Alyssa’s Pov:
I opened my eyes and found myself lying on a bed – an hospital bed.
I looked around and saw Mico and his siblings s
around me.
“Hey” Mico called softly and stood up, touching my hair.
“How…how’re you feeling? Are you okay?” He asked with a perturbed look but I couldn’t say a word.
My head still felt a little hot and bandages were placed on some parts of my body.
“Alyssa?” Karen called.
“Are you sure she’s okay? Do we need to call the doctor?”
I shut my eyes and opened them again.
“I’m…I’m fine” I managed to say.
The whole memories of everything that happened kept replaying in my head and it made me scared a little.
“Alyssa” Mico called broody.
“I’m so sorry for what happened. I’m sorry for pushing you away. I never meant to. I was just upset. Please forgive me” he said and I looked at him and managed a smile.
“It’s okay. I understand” I replied and he kissed me.
Ouch! My mouth was dirty.
But he did it anyway.
“Thank God you’re safe and back, Alyssa.’Michael said.
“We were really worried about you. Believe me, Mico wouldn’t even eat”.
” “Yes, Alyssa. I was really so worried about you. Thank God you’re back.”
I looked at them all and sighed.
“uhm…where’s Jeremy?” I asked hopefully.
“He’s been arrested. But right now, he’s receiving treatment” Angelo replied and my eyes dropped.
He was arrested?
“When he had called me,” Mico continued. “I had informed the police and they had taken a different route to track them down.
“They took over the building and arrested most of them there.
Although, some of them were able to flee the building, but the important ones were arrested – Jeremy, his brother and Mrs Houston”.
My eyes beamed.
“Mrs Houston was arrested?” I asked.
“Yes. She had tried to escape and got shot.
She’s also receiving treatment under the custody of the police” he replied and I took in a deep breath.
It’s a good thing to know she has been arrested.
But Jeremy.. will he be fine?
“I missed you” Mico said and pecked me on the head and I smiled.
“Don’t worry, Alyssa. I’m going to make them pay for what they did to you. I’ll make sure they plead for death” he added.
“Uh…Mico,” I called.
“Jeremy.. will he be fine?”
He scoffed and looked at me.
“I don’t know, Alyssa. And I don’t care. He should rot in hell” he said angrily.
“Come on, Mico; he saved me…”
“Yes. But it still doesn’t change the fact he started all these. He abducted you and took you away from me” he interrupted.
“Yes, but he saved me.” I said softly.
“He risked his life for me; betrayed his own family for my safety. Because of me, he’s in danger.
“I think he’s a changed person, Mico. He’s the reason I’m alive”.
“Alyssa has a point” Octavia Said.
“Its true Jeremy abducted her. But, if he hadn’t risked his life and everything to save her, I doubt she’d be here with us now.
So, I suggest we owe him a lot.”
Mico just huffed and sank his fingers into his hair.
I know he was angry, but I also know he’ll come over it.
Just then, a nurse opened the door and came in.
“Good morning, ma’am Alyssa. There’s someone here to see you” the pretty nurse said and left and the next person that came in was Samantha.
She was looking all broody and it was obvious she’s been crying for a long time.
“What re you doing here?” Karen asked churlishly.
I looked at her and noticed she was holding a file.
“I’m not here for trouble” she said fraily.
“I…I just want to talk to Alyssa”.
She paused and sobbed and I tried to sit up.
“Samantha” I called and she looked up at me.
“I’m sorry, Alyssa. I’m sorry for what my mum did to you and your family. I…I never knew she had such intentions” she said tearfully and stretched out the documents she was holding to me.
“These are the documents she made you sign.
I know they were signed in my name, but…I don’t want any of it. I can’t take what’s not mine.
I’m sorry for everything she did to you” she said and I starred at her with surprise.
This is unbelievable.
I never expected this from Samantha.
“Wow, Samantha, are you really going to hand over all the properties to Alyssa?” Olivia asked, also surprised.
I collected the documents from her and looked into it.
They were real.
She really signed them back to me.
“Thank you Samantha. You don’t have to worry anymore. I hold no grudges against you” I told her and she nodded tearfully and drew closer and we hugged.
“Hmmm. Touching” Michael whispered and we laughed.
