#LOVE_OVER_BLOOD
©Sir Zach
EPISODE 40
Demetrius called General Archedeus to fetch him at the hotel. Archie was shocked to see the time in his watch. Won’t he finish the party? It’s still early for him to come home? did something happen? Nevertheless, Archie shrugs off his thoughts as he drove to the Omega-Z hotel. He found the old man sitting lifelessly at one of the benches outside the hotel.
“Rio?” Archie approached him. Demetrius didn’t even bat an eyelid. He was lost in his own thoughts.
“Hey! Rio! What happened to you?” he tried to shook him. it is his very first time to see him helplessly.
“Archie, I saw her. It’s definitely her. She’s alive.” He uttered brokenly. It was so soft that Archie nee-ds to bend down to hear him.
“Who? Who did you see?” now he’s curious too.
“Cherry, Cherry Ann Lee. She’s alive.”
“Rio, have you been drinking? What are you saying? She’s been dead for 15 years now!” He’s trying to get to him.
“No! I saw her. I can’t be wrong. And he is with that man!”
“Rio! Stop that!” Archie prevented him from speaking anymore. “Come on, let me get you home. you nee-d to rest.” Archie helped him stood up as they went inside the car. If their men sees him like that they will probably mock him for being weak. He is known to be notorious. He should live with it or else they’ll take him for granted.
Rio never spoke any single word during the drive. He’s been looking outside the car bleakly. Archie traced his jawline at the looks of his friend. He never saw him like this except when that woman- whom he claims to be alive, died in a car accident. But he won’t be acting like if it’s not because of that woman! if it is true that the woman is alive, then Archie nee-ds to know the truth.
______
Back at the Hotel, Ethan started to introduce Stacy among his business partners. He was surprise to know that these people knew her. Ethan never introduced her in public since she doesn’t want to be known. Furthermore, she was not a fan of any social gatherings.
“How did you know these people?” Ethan curiously asked
“Uhm, I just met them once, I met some at the company.” She tried to act normal.
“Hmm, I never knew you’d become socially active.” He teased her.
“People changes.” She grinned.
“No, people ha-rdly change. Perhaps the whole person may be.” It was his turn to sm-irk.
“Is he implying anything?” she thought instantly but she gave a fake smile.
“Hey it’s almost late, don’t you think it’s time to go home?” Aisha redirected their topic.
“Ah you’re right. I’ll just get the car.”
“Okay. I’ll just get Lisa.”
Aisha went to the table where she left the three earlier but the table was empty. Where could they be? She tried to look for Sophie but she found her talking sweetly at someone near the window. Well, she’s not with Lisa nor Caleb. She searched everywhere but to no avail so she dialed out Lisa’s number. It’s dead. She dialed Caleb’s number.
“Hey! Are you with Lisa?” Aisha asked.
“No, he’s with some other guy.” His tone was a bit off.
“Caleb are you drunk?”
“No.”
“Where are you?”
“Outside.”
“Wait. I’m coming!”
Aisha went out to see Caleb. she found him lighting a cigarrete. He exhaled an amount of smoke.
“Caleb, what are you doing in here? And Are you drunk?” she smelled him.
“Am I not allowed?” he said. Aisha look at him intently. The last time she saw Caleb got drunk was when he lost his mother.
“Have you seen Lisa?” she asked.
“I don’t know where she is. She might be busy fli-rting with his friend.”
“Kian?”
“Ehm.”
“How come he is here?”
“Why ask me? Why don’t you ask him instead?”
“Are you jealous?” Aisha grinned but Caleb scoffed.
“And why should I?” he said annoyingly.
“Because you love her!” Aisha chuckles, “Why don’t you just confess to her, you little br@t!” she’s enjoying taunting him. after a while, Lisa came out.
“Hey! You’re here. I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” Lisa told the two.
“Are you sure you’ve been looking or you were just busy fli-rting?” Caleb’s pitch hints an irritation.
“Excuse me? Are you talking to me? I was just talking to my friend! Weren’t you the one who’s busy fli-rting with those old women inside!” Lisa unconsciously yelled at him.
