Married By Mistake
Chapter 11

LUNA

“He’s fine. Don’t worry, Luna. Your father’s fine. Just avoid stressing Beiron.” Our Family Doctor said. It was as if a thorn in my side had been bitten by a thorn in my side when he told me the good news. I no longer bothered to comb when Dylan said he had attacked Dad. My fear of losing it prevailed.

“Thanks, God,” I said tremblingly. “W-When will he wake up?”

“We don’t know yet. I still need to observe him. Once the results come out, he can be taken home.” Smiling he said and then looked at the wristwatch. “I’ll leave you first. I’ll go round.”

Dylan put his arm around me. I just felt that he was beside me. I stared at him. To this day, I still do not feel secure until Dad wakes up.

“‘Don’t worry. The doctor said he’s already fine, Luna.”

I shook. “This is all my fault.”

I sat down next to Dad and held his hand. Tears streaming down my face. “This is all my fault. I’m so sorry, Papa.”

Dylan touched my shoulder. “It’s not your fault at all, Luna. Your Dad is just really naughty and doesn’t want to stop working.”

I stared at the devices attached to Dad’s hand and nose. I want him healed. I want my father’s strength back.

“Avery ..” Dad m****d. He mentioned Mama’s name because that’s what Papa used as a nickname for her. “Take me with you.”

“Papa.” I held his hand to wake him up. Don’t leave me yet, ‘Pa. How much more I want to tell you. I will fix the misunderstanding between the two of us.

He looked up and smiled at me. I was dumbfounded. This is the first time Papa smiled at me. Dad caressed my cheek despite his weakness. I held his hand that was on my cheek.

“My lovely wife… I missed you.”

“‘Well, I thought you’d lose me too,” I said tremblingly. “You scared me.”

Dad’s expression changed. It became fierce. He quickly removed his hand from my cheek.

“Well, maybe you shouldn’t work anymore. Just rest at our house.”He laughed heartily. Even weakly it forced him to sit up. He held my hand when I restrained him. “Don’t touch me!”

“‘Pa,’ don’t shout, it’ll be with you.”

“I said, shut up!” I step backwards.

“Papa, that’s enough! You’re a self-centred father! If Luna was just a normal child, she would have given up on you for a long time and left you. But no, she’s still like that because she knows the day will come when you’ll need her too.”

“Dylan, that’s enough. Papa’s condition isn’t stable yet.” I stopped him. “Just let me talk to him. Alone.”

“How much time do you need?”

“An hour.”

he nodded and left the room. When I confronted Dad, he was lying down with his back to me.

“Papa, are you .. are you hungry? I brought some fruit for you.”

“I want you to get out of my room.” He said emphatically while looking out the window.

“‘Well, how long have we been like this?”

He didn’t answer.

I sat in the chair next to his bed. “I am not a daughter you wanted me to be. Until now I still wonder why God allowed me to live in this world. Maybe whatever else I do you will never appreciate. No matter how high my average in school, or even though I’m a Valedictorian, you’re still not proud that I’m your child. “

My voice began to tremble. Both sides of my eyes also warmed up. “I never get tired of waiting for you every family day at school. Your picture is still what I always present when my teachers ask who is the superhero in my life. I love you so much, ‘Pa.”

“It breaks me every time you show up and make me feel like I don’t deserve where I stand right now.” I pressed my palms together and stared at every drop of my tears there. “He still wasn’t looking at me.” Forgive me, Papa. I’m sorry I made your life miserable. I’m sorry I killed Mama. I’m sorry I can’t be like Camille. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was born. I’m sorry, Papa. I’m may not be the perfect daughter you ever wanted, but you’re always the best father I’ve ever had. “

I leaned on the bed. I cried. I stopped when I felt a warm hand caress my head. I looked up. He was smiling. “I saw those drawings you made when you were seven. And I know you always send me a card when it’s Father’s Day, but you use Camille’s name because you’re scared of me.”

