"It's Seraphina's fault," Damian said, making me stop. I opened the door widely and entered.
"Hey, dude, how is it Seraphina's fault? She didn't even do anything," Dominic defended me.
"If only she could give what Lucca needs, then this wouldn't have happened," Damian sounded bitter.
"It's not as easy as you think it is, Damian. We don't need to blame others just because of what happened to Lucca. Let's just help him recover and regain consciousness," Dominic said while still trying to wake Lucca.
I stood there, stunned, trying to absorb the words they had blurted out. How was it even my fault? What did Lucca need from me? Why did Damian sound so bitter and blaming?
My senses came back when Damian, whom I was thinking about, was already at the door, about to leave.
He looked at me with a poker face. He didn't even bother to explain what he had said earlier. I stepped aside to let him go. I then looked at Dominic, who was now changing Lucca's clothes.
"Seraphina…" Dominic uttered when he didn't expect that I was there.
"Do you need something?" I asked, trying not to bring up what I had heard from Damian. It wasn't the time since Lucca was still unconscious.
"I need cold water and a towel," he said. I immediately nodded and followed his order. I should set aside what I was feeling right now. I wanted to help Lucca regain consciousness first. I went downstairs and prepared cold water in a small tub. I got the towel Dominic would be using. After getting what I needed, I immediately went back up to give it to Dominic. Damian was already there checking Lucca's blood pressure.
I handed the small tub to Dominic. As Damian finished checking Lucca's BP, Dominic immediately used the cold water and towel he requested.
"Lucca, please wake up. How can Damian drive alone when you're asleep?" Dominic said while trying to pinch Lucca's cheek, but there was still no response.
"Don't we need a doctor?" I asked.
"Yeah, we need one, but how can we get a doctor? My place is too far from the city."
"His BP is normal, dude. All we need to do is wait for him to wake up," Damian calmly said while crossing his arms.
Damian looked at me meaningfully. He wanted to tell me something just through his eyes, but I looked away because I couldn't bear to look at him for long, especially since I still remembered what he had said about me to Dominic.
"How can I be calm when I don't even know what to do?" Dominic said while wiping Lucca's face and body.
"Dude, you know Lucca," Damian said.
"Yeah, we both know him. But you know what happened," Dominic replied sarcastically.
I felt like I wasn't part of their conversation. I wanted to leave, but how could I?
Damian took the small device he had placed on Lucca's finger. He said it was for the oxygen level, and it showed that everything was normal. Then why was he still unconscious if both were normal?
"Let's just wait for him to wake up," Damian said calmly.
Dominic sighed and looked defeated. We stayed there for minutes, hoping he would wake up. I preferred Lucca to be sarcastic and unfriendly again. I didn't care if we weren't friends, as long as he regained consciousness.
Damian went out again. But this time, I followed him outside. He was about to walk downstairs when I called him.
"Damian…"
He stopped in the middle of the stairs and looked at me. He was looking at me the way Lucca used to look at me. Am I evil? Do I deserve that kind of look?
"What?" Damian asked. He looked irritated and uncomfortable.
"The thing you said earlier…" I started.
"So you're a gossiper now," he said sarcastically.
"You said it's my fault. Can you explain that to me?" I asked.
He smirked but didn't answer. He went down the stairs, leaving me at the top. But I didn't stop him. I followed him to where he was going.
Damian looked at me meaningfully. He wanted to tell me something just through his eyes, but I looked away because I couldn't bear to look at him for long.
"Can you please stop pestering me?" he sounded annoyed.
"Are you Lucca now? You seem to be."
He frowned. "Stop asking questions."
"Then tell me. How did it happen that it was my fault?"
"Because I said so." His nonsense reply made me frown.
"I'm just trying to know why you think it was my fault when, in fact, I haven't done anything wrong," I said.
"Yeah. You've done nothing wrong, which makes me annoyed," Damian answered.
My frown grew even more. At that moment, Mira heard our conversation.
"Damian, what do you mean by this?" Mira joined in.
