Chapter 12

Crystal

Miguel Wayne stood frozen meters away from me. He looked intimidating that you would hesitate to approach him in his dark gray trouser suit—it was the same as the one Erik used to wear every time we meet.

Erik was right when he said that I looked like a bit of my father. His eyes were hazel and his hair was blonde like sunshine. He seemed to be in his early 50s.

I guess, the only trait I didn't get from him was the towering height and face shape. His jaws were wide, unlike mine which were oval-shaped like my mother.

"W-what are you doing here?" That was the first thing I asked when he began to step toward me. Anger was fuelling my heart to race faster. "We don't need your help if that's what you think! We didn't need you before, we will not be needing you now! So back off and—"

"All this time, I've been just around you, Crystal. You have no idea how much I wanted to get near you, only I was afraid to be cast away by my own daughter," he said in a broken voice.

From the day I heard that my father had abandoned me and my mother, I couldn't help but get angry at him. He should be the one taking care of us, shouldn't he?

It also came to the point that I decided not to meet him at all. That's why when the nurse informed me that Miguel Wayne was outside the ICU, waiting for me, I almost wanted to charge him and slap him with the real situation of my mother. If he didn't dump us, he wouldn't be seeing my mother in the hospital to begin with.

But right this moment, as he walked over to me and hugged me, all the bitterness and all the hatred I felt for him appeared to be gone like evaporating water.

"I am not blaming you if you're still mad at me. If you would yell at me for what I'd done, that's totally fine with me. But let me be with you and your mother just for now. I missed the both of you so much."

I stayed still as he tightened his embrace. Mixed emotions began swirling in my chest, but to my surprise, the uppermost was happiness. His warmth and the clean familiar scent caused tears to stream down my face. Before I knew it, I found myself hugging him back as I tipped to my toes. So, this was the feeling of having a father around. For the first time in my eighteen years of existence, I felt secure and complete.

We were in that scene when Erik approached. I felt a bit conscious of the way he smiled at us. "Such an amazing picture. I can actually stay gazing at both of you all day."

"Indeed, we're an amazing picture," my father said when he pulled away, but his face remained on me. He was holding my cheeks when he planted a kiss on my forehead. "You don't know how happy I am at the moment. Finally, my daughter has forgiven me."

Did I? Yes maybe. And I was happy as well because the burden that I had been carrying for so long vanished. However, my blissfulness wasn't yet complete because of my mother.

I stared down at my feet, making him release my face. "You still have to talk to Mama about your stand on our family. The last time I know, she was upset with you."

"Right," he said, his tone was certain. "I know she will not be able to accept me at once. But I'll never stop pursuing her."

I raised my chin and looked at him. "You know it is not that easy. You still have a family, aren't you?"

He seemed off guard by my question, parting his mouth but no words came out.

Shortly, the ICU door opened. My question eventually disappeared in the air when my father approached the doctor. "How is the patient?"

"Miss Crisanta is awake just now. She is asking for your presence," he said and took a glance at me before getting back to my father. "She wants to talk to you alone."

I frowned. "W-why only him? What about me?"

The doctor shook his head. "We don't know, Crystal. But let's give way to her request first. She wants to speak with him before we perform the next operation."

I parted my mouth to protest when Erik patted my shoulder. "Let's give this to your mother for now, Crystal.

I nodded, but my heart was a bit hurt.

A few minutes later had passed when I plopped on the bench. Erik sat beside me and handed me a cup of coffee. "Your mother will not be happy if you get sick as well. So at least take something for your stomach."

"Thanks," I said and took the cup from his hands. For some reason, the contact of our skin made a little jolt of electricity in my nerves. I couldn't help but recall what I had said to him when he embraced me a couple of hours ago. Ignoring my thoughts, I shook my head and said, "Why did Mama let him instead of me? Is she still mad at me?"

"That's not how I see it, Crystal," Erik said, taking a sip of his coffee. He sighed and continued. "But there are conversations that are only between certain people. Anyway, I'm sure that whatever it is, it is for your welfare."

"I don't know, Erik," I whispered, staring down at my cup. "But as much as I want to ignore the thought, I feel outcasted."

"Your parents love you, Crystal. That's the only thought you must retain in your head. Because if not, your mother will not allow your father to visit him."

I turned to Erik. "What do you mean?"

Erik smiled. "Mr. Wayne has received a call from a nurse as per request by your mother. She said, things needed to be settled for you."

His response had me confused even more. But before I uttered a word to clarify his statement, the door opened and a nurse exited, gazing at me. "The patient wants you inside."

I stood without a second thought. Erik tapped me on my shoulder before I entered the ICU.

My parents were holding each other's hands when I spotted them. For some reason, the scene made my chest feel light. A smile was plastered across my face as I continued to watch them talk in low voices. They were such a perfect picture.

I gasped when Mama turned in my direction. "What are you waiting for, Crystal? Come forward."

My body was stiff as I walked over to them. My father offered me his seat. Then he stood behind me, his hand was on my head, tussling my hair lightly.

"M-Mama," I squeaked, tears were already falling from my eyes. God, I'm tired of crying. But every time I see her condition, my heart was breaking into pieces. "I'm so sorry. This is my fault."

"My condition is no one's fault, Crystal." She smiled weakly, wrapping her hands around my hands. "This is what heaven wants. Don't blame yourself. You're a sweet girl."

"Why would heaven want someone to suffer from a serious condition?" I asked with a bitter undertone. "You don't deserve this."

"You're right. But I cannot avoid my fate. Just like you cannot avoid yours, sweetie."

I blinked without wiping away the rich bead of tears staining my face. "What do you want to imply, Mama?"

She glanced up at my father and back to my face. "Whatever happens after tonight, you are going with your father."