Chapter 3 The Guilty

• THE GUILTY
• “You’re too much! OUCH!!!”, Rico shouted in pain when Dina gave him a headbutt.
• “And that… is for my father who is in ICU right now!”, Dina shouted angrily at Rico and forcing herself not to cry in front of her enemy. Rico was taken aback when he heard what had happened to Dina’s father. For some reason, he felt guilty.
• “Because of you… because of your tongue’s glibness… my father found out that I was still playing basketball. He got outraged, and we had a very heated argument. He got so angry that he suffered a heart attack, and now he is unconscious in ICU!”, Dina angrily blamed Rico. Rico recovered from the shock, and he went back from being sarcastic and arrogant again.
• “Why are you blaming me?! If you just listened to your father and stopped playing basketball, this will be prevented. This won’t even happen. It was your fault! And I… was just stating the truth to your father!”, Rico angrily replied to Dina’s allegations. At that time, Dina realized that the man in front of her didn’t have a heart. Dina faced him seriously. She will never shed a tear in front of this man. She hates and despises this man so much.
• “That’s why I did it because I was only asking a simple favor… a favor you didn’t listen to and just easily rejected. You will never know and never understand why I can’t stop playing basketball. It’s because you don’t know how to love… loving to the point that you love it more than your life. It’s like when you lose it… you also lose your heart.”, Dina said with the pain while staring directly at Rico’s eyes without blinking. Dina’s stares were brave even though Rico fully knew that her tears would come rushing out of her eyes at any moment, but she is resisting it with all her might. Before Dina would break down and cry in front of Rico, she chose to leave the man. It’s useless to talk and explain her point to people like Rico… a man without a heart.
• Rico just stood there. He was unable to move even though Dina had already left. He was astounded, and what Dina had just said brought a notable meaning to him.
• What Dina told him earlier was deep. It was so deep that it went straight to his heart and touched a wound in his heart that he was trying to heal. It’s because that is precisely how he feels right now… he felt his heart is already dead ever since Alice left him. Rico didn’t realize that his tears were already falling, realizing how sad he truly was.
• That night, Rico was unable to sleep. Dina’s words had been bugging his mind and his heart. It has been a long time since he felt culpable and pity ever since Alice was gone. He wanted to say sorry to Dina and her father.
• Rico gathered all his courage to face Mr. Ortega and his daughter Dina. When he found out from his parents that Mr. Ortega is now in a stable situation, he asked permission from his father to visit Mr. Ortega and ask for his forgiveness. Mr. Ortega is still currently at the hospital, but he’s no longer in the ICU. However, due to his very delicate situation, he is still under strict observation for a few days.
• “You’re a very handsome young man, my child.”, Mr. Ortega gladly complimented upon seeing Rico inside his hospital room. Rico’s parents were also happy as they saw Mr. Ortega seem fond of their son, even just seeing him for the first time.
• But he has a hideous heart, dad., Dina thought annoyingly as she ogles at Rico threateningly. She hated the idea of seeing Rico inside her father’s hospital room while she was still there to take care of him. Without a doubt, she utterly hated Rico.
• ”Mr. Ortega... I’m really sorry for what happened to you. I am asking for you and Dina’s forgiveness since I am the main reason why you are like this.”; Rico humbly said. Everyone was surprised, Rico’s parents because they are wholly unaware of what he is saying, and even Dina too. She never expected that Rico would humble himself and would say sorry to them. She knows that this man is undeniably arrogant and so full of himself.
• “Worry not, my child. You are out of the reason why I became like this. It has been a long time already since I told Dina to stop playing basketball. Ever since she got her arm injuries, I told her to stop already. But this daughter of mine is too hardheaded… it’s not your fault because this is due to Dina’s stubbornness.”, Mr. Ortega said to Rico.
• “But Dina really does love playing basketball… and she can’t afford to lose it. Please allow her to play basketball support her. After all, she is graduating already.”, Rico tried to persuade Mr. Ortega. What Rico had said only made Dina even more shocked. It seems like the man in front of him is different. This is not the unfriendly, sarcastic, ill-mannered guy without a heart she met a few days ago. Mr. Ortega was not able to say anything. He was amazed at how gentleman Rico is towards him and his daughter Dina.
• “If it wasn’t just because of my voluble mouth and if I had just listened to Dina’s simple request, this wouldn’t have happened. I had made you sick, and I feel guilty about it. So, please allow Dina to continue playing basketball. I feel that I played a major part in why you're ill. So… I would like to take responsibility for this matter, just let Dina play. You can scold me to your heart’s content. I would gladly accept it all.”, Rico said wholeheartedly to Dina’s father.
• “My son…”, Rico’s parents were extremely surprised again. Especially Dina, she doesn’t know how to react to Rico. Everything he said was sincere as if he was really ready to face the consequences of his actions.
• What did this guy eat? Has he gotten himself sick? Why is he defending me against my dad about playing basketball?, Dina wondered.
• “Are you sure? Are you really willing to accept Dina’s punishment in her stead?”, Mr. Ortega looked at Rico meaningfully with a serious tone. Everyone inside Mr. Ortega’s hospital room felt anxious, pondering as to what punishment would he give Rico.
• “Yes.”, Rico nodded, his decision being final.
• You don’t know my father, Rico. This guy is really pitiful… I am sure the punishment is ruthless… and yet he is willing to receive it., Dina thought and somewhat felt sorry. She doesn’t like Rico, and she doesn’t want to become indebted to him. She will do all she can to stop her father from whatever punishment Rico would have. She is the one at fault, and it’s just right for her to suffer… not Rico Ballestros.
• Mr. Ortega looked at Rico’s parents and gave them a modest smile.
• “Dad---“, Dina was interrupted by her attempt to mediate between Rico and her father, when she began to talk again.
• “Well then, I am quite sure that your parents won’t go against what I wanted to happen. After all, since you wished to accept Dina’s punishment and it looks like you are really clear with your decision on doing it… Well then… Dina’s punishment is to marry you, my child.”, Mr. Ortega said while looking directly at Rico’s eyes. Rico was caught off-guard, and even Dina too. However, Rico’s parents are seemed to be pleased with what Mr. Ortega had just said.
• “WHAT?!”, Dina and Rico both reacted at the same time.
• “I want you to take Dina as your responsibility forever. Marry her… because seeing Dina becoming a part of your family, becoming a Ballestros is the only way I could feel at ease about her.”, Mr. Ortega said with full of mixed emotions.
• “But DAD---“, Dina was interrupted by what she was about to say when her dad began to breathe heavily.
• “I felt chest pains again… I want to get rest, please excuse me.”, Mr. Ortega excused himself from Rico’s parents while clutching his chest as if fighting against the pain, but his suffering is still clearly evident across his face.
• “I am hoping that you will be true to your word, my child. Thank you for visiting me.”, Mr. Ortega said but was only looking straight at Rico.
• “Okay kumpadre, rest well.”, Rico’s mother said.
• “Get well soon, kumpadre.”, Rico’s father also said, but it is obvious in his tone that he is worried.
• Mr. Ortega nodded and showed a modest smile towards Rico.
• Rico didn’t expect this to happen. What he just wanted is to ask for forgiveness and be punished a little to ease his guilt to what he said to Dina the last time they met each other… but his request to marry her daughter Dina--- is something he is incapable of doing.
• Rico stared at Dina; she was also staring blankly at him too. He doesn’t know what to say.