The Royal Contract

He was glad to hear that Adam had taken a crack at working a relationship with his younger sister. He liked his friend for her since he was one of the most decent men he knew.

For once, his sister deserved a good man that would genuinely care and love her. He knew Adam was that man. He only wished his sister would finally see that.

"I thought you would be long gone by now." His other friend's voice echoed by the door. He looked up to see his partner staring at him. "You said Rosella is going home today. Aren't you planning to go and see her?"

He remembered mentioning that to him this morning when he asked about his fiancee. At least, that was what he still wanted to believe. She was still his fiancee even if she did not remember accepting his proposal.

But that was the point.

She was not married to him. He had no legal right to claim her. He could not insist that she go home with him in their apartment, where she had lived this past couple of months.

"I want to." David could think of many reasons why he should be there, but he felt his presence was not essential. "But..."

"But what? What is stopping you?" Evan looked at him incredulously.

"I..." He felt stupid, thinking about his excuses.

"I hope you are not about to give up now. After all that things the two of you have gone through." His friend frowned at him. "I did not peg you as a coward, man."

He knew his friend intentionally made it sound like an insult so that he would realize his mistake. Still, he could not decide if he should go and see her and then just let her go.

"You don't understand." David attempted to explain himself, but his friend would not have it.

"I understand perfectly. You love Rosella, and it hurts that she still can't remember." His friend stepped closer, clapping him on his back to show his moral support as always. "I know it sucks to be you right now. But have faith."

"Go to her. Be there for her even if it hurts." His friend continued convincing him. "Even if she thinks she doesn't need you."

Deep inside, he agreed with his friend. He knew that was the right thing to do.

He wanted to respect the wishes of the mother of Rosella, but should he listen to what Rosella wanted too?

"Thanks, man. I need to hear that. Maybe I should go to her." But there was still a slight doubt in his voice.

He knew he could face anybody in court without fear. But ridiculous as it might sound, he was terrified at the thought of seeing the woman he loved and her family.

He was afraid that he would lose her forever. And this would be their final goodbye.

"Then go." Evan closed the file he was working on. "Don't worry about work. I will handle these." Pointing at the pile of his pending cases.

He knew he had been dumping his work on him lately, but it was unavoidable. Still, he intended to work on making it up to his partner.

"Thanks, man. You are a lifesaver." David knew he was lucky to have a friend and a partner like him.

"Don't worry. I know how you can repay me." Evan winked at him, suggesting that he already thought of something.

But he did not mind. They had worked well together because of their give-and-take relationship. Therefore, it was not such a big deal.

He knew whatever it was, Evan deserved to have it.

"Then I better go before I am too late." He grabbed his phone, bag, and coat at the back of his chair, proceeding quickly to the door. "And before you change your mind." He jokingly added.

"Hey, don't forget your keys." His friend shouted before he could cross the doorstep.

He turned around just in time as his friend threw the keys. His free hand automatically caught them in midair.

And he also saw the crooked smile on his friend's lips while he shook his head. "Go. Your damsel in distress is waiting for you."

How he wished that was true. But how could Rosella think of him when she had no idea who he was in her past life?

He drove as fast as he could but remained aware of the traffic rules. He still wanted to arrive at his destination in one piece. He believed one accident was enough to last them a lifetime.

"Is she still in there?" He asked the nurse who he had bumped into in the hallway.

"Yes." The nurse answered. But he could see the pity in her face. The entire hospital must have heard their latest story.

"Thanks." He turned away from her, tired of the look she was giving him. He had been staring at that same look since he woke up this morning. In his mirror, his secretary and then Evan.

"Hey, Darl... Rosella. How are you feeling?" He quickly greeted her as soon as he walked through the door. But he hastily dropped the endearment that he usually used to call her.

He noticed that she already changed and had packed her things. It seemed she was ready to go home. But there was no sign of her mother again.

"I am feeling great, David. How about you?" Rosella returned the question to him with a bright smile covering her lips.

"I am ok." He tried to reciprocate the cheerfulness he heard in her voice, but he knew it was not near good enough. It was hard when he did not feel like celebrating.

He moved inside the room, scanning for any clues of what was missing. Somehow, he felt something was odd but could not pinpoint a reason.

"They said I can go home today." Her eyes moved toward her bag before they wandered around the room. It appeared like she was saying goodbye to the room that had been her home for some time.

"Yeah, I heard." He nodded as he stopped close to her bed. "And that is great news." He was genuinely happy that she was recovering fast, at least physically.

The doctors had assured him that her motor functions would return to normal in no time. She just had to continue her physical therapy and regular visits to the doctor for consults.

"By the way, thanks." She looked up and gazed directly into his eyes.

He could not look away as his eyes locked with hers. He missed this. Somehow, he felt the connection he had been waiting for too long. Was it his imagination?

He did not care as long as he could see in her eyes that she missed him too. Even for this little time, he wanted to believe he was looking at the woman he loved.

"What for?" He could not think of a reason why she would be thanking him.

He did not want to move or even blink. He was afraid to break the link that connected them and terrified that this moment would never happen again.

"Mom said that you handled my hospital bills. But don't worry, once I get my stuff in order. I will pay you back." Rosella informed him.

He was about to respond to her statement, but she stopped him, raising her hands to him.

"Please, let me finish." She put her fingers together in her lap. Then, she stared at them, breaking eye contact, leaving him to wait quietly.

He was terrified this was the goodbye he dreaded to hear as she finally avoided looking at him. He anticipated the pain that would soon follow, holding his breath as he stood still.

"And thanks for everything." She continued. "Roseann, Mom, and the nurses told me you never wanted to leave my side since the accident."

"That Roseann had to force you to go home to sleep, eat..." She paused as a chuckle escaped her lips. "...and take a bath."

In his defense, that was the lowest point of his life. It was the time that she was fighting to survive. Hygiene, food, and anything else had been his last priorities.

"I guess what I am saying is that..." She paused again and looked at him this time. "I am the luckiest person to have someone who loves me the way you do."

She raised her hands to him, beckoning him to come closer. Of course, how could he not comply? He immediately moved closer until he stopped at the edge of her bed.

Now, she only had a few inches of space from him. She sat on the bed while her feet dangled on the side, and he stood before her.

But that was not all.

She took the extra step of grabbing his hand and wrapping them around hers. He could finally feel the warmth of her palms and the slight tremble in her fingers. Somehow, it made him smile.

If this was the end, he was happy to see her go. He knew he would not stop her but would be more than glad to set her free.

"No. I am the lucky one. You don't know how you have changed my life, Rosella. You made it so much better." He finally interrupted, wanting her to know how she had positively influenced who he was today.

"I wish I could remember that. Hopefully, someday." She answered him with longing in her eyes. "But for now, let me thank you by..."

"Oh! You are packed and ready to go." Roseann suddenly entered the room.

But all he could think about was what Rosella was supposed to say to him before her sister rudely interrupted her.

He loved Roseann. He always thought of her as his younger sister. But at that moment, he wished to strangle her.

She just had such terrible timing.