Chapter 157 - Secrets, Age, and Help

"If you were me, what would you do?" Gonzalo asks for Kayla's opinion, which catches Kayla off-guard.

"I say, if you really want them to hang out. I think it's great to force them to go on a date." Kayla speaks out.

"Hmmm." Gonzalo considers. "Indeed. Tayaw seems like someone who, despite what he's saying on TV, is a nice caring fellow." Gonzalo says.

"Heh. Might be. But basing on what he's saying right now, is he going to be nice to women?" Kayla shakes her head.

"I'm hoping he is. You can't even imagine what he did for small town strangers back in Teungeb. And Juliana is not a stranger. Even if he will not go on a date with Juliana with romantic intentions, he can take care of her." Gonzalo smiles.

"If he can take care of her, then I'm sure Miss Juliana will leave their date as Tayaw's friend." Kayla nods. 

/ "While I'd love to talk more with you, our producers are already signaling that we should wrap up." Aiden says.

*GROAN* The crowd expressed their disappointment.

"I know, I know. Anyways. Isaac, do you want to say something? Do you have anything else to promote?" Aiden asks.

"Well, I've done enough promoting already. I just hope though, that the actors in my film at least gets a nomination. That would be awesome." Tayaw says.

"Hey. Before we go, can I ask, is it really okay to say on camera that the producers are signaling you?" Tayaw suddenly asks.

"Not supposed to be, but it's not a regular episode, is it? And I just wanna let the viewers at home an idea of some sh*tty things here." Aiden says.

"Oh. OH! Wait a minute. I have something to promote to actors, anyone who has acting experience, really." Tayaw says.

"To actors? Okay." Aiden chuckles at how chaotic even the closing segment has become.

"I've just finished a script of a film and will start casting process soon. If there's anyone who studied the acting style of my film, please submit an application to a link I will leave on my social media." Tayaw says./

The show soon ends and Gonzalo and Kayla enter silence for a few seconds.

"Let's call it a night, Mr. Coniglio?" Kayla tells Gonzalo.

"Let me just…" Gonzalo pulls out a lighter what looks like a skinny cigar from a drawer beside him.

"Let me smoke on of these before bed." Gonzalo says as *shhik* *shhik* he lights up a stick before Kayla can stop him. 

"Mr. Coniglio…" Kayla is about to reprimand Gonzalo but she was stopped with a simple hand gesture from him.

"Relax, my dear. I already reduced my cigar into this skinny thing because you told me to slow down. Just let me have this." Gonzalo says.

"Still. You're inhaling smoke. It's still hard on your body." Kayla argues.

"It's just the coating that's tobacco. The rest is the relaxing green thing." Gonzalo says as he takes a puff, acc.u.mulates the smoke in his lungs, before blowing it out a few seconds later.

Kayla can only relent as she already finds it a progress to make Gonzalo reduce his tobacco smoking, replacing it with what is practically medical cannabis. 

"By the way. How's Tayaw going along with your film?" Kayla asks to fill the silence.

"I don't know. But when he visited me a month ago, he's almost done with script." Gonzalo says.

"Is it close to your real life?" Kayla asks.

"Well, it's an embellished one, but the parallels almost accurate if you know the real story and know where to look. I don't even know how the kid found out that much about my youth." Gonzalo says.

"Are you sure none of your men or friends talked to him?" Kayla asks.

"Nah. All of my friends who were supposed to know the entirety of my story are all dead. Maybe my friends told their children before they died. Who knows? But the kid said he even resorted to old newspapers and public records. If what he said is true, then he's really going through a lot of work for a film maker." Gonzalo shrugs. 

"How about…" Kayla is about to ask another question when Gonzalo waves her to stop once again.

"Let's drop the act, my dear. I can't spare more of my energy on this charade." Gonzalo chuckles as he puffs a smoke.

"I don't understand." Kayla says, in confusion.

"Heh. How many times do you think did the government send people to watch me? I've found out long ago that you are not only here to care for me." Gonzalo says. 

"I-I…" Kayla is speechless and a dreadful feeling is slowly dawning in her stomach.

Gonzalo only stayed silent to let Kayla gather her thoughts.

"Mr. Coniglio. They gave me a deal. Something I can't possibly say no to. Please, Mr. Coniglio, I just wanted a better life for my kid." Kayla finally confesses as she figures that denying any further will only be to her detriment.

"I know. I know, my dear. Your daughter needed a heart. How's Shara, by the way?" Gonzalo asks.

Kayla on the other hand, is surprised and even more scared that Gonzalo knows her daughter's situation, and quite possibly her entire family's identity too.

"She's doing fine, Mr. Coniglio. A-aside from the steroids, her doctor says she's getting along just fine." Kayla answers, feeling helpless.

"Good. Good." Gonzalo says simply.

