Chapter 39: Chapter 39

038

Once upon a time we fell apart, you're holding in your hands the two halves of my heart

Sevb Lunchinvar Maquess' POV

"Is Gabriella here?" I held Zee's shoulder as I caught my breath. I ran around the hospital hoping to see Gabriella, but she wasn't around. I had looked everywhere but I couldn't find her.

Fuck! I am worried. I shouldn't have left her. I felt it. I felt something was wrong and I refused to follow my instinct and now I couldn't find her. I would not definitely forgive myself if something happens to her.

Damn! I love her so much that I am willing to kill anyone that would hurt her.

"What?" Zee asked, confused. "Why are you looking for Gabriella? Isn't she with you?" Zee tried to calm me down but I just can't know that Gabriella is missing.

"No!" I cupped my face in frustration. "She's missing."

"What?" Zee raised her voice and started panicking. "What do you mean she's missing? Since when?"

"I don't know!" I shook my head. "She was supposed to meet me at home because she wanted to say something. I've been waiting for hours and she isn't picking her phone."

"Maybe she's busy?" Zee said, not sure.

"No," I disagreed. "She told me she found something. It's not like Gabriella to disappear without saying anything. She's out of reach!"

I went home earlier because she told me she still needed to do something at the court. I don't know what had gotten to me that I didn't wait for her. Ugh! I hate myself. I should have waited for her and joined her at the court. She insisted on making me leave, that's sketchy. I let it go. She called after hours telling me she already had something to win the case. I waited for her at home but it's been hours and she hasn't gone home. It's already dawn.

I cursed and started thinking of the place where she could have been. "Did she call you?"

"Uh, no...wait!" Zee searched her pocket. "I left my phone at the quarters." She started running and I followed her, still trying to reach Gabriella but her phone was not ringing.

Damn! Where the hell is she?

"Did you try calling Loud? Maybe she came back - -"

"No! She'll tell me that and she'll ask Zack. You know we usually fly with Zack going home. And, she will not go home because tomorrow is our trial," I explained.

Zee harshly opened the door and leaped to reach her phone charging from the top of the cabinet.

"What?" I impatiently asked.

"Uh, she messaged me," Zee read the message. "Zee, I sent an important email. Please keep it for me in case you know. Love you. See you soon!"

"Email? What email?" I leaned closer to look at her phone as she started opening her email account.

Gab's email address popped out and Zee clicked it.

A video appeared and she played it. It was only a minute but it both made us speechless as the video showed the CCTV footage of the incident. It wasn't blurred so we both saw who truly killed the Vice President's son.

"Oh my gosh!" Zee covered her mouth and her hands were shaking. "Is this-"

I grabbed her phone and sent it to my email. I immediately looked for a usb connector and copied the files in my flashdrive. I sent it to Atty. Levi and some people I knew who would keep the secret for a while until we are ready to expose it. And, I will not do it without Gabriella.

"Maybe, this is the reason why she's missing?"

"Yeah, that is right," I gritted my teeth. Damn! "Gem! FUCK!" I cursed and yelled.

"If they abducted Gab, then it's no time that they will- Where's Zack?" I asked. "Damn!"

I dialed one of my men's numbers to check about Gab and almost fired them when they told me that they haven't found her.

"What is happening?" Zack rushed inside the quarter. He dropped the food on the table before looking at us.

Some of the interns were already gossiping in the hallway as they guessed what's happening with us. Zee glared at them and they all ran away.

"You need to pick up Lauyton and Gem now!" I told him. "Please, just contact the copter. Fly now and pick them up. Something bad happened with Gabriella and we don't know so-"

"Okay! Got it!" He raised both of his hands. "Something bad could happen. I'll go!" He said without a bit of hesitation. Zack's really the man. Damn! I liked him more than Lauyton, well, I never liked Lauyton. Maybe I did, but my pride couldn't just admit it. He made me jealous and I know I couldn't have Gabriella because he existed.

He quickly kissed Zee's forehead before heading out. "Take care!" Zee yelled. "I love you! BAKA!" Zee added as Zack yelled those words back.

I rolled my eyes. I couldn't believe they still have time for that or maybe I am just being bitter.

"Should I call Loud?" Zee asked.

"No, just let Zack do the work quietly. Lauyton might panic and we need to get them saved before something happens," I said hoping we are not too late to save them. "I also don't want Lauyton and Gem to know that Gab's missing. He might create ruckus and it will ruin everything."

