Chapter 12
✿✿✿✿✿✿✿✿
The senator stared at Chelsea with an expression Angelo couldn't read.
"Good day sir" Chelsea said with a slight bow.
"I see my son brought in a girl. Why don't you stay for dinner?" He said and asked calmly.
"Well sir, I need to be somewhere" she said rubbing her hands nervously.
"Oh common. That can wait, come have dinner" He said and walked to the dining room.
"Don't you dare say anything that'll put me in trouble" Angelo said to her when he left.
"And why shouldn't I?" Chelsea asked with a smirk and Angelo held her arm before pulling her close to him.
"Just don't do anything stupid Chelsea. Please" He said before letting go of her and walked to the dining.
She looked at his retreating figure and sighed before going to the dining as well.
She went to sit beside Angelo but he stood up.
What shocked her the most was when he pulled out a chair for her.
She stared at him and he smiled at her which shocked her more.
"Sit my dear" The senator said and she snapped out of it.
"Thank you" She said and smiled before sitting down on the chair.
Angelo sat down as well and then the maids served the food.
"Dig in" The senator said and she smiled before eating but slowly.
Angelo was eating as well but he was eating really slow.
"You're my son's friend right?" The senator asked and she looked at Angelo who looked at her with pleading eyes.
"Yes I am sir"
"So that means you know how he's behaving in school" he said and Angelo choked on his food. The senator ignored Angelo staring at Chelsea.
He immediately carried a glass of water and gulped it down.
"Yes Sir"
"Do you mind telling me about it?" He asked and she looked at Angelo before looking at the senator.
"Well sir, he's one of the best student in the class. He's kind, caring and intelligent. He helps anyone in need. He prevents students from bullying each other and he's really cool sir" Chelsea said with a smile and Angelo stared shockingly at her.
This is someone who he bullied like mad in highschool. Someone he hated, someone he wanted nothing to do with. This is the same person saying something good about him in front of his father.
He didn't know when a beautiful smile crept up his face.
"Well that's good. Good job son" He said and patted Angelo's shoulder.
Angelo just smiled at him as he continued his meal.
They kept talking and Chelsea must always find a way to say something good about him.
They finished eating and the maids carried all the plates away.
"Thanks for the meal sir" Chelsea said as they walked to the door.
"My pleasure" The senator said with a smile.
Immediately Chelsea opened the door, thunder sounded and heavy rain began falling.
"Shit!" She cussed under her breath.
"I guess you're staying with us then" The senator said.
"No it's okay. I can drive home"
"In this rain? Not happening. You're staying and that's final. Feel at home dear" He said and walked off.
"Come with me" Angelo said and walked upstairs and into his room. She followed suite.
"Nice room" She muttered as she entered and closed the door.
"Why?" He asked as he sat on his bed.
"Why what?" She asked.
"Why did you say all those things about me?"
"Because that's what you wanted"
"You know it's not true right. I'm not actually any of those things except for the intelligent and cool part" He said.
"I know" she said giving him a dry stare. He sighed.
"Thank you. Thank you for saying that in front of my dad" he said and her eyes widened.
"You never say thank you"
"Yeah. I only say it when I really mean it and right now I mean it. Thanks" He said and smiled.
"You also never smile" She said.
"Maybe I should be coming here everyday when your dad is around" She said and he chuckled.
"You're crazy"
Her phone rang immediately and she picked the call.
"Hello mum"
"Can you come home dear. I really need to see you" she said, her voice sounding weak.
"I can't mum. The rain is too heavy"
"Please try dear. We need to see tonight alright"
"Okay"
She said and cut the call.
"Angelo, I need to go home"
"But the rain....."
"It's really urgent. We'll see tomorrow alright. Bye" She said and left the room.
She rushed downstairs and saw the senator on the couch.
"Where are you going?"
"My mum needs me urgently and I have to go Sir" She said and he nodded.
"It's alright. Drive safely"
"I will thanks" She said and left the house hurriedly.
She entered her car and the driver drove off immediately.
They got home in no time and she rushed into the house.
"Mum" She called and rushed upstairs to her room when she didn't see her in the living room.
"Mum" She called and rushed to her. She was laying on the bed with a duvet covering her.
Her face was pale and her lips were breaking.
"Chelsea" Luciana called with a small smile.
"Mum. What's wrong with you?" She asked.
"I was diagnosed with stomach cancer and apparently I'm in the last stage" she said weakly.
"Why didn't you tell me mum?" Chelsea asked as tears welled up in her eyes.
"I didn't think it was necessary. I just wanted you to be happy for the days I had with you. I'm sorry" She said.
