Bronc X Virus 3

Sean's POV

I already foresaw that Calla's coming into my life again would create a problem between Red and me. Our relationship was still too young, and like a seedling, it didn't have any roots yet. I couldn't allow it to die; it's a commitment I couldn't afford to break.

I applied for Red an indefinite leave and brought her to the only place I called my own. All that I have was not mine, though I spent my sweat and blood for it. When the right time comes--when Red would be able to move on completely from Eric--I would tell her my secrets. Eric was a greedy businessman, always hungry for more power and wealth, so how could I throw out Sir Thomas' legacy to an unworthy person? Red was never business-minded, and she would never be able to handle such massive conglomerates.

We left early in the morning through the company's private plane. In just a few hours, my eyes were already feasting on the lovely greeneries of home. This place was the only inheritance my father left me. My portion was just a few square meters, but when I took over the business, I bought the whole district. Only a few people were living in this place because it's too far from the city. I had the residents relocated to the outskirts of this district, but I paid them and bought them portions of land for them to farm. That's how I met Dina and Patrick.

Red felt ill when we arrived, perhaps because we left so early. I hurried to make tea for her, and because of my worries, I forgot about my phone. When I entered the bedroom again, there were messages and missed calls from Calla. No matter how many times I told her to contact Philip instead of me, she still sent me those trivial messages. I was already almost tempted to block her, but that was not the proper way to solve a problem.

I got worried. I was afraid that Red would find out about my secret before I get the courage to tell her. Looking at her now as she curled under the covers, I could only pray that the ringing of the phone did not wake her up. Or, I'd be damned.

She moved, so I helped her sit up and let her drink the tea. I noticed that she did not look at me in the eyes. My heart pumped faster, and I started to get paranoid. I couldn't afford to lose her. I tried to talk to her like nothing happened, as if my heartbeats did not go wild. To my relief, she also responded as if she had no idea about the messages.

As I laid her down the bed again, I was not able to hold back my burning desire. I kissed her passionately until my hands wandered to her most intimate territories. She moaned to my every touch--even arching her back to give me more of herself.

Right there and then, I had wanted to strip her off from her dress and go beyond petting. I was also dying to do to her those things that Calla and I did. But I have learned my lessons already. I should allow affection to grow first before that because any sexual intimacies would lose its meaning in the absence of love. I did not want our sexual desire to rule this relationship.

I found it hard to stand up and leave, but I was glad I did. I covered Red with the sheets again and urged her to go back to sleep. I knew she felt bad, but one of these days, she would understand.

I told Patrick about my plans. He and his wife were the only people I trusted, even with my deepest secrets. We lost track of time while we talked because we were also discussing his experiments and discoveries. Most of all, about these Bronca bugs.

"Sean, I tried it on deers and other animals, and all of them died after a few hours."

I recalled that incident in Sama island. After the bug had bitten the first victim, he died after a few hours. Not just the first, but the second, third, and so forth.

"The right time has come that Ric Abella should pay for his sins. He destroyed, not just my family and me, but also my dreams and our future." I shuddered at his nth declaration.

"Patrick, this Bronc X virus outbreak is already affecting thousands of people across the globe. These people are innocent." I tried to talk to him out of his revenge.

"Correction. This is not a viral outbreak. It is the venom from Bronca bug that is transmitted from one person to another through droplets, direct contact, and blood or body fluids."

"Since I am in the city, what if I get the venom? Or, anybody from my staff?"

I began to get worried. Patrick was not the type to back out on what he had started. Unless the president gave in to his demand, he would not stop.

"Precautions, Sean. Masks, gloves, or handwashing. The absorption of the venom into the system is not as fast as when you inhale it through droplets. You can even wash your hands or take a bath before the venom seeps into the skin, except through wounds or cuts."

I smirked as the news this morning played in my mind. The newscaster was emphasizing the use of alcohol, sanitizing gels, or disinfectants. Until now that the Bronca craze had reached all throughout the globe, there were no sufficient studies, yet that would shed light on the nature and treatment of this so-called Bronc X virus. Only Patrick, Dina, Ric Abella, and I knew the real name of the illness. Bronc X venom intoxication.

As we were yet discussing, Patrick, scrambled to his feet when he glanced at the camera on the porch of his so-called house. It was not a house, but a cave structured into a residential unit.

"Sean, wait! Somebody is in the territory." He pulled out his gun and disappeared into his study area like a flash of lightning.