Chapter Three

Three

A screeching sound can be heard inside of one of the guest rooms of Casa Ibarra. Perry eyed the door apologetically as she knows what it feels like. She sighed and quietly walked away from the door.

"Miss, what are your orders?" one of her maids asked her.

She paused and gave them instructions not to open the door in any circumstances. The maid looked at her nervously. She smiled and assured her that the person inside will be fine.

"She will be alright after a day or two. Prepare a light meal when she wakes up and inform her that I will meet her after a week. Just give her everything that she needs."

The maid simply nodded and left her.

"Pine will really kill me, this time." Perry groaned inwardly as she can imagine what will happen when Pine wakes up. "Should I just tell them to wait for a month?" She mumbled.

"Madison, we need to go now." she quickly smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

"I'll be there in a sec." she said and gave a regretful look at the closed door.

"Am I in some kind of cheap telenovela?." Pine wondered as he watched the man in front of him.

"You know that you are the only one for me." A guy who he is not familiar with held his hands and gently clasped their hands.

He tried to get away from his hands but his body was not moving. "You've got to be kidding me."

"I know and you are also the only one for me." Pine almost threw up as he said those cheesy lines but again without the control of his body. He embraced the guy and he could feel the tight hold of the man. Goosebumps were all he felt when the man's face came closer to his face "No.!" He screamed inwardly as the lips of the man are now inches away from his.

He felt a sudden gust of wind and was surprised with the change of scenery. He quickly eyed the place he was in and now in front of him was a sophisticated middle aged woman. The woman elegantly sipped her tea and placed an envelope in front of him.

"Ohh, so this is the all famous money envelope." Pine mused to himself. Let's see what this body will do.

"I don't understand why you are doing this.?" Margareth said while staring blankly to the envelope.

The woman smiled smugly and shook her head. "I know your type. You are a leech who will suck dry my son. I am giving you enough money to stay away and never contact Paolo."

"We love each other." Margareth said firmly.

"Love?" the woman asked sarcastically. "How long do you think that love will last? Three years? Five?" The woman paused. " Love is a fleeting feeling. A fantasy that you want to live on but reality will always wake you. Do you think my son will still love you when he doesn't have anything to his, not even his name?"

"Well, I somehow agree to her." Pine nodded in agreement but he suddenly clenched his chest as if he could also feel the pain and fear of Margareth. He gasped for his breath as the uncertainty of Margareth almost like his. "Damn ." He cursed.

The woman in front of Margareth gasped and he frowned as he noticed her reactions. He smiled as he is also puzzled why he can now move on his own. "Well, I welcome this development.' He chuckled.

He crossed his legs and reached for the envelope. He opened it and smirked as he checked what's inside.

"Madam, you should come more prepared." He placed the envelope in front of Paolo's mother and tilted his head slightly."The best you can do is to give me a blank check." He said stoically.

He noticed that the woman grasped her cup and began throwing it to his face." Oh no, you don't." Pine mused and held his own cup and quickly threw it to the old lady's face.

The woman was so shocked that made her mouth open wide like a fish.

"How dare you.?!" The woman shouted angrily as she realized what happened.

Pine smirked and reached the cup that the woman was still holding and threw it to her face that is now completely drenched with tea. The woman raised her hand but he was faster to hold her hand firmly and gave her a slap that she well deserved.

"You called me a leech then I will suck dry your entire family. You are trying to throw tea in my face and slap me. Bad news for you, I am faster and meaner than you."

A searing pain in his chest interrupted him to what more he wanted to say but a room with a piano in its center greeted him. He frowned as he noticed the woman that is now so familiar to him.

"Margareth." He mumbled.

The woman with her long silky straight black hair and a sad smile turn to him. "Pine."

"You know me." Pine asked incredulously.

Margareth nodded and asked him to sit beside her. Pine busied himself looking into the keys of the piano and waited patiently.

'Thank you." Margareth said apologetically.

Pine frowned and tilted his head. "What for?"

Margareth laughed awkwardly and carefully patted his head.

'What are you doing?' He asked as he was seriously feeling creeped out by Margareth.

"That person is really right. You may have a sharp tongue but you will always protect the people that you cherish."

Pine felt the shiver in his spine as Margareth looked at him.

"Who are you talking about.?"

Margareth cleared her throat and started to play the piano keys. He recognized the song as the nursery rhyme Twinkle, twinkle star.

"That was good." Pine muttered as Margareth finished her play.

Margareth sighed heavily. "You know what are the things that I value the most?" Margareth asked him.

Pine waited silently for Margareth's answer.

"Paolo and my Piano." She murmured and carefully caressed the piano keys.

Pine remained silent.

"And both of them were not with me any longer."

Pine heard the silent cry of Margareth but he remained stoic.

"Is it wrong to hope that all of this will end.?" Margareth asked him.

Pine creased his forehead in deep concentration and clenched his fist.

"Well, it also takes courage to end it." He simply said and a deafening silence surrounded the room .

He can clearly hear the small laugh of Margareth and her soft mumbled of thanks. He smiled smally and reached for her head as he carefully patted her hair.

Margareth grinned. "I hope that this time you will find what you are looking for." Pine chuckled and inwardly hoping that what she said would happen soon.

Her sweet voice is the last thing he can remember as he was greeted by the unfamiliar ceiling and the strong scent of antiseptic.