GRUDGES
1655 Words
CHAPTER 5: GRUDGES
Did she fainted?
A grunt escape from her lips, when she woke up. Lost, because the last time she could recall isn’t this place, but she boarded a car of a woman named Mitch...? Minchi...? But the throbbing on her temples only made her unable to remember her name.
The light seeping from the cracks blinded her for a second. The room is painted white, and the smell of disinfectant suggested where she is.
Italia was brought in a hospital, but what for?
The door of her room was pushed open.
“You’re awake.” It is the woman.
“You are...?” Italia smile is uncertain. “Sorry, I am a little groggy.”
“That’s alright, and it’s Minchin.” The latter placed some bags to the table next to her bed. “I brought you some food.”
“Thanks, but what happened?” Italia is still seemingly confuse.
“You fainted.” Minchin stated the obvious. “Out of worry, I brought you here and the doctors say that you just needed a little rest, because you seems to be under so much stress lately.”
So much stress was an understatement. She bitterly thought.
After what happened, the stunt she pulled would only mean nothing. The unbearable pain still made her chest filled with anguish. The distress she has been holding for so long, and the hopeless agony and hate that push her to do what she must. Italia had cut loose from the Salvador’s clutch.
“By the way, I needed to go,” said Minchin, who was checking her phone. “But if you needed something, you can call me here.”
The woman gave her a calling card.
“I owe you, but don’t worry, I won’t bother you again.” She offered Minchin a smile.
“You sure about that?” The latter chuckled. “But of course you will.”
“What?” Her brows furrow.
“Nothing.” Minchin shook her head. “Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you again, Mrs. Salvador.”
With that said, Minchin was already out of the door leaving the stunned Italia for what she said.
Mrs. Salvador.
Minchin Torres had just called her Mrs. Salvador, when nobody knows that she married Gustavio Enriquez Salvador, the prominent billionaire across Asia!
“She’s pregnant.”
The voice rang inside her head.
Minchin’s hold tightened. She was still in utter disbelief, when she met the Italia she was meant to. But it seems like she couldn’t remember her either way, which became her advantage. Earlier, she wanted to asked her a lot of questions, and burst out every little things she had been holding for so long, only if she hadn’t stop herself.
“Ms. Torres?” The nurse called inside.
That for an instance buried back her grudge.
“Yes?” She stood up from the line.
“The patient is already accepting visitor.”
Minchin nodded her head.
When she walked inside the room, the first thing that greeted her was the cold AC, and the smell of medicine. It made her stomach churn. The strong scent that always made her nauseous and the white walls that stood erect on the corner reminded her of the tragedy that befall on their family.
Her jaw clenched. Her eyes averted towards the sleeping figure on the bed.
“Zach...”
Zacharias Colt Torres, who was supposed to be a successful doctor, but he fell on a comma after the accident.
The door behind her was pushed open.
“What are you doing here?” Instantly, Rebecca Torres’ expression changes.
“Mom—”
“Don’t f*****g call me mom after abandoning us, Minch!” Rebecca was furious.
“I didn’t abandon you,” she said in defence.
Or did she?
Minchin and Zach came from a broken family. Their parents couldn’t stand each other. A wealthy drunkard and a mother who was trying so hard to fit in his world. When they decided to get a divorce, her mother won their custody, but Minchin choose to go with her father in fear of being so unfortunate and living on streets.
That for a instance, she could understand where her mother’s resentment is coming from.
“You were so selfish!” Rebecca couldn’t hold back her outburst.
“I did it for us.” She gritted her teeth.
“And what? Are you trying to mock us with your father’s money now?” Her mother scowled at her. “Get out of her before I call the guards to drag you outside, Minch—!”
“I am your daughter, Mom!”
“You were.” Rebecca bitterly look at her. “You were my daughter, before you choose to go with that bastard!”
“I did it for us...” Defeated, she looked at her mother rather pleadingly. “I... I don’t want to live on streets, and you know that you weren’t capable to provide for two children that time, Mom—”
But Rebecca was in denial.
