The Glimpse of My Past

Liam’s P. O. V.

Although preoccupied, I cut my painful flashbacks when my cellular phone suddenly rang. 

“Hello?” I answered hastily with weary eyelids. I didn’t even get the chance to see who called and just answered my phone, thinking that it was the police officers and they already had an update regarding Leandro.

“Hello, big bro? I know that you haven’t yet rested well, but this news can’t wait anymore. My sister was finally awake!” The voice from the other line was hinted with great anticipation, which was owned by none other than David-Diane’s teen brother.

Depriving myself of sleep for two weeks now, I hadn’t yet slept since I came home this morning. My body was like it had been on a treadmill, wanting so much to press stop due to restlessness. But after hearing the great news concerning Diane, my muscles seemed to get recharged again.

It was as if all the fatigue and emotional lethargy, where I succumbed through for the past two weeks, quickly faded away. I couldn’t get happier after hearing what David said.

“R-Really, Dave?” There was still a portion of my mind where I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t able to stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks out of sheer joy.

Whoa! Thank You, Lord. Thank You so much! It felt like a dagger of struggle was pulled out from my chest as I heaved a deep sigh of relief.

“Alright! Just wait for me in the hospital, okay? I’ll be there as fast as I can. Thanks for informing me,” I told him. I was more than blissful that Diane was alive, and now, she was completely safe from harm.

I knew that Diane would never let me down. I had a strong feeling that any time, she would wake up for the sake of her family and my sanity as well.

It had been my longest wait ever, I guessed. But no matter what, I would be willing to wait for more than a lifetime if that would mean saving Diane from being into a state of comatose again.

“But, big bro-”

What David said was indeed great news that I didn’t pay attention anymore to his succeeding words. I hurriedly ended the call as I was too excited to see his sister. Diane was now safe from death, and that was what really mattered to me. There should be no room for buts and ifs.

My parents already knew what happened, and they both sympathized with me. I thanked them because Dad understood the situation and decided to step in for the meantime at the stateside office, while Mom was so much worried about me and my fiancée.

Mom would like to go here not for a vacation purpose, which I found strange. It happened for the first time in history. However, I appreciated her showing concern not related to business.

With the sudden change of plans, I postponed going to America and would patiently wait for Diane to recover. I could still take her there even though we were not yet married at all.

Since I was only staying in the living room on the ground floor, I was able to get out of the mansion quickly and ran straight to one of my cars. I didn’t drive to my condo and just went here directly this morning because I wanted to talk to my brother.

Egoistically, I wanted to be the one to punish Leandro and make him admit why he did such a horrible thing. But unfortunately, I didn’t even see his shadow here. I didn’t care at all if he wanted me dead, but everything had changed when it was Diane who sustained complex injuries.

A week ago, the police informed me that they were sure of Leandro not leaving the country. But until now, he still doesn’t show up and that was what prompted me to be more suspicious of him. 

That was when I remembered that he flew to Davao with Isabelle, but it could be a month ago. He could have been here before I proposed to Diane. Like the past few days, I browsed through my contacts and clicked on his number but it looked like his cell phone was off again. I clenched my teeth.

The night when the police let me see the primary evidence, I asked Chief Inspector Cortez a favor. I thanked him when he agreed to assign police guards to the hospital, specifically outside Diane’s room.

Knowing Leandro, he couldn’t stay longer from where he was right now without doing anything to see Diane. I was sure as hell that his sweat was forming all over his body now, trying to hide and seek like a fugitive criminal.

How I wished that he would be guilt-ridden once he knew the fact that Diane suffered the most on what he did. I resented him so much, prompting me to lean my forehead on the steering wheel.

Actually, I didn’t want to believe that Leandro was the mastermind in removing the brakes of my car. But how could I not believe the police when his signature pen was seen there, making me ponder the other way around and argue with myself?

It hurts to think that my own brother would do that to me, but even if I turned the world upside down, he was the only one who had the strong motive to do that. I pulled myself, rested my head on the car rest, and focused on what was in front of me. Then, my eyes narrowed in an instant.

Was it because of his deep obsession with Diane that turned him into such a hideous monster?

But given the fact that he had plotted the accident, how I wished that it should have been me alone! Why does Diane need to get involved?

