Miguel fought back a chuckle.
"R.. Really? Is it just a little or a whole lot?" He sounded childish.
"Well, I don't know how much, but she likes you. She told me herself."
"Okay, how did she say it?"
"Miguel, I'm tired, don't ask me questions." Michelle was stressed and ran her fingers through her hair.
Miguel's panic was replaced with a blush on his cheeks.
The doctor walked out.
"Doctor, is she okay?"
"Yeah. Gabriela has been stabilized but still unconscious."
"Can we see her?" They chorused.
As the doctor gave the nod, "Go ahead," Miguel's instincts screamed to rush into the ward. But Michelle's gentle grasp on his hand reined him in.
"Hey, calm down, let's walk gently," she whispered, her innocent eyes locking onto his. Miguel took a deep breath, and together they strolled into the ward at a measured pace, though impatience still simmered beneath his skin.
Inside, Gabriela lay motionless, her form a stark contrast to her usual vibrancy. Miguel's footsteps slowed, and he approached her bedside with reverence.
His hands cradled her cheeks, his touch tender. "She's still beautiful, even like this," he murmured, his gaze drinking in her features.
Michelle nodded in agreement, a soft "I know, right" escaping her lips.
As she watched Miguel's loving gaze, a sly smile crept onto her face. "Don't tell her I said that, okay?" she warned, her voice barely above a whisper.
Miguel's eyes darted to hers, and in unison, they whispered, "Top secret," their heads bobbing in a silent pact.
With a gentle squeeze of Gabriela's hand, Miguel straightened, his eyes never leaving her. Michelle nudged him toward the door, her voice a gentle reminder,
"Let's let her rest." Together, they slipped out of the ward, the soft whoosh of the door sealing Gabriela's quiet slumber.
~~~~~
"I can't believe she still isn't up." Miguel said with a hint of urgency.
Michelle laughed.
They were sitting on the rooftop.
He had tucked her in his bed and switched off her phone so no one would disturb.
"I can't believe Isabella and the others spent the night at Carissa's. They thought she'd be safe with Leonardo."
Hearing his name made Miguel's fist clench.
"I will never forgive that jerk for whatever he tried to do to her."
"It's your first time being over possessive about a girl. And I'm loving it. I've always dreamed of the day I'll be having this conversation with my own brother. I never thought that would be you at all." Miguel smiled.
"I wasn't supposed to tell you about her feelings, but at that point, I had to think of something to make you feel better and stop being so tensed."
"Why didn't she tell me about it? I thought she was Miss. Confident."
"I thinks she's shy when it comes to you. Probably she doesnt know the right words."
"To be honest, what I feel for her is much more. Like is actually....an understatement. I'm in love with her. She's the first person who told me that i'm not a mistake. She said my mom's victorious for having me. Her courage, brilliance, beauty makes her a ten over ten. I'm totally into her. And with what you've said, its time to finally let her know." Michelle's eyes widened and she was alarmed.
"No, no, no!"
"Why?"
"Its not time, Miguel. There's still a lot surrounding you both. And it needs to die down first."
"A lot? What do you mean?"
"Claudia. She won't give up in trying to bring Gabriela down. Jennie will do everything to support her daughter. And those minions, they'll stick to Claudia till she succeeds. And to avoid that, don't start anything romantic with Gabriela just yet. Just stay close to her. As friends."
Miguel nodded.
"True."
"You might as well....wait till she confesses her feelings." Michelle smirked cutely and they both laughed heartily.
"Sometimes when I look at her, i can't just help but wish she was - mine. The imagination of everything I want to do to her is uncontrollable. Gabriela occupied my mind."
"I want her to be yours, too."
They heard a loud thud from Miguel's room and they rushed inside.
As Michelle and Miguel rushed inside, they were met with a sight that filled their hearts with warmth. Gabriela was sitting on the bed, her hands reaching out to grasp the nightlight that had slipped from her fingers. Miguel's eyes sparkled with love as he hurried to her side, pulling her into a tight hug.
"Hey, Gaby. So glad you're up now." he whispered, his voice full of affection.
Michelle couldn't help but smile at the tender scene unfolding before her. She pressed her lips together, trying to stifle a laugh as she covered her face with her palm. Gabriela, still trying to reach for the nightlight, murmured protests, but Miguel gently asked her to let it go.
"Don't worry about it. We'll get another one," he said, his voice soothing.
Gabriela's eyes locked onto the nightlight, but Miguel's words eventually won her over. He broke the hug, and Gabriela's curious gaze turned to Michelle.
"How did I get here?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion. "Where's Leonardo?" Michelle took a deep breath, launching into an explanation.
"Leonardo spiked your drink, Gabriela. He had ulterior motives. His mom didn't even invite you for dinner; he just used that as an excuse to get you alone. I'm sure he wanted to take advantage of you."
Gabriela's eyes widened in shock. "How could he do that?" she exclaimed, her voice trembling.
