Broken Strings
Chapter 11

MELISSA QUIZON

His face is serious. “Tell me, the boy in the picture, is he my son?”

I pulled hard on my arm he’s holding, then faced him. He looked at me seriously, remorse was in his eyes.

“Wait? Your son? I didn’t know you have one. Why are you asking me this, Mister Agoncillo?” I frowned. I lowered the picture frame I was holding to the table closest to me and then faced him again. “Didn’t your stomach turn up when you said that?”

I was sure he’ll feel insulted by what I said. I don’t care. Why? After all these years, he has the nerve to call Reid his son? He must be out of his mind.

“Melissa…” He tried to reach me, but I raised my hand to stop him.

“Don’t take a step closer, Mister Agoncillo. Stay where you are.” I have a hard time mentioning his name. “When you come, I’ll hit you with all I can.” I looked around and pointed to the tools. “I have a lot of choices here.”

He stopped and sighed. His jaw tightened. “Melissa, all I want to know is if he’s my son—”

“Stop, don’t say anything.” I couldn’t help but raise my voice. I sighed and counted one to ten before I looked at him coldly. “You know, I’m impressed with the thickness of your face. The thickness, really. The encyclopedia will be embarrassed.”

“You don’t have to insult me, Melissa. My question requires a ‘yes’ and ‘no’ response. Is Reid my son?!” He said authoritatively.

“You have no right to command me! You’re in my territory, Wright!” I clasped my hands because I want to hit this shameless man.

“I don’t care!”

“You have no son, Wright!” I looked at him angrily.

The painful memories came back as I look into his face. The time he left me on the air, the time he fooled me, the times he wants to abort our child. “You told me to abort, didn’t you? “

‘Let’s break up.’

‘So, what are you asking for now? Money? Supply?’

‘If you don’t have that abortion, I won’t be responsible for that.’

‘Get rid of that. I’ll pay for everything, it is less than raising a child, Melissa. Your choice.’

I close my eyes because of the memories. I don’t want to remember those hellish words! Please! I don’t want to remember the pain he caused me. I swallowed several times to keep the tears from coming out of my eyes. I looked up again, I bravely met the anger in his eyes.

“I gave you a choice then. Whether to have an abortion or not. But, you said you didn’t want to. Now, I’m asking you if he is my son!” He screams back at me.

“He’s MY child! My only child! My only child! I aborted your child before! You killed him!” I couldn’t help but vent my anger. I knew my face was already red with anger. I wanted to hit him hard to ease the anger I was feeling. I can already taste a little bit of b***d because I accidentally bit it. “You have no children with me. Because you killed him yourself. And what right do you have to claim him now? What rights do you have, huh, Wright?”

His expression softened. I backed away when he reached for me with his right hand. “Melissa…”

“Don’t touch me! I hate you!”

I could see the agony in his eyes, but I kept my hard expression. “Please. Let’s just—”

I turned around and then covered my ears with my hands. “I told you! Reid isn’t your son! He’s not your son!”

There were arms wrapped around my waist. My hands that had previously covered my ears were now free of slapping Wright’s arms. I pinched and even slapped it just to getaway.

“Melissa! Bullshit!” There is determination in his voice. He tightened the grip on my arm. “I know he’s mine!”

I struggled. I feel like I’m getting burned by the way he touches me. “What?! No! He isn’t yours!”

When he released me, I immediately backed away from him. He left and enjoyed himself in a foreign country, then he’ll come back just to take my son? I need to hide Reid.

“I’ll know the truth, Melissa. Eventually.” He says seriously. “For now, I’ll let you go first. We’re not done yet.”

He walked past me. I didn’t look at him until I heard the door slam shut. I pulled up my co-teachers chair and then sat there, my knees wobbled. I feel like I ran out of energy because of what happened. I felt scared. I didn’t know what I could do if he took my son away from me.

Gradually my co-teachers came in, so I organize myself as if nothing had happened. They ask me what a famous person like Wright told me, all I said was about the sudden closing of the door when I saw him. I seem to have convinced some except Ellyza. I just smiled at them then took my bag and left the faculty.

Out of exhaustion and confusion, I chose to take an absence. I am mentally and physically unstable. I thought deeply until I got to Eugene’s hospital.

His secretary took me inside Eugene’s office. They already know me because Eugene introduced me to them then. I sat in the chair in front of his table. I leaned on the table and then closed my eyes. I remember the conversation Wright and I had earlier. It was as if many needles were piercing my heart.

“What happened? You look tired and bothered.”