"I won't be able to live without you mom" Chelsea cried.
"You have to dear. Cos I'll be leaving very soon and when that happens, everything that belongs to me will be transferred to your name. I've already discussed with my lawyer so after my demise, he'll meet with you and you'll be granted access to all my houses, car, money and so on" she said and coughed out blood.
"Mum please don't do this. Please" She cried more.
"I'm sorry. I love you so much Chelsea, more than my own life" she said and cupped Chelsea cheeks.
"I love you too mum" Chelsea said with tears dropping down her eyes.
Luciana's eyes closed slowly and her hand went limp and dropped on the bed.
"Mum" She cried and hugged her tightly.
Just like before, she lost another person she loves so much.
★★ THE NEXT MORNING ★★
Chelsea was walking to her locker with a dull look on her face.
Her friends were behind her but they didn't say anything.
The demise of Luciana really struck them hard.
Linda walked towards Chelsea and stood in front of her.
"What do you want?" She asked dryly.
"I want you to stay away from Angelo" Linda said and she scoffed.
"Why should I?"
"Cos he's mine"
"And what if I say no?" She asked.
"Then I'll make your life miserable" Linda said and Chelsea just rolled her eyes at her before walking away.
The girls wanted to follow her but Doris stopped them.
"Leave her alone Linda. She's not in the mood for your stupidity" Doris said and the girls walked away.
★★★★
Chelsea went to the garden and sat on the bench there admiring all the flowers.
She didn't know when tears began dropping down her eyes.
"I miss you guys so much" Chelsea muttered sadly.
"Chelsea" A familiar voice called and she looked back to see Angelo.
She rolled her eyes at him before facing front.
He came to sit beside her.
"What do you want?" She asked.
"Why are you crying?" He asked instead.
"It's none of your business!" She snapped.
"It is. What happened Chelsea?" He asked and she looked at him.
The tears she was trying to hold eventually began falling.
"Why did they have to leave me?" She asked crying loudly.
"Please explain more Chelsea"
"First it was my mum and dad who left me and now it's aunty Luciana, my adopted mom. Aren't I enough for them to stay with me forever? Why does everyone I love keep dying? Why did they leave? Just why??!!" She cried.
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched Chelsea. They must be felt with the heart. Yunno death leaves a heartache no one can heal while love leaves a memory no one can steal. Grief is the price we pay for love. It is not the length of life, but the depth of life" he said and she cried more.
"It will be the little things that you will remember, the quiet moments, the smiles, the laughter. And although it may seem hard right now, it will be the memories of these little things that help to push away the pain and bring the smiles back again. They're still with you but right now, you can't see them. Everything will be okay Chelsea" He added and she sniffed before staring at him.
She never knew he could say all this.
"Thank you Angelo. You don't know what your words mean to me really" She said with a smile.
He held her hands which shocked her.
"My pleasure. It's good to see you smile again" He said still holding her hands
She looked down at his hands then at his face. What he did a year ago rushed into her head and she frowned.
"I still hate you" She said and removed her hands from his grip.
"You were one of the people who made my life a living hell. I just wanted to be happy but you just had to make it known to me that I'm poor and ugly. You never for once forget to make me feel that way Angelo and I'll keep hating you" she said angrily and stood up.
He stood up and the next words he said shocked her.
"I'm sorry Chelsea. I'm sorry for everything I did to you. I know no matter how many times I apologize, it won't change the fact that I hurt you. I'm so sorry Chelsea. Ever since you told my dad all those things about me, I couldn't help but feel guilty for bullying all those people and I want to stop that now. I want to change my ways Chelsea but I'll need your help in doing it. Please find a place in your heart to forgive me. Please" he said and her eyes widened.
'Did he just say sorry?' She thought.
"I'm sorry" He said and tears began falling from her eyes.
She looked away and he knelt down immediately shocking her.
"I'm sorry"
"Angelo" She called as she faced him.
"Get up. What if someone sees you like this?" She asked as she wiped the tears.
"I will stay like this until you forgive me" He said and she sighed.
"You're really sorry?" She asked and he nodded repeatedly.
"Promise you won't bully anyone again" She said.
"I promise. Bullying from this day has ended" He said and she smiled.
"Aiit then. I forgive you" She muttered and his eyes widened.
"Really?" He asked and she nodded.
"Now stand up" She said and pulled him up.
He smiled and pulled her into a tight hug.
Her eyes widened.
"Thank you Chelsea. Thank you" He said and she bit her lips a little before slowly wrapping her arms around him as she reciprocated the hug.
TBC...