He sighed, his expression becoming soft. “And I saw you preparing breakfast just for me because all our housemaids took a day off. You were ten years old then. You’re standing on a chair while preparing my coffee. The kitchen was a mess.”

“I dropped the flour on the floor.” I sniffle said.

“I saw that. And when you slipped, I almost ran towards you. But you were holding on to the chair.” He smiled gently.

I quickly stood up and hugged him tightly. I cried on my dad’s arm as he stroked my hair.

“Shh, stop crying,” he whispered after kissing me on the forehead. “I’m sorry I made you feel so unwanted, Luna.”

No words came out of my lips. I just cried as I hugged Dad.

“My brain closed when your Mama disappeared. I blamed you for everything even though the Doctor explained to me what happened. I became stupid. Forgive me.”

“My dad …”

I also left immediately. The visiting hours are over. I still have to bring Papa some clothes because he will be confined for a few days. I caught up with Dylan in the parking area. He turned away from me so he doesn’t notice me. I frowned when I saw him smoking.

“Hey.”

Dylan was shocked. When he confronted me, he was also exhaling smoke from his cigarette. I coughed. My chest suddenly tightened and I could hardly breathe. He hugged me and caressed my back.

“Sh-it!” He cursed. “I’m sorry!”

“Inhaler ..”

He placed himself on my back so I could lean against him. I inhaled the medicine from the inhaler and waited a few minutes to breathe properly. “Ugh.”

“I forgot. I’m sorry.” He said and kissed my forehead.

“I’m fine.” I smiled. He relaxed.

We got in the car. He touched both my cheeks. I feel weak under his gaze.

“You cried too much.” He asked. “Everything’s okay?”

I wrapped both my arms around his shoulders. I smiled. “We forgave each other. I’ll come back here later. I’ll have Papa pack his things and then no one will watch over him but me. Everything’s going to be alright, right?”

“Yes. We haven’t eaten lunch yet.” He kissed me on the lips before walking away from me. He started the engine.

“Where are we going to eat?”

“You cooked something at home. We’ll eat at home.”

After we had dinner, I immediately went up to my room to fix things. I have to keep an eye on Papa since he will be moved to a private room. I was shopping for clothes when my phone rang. I frowned because it was an unknown number. I answered that.

“Hello?” I hesitate to answer.

“Luna. It’s me. It’s Camille.” My ears tingled when I heard who owned that gentle voice.

“C-Camille ?! Where are you now? It was so long that you haven’t keep in touch—“

“I heard what happened to Papa. Is he alright?”

I swallowed. “H-He’s okay. He got exhausted from working. When are you coming back? He already misses you.”

“Coming soon, Luna. I’ll be back soon.” She took a deep breath. “Right now, I can’t say where I am. I’ll just be back, Luna.”

“Hello? Hello, Ca —” She hanged up. I stared at my phone for a few seconds.

“Who are you talking to?” I looked behind me and saw Dylan’s frown. Why do I seem nervous? Do I have to tell her about Camille calling me?

“Huh? It’s nothing… It—‘s It’s Caridad.” I averted my gaze. “He’s going to have something to do with my design.”

“Ah.” He approached me. I tightened my grip on my phone.

“Let’s go?” I said. Before I could turn my back on him, he touched my waist.

“Is that all you’re going to bring?”

“Yes. Maybe these clothes will be enough for me until Dad and I get home.”

“Then, let’s go.”

He needs to know. I don’t want to hide, it might hurt the two of us. If his mind breaks, I will readily accept him in my heart. “Dylan, I need to tell you something.”

“Save it for later.”

“It’s about Camille.” I continue, “She… She called me, earlier. Honestly, she called me and not Caridad.”

He was still quiet and there was no reaction.

I cleared my throat. “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to lie to you.”

He placed his arm on his forehead and did not spill.

I moved away from him a little. “I-I’ll just use my car. Get some rest.”

Until I closed the door he remained in that position