Broken Strings
Chapter 28

MELISSA QUIZON

“Daddy, are you okay?” Wright helped Reid climb on top of his bed. When he climbed up Wright adjusted his jacket that was tangled. Wright was now about to be released in the hospital, we are just waiting for the release order so that he can finally get out.

Wright smiled broadly. “It’s nice to hear that you are calling me ‘Daddy’. Can you call me again?”

Reid nodded and bowed. It still embarrasses the father.

I just watched them as I quietly tidied up their dirty clothes. As well as other unused clothes I had to fold.

Wright gently pinched Reid’s sharp nose. “Why are you so mean to me, eh, I’m your Daddy.”

Reid’s face returned to seriousness. “Because you made my Mommy cry. I love Mommy. Do you love Mommy?”

I stopped what I was doing. I looked at Wright. My heart jumped when I saw that he was also looking at me.

Wright shot me an innocent smile. “Yes. I love your Mommy so much.”

I averted my gaze. My heart was beating fast again and little men were jumping around in my stomach.

“Eh, why are you making her cry?” How did my son find out?

He cleared his throat. “Y-You don’t understand, Son.”

“Why aren’t you on my sixth birthday?” Reid asked. Because your father is a womanizer and he can’t settle for one woman.

“Son, it is because….”

“At least Doc Eugene was there for my birthday.” Reid’s innocent story while toying the end of his father’s blanket. Wright pulled him up and sat Reid down between his thighs. “Doc is good at games, eh, we always win. Even on Foundation Day, he taught me how to swim. We had a picture but Mommy’s camera got wet. Do you know, Daddy, Mommy fell that time, It’s a good thing that Doc is there to carry her.”

“Daddy’s getting jealous, Son.” Wright hugged Reid from behind. “I’m getting jealous of Doc Eugene.”

Reid tilted his head on the other side. “Why?”

“Because you always mention Doc Eugene,” Wright said.

Reid looked at me. “Mommy, Daddy is fighting Doc.”

It’s up to you and your father to talk.

Wright turned Reid’s face to him for their eyes to meet. “Do you love Doc Eugene more than me?”

“I love Mommy more than you two.” I smiled at my son’s answer. What are you now, Wright?

“What if you choose who you want to be your Daddy? Me or Doc?” Oh.

“Hmm. I won’t choose.” Reid shakes his head. “I don’t want to share my Mommy. I just want her to love me, only me.”

He chuckled. “You can’t be formed if you only have your Mommy.”

My eyes widened at what he said.

Reid just stared at him innocently. Wright gently stroked Reid’s messy hair. I’m sure he didn’t understand what his father said.

“Reid, do you want to live with Daddy?” He glanced at me before turning his gaze back to Reid.

We also discussed that we should live with him. I didn’t want to but Wright begged me. Even though I was so mad at him, I still had a heart. I’m not like him. I’m not that heartless.

Reid frowned. “Is there a lot of kids in there?”

Wright nodded. “Your cousin is there. You can play with him.”

“Is he good at piko? Because I’m the champion there in that game. He might cry when I beat him.” (Note: Piko is a Filipino game)

Wright chuckled before he nodded.

“Can I think first?” Reid replied.

“Yes.”

Reid got off Wright’s bed and ran towards me. I stopped arranging clothes as Reid forced himself into my lap. “Mommy, I’m hungry.”

“Hamburger?” I glared at Wright and shook my head. Seriously? Will he kill my son with a hamburger? Where is the nutrient there?

Reid nodded. “Koko Crunch.”

Wright reached for his phone from the small table next to his bed. He pressed it and put it in his ear. “Hello, Mister Contreras…. Yes… Before you go here, buy Koko Crunch at the convenience store first… For my son… Yes, as soon as possible.”

He hanged up.

“Who are you talking to?” Reid asked. He still doesn’t leave my lap.

Wright smiled. “My assistant.”

