His Punishment (20 page)

“This came from the graphic artist,
he has already added my comments and did the adjustments, maybe you can check
them tonight so we can have it published in the paper and the new tarpaulins
must be ordered from the printer soon.” She was definitely acting professional.

“Okay. I will check them tonight
and send them back to Eric early tomorrow.” He mentioned the artist’s name as
he took the envelope from her hand. It accidentally touched her skin and he
instantly missed holding her.

“Oh, by the way, we have a meeting
with HR tomorrow for final listing of the slot machine attendants and dealers.”
She reminded him as she got her hand back in her pocket to shrug off her
feelings from the swift brush of James’ hands on hers.

“What time will it be again?” he
asked sighing in agony of missing her.

“It’s all set at one in the
afternoon. Take Rhea on an early lunch so you won’t be late.” She winced at the
sound of her name in her own ears.

“When will we sit down for the
finalization of the Membership Rules and Guidelines?” he asked her to make
their conversation longer as seeing her is the only happiness he could get.

“Perhaps after the meeting with HR.
I can arrange a meeting with Patty.” She took a mental note to call the
Marketing Manager here to discuss the membership after the HR meeting.

“Baby . . .” Tara heard Rhea’s
voice as she teases James with what she thought was an enticing tone.

She closed her lids for a moment to
release her annoyance and then breathed deeply before she looked at James who
is still staring at her.

“I’ll see you tomo . . .” her
sentence was cut when his fiancée peeked in the entrance and saw the two of
them talking.

“What are you doing here biyatch?”
She heard her and she didn’t answer back. She just turned and left. She was in
no mood to start a repartee with Rhea. Her disposition is foul at the moment
and she knew she might not be able to control herself.

“You don’t turn your back away from
me!” she heard Rhea’s stomping angry feet coming after her but she wasn’t
afraid. She knew James would somehow stop her so she just continued walking
back to her room.

She was surprised when he wasn’t
able to get a hold of her swift movements. She was already at Tara’s back and
trying to pull the ends of her hair.

“Rhea stop it!” James was pulling
her from Tara.

“Ow!” Tara was squealing and trying
to get herself lose from Rhea’s hands.

 Miguel stood up from the divan
quickly and went to the corridor. He saw what Rhea has been doing to Tara.

“Go away Rhea!” Miguel pulled Tara
from her tweaking.

“I’m not done with you bitch!” she
keeps following her though she isn’t in her grasp anymore. James was trailing
behind her as she surprisingly gathered much strength from her anger.

“What do you want?!” Tara turned
around when she was already near the edge of her bed and she realized Rhea is
just at her back. Her patience was all gone after hearing her call her bitch
for the second time.

“I want you to back off!” she was
trying to push her but she can’t reach because James was stopping her from
getting nearer.

“What are you talking about? You
paranoid slut?!” Tara started getting so upset for she is being accused of
still following James. She can’t believe she still seemed like a stalker to
her.

“Who are you calling paranoid?” she
was trying to kick her but James was holding her by the shoulders.

“Fuck Rhea can you stop this!”
James was trying to stop the commotion by continuously pulling Rhea away.

“Who’s accusing me of things?!”
Tara didn’t stop as she feels her anger rising up.

“I know what you are trying to do!
You can never replace me! Not in James’ bed and never in his heart!” she keeps
on shouting obviously her blood boiling hotter.

“Just get her out!” Miguel roared
at James to take Rhea.

James was trying but she was very
strong as her rage is growing.

“Get out of my room!” Tara ordered,
“All of you!!!!” she screamed this time. The noise is getting in her nerves.
She just wanted peace and quiet.

“No! I want this over and stop
following James!” Rhea won’t stop.

“I am soooo not following him! For
Christ’s sake Rhea! We are business partners and we have transactions and
obligations to this company that we must discuss! Are you that stupid to not
understand?” she can’t believe how dumb this girl was. Her sudden need for
silence was immediately replaced by frustration to make Rhea comprehend the
whole situation.

“I am not stupid you whore!” her
arms are stretching to grab Tara again.

“Don’t call me a whore when you
know who the real one is in this room!” her blood is already boiling inside her
and she isn’t stopping from commenting back.

“Stop it!” they didn’t know who
spoke but Tara suspected it was James.

“No! You tell her to stop!” Tara
told him.

“She’s pregnant. You can’t make her
angrier!” James defended.

“So, it’s all about Rhea? You don’t
care if she hurt Tara?” Miguel asked now mad too.

James looked at Miguel then at Tara
and back at Miguel again.

