Chapter 30

Alitha's POV

I let him pulled me to the parking lot. I got on his motorbike without complaint. I don't know but I feel like I'm free from confinement of my own. Weird but that's how I feel.

We went to the place where he first took me. We were both gasping the fresh air. We're standing beside a big tree not far from the cliff.

"I have a class this afternoon. Why did you drag me here?" I turned to him. I'm not mad. I just want to know his real reason.

"I want to be with you. Forget about studying first." He laughs at the promise. He came up behind me and hugged me.

"What? What kind of principle is that? You're a bad influence, Niko." I was joking with him.

"It's only once. Besides I want you to experience this kind of exhilarating moment."

"Exhilarating moment." I laugh at him. Why was he thinking that way? "Why did you enrolled when you're lazy to attend your class?"

"I don't know. Dad wanted me to have a diploma. Besides, I don't want to be like him."

"Why?" What is wrong with his Daddy and he does not want to be like him? I know he didn't want to talk to his Dad anymore when he shrugged and didn't say anything at all.

A few moments later we were just quiet. He hugged me from behind and rested his chin on my shoulder. My head is leaning on him.

We just stared at the glistening ocean because it was hit by the sunlight. We stood in the shade so the sun's rays did not hurt our skin. We did nothing but talk and talk all afternoon. Sometimes we keep quiet and just look at the sky. We sat on the bermuda grass and he leaned against the tree while I leaned on him.

In the short time I was with him again, I learned something about his personality. I found out that since his Daddy remarried, he didn't care much for him anymore except for his financial needs. He said he can buy everything he wants so he seems to be angry with money. But he was not happy.

"Not until you came."

"You're flattering me again, Niko."

"I'm serious. Eversince I saw you, I haven't lost you in my mind. I really don't know why. So I made a way to get close to you. I made friends with you just to see and be with you every day but it's really different." He slowly rub my arm. "I get jealous. I always get jealous everytime you're with another man. It's weird because I didn't believe in that word not until you came."

"I thought I was not capable of feeling that way but you made me felt that fucking jealousy, Ali."

"Shall I thank you or you to me?"

He grinned. "Your silly." The serious talk turned into a joke. Until I realized that I was too comfortable with him. I told him about Glaiza and me. Aunt Caroline and Uncle Dan as my parents. Even though I was guilty because I lied, I just thought that I would get back at him. I will also tell him the truth. I don't even know when.

In our conversation today something changed in my decision. That is to tell him the truth. About me, about my personality and who I really am.

True to his promise. We never had a cutting class again. Even he did the same. From that afternoon on, he said he would take his studies seriously. For me. He's really sweet.

We never met outside the University for now. Because of Glaiza and for me as well. I don't want Aunt and Uncle to be angry with me forever. It is only within the University that we meet, talk and sometimes flirt.

There were times that we secretly kissed in the back of the old building. We have already made it a meeting place. There were also times when he would startle and suddenly kiss me next to my locker. Sometimes just outside our room and sometimes in a room with no one's using.

Two months passed quickly. And that was exactly what always happened to us. Every night, he never failed to call me. I will fall asleep listening to his voice and wake up with his voice also was always the first thing I'd heard in the morning.

Third Person's POV

Maximus played with the cigarette he was holding while looking at his men who were kneeling in front of him.

"Boss, have mercy! We didn't really know that the police would hear us." Two men kneels and the other one begs Maximus.

Maximus stood up still playing with his cigarette in his hand. His every step closer to the two people he trusted was heavy. Millions were lost to them because of the misfortune of these two!

The policemen ambushed his men last night on their way to his private and secret airport to take the drugs to the other island. His island. They planned to meet there with the Americans as their prospect buyers. But unfortunately, the transaction did not proceeded well.

"What I'm asking you to do is simple! Talk to Bautista so we can find out if we were spied on. But you're stupid! You didn't do it! So what?! What happened?! You useless people!" He growls in anger at the two. He doesn't want to see them any longer so he pulled out a gun from one of his men and fired at the two. He killed those two useless people.

The other goons present didn't seem surprised. Perhaps they were already expecting their boss to kill those two.

"Throw them away! Hurry up!" Maximus shouted at his men.

When he was the only one left, he slumped in his swivel chair. He is so angry! He still wants to recover the illegal drugs that are in the hands of the police now.

He knew who was plotting the ambush of his men. Even now, his mortal enemy will not stop him.

He lit the cigarette and smoked there. Planning what will he do next to get what's his. He was hurt when his second wife died. That's the reason why he went back on his business. No one can stop him now so he will do whatever he wants.

