Chapter 11
"I have been waiting for you, Mr.Romano," Henry said from inside the bar.
"Your wait is over, Henry," Alessandro remarked.
"Why am I locked up?" Henry questioned Alessandro.
"You must be well aware of that Henry, you cheated me." Alessandro gritted his teeth.
"Did I? We both know you can take that cheap land in a blink if you want without dragging me behind the bar, then you tell me why am I here?" Henry questioned again.
"I can't resist cheaters in front of me Henry and you not my friend tried to trap me with that second-" Alessandro paused. " You blackmailed Bianca." He stated.
"I knew it," Henry smirked. " Even you could not resist her charm, could you? Beautiful, curvy, innocent.... virgin. How I wish I could pop her peach and ride it until she begs- "
Instantly Alessandro held Henry's collar, "You bastard, how dare you utter a word on her dignity, she is a woman to be worshipped. I will kill you, you rascal." Alessandro punched him anyway.
Within a second policemen came and dragged Alessandro away from Henry. "Let me go I will kill him.
With that Henry started laughing hard, "This is what Bianca make you do. She trapped you too. First she acts innocent then she plays hard to get and you are also her victim." Henry laughed.
"You-" Alessandro was cut off with the loud vibration inside his pocket. It read Darren as an incoming call.
"What?" Alessandro roared in anger.
"Bianca-"
"What happened to her?" Alessandro became restless.
"Zina fainted an hour ago and is inside ICU, since then Bianca has been crying," Darren reported.
"I'm on my way." Alessandro cut the call and turned to exit just to cut off by Henry.
"Running to precious Bianca? Warn her I will see her soon and snatch her away from you." Henry laughed evilly.
Alessandro wanted to punch him one more time but he had to be with Bianca so he exited the police station with a clenched fist and a sour mood. Nobody could snatch his Bianca away from him, he won't let anybody to do so.
Alessandro reached the hospital in less than twenty minutes and found Roma, Darren, some kids from orphanage and Bianca. She was sitting at the corner and wiping her tears continuously.
Watching her in such a condition his heartfelt cold and had problem in breathing. Was it always this hard to look someone at misery? Or is it because it was Bianca that was crying? His life.
Slowly he walked near Bianca and sat beside her. "Hey, What happened?" He whispered slowly, not to startle her.
But to his surprise she threw her arms on him and cried bitterly. "She- will- die." Bianca muffled on his chest.
"Nothing will happen to her, I promise," Alessandro promised her to which Bianca looked above at his face with wide eyes in search of hope and she could not believe he held determination to bring the world on her feet if she said so.
She wiped her tears to read him properly and asked him again, "promise?"
"I promise you, nothing will happen to her alright? Now you have to be strong for everyone, okay?" He caressed her head and she nodded but rested her head back on his chest in search of warmth.
Soon she fell asleep in his arms and that did not go unseen by everybody around them. Roma had relaxed posture with a hidden smile, Darren was relieved and somewhat surprised that his cold-hearted friend calmed the crying machine, doctors and nurses around them watched them in perplexed and lastly Alessandro was least affected by the looks he was getting. He had to protect his life and her people and could not let ger shed a tear anymore.
With one free hand he messaged all the surgeons, cardiologist and other best doctors of his hospital for a meeting. In less than ten minutes everyone was sitting inside the meeting hall and not to mention he had Bianca with him on his lap soundly asleep.
Everyone had their eyes wide and mouth open but nobody dared to question him. Soon Alessandro mentioned his agenda to hold the meeting and Darren showed them the reports and history of Zina. The doctors suggested for the earliest surgery with the best team they could provide to which Alessandro nodded and gave them a green signal and dismissed them.
"You are truly a log while sleeping, but cute log." Alessandro chuckled watching her sleep in a awe for such a long time.
Wealth. Intelligence. Beauty. These are the three things that can make you climb on the top. This is why I am on top now and looked up to by the majority. This is not the life, I wanted. This is not what I dreamed to be.