I lifted my face and looked at the door. Eugene was there. He was leaning against the jamb and had both hands on his white coat. He also had a stethoscope around his neck.

I smiled at him, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Hi. Sorry for coming without notice.”

He closed the door and then sat in the chair in front of me. He took my hand and then kissed the back of my palm. “You’re not a bother. You know I’ll cross the mountain and see just to meet you.”

We looked at the door when it opened. His secretary entered holding a bag of coffee.

“Doc, here’s what you’ve ordered.” Eugene approached her then took the bag. After giving thanks, his secretary leaves us and closed the door.

He took the milkshakes out of the bag, I sighed deeply. It was my favourite flavour. He gave it to me, and I gladly accepted it. “Wow. Thanks.”

He sipped his milkshake. “Spill it out before you get a stomachache.”

“It’s okay. I’m in the hospital.” I laughed after drinking the milkshake. I stared at my hand while holding the cup.

“We’ve run out of medicine for that. Tell me what’s the problem, Melissa.” I sat up straight and looked at Eugene.

“Wright and I met earlier.”

“I see.” He took a deep breath. He lowered the cup on his desk and then held my hand. “And then?”

I told him everything. I don’t even know why I didn’t have a hard time telling that to Eugene. “Then, when I entered our faculty, he was there. He was holding the… picture of Reid and me. He asked if… if Reid is his son.”

“And, of course, because you were so mad at him, you said no.”

“Right!”

He seemed disappointed in what I did. “Wright isn’t stupid, Mel.”

“W-What do you mean?”

“Do you think he didn’t notice how much he and Reid resembled?” He pushed his chair closer to me and reached over my shoulder. “‘Don’t fool yourself, Mel.”

He sided with Wright?! My annoyance resurfaced.

I lowered the cup to his table and then removed his hand from my shoulder. “What do you want me to do?! I’ll tell him, Reid is his son?! Give him the right he wanted? Damn it! He wants me to abort Reid because he doesn’t want to be accountable!”

I stood. I walked back and forth in front of it. I don’t have an ally anymore?! Shit! Did I think Eugene was mad at Wright? Why is it happening that he sided with the person who cheated and hurt me!?

He stood up. “Melissa, calm down.”

“No! I can’t believe it! I thought you were on my side, Eu.” I couldn’t stop my tears from flowing, I wiped them away. “Did you expect me to accept Wright with open arms?! I won’t! I can’t accept the person who dumped us like a kitten in a cardboard box!”

Eugene hugged me tightly. He stroked my hair. I wrapped my arms around his waist. “Stop crying, Mel. I’m sorry. Hush now.”

“I can’t. It still hurts. It still hurts.” I sobbed.

“Ssshh… I know. It’s not going to go away easily. But I’m here, Mel. I won’t go anywhere.”

“You can mend the pieces together, yet it won’t be the same again.” Wright wrecks me. He left nothing intact for me, what else can I give Eugene?

We were in that position for a few minutes. I calmed myself before looking up at him. I watched Eugene’s worried face. He raised his hand and then wiped the tears from my cheeks and eyes.

He pressed our foreheads together, and I closed my eyes.

“Eu, what am I going to do?”

“You’re old enough, Mel. What do you think is right?” He whispered.

I opened my eyes and met his. “I don’t know anymore.”

He kissed me on the forehead. “I’m here. I’ll protect you and Reid. I love you.”

“Thank you.” I tiptoed and then kissed him on the cheek. “Reid and I love you too. We love you, Eugene.”

“Yeah, we’re family.” He smiled. “Don’t cry. You look like a loser bear.”

“How did you know the look of a loser bear?”

“Every handsome man knows that.”

“Wow.”

This is what I like about Eugene, he makes me feel better. Maybe I won’t regret it if I love him. Maybe I wouldn’t be hurt if he was the one I’ll love. “You smell like a fresh orange.”

“Yes, I was talking to a patient and she had cravings. So after her ultrasound, I peeled some orange for her.”

I was about to speak when there was a knock on the door. When it opened his secretary entered. Her expression was blank and cold, as if always serious, so maybe that is why Eugene took her as his secretary.

“Doc, it’s time for a checkup of one of your patients.”

“Yes. I’ll be there.” Eugene nodded, then he looked at me. “Are you going somewhere tonight?”

I nodded. “Yes. Crissa and I have a gig from ten o’clock ‘til midnight.”

“Ah. That’s the end of my duty. I’ll pick you up.”

“Huh? Don’t. You’re tired. Just rest. I can handle myself.”

“I insist.” He caressed my cheek. His face dropped and he gently kissed me on the cheek. “See you.”

“Okay.”