Damian just looked at Mira blankly, then looked at me. "Just please leave me alone, you two," he said, then walked away. Mira was about to follow him, but I stopped her by holding her arm.
"Just let him."
"What makes him annoyed at you?" Mira asked, curious.
"I don't know either. That's why I'm asking him, but he didn't tell me the reason. He was blaming me because of what happened to Lucca."
Mira frowned. "Blaming you? Did you do something to Lucca?"
"Do you think I could do something to him?" I asked back.
"That's impossible," she said.
"Exactly," I replied.
Mira and I went upstairs to Lucca's room. Dominic was still there, sitting beside where Lucca was lying.
"Dominic, let's just go home and have Lucca treated in the hospital," Mira suggested.
"Yeah. That's what I was about to say. Just prepare your things now, and we will go," Dominic said. Mira and I nodded, then went to our room.
After Mira and Seraphina left the room, I called Master to tell him about what happened to Lucca.
"Master…" I started.
"Did something happen? I feel that Lucca's energy is weak."
So Master could feel that Lucca was not okay.
"He's unconscious," I answered.
The other line went silent, maybe trying to absorb what I had said.
"What happened?" Master then spoke.
"Last night…" I began. Then I told him what Lucca had said about us. How he planned to take the ring while Seraphina was sleeping. But he wasn't able to get it because the moment he touched it, he felt weak. And just by touching the ring, Lucca's strength was gone.
"I knew this would happen," Master said. "Lucca is really stubborn. He didn't listen to my advice."
"Why did Lucca's strength disappear just because he touched the ring?" I asked.
"The fact that he planned to steal the ring made him weak and caused him to lose consciousness. I told him he should wait until Seraphina gives it to him willingly."
"But you know, Lucca, Master. He is running out of time," I said.
"But he only shortened his time and weakened himself," Master replied.
"Shortened his time? What do you mean?"
"He made it worse. Every time he does something bad, his time gets shorter."
"Master…"
"Just get him to me now," he said.
"But we're far away."
"I know. Just bring him to me as soon as possible," the master ordered.
I nodded in agreement, then ended the call. The two women came back again, carrying their things. This was supposed to be a happy vacation, but because of what Lucca did, it turned into a disaster.
"Shall we go? Do I need to carry your things too?" Mira asked.
"Seraphina will help me. Just call Damian, and we will go," Dominic said.
Mira nodded, then left. I asked Seraphina to help me pack Lucca's things. She willingly followed my order.
"Did you hear the conversation between Damian and me earlier?" I asked while she was packing.
She was a bit shocked by my question, but quickly regained her composure.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry about Damian. Don't mind him."
"But I heard him."
I looked at her. This time, her face looked worried and stressed.
"Seraphina… It's not your fault. It's Lucca's. How could it be your fault when you didn't even do anything bad to him?"
"What does Lucca need from me?" she asked directly, which made me stunned. How could I tell her that Lucca needs the ring?
I smiled and said, "Nothing," I answered. I couldn't tell her now. It would make the conversation long, and I needed to explain it to her properly.
Damian came back and packed his things too. After that, he carried Lucca in his arms and placed him in my car. Mira decided to ride with Damian since she could drive as well. Seraphina, Lucca, and I were in the same car.
"Dominic, I'm sorry if I couldn't help drive," Seraphina said.
"Don't worry, Seraphina. I can manage it alone," I smiled.
I didn't sleep the whole trip because I didn't want Dominic to be alone. Unlike when we traveled here, I slept, but this time the situation was different. Lucca was lying unconscious in the back, and Dominic was driving alone.
"Are you still worried?" he asked.
I looked at him. "Actually, yes. Even though we're not friends and see each other as strangers, he helped me a lot."
He nodded, keeping his eyes on the road.
"Are we going straight to the hospital? I can take care of him there. I'll just take a leave from work," I volunteered. It was the least I could do.
"I called our Master, and he said I should go straight to his house."
I nodded. Dominic mentioned that they shared the same master's since they grew up together.
"Just don't think about what Damian said. He only said it because of what happened to Lucca. I'll make him apologize to you."