I would never forgive him, and I would forget that he became my brother in case Diane died. I didn’t like the thought, but if that really happened, I would go and find Leandro before the police could do their jobs, and I would fucking kill him myself!

Still with doubts, I just started the engine of my car. I didn’t want to think about anything right now. I still hoped that Leandro had nothing to do with all of these, deep within my heart.

How I wished that someone actually framed him up by stealing and placing that signature pen inside my car. But who could it be, and why would they ever do that? I pushed the swirling thoughts on the other side of my brain because, for now, I should just focus on Diane.

It had been two weeks, and I thanked God because Diane had finally opened her eyes. God gave us this miracle-a second chance to continue and cherish our love in this lifetime.

I promised to love and take care of her even more. I would not waste any of my time away from her anymore. I would give her more than what she deserved. I would always prioritize her, and I would never let her feel neglected like what happened before.

Painting a contented smile on my lips, I decided to drop by the nearest department store to buy fresh fruits. In seven months, I learned how Diane loved grapes and apples. I also went to the flower shop next to the store to buy a bouquet of red roses-fragrant flowers I was indeed sure that Diane would love too.

Thankful that David informed me about Diane’s status, I somehow regretted the fact of not being by her side the moment she woke up from being comatose. However, nothing could beat the excitement I felt right now-most especially the anticipation of finally seeing the woman I loved.

Waiting for two weeks wasn’t easy. It tested my patience, and now, I just couldn’t help myself but be happy and grateful. I couldn’t hide my eagerness to finally be with her, to hug and most of all, to kiss her. It looked like I was even more excited to see my crush, even though I was no longer a teenager.

I was driving at eighty kilometers per hour, but it felt like it was only twenty. I immediately got out of my car as soon as I parked it reversely-of course, carrying the bouquet and the fruit basket.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

With pleasure flowing throughout my soul, I rushed inside the hospital and raced towards the direction of Diane’s room located on the third floor. I even nodded at some policemen who greeted me on the ground floor.

Tired of waiting, I didn’t even bother to wait for the elevator because it would only cause me to delay. I ended up using the stairs then. It was funny how I jumped almost three steps in a hurry to see Diane right away.

When I was in front of Diane’s room, I almost didn’t notice the policeman guarding it. But then, I asked him if he had seen any unusual man at proximity, and he said that he did not. I nodded and told him that he could take a break for now.

After that, I only knocked once and took a deep breath before opening the door. Seeing Diane again safe and sound immediately sent shivers down my spine. It made me sweat profusely but stoked at the same time.

Diane was about to lay down on her bed and take a rest, but she seemed so dazed when she saw me. She got startled and stared at me intently-something that made me inexplicably nervous and afraid. Maybe, it was because of the band-aids that were still attached to my face.

Oh, God! How I badly missed those brown orbs…

Even though I couldn’t see the same old sparks in her eyes because she was looking at me quite differently, I just ignored it. Perhaps, Diane was just exhausted and sleepy.

“Oh, Hijo? You came back so soon when you just left this morning! Have you rested yet? Did you sleep well?” Mommy Cecille asked me, and I just nodded at her, disregarding the fact that I wasn’t able to sleep at all.

Still couldn’t believe that she was conscious now, I wasn’t able to utter a single word as my attention was keenly focused on Diane. I couldn’t even properly pay my respect to my fiancée’s mother like I always did.

I quickly strode towards Diane, and when I finally reached her, I couldn’t stop myself from caging her soft body into my arms and from hungrily kissing her luscious lips. Little did I know that her body actually shivered the moment I touched her skin.

“Oh, God! I missed you so much, Diane…” I exclaimed with so much happiness.

But my fiancée didn’t respond to me-not even a single hug and not even a simple kiss. That was when I remembered how I tried to open her mouth a while ago, but I couldn’t have full access to it. It seemed like I was also hugging and kissing a statue, for she was clearly resisting.

“D-Diane?” I slowly released her and quizzically looked at her.

That was when I noticed how her brown eyes were filled with anger as if she wanted to kill me with her burning glares. It made me wonder what was going on with her and that made me furrow my forehead as confusion started to mess with my head.

Did I do something wrong to make her feel this way? I silently asked myself.

But before I was able to come up with possible answers, she already slapped my face!