Midas' Touch [COMPLETED]

Chapter 36

Nagising si Kalonice, naalimpungatan sa mga ingay na naririnig mula sa labas. Bumangon siya mula sa kama at tumingin sa kaniyang paligid. Kinusot niya ang mga mata bago pumunta sa banyo upang maghilamos at mag-toothbrush.

Lumabas siya.

"We can start the construction by this week," ani Midas sa ama at sumimsim sa kaniyang kape saka napatingin kay Kalonice na papalapit sa cottage kung nasaan sila.

Wala sa oras niyang naibuga ang kapeng kaniyang iniinom at napatayo.

"Holy---coffee. Midas!" singhal ng kaniyang ama na pinupunasan ang mukha. Tumigil si Kalonice sa kanilang tabi

"G-Good morning po..." Bati niya sa lahat na mga nakanganga.

Caedmon stared at her from head to toe.

"Seriously? You went out looking like that?" Nagsalubong ang kaniyang mga kilay. Kalonice is wearing nothing aside from. The shirt that Midas put on her. Its first two buttons are open, revealing her bare chest.

Nagtaka si Kalonice sa ibig niyang sabihin at tiningnan ang sarili. Kinapa ni Midas ang kaniyang pang-upo. Napasinghap siya.

"What the hell!? You're not wearing any undies!?" bulyaw niya at siya'y nilapitan. Hindi naman magawang makasagot ni Kalonice na lutang ang isipan. Naramdaman niya ang pag-iinit ng kaniyang buong mukha. Midas pushed her back to their room para siya'y pagsuotin ng underwear. Bumalik din agad sila upang mag-umagahan.

"Good morning, everyone!" Jarrah entered the cottage wearing a see through dress. She was wearing a blue bikini with a beach hat on.

"It's too early to flaunt your body, Jarrah," malamig na sabi ni Octavius at sumimsim sa kaniyang kape.

"I-I think that's fine. This is a beach, after all," depensa ni Delphine na nasa pagkain ang tingin. Kumurap si Cassandra sa kaibigan.

"Did something happened to you two?" aniya. Umangat ang tingin sa kaniya ni Delphine. "Don't get me wrong. This is the first damn time you defended something from him, Delphy. Like, you are always saying 'YES' and agreeing to everything he says. Is this okay?"

"Am I not allowed to do otherwise?" mahinahon nitong tugon na siyang ikinatahimik nila.

"Mom, you defended me?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Jarrah na naluluha. "The lamb is being a rebel to its own owner? I couldn't believe this," dagdag niya na siyang nagpairita kay Cassandra.

"I couldn't believe either that snakes could talk," supalpal niya kay Jarrah at saka ito inirapan.

"Tita, you shouldn't be stressing yourself. Kabuwanan mo na, remember? Sige ka, baka sa sobrang galit mo sa akin mapaanak ka ng wala sa oras," mabait na sabi ni Jarrah at umupo sa tabi ni Kalonice. She looked at Midas and gave him a sweet smile.

"Aba't---gaga talaga 'yang babaeng' yan, ha! Bitawan mo ako, Cain! Sasampalin ko 'yan!" Pag-aalburoto niya. Pinakalma na lamang siya ni Cain at agad na isinubo ang pinaglilihian nitong barbecue upang siya'y manahimik.

"If they have a problem, hayaan na lang natin. But if you need help, we are here for you---"

"I want a divorce." Diretsong lintaya ni Delphine na may buong tapang. Natigalgal si Larry. Nahulog ni Gwynedd ang dapat na isususbong cupcake. The rest have their eyes widening.

Octavius became a statue of ice. He felt like everything in him, around him just stopped. He lift his look to Delphine.

"D-Delphy... Where is this sudden coming from?" Hinagod ni Gwynedd ang kaniyang likod. Instead of bowing like she used to do, Delphine held her head up.

"We already talked about this last night. We're getting a divorce now." Taas-noo niyang tiningnan sa mga mata si Octavius. Hindi man lang niya ito nakitaan ng emosyon. Ni ekspresyon ay wala. She became more sure that she's nothing to him.