But the cruelty of life thought me how to fight. The pain I've felt thought me how to rise from my greatest downfall. I got up, endured all the pain and worked hard. I never dreamed that I would have been born rich and from a respected family. But because of the circumstances of life, I have learned, if you have money you are not lightly oppressed and you are not lightly trampled on by others.
For the past seven years, I learned to use my brain, not my heart. I also learned not to give trust to someone lightly. Sometimes, whoever you trust the most, he is the one who can hurt you completely. I learned to use my heart less and disregard my emotions. The brain should work, not the heart.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the heiress of Soldevilla Shipping Lines, our birthday celebrant, Miss Francesca Soldevilla!"
Wearing an elegant red long dress, I stepped down on the grand staircase with poise and elegance. Flashes of cameras can be seen anywhere. Sparing smiles and cold looks were all I gave to the people who looked up at me. Amazement and joy I saw in their eyes as they followed my every move.
"Happy birthday, France." mommy greeted me. She kissed my cheeks. Dad hugged me.
"Happy birthday, daughter."
"Thank you, mom, dad."
I turned to the people waiting for a chance to greet me. They are the country's wealthiest people and famous in business world. I can even see faces of some politicians, as well as celebrities.
"Mom, I'll just be in the comfort room for a while." goodbye. He nodded so I immediately walked away. Many greet me that I just reciprocate with a formal smile.
Suddenly, I stopped. Not because someone greeted me, but because of the pair of black eyes that were now staring at me. He's standing half a meter away from me, looking at me intently as if he wants to see my soul and emotions. Is he still standing and the eyes staring at me are dangerous. Those eagle-like eyes are blazing with coldness and authority, just like how it looked like, years ago.
I stayed emotionless as I started to walk again. I passed him with my forehead raised. But before I could take three steps away from him I suddenly heard his cold voice which stopped me.
"Amara."
That name. My name has long been buried in oblivion like the painful memories brought to me by the past and the man I first loved.
As I look into my father's coffin, tears poured down from my eyes. My heart is bleeding but nothing can stop the pain I'm feeling. Losing a loved one in death can be devastating, especially when you have lost a parent.
"Condolences, hija." I looked up with tears in my eyes. It was Tito Ric, one of papa's friends at the law firm he worked for.
I was speechless and had no intention of speaking. I'm emotionally tired and I don't have enough strength to talk. I tightened my grip on papa's picture frame even more as he continued to cry. It's just, I can't stop my tears from falling.
I was 12 years old when my father died because of a car accident. Mama was forced to work for the two of us. She strived hard to provide my needs. As I worked hard to study as dad wanted. He wants the best for me that's why I strived to be the best in my field.
"With highest honor from the grade nine level, Amara Francesca Acosta!"
I heard the loud applause from the crowd as I went up to the stage with my mother. Mama looked at me with a smile of success as if to say that she was very proud of me. And that was already enough for me to feel happiness in my heart.
"This Amara is really smart!" commented Aling Flora, a neighbor of ours who shared a small banquet at our house.
"Oh, he inherited that from his father!" mama while putting food on my plate. I just smiled sparingly and didn't even join their conversation. I'm thinking about papa again. I wish he's here to congratulate me. That would make me happier, though I'm contented of what I have now.
"Smart and a nice kid! Oh, it sure has a lot of lovers!" happy words of Aunt Rina, mama's younger sister.
I smiled sparingly. "I have no plans to entertain male aunts yet. I don't have such things in mind yet." Well, he's right that I already have lovers but I immediately bastardized it. I don't want anything that can distract my studies because it's my top priority.
"It's good then. Hey, you're really young. Your mother's luck is with you."
When I entered I had no other plan but to focus on being a good student. I am in my fourth year here at the only university in our province, the Alfresco de Unibersidad. I was a consistent honor student in my previous years that's why I belong to the pilot section when I reached my tenth grade.
"Yey! We're classmates again sissy!" Lalaine, my best friend. It looks like a lot of fun because we're going to be in class again. After all, he almost didn't pass Mathematics last year.
