Chapter 58: He is alive
985words
I yawned, stretching my arms as I woke up. I kept my eyes closed, trying to slip back to sleep, but it was too late. Sunlight pierced through the dark curtain, its rays warming my face. I grunted, feeling someone's presence beside me. I thought Nathan left last night. How did he get back?
"Good morning, Ma'am."
Startled, I recognized Gabriel's voice and snapped my eyes open. I looked to my side and saw him.
"Goodness gracious!" I cried out, jumping off the bed, my heart racing.
"Don't be scared," he said, sitting up calmly.
I backed away until I hit the closet, clutching my pounding heart. "I'm not scared of your ghost, Gabriel. But why the hell am I seeing and hearing you?" I cried, tears filling my eyes.
"Because I'm alive," he said, tilting his head. "I didn't die, okay?" He stepped off the bed, coming closer.
"Stay back!" I yelled. "Don't come any closer."
"I'm alive, Scarlett. Here, touch me," he said, stretching his hand out.
I shook my head. "You died, Gabriel. You've been dead."
"But you never saw my body, did you?" he asked.
"Your mother never allowed me to see you."
"Exactly. That should have made you question it," he said, stepping closer again.
"You're alive?" I asked, my lips trembling.
"Touch me."
"No, look in the mirror," I said, remembering that ghosts supposedly have no reflections.
"Even as a ghost, I wouldn't hurt you," he said, stepping closer again.
"Someone help me," I whispered, tears streaming down my face.
"I missed you," he said, grabbing my hand.
"Argh!" I cried, expecting to vanish with his ghostly form, but instead, I felt warmth as he pulled me into a tight embrace.
"It's really me," he murmured.
"Gabriel?" I choked out, my voice thick with emotion. "You're truly alive," I sobbed, wrapping my arms around him.
"Yes, I am."
I pulled back, cupping his face in my hands. "I thought you were gone. I thought I would never see you again," I sobbed and hugged him again.
"Stop crying. I couldn't leave without saying goodbye."
"Come on, we have so much to talk about," I said, pulling him to the bed. "How are you alive? When I went to the hospital, the doctor said you died overnight, and your mother was crying."
"That was her plan. She didn't want me to be with you, so she faked my death to keep me away," he explained. "When I regained consciousness, I was in a hospital in Mexico City. I asked my mother how I ended up there, and she said she had transferred me. That was her whole plan."
"How could she do that? I know she hated me, but I didn't realize it was that intense."
"I was angry too. I wanted to come back to the Philippines as soon as I woke up, but she hid my travel documents. She wanted me to marry Alexandra before giving them back. I couldn't go along with her plan. I tried calling you so many times, but I couldn't reach you."
"I lost my phone the day I heard the news of your death. I was devastated, Gabriel. How could your mother be so cruel? She knew how much I cared about you. Why would she do that?" I said, my voice breaking as tears filled my eyes again.
"I don't know. My mother can be extreme when she thinks I'm at risk. That might be her way of expressing love; I'm still not sure. But, how have you been?"
"You were right, Gabriel. You were right when you said revenge would only hurt me more than it would hurt them," I whispered, tears streaming down my face.
"What do you mean?"
"I lost her... I lost Razi." The words felt unbearably heavy.
"Shh, come here," he said, pulling me close.
"She was tortured to death. My child was burned alive. Every night, I hear her cries. I couldn't save her," I sobbed.
"Only God knows why, okay? Please, stop crying," he consoled me.
After a while, I asked, "Are you married now?" and he showed me his hands.
"I couldn't imagine a life with anyone else," he said, shaking his head. "I don't care if you love me or not. I just need you in my life."
"I missed you," I whispered, hugging him again.
"I missed you more," he replied.
"I was diagnosed," I said, pulling back to look at him. "I have liver cancer, Gabriel. Without surgery, I have just a year."
"Why won't you have the surgery?"
"Because I don't want to. I believe God is punishing me for my sins, so why should I?"
"You're wrong. God doesn't punish people that way. He loves you and wants you to be happy," he said, gently cupping my face. "You're having that surgery, Scarlett. You'll be fine."
"I don't want to."
"I'm not asking you to choose. I'm telling you what to do."
"Why are you talking like this?" I asked, shifting away from him.
"We'll discuss it after the surgery. Get ready; I'm taking you to the hospital now."
"I think the bullet messed with your head, Gabriel. You can't boss me around."
"Maybe it knocked some sense into me," he said with a grin, leaning in. "At least now I can use my authority to get you to the hospital."
"I am not going."
He stood up, walked over to my closet, and picked out a dress.
"What are you doing?"
"Selecting an outfit for you," he said, placing a short pink dress beside me. "Shall I carry you to the shower, or will you go willingly?"
"You've completely lost it!" I groaned. "If you think I'm going to the hospital with you for surgery, you've got another thing coming." And with that, I headed into the bathroom.
"Make it snappy," he called after me.