Napatayo si Jarrah. "Really? A divorce?" Her voice cracked. "Was it because of m-me? Is it my fault?"

"It has always been your fault, Jarrah. Everything. Sa lahat ng sumpa, ikaw lang 'yung nagkatotoo." Cassandra.

"Domi! Ano ka ba! Huwag ka nang makisali, okay? You're not helping!" suway ni Cain na nai-stress sa kaniya. She made faces at kinagat ang barbecue.

"You should have done it sooner. This family is fucked up! A cold, stone-hearted father, a lamb, puppet---useless mother who only knows how to be a good, perfect wife, and their problem child. Just---argh!" Frustrated, Jarrah marched away from them. Tumulo ang mga luha ni Delphine.

Kalonice sneakily took a slice of bread and slowly put it in her mouth as she feel the heaviness of the pressure that sinks them in.

"Delphy, maybe you can still talk about this. This will destroy your family..." Pakiusap ni Gwynedd. Delphine gazed at her with angry eyes. She was held aback.

"We never became a family. That is just  illusion!"

"Delphy..."

"Octavius, wala ka man lang bang sasabihin!?" Baling sa kaniya ng mga kaibigan na hindi malaman ang gagawin.

He bowed. Tinusok-tusok niya ang isdang nasa kaniyang plato. And what he said completely stunned them.

"Do whatever pleases you."

"OCTAVIUS!?"

Lahat ay makapaniwala. Natutop ni Delphine ang kaniyang bibig at humagulgol ng iyak. She was expecting him to say that. But she never imagined he will really say it. She hoped that he wouldn't, that he would at least try to fix it and tell her that she was just being a mess... But he really said it. He let her go like a trash.

No, he never hold her. Never have he ever hold her. That's why it was easy for him to leave her and turn his back.

"I---couldn't believe---" Nahawakan ni Delphine ang dibdib at tumayo. Umatras siya palayo sa kanila. Octavius looked at her dead eyes. An excruciating heartbreak overwhelmed her.

"Delphine, please, stay. We will fix this no matter what will happen, okay? Okay? Delphy, please, listen to me," mahinahon na pakiusap ni Larry at siya'y unti-unting nilapitan. Bumaba ang tingin ni Cassandra sa binti ni Delphine.

Naningkit ang kaniyang mga mata. At halos atakihin na sa puso nang makitang dugo iyon.

"O-Oh my god! Oh my god, Cain! Delphy---Delphy is bleeding! Cain! Oh my god! You're pregnant!?" Paghihisterikal niya.

Kalonice choked from the bread she just swallowed at agad na napalingon kay Delphine. Nanlaki ang mga mata nilang lahat.

Nahawakan ni Delphine ang kaniyang tiyan at napatingin sa kaniyang mga binti. Her heart skipped a beat.

"B-Baby?"

She could not believe it. She never knew a thing. She's pregnant?

"Delphine... Delphine---GATHER THE PILOTS! Delphine!" Humangos si Octavius palapit sa kaniya. Napaupo sa buhanginan si Delphine. She touched the trail of blood on her leg and trembled. Nalaglag ang kaniyang panga at tumingin sa kanila.

"I---I didn't know... I didn't know... My baby... My baby..." She screamed as hard as she could that it echoed in the whole island.

Octavius tried lifting her up but she rain slaps and punches on him as she blame him. Octavius, on the other hand, accepted them and endured it. One of the pilots came. Wayne and Altair went out with their families to see what was going on, but they had no time to explain and went to Larry's private plane to get them out of the island.

Kalonice was trembling as she witness such heartbreaking scenario. Delphine kept on screaming and crying while hitting Octavius. Fear was written all over his pale face. The mothers tried calming her down but it was no use.

"I swear to God, Octavius Lisieux! I swear! If my baby dues, I will die as well!" She shouted in tears. Natulala si Octavius dahil sa kaniyang sinabi. Nobody knew how much she wants to have another child. Nobody knew how she envies her friends secretly. Taking care of a baby is the only thing she could do since she had nothing else to so in their huge mansion but read books, eat, sleep, and wait for her husband to go home. If the unknown baby inside her will die, what will happen to her?