“Hey woman! that’s not fli-rting. It’s just a pure business talk! Unlike you who enjoys touching that guy!”
“I never touch him!”
“Yes you did! And you even allowed him to touch your body!”
“Weren’t you the one doing that? I saw you fli-rting with those old women out there!”
“So are you saying that you’ve been watching me all the time?” Caleb suddenly smi-rked.
“Yes! I-I mean NO!” Lisa blus-hed tremendously.
Aisha chuckled. She’s been listening to their argument the whole time. She didn’t intervene since she herself was enjoying it.
“Haist. They’re too obvious!” Sophie taps Aisha’s shoulder. They didn’t notice her since they were yelling at each other. “I think I’ll go ahead. Let’s just leave them alone. Maybe they could sort these out themselves.”
“Yeah, we should.” Aisha giggled. After some seconds, she heard her phone rings.
“Ethan! Oh right. I’m coming!” she answered the call.
“Caleb, Lisa, we’ll go ahead. Caleb please make sure you drop her by.” She caught their attention.
“I’ll rather go with you than be with this inhuman guy!” Lisa yelled.
“Why don’t you just go with your boyfriend?”
”He is not my BOYFRIEND!”
“Oh really?” Caleb was mocking her.
Then they started arguing again. Aisha and Sophie had it all. They can’t handle them anymore so they left them as it is.
“Would you like to ride with us instead?” Aisha offered Sophie when they sp-otted Ethan.
“No, I’m okay. I already ask someone to fetch me.” She smiled casually.
“Okay. I’ll see you later then.” They hu-g each other before they separated.
Aisha left her side as she strides to where Ethan parked the car.
“Is she not coming?” Ethan asked.
“She’s okay.” she smiles.
“How about Lisa?”
“She’s with Caleb. He’ll drive her home.”
Ethan started the engine when Aisha got in.
Unknown to them, someone was watching them from a far until the car set off. When he can’t see them anymore, he stared at the lady standing alone. He took a picture of her.
“Hmmm, looks like we have some additional fish to fry then.” He whispered to himself.
***
Demetrius got off the car silently. He never said a word during the drive. It’s good to have a friend like Archedeus who un-derstood him. he went directly to his room. he took a glas-s then pour an amount of red wine as he walked towards the veranda. he was looking at the sky. Why can’t he see any stars above? Seems like they are joining him in his pain.
“Cherry Ann Lee.” His first love who left him for other guy. They were supposed to get married when he returns from his mission in Lebanon. But he received a letter from her that she married another guy. after three years in his mission, Archedeus came back to Oregon only to find out that Cherry Ann already have a family of her own. Since that time, he never bothered to see her again. But fifteen years ago, he heard about the death of the woman he loved. The husband was also killed during that car accident. Rio actually tried to search for the woman’s child but to no avail.
“Where could the child possibly be?” He mumbled. “What could be the child’s life now? Does the child knew that her mother is alive?” Rio thought. Will he try to find the child again? But Rio doesn’t know the child’s name. How could he start looking?
_______
*The next day*
“What happened to my father?” Aisha sadly asked uncle Archie. she was organizing some files when her cell phone rang. “Please send me your address. I will be there as soon as I sort out some docu-ments here in the office.”
After hearing her Dad’s condition from uncle Archie, Aisha fixed all the docu-ments she has to review for the day. Maybe she could just do it tomorrow or why not asked Lisa and Caleb for their help instead. Hmm, that would be perfect!
Aisha proposed a project to extend the White Lotus production in the North State area. She grew up there so she knew that the White Lotus didn’t saturated the North State yet. It was the project that Ethan asked her to fix but got delayed because of Angel. That woman! Aisha scoffed. Guess she nee-ds to visit that woman as well. She nee-ds to straighten her problem with that woman cause first of all, she is her least enemy.
Aisha has a lot of things in mind right now. she nee-ds to iron out some problems before moving to the greater ones. However, she never thought that Demetrius, her foster father would become one of her concern. Her Uncle Archie called her to let her know that Rio had been eccentric since the masquerade party but he left out the information about the woman he claimed he saw that night.
