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LIV. Someone's Weakness
Essi has always been good at this, to make you feel guilty even without doing anything. But none of these events were products of her manipulation, neither did she apply any tactics at all. She did nothing but forget to take care of herself. She did nothing but fear the night sleep because of the dread of what must be done on the next day.
The news about her roadside injury is but an additional devastation, an optimum riff off of the two families’ talking game. If it were not for Gwyneth who sought her to ask forgiveness, they wouldn’t find out what happened to her. She is confined in a hospital. Curtains are her partition from the people discussing among themselves how they must deal with the issue about Oneil.
Essi chose to keep her eyes shut while imagining that the words of their conversation are but low background symphonies of the orchestra in her mind. At first, her heart was beating along with the sweet imagined music. But its violent rhythm took over at the
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Essi woke up at the crisps and careful scratching of stickers from hardcovers. The noise came from Victor who silently spends his time clearing the hardcovers of each book on the coffee table. She knew even the slightest sound since it is her same habit to keep the books clean after a distracting price sticker was attached to it. She didn’t call him. Essi’s eyes are on Victor’s company, the men in suits whose likes were probably tailing her grandfather somewhere not far.“Are you hungry? What can I get you?” Victor asked after having the sense that a pair of eyes is watching him.“Why are they here?” Essi replied with another question. She didn’t dislike them. She just knew that they were probably here to implement her grandfather’s prohibition --as if she would disobey him.“Mr. Arlelle wanted to make sure that you are safe. That is why they are assigned here,” Victor said while stacking the book
Look At Me, Oneil LVI. Jewel of Promise
The Mercators have returned to visit Essi. Anyone concerned, and passersby who have other purposes in the hospital can comprehend that most of these non-immediate Mercators will just stir another incessant blame game and ignorance to solutions at hand. Victor has thought it well to impose his autonomy for the sake of the patient in room 802. “Mr. Arlelle has instructed me to only allow two persons to visit Essi in a day,” he said while standing between his men. Due to his notice, the other Mercators have to set themselves aside. They needed to let Oneil’s parents face Essi by themselves. They pleaded to hear some thoughts but the men reminded them to keep things negotiated inside and remain undistributed to other people. The men immediately closed the door as they entered. Madame Latifa steps forward while pressing her fingers on her purse. Her eyes are on Essi who didn’t notice her yet. She made another step that caught Essi’s attention. Essi
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It was not by the engagement plan. It has nothing to do with external influences. It was right from Oneil, from his own desire to tell it to her. It was due to his fear of losing her. And by that, they do not need to worry anymore about what will happen before the long set date comes or defer. They can do it on their own: as they liked and as they wanted. Their families had arranged a long time interval for the two to know and adjust with each other. But it was Oneil now, who decided to do it. And Essi cannot answer. She is in disbelief. She is perplexed by the knowledge that sanctions are still around them. The Mercators are still in their unforgiving stage. The Paulssons have a different look at Oneil, more on grimacing at him as a weak man. Essi remained without words when he said it. “I can wait on your decision. Take this as my own proposal, not drafted by our parents. This is my own desire to be with you.” Essi does not know what to do. She’s afraid tha
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A sound of the earth being tilled, a farewell of the wilted leaves, and the sprinkling of waters against the sunlight, creating iridescent overlays on the garden Essi is working on. It is another work in silence, where deliberate freedom of her reflections comes away from considering that today is Oneil’s flight with the Mercators. She keeps on sweeping the leaves without noticing the arrival of her guest. She almost shrieked on seeing Paco’s face behind the chicken wire.“Gwyneth’s flight is at 3PM,” he stated after greeting her a good morning. “How about going with me to see her off? In that way, you can see Oneil.”Essi refused. “Oneil’s family will have a separate flight. They will take a private plane while the other Mercators join the commercial flight.”“Wow, how do you know that?”Paco asked while getting inside the lot. He sat next to Essi, already starting to rid the weeds.
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He can only look from afar and stay behind while his friend deals with sadness internally. Her professional smile may tell the investors that she is glad and cheerful. But it cannot lie to him. He can only stay to make sure that she has support. No, it doesn’t matter to him if she could notice his simple gesture or not. Essi keeps up her strength amid a friendly meeting with a group of stockholders, the league that she was considering joining while aiming to diversify her personal investment portfolio. Essi could notice Victor staring at him, with a worried face. She never watched him smiling. He may beam at her but that’s a different thing from his usual expressions. His long face has intimidated the kids roaming around the restaurant. One kid has spilled his glass of water next to Victor. Victor wanted to help already standing up with the charging of his leather boots. But the little boy cried, frightened by Victor's military gesture. Mannerism and military training combin
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Essi has a crazy idea. Who would believe that she can think of that? She had just thought about it well after noticing how Victor would somehow look after Jillian. He does it better now than the last time that he would just reply in short words. Maybe, this is the fruit of relentless pursuit. Victor would now even consider having dinner with Jillian after work. So when Victor asked Essi if she would like to join them, she politely declined. “You can go ahead, I’m fine here. Bodyguards are everywhere anyway,” Essi assured after telling him that she can wait for her. “My work’s done, Victor. You don’t have to worry about anything here. You two can enjoy your dinner date.” “If you need anything, just call me,” he reminded Essi before leaving. But Essi only giggled after noticing how clumsy and excited Victor was. He excused that he was just hungry as if Essi would buy it. After Victor leaves, her bodyguards in their suits are surrounding her closer than
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