They reached the nearest hospital and sent her to ER. Octavius kept on pacing back and forth. No one could speak. Cassandra is trembling in fear. She hope it will be not a miscarriage because that thing is one of every mother's fears during pregnancy. The hall was dead silent. Kalonice hold Midas' cold hands and warmed them with her palms.

The doctor went out.


And what he announced is the most terrible news they ever heard.

"Apparently, we found out that the patient is supposedly in her fourth month of pregnancy, if only the baby didn't...lose. We call this situation a Missed Miscarriage, where there will be no bleeding, or shown symptoms unless you will have a prenatal checkup. In her case, she bleed because the fetus needs to be removed already inside her womb for it is already starting to rot. We detected that the baby is more than or less than three weeks dead, and the cause, majorly due to extreme stress, and imbalances to her mental and emotional natures, not to mention the medicines to relieve depression and antibiotics..."

Octavius fell from his knees. Cassandra and Gwynedd bursts into tears while covering their mouths. Kalonice covered her mouth and looked up on Midas who was stunned.

"We also seen marks on her, depicting that she's doing self-harm. She have a slash on her neck, but lucky enough that it didn't cut a vein that would lead to something critical. It was as if the patient has knowledge about the human anatomy because her scares are deep yet they are far from the critical areas. Have you asked the patient about her problems?"

"Oh my god!" Natakpan ni Gwynedd ang mukha at humagulgol sa dibdib ni Larry na nakatitig kay Octavius na nakatitig sa sahig at nakaluhod pa rin. His shoulders went up and down, until they heard his whimpers.

"We will be moving the patient to a private room,"

The doctor excused himself and left. Lumapit si Midas sa kaniyang Ninong at ito'y inalo. Nasa likod niya lamang si Kalonice na naluluha dahil sa mga nangyayari.

"You will be fine, Ninong. You will be fine..." He taps his back. Octavius hugged him and cried like there is no tomorrow on his shoulder.


When they got to see Delphine, she was awake, but her gaze is far. She tilted her head towards them. She had the lifeless eyes. They are dull, they are dead. She lose their shine.

"I'm not surprised by it," sabi niya. Nilapitan siya ni Octavius.

"Better to know its dead than see it grew up getting killed by its own father. Right, Sie Lisieux?" Nagulat si Octavius dahil sa itinawag nito sa kaniya.

"D-Delphine..."

"I called a lawyer. The doctor recommended her to me. She will be here by any minute. No need to see each other on court. All we need to do is sign the papers and you are free again."

"N-No... No, no, no, Delphine. No. Please, no. Delphine, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Delphine. Please, don't divorce me. Don't leave me. Delphine..." He begged. Anger filled Delphine and gave him the hardest slap she could pull off.

Octavius accepted it. Delphine gave him another one, hanggang sa nagwala na siya. Cain and Larry quickly restrained her arms.

"Why are you getting sorry when it's already too late? Why, Octavius!? You killed my baby. You killed my child." Her words stings, they are poisonous.

"GET OUT! GET OUT OF HERE! I don't want to see your face again! Leave! You killed my child! You killed my child, Octavius! GET OUT! AAAAAHHHH!!!"

Octavius restrained her by hugging her tight. Delphine fights back and tried pushing him but she failed. The doctors came and injected a tranquilizer on her to calm her down.

"I don't know what to do. Larry... Cain... I'm a failure. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Delphine wants to leave me. Larry, tell her not to. I don't want to lose her. Neddy, Cassy, please convince her not to leave me. I don't want to lose Delphine!"

Octavius broke down and knelt in front of them. Larry and Cain pulled him up and bring her to the couch. Midas handed him water.

"W-We will fix this. Relax and be calm. We will fix this, okay? We have your back. We won't let you two separate. Hush, we have your back. We will resolve this together, man. Hush..." Cain hugged him and taps his back. Octavius cried on his shoulder.

