The Bronc X Virus 8

SEAN'S POV

I remembered the rapid race ug my heartbeats as I listened to Patrick. My mind was screaming its protest; I could already guess what's next. I stared at him, sparing a blink. Perhaps, Patrick had read my mind because his lips twisted into a sad smile, its corner etched with pain.

"I was already a step away from success, but he took it all and claimed the full victory."

There was a time when the people already cried from helplessness and despair because of the virus outbreak that caused thousands of mortalities. Just when the leaders of the country almost gave up hope, Ric Abella announced his breakthrough regarding the discovery of a particular drug that saved the country from the brink of death.

"Not even one of his colleagues stopped him from doing that?" I stared at him in disbelief.

"It was a secret that only him and I knew."

I already expected this, but the next thing he told me had my blood rushed to my head.

"When I woke up from my coma state after a few days, I pretended I was still unconscious. He ordered someone to take me somewhere..."

______

One summer, I went home to Kalasag, my father's hometown. I already bought the whole district at that time, but there were still some people living in my territory. An hour had not passed yet since I arrived when I saw my neighbors flocking at the porch of my house.

"Sir, a chopper landed on a clearing a while ago. Because of our curiosity, we flocked to the place to see what's going on. The chopper flew right away, and to our shock, it left behind a sick man. Please come and take a look at him!"

I strode fast towards the clearing, and there I saw a man lying down on the wet grass. He was too weak and barely able to open his eyes. I tried to wake him up, but he only responded with a groan. I could tell through his slow and shallow breathing that this man was already dying, so I did not waste time. I had him lifted into my plane.

"Is there anyone among you whom I can pay to care for him at the hospital?" I said, running my eyes through the startled crowd.

"Dina, how about you?" A middle-aged woman nudged a lady beside her, drawing all our attention.

The lady's face turned white as I looked at her, feeling awkward at everyone's attention, especially mine. I knew later that she was an orphan, but her relatives supported her studies until she took a vocational course in a state college. Life was difficult for her since every day, she had to walk several kilometers to reach the school.

"Miss, are you willing? I can't allow anyone to die in my territory. Whoever he may be, if he can only speak, I am sure he will ask for our help. You will be caring for him until he gets well, and I will be paying you well."

As soon as Dina agreed, we flew back to the city. I had him treated confidentially, using a false name to conceal his identity. We also made everyone believe that he was married, and Dina was his wife.

"Doc, what happened to him? Is he also infected with the virus?" I asked, thinking that nothing else could make him look like that, but the virus that currently plagued the country. As I stared at him during our flight, I could tell that he was yet in his late thirties.

"No, we found poison in his blood." An idea formed in my mind--the president plotted to kill him. His death would eliminate the truth behind his achievement. If not him, it could be his father.

It took several days for Patrick to fight for his life in the ICU until I brought him back to my house in Kalasag. Dina was still the one caring for him until he could do things on his own. When he was already able to recall everything that happened to him, he asked me to build him a shelter in the forest. Little did I know that somewhere in the area, there was a cave.

"Why won't we build you a house instead?" I asked when Patrick suggested to fix the cave and had it build like a house, instead.

"Aside from the fact that I am hiding, I would also like to study nature."

Since he told me that he was a scientist, how could I argue with such people having explorative and curious minds like him? Of course, I did not believe at first, but since I could see the wisdom in everything he said, aside from many things in the lab, I did not argue anymore. I hired carpenters and masons, and in less than a month, they already improvised a shelter inside the cave.

When I returned the next few months, I got surprised at the many things he did in certain areas inside the forest. And I could see that he was turning the place into his natural laboratory. However, what surprised me the most was the news that he and Dina were already living together as a couple.

At that time, the country had returned to its normal pace, but the cry of the people was to elect Ric Abella as the president.

I updated Patrick about the recent events of the country, even showing him photos of President Abella's marriage to a beautiful colleague in the lab where he previously worked. To my surprise, he suddenly burst out into mirthless laughter.

"Wow. It's still not enough for him to steal my achievements, poison me to death, and throw my almost lifeless body to the outskirts of a forest. He also took to himself the woman I have loved for years."

He tapped his fingers on the table, staring blankly at a distance. Even if he wouldn't admit it, I knew he was hurting.

____

The ringing of my phone jolted me back to reality. I stretched my arms and sat up straight, picking up the phone. I gasped and held my breath as I saw the name of my caller. If only I could avoid him, I would--in the name of my sympathy over what Patrick had gone through because of him.

"I want to see my woman," President Ric Abella said directly, not bothering to say even a simple greeting.

I got tongue-tied for a moment, not knowing what was right anymore. Should I hear Calla's plea to help her break free from this arrogant and married man's claws? Or, should I tell him the truth that I was keeping her somewhere?

Before I could make an answer, the door to my office opened. The sight of Calla on the doorway then seemed to make the matter worse.