Chapter 334 - Suicide Attempt

Caroline's son, Gabriel arrived in the funeral homes five hours later, he was able to secure a last-minute flight from Manila City to the Tahilaran city where the funeral homes was located. 

The mother and son hugged for a few minutes in front of Alex's coffin while Caroline was crying in his arms. Gabriel didn't bother to stop the tears from flowing down his face.

Dammit! He just lost his beloved father today! He will cry all he wants, he won't be ashamed to show the whole world that it's okay to cry especially if you lose a loved one from an unexpected tragedy.

The mother and son shed a bucket of tears while gazing at Alex's face inside the coffin. Since they were the only ones inside the room, they unleash their tears.

One hour later.

The tears finally subsided and mother and son were having a conversation about how to bring Alex's body home.

"Son, I already talked to the in-charge of this funeral homes, they will arrange the transfer of your father's coffin into their main branch in Manila tomorrow afternoon. We just have to pay the cost of transfer by the commercial plane," Caroline said.

"That's good, Mom," Gabriel said. "I will book a flight for the two of us for tomorrow's afternoon flight as well," he said.

"Okay, not that's settled already. I'll go back to The Jungle Paradise Hotel to get your father's belongings there and my things as well. Stay with your father here, don't leave him alone. Alright, son?" she said.

"Yes, Mom," Gabriel answered.

"I'll go back now because the bus going to the hotel will leave in one hour. I need to get on that bus," she said. "After I come back I will tell you everything that happened up there in the mountain during the earthquake..." she said.

"Okay, Mom," Gabriel responded.

"I will leave now," Caroline rose to her feet and walked towards the door of the funeral homes. She flagged a taxi going to the bus station where the transportation going to the hotel was waiting for tourists and passengers that will stay in the hotel.

While onboard the moving taxi, Caroline recalled the last moment when her husband looks at her and waved his hands goodbye at her inside the cafeteria. She never expected that was the last time she will saw him alive.

She felt the painful squeezing of her heart. It's so damn depressing! She wanted to cry right now, but she can't. She feared that if she can't control her tears from falling she will never be able to stop crying and the taxi driver will get worried about her mental condition. She bit her lip and shut her eyes tightly blocking the tears from exiting her eyes.

She will bear the pain until she will reach the confinement of the hotel and the moment she got there, she can cry all she wants without worrying about what others will think about her.

A few minutes later, the taxi arrived at the bus station. After paying her fare, she exited the vehicle and boarded the bus to the hotel.

Fifteen minutes later, the bus started moving, exiting the bus station. They're now embarking on a six hours trip going back to the hotel.

Caroline immersed herself in the picturesque scenery of the countryside, as the bus continues passing different towns, and small villages along the way.

It's a peaceful and relaxing ride.

If her husband was still alive and sitting beside her on the bus right now, he would love to comment that the countryside is a better place to live compared to the city.

She cried silently, remembering Alex's comforting words and loving presence, she's missing his physical warmth already. He's been her best friend for a long time. Not only did she lose a husband today she also loses her best friend.

It's so damn painful!

Fresh tears were about to fall from her eyes again but she bit her lips and shut her eyes tightly to prevent herself from crying inside the bus. She doesn't want anyone staring at her, giving her a questioning glance. She will hide the pain inside and wait until she gets back to her hotel room and unleashes the tears that have been trying to spill from her eyes ever since she boarded the bus.

The six-hour trip passed by like a blur.

They finally reached their destination.

The passengers excitedly went inside the hotel, including Caroline. She went straight to her hotel suite on the 5th floor.

The moment she stepped inside the privacy of her hotel room and closed the door, she bolted into the bed and buried her tear-stained face in the pillow. She weeps for one hour straight until her tears run dry.

She left the bed and went to the table, there's still one bottle of wine left, maybe if she will finish drinking the wine...her mind and heart would go numb and she can forget her sorrow for a few hours.

She sat on the chair and began pouring the wine into the glass. She drinks the wine bottoms up.

Suddenly her phone starts ringing and her son Gabriel was on the line, checking her condition.

"Mom, did you arrived at the hotel already?" he asked.

"Yes, son. I arrived here, safe and sound," she answered. "I'll stay here for a few hours to get some rest," she replied.

"Mom, you can stay there the whole evening, so that you can have a proper rest. Just return here in the morning. Don't worry about my father's coffin, I'll watch over him. I will stay wide awake by his side throughout the night," he said, trying to reassure her.

Caroline sighed. "Okay. Thank you, son!"

"I'll call you later, Mom. Bye for now..." Gabriel said.

"Bye, son," she responded.

She put the phone on the table and continue drinking the wine wanting to get drunk and sleep herself into oblivion.

She kept pouring wine into the glass and devouring it like water.

She missed her husband already! Her life suddenly loses its meaning! She wants to go with her husband to heaven. Suddenly, some suicidal thoughts start popping into her mind.

Her phone rang again. This time, the caller is her daughter Jasmine. She answered the call. "Hello...Jasmine..." she said.

"Mommy! Where are you? How are you?" asked Jasmine in a worried voice.

Caroline sighed and shut her eyes. She can hear her daughter sobbing at the other end of the line. "Daughter...please don't cry anymore...your father is already in heaven. He will get sad looking at you crying over his death. Stay calm, okay?" she said.

"But ...I can't help it! I can't accept that father is already dead!" Jasmine said in a distraught voice.

Caroline sighed. "Daughter, stay strong for baby Liam. Tomorrow...your brother and I will return home. Wait for us. You will see your father again soon. Bye for now. I need to get some sleep because my mind and body is very tired," she explained.

"Okay, rest well, Mom. I'll call you again later," Jasmine finally said.

"Bye daughter, take care of yourself and baby Liam," Caroline said sadly, rubbing her temple.

The conversation ended. Caroline put the phone back on the table and resumed drinking the wine.

She will finish drinking the whole bottle of wine and fill the bathtub with water then drown herself to death, this way, she and Alex can ascend heaven together. She will no longer be alone. She and Alex will be together again in the afterlife.

She put the glass on the table and went inside the bathroom determined to carry on with her suicide plan.

She filled the tub with water until it reached its full capacity.

She gets into the tub and positions herself... about to submerge her head below the water.

That was also the time that her phone starts ringing again!

Dammit! Who calls her this time just when she was about to commit suicide and join her husband in heaven?

She got up from the bed and exited the bathroom, she will answer this last call and after that... she will turn off her phone so that no one can disturb her again and continue with her suicide attempt.