Chapter 3

"She can't be forced to do physical movement until her wound gets better. Once her wound opens, it would be dangerous for her and may cause infection."

I was woken up by the angelic voice of a woman who I think was talking to someone. I hadn't fully woke up but different feelings welcomed me.

My throat was very dry, my left hand felt numb and I could feel my stomach aching. I felt very weak as well and I couldn't move even my hand.

Slowly, I opened my eyes to see who was the woman who was talking a while ago.

Dim light embraced my sight the moment I unclosed my eyes. I looked around me and I was surprised when I saw two people beside me.

"She's awake."

Zadkiro leaned towards me when the woman said those words.

"Hey, how are you? Do you feel any pain?" he asked in a concerned tone.

I shut my eyes and gulped, trying to pull out my voice to answer him. I was having a hard time producing a sound but I still tried.

"I... I-I'm fine," I weakly answered.

I saw in Zadkiro's eyes that he was relieved upon hearing my answer.

I roamed my eyes around and that's when I noticed that there was an IVF injected into my left hand, it may be the reason why it felt numb.

"Hello, Sereia."

Zadkiro moved backward when the woman talked to me. I saw him looking at me with an unreadable expression on his face but I just looked away and concentrated on the woman.

Who is she anyway?

"I am Xara Eugene, Mr. Driavos' private doctor. I am also in charge of you and I've been treating you after you got shot. Can you recall that?"

She's very professional. Her language and voice shout superiority in a friendly manner. Her face is also beautiful and no one could deny that. If I were a man, I would surely hit on her.

Answering her question, I only nodded because I couldn't talk properly yet. I needed water and I am still not in the condition.

"I just finished checking on you right before you woke up. Your vital signs are clear and your wound is also treated well. The only thing you need for now is rest. You can't move too much and for your medications, I already told Mr. Driavos about it. Every Saturday, I'll also come to see your improvements. Do you have any more questions?" Dr. Xara asked.

The only response she got from me was silence. Right now, I feel like I am in a defense room and the panelist asked me about something I don't know.

Gosh, I am having a headache.

"Enough with your long discussion Xara. You may leave now, she just woke up and you're stressing her," Zadkiro meddled.

Dr. Xara didn't seem offended by the way he talked to her. She just laughed and turned her back to us without even saying goodbye or anything.

Now, it's only the two of us.

Silence superiors between us when no one dared to speak. As much as I wanted to ask him about what happened while I was unconscious, I couldn't because my throat was very dry.

"Would you like to drink water? You keep on gulping."

I glanced at him. Am I?

Well, yeah I need that. I nodded at him and that's when he went to the table beside the bed. I watched him as he poured water on the glass carefully.

While looking at him, I couldn't help but remember his brother. I wonder what happened to him? Before passing out, I knew that the situation wasn't good and I think it became worse 'cause Zandrous shot me.

"Here, let me help you."

Zadkiro gently assisted me to get up. I hissed when my wound ached even if I was careful and so did Zadkiro.

This was my first time getting shot but I couldn't feel any trauma or fear that it would happen again. I was more afraid of feeling the same pain when I was bleeding after getting shot.

Zadkiro let me drink water on the glass and I finished it in one drink. He slowly tapped my back and put the glass back on the table.

I thought he was going to let me lie on the bed but he fixed the pillows instead to support my back. He let me sit but I feel much more comfortable in that position than lying on the bed.

After drinking the water, I feel better now. I'm not fully recovered yet but I know I'll get better soon.

"Do you want me to get you something to eat?"

I shook my head to say 'no'. I think I'd throw up if I will eat now, I don't know. I just don't want to.

I only heard him sigh in my response. I know he was looking at me because I could see it in my peripheral vision and honestly, I find it a bit awkward.

I checked unto myself. I was wearing a pair of pink sleepwear which I don't recall putting on. Maybe he borrowed it from someone for me to use so they could treat my wound easily.

Speaking of wounds, I wonder why Zandrous shot me instead of his brother. Does he find me annoying or arrogant because of the way I answered him? I hope not. I didn't mean to offend him, I was just being honest.

On the other hand, do I deserve his action anyway? I was just a kidnap victim here. I can't accept that I was hurt because of the sins of others. They wronged me, didn't they?

"You don't seem fine. You're spacing out."

I stopped thinking things when I heard Zadkiro's manly voice.