“Just get out, I don’t want hear any of it.”
Minchin gnawed her lips.
Seeing that her mother won’t be softened, she glanced back on her shoulder to offer a small smile to Zach.
“See you again, Zach.”
Saddened, she began heading to the door.
“—and may I remind you that I am forbidding you to visit my son again.” It is her mother.
With a heavy heart, Minchin stormed outside of the room with a crestfallen look and carrying the regret that was devouring her alive.
Her lament, and sorrow, where she could only comfort herself on her own.
“I’m sorry, but your bill has already been paid.” The nurse on the station smiled softly at Italia.
“Pardon?” She frowns.
Did the woman paid for it already?
“I did.” A voice cut off her thoughts.
When she look back, she weren’t expecting to see who it is.
“Zam...” Italia was stunned. “What are you doing here?”
“I know you don’t like me being here, but I am worried about you, Italia.” He genuinely looks sincere. “Sorry that I followed you—”
“Yes, you should be.” She glared at him. “I still haven’t forgotten what you and your asshole cousin did—”
“It isn’t me! If I know—”
“You knew, don’t be pathetic.” Italia hardened her face.
“Italia...”
“And I am warning you.” She bitterly look at him. “Don’t you every follow me again or I’ll sue you, Mr. Salvador.”
Left with no choice, all Zamiel can do was to stare at her from afar. He was watching her until Italia disappeared from his sight.
Regret filled his chest, a saddened expression that replace his worries that he should had been contented in the shadows just like what he use to do before.
Italia was enrage. She don’t want to put the blame on Zamiel, but she couldn’t stop herself from doing so. They overstepped her boundaries. She made it clear that she was firm with her decision about divorcing her husband.
She fished out her phone inside her pocket.
“Uncle—”
But she wasn’t prepared yet for another anguish, when a news played over the large screen placed on top of one of the building that was facing the highway.
“Congratulations, Ms. Montreal!”
The name caught Italia’s attention, and she couldn’t have been mistaken when she saw the woman’s familiar face.
“Oh, thank you, Alicia.” It is Samantha, who was in pure joy, but Italia’s eyes averted to whom she is with as of that moment.
“My, you two looks lovely tonight, but then as always.” The woman continue. “But our audience had been curious, you two being together, hmm?”
“Oh, stop it, Alicia.” Samantha giggle as she clings on his arms.
On those strong arms that use to cage Italia.
“Gustav...” Pain struck her no matter how much she was in denial that it was nothing.
That...she’s not affected.
“But what does this all mean?” The reporter asked curious, intrigued.
Italia bit her lips. Just like them, she was also anticipating the answer that Samantha is going to respond.
“Perhaps, this ring could answer you honestly.” With that said, Samantha raised her finger and there—she’s wearing a ring. An oh-so-familiar ring to Italia.
“This ring looks beautiful.” Italia was full of admiration as she gaze at the ring that Gustav gave her.
“It is?” He chuckled. “It’s a family heirloom, my grandmother used to tell us that we should have it to the woman we are certain we would marry.”
“You and Zamiel?”
“Yes, the two of us.”
Her eyes lingered, admiring how antique yet gorgeous the carvings of the rings are.
Italia could feel her cheeks—they were damp, and soak from her tears.
“What the f**k?” She harshly wipe out her eyes. “Am I crying? The f**k is wrong with me?” She chuckled.
But the tears continue. Her eyes are deluge to her anguish. Her emotions are overwhelming that she didn’t notice a presence that was stalking from behind.
It was too late for Italia to notice.
GASP.
“Scream or I’ll f*****g shout you.” A gruff voice threatened her from behind
Her lips parted. She couldn’t move. Immobile from fear, Italia was force to oblige.
“Good.” That was the last thing she hear, before something hard hit her on the head leading for Italia to lost her consciousness and fainted.
‘Gustav, h—help me.’
@cycy
- Writer