“You don’t understand. I just want
my baby well,” speaking reasonably. He was just thinking it was not healthy for
the baby if the mother was this mad and physical.

“Just get out! Please!” Tara
screamed again. She is now very exasperated. James was thinking of his baby’s
condition, not knowing there are two babies in the two wombs of the women in
front of him.

Rhea didn’t speak. She just stood
still. When James saw that she isn’t trying to come near Tara again, he decided
to be the first one to leave thinking that she will follow as she seemed to
simmer down from the protesting she was doing awhile ago when he was
controlling her.

Miguel let go of Tara as well as
both girls stopped with their catfight.

“Fuck you bitch!” they were
surprised that Rhea was all over Tara in bed so quick and started to tweak her
hair.

“Get off me!” Tara screamed
helplessly as she lies down beneath Rhea on her bed.

Miguel immediately pulled Rhea from
her grip and Tara squeaked in pain as her strands were pulled tighter from her
head. Rhea kept slapping Tara’s cheeks.

James came back running to get Rhea
as well and was fortunate to grab her away from Tara.

They saw Tara crying in bed and
clutching on her stomach half-screaming in pain.

“Are you okay?” Miguel was so
nervous and scared to see Tara squirming on the bed. He went to her side moving
her face to look at him but she didn’t answer and continued touching her flat
stomach while weeping.

Rhea stopped and frowned at Tara’s
hurting. She wrestled with her hair and face not her body. She was confused but
she thought she was just overreacting to get the two guys’ attention.

“Damn you! If something happens to
the baby I will kill you myself!” Miguel shouted at Rhea who was starting to
walk back without looking.

“What baby?” James asked alarmed.

“Your baby! You idiot!” Miguel
yelled at him as he tries to carry Tara from the bed.

James was dumbfounded for a few
seconds. She looked at Rhea who started running away and back to their room.

“Call an ambulance!” James ordered
Miguel and picked Tara up from his arms. He was starting to panic as he sees
her crying and holding her belly.

She clasped her arms on James’ neck
as she continued with her cries.

“Everything will be okay.” He
kissed her before going out of the room and rushing to the elevator with Miguel
following behind.

“I’m sorry Mr. Aguilar, the baby
was not saved. She had excessive bleeding perhaps from the stress and the
impact when she landed.” The Doctor apologized to James when he went out of her
private area in the emergency room.

“But doctor . . .” He can’t help
but weep for his unborn child.

“Sorry but there was nothing we
could do.” The doctor said sympathetically before lightly tapping him and
leaving him in the hallway.

“James? Tara is looking for you.”
Miguel touched his shoulder and saw his tears.

He can’t help but feel sad for him
as well. It wasn’t his child but he knows he would be as devastated if he lost
his child too. He patted him on the shoulder and left for the exit.

James wiped his tears from his face
and headed to Tara’s room.

Flashback

When they went down the lobby,
they were there for five minutes and were not able to wait for the ambulance.
Miguel’s eyes caught one of the resort’s limousines parked outside and summoned
the driver to take them to the hospital immediately.

The two guys were both in panic
as they see Tara helplessly twitching in pain.

“Good Lord forgive me, I could
kill Rhea if something bad happens.” James keeps murmuring to her ears as he
caressed her face sweetly.

“Can you hurry up a bit more?”
Miguel asked the driver.

“How come you didn’t tell me? I
don’t understand. When did you find out?” James was asking Tara a series.

“I don’t think it’s the right
time for that James.” Miguel reminded him of the urgency of the situation and
her condition.

“Sorry,” James looked at her and
kissed her lips, “I love you.”

“James,” she was gripping on his
arm as he held her, “I’m sorry.”

“Shhhh . . .  Everything will be
alright.” He was trying to assure her something he didn’t have a clue about.

For almost the entire ride to
the hospital, the only words in the car were her apologies and James’ blind
reassurance.

They arrived at the hospital in
fifteen minutes and Tara was rushed to one of the private cubicles in the
emergency.

“What happened?” the doctor
asked the two guys.

“She is pregnant doctor. A few minutes
ago, she fell forcefully in the bed. She is actually under a lot of stress for
a few days already.” Miguel offered to answer as he knew James was weakly
clutching on to Tara’s hands as if trying to absorb all the pain she is having.

“Are you the father?” the doctor
asked Miguel.

James looked up and waited for
Miguel to answer. He was thankful for the first time that he was there for him
and Tara. He heard what Miguel told the doctor about what happened and he was
relieved that Miguel was composed enough to answer truthfully yet covering up
for the unnecessary details.

