Midas' Touch [COMPLETED]

Chapter 37

"MOM!?"

Jarrah slammed the door open na siyang nagpagulat sa lahat. Tumingin siya sa mga taong nasa loob bago sa ina. Agad niya itong nilapitan at mahigpit na niyakap.

"I'm glad you're fine..." She cried in relief at kumalas din agad. Pinunasan niya ang mga mata at ngumiti. Delphine smiled back.

"You---" Agad na tinakpan ni Cain ang bibig ng asawa bago pa ito may masabing hindi maganda na ikakasira ng atmospera sa loob.

"I heard the news. You lost my...sibling,"

Napawi ang ngiti ni Delphine at napatingin kay Octavius. Bumaba naman agad ang tingin nito.

"Yes."

Bumuga ng hangin si Jarrah at tinaasan ng kilay ang ama. "See what happened? If only you took care of her, we wouldn't lost it. It's your fault, Dad. It's your fault because you are cold and a stone!"

"Jarrah..." Nakikiusap na tawag ni Delphine sa pangalan ng anak at hinawakan ang kamay nito. Siya'y umiling.

"No one is at fault here, okay? I-I don't know that I was pregnant too. Nobody knew. It was... It was an accident. Don't blame your father. We already talked. We will start a new life. We will be a better family now." Naluha si Delphine habang malapad ang ngiti sa mga labi. Natigilan si Jarrah at hindi makapaniwalang napatingin sa ama.

"R-Really?" Utal niya, naninigurado, at tumango naman si Delphine.

"To be honest, I love your Mom. I just...don't know how to express it. It is not because of Margaret why I'm not. It is not because I am still in love with her. It is because I was... I just couldn't open up my self. I am also waiting for Margaret to show up again, because I want to ask for forgiveness for what happened to us. I feel like I have sinned and I don't know how to atone it,"

He meet her stares. "So, I am sorry. Sincerely and genuinely. I am the reason why our family became like this. My coldness did this. And I don't know how much I must repay, how I should make it up to the both of you. I love you two. I do."

Natutop ni Jarrah ang bibig at nagmamadaling lumapit sa ama saka ito mahigpit na niyakap. "You should have said that sooner, Dad! You should have said that sooner!"

"I'm sorry, honey. I'm sorry." Octavius hug her back habang hinahaplos ang kaniyang ulo.

Napangiti si Gwynedd. She's happy that their family is now fixed. Jarrah may did something bad, she will still clap for her. Her happiness this time is genuine. Her smiles are not fake.


Jarrah stayed with her mother until she bid her farewell to them. She have a fashion show to attend. Kaya kahit ayaw niyang umalis at kahit dinecline na niya ang offer ay pumunta pa din siya dahil sabi ni Delphine. She also have her father's approval and assure her that he will take good care of her mother starting from now on.

"So, what are you going to say to us, Delphy?" Cain. Doon ay sila'y tumahimik habang hinihintay ang pagsasalita ni Delphine.

"Don't jump into conclusions, okay? I want you to listen to me and I hope we will understand each other,"

Agad na tumango ang mga kaibigan. Kumagat si Caedmon sa mansanas. Hinampas siya ni Cassandra dahil para kay Delphine iyon.

"Kalonice... Kalonice manipulated me to kill myself."

Nahigit nila ang kanilang mga hininga at mga natigilan.

"She woke me up. She was brainwashing me, controlling my mind, and manipulating me. She used my weaknesses and pain. She told me that it will only end if I will put an end to it myself. She told me that I should kill myself to hurt Octavius even more, that my death will haunt him for the rest of his life. I was depressed, I let her words chained me. Before our conversation, she went back to the bathroom and that is when I sneak out and went to the rooftop to commit suicide," pagkukuwento niya.

Nabingi sila sa katahimikan. Nilunok ni Caedmon ang mansanas. "Eye color?" Nakuha niya ang atensyon ng lahat. "It could be one of her personalities. And we could determine who it was if we will make the eye color a basis,"

Tumingin si Delphine sa kaniyang mga daliri at nakagat ang kaniyang mga labi. "I-It was Kalonice, to be honest,"

Nalaglag ang panga ni Caedmon.

"B-But she has the same eye condition just like Octavius---"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS!?" Napatayo si Caedmon. Nagulantang ang lahat sa naging reaksyon niya.

