ENCANTADORA (PART 2)

 “We lost another dog, Arnold. Now it's our Pomeranian. Do you know how much is that dog? 10K Arnold. Ten fucking thousand.”

 

Diego takes another puff from his Marlboro black cigarette while fighting some of his tears to burst from his sullen eyes. Arnold reluctantly pats the shoulder of his friend who lives nearby from their home; just a walking distance in the opposite street. Diego is one of those animal lovers who become content with canine and canine companions rather than those with the modern-day bipedal mammals; treating them like their own child or somehow like their lovers minus the sexual activity.

 

It was the third time he lost another one of his beloved pets. Just like his other dogs, his Pomeranian he named “Becka” was found lying in one of those darkened alleyways in their compound. It was obvious that there is someone behind it all along for all of his dogs died with a common denominator: a slit on their neck right in their carotid. Effectively draining their blood.

 

Apparently, Diego is not the only one who got victimized by this growing series of pet killings. Even their neighbors suffer the same with their cats and dogs being killed with a slit on their necks. Up until now, no one got any clue who is the mad man behind it and what is the motive behind its abominable hatred for animals.

 

“I am telling you, Arnold. Whoever did this is someone under the influence of the devil. How can he kill such lovely dogs? Becka…damn it, Becka.”

 

Arnold hasn’t seen any plants yet in the house of Diego but the display of obsession of his friend was forcing him to remember again his wife and his ridiculous devotion to plants particularly Maria.

 

“By the way, I heard from Aling Melba that you and Emma are fighting again?” Diego asked after he starts to get sober and realized that his friend is probably having some rough time once more in their house which is the reason why he is hanging out with him again.

 

 “Yes. Apparently, it was about those damn plants again.” Arnold sighed as he takes his turn in puffing his cigarette.

 

“You're not thinking about sending her in the mental ward again isn’t it?”

 

As per the suggestion of her mother, Arnold once put Emma under the custody of a mental ward only to find out that the said facility can not provide intensive care to her due to their numerous patients that are sadly abandoned by their families as if they are animals left astray in the nowhere. The facilities are not even healthy at all for all of them. Arnold found this out when one time he explores the entire ward and saw it was almost like a prison in disguise. The difference only lies in the color of their cell which immaculately white as if that color will whitewash the madness in them.

 

Emma only lasts there for one month. After that Arnold decides that he will take care of all the needs of his wife personally. No matter how arduous it may seem.

 

Arnold felt guilty though that there is a little regret that slithers on his mind as the idea of the mental ward pops out again.

 

“Is there any more reasons why I should not send her to the ward again?” Exasperation creeps on his voice as the look of defeat is all over his tired face.

 

“I can give you one…because you love her Arnold. Emma is your wife and you made a decision to take care of her whether she is sane or not.”

 

“Love..” Arnold breathed heavily as he heard that word again. Such a wonderful term that once is like beautiful music to his ears every time Emma says it to him coupled with tight embraces and sweet kisses. It’s a symphony that he never gets tired of even if he listens to it for a hundred times. It still exhumes the same warm fuzzy feeling that bolsters him with life. Both body and soul.

 

Yet now, the word love is only reserved for Maria. For that one single plant wherein the world of Emma revolves now.

 

“Just let her go with his love for plants. She is a certified plantita right now and be thankful that she has that “green thumb” that many are so jealous of.” Diego said with a wink as his twin poodle starts cuddle at his feet, beckoning him to play with them together with his pets.

 

“Now that you mention it, I am starting to wonder how does she can take care of all those plants and maintain their vivid colors despite that we are currently having some water shortage.”

 

“It’s the power of green thumb, my friend. They can grow whatever they like. It is as if they are feeding life itself on them.”

 

Arnold left Diego with still a heavy heart. He doesn’t know if he will say sorry to her wife or just let it passed just like what they traditionally doing whenever they argue.  He will not send Emma to the mental ward but the question that lingers right now in his mind the moment he enters their home is how long will it takes him before he changed that decision.

 

“Welcome home, honey.” Emma greeted with a smile as their eyes met the moment Arnold open their door. In an instant, all the dark thoughts that looming like a storm above him were blown away.

 

He just wishes that he can last long and maybe in time, he will hear her wife saying that word again to him just lie before.