those men? Threesome?

I tremble in anger. I leave the hotel and head back to our house.

I cannot accept the idea of  Ellie getting in a room with three men, while Dr. Stallin is there in the same hotel. She has no shame. A b*tch! Or am I angry for Dr. Stallin or for myself?

I should not asked, by the way, she even made it with me cheating Dr. Stallin right in their occupied hotel room.

The following morning is the last day of the medical mission...

Arra wants to play with Ella in the hotel... So I bring her there.

Dr. Stallin is already prepared to go to the medical mission site but Ella is having tantrums. When she sees Arra running in their direction, she stops crying.

They hug each other as if they have not seen each other for long.

These two really have the same wavelength. They agree on many things...

"Goodmorning Ella, ohhhh why crying?" Arra

"I thought you won't be coming," Ella

"You miss me, my friend? I miss you too ... I bring you pancakes," Arra

"Wow... Thank you!"

"Let's have our breakfast," Dr. Stallin

"Okay, let's join them, Arra,"   I said

The two little girls are enjoying their breakfast. I don't know but Ellie is not around.

"Governor, can I ask you a favor?"

"What's that?"

" I and Ellie agreed to stay a week more after the medical mission, but I have urgent things to do for two days, I am not comfortable letting them stay in the hotel alone themselves, can they stay at your house? I trust no one for their safety aside from you,"

"Say yes, Daddy!" Arra

"You want me to stay in your house?" Ella

"Of course! We can play a lot?" Arra

"Is it okay, Dada?"

"Yes, no worries... You are all welcome in my house,"

"Yehey! You hear that, Ella?"

"Thank you,"

"You sleep with me in my room," Arra

In the middle of our conversation, Ellie arrived, dressed elegantly, and dignified in her outfit.

"What's that Ivan?"

"Sweetheart, I have to attend to a two-day urgent matter, so I need to leave early tomorrow. I ask the Governor to house you while I'm not around,

"What?"

"Excuse us for a while, Governor," Dr. Stallin

Dr. Stallin brings Ellie to a corner at a distance from us... I saw them arguing. Dr. Stallin looks convincing to Ellie. Then, he is guiding her back to our table.

"Governor, my wife agreed, though she insists they might be a burden. But she agrees now,"

"Okay, early morning tomorrow, we will fetch them here," I said

"Okay, I feel safe for them in your house while I am not around," Dr. Stallin

"Ella, we will have an unlimited swim in the pool, then we will play," Arra

"I am excited... We will stay in your house until Daddy comes back,"

Our breakfast is over. Dr. Stallin and Ellie are now settled with the issue of staying in our house.

I leave Arra with Ellie and Ella... Dr. Stallin and I headed to the site.

It was a busy day. Many come from interior barangay for check-ups and avail of free medicine

"It's fulfilling to be of help, to be able to share what we can even in small ways," Dr. Stallin

"Thank you very much, your donations are a big help to my constituents," I replied

Dr. Stallin was a good friend of mine when we were together in the U.S. in our specialization. Their family owns a hospital in Belgium.

I remember where my connection and friendship with Ivan started, it was when he took his vacation to my hometown. From then on, we became close friends.

"Aris, I wanted to visit the Philippines, someday,"

"Sure! I can accommodate you there!"

"Wow, that's the best offer, exciting. I  enjoy having my free time on the tour since you came from the Philippines, and I was not able to be there, I will take my vacation there,"

From that time on, we became friends.

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