***
I walked into the hospital ward with Mico and met Jeremy lying on the bed, his leg placed on a stretcher.
He was awake and looked surprised the moment he saw us.
“Alyssa?” He called with a diffident look in his eyes.
I stood beside Mico and looked at him.
“Uhm…Jeremy, how’re you feeling?” I asked anxiously and he sighed abd looked away.
“I’ll be fine” he replied despondently.
I looked at Mico, expecting him to say something.
He just fixed his hands into his trouser pocket and starred away.
I actually had to force him to come with me.
“Uhm… Thank you, Jeremy; for saving my life. I’m really grateful” I told him and he exhaled and looked at me.
“I’m sorry for getting you into trouble in the first place” he said and paused.
“Our parents died at a very tender age” he continued remorsefully.
“My brother and I were left to struggle on our own since none of our relatives accepted us.
Life had been really tough on us and it got to a point where we got separated.
“He had told me he’d be back for me and I was left alone to survive.
I couldn’t even go to school and had to do petty jobs to feed.
“But few years later, my brother returned and came back for me and I was shocked to know he was crazily rich.
“He changed me and made me feel like a king. And later on, he introduced me into the secret of his wealth.
“I was shocked when I found out about it. and even my conscience was feeling a little guilty at that moment, I couldn’t run away from him, maybe because…he was my brother and I had gone through a lot already and that seemed to be the only option I had.
“I became part of the gang and he made me do terrible things with him of which I regret.” He paused and sighed sadly.
“I’m not a bad person, Alyssa. I just had badluck” he added ruefully and I felt my heart melting at that moment.
I looked at Mico and his face had also softened a bit.
I suddenly felt bad for Jeremy.
He was clearly under a bad influence.
“It’s alright, Jeremy. I always had a feeling there was a good part of you; despite all the stories I heard about you.
“Don’t worry, I’ll give my report to the police. I’ll let them you gave up the gang and saved me.
I’m sure it’ll be of help” I said and he just heaved.
“Uhm…M-m” Mico started and cleared his throat.
“Uh…Thank you for what you did – for saving my baby.
I guess I owe you one” he said and Jeremy scoffed.
“Wow! Did Mico Salvatore really just thanked me for something?” He asked in a smile and Mico chuckled.
“it’s a lifetime opportunity, Jer. So, I guess you should value it” he replied.
“Yeah. If I had known about it, I’d have invited the press” Jeremy said and we all laughed.
Then, Mico drew nearer and gave him a side hug.
“You’ve always been a jerk; but I guess we can still settle our differences” he said and Jeremy smiled and patted his back.
I also drew near and joined in the hug.
I just hope things get to work out fine for him.
Well, since he’s now on good terms with Mico, I’m sure he wouldn’t be spending more than a month in jail.
-Days Later-
Alyssa’s Pov continues:.
“And the 1st position goes to…”
I held my chest and closed my eyes.
God, please, please, please.
“The representative of Manilla!”
“Woaaaaahhhh!”
My eyes opened immediately as I felt like hot water was being poured on me.
I opened my eyes wide in shock and the entire students had all created a standing, shouting ovation.
I sprang on my feet and couldn’t believe what was happening.
Oh, my God; I won the contest!
I did it!
“Congratulations, Alysaa Ramos” the coordinator added with a smile and a tear escaped my eyes.
I gasped and covered my mouth with my palm.
I really did win the contest.
I made it!
Samantha came up to me and embraced me.
She came second.
“Congratulations, Alyssa” she said happily but I couldn’t say a word at that moment.
I was gobsmacked.
I looked around and saw Mico climbing up the stage.
I ran to him and jumped on him.
“I did it, Mico! I did it!” I said tearfully and he laughed and held me tight.
“Congratulations, love. I knew you’d make me proud” he said and I wept on his shirt.
The press men had filled the stage already.
“Now you’ve just become the young miss beauty of the Phillipines.” He said.
“But I’m thinking of adding one more title to it”.
I unlocked from the hug and looked into his face.
“What title?” I asked and he smiled and embraced me.
“I don’t know, I’m still thinking about it.
Maybe something like…Mrs Salvatore” he replied and I gasped and we laughed.
“I love you, Mico” I said
“I love you more” he replied and we kissed again, this time around, for a long time.