I looked at him and caught his eyes for the nth time around. I wonder how many times I went under this eye's magical power.

Instead of panicking and worrying about my safety, I felt the other way around because of those eyes. I know what's wrong and what's right but I forgot that Zadkiro is doing the wrong thing.

"Set me free," I firmly said while still meeting Zadkiro's eyes.

This is not supposed to happen. I need to live on my own and find my parents. If I go with the flow of this situation, I'll lose every chance that I could have to hug them again.

"What do you want to eat?"

I looked at him unbelievably when he changed the topic, trying to pretend that he didn't hear me.

"Zadkiro, I am serious. I need to find someone so you need to let me go. That's the reason why you found me walking alone on the dark road at that time. Please, I've been waiting for how many years," I begged.

I don't see any reason why he'd lock me up here like a prisoner, I don't even know him.

"I already told you my response, and the day that I will change my mind would never come."

I closed my eyes and tried to calm myself. I don't want to get mad but he's crossing his boundaries. He kept on insisting that he wouldn't let me go but he didn't even tell me why am I here.

"Look Zadkiro, you don't know my situation and I know you don't care, but please have a heart. I'm suffering and now that I had the chance to heal this suffering, you're stopping me. Let me go and I'll forget everything that happened."

He was just listening to what I was saying without reacting. I don't even know if he's listening to me because he doesn't seem like it.

I don't know what choice of words should I use just to convince him. I'm too desperate yet he's very persistent in holding me captive. I couldn't breathe thinking I'd miss the chance to see my parents again.

"Rest Sereia, I'm running out of patience-"

"And I'm running out of kindness," I cut him off.

He harshly gazed at me because of what I did. I am supposed to get scared with those stares but right now all I want is to leave this place.

"The fuck Sereia, you're testing my patience. Don't you see I'm trying to protect you here? I am trying to give you the life that you never had and make you feel what happiness is! That suffering that you're talking about? I am doing my best to lift you from that sorrow!" he shouted and even pointed his index finger at me.

I laughed bitterly because of what he said. Now I had enough, I couldn't hold my anger anymore and act as if everything was fine with me.

"So you think you are my savior and I am the pathetic victim of wrongdoings?" I laughed louder. "Stop your illusion Zadkiro. It's not you who could end my sufferings so better let me go."

He remained quiet but I saw him clenching his fists. I don't have the power to stop myself now. I tried my best to negotiate with him adequately but he used his dominative actions towards me.

I pulled the hem of my shirt upwards, showing him the bandaged part of my body. Though I didn't see it a while back, I can feel it.

"See this Mr. Driavos? How can you say that you'll lift me from the sorrow if you couldn't even protect me from a stupid gunshot? I will not play your game Zadkiro. Find another woman who would lose their head to believe your lies."

I wanted to shout at him and point at him like what he did to me but I didn't have the strength to. I need to save my energy because I don't want to faint in front of this man.

"Quit it, continue doing your illegal matters, I wouldn't care but let me live my normal life," I continued.

"Are you sure?" he asked in a serious voice. I removed my sight away from him so I wouldn't feel guilty about what I said.

"Sereia, I know things about you more than you think. About your parents, about how you went to that orphanage. Don't ever tell me that I don't know anything and I am lying about saving you from your miserys. I wouldn't tell you now 'cause it would break you. You are here because I want to prepare you for a soul-breaking truth. Is that what you want to hear?"

I gasped for air and furrowed my forehead after hearing everything that he said. How come he knows about my parents? Is he connected to them? Does he know where could I find them?

Thoughts were rumbling inside my head as I couldn't absorb everything that Zadkiro stated. If he's telling the truth, then there's a possibility that he knows a huge part of me.

My eyes teared and my body trembled. It was like a reaction to what he said that I couldn't stop.

The hope in my heart flamed like a fire. I wanted to cry thinking that maybe Zadkiro could help me find my parents. The way he said every word to me, they seem very true to me.

I saw Zadkiro turn his back on me, facing the door to leave me alone in this room.

"Remember this, the next time a bullet would come your way, I will risk my life to catch it for you."

I wanted to stop him from leaving this room and ask him a lot of questions but my chest seemed too heavy right now that I couldn't even utter any word.

I only watched him as he opened the door and left me, silently crying while holding my chest trying to remove the heavy feeling on it. I sobbed and sobbed, hoping that crying would help me to release the pain but it didn't.

Mom... Dad... Are we close to each other now?