"Is that how you really want to be with me?" we sat in the front because that's what I wanted. I don't want to be in the back because I can't focus.
"Of course noh! Sissy is like us!"
I smiled. She's really one of those few people who can make me smile.
My first day went smoothly. Nothing special happened. Right after dismissal, I packed my things and went out from the university. Lalaine and I went in different directions, so I walked down the road alone. In fact, I can ride a tricycle but I prefer to walk because I am more comfortable there. Also, our house is not that far from here. Based on my estimation, I think I just need to walk for two kilometers.
While walking quietly I spotted a pregnant woman slowly walking in front of me with a boy who I think was five years old. The boy's gaze was fixed on his mother as if worried. The woman looked around as if looking for a ride but unfortunately no tricycle was passing by.
I guess, she's in pain. She has a big belly which gave me the idea that she may be menstruating now. I couldn't help but sigh with worry.
My eyes were still locked at them when the pregnant woman suddenly collapsed. I stopped walking and my eyes widened in shock.
The child was obviously surprised as well. He looked around as if looking for someone to turn to. His eyes stopped on me, and when I saw his pleading eyes, I didn't hesitate to run towards them.
"Oh God ..." I exclaimed and immediately attended to them. I looked at the woman and saw that she was very pale. Damn. What will I do?
I turned to the child who was now crying. "M-Rent a tricycle. Your mom needs to be taken to the hospital."
I looked around, the few people passing by seemed indifferent. My hands get cold with every passing second that I don’t see a tricycle. I don't know these people and I don't have anything to do with them but my conscience can't leave them like that.
that situation.
I was almost trembling in nervousness when an unfamiliar black car stopped in front of us. Its door opened and a familiar man came out from inside. His dark eyes looked directly at me that made me gulped. He's tall and has tanned skin. There is nothing in his appearance that shows tenderness. His eyes and everything in his physical appearance shows no mercy at all.
He's no other than the famous Raxon Diego Bermudez.
He turned his gaze to the unconscious woman. He stepped closer and immediately attended to the pregnant woman and examined her with his gaze. Maybe he knows a lot about it. Based on what I've heard, he's a third year medical student and their family owns chains of hospitals all over the country.
"What happened?" he fired a question to me. I seem to be confused for reasons I can't determine.
"B-He just n-fainted."
He touched the woman's wrist. I heard her faint murmur as if something was wrong with what was happening.
"What is your connection to them?" I asked when he suddenly lifted the woman into the car.
"I don't know them." he replied coldly. "She needs to be taken to the hospital as soon as possible because her pulse rate is very low and she is gradually having difficulty breathing. Get in the backseat, we need to hurry or else she'll die."
At what he said I took the child's hand and without hesitation got into the car. After all, I can't leave the child alone. He's crying and looks so worried. I know he needs someone to comfort him right now.
"Stop crying baby boy. Your mom will be fine too." I assured him.
When we arrived at San Alfresco Public Hospital the medical staffs immediately approached us when they saw Raxon. I took a deep breath as I hugged the boy. Damn. I was really nervous about what happened.
I bent down to level the child's vision. "Where's your dad?"
He shook his head. "W-I don't have a dad." I felt his pain as he hardly say those words.
"Are you somewhat connected to them?" I looked up at the man who spoke. His cold eyes focused his attention on me. That made my heart pound faster.
"No." my casual answer. "I was going home with us when I saw them. I saw what happened so I tried to help."
He nodded. I stand up and saw his eyes traveled down to my uniform. "You're a junior high in Alfresco de Unibersidad?"
"Y-Yes."
"Nikolai!" we both turned to the woman who suddenly appeared. I think, she's in her late 20's. He immediately approached the boy and hugged him.
"Where's your mom? What happened? I heard what happened so I immediately rushed here. I'm sorry Niko if Tita got caught."
"Are you related to the patient?" Raxon asked the woman. The woman's mouth dropped open the moment she looked at it.
"Y-Yeah." I could feel the nervousness in her voice. I looked at Raxon. He didn't even show any emotion. He remained cold and serious as hell.