“No.” Miguel replied meekly.

“I am.” James called to the
doctor.

“OK. Will both of you wait
outside as we take it from here?” the doctor told them.

“Please don’t be far. We might
need you after the examination.” The doctor said as he closed the door behind
him.

The two men stood there
helplessly and obviously praying for the best.

The wait was like an eternity
for both of them but in fact they were just there for less than five minutes.

“James, your phone is ringing.”
Miguel looked at him. He was noticeably floating that he didn’t hear.

“Hello?” James answered.

“What?!” He exclaimed after
hearing the voice from the other line spoke.

“OK. Is she on her way?” he
asked with a frown. Then he hung up and looked as if blood drained from his
entire system.

“What was that?” Miguel asked
bothered.

“Rhea,” he seemed short of
breath.

“Why?” Miguel asked him again.

“She’s also in pain and the
ambulance that was supposed to take Tara is now taking Rhea here.”

“Oh God! What a day!” Miguel
exclaimed.

The ambulance arrived faster
than they did. James saw Rhea in the stretcher crying and twisting in pain. At
first he thought she was just faking it to get the attention he gave Tara but
seeing her crying as she is being carried inside the emergency washed his
doubt.

He went near her but she pushed
him away.

“Go away!” she screamed at him.

He looked around and saw the
chamber maid on their floor following behind Rhea’s stretcher.

“Lisa, what happened?” James asked
her as she moved to him.

“Sir, I saw your fiancée on the
floor of your room crying when I passed by, I asked her what happened and she
told me she tripped and fell on the floor. She was holding on to her stomach
and weeping. I told her if she wanted me to take her to the hospital. She just
nodded at me and so I asked the clinic for some help with the wheel chair and
all. Then when we came down, there was an ambulance waiting so we rushed here.”
Lisa explained thoroughly. “Why are you here Sir?”

“Tara is inside the other
cubicle.” He told her.

“Miss Tara? What happened?” She
asked. She was not there when the whole thing happened.

He did not answer but instead
asked her to call Tara’s parents.

“OK Sir. I will call the admin
immediately.” She turned around but looked back again quickly. “By the way Sir,
the clinic called the number listed in case of emergency on Madam Rhea’s
cellphone and they were able to talk to her father. He is arriving today.” She
informed him before she left to call admin for Tara’s parents.

James wanted to slam his head on
the thick cemented hospital walls. First, Tara is in pain then Rhea is in pain.
Soon enough, he will be in pain when Rhea’s father arrives.

“James?” Miguel interrupted his
thoughts.

“I know you don’t smoke, but
would you consider lighting a cigarette and try releasing that tension? I can
watch over the two for now. Just don’t take too long.” He reminded James.

“Thanks Miguel, now I know why
Tara talked good about you. I think I need a quick walk and yes, maybe a cigarette.”
For the first time he recognized the comfort that he is extended with.

He went out for a walk and a
cigarette.

He is confused, worried, nervous
and at loss all at the same time.

First he didn’t how Tara was
pregnant. She took the test in his bathroom and he saw the result. He had to
know what really happened. He is completely sure the baby is his but he can’t
understand why she didn’t tell him. He remembers himself saying he would marry
her that very minute if she was pregnant. Now he wonders, did Tara not want to
marry him that’s why she hid her condition?

Whatever her reason may be, he
still feels happy that they will have a child. He suddenly felt excited of
imagining training his own son how to play the ball. He smiled as his
daydreaming gets wild. He was too far as to think it would be a boy. He was
just that excited.

Then he remembered there’s Rhea.
Though he hates her, he feels responsible for the child. He is not as excited
as with Tara’s baby, but he knew he would love Rhea’s baby just the same.

His two babies are in danger.
That rang back in his head and it sent him jitters. He felt helpless that he
can’t do anything about it. He wanted both of his children to be alive and
well.

He lit the cigarette he bought
from the convenience store then he saw a mobile police patrol moving in front
of him and he remembered Rhea’s father. He sure would die sooner than his
babies once he gets here. That was his thought.

“Sir James.” Lisa was walking
towards him. “Sorry but Sir Miguel asked me to come and get you. The doctor
would like to talk to you.”

On the way back to the hospital,
he was informed by Lisa that both his parents and Tara’s are at Singapore
checking the Casino Operations there. He was used to his parents being always
away on their business trips but at this moment he wished they lived like
normal people. He needed them now more than ever.

His heart pounded on his chest
like a drill. He smoked one more time and threw it. This was it. He knew and he
just can’t help but pray.