Three consecutive knocks averted his attention. But he did not bother to check who was knocking.

"Boss." Marco one of his trusted men called him.

"How was it?" He lazily asked him.

"He is currently busy with his girlfriend, boss." He immediately turned his head and looked at Marco.

"Girlfriend?" He seemed surprised.

"Yes, boss. He met this girl at the University. They're in a relationship more than two months now." Maximus was speechless. He had no idea his only son was busy over a girl in the University.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, boss. He seemed serious on this one."

"Nikolai's kinda messing around. He's just playing. I know my son." But he was convincing himself rather than informing Marco. This is his first time to know that his son is dating that girl for two months now. He thought Nikolai is not interested being in a relationship.

But maybe he's not serious. He thought that maybe his son was just having a good time or enjoying the company of that girl.

'Yeah, I think he is.' He thought of himself.

Dubai, UAE

In one of the highest buildings in Dubai stands a beautiful, refined woman in her early sixties. She's towering the people below and mirroring herself. An overlooking view overwhelmed her every time she faces the glass wall of her building.

She owns twenty branches of lending company in different places in this country. Upon seeing herself, she couldn't help but think of all her plans. The plans she's been preparing for almost a decade. She knew right there and then that her time will be up when she reaches the age of sixty.

"Madame." She looks at her secretary through the glass wall. "An email from the Philippines just came."

"Okay. Thank you." Her secretary left after nodding at her. She wasn't expecting an email yet.

'Why a sudden change?' She asked herself. She sat down on her chair and opened her laptop. When she opened the website, an email with a 'CONFIDENTIAL' as a subject popped up on the screen.

She knows where the email came from. When she frowns a deep furrow forms on her brow. She didn't like what she reads. She immediately pick up her phone and dial the sender's number.

"Just read your email." Greetings are not her cup of tea specially if she's in a bad mood.

"I'm sorry, Madame if I did it that way." Said the person on the other line.

"That's the right way to inform me. You knowthe proper way, don't you?"

"Yes, Madame."

"That's a bad news. I don't like it." The person on the other line went silent. "We should execute the plans sooner. I will take a visit once I finished my important matters here."

"Copy, Madame." She ended the call. She leaned back in her chair and rubbed her forehead. 'Surely, the right time has come. It wouldn't have been this early but I couldn't do anything. I need to do it. The sooner the better.' She said to herself.

She picked up her phone again and called the person she wanted to meet once she arrived in the Philippines. "Hola."

"Mama, what a surprise." The person she was calling seemed surprised indeed.

"How are you two doing?" The seriousness in her voice was transparent. But even so she still feels a longing for them. She haven't seen them for almost five years. It's not because of the distance between them but the responsibility she shouldered.

"We are doing fine. How are you too?"

"Nah, I'm always good. I know you're happy to hear from me but I can also hear that you're nervous." She frankly told the person she's talking.

"You can't take that away from me, Mama. We've accepted what's going to happen for a long time. Is that why you are calling?"

"Prepare yourselves. I'll go there after what I'm going to take care of here."

"Yes, Mama. I will look forward to seeing you."

"You should. And take care, all of you."

"Si, Mama."

She had dropped the call for a long time but she was still not moving. She knew that person's capacity but she still couldn't help but worry.

She had already gone through what that person will go through. But she promises, she's just here somewhere to help that person deal with things she knew.

"Madame, all the board of directors are already there. They are already waiting for you." She stood up. She forgot that she had a meeting today. She is getting old, or better to say she is old.

Alitha's POV

Manila, Philippines

We were in the shade of a tree and waiting for our boyfriends. We went out earlier this Friday. Since Glaiza's grounded was done, we agreed to go to the nearby beach resort.

Just last night, I asked permission to Aunt and Uncle. Good thing they agreed but they said that Cliff must be close to me. Glaiza also asked permission from her parents. Because her parents knew I was with her, she was finally allowed to go too.

Now she keeps on talking while waiting. She said that she was excited because she and Cedrick were coming out together. I feel the same with Niko.

Suddenly my message alert tone rang. When I picked up my cellphone, I smiled to see my boyfriend's name. We'll meet in a few minutes but he's still texting me.

Niko❤️: Bored :(

I smiled when I read his message. As usual, he was bored again. He was always like that when he didn't like the professor teaching.

Me: Focus :)

Niko❤️: I can't. I miss you, baby :(

Me: Miss you too, babe

My grin widened. This is the first time I have called him in his endearment to me.