The teenager with midnight blue eyes and aqua hair on the screen looked at the camera with a righteous expression that held a subtle weakness. He said in a brave voice that can stand no evil, "Hospital A must be convicted of all its crimes. No one should gain wealth from the pain and sufferings of another's loved one. If I had been more unlucky, my mother and I would have been another one of their victims. As a representative of all Hospital A's victims, I thank the court for giving a just verdict."
The teenager bowed solemnly. The reporter clapped with a serious and moved expression on their face, clearly agreeing with the interviewee's words.
Another victim was interviewed next on the TV channel.
Click.
The timeline of the channel's interview was pulled backwards, stopping on the face of the teenager.
The remote control in Mr. Fablas's hand was placed down beside him after he played the video back to his desired point.
Mr. Fablas looked with burning eyes at the teenager on the screen.
Since the last time he had seen Geo, Mr. Fablas was even more convinced that this was his flesh and blood. Even surer than seeing the blood relationship test results. The Geo inside the TV was bold and decisive, truly reminiscent of himself in his youth.
Mr. Fablas looked at his son with satisfaction and approval across the screen.
Since the report mix-up at the hospital, Mr. Fablas had seen the real test results that stated with ironclad facts that Geo was his son.
Mr. Fablas was ecstatic. But after that emotion came the feeling of timidity.
Never in his life before did Mr. Fablas ever see himself as a timid individual, no, he had always been daring and ruthless. It was because of his qualities that he made his organization so big after taking over his father's place.
However, in the face of his family, Mr. Fablas became an ordinary man from the infamous leader of the Fablas Group.
That was why Mr. Fablas made no move to approach his wife and son again after finally finding them at last. He was afraid that they wouldn't welcome him after all these years of separation.
His love for them burned strong, it egged him to go to them, but rationality stopped him with hesitation and fear.
It wasn't until this moment that Mr. Fablas put all fear and doubts behind him. While not by his side, his wife and child had suffered so much undeserved harm.
Just thinking that if he had reunited with them earlier, they wouldn't have to go through that experience, made Mr. Fablas spurn himself as if he were a disgusting beast.
'If only I were braver… If only I could sink those unreasonable thoughts into the ocean like I would with men, I could have protected them.'
No time was as good as now.
Mr. Fablas immediately ordered for a car to take him somewhere.
It was time he reunited with his family.
They would never separate again. He would make sure of it.
And any who wants to harm his family will have to step over his dead body.
Mr. Fablas's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint.
***
Splash!
A pair of clean, faded-white sneakers stepped into one of the brown mud puddles that sprouted after the downpour.
Geo frowned as he side-stepped the puddle and then proceeded to shake off the excess water on his now muddied shoes. The originally still white body of the shoes was dyed a disgusting brown-green color.
Geo wondered in his mind if it was still possible to wash his shoe back to its previous off-white color.
The shoes he was currently wearing had been worn for quite a while after he changed out of his previous shoes that became too small after he grew taller. Due to his family's poor financial situation, Geo didn't have the freedom to buy new shoes after they get dirty or worn down. He always tried his best to prevent wear and tear on his shoes as much as possible, until they really couldn't be worn anymore.
His last pair of shoes was truly in tatters before he decided to switch them out for a new second-hand pair that he bought for $10 on a roadside stall.
Just like that, that second-hand pair of shoes was worn for two years and counting. Geo planned on using it for many more years to come, as long as his feet size doesn't change in the middle.
On weekdays, Geo regularly cleaned them and consciously reminded himself to treat them delicately and with care.
Now that cherished pair of shoes was covered in mud that seemed of grass clippings and dirt.
Geo felt his heart aching, his face showing distress.
He clapped his face in frustration, innerly sulking. How come he was so careless today? These shoes could still be worn for another ten years!
His stress levels were rising just thinking that he has to spend another ten dollars or more to buy a new pair of shoes. What a waste of money. Those ten or so dollars would be better spent on his mother's treatment.
Geo suddenly paused in his thinking.
Actually, no, Geo's brain suddenly reminded him that Ian had already promised to pay for all of Geo's mother's medical fees and expenses. Although Geo didn't want to accept it at first, he gave in in the end because his mother really needed it. He couldn't let his pride and shame get in the way of his mother's life-saving operations.
Geo made up his mind to repay Ian in the future.