Reid tilted his head on the other side. It was his mannerism to tilt his head when he wanted to know something. “What’s assistant?”

Wright motioned for Reid to approach him. Reid immediately left my lap and ran to his father. Wright again helped Reid climb into bed and sat on his lap.

“Always curious, my sweet child.” He hugged Reid. “Someday, when you’re running our empire, you’ll understand everything.”

Reid looked up at him. “Mommy said, when the child asks questions, he’s smart.”

“And yes, you are.”

“Daddy, we haven’t made up yet ah. We’re not yet close, ha.” Reid reminds Wright. I went back to folding clothes.

“Ha, why?”

“Because you and Mommy should greet made up first before we get close t each other.” Reid looked down and flipped the flower on Wright’s desk. Wright looked at me. His gaze seemed to convey something. I bit my lower l*p before averting my gaze.

“K**s Daddy.” I looked at Wright. He was already talking to Reid.

“Where?”

“Here.” Wright pointed to his cheek. Our son innocently complied and after that, he hugged Reid tightly. “I love you, Baby.” I held my breath when he looked at me. His eyes were full of love. “And I won’t get tired of loving you.”

It was good that someone knocks. I quickly stood up to open up whoever it was. A tall man opened up to me. His body is muscular and his shoulders are broad.

“Hi, Mrs Agoncillio.” Mrs. my a*s! We weren’t even married. “I’m Marvin Contreras. Your husband’s assistant.”

“Come in.” I opened the door wide. As soon as he entered he immediately approached Wright’s bed and lifted the plastic he was carrying.

“Koko!” Reid said while jumping. He politely picked up the bag. “Thank you.”

I lifted him to go down in Wright’s bed. Wright tried to grab my hand but I avoided it right away. I followed him to the table and helped prepare Reid’s breakfast.

“Mister Agoncillo.” Mister Contreras’ firm voice. “Here’s your request of company’s sales this month.”

“Thank you, Mister Contreras. You may take your two days to leave with your daughter.” I heard Wright say.

Mister Contreras left immediately. When I closed the door I immediately returned to Reid’s seat. I didn’t look at Wright but I knew his eyes were following me.

“Small bite, Reid.” I scolded.

Even before I sat down, there was another knock. I took a deep breath before opening the door. Mister Contreras probably just forgot to tell Wright something.

“Did you forget something, Mister Contreras — Oh? Hi.” It’s Eugene.

I suddenly remembered the seven days he had extended to me.

“Six days left, Sweetheart.” I gulped.

“May I come in?” He said smilingly. I loosened the door to let him in.

“Oh. You again.” Wright said coldly. He also lost his expression when he saw the doctor.

“I’m here to check your vital signs. I want to check if you’re close to dying.” Eugene said sarcastically. I let them and just watched my son eat. I wiped his l*p that has a smudge of milk.

“No. I’m good, so you better leave.” I widened my eyes at Wright because of the tone of his voice.

“I own the hospital, Mister Agoncillo. My hospital, my rules. Got it?” The tension between the two of them is building up again. And here is still my son, busy with what he is eating.

“I’m sorry to say, Mister Fuertes. But we don’t need you here. I already have a mighty beautiful nurse, you see.”

“With that attitude, she might as well leave you, Mister A*****e-cillio.” My body hardened to what Eugene said.

“Mommy, they’re fighting!” Reid said.

“No, Baby. They’re growling at each other. Grr.” I said smiling.

Reid laughed. “Oh! Like dogs! Bark!”

“I ain’t like dogs.” We both looked at Wright. I raised an eyebrow at Wright saying not to get involved in the tension between the two of them.

I grabbed Reid’s cheek and hit both of our noses. “Don’t mind them, Baby. Let them fight. Eat your food.”

Reid offered me a spoon of Koko crunch and I happily ate it. “Love you, Mommy.”

Reid was about to finish what he was eating but the two monkeys still didn’t get tired of answering each other.