"What's wrong, Caedy? Do you know her? That personality?" Cain.

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Midas na nagtataka. "Sama eye color as Ninong?" aniya. Napatingin siya kay Octavius na nahihiwagaan.

"But I thought there are only seven personalities in her? And among those seven, their eye colors are not the same as Ninong's but either in the shades of green, blue, or brown..." He suspiciously stares at Caedmon na natuod sa kinatatayuan.

"Are you telling us that she has an eighth personality, Caedmon?"

Caedmon gulped. Hinawakan siya ni Cassandra sa bisig. He look down at her. "Tell us the truth, anak. Does she really have an eighth personality? Who is it? Tell us. We need to know, Caedmon. Who is her eighth personality?"

But Caedmon failed to open his lips. He was horrified. He never knew that it will come back. He never thought it will, and it never knew that it will be this time.

"I... I can't..." Because I don't want to die yet.

He wanted to continue his words but he was afraid to let them know. He was afraid to open his mouth, not on her watch.

"Why? What's stopping you from telling us?" Larry.

They wait for his response, pero napansin niya ang titig nito sa kung saan kaya sinundan nila ito ng tingin. She hides. She prepared her self. She exposed her self to them and knocked with a smile. Agad na tumayo si Midas nang siya'y makita at nilapitan.

"Why didn't you told me that you will---" Lumaki ang kaniyang mga mata nang makita ang mga mata nito. "You are...not Kalonice..."

"Hmm? Anong sinasabi mo, Midas?" Painosente nitong sabi at tumingin sa mga taong nasa loob. Natulala sa kaniya si Octavius na nanlalaki ang mga mata.

"Uhhm... B-Bawal po ba ako dito? May pinag-uusapan po ba kayong importante? Aalis na muna po ako---"

"No!" Pigil nila sa kaniya. "No, stay."

Naguguluhan man ay ngumiti na lamang si Kalonice saka tumango. Inalalayan siya ni Midas mula sa paglalakad. She was slow, too slow for every step, her soles are hurting.

Umupo siya sa tabi ni Gwynedd. Tinabihan siya ni Midas.

"About your left eye..." Kinakabahang pagsasalita ni Gwynedd at sumulyap sa mga kasama.

Kumurap si Kalonice. "Ano pong meron sa mata ko, Tita?" tanong niya at hinawakan ang kanang mata. Ibinaba ni Midas ang kanan niyang kamay at inilagay ang kaniyang kaliwang palad sa kaliwa niyang mata.

They couldn't understand. She's completely Kalonice. Or is this personality was just copying her to fool them? They couldn't let their guards down. The y could sense something dangerous about her.

"Are you really Kalonice?" Pandidiretso ni Cain. Nagulat si Kalonice.

Ibinaba nito ang kamay. At laking gulat nila nang mawala ang sectoral heterochromia niya.

"Opo. Ako po si Kalonice, Tito Cain. M-May mali po ba sa akin?" Tumingin siya kay Midas na hindi kumukurap. Nakatitig lamang ito sa kaniya at walang kibot. Mas lalo tuloy siyang naguluhan.

"N-Nothing, nothing. I-I just thought that...nothing. Nevermind, hija." Cain forced a laugh at umayos ng upo saka umiwas ng tingin sa kaniya.

Bumaling si Kalonice kay Delphine. Siya'y napangiti. "Kumusta na po ang lagay niyo, Tita Delphine?"

"I-I'm fine. I'm fine, I'm fine," sagot agad nito na nauutal pa.

"Mabuti naman po. Huwag niyo na po ulit gagawin 'yun, ha?"

Tanging tango ang naibigay ni Delphine sa kaniya. Napatingin siya kay Midas at ngumiti. She rests her head on his shoulder.

Tumayo si Caedmon at umatras. "I-I need to go. I-I have to give Wayne my gift for her. G-Good bye---" He turned his back.

"Bakit nagmamadali ka ata, Caedmon?" sambit ni Kalonice na siyang nagpatigil sa kaniya.

He slowly tilted his head to Kalonice, and saw that it was her again. "Why do you look so scared, Caedmon?" tanong nito sa kaniya nang may kasamang kakaibang ngiti. Caedmon froze on his location.

Umiwas na siya ng tingin at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad palabas. Nang makalayo-layo na ay humawak siya sa pader bilang suporta at hinabol ang sariling hininga.