"Mom, don't cry too much. My siblings..." Pag-aalala ni Caedmon na hindi umaalis sa tabi ng ina na walang tigil sa pag-iyak.

"If only... If only, Octavius. If only. This would never happen," she sobs.

"L-Let's not blame and pinpoint anyone. For now, we need to stay by her side and support her." Gwynedd breathe and wipes her tears.

Hours passed until the time where the sun hides and was replaces by the moon came. Delphine was still sleeping. Cassandra and Cain, with Caedmon, checked out to the nearby hotel. Gwynedd left with Midas to follow them. That leaves Larry, Kalonice, and Octavius remaining with Delphine. Kalonice volunteered to stay to take turns from guarding Delphine.

"Everything... Everything was my fault..." She heard Octavius said between his sobs. "I should have told her sooner. I love Delphine. I just...don't know how to express it to her. I want to tell her I love her but I was scared. I love Delphine ever since. But my guilt... The guilt of what I did to Margaret haunts me. I want to start a new life with Delphine but Margaret... At least I want to ask her forgiveness. Larry, how could I make Delphine forgive me if I've been making her feel unloved for years?"

Nagbingi-bingihan si Kalonice sa mga naririnig. She pretend like she didn't heard a thing. Naglabas lang ng mga hinanakit si Octavius kay Larry hanggang sa makatulog ito. Kalonice helped him lie him down the sofa. "Are you hungry, hija? We will get food for us. Wait me here, okay?" Ngiti nito na tinanguhan niya naman. Larry left. Tumitig siya kay Delphine.

"Get well soon pp, Tita Delphine," mahinang bulong niya at pumasok sa banyo upang maglabas ng tawag ng kalikasan.

Pagkalabas niya ay siya'y natigilan.

Delphine is missing.

Tumingin siya sa paligid. Napansin niya ang nakaawang na pintuan kaya siya'y lumabas. Walang katao-tao sa hall. Bumalik muli siya sa loob. Siya'y nangamba.

"Sir Octavius... Sir Octavius..." Panggigising niya sa natutulog.

"Hmmm?"

"Ano po... Si Tita Delphine po, nawawala."

Octavius opened his one eyes. "What?"

"Your wife is missing po. Nag-call of mother nature lang po ako kanina pero paglabas ko po wala na si Tita Delphine---"


Bumalikwas ng bangon si Octavius at agad na lumabas. "DELPHINE!?" Tawag niya sa asawa at napalingon kay Kalonice na napalunok.

Larry took a turn and saw Octavius panicking. He run towards him. "Have you seen Delphine?" tanong nito sa kaniya na agad namang naguluhan.

"I-I don't. Why? Where is Delphine!?"

"She's missing!"

"AGAIN!?"

"DELPHINE IS MISSING!" Octavius shouted right after his face. Larry looked at Kalonice (who was peeking from the door) with gaped mouth.

"L-Let's go find her now! Hija, call Midas and Cain! Tell them to be here, and don't bring our wives! C'mon, Octavs!" Pagmamadali ni Larry at inabot sa kaniya ang mga biniling pagkain. Kinaladkad niya ang kaibigan palayo at tumungo sa nurse's desk upang ipaalam ang nangyari.

Kalonice started contacting Midas while pacing back and forth. She was biting her nails, staring at the empty bed where Delphine was lying on earlier.

[Is there something wrong?] bungad ni Midas nang sagutin ang kaniyang tawag.

"Midas, si Tita Delphine, nawawala."

[Huh? What!? Tita Delphine is missing!?]

Nasuklay ni Kalonice ang sariling buhok at tumingin sa bintana. "Hmm-mmm. Pinapapunta kayo dito ni Tito Larry. Kayong dalawa ni Sir Cain. Huwag niyo daw isama sina Tita at tiyak na magpa-panic lang sila," naluluha niyang pagpapaalam. Natigilan siya nang may makitang bulto mula sa itaas ng ospital na kinalalagyan nila mula sa kaharap niyang mataas na building.

Kumabog ang kaniyang dibdib.