"No need, Dominic. It's really alright." Though I was still curious as to why he blamed me, I should let it go and focus on what was happening now.
"I'm sorry if this vacation turned out worse. You should have come here to relax, not to worry."
"Dominic, you don't always have to worry about us. Mira and I enjoyed it even in that short span of time. What happened didn't erase our memories of this place," I said. But deep inside, I was worried. Some scenes kept popping into my head. I saw Lucca in those scenes. I saw myself too. I didn't understand it at all, and I wanted to know where those scenes were coming from.
I looked out the window. The scenery was extraordinary. I really loved this countryside. Tomorrow, we will be back in the city, struggling to get by. I sighed. My anxiety kept coming back. I thought this vacation would help me, but what happened today brought it all back. Still, I couldn't say it out loud because I didn't want Dominic to worry about me—he was already worried about Lucca.
"You can sleep, Seraphina, if you're sleepy," Dominic broke the silence.
"I am not sleepy yet. I slept long last night."
"But if you are, just sleep," he said.
"Okay. Thank you," I replied.
I glanced at Lucca, who was lying at the back. He was sleeping peacefully. He was still handsome even while unconscious.
"Everything will be fine. Lucca is strong," Dominic said when he noticed me looking at him.
I forced a smile. "Yeah."
We had a long trip until night. I didn't sleep because I was making sure Dominic wouldn't doze off. We skipped dinner as well because neither of us felt hungry because of the situation. I couldn't even eat while Lucca was unconscious.
We arrived in the city at 4 a.m. Dominic told me not to go to work. Though I wanted to refuse, since Mira and I hadn't slept, I agreed. Dominic sent me home while Damian sent Mira to her condo.
"Are you sure you don't need my help?" I asked Dominic.
He smiled, though clearly tired. "Damian and I can manage. Just rest now."
"Thank you, Dominic."
After sending Seraphina home, I immediately went to the Master's house. Damian called, and I told him we would meet at the Master's house. As we arrived, I immediately carried Lucca from the back seat and called our Master. He opened the door as if he had been waiting for us and instructed me to bring Lucca to the guest room and put him in bed.
"His energy is getting low again," Master said.
"Again?"
Master looked at me. "While traveling, were you with Seraphina?" he asked.
I nodded. "Yes. Why are you asking, Master?"
"Lucca needs to get close to her," Master said.
"Why?"
"I know Lucca might hate this idea, but he needs to get close to Seraphina to regain his strength."
"Why?" I asked curiously.
"Because Seraphina is wearing the ring. He needs to get close to it to regain his strength and energy."
"But that made him weak too," I said.
"Because of his bad intention," Master replied.
"How can I explain to Seraphina that Lucca needs her by his side without making her suspicious?"
"You can ask for her help without sounding suspicious, right?" Master asked.
"Would that really help Lucca?"
Master nodded. "I felt Lucca's strong energy while you were traveling. I thought he had already regained consciousness, but he was still unconscious."
Dominic nodded. "We need to bring Lucca to the hospital and ask Seraphina to help him," I suggested.
Master nodded. "Let's do it tomorrow. For now, you need to sleep because you look stressed and tired."
"I was about to do that, Master. I am so sleepy," I yawned and excused myself to go to the room where we used to sleep. As soon as my back touched the bed, I immediately fell asleep without even waiting for Damian.
Seraphina's POV
I woke up at 12 noon when I heard my phone ring. I looked at the caller, and it was Dominic.
"Dominic?" I asked.
"Seraphina. Did I wake you up?" he asked.
I wanted to say yes, but I decided not to. "No."
"I need your help with Lucca."
That made me fully wake up. "Yes, what is it?"
"I need someone to help him in the hospital. Can you do that? I'll be filing you a one-week leave."
"Of course I can help Lucca. Are you in the hospital now?" I asked.
"Yes. I'll send the address."
"Okay. I'll come," I answered.
"Thank you, Seraphina."
The call ended. I grabbed my bag and packed some clothes since I didn't know how many days I would be staying in the hospital. I immediately went to the bathroom to take a bath. After that, I put on my clothes, got my bag, and went out of the house. I booked a taxi to go to the hospital.