End of flashback

He was trying so hard to control
his emotions. Tara needed him to be strong for her and he will be her wall. As
hard as it seems, he tried to act a firm and solid man as he entered her
private room.

He was surprised she wasn’t crying.
He felt relieved that she is being strong for them too. He moved towards her
and sat beside her in the bed. He kissed her on the forehead before she spoke.

“I’m sorry.” She said as she
stroked his hair.

“It’s not your fault.” He held her
soft hands so tightly.

“I hope Rhea will be able all
right.” She told him with sympathy in her eyes.

“I sure hope.” He didn’t feel like
talking to her about Rhea at the moment. He knew it was painful for her to lose
the baby.

“What did she say?” she kept asking
about Rhea.

“I haven’t checked on her yet.” He
admitted as he wondered why she was acting so cool.

“What! She needs you now James.”
She let go of James and his hands.

“But we need each other more.” He
hugged her as tears are slowly building up in his eyes. He hugged her because
he wanted to and in order to cover up his weakness as he felt his tears
starting to trickle down his face.

“Did the doctor tell you?” she was
trying to get him off her body.

“Yes. I’m sorry for our baby. If
there was only anything I . . .” he wasn’t able to speak after that because his
tears were beyond his control already.

“Wait! I didn’t lose it.” She told
him frowning.

“What?” he asked as he stood up and
wiped his tears.

“Rhea did,” she said softly, “I’m
sorry you lost your baby.”

“Oh God Tara!” he hugged her back
again and then he kissed her sweetly in the lips not being conscious anymore of
his tears.

He was just so happy and he felt
ecstatic when he felt her kissing him back.

“Now would you tell me what
happened?” James wanted to know how she was able to keep it a secret.

“You mean when I had the test?” she
asked mischievously.

“Everything!” he was trying to
scold her but he can’t help that his happiness shows in his eyes. They’re
having a baby and he felt he had the world.

“It’s not my fault you bought three
tests.” She teased him.

“What did you do?” he asked
impatiently.

“I was not really thinking I was
pregnant. I mean, I had my period. So I was just so carefree. But the moment I
did the test I was scared. You said you would marry me as soon as you find out
I am pregnant. I got scared for you. Knowing who Rhea’s dad did that. So I took
the test still praying that I am not.” She started to tell him.

“I would give you my life you
should know that by now.” He kissed her.

“But I don’t want that to happen. I
would rather see you with another girl than not see you ever.” She kissed him
back.

“I love you wifey. My wifey.” He
embraced her so tight.

“I love you too.” She smiled and
closed her eyes loving the way she felt his body so close to her. She missed
him terribly.

“Then, how come it was negative?”
he asked after realizing she didn’t finish her story.

“The first and real one was
positive. I was so scared after dropping the sample in the basin, the whole
test became pink and I almost fainted. Then slowly, it showed two lines. I was
so happy at first but then I thought about your safety and I cried. You were so
excited, I could hear it from your voice from the bathroom when you called to
me. I had to think quickly.” She smiled at him.

“Hell yeah I was excited. I was thrilled
to take you to the nearest Municipal Office the following day. I couldn’t wait
to marry you.” He affirmed her thoughts the day she took the test.

“That’s what I thought. So I used a
few drops of water on the second test and hid the first one. It would
definitely show negative.” She blushed at her own silly trick.

“You! I’m so glad Miguel slipped
you know. For the first time, I was fond of him.” He confessed.

“He’s a good person. You should get
to know him better.” She attested.

“I sure will give him the chance
now. But he must know it’s time to back off.” He said half-threatening.

They heard Miguel enter the room
when he cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry James, but Rhea’s father
just arrived. He’s at the helipad of the hospital. I think you better see Rhea
before he does.” He showed concern.

“OK.” He stood up. “Please keep an
eye on her.” He told Miguel. He kissed Tara and her stomach before he left.

“I love you.” He turned to look at
Tara before he closed the door behind him.

***

“Rhea.” he didn’t bother to tap on
her door. He just went straight to her bed and found her staring outside her
window.

“James.” She smiled faintly.

“How are you feeling?” he asked
sitting on the chair beside her bed.

“I’m not okay James. I need you.”
She cried and held on James’ arms.

“I’m here now. I will always be
your friend Rhea,” he told her as he smiled.

“No! You can’t do this to me!” she
was protesting.

He remained silent.

“You have to marry me or I will
tell my father you were trying to run from your obligation.” She threatened
him.

“You know that’s not true! I was
even willing to marry you when I found out you were pregnant!” he defended
himself.