Geo didn't see himself helping Ian with his plans against Hospital A as himself repaying Ian's favor. It was something Geo had to do, regardless of whether Ian was involved, so it doesn't count.
His foot uncomfortably moved in his soaked shoe. His toes curling and uncurling, trying their best to move away from the wetness that was inescapable.
Geo pursed his lips. Instead of standing here like a puppy who wetted one of its paws, he decided to go to the new hospital his mother was staying at. It was another famous hospital in the city, on par with and now surpassing the reputation of Hospital A. Most importantly, this hospital was recommended to Geo by Ian.
So despite Geo's apprehension about hospitals in general, like the rest of the city, due to what happened with Hospital A, Geo decided to send his mother to the hospital recommended by Ian. Although Geo can't trust the hospital, he unwaveringly trusts in Ian.
Even before the official announcement of Hospital A's shutdown, Geo had his mother transferred to the new hospital.
Before stepping into the puddle and wetting his precious shoes, Geo had been on his way to the new hospital after a quick visit home.
Drip drop.
Geo looked up at the sky.
The originally clear blue sky was covered in gray clouds at some point. The moisture level in the air increased and Geo could feel the wetness in the air.
Sparse raindrops fell like a warning of the incoming storm. They descended from the sky onto Geo's forehead. One of them happened to fall into Geo's eyes. Those midnight blues blinked. The drop of water bounced off the thick eyelashes and fell like a tear on his face.
It was about to rain again. Geo thought.
Afraid of wetting what was left of his shoes, and not wanting to get drenched and catch a cold, Geo dashed off trying to escape the darkening clouds that threatened to drown him in their might.
Soon, buckets of water were poured down from the sky as though the earth was a huge field that needed watering.
Geo's shirt stuck to his skin after being wet. What remained of his shoes was also soaked. Geo had one arm in front of him, placed on his forehead, to block the falling rain from entering his eyes so that he could see.
The rain fell harder and harder as time passed, showing no signs of weakening.
He couldn't go on like this anymore. He needed to find shelter.
Just then, Geo spotted a shadowy but dry alleyway. The rain couldn't wet the ground there because the houses that formed the alleyway had eaves that outstretched the walls, forming a natural umbrella.
His steps changed direction. Geo headed for the dry alleyway to take temporary shelter, hoping that the rain would lighten up soon so that he could continue his journey to the hospital.
Standing under the eaves, Geo shivered from the occasional cold wind that blew in coldness and raindrops. His entire body now resembled a drowned puppy rather than a puppy with only his paw wet. Geo much preferred the latter over the former.
Unable to change his circumstances, Geo tried his best to dry himself off. He pulled his shirt off and twisted and squeezed out the water that soaked his shirt.
Instantly, a bucketful of water was squeezed out, making the dry alley ground flooded like the rest of the street.
The shirt was repeatedly twisted out until no more water came out. Geo put on his shirt again. Although wet and uncomfortable, it was indecent to be nude in public, even though no one was around to see it. Everyone had already run off the moment the rain started pouring down like crazy.
Pitter-patter.
Drop after drop of dense rain water plopped onto the earth, wetting everything in sight. The scent of grass and the sea overwhelmed the nose. The clouds were giving the whole world a bath, cleaning it up.
The originally muddy street with its trash and plastics were swept away, clustered together away from the broad street. Where once there were stains of unknown liquid, the original appearance of the ground came back.
Although made miserable by the weather, Geo also felt refreshed and calmed by the cleansing of the world.
"Achoo!" Geo sneezed. He rubbed his nose, worried. "I hope I'm not catching a cold. I can't afford to get sick now." Then again, he doesn't think he can afford to get sick at any time.
Geo rubbed his arms to get rid of the coldness of his skin. His body was freezing from the rain, the wind, and the wetness of his clothes.
There was no sign of the rain letting up. He started pondering over the possibility of running through the curtain of rain.
Before he had more time to think, though, Geo was pulled by mysterious hands deeper into the shadowy alley.
Then he was roughly thrown onto the ground. He happened to be thrown into a large pool of water.
Instantly, his semi-dry shirt became wet again.
Raindrops fell onto his face from the sky, as if pitying his fate.
Geo's eyes blurred. He raised his hand and wiped away the water on his face.
His eyes cleared.
Then his eyes widened.
A pair of midnight blue eyes showed wariness and alarm as they reflected the strong bodies of more than ten adult men.
"Who are you people?" Geo asked as an ominous feeling came over him.