05: PITY

Have you ever heard of a story of a child who loses her mother in an unforgettable way?

The story started with a small, yet happy family. The child was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, but wealth didn’t make her self-conceited. Growing up, she carried what her mother molded and taught her to be; and it was to be a fighter, to stay humble, generous, and understanding all the time, and to be kind to those people who treat you the same.

The child didn’t ask for anything in life because she is already contended on what she has. She was then very happy, but her little and happy world broke down when she lost her mother at a young age, and all their assets went from hundreds to zero.

It was then considered her greatest downfall, my greatest downfall.

Losing all of our assets didn’t bother me or even my father, because we know that we can still get up from the losses, but one thing I am sure of, standing after losing a mother and a wife will continuously pull us to our pit.

Losing her at a young age wasn’t easy. I was still young when she passed away, but the memory of how she slowly let go of her grip from life in my small arms carved something in my heart and mind. I wouldn’t be able to forget it no matter how many years pass by.

Slowly losing her breath, she said her sorry to me for leaving me early, even though I still needed her by my side. She asked me for a favor of taking care of my father because I was the only one left for him, and that is what I kept on doing for the past years.

At a young age, my eyes were opened from the cruelty of life, but I didn’t make it change me to a person my mother doesn’t want me to be. I remained generous, and understanding at all times, no matter what the situation required. I also stayed as a fighter, for I will be the only one who will stand by my father’s side; and that is what I am doing now.

I didn’t expect that a common day for me turned out to be something that only happens in nightmare.

As they dragged me back into the room where they locked me and pushed me inside like garbage, I was only wool-gathering. I can’t still process that I was just being played and was squeezed to speak something that I really don’t have an idea about.

Kristoffer dela Merced made me his toy just because he didn’t like what happened on his chase.

I inhaled sharply as everything makes sense to me now.

From the past few days, I always wished that what is happening will just turn out to be a nightmare. I will eventually wake up from a very long and rough sleep, and that it only turned out like that because I overworked and was tired. I will wake up because Nanny will non-stop knock on my room’s door, and that my Dad will wait for me on the dining table for breakfast because I take up a lot of time preparing.

By noon to afternoon, I will be stuck in my studio finishing some artworks that were requested and will be put on bidding. I will go home before 8 P.M. and will wait for Dad since we always eat together… but then realization and the truth slapped me real hard.

Along with the ice-cold water poured at me earlier was the slap of truth that I am living with this nightmare and wouldn’t be able to wake up from this.

Shaking from the cold, I slowly started to get up from the floor after I fell when they pushed me inside the room. It was hard for me to move because I was slowly feeling sick. My temperature is vastly rising.

Growing up with a weak immune system isn’t easy. My immunodeficiency disorder wasn’t cured at all; that’s why my dad was very protective of me, but being sick right now isn’t the real deal. The hell I care if I my condition worsens!

The way they treated me like they wanted me to avow something that I really don’t know is what pains me the most.

Do I deserve this kind of treatment? Do I deserve to be imprisoned here? Why does Kristoffer dela Merced need to do this? I thought he was powerful; that even the law fears him. I thought he was more than what I think he is, that’s why Kristiane wanted me out of trouble with him? But why is he doing all of this if he can just use his power, money, and connections to know everything? Why didn’t he double the people to investigate deeply and thoroughly? To know the truth without being biased.

Why does he need to do this to me? Why does he need to use the situation where I have nothing to admit since I know nothing, just to make fun of me?

Pity. That is what I am currently feeling. As days go by, I always try to encourage myself that I will overcome everything that they’ll do to me. I will be strong and will remain a fighter like what I promised my mom. Dad only has me, that’s why no matter what they’re doing, I will be strong for him… but tonight, can I just let myself feel helpless?

I lean back on the door and close my eyes tightly.

Days ago, I always told myself that not even a single tear should fall from my eyes because once they see me hurting, they can use it against me. I needed to be strong because Dad only have me, and I wanted to clear his name and be able to get out of the beast’s watch and grip.

I am doing my best to cheer myself up since the day night that all of this happened, but it was like all the caged-up emotions made its way to hit me. Tears suddenly flow from eyes unwillingly.

I inhaled sharply and wiped my tears away with force. “Stop it, Adelaide! Why are suddenly tearing up?! Will this help you?!” I scolded myself, but I can’t help it. I felt so sorry for myself for not being able to find a way to fight back; and for not being able to make those close-minded people listen to what I said.

Feeling so helpless in the situation I’m in will not help me, but just for once, can I just close my eyes, and cry this all out until the heaviness slowly fades away? Can I just let myself breathe by crying just for a while?