“Daddy, don’t fight Doc!” Reid left the front of the table and went to Wright’s bedside. He placed both his hands on the side of his waist. I glanced at them as I put away what he had eaten.

Thank you and when my son said that the world fell silent.

I found Reid sitting on top of Wright’s bed while Wright hugged Reid’s waist. He doesn’t take his eyes off Eugene. It seemed like any minute Eugene would take Reid from him. “Doc, let’s play?”

“Daddy can only be your playmate, Son.”

“You’re sick, I might get infected.” Wright frowned.

“What do you want to play, Reid?” Eugene smiled successfully. It’s like he’s still teasing Wright because he’s the one Reid wants to play with.

“SURRENDER! Do you know how to play that? It’s like a hangman.” Reid handed the paper and pencil that were on the table by the side of Wright’s bed.

The rules of the game SURRENDER, there is a word you have to guess. You will provide an alphabet to complete the word and when you mention an alphabet that is not in the word to be guessed, each letter of SURRENDER will be deleted. Surrender has nine letters meaning you have nine lives. Anyone can guess, it’s okay.

“You know, Reid, Daddy is the champion there,” Wright said sarcastically to Reid. He immediately frowned when he looked at Eugene. “Maybe Duck still has duty!”

“Wright,” I warned.

Wright raised an eyebrow and stared at me.

“Whoever wins, can k**s Mommy.” Reid’s announcement.

I gasped. “But, Baby..”

Is my son selling me ?!

“Game!” Wright and Eugene said at once.

Reid writes and he doesn’t notice the rocky sharp looks of the two men sitting on its side. I sat on the sofa and watched them.

“A.” Introduction by Wright. There are five drawings on the paper and the only clue is things.

Reid nodded and cut the ‘S’.

“E.,” said Eugene.

Reid cut the ‘U’.

“‘Don’t just guess, you’re always wrong, eh,” Wright said angrily to Eugene.

“You too,” Eugene said back.

“Come on,” Reid said laughingly. He was unaware of the tension around him. “First to score three points.”

You have to start with vowels for it to be easy. I don’t have any plan o participate, my honour depends on it.

“I.” Wright.

Reid frowned and wrote ‘I’ on the second line.

“O.” Eugene.

Reid’s face narrowed even more. He wrote ‘O’ on the fifth line.

“S?” Eugene guessed again.

Reid smiled and scribbled the first ‘R’ on SURRENDER.

“L?” Wright’s guess.

Reid’s smile widened and he snapped the second ‘R’.

“N?” Eugene.

Reid stepped aside and wrote ‘N’ on the third line.

Oh shit! You can guess that.

“K?” Wright messed up his hair because Reid cut the ‘E’ on Surrender. “Son, it’s hard.”

“Pinto ?!” Eugene shouted.

(Pinto is a Filipino word for “DOOR”)

Reid was hit. “Aya!”

“He’s deceitful! I should be the one to answer that.” Wright pointed to Eugene.

Eugene smirked. “Stop it. You’re not going to throw anything out.”

“It’s a game. Doc, you’ll be the one to guess.” Reid’s said. He seems to be bored with what is happening.

They continued to play while I was already preparing for our lunch. Nobody can disturb them while playing. Because my honour was at stake, I was informed of the score. I approached them and looked at the scoreboard.

Reid- 0

Daddy- 2

Doc- 2

Oh, no.

“I don’t want to play anymore.” Reid’s announcement. He stood up on the bed and wrapped his arms around my neck.

“Huh? No.” Said Wright. Both my cheeks got hot.

“It’s forbidden to k**s my Mommy.” Reid kissed me on the cheek before turning back at the two as if hanging faces. “To k**s him, tore me apart.”

“You’re not going to see it, eh.” I heard Eugene whisper.

“What did you say?!” We were startled by Wright’s shout. Even Reid could not speak.

I carry Reid. I walked quickly to the door. Reid must not have seen what would happen. I know the two are going to have a ramble.

“Mommy, they’re fighting again!”