UNFORSEEN LOVE : EPISODE 21 – 30

Episode 30

By Kebby NG Media Services

The man stared at Romina with a smile on his face. “Romina,” he called. “You….!, you are alive?” She asked.

“Yes.., he’s alive!” Neil replied. “Romina,” the man called as he walked closer to her, Zoey helped her stand straight as the man walked closer.

He pulled Romina into a hug as soon as he was close enough. “My daughter,” he cried as Romina hugged him back.

“My daughter,” he sobbed. “D… Dad,” Romina called as tears fell from her eyes, she never thought she would see her father again and he is right there hugging her.

“Romina,” he called as he pulled away. “What happened Dad? Why are you with Neil? Why are you returning just now?” She asked as her father held her face in between his palm.

“A lot happened but your brother found me,” he replied. “I missed you…., I missed you so much,” she cried hugging him back.

“Romina,” Nanny Gloria called walking out of the kitchen, the towel in her hand dropped as she saw Mr. Zaragoza.

“Sir?” She called staring at him as if she saw a ghost. “Gloria,” he called walking towards her.

Nanny Gloria rushed to hug him as she cried too, Romina wiped her face as she stared at them. She turned to look at Neil who was grinning. ‘Why is he smiling?’ She wondered and turned to look at her dad who was still hugging nanny Gloria.

“You must be hungry, I’ll go and finish dinner,” she said and rushed back to the kitchen. “Come and seat dad,” Romina said and gestured at the couch.

“Get him a glass of juice Zoey,” Romina said and made eye contact with her. “Sure,” she replied and hurried to the kitchen.

“What happened, dad? How did you survive? I saw you burn in the car,” Romina questioned him. “He just returned Romina, you asking all this question sounds like you don’t want him alive,” Neil stated.

“I’m not like you Neil, why will I want my dad d.ead?” Romina asked rhetorically. “Where is your mother? What happened to her?” Mr. Zaragoza asked.

“Mo…, mom is missing. Her body was not found,” Romina replied with her head slightly bowed. “Your mom survived?” He asked.

“I hope, but I’m not sure. I have no idea if she died or not but her body was not found in the car and only your DNA was retrieved from the burnt car,” she explained.

“Here you go Mr. Zaragoza,” Zoey said giving him a glass of juice. “Thank you,” he appreciated. “It’s nice to know you are alive,” she said and he nodded.

“Who are you?” Neil asked. “I’m Zoey,” she replied. “I don’t think we’ve met before, are you new here?” He asked.

“We have a net couple of times, I guess you have a short-termed memory,” she replied and went upstairs.

“I think you should leave too,” Romina said to Neil. “Why should I? I have not seen my father for the past four years too, I want to spend some time with him,” he retorted.

“Are you saying you brought him here as soon as you found him?” Romina asked. “Yes,” Neil replied.

“Where and how did you find him?” Romina asked. “What sort of question is that?” He inquired.

“I believe you found him this morning so you should still remember where you met,” Romina said. “Are you a detective?” He asked.

“Don’t change the topic, Neil,” she scolded. “You think I’m changing the topic? You are just unbelievable Romina! You met dad after four years with the thought that he was dead and the first thing you want to do is interrogate me? Shouldn’t you be happy that he is alive?” He asked.

“I am happy, more than happy words can’t describe what I am feeling, so you should keep your mouth shut and stop trying to turn the tables on me!” She snapped.

“Enough both of you! I don’t want this, I thought you guys would have learned to accept each other and put an end to this childishness of yours but I was mistaken, you are still the same!” Mr. Zaragoza snapped.

“I’m sorry dad but I’ll take my leave now, my sister doesn’t want me here,” he said and hugged Mr. Zaragoza briefly before leaving.

“What was that Romina? He is your brother! You two should try to get along at least for my sake, don’t you know how hard it Is for me to realize I lost your mother? I am still trying to heal from that only to realize my kids are still on each other’s throat!” He snapped.

“I’m sorry dad,” she apologized. “Neil is younger than you yet he is acting more mature,” he said and Romina raise her head to look at him but he was staring at the family portrait Instead.

“Neil might be my brother but he is not part of our family, you made that clear four years ago,” she said and he blinked his eyes nervously.

“We have been through a lot, we need each other,” he said and she scoffed. “Bstard or legitimate we are family, Zaragoza blood runs through our vein,” he added.

“You should rest before dinner is ready, we have a lot to talk about,” she said and stood up, he dropped the cup and adjust his shirt which made Romina furrow her brows.

“Is something wrong?” He asked and Romina shook her head negatively. “Let’s go,” she said and led the way.

“A lot has changed, what was I expecting it has been four years,” Mr. Zaragoza muttered staring at the house. “Nothing has changed, it’s still the same,” Romina replied.

“Huh? I guess I have been away for long that I almost don’t recognize my house,” he laughed at his own words.

“Here is your room,” she said opening a door. “You are right not much has changed,” he said as they walked into the room.

“Dad,” she called and he turned to look at her. “You don’t have amnesia do you?” She asked and he shook his head negatively.

“Why do you ask? Am I acting weird?” He questioned. “No I just don’t want to go through the trouble of explaining our times together,” she explained.

“You won’t,” he assured and she rushed to hug him. “I missed you, dad,” she said.

“Me too,” he replied and Romina smiled. ‘Gotcha, who are you?’ Romina wondered in her head.

Her real father would have told her that he never left and he was always with her in her heart, but he would never reply with I miss you.

“You should rest,” she said disengaging from the hug. “Your mom,” he said and paused. “What about her?” She asked.

“Your mom could be out there, have you tried searching for her?” He asked. “Yes but nothing is working,” she replied.

“I hope we find her,” he said and Romina nodded.

Romina went back to the secret room, seems like Zoey already filed him up. “Hey,” she said getting their attention.

“I’ll get to work,” Zoey said and excused herself, Romina collapsed on the bed and Elias moved closer.

“You must be happy that your dad is back and your mom is getting better,” he said. “How I wish,” she replied.

“You wish? Are you saying you are not happy?” He asked. “I would be if Neil was not so childish to bring in a fake man like my dad,” she replied.

“A fake man?!” Elias gasped. “Yes, he looks and sounds like my dad but some habits are imprinted on people and you can’t emulate it ’cause they are not yours,” she explained.

“How were you able to find out the truth?” He asked. “I took him to a guest room and he thought it was his room, I asked if he had amnesia so I would not jump to conclusions and he denied it,” she replied.

“But you can’t judge based on that,” he said. “You are right, I won’t be judging based on that. I’ll find out the truth with evidence before bouncing on him and Neil,” she replied and reached for her bag which she dropped on the floor.

“Here,” she said giving him the files that contain Diana’s medical chat. “Thanks,” he appreciated taking the files from her.

“Once you study this they will proceed with her surgery,” she informed him. “I can’t wait to see my sister,” he said.

“I will tell the doctor to schedule her surgery at night, you can watch over her until the next morning,” she said and he was overwhelmed with joy.

“What about your mom?” He asked. “Zoey will take care of things here, doctor Nathan will drop by too, don’t worry take care of your family,” she said and he hugged her.

“Let it all out,” he said and she wondered what he was talking about. “I know you are going through a lot,” he said and she smiled wrapping her arms around him.

“I’m back with results,” Zoey announced. Elias let go of Romina immediately and Zoey smiled.

“What was it you found?” Romina asked.