"You're not gonna hurt me?" Kayla says, hoping that Gonzalo is the same kind old man she has spent a lot of her time with. 

"No, of course not. How many years have you been taking care of me now, Kayla?" Gonzalo asks.

"A little more than three years, Mr. Coniglio." Kayla says, lowering her guard down as Gonzalo is still in his amicable mood.

"And over those three years, did you ever see me hurt anyone? Or threaten anyone?" Gonzalo asks.

Memories flood in Kayla's head and all she found are fond memories of Gonzalo. "No, sir." Kayla replies, the sense of dread is being replaced by a sense of shame.

"Hm. That life is behind me now, for decades. And, I never hurt innocent people. I never even hurt government spies." Gonzalo nods.

"I'm sorry for assuming… the worst." Kayla looks down in shame. 

"Mm. Anyways. I've grown fond of you. Even though you had other intentions, you have been sincerely taking care of me, doing things for my good, and helped me be healthy. I didn't think I'd be this healthy this long enough in one's care." Gonzalo says.

Kayla chooses to stay silent, not knowing what to say.

"I actually found FBI's approach very novel this time. They sent you, a civilian, to spy on me. Had I not had resources, I never would have found you out." Gonzalo shakes his head.

Kayla is surprised once again that Gonzalo knows more about her situation than she realized.

"It's just unfortunate that a person like you, has to do their bidding. It must have been hard?" Gonzalo asks.

"It was." Kayla nods. 

"Were they not satisfied with your reports? This is the first time that you are actively looking for 'something'." Gonzalo asks.

"Yes. They either do not believe my reports, or they believe that I'm just not doing my job right." Kayla reports.

"Hmm. Did they threaten you?" Gonzalo asks.

"In a way, they did…" Kayla says, starting to sweat remembering her situation.

"Your life?" Gonzalo asks again.

"No…" Kayla takes a deep breath. "Shara was 8th on the priority transplant list, but I know my daughter's condition. The heart Shara got was supposed to go to another child, the first in the list…" Kayla begins her story but cannot continue.

"Is that child… no longer in this world?" Gonzalo asks.

"Yes…" Kayla says.

"Ah… That is unfortunate… Every parent will be selfish when it comes to their children. Are they using Shara against you?" Gonzalo asks. 

"No. But… my 'boss' threatened to tell that boy's family my identity and tell them that I stole their boy's heart…" Kayla says.

Gonzalo almost felt dizzy dizzy at Kayla's words.

"*Cough* Oh dear. I didn't know that the FBI are that cold blooded nowadays. Crime families here in New York did use such methods long time ago, but those were used against criminals." Gonzalo shakes his head.

"I'm guessing you had thoughts of running away?" Gonzalo asks. 

"My husband suggested it, but with Shara's condition, I can't make her live that life." Kayla says. Gonzalo nods.

"Hmm. Well, then. Let me help you." Gonzalo proposes, to Kayla's surprise.

"I don't know what to say. Why would you? I-I spied on you." Kayla cannot comprehend Gonzalo's thinking.

"Because I trust you, despite that. You did not tell them about my real condition." Gonzalo says.

"I just didn't find reporting it relevant." Kayla says. 

"That may also be true, but people my age know people. And I know that you are one of the most caring people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting." Gonzalo smiles, comforting Kayla very much.

"I can only say thank you, Mr. Coniglio." Kayla says. 

"About my help. I can arrange for your family to disappear from the eyes of the government." Gonzalo goes back to the topic.

"Y-you can do that?" Kayla asks.

"Absolutely." Gonzalo nods.

"I-I can never repay you." Kayla says.

"You can repay me. You can just do what you've been doing. And one more thing. Don't tell my family what you know about my condition, yes?" Gonzalo says.

"I can do that for you… But, are you really sure about this? Your family cares for you." Kayla hesitates.

"I know they do. But I don't want my remaining days seeing my family worry. It's not like I'm in pain." Gonzalo says. 

Kayla, after processing the gravity of Gonzalo's request, finally nods. "I understand, Mr. Coniglio." 

"Why don't you tell me instead what they're saying about Tayaw on the internet?" Gonzalo wants to move on from the topic.

"Hang on." Kayla pulls out her phone and starts browsing social media sites. 

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@Isaac I can change your mind, honey.

@Isaac I'll be your dog, baby.

@Isaac I'm offended. Not all women are toxic like that. My man's happy.

@Isaac what the hell do you know? You're gonna grow old alone.

@Isaac my man dropping the truth! Preach brother! 

@Isaac New fan here! Thanks for the boost man! Imma go break-up with someone now.

@Isaac Bros before hoes baby! Yeaahhh! 

@Isaac I'm not an actor, can I audition too?

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"Well, mixed reactions, but at least he's got more appreciation than hate." Kayla says and starts reading the tweets to Gonzalo.