It’s been a week since we return at our glamorous mansion but its only now when I get to stare at its whole. It is elegant. Its beauty wasn't fade within the past years. From the architectural designs up to the paint which coated the walls. No doubt, everything was still. Not a single detail changed. It's what we leave for five years.
Who would guess that my family will stay here for good again? How ironic that I was the one who pushed them to stay here just because I chose to reject the idea of studying abroad .
Okay, let me clarify things, it’s not me who chose that university. How come? It’s because that eccentric spin the bottle is the process I used when I tend so undecided.
It's not the usual way of choosing school. Choosing and thinking isn't fun so I got to find another way and that's when I chose spinning a bottle. I did not used that to make things convenient, I did used that just for fun. It’s thrilling than just plain choosing. I hate having bias.
There are exclusive schools in U.S. which offer me one of their university scholars. All of them are offering me the same privileges. I got used to that. Some are so popular just as Maryland, New York, Harvard and Oxford. There are few international school that I didn't entertain just because of its name. I think it was longer than the longest word.
I read too much but not to the extent that I would waste my time just for finding a university. I don’t know, maybe I just don’t believe that schools define a person’s capabilities and intellectual abilities.
For these reason that schools and universities battled what they can offer for me to get their offer, I can tell to myself that I was ABNORMAL! They don't say that I have above average I.Q. instead they mentioned that I do have superior level of intelligence. They implied that everything was just a piece of cake for me! For few of them, I was just a machine. An almost perfect machine as anyone could think but I don't care. I just need a normal life. I don't need so much attention that can suffocate me. I hate that! I can't breathe!
I am walking around the mansion when I viewed something at my peripheral. Its strange. I feel something was wrong. My step gone larger and larger as I hear an unusual sound. It's from a gun! It's just a minimal sound but I manage to hear it. I realize that it is near from where I felt frozen so I gathered all my strength and move out of the mansion to see what's going on.
My gut feelings never failed me. I saw my Dad kneeling while holding his abdomen. He might be shot by some random guy. As I go nearer, the evidence was there. I saw blood in his hands. Blood gives me goosebumps but still I manage to go near him.
"Dad, what happened?" I look directly in his eyes. I can see hesitations. I can't believe that this will befall again.
"Nothing, son..." I didn't buy his words as I saw blood running like stream in his abdomen. He thinks I can't comprehend things. Oh, come on, dad.
"Your bleeding, Dad.." I didn't look in that part of his abdomen instead I still focus through his eyes. I really hate blood!
"I know, I love you, son." He keeps on holding his wound.
"I love you too, Dad.." I hugged him. Pain is evident but he manage to smile.
I called anyone at the mansion but it was late when I realize we have none. We didn't hired anyone. We are still finding for home helpers. I move myself out of the house. I am useless!
"Umm... Son?"
He seats near the gate still holding his bleeding abdomen. I maybe so stupid not to call help, I’m nullified. I can’t think.
"Please son, don't let anyone be hurt. If you know you can help, then do it."
"Help!!!"
We maybe so fortunate after all. A car passed near our mansion. Its only now when I recovered from seeing blood.
A pale skinned man with those pair of hazelnut eyes is hastily went out of the car and help us. He helped my dad but its strange that he is sniffing while doing that.
It's a common car. I don't know what model is this because I'm not into cars but what strange is there's so many tissue papers which scattered on the floor of the car. There is an alcohol and even cotton balls. I can also see a lab gown stained with blood? I eyes seemed froze! I don't know. Maybe, I just find it peculiar. I hope I was wrong.
I stop observing and doubting this man as I saw my dad's eyes. It's nearly closing!
"Dad, I will. But please let your eyes be open." I asked him. My goal is to send him to the hospital before he loss his consciousness.
He just smiled at me but he never said a thing. After 5 minutes, we arrived at the nearest hospital. Maybe, the hazelnut man is not a bad person just what I've thought. As we arrive in the hospital, someone has called him.
"Doc! Do you left something? You need to rest. Your hands are not good, it might bleed again. You still have fever." That is when I realize that he is a doctor. That explains the lab gown. I didn't notice the dressing in his hand. Affirmative, that's the wound the nurse refers to.
The kind doctor operates the wound of my father. He saves his life. Its only now that I get amuse of other people except my very own Dad.
"Doctor, how's my Dad?" I saw his name, it's J. Walker.
"He's ok now, he's out of danger we already got the bullet in his intestine. Yet I am afraid, he is still on a coma... I'm sorry." He said apologetically.
"He's brave..." I said with lots of conviction. He's a fighter.
"I know, he is..." He taps my shoulder and leaves me.
That is when I create my dream, I want to be as great as that doctor. I was in debt on him. I debt my dream to him and I will pay him in any way that I could.
Dad did woke up earlier as I think of. I felt release.
"How are you, son?" He didn't change. Others first before himself.
I didn't response but I hug him so tight.
"Ouch, son. Don't you forget I still have wound in my belly?" With that, I loosen the hug.
He scolded me many times when we are still in States but it always fall on deaf ears. I always ignore the things that he used to say. I thought he was so strict because he was a police. He is a former member of the Central Intelligence Agency sa States before he signed his resignation letter last month so authority was still plastered in his voice. Anyway, he chose to join us here in the Philippines than to stay in his beloved job. He is my heroic icon when it comes on protecting others. Ironically, I was his pain in his head.
"Oh, My stubborn baby is so sweet.." Mom said as she laughs. I feel annoyed when she did called me stubborn baby but it somehow makes me feel loved. I love this woman. She's my first love.
—''—''—"—"—"—
One week had passed and something just happened again. It was a relieved that nothing went wrong with my dad. The police officers took their actions but it seems worthless. Until now, the culprit is still hiding. I have a feeling that it's from our past. Someone who connects with the reason we need to leave the Philippines.
I decided to go home first and get some clothes to take some rest. I went home with no one but I feel someone is watching me from behind. I don't know maybe I should check by a psychiatrist. I seemed so paranoid.
I entered my room. It's a room of black and white. It was a simple room with a voice command system for lights. I lay on my bed.
"Lights be killed."
Elimination light seemed a contemporary moment which made someone to ring the doorbell. What or who is behind the door? He's too bold to knock the door that loud!
I never get calm knowing that someone is outside our mansion so I stand and view who is that bastard ringing our bell. I was in the second floor and I can see from here the main gate.
I glimpse a white van near the gate and I saw men. I can't describe any of them because they hide their face in a mask. I'll bet, they're checking for Dad and they're here to finish what they'd started.
When the van left, I carefully aim to move towards the gate. There maybe some clues that they'd leave. I need those traces to find justice for Dad.
I am near on the stairs and the door is wide open. Wait, the door is open?! I remember that... Gosh! What I locked was the main gate. I forget the doorway! My goodness!
If that's the case, if they want to intrude the mansion, they can do it without hassle but I doubted why they didn't do that. Why?
I went out of the door to see when they leave anything because my gut feeling tells me that they do. Its impossible if they left nothing. As I walk near the gate, I saw a dark-colored box. It was a half-size of a shoe box.
I was about to get the box when I heard a gun shot near me.
"Herald Angeles.."