"T-Tita Delphine..."

[What? Kalonice? Kalonice, are you there? Was she found?] tanong ni Midas na kasalukuyan nang papunta sa room nila Cain. Kinatok niya ang pinto.

"Si T-Tita Delphine! Midas! Si Tita Delphine nasa rooftop! Oh my god! Midas! Si Tita Delphine!" Napasalampak siya sa sahig at napasigaw. Pinatay niya muna ang tawag upang tawagan si Larry at ipaalam ang nakita.

"Tito! Tito, si Tita Delphine po nasa rooftop! Tito, please! Nasa rooftop po si Tita Delphine!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Larry at walang pagdadalawang isip na lumiko papunta sa lokasyon ng mga elevator dala si Octavius na hila-hila niya sa kwelyo.

Delphine closes her eyes and hugged herself. She slowly let put a gentle breathe.

"Little do you know
How I'm breaking while you fall asleep
Little do you know
I'm still haunted by the memories
Little do you know
I'm tryna pick myself up piece by piece
Little do you know
I am tired of giving more time..."

She starts walking nearer to the edge of the rooftop.

"Underneath it all I'm held captive by the hole inside
I've been holding back for the fear that you might change your mind
I'm ready to forgive you but forgetting is a harder fight
Little do you know
I am tired of giving you time..."

She successfully reached her destination. Umakyat siya doon. Napasinghap siya sa kagandahan ng buong City. It blows her mind away. It was breathtaking. She was in complete fantasy. It was so peaceful, so serene.

"My child..." Her voice tremble as she caress her belly. "It's beautiful, right?" She smiled like she's not feeling pain.

Octavius kicked the door open and shouted her name, "DELPHINE!"

Hindi siya lumingon. Nanatili lamang ang tingin niya sa kabuuan ng maliwanag na syudad.

"I never knew that the City will be this beautiful by night, Octavius. This view will make my death beautiful too with no vain. Ain't it?" Lumawak ang kaniyang ngiti at tumingala. Itinaas niya ang kamay na animo'y inaabot ang buwan. "I would reach the sky..."

"Delphine... Delphine, please don't do this. Delphine, please don't do this. I'm sorry! I'm sorry, Delphine! Pleqse don't leave me!"

Bahagyang namilog ang mga mata ni Delphine. Umikot siya upang makaharap si Octavius na unti-unti siyang nilalapitan. Umatras siya kaya naman tumigil ito sa paglapit sa kaniya at napasigaw kasama si Larry.

"You promised me that you will wait for me. Delphine, you promised me!"

Gumuhit ang isang matamis na ngiti sa kaniyang mga labi at tumango. "I do. I do said that..." Tumawa siya. "I will wait for you, forever, in this hell you put me through, Octavius. In hell, not in heaven."

Sunud-sunod na nagsitulo ang mga luha ni Octavius at natulala.


Meanwhile, Kalonice is messing the room around. Kinapa niya ang salamin. She looked at the glass of the building in front of her and saw Delphine above. Tumingin siya sa kaniyang paligid. Kinuha niya ang upuan at binuhat.

"Haaaa!!!" Malakas niya itong ipinukpok sa salamin. Ni hindi man lang ito nag-crack dahil sa kakapalan nito.

She tried harder. She kept on hitting the glass ngunit walang nangyari. Binitiwan niya ang upuan at pumunta sa banyo. Kinuha niya ang takip ng bowl at tinanggal ang pang-flush nito at bumalik sa salamin. Huminga siya ng malalim at malakas itong hinampas sa salamin. It cracked. She continued hitting the glass window until it finally break open.

Ibinaba niya iyon at sumilip sa itaas, hindi alintana ang mga bubog ng salamin. Her hands bleed. She saw Delphine above and her feet that's peeking on the edge already.

"Delphine, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I will make things right from now on! I will be the husband you've been wanting me to be. I will be the perfect husband for you so please! Delphine, don't leave me! Don't leave me, Delphine! Don't leave me because I LOVE YOU!" He screamed from the top of his lungs, hoping that Delphine would change her mind.

