"She is sleeping Xavier, don't wake her up." He turned, just noticing Melissa who sat opposite the VIP room Mrs. Salvador lied in, keeping a hawklike eye on it.
He sighed and sat down next to his sister, hugging his body.
"I messed up real good right?"
She shrugged, "That's why you are Xavier. You always mess up. Maya has really signed up for the full package with her eyes open huh?" She raised her brow, giving Xavier a side glance.
He knew what she was asking rather so politely. If Maya was well aware of the huge error of judgment she has made by choosing him as someone she will want to walk down the aisle with.
Even his sister believed he didn't deserve her.
"I shouldn't have come. This is why I stay away."
She didn't reply.
"You know when we were much younger. Growing up, I grew a bit jealous of you." She chuckled slightly, "I was the straight-A student, I was the one who didn't ditch school to go for parties as some sort of rebellious movement, I was the one who had endured the torment of the classical rhythm of a piano that should be a lullaby, alongside sitting down like my instructor had asked, so courteous and formal in layers and layers of my really long skirt while you are always wearing a scowl, being rude and making it an obligation to create a scene, to an extent mum was always scared of your stunt so we always leave way early before you do that."
He shook his head, amused. He'd remembered that phase in his life. When like every other child he had craved for his father's attention, love, and when he had not gotten it he had taken to rebelliousness to get it in some way.
He'd been foolish but he was just a boy. A child nonetheless.
"But somehow all the time you messed up, all the time you left, made mom cry." She met Xavier's eyes then held his hand, "She had always loved you more than any other thing in the world. She'll always say you made her live, gave her breath...I never understood until today. Now I see why."
He looked away ashamed.
"Xavier no matter how badly you think you messed up, it would have even been messier if you didn't show up. Be in our lives Xavier, mess up as usual by all means," She cupped his jaw looking at him, "But don't leave mom, don't leave me again. Please."
He held her hands for minutes and then with a sigh he wrapped her in a bone-crushing embrace for the briefest of seconds.
"Besides, I'm in total support of what you had said in there. I understand you needed to get that all out but that's not how you talk to a woman who just survived death."
"You sound just like Maya."
"She is wise." She pursed her lips, "That is why it is still a wonder why she chose you."
"Well, I know why you had chosen Bryan?" He had a sly smile and Melissa was not about to play into his hands by asking him why.
"But like I was saying, I have plans for Daddy. I know he is not home. I've someone on his trails." She flashed Xavier a smile, and he could see the malicious intent and hate alongside rage in her brown gentle eyes, "He is going to pay so dearly this time."
Xavier moved closer to her even though he was surprised yet greatly proud to see this side of his little sister, "So what are the recent updates about him?"
"DC had said he was in some remote location and he is with some of his thug boys. He believes he had a hostage in there but I doubt that, I think the fool is hiding in there, away from us." She tsked, "He should run all he wants. But he should know he can't run past his shadow. I'll be Mr. Dominic's shadow, Xavier."
He ruffled her hair mockingly noting how worked up she was. She glared at him then smiled seconds after, "And my Mel grew after all. Look at you all badass and up to some big girl shit, all you need now is leather pants and jacket to match and a bike__"
"But." She interjected knowingly, her eyes on his.
"I can't let you do this. It is too dangerous and I know, you are capable of taking care of yourself and I haven't even been here for you all this while and you have been fine." He inhaled, "I can't." He hoarsely whispered, "Let me handle your father alone. He is not the man you think you know, he is way dangerous and won't think twice before hurting you."
"Xavier__"
"He cares for no one else but himself, Mel. I don't like how I feel about what he is up to. Gotho himself told me to avoid him."
"Why ain't you doing that?"
"I want to fight for my mom's dignity and battered soul."
"And I don't get the right to do that too?" Her voice was slightly raised even as they became raspy. She was about to cry, "Why?"
"Because you'll always be my little sister to me. Always remain delicate, little, and precious to me. Untainted with big wide brown eyes that I can never say no to. Let me be your big brother again Mel, let me fight this." He sighed when she didn't budge.
"Fine with a little of your assistance."
She beamed. He rolled his eyes.
"What of the others?" He asked after a few minutes.
"Brian had gone to get me a change of clothes and food." Her head was supported by her palms and her elbows she had used as steep.
"And Maya?" He casually asked.
"Maya is with you." She laid still and then blinked sitting up.
"Isn't Maya supposed to be with you?"
His eyes widened, she wasn't joking. "What do you mean by that? I'd left her right in this hospital so how was she supposed to be with me!" A crease formed in his forehead as he stood on his feet like he had sat on hot coal.
"She had chased you after you had left. We all thought you were going to do something dangerous."
"Jesus," he muttered even as he paced on the hospital lobby, trying her number. "Let me call one of the housekeepers, maybe she had gone back home to get a change of clothes and eat."
Melissa nodded earnestly in support. The phone was answered on the third ring and ten seconds after, the phone came crashing on the floor.
Melissa stood up abruptly.
"Maya isn't at home." His eyes hardened even as Melissa places her hands above her head.