"This is your fault, Wayne!" Impit na singhal niya at nasuntok ang pader. Wayne triggered her to come out. Wayne is to blame. Because of Wayne,

Nymph freed her self from the chains Kalonice put on her.

Nymph is back.


***

"Maayos lang naman po ako. Hindi ko naman po kailangan ng kapalit. Masaya po ako na ligtas si Tita Delphine. Sana po maayos niyo na ang pamilya niyo po para maging masaya na siya,"

Gumaan ang loob nila't napangiti. Midas pat her head gently, looking at her proudly.

"But still, we need to repay you. You saved her life and risked yours. At least tell me if there is anything I can do to repay you, Kalonice. I can't just sit here without doing anything to pay you my debt---"

"H-Hindi na po! Okay lang po talaga. Okay lang po. Huwag na po," tanggi ni Kalonice na pilit na tumatawa.

"Just give her a house, Ninong. A palace. You can do that, right? Build one. Daddy will help you," ani Midas at dumekwatro. Nagsalubong agad ang mga kilay ni Larry.

"Bakit pati ako?"

"Why not? You're an engineer." Midas simply shrugged.

Mahina namang natawa ang mga babae. "Okay. Sagot ko na mga land transportations niyong dalawa," gatong ni Cain kaya nagtawanan na lamang sila.

Lumapit si Octavius kay Kalonice at umupo sa harapan nito. Hinawakan niya ang kaniyang mga kamay, and somehow, they both feel a different kind of 'link'.

"I know that my thanks will never be enough to overlook what you did to my wife, but with my most sincerity from the deepest depths of my heart... Kalonice, thank you. So much."

Tinitigan ni Kalonice ang kanilang mga kamay bago kay Octavius. A memory flashed in her mind. A picture that she saw years ago from among her mother's possessions.

She subtly tilts her head to the right, scanning his face. She blinks. Ngumiti siya at itinuwid ang ulo. "Walang anuman po, Tito Octavius,"

He nodded and pulled her for a hug. Nabigla si Kalonice, hindi niya iyon inaasahan. Tumingin siya sa mga taong nasa kaniyang paligid na mga nakangiti lang sa kanilang dalawa. Then she turned to Midas who was inspecting them suspiciously pero agad ding ngumiti ng maliit kay Kalonice.

Kalonice hug Octavius back.

She rests her head to his shoulder. She feel light. She feel warm. The feeling...she just couldn't explain it. It feels familiar; a familiar stranger. She feels that they share a link. A kind of link ghat6she couldn't tell what. She smiles before letting go from the hug.

Larry's phone rings. Bumalik na si Octavius sa tabi ni Delphine at hinawakan ang kaniyang kamay. He looked at her ring. He took his out of his pocket. Napatingin doon si Delphine. Octavius gave her his.

"Put it on me," aniya. Delphine took his ring, kisses it gently before putting it on his finger. They shared a kiss before a hug.

"Montecristo? Kalonice?" Nakuha ni Larry ang kanilang mga atensyon.

"Yeah. I'm with her. Why?" Larry glances at Kalonice. She looks at him innocently with a smile.

His brows furrowed. Ibinaba niya ang telepono matapos ang tawag.

"Ano po iyon?" Tanong ni Kalonice na kinakabahan dahil sa naging reaksyon niya.

"My Secretary just told me that your mother went to our company and is looking for you. But she already left. She was just looking for you and didn't left a reason before leaving."

Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Kalonice.

"Her bitchy mother!? You should have told your secretary to send her to jail once she comes back! You know what she did to Kalonice!" Pagpupuyos ni Cassandra na tumataas ang alta presyon dahil sa galit.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Kalonice sa sahig. Hindi niya alam ang magiging reaksyon. Bumalik sa kaniyang isipan ang lahat-lahat. Hindi niya alam kung anonh pakay nito. Pero mukhang pera na naman. Hindi na muli siya magpapaloko pa sa ina. Hinding-hindi na.

"Uhhm, hayaan niyo na lang po. Itaboy niyo na lang po siya. Kayo na po ang bahala kapag nangulit siya..."

Yup, maybe that's the right way to avoid her. She will leave her in their hands. She doesn't want to meddle anymore. Tutal ampon lang naman siya, at buong buhay niya ay inalipusta at binaboy siya nito, katangahan na lamang kung paiiralin niya ang kaniyang kalambutan at tatanggapin siyang muli.