“I nee-d to leave you guys today. I’m sorry that I burdened you with some of my works. I just nee-d to go somewhere today.” Aisha implored the two outside her office. They nodded to let her know it is okay but Aisha didn’t notice the awkwardness building up between her two office mates. Her mind was filled with a lot of conflicts for the past weeks giving her a tough time to see throu-ghher friends.
“Let me know if you nee-d some clarification, okay?” she continued.
“Ehm, okay.” Lisa as-sured her.
Aisha headed to the elevator then she punched the number going to the basement. As soon as she reached where her car was parked, she changed into her sneakers. As soon as she felt comfortable, she started the engine and drove off to the address that uncle Archie provided. It’s not definitely a hotel or a condo. It was a subdivision, she was sure of that. It was what the internet said. Did Rio manage to buy a house and lot in the Central State? She didn’t know, she’s about to find out.
Unknown to her, someone was following her secretly.
She reached the Subdivision but the security was very ti-ght. She has to give out an I.D. but the guards nee-d to verify the names if they are included on the list of people who are allowed to enter the area. she handed her I.D but the guards told her that she doesn’t have any permission from anyone to enter.
“I have an audience with Demetrius Mikasa.” She pursed her li-ps in annoyance.
“I’m sorry miss but your name is not included on the list.” The guard repeated.
“But I’m his daughter!” she’s vexed. After a while, she guiltily realized that the I.D she provided was that of Stacy. Rio nor uncle Archie didn’t know about Stacy. But how could she hand her I.D as Aisha? they will become suspicious for sure.
She picked her phone and dialed uncle Archie’s number immediately. After some minutes, the guards let her in. They apologized.
“Where’s dad?” she asked Archie when she got off the car. She was able to enter the mansion. It looks like the Williams residence but with difference in width and height. These mansion is definitely expensive.
“He is in his room. I’m sorry to call you all of a sudden but I am worried because he hasn’t gone out since the day after the masquerade party.” Archie explained.
“Thank you Uncle.” She tapped Archie’s shoulder, “Thank you for calling me.” She genuinely said then she started the stairs up going go her father’s room. She tried to knock as soon as she reached the door but didn’t hear any response.
“Dad?” She knocked again. She’s not getting any response so she took the master key to her uncle. She opened the door slowly. It’s too dark inside so she turned on the light. She tried to search for her father’s location. No one is on the bed. She walked to the shower room but found no one. Where could he possibly be? Did he? No! he won’t think of jumping out from the window, because he will definitely die! She’s about to get out when she heard some clatters. She gazed towards the noise. There! She can see a head! Was he sitting on the floor beside the bed all this time? and he didn’t even bother to speak to her? Just how de-ep is his depression?
She walked near him, “Dad?” he was holding a small picture frame. She tried to see who but it was an old portrait of a young beautiful woman. who could that person be? Was she his wife? Daughter? Just who the hell is she to steal her father’s vigor?
“She’s beautiful.” She uttered as she sat beside him. Rio smiled.
“Yes! she is definitely!” he wretchedly answered. Aisha could see tenderness on his eyes while he stares at the picture, but she can also sense some guilt, pain and love? Love? Isn’t he over her yet?
“Who is she?” she was trying to get him speak..
“She was once my life.” Pain was heard on his tone, “She was dead fifteen years ago, but how come I saw her that night?” he continued.
“At the masquerade party?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure it was her? maybe it was just a lookalike coincidence?” she’s trying to get to him.
“No. I’m sure it was her.” he is firmed.
“And what if it’s her?” Rio paused when he heard her. yeah, right. What if it was her? what’s in it for him? Maybe he was just happy to know that she’s alive. Or Maybe, just Maybe, he wants to see her again? But why? didn’t that woman left him for good? But they were once a lover!
Demetrius wants to know what happened to her fifteen years ago. And he wants to know badly why is she with that murderer!
“What will you do if it was her? do you still hope to be with her?” She asked but Rio didn’t answer. He doesn’t even know why.
“Dad, let go! it’s been how many years now!” she continued. When Aisha didn’t hear any words from him, she stood up and headed to the door. She feels like yelling at Rio. But she was just an adoptive, stubborn child. She can’t possibly dictate to that old man.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 41