"Your lie...makes me feel happy tonight."

Octavius felt like his whole world stopped from turning.

"Del...phine?"

"If only you became more honest to me... If only you told me that sooner... If only you relieved my exhaust sooner... I would not give up. You are not mine to lose, Octavius. And I never been yours for you to lose. I'm tired." She slowly pushed herself down.

"I'm tired. So please, let me rest forever." She smiled at him as her tears fell down. Octavius almost had his eyes popped out from widening.

"DELPHINE!!!"

Delphine chuckled. She stared at the twinkling dark skies. No happy memories ever flashed back through her mind because she never had any. All of her memories are nothing but the ones written on her scripted life. She saw Octavius above, about to jump to but Larry pulled him back.

"Good bye, my Love..."

She closed her eyes, waiting for her end with all of her heart.

Tumuntong si Kalonice sa puro bunog na bintana. She scooped Delphine with her right hand, as the other one holds on the rod that divides the glass windows.

Wala sa oras na nabuksan ni Delphine ang kaniyang mga mata. Nanlaki ang mga ito nang makita si Kalonice.

Nadulas si Kalonice pababa. She cried in pain upon feeling the mirrors cut her soles. Mahigpit siyang kumapit sa pader, iniinda ang mga bubog na bumabaon sa kaniyang palad. She refused to let Delphine go when she tried pushing her.

"Don't kill yourself!" Malakas niyang sigaw sa mukha nito.

"No matter how many times you've been hurt, no matter how many times someone crushes you, no matter who and no matter how, don't give up! Your life is beautiful! You worth more than any gem in this world, so don't break it like it costs a cent! You need to live and make things right again! Live, Tita Delphine! Your death will be Tito Octavius' death too! Don't leave him behind! Don't live Jarrah behind! LIVE AND BE HAPPY WITH THEM! LIVE FOR YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS! YOU ARE STRONGER THAN THIS!"

Tumulo ang mga luha ni Kalonice habang masama ang tingin sa kaniya. Hindi nakaimik si Delphine. And the time when she thought she don't have any happy memories to reminisce, a beautiful one flashes back through her mind. It is when she held Jarrah for the very first time in her arms and Octavius was beside her to watch her sleep.

Kumapit din siya sa mabubog na pader. Kalonice pushed her up. Kalonice's hand slowly lose its strength. She let go.

But a hand hold hers. Her eyes widened.

Midas pulled her up and hugged her. The doctors came for rescue. Octavius came in, panting from a long run. His eyes darted on his wife immediately. Agad niyang nilapitan si Delphine at mahigpit siyang niyakap. Napangiti si Kalonice at tumingin sa kaniyang mga kamay, bago sa mga paa niyang walang tigil sa pagdurugo. She have cuts and deep scratches on her thighs, legs, arms and forearms, chest, and belly but she could feel no pain.

Binuhat siya ni Midas at inihiga sa stretcher na dala ng mga nurse. Ngumiti siya ng pilit. "I'm sorry. It was my fault that she got out..."

Midas shook his head and kissed her. "No, it's not your fault. You saved Tita Delphine, Kalonice. You saved her. Thank you. Thank you so much."

Isang ngiti na lamang ang ibinigay niya kay Midas bago siya tuluyang dinala ng mga nurses sa ER. Midas looked back inside. The doctors and nurses are waiting for Delphine, but Octavius doesn't want to let her go from his arms. Napasandal si Larry sa pader habang hawak ang dibdib. Nagwawala pa din ang kaniyang puso, but he knows any time soon he will be calming down. Cain handed him water that he gladly accepted.

Midas stared at his Ninong's pitiful state. He almost lost his wife after he lose his child. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang kahahantungan ng kaniyang Ninong kung sakali mang nawala din sa kaniya si Delphine. They owe Kalonice a huge one, a priceless one for saving her.

But little did they know, it was also her who pushed Delphine to commit suicide.

The nurses looked at each other. They found it strange to see the patient, Kalonice, smirking and laughing as they treat her wounds.