"That's the best decision. She will rot in jail." Midas pats her head again. Ngumiti na lamang si Kalonice at mahinang tumawa.

***

"Po? Bakit po ipo-postpone?" Takang wari ni Kalonice habang naglalakad sila palabas ng ospital. Delphine stayed here for three days. Ngayon na siya na-discharged at sa isang hotel muna sila mag-i-stay. The wedding was held in an island nearby Spain. Since Barcelona was the nearest land to them, they admitted Delphine in the nearest hospital. The newlyweds are now in Paris to enjoy their honeymoon.

"He said that his company was robbed of a huge amount. So, he will postpone the building first and fix the problem. For now, we will talk to Mr. Cayman about his mansion in Canada,"

Napatango ang dalawa. "Let's travel around Canada---"

"We're there to work, not travel, Midas!" Pinanlakihan ni Kalonice ng mga mata si Midas at patago itong kinurot. He snorted.

"We can go there by now and let Dad settle everything for us while we travel around?" Giit niya at hinampas ang ama. Dumaing si Larry at napahawak sa kaniyang braso. He widened his eyes at him.

"Fine, fine, fine. Kailangang manakit?" asar na ungot nito at inirapan siya. Ngumisi si Midas at bumaling kay Kalonice na napapa-iling.

Hinila niya si Kalonice at nagpatiuna. "Then, goodbye. Tell her siblings that we'll be working now,"

Ngunit nang may maalala ay umikot siya upang makaharap ang mga ito. "And oh, Ninong, their nannies and guards, okay? Bye!"

"Midas---sandali!" Hindi pinakinggan ni Midas ang daing ni Kalonice at pumasok sa elevator kasama ang dalawang nurses. Kumaway siya kina Larry na mga napamaang at hindi pa napoproseso ang mga pangyayari. Sumama ang tingin ni Kalonice sa kaniya.

"Seriously? Padalos-dalos ka, Midas!"

"No. No, I'm not. I was just...excited. I'm excited to travel and be with you. Just the two of us," anito habang suot ang malapad na ngiti. Napabuntong hininga na lamang si Kalonice. Anong magagawa niya? He's happy and excited about them bonding together. Nakakasama naman ng loob kung pagagalitan niya ang lalaki, hindi ba? He just want to make new memories with her and nothing is wrong with that.

"Ikaw bahala,"

Itinago niya ang kilig. Inakbayan siya ni Midas at magkasamang lumabas. They called a cab and went in. Dumiretso agad sila sa Airport. Luckily, the next flight to Canada will be in an hour. So, they booked a ticket for a flight and waited.

Puro kwentuhan lang naman ang ginawa nila buong oras habang naghihintay. There are people who recognised them but did not dare to enter their space. They just talked about random stuffs, then went on making blueprints and scaled drawings for the mansion in Kalonice's phone, and so on. When their flighr was called, they went to the plane and find their seat, and they continued working together.

"Should we book in a hotel? Or buy a house there? We will be there for less than a year, though. Or maybe more than a year. But we will have holidays, so it will still be a year..."

Natawa si Kalonice sa kaniyang kadaldalan. "Maybe, bahay na lang nga. Pwede naman nating ibenta ulit 'yon kapag natapos na ang trabaho natin d'on,"

Midas gazes at her before nodding slowly. "Hmm, you're right,"

Natawa silang pareho.


They landed in Vancouver. Nag-check in sila sa isang hotel matapos bumili ng ilang damit sa boutique na malapit sa hotel. They changed and went out to look for a house to buy. They also visited the place where the mansion will be built, at kailangan pang i-demolish ang ilang kabahayan roon maging ilang tindahan. Kalonice felt bad for the people in there. Their land will be replaced by a mansion where only two to five people will live, habang sila ay lalampas sa limampu at nagha-hanapbuhay pa.


Finally, they found an interesting 2-storey house. Midas instantly purchased it. It will be a tough day again since they will need to buy appliances and things for their house. Bed, cabinets, and necessary things only. Hindi na sila bumili pa ng mga dekorasyon o kung ano pa man dahil hindi naman na kailangan. They preferred a minimal amount and numbers.

By the end of the day, they went to sleep early to rest and prepare for the day in the next morning.