Life And Death

Allison arrived at her brother's house before he can leave for work. She went straight to his library room.

"How is Lucas?" asked Allison.

"He's fine, but still pinning for Caroline his first love," Alex answered.

"Is Caroline still not agreeing to see Lucas, even if she already knows about his true identity?" Allison inquired.

Alex sighed and shook his head. "Yeah. Until now, I haven't received any message from her. So, I presumed she's not eager to see our brother. So, we shouldn't count on her coming to see Lucas anytime soon," he said.

"That's why we should act now! I can instruct my men to kidnap Caroline and just return her to her family after Lucas died, that would be easy. If I have done it successfully with Catherine before then I can also do the same with Caroline," Allison said trying to convince her brother to agree to her plan.

Alex shook his head. "Ali, stop talking about kidnapping her! She had seen you, and she knows me already and my relation to Lucas. If you return her to her family, she will go to the police for sure and we all got arrested and rot in jail for kidnapping. No, I won't do that! I can't allow that," he gritted his teeth adamantly.

"Then we don't have to return her alive. We just kill her on the same day Lucas passed away and buried them together in one coffin embracing each other. That would be the most beautiful end of their love story, together forever through life and death. I'm sure Lucas will be very happy because he will wake up in another world with his beloved woman. Then they will embark on a journey together in another life. Who knows, they will be reincarnated in their next life together and ended as husband and wife for real. That would be a terrific ending for their love story! Amazing isn't it?" Allison clapped her hands in glee.

Alex stared at his sister with jaws wide open. "What the fuck are you thinking? You can't kidnap and kill Caroline, I won't allow it! Forget it!" he shouted angrily at her.

"But brother—"

"Enough of this nonsense talk! I'm not listening to it," Alex said adamantly. "Did you take your medicine today?" he snapped at her.

"Yes, I did! And what got it has to do with my medicine?" she asked in confusion.

"Because my dear sister, you are acting crazy again!" he glared at her. "I warned you, if you won't stop talking about kidnapping Caroline again, I will call Dr. De Guzman and send you back to the mental hospital. Don't be addicted to kidnapping just because you get away with the first time. Your ways are evil and I don't consent to it!" He continues glaring at her.

"Okay fine, I will stop talking about kidnapping Caroline," Allison said defiantly and pouted a storm. She sat on the sofa and checked her phone instead.

She stood up and showed her phone to her brother. "Aw, so sweet. Wanna take a look?"

Alex looked at the photos of Caroline and Mike entering the famous rooftop bar. He raised his brow. "Stop having your people follow the couple around! If Caroline will come to visit Lucas on her own then it's good. You don't have to get yourself involved in this anymore. Just leave them alone," he said in a tired voice.

"Fine, I will leave you now and visit Lucas in the basement," Allison said and left the room.

Alex massaged his temple. Dammit! His family is making him crazy.

He placed a call on his phone to Mr. Fernandez the owner of the land in Davao City.

"Hello, Mr. Fernandez..."

"Yes. Mr. Lopez..."

"Regarding the land, I'm so sorry I can no longer continue buying the land. The problem with my family here in Manila escalates," explained Alex.

"Ah, it's okay. No problem..." replied Mr. Fernandez.

"Thank you for your understanding, Sir."

"Don't mention it."

"Thank you again, Sir," said Alex.

Since the matter about the land has been taken out of the table completely, their conversation ended quickly.

Alex gets out of the library room and went to her bathroom to take a shower.

Fifteen minutes later, he was already driving his car out of the garage and out of his house, heading to his office.

...

Inside the basement.

Allison looked at her brother in his pitiful condition. "Did you already asked Alex to get you out of this basement?"

"Yes, I did," answered Lucas.

"And what did he say?"

"He told me that he will think about it."

"He finds it hard trusting you again because you attempted suicide the last time. You cut your wrist with a blade, thanks to Rudy, he found you on time. Or else you are already dead by now," she reminded him of his stupidity.

Lucas shrugged his shoulder. "I'm going to die anyway and Caroline doesn't want to see me. So what's the point in living in this world? I lose the will to continue fighting my illness, it's a tiring endeavor," he lamented with eyes devoid of hope and happiness. "How about you, sister? You told me once that you will help me to see Caroline again. But why until now she's still not here? You and brother are just lying to me, isn't it?" he asked her in a cold voice, as great disappointment clouding his eyes.

Allison took a deep breath. As much as she wanted to help Lucas in any way deemed right, Alex won't allow her to execute her plan. Angering Alex is not her priority.

"I'm not lying to you, Lucas. Just that...it's difficult to convince Caroline to see you again. Maybe, because she doesn't love you anymore. If she still loves you, she would come running to see you again. The fact that she already had a new boyfriend that means she has no time to rekindle her love affair with you. So, I suggest that you start forgetting that woman. She is no longer the same girl that you love before," Allison elaborated.

Lucas's face darkened. "You and brother Alex are telling me the same thing! Why do you have to keep telling me to forget Caroline? Why—? You're all useless!" he shouted, totally pissed off. He starts sulking like a child. "Get out of my room, sis! Just come back if you can bring Caroline here!"

Lucas starts sobbing like a child.

Allison sighed and shrugged her shoulders, she left the room immediately.