After 10 minutes of travel, I arrived at the biggest hospital in the city, the same one where I had been confined before. I asked the receptionist about Lucca Knight, and they gave me the room number and directions.
When I reached the room, I knocked and opened the door. I saw Dominic and an old man sitting on the sofa while Lucca was still lying down with a dextrose in his hand.
"Good afternoon," I said.
Dominic and the old man smiled at me.
"You're too fast, Seraphina," Dominic said.
"Because you said you needed my help," I answered.
"Thank you for coming," Dominic said. I smiled and looked at the old man, who was staring at me intently. I didn't feel uncomfortable under his gaze.
"I need to go. Master, Seraphina will assist you and help Lucca. I have meetings to attend now," Dominic stood and said.
"Do you want to eat anything later?" Dominic asked.
I shrugged. "I'll just buy my own," I said.
"But if you change your mind, just tell me."
I nodded and said, "Thanks."
Dominic left the room. Only the old man and I remained, while Lucca was still unconscious.
"Have a seat," the old man said, pointing at the single sofa.
I nodded and sat down while still holding my bag.
"You can put your bag in the cabinet," he ordered.
I followed his instruction and went back to the sofa.
I wanted to ask Dominic why he needed my help when his Master was already here.
"I'm sorry if Dominic called you to assist Lucca. I am too old to do it myself," he said, answering my unspoken question.
I felt guilty about my earlier thoughts. Of course, Dominic needed my help because the old man couldn't manage everything alone.
"You don't have to worry, sir. I am willing to help," I said.
He smiled. "Dominic always talks about you, and no wonder why he likes you," he said.
I felt a bit awkward. So Dominic talked about me to him? Then what did Dominic say?
"Did he talk badly about me?" I joked, even though I wasn't sure how to phrase it.
He laughed. "He talked good about you."
I didn't know if I should feel flattered or embarrassed, but knowing Dominic was talkative, I wasn't surprised he mentioned me.
"What did he say about me?" I asked.
Then the old man looked at my hand. "I like your ring," he said, without answering my question.
I raised my hand and looked at the ring. "It was from my grandma," I said.
"That's antique," he said, and I agreed.
"Are you selling that ring if someone offers to buy it?" he asked.
I smiled. "I was about to sell it to a pawnshop before, but guilt stopped me. I remembered the promise I made to my grandma not to sell it, so I stopped. After that, I never planned to sell it or give it away," I said.
"Even if it would cost a fortune?" he asked.
I nodded. "I won't trade my memories of my grandma for money. I can work until I get old as long as the ring is still here," I answered.
He nodded and smiled. "I like your dedication to keeping it safe and sound. It reminds me of the same ring I gave to someone I adored when I was young."
"The same ring?"
He nodded. "I gave it to someone I loved, but I wasn't able to confess to her because she left to work in the city."
I nodded and felt pity for the experience of this old man.
"So, you don't have a family?" I asked politely.
"I have Lucca, Damian, and Dominic. But I don't have a family I can call my own."
I felt the sadness in his voice, but he quickly changed it by smiling at me. "But I am happy I have the three."
"You raised them?"
"Yes, because their families were too busy trying to get wealthy, leaving their sons to me."
"How did you meet them?"
"It was a situation you probably wouldn't understand. I just met them by accident."
Though I didn't fully understand what he meant, I still nodded.
"Dominic is a cheerful child. Though his family left him with me, he didn't hold a grudge and accepted his fate that his parents were always busy. Lucca and Damian, on the other hand, became who they are today because they couldn't accept that their families chose career over them. So I don't blame why their attitudes are like that," the old man said with a laugh. I smiled too because I liked how he described the three.
"I can say that Lucca and Damian are the same. They look rude, aloof, mysterious, and always frowning," I commented.
"I agree."
"But how did you handle such persons?" I asked.
"Because behind those attitudes, I understand them," he said. Those words struck my heart. I don't know why, but I felt something I couldn't explain.
"Are you done talking about me?" Lucca exclaimed.