I could sense Lauyton will make a fuss about Gab's being gone and he might do something without thinking. That is not what we need. We need him to be with Gem and to save her daughter, to take care of her, as we took care of Gabriella.

"What is happening? Why is Zack running and you are here?" Gabriel asked, giving us exchanging looks.

"Gab's missing," Zee told him.

"What? Did you call for the police? Since when? We should-"

"Don't!" I stopped them. "You can't call the police," I told them as I called my men and asked for progress.

"Fuck!" I cursed at the other line. "If you have to cross the ocean just to find Gabriella, then do it!" I yelled and hung up.

"My men haven't found Gabriella."

"Then, we should call the police and wait, why is she missing? What the hell? Fill me in!" Gabriel said, confused.

"Gabriella found out who killed the Vice President's son," Zee stated.

Gabriel raised his brows. "Who killed the Vice President's son?"

Zee and I both looked at each other before saying, "The Vice President."

It took seconds for Gabriel to absorb what we just said. He blinked. "What do you mean by that?" He slowly said.

"I said the Vice President killed his son," I hissed.

"Yeah, it made us speechless, too," Zee nodded. "Should we give this video to the police?" Zee showed the video to Gabriella while I answered no.

"Let's wait for my father. I need to get space!" I told them and went out of the quarter to meet my father at the main door.

I ran and bumped into someone, and just shrugged them off. They cursed at me and I said sorry in my mind hoping it would reach them. I don't have time to stop and look back. Time is running out and if we don't find Gabriella, surely they will kill her knowing that she has the evidence that will even impeach and imprison the president.

But, why would he kill his own son? How did Gabriella obtain that footage? I couldn't believe it. They have hidden the evidence and perfectly planned it. If Gabriella hadn't found it, then Gwen would really spend a lifetime in prison.

"Hey, what happened?" Dad finally reached the hospital. I sent it in his email because I know he can help me. "Have you found Gabriella yet? How's Gem?"

"We sent Zack to pick them but we still haven't found Gabriella," My voice broke. I almost fell on my knees just thinking about her.

Where the hell is she? Where would the Vice President hide her?

"I called the palace. They are ready to release a statement regarding the incident and - -"

"Wait! Are you making it public? Will it make Gabriella even in danger!" I raised my voice and choked. "No! Dad! You can't do that!"

"Listen, Var. The press release will help us -"

"No!" I protested. I don't know anything about laws but surely that would just put Gabriella in danger. "You call for a press conference when we already find Gabriella." I covered my eyes when tears started running in my face.

"Please..." I muttered. "Dad, please...it's Gab..." I chewed my words as tears kept on falling. "I can't lose her. She's not mine but I can't lose her..."

I've known Gabriella for years, since we were in college. I loved her since and up until now I still do. I've been in love with her for years and I never once asked for her love in return. I know she wouldn't love me back and would not choose me even if I had spent all my time and effort to make her and Gem happy. I took care of them. And, it's okay if she will not choose me. I had accepted that. It's okay, but it isn't okay to lose her.

She can choose Lauyton and stay away from me, I would gladly be happy with that, but she cannot die. Not on my watch. She just can't leave this world without being truly happy.

I know she was happy with me. She loved me. I felt an ounce of love and her desire to marry me. I know she loved me, but it wasn't the love that would last for a lifetime. And, she cannot die without being happy with Lauyton. I promised myself that I will only leave her side when she get the love she truly deserves.

"Please...find her and save her..."

Dad enveloped me with his arms. "We are going to find Gabriella, okay? I assure you that. Trust us. The President already sent people to search every place in the country where the Vice President could have hidden her."

"Please..." I begged. "Find her."

"Who are you going to find?"

We both turned our backs and met the confused look of Gabriella's mother. She looked exactly as Gab, every feature of her face, even the structure of her hair as it fell down on her shoulder. She was wearing her scrubs and I could see the tiredness in her. Maybe she had spent a lot of hours in the operating room.

"Gabriella is missing," My father answered. I saw the glimpse of happiness in my father's eyes as she stared at the woman she once loved or maybe she still loves after all these years.

I know my father loved my mother. I've seen that but it wasn't like the love that he had when she was with Gabriella's mother. I could still feel the longing of their hearts as their eyes met.