This is just the beginning of their games, and I will be walking in hell for the next few days; I am sure of it. I will pity myself more once their games start to get rough, but I promise myself that this will be the last time that my tears will flow from my eyes. I will never let this happen again. Adelaide, who’s a fighter, should be pulled from her pit again. She shouldn’t let anything affect her again. She was molded to be a fighter, and the situation she’s facing now requires it.

For the last time, I wiped my tears away and slowly walked my way to bed. I made sure to turn the air conditioning off because it really felt cold. I wrapped the thick blanket around my body and didn’t mind washing up. My clothes and body have already dried, and washing up will not prevent me from getting sick, so what’s the use of it? I have no energy left in my body to do that. All I want is to just take a rest to wait and see for what will come next.

Feeling exhausted from what I’ve been through earlier, and for not being able to rest from the past few days, I slowly fell into deep slumber, still thinking that this was still a nightmare and I’ll be able to wake up from this soon.

-

“Are you sure that she is still breathing?!”

“I-I think so, S-Sir…”

“You think so?! You didn’t try to check her since morning? Fucking idiot!”

My brows furrowed as I heard some loud voices. The one sounded so rude, and the other one sounded like he was frightened. Why are they talking in that way and what is that all about?

Slowly, even feeling so loss of energy, I tried my best to open my eyes and move.

“S-she’s alive, S-Sir!” Who’s alive? What is that person talking about?

My sight is still blurry, and I felt that my body felt so weak. I got sick. My body temperature is not a joke. Anyone who have a weak immune system cannot stand this, but I am doing my best to not put myself in a harder situation.

I slowly looked at my side and my brows furrowed more when I noticed three people on the side. One was wearing a nurse’s uniform while holding a tray. The other man was pointing his finger at me like he saw a ghost, and the other one was Kristoffer dela Merced who looked so angry again.

“W-what are you doing h-here?” I weakly asked. I think my question only sounded like a whisper.

“Do your fucking job properly! Go back to your place!” Kristoffer shouted again at the man, and the man quickly went out of the room.

I don’t have an idea what they are doing here, but based on their conversation they had earlier, I think they are checking me if I am still breathing. I plastered a smirk on my lips and tried my best to get up and lean my back on the headboard.

“C-checking if your p-prisoner is still a-alive?” I said and sighed deeply. My body really felt so weak. I don’t know what time it is now because I never get up to check the time. I am hearing the door of this room from opening and closing multiple times today, and some are even trying to wake me up, but I didn’t pour too much of my time into that. I just ignored everyone and did my best to rest.

The beast stole the tray from the nurse and placed it on the side of the bed with force.

“Eat,” he commanded. I arched my brow and stared at the tray he had placed. The tray has a bowl full of congee that is still smoking, and another plate full of soft-boiled eggs and some fruit. I even saw a medicine on the side and a protein shake as a drink.

I mockingly laughed at the food. Wow. Should I thank him for preparing this? Did he hear the news that I got sick and wasn’t responding to any of his men’s attention when they were the first one to check if I was still alive? Does he want to confirm my condition and laugh at me from falling ill?

“Stop this a-act and just t-tell me to d-die. That’s what y-you wanted to s-see that’s w-why you’re here. S-stop the act of k-kindness because I d-don’t buy it.” I don’t know where I am getting the courage to speak like this, even though I know that it will blood Kristoffer’s blood again, but I can’t help it! I don’t but their fucking act of kindness. If they wanted me to suffer, then so be it! If they just wanted to check if I am still breathing, then they should do something else and stop playing the kindness card because I won’t but any of it!

I inhaled sharply when the best grabbed my arm and pulled me. The nurse quickly tried to stop him, but it was like she’s afraid of his boss because she didn’t know if she’ll side me or speak to Kristoffer to stop.

“This isn’t a card of kindness. I’m just feeding you because you need to be prepared for the next game that we’ll play. Don’t act like you are some kind of important person.” Wickedness is visible in his eyes. He quickly let go of my arm and stared at the food he had placed on the bed, before looking at me again. He plastered a smirk on his lips.

“Weak people are easy to kill, don’t you think? Don’t make it easy for me to show your lifeless body to your father to make him surrender. Make this game a little fun to play.” Did I ever mention that being kind and understanding requires the same act from that person in order to give it back to them?

I do understand that this man standing in front of me might have his own story, that’s why he grew up like this, and people might just have feared him, so they don’t ask him, but goodness! Every part of him is shouting arrogance and wickedness! I swear I tried to even take a look at his shoe, but the way he acts and talk doesn’t really make me convince to understand him!

“If you wanted to kill me, do it, but I will make sure that I will drag you into hell with me.” No one can defeat his arrogance. Nothing will make him fear, and he won’t bow down to anyone.

“Hell will open their gates for me, little Vera.” My mouth parted from his words, and I just watched him walk away like that. When the door shut and when the nurse tried to reach me, I quickly shouted in annoyance, even though I have no energy left in body.