Two Less Lonely People (A JLC-BA Fanfic)

Chapter 15

Mina woke up to find that Alex wasn't beside her. She got up and found him on the couch in front of his laptop. He motioned for her to come to him when he saw her. She sat beside him on the couch. He kissed her and gave her the glass of juice he was drinking.

"Did I wake you? I just need to finish this and then I will tell you what happened." He sounded serious.

Mina looked at what Alex was doing. He was booking a flight for San Francisco on Sunday. That's tomorrow! Mina was surprised, but decided she will wait until Alex has finished.

After a few more minutes, Alex got up to print his plane ticket.

He sighed and turned to take Mina's hand and she stood up. He hugged her and said. "Papa had a heart attack. He is in intensive care and I am going to see him."

"Oh my God! How is he?" Mina asked.

"He is in coma, but his vitals are apparently stable. I have to go see Papa, Mina." was Alex' worried reply.

"Of course, you have to go, Alex. Don't worry, he is in the US. Medical technology is better there." Mina reassured him.

Alex sighed and nodded. He was still anxious. "I will call my sister and tell her about my arrival details. You better get back to sleep, Mins. I will join you later."

Instead of going back to the bedroom, Mina went to the kitchen and prepared two cups of cocoa. Alex was slouched in the couch as she handed him his drink. Alex leaned on Mina's shoulder as soon as she sat beside him. They just sat there sipping their cocoa as Alex talked about his father. He was his mentor and was his best teacher in practicing law. What he taught him, he never learned in law school. Always work for what is best for your client but never sacrifice your personal convictions - that is his father's dictum. That way you will never regret any decision you will make in your life, he had said from time to time. He was thankful that his father never gave up on him when he was at his lowest after the death of Sara.

Mina sat there listening and realized how much Alex loves his father.

Mina tried her best to allay Alex' fears with words of encouragement. Alex wasn't saying much but he held onto her hand and leaned on her shoulder as if gathering strength from her. They sat there for some time just holding hands, both of them burdened by the uncertainty of what lies ahead for Alex' father.

Morning came and they went to the farm early.

"You don't need to worry about getting on board yet, Mina. Let's postpone that until I come back. I don't want you to take on all the problems and concerns while I am away." Alex told her on their way to the farm.

Alex met with his people and told them the news of his father's illness. Everyone was surprised and sad upon hearing the news. Some of the older members of the staff couldn't help from crying. The old man had taken them in when they were young men and women. They raised their families in the farm with Senor Ambrosio as their patriarch. All of them were optimistic that his father will pull through.

All morning Alex busied himself with meeting his people, from the admin staff to the farm hands. He only stopped to have lunch with Mina and Joyce, to whom he endorsed the financial aspect of the operations. He told her Ted will look over the books every now and then until he gets back.

He turned to Mina momentarily. "Remind me to call Ted later, please?"

"Ok" Mina answered lamely.

Alex noticed that Mina's plate is still full. "Why aren't you eating, Mins? Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm ok, Alex" Mina said as she took a mouthful of food, trying to sound cheerful.

Alex felt something was amiss but he continued talking to Joyce.

After lunch, he went back to his office poring over documents that needed attention. After three hours, he finished everything on his desk and decided he would call Ted. He summoned all his strength to tell him what happened.

"Oh my Lord! Not Tito Ambrosio! Is he going to be alright, pare?" Ted was clearly surprised with the news.

"I hope so, Ted. I really hope so." Alex replied. "I need to ask you to do things for me at the farm while I'm away, pare."

"Shoot" Ted replied and Alex enumerated all the things he wanted Ted to oversee.

"Don't worry, pare, I will take care of things while you are away. Just take care of Tito Ambrosio." Ted said.

"One more thing, pare. Please check on Mina every now and then. I don't want her to feel like I left her or something. You know what I mean right?" Ted felt Alex' concern about Mina.

"Yes, Alex. I understand. Give me her number." Ted replied.

After everything was settled the two friends said their goodbyes.

It was then that Alex realized he has not seen Mina since lunchtime.

"Where is your Ma'am Mina?" he asked a farm hand as he went out of the building.

"I saw her in greenhouse 7 just a few minutes ago, Sir" the farm hand replied.

He thanked him and hurried towards the greenhouse. Mina was seated with her back to him, seemingly looking at the roses.

"Mina?" Alex called out.

This startled her and she hurriedly wiped her face covered with tears. He pulled her up and turned her around to see her face all red and her eyes all puffed.

Alex sighed. Oh my! I couldn't bear to see her crying face. It really pierces my heart, Alex thought. He hugged her.

"I'm sorry, Alex. I couldn't help from crying. I'm going to miss you so much." Mina started to cry unabashedly. "I know I shouldn't be like this. I don't want you to worry about me as you have more important things to think about but I can't help it. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, Alex." She stammered the words in between sobs.

"Ssh, babe. You don't have to apologize." He held her tightly, just rocking her gently for several minutes. He trailed light kisses on her forehead and on her eyes and on her nose. "You are the most important person in my life right now. Anything about you concerns me more than anything else."

He kissed her lightly on the lips at first but deepened it as the realization of his impending separation from Mina dawned on him. "I am going to miss you more babe. I will come back as soon as Papa is out of danger, I promise you that, Mins."

Mina nodded. "Don't worry about me. Stay with your father for as long as he needs you."

"You will wait for me?" Alex gave her his lost puppy look which made her smile.

"Of course, I will!" Mina replied as she hugged him again.

"Let's have an early dinner at Carlo's and then let's go home to pack, so we can go to bed early." Alex led Mina out of the greenhouse, his hand on her shoulder while she had her arm around his waist.

"I will leave you one set of keys to the condo and another to Ted. I left your number with him so he can look after you."

"I don't need looking after; and I don't want to come to the condo without you there. It will only make me feel sad."

"Don't feel sad, babe. We will talk every day. You have skype don't you?"

"Yes, I do"

"it would be like we are also together every day. But I don't want to see your eyes all puffed from crying, ok?"

"Ok."

"I love you Mina."

"I love you Alex."

They hugged each other once more, unmindful of the tears which has begun to stream down their faces.