Chapter 149 - The Briefest Consciousness (1/2)
The following day, newspapers, magazines, TV programs, and social media are all abuzz with not only Gabriel's big confession, which is now a trending topic all over the world, but also the scuffle between Claire and Michelle. Memes have quickly sprouted all over social media, for instance, of Michelle sprawled on the floor, her feet sticking up in the air. It's the kind of damage that could only make seasoned public relations practitioner Catherine Buenavista shake her head in regret, knowing that her old friend, Michelle, truly had it coming.
”I will sue her ȧss,” a red-faced Michelle screams on the TV, as reporters thrust their mics and audio recorders to her face trying to get the scoop. ”That sŀut will go to prison. She thinks she can do something like that and get away with it? No!”
”But she's now the true fiancée of Gabriel Tan, and you also got physical with her. Do you think a lawsuit would be fruitful?”
Michelle scoffs, and turns her back on the camera.
Gary Smulder is on the sidewalk, marveling at the frontpages of newspapers, almost always featuring Gabriel and Claire, in an impromptu face-off with his old flame, Michelle. No one could have made this thing up—it was a scene that's meant for popular public consumption. The public would go to great lengths just to read stories like this. He sighs; damn it, he was on the cusp of success, and Gabriel deciding to just deal with it squarely took away Gary's chances at making it big.
Meanwhile, Gabriel and Claire are back at the hospital, speaking with Miguel's doctor. As it turns out, Miguel had awakened briefly the previous day, and the first thing he mentioned was Gabriel's name.
”He opened his eyes just like that,” the doctor says. ”He was disoriented, of course. Couldn't remember where he was or why he was there. He was looking for his brother. This was a few hours after we completed the blood transfusion and his vitals were picking up.”
”And then?” Emotion is apparent in Gabriel's voice.
”The nurse explained bits and pieces to him. How he had an accident, so on and so forth. Of course, that was only as far as what the nurse knew.” The doctor gazes uneasily at Gabriel. ”No one knew the little things that really led up to the accident. We learned the broad strokes only from, uhh, your, uhhh, press conference yesterday. Then he stopped talking. He was just looking at the wall. Then we noticed he has fallen asleep.”
Miguel is still asleep as they are discussing this. ”Is this normal, this sleepiness?”
”Well,” the doctor clears his throat. ”Should be. His vital signs are good. We're getting no red flags in his system. It's very possibly his body's reaction to the recent transfusion. And the medicine. Usually cases like this needs only a few more days to recover. I wouldn't be surprised if I find him on his own two feet tomorrow or the next day.”
Gabriel looks at Claire. ”That's great news!”
Claire notices that the doctor couldn't stop staring at her face—he'd talk, but his eyes always find her, glancing at her sideways even as he makes a point. ”Do I have a smudge on my face, Doc?” she says, smiling.
The doctor is surprised for having been caught. ”Sorry, I just…I just like you both to know I watched the press conference yesterday, from start to finish. I'm…I'm a big fan of your love team.”
Gabriel has to laugh. ”We're not a 'love team', Doc. We're just two people in love.”
”Yeah, I know.” Then in sing-song, ”I can feel the love tonight!”