I somehow saw my future with them, with Gab, if she had accepted my proposal. The fact that she loves me but she will never look at me the same way she looked at Lauyton. Perhaps, it was also me. I could love another woman but I will never look at her the same way I have looked at Gabriella.

My father never had those pairs of glittering eyes whenever she looked at my mother. It was only for Gabriella's mother.

"WHAT?" She fell on her knees and my father was quick enough to catch her. She held my father's arms as she caressed her neck. "What do you mean?"

Through the years, Gab's mother never showed any emotions to anyone. She always has that plain bored look and you can never read her. Now, even after everything that happens between her and Gabriella, I've seen the care and the love that she'd been keeping for her daughter especially when tears ran down on her face.

"No!" She inhaled and exhaled. My father hugged her. "It can't be. T-this is the reason why I don't want her to be a lawyer," her voice broke. "It will put her in danger."

"Ssssh!" My father calmed her down. "We are looking for her. I sent my men to look for her."

"Please..." she sobbed. "Find my daughter."

My father brushed her hair and caressed her back as he whispered songs into her ears. I hate myself for smiling even though I know this scene would break my mother's heart, yet it was so genuine and beautiful.

Looking at them, I have learned that in this world, we are going to meet someone that will hold a special place in our heart. There is only one person that will give you a different feeling of love you will never find with someone else. Soulmate? I don't know what it's called. All I know is that Gabriella will always be in my heart and it may be unfair to the girl destined for me, but it is the truth.

"Code blue! Code blue!" The hospital called.

"Calling the attention of Chairman Wong-Tan," I heard Zee's voice from the intercom as she repeated it again. Her voice broke at the last call which all made us dashed to the emergency room.

I prayed hard, real hard, hoping that it wasn't Gabriella. My hands were shaking, my throat was dry, my palms were sweating, and my knees weakened as we headed to the emergency room.

"Daddy Var!"

I felt a sigh of relief when I saw Gem carrying a Scalpel in her arms while crying. "Daddy!" She cried as she hugged me.

"Hey, sweetie!" I massaged her back as she started crying again. Her cheeks were flustered and her eyes were already tired from crying.

"Oh my god!" Gab's mother reacted as soon as she Lauyton lying on the floor. She immediately shoved all the doctors and nurses around Lauyton as they revived him.

"What happened?"

"He has multiple gunshot wounds..." Zee started explaining what happened.

I hurriedly got Gem away from the scene as she couldn't stop herself from crying. She was already coughing and out of breath.

"Gem, okay, calm down!"

She muttered words I could no longer understand as I tried to calm him.

Zack came to check on us.

"Hey, what happened?" I asked.

"There were men following them before they arrived. Loud stopped them so she could save Gem. He has multiple gunshot wounds. We managed to give him a first aid kit but he lost a lot of blood so-" He shook his head. "Is he okay?"

"I think they are going to put him in surgery," I replied. "How about the men? Did you catch them?"

Zack nodded. "We brought them to the police and Atty. Levi was already there."

"D-addy," Gem clung to my shoulder. "Is D-daddy Loud gonna be alive?"

I kissed the top of her head. "Yes, he will." I replied, though I wasn't sure.

I prayed for a miracle. He can't die. He will put misery to Gab and Gwen's life if he would die. I may be jealous of his whole existence, but he is Gem's father and Gab's love of life so he cannot die. I would beat him on the ground if he died. Ugh!

"What is happening?" Gwen arrived after a minute. "Where is Gabriella?"

"Well, she's close to death because she saved your ass," I bitterly replied. I knew this would happen but I couldn't stop Gabriella because she loves her sister even though she's a bitch.

"Glad, you are already free," I added. Dad already informed the President about it so he might have called to release this girl from the prison. She's even wearing her orange uniform. Oh, at least, she showed some care or maybe she's guilty because it is her fault.

"Did the Vice President really kill his son?" Gwen asked. "Who's in the operating room and-"

"We found Gabriella!" Dad confirmed.

"W-where's M-ommy?" Gem faced them. She wiped her tears. Zack pulled a bottle of water for her and carried Gem in his arms as my Dad told me the details.

"What is it?" I asked. "Is she okay?"

My Dad's lips parted as he shook his head.

"What?" I screamed. "WHAT HAPPENED?"

"She's on her way here," Dad said in a low tone as he pinched my shoulder.

"And?"

I dropped on my knees when he said, "She's in critical condition."