Chapter 4 Their Path Intertwined

• Chapter 4 – Meeting Her
• (Dr. Cox POV)
• The door to the hospital room creaked open. Moss and I both stared at the folder Cullen was holding as he approached us. His eyes went from me to the other doctor with us. Although he went back to hiding his emotions, sadness still escaped from his eyes.
• “Do whatever you want,” Cullen muttered as he handed me the folder.
• The faint beeping of the machine from inside the room sounded like a requiem already. As we expected, Cullen didn’t want to be there at Zade’ passing. He’s walked solemnly down the corridor without turning his head back at us even once.
• I couldn’t help but look at the white walls and be reminded of Zade and Cullen once more. Like those walls, both had seen deaths more than anyone was allowed to before their hearts break from pain.
• “That kid had been through so much,” Moss said to no one specifically. I agreed and opened the file at my hands. His neat signature caught my sight first. Then the dried tears that made some of the printed ink bleed on the paper.
• “Do it,” the doctor nodded at my words. Moss tapped my shoulder.
• Several people went in with the Zade’s personal doctor. Moss did too but I chose to be left outside the room. Before the doors closed, I caught a fleeting glimpse of Zade and got lost at the sight of white walls again; a thing that has gotten too familiar to me my entire life as a doctor. I went back to gazing at the ticking hand of my wristwatch.
• “Time of death…” I heard the muffled announcement from inside and decided to walk down the corridor after Cullen.
• “Farewell Zade,” I whispered in the sterile hospital air. “Till we see each other again.”
• (Cullen POV)
• The glittering flashes of camera looked like stars on land that late afternoon. People stared from the lobby and some more crowd looked when I exited the hospital. Reporters littered around and swarmed me to possibly get my statement.
• My mouth felt too sore to even talk and all the flashing lights around invaded the privacy I wanted for myself after my father had just died. My men formed me a barricade and it was only at those times that I was able to appreciate their presence.
• The visit wasn’t held a secret to the people. My life was too newsworthy for social media to ditch. They are actively on the watch for something big to happen. They are constantly waiting to reveal a flaw that could taint my family’s reputation. After father fell on a coma, their secret lenses followed me wherever I go. At that moment, I was also vulnerable to death. Security was heavy throughout the vicinity in case an attack is attempted against me. Amid all the clamour and questions, all I wanted was some peaceful place to go.
• Jeo, my executive secretary, squeezed in through the crowd to escort me back to the hospital. I’ve been careless enough to have gone right through the main exit. He led me and the rest of our guards to the hospital’s backdoors.
• “Your keys,” I ordered. Jeo handed them to me without questions. He knew too well that people are familiar with all my cars, and I really didn’t want any mass attention that moment.
• My valet opened the rear car door, but I stopped him and insisted I would drive instead. He tried to express concern for my safety, but nobody could ever stop me from doing what I wanted. I need to be alone.
• “Nobody is coming with me. Make the media believe I was still stuck in the hospital if that’s the least all of you could do for me.” My voice sounded commanding in pretence for my shakiness. I can no longer hold back the tears I kept from welling up in front of the crowd.
• I should not be seen in my weakness.Not by the people who see me as their prey or by the people who knew me as their faultless boss.
• I turned on the engine and went off at full speed until I was out of sight. My heart was so heavy that I really don’t care where those wheels would take me. Anywhere quiet will do. All I want is some respite, maybe just for a few moments, from my otherwise troubled life.
• I hadn’t wished for all of this.I didn’t wish to be a Dela Ventura.
• (Sofia POV)
• This old chapel has been my regular go-to place after my shift as a cashier at a small fast-food chain. I do so to say some prayers, visit sister Angie, and offer some flowers by the altar.
• There was this old lady who sells wreaths, bouquets, and single roses by a wooden pushcart beside the pathway to the chapel. She’s usually prepared to close for the day when I pass by. But now that I was her regular customer, she patiently waits for me before closing. And this day, she has given me three white roses for free. I insisted to pay but she refused so I just smiled in thanks and headed to where I was going to.
• I was about to enter the chapel when a car swerved in the distance and came to an abrupt halt. It looked expensive than the regular cars that park by that chapel during the day. After all, it was a small town beside the city and its residents were mostly low compensated white-collar workers who often commute or travel by foot.
• The car’s front window retracted down to reveal a man whose head was leaning dejectedly on the steering wheel. He’s either drunk, dumped, or just the way I was like before when I first set foot on that old place. I suddenly remembered my past trouble life. And I beat he is having a big trouble too.