Michelle's expression turned serious as she continued. "But don't worry, we got there in time. We saved the day." Gabriela's face transformed into one of gratitude, and she thanked Michelle and Miguel profusely.
Michelle smiled warmly, patting Gabriela's back.
"You can stay here for a few days, and then I'll call the girls – Isabella, Carissa, Daniela, and Diana – and fill them in on everything."
"I'm still confused. How...how could he?"
~~~~~~~
The next day, Gabriela had transformed into a stunning vision, wearing Michelle's white top with 'Dang Dangerous' emblazoned across it in bold red letters. The top fit her perfectly, accentuating her curves, and she had paired it with a tight, short red skirt that added a pop of color to her outfit. She completed the look with a pair of Michelle's classy cat-eye glasses, which gave her a sophisticated, Latina-inspired charm.
As she made her way down the stairs, her heart skipped a beat as she saw the boys engrossed in a movie.
Not just any movie but the sight of the scene made her bones shake.
She felt an adrenaline rush as she watched from the stairs, trying to process what was happening.
Hungry kisses and moans.
Bare bodies rubbing against each other.
Touches and yelps every second.
The female's sudden outburst of pleasure made her gasp.
The sound of her footsteps alerted them to her presence, and she quickly turned to retreat back upstairs to Michelle's room. However, Rafael's voice stopped her in her tracks. "Good morning, Gabriela! Don't you want to watch the movie with us?" he asked, his tone friendly.
Gabriela stuttered, "N-no, I'm... watching something else with Michelle upstairs." With that, she hastily vanished from sight, leaving the boys to exchange knowing glances. A sly smile played on Rafael's lips as he suspected Gabriela might be avoiding them due to Miguel's presence.
"Hey, why do you think Gabriela doesn't wanna watch the movie with us?" Rafael asked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Miguel, however, feigned ignorance, choosing to focus on the movie instead of responding to Rafael's query.
"Hi, Gaby. Didn't you say you wanted to watch a movie?" Michelle was curious, seeing her suddenly plop on the bed and fingers flying on her phone screen.
"Um...yeah. But I'm... I wanted to.." Michelle noticed her cheek flush hadn't disappeared.
"Saw anything that made you panic again?" Gabriela chuckled nervously.
"No, I'm fine."
~~~~~~
The day before the new college semester was about to dawn, Miguel walked into his house, sweat still glistening on his forehead from an intense basketball practice. As he made his way to his room, he pulled out his phone and sent Gabriela a heartfelt text. "Hey, I've been missing you so much since you had to leave and take care of things at Flores Corp and with your friends. Can't wait to catch up soon."
Tossing his phone aside on the bed, Miguel's gaze fell upon a framed picture of his late mom. He picked it up gently, his eyes filling with sadness.
"Hi, Mom. Just got back from basketball practice and it was the most tiring one since we started practicing for a match coming up soon."
"Okay, the thing is, I've been thinking a lot about Gabriela lately and it really hurts she has gotten so busy. Michelle says I shouldn't tell her about my feelings no matter what but now that I know she likes me too, it feels so hard to continue being just - friends."
"But I guess Michelle's always right. Once we graduate college and Claudia is out of our lives, I'm sure I'll be able to tell her then. And I know you'd be so proud of me. Dad said Aunt Cariah is coming over and staying for a few days. I'm so excited. I can't wait to tell her everything, just like I'm telling you now."
~~~~~~JACKSON MANSION~~~~~~~
Miguel and his father, Mr. Jackson, were enjoying a quiet dinner in the grand dining room of their mansion when the doorbell rang, its melodious chime echoing through the halls. One of the maids hurried to answer it, and soon, the sound of footsteps and murmurs filled the air. The maid returned, followed by Cariah, Miguel's aunt and his late mother's younger sister. She carried a few boxes, which the other maids and male workers quickly took from her and carried into the guest room.
Miguel and his father exchanged a glance, and without a word, they both rose from their seats and walked towards Cariah. "Aunt Cariah!" Miguel exclaimed, a wide smile spreading across his face. Cariah's eyes lit up as she dropped her purse and opened her arms, embracing Miguel tightly. "My handsome basketball star!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth. "You've grown so much since I last saw you when you were just 16!"
Miguel laughed, feeling a deep sense of comfort in her embrace. Cariah had always been like a second mother to him, and her visits were always a treat. Mr. Jackson smiled, watching the warm reunion, and greeted Cariah with a gentle hug. "It's wonderful to see you, Cariah. You've arrived just in time for dinner."
The maids, efficient as ever, quickly set an extra place for Cariah at the table and served her a steaming hot meal. The aroma of the food wafted through the air, and Cariah's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Thank you, dear ones. I'm famished!" she said, taking her seat.
However, before she began eating, Cariah turned to Miguel and said, "Let's catch up before I indulge in this delicious meal. Let's sit in the living room, dear." Miguel nodded, and they walked together to the living room, leaving Mr. Jackson to watch them with a warm smile.
As they sat down, Cariah asked, "So, how's school life treating you, Miguel? What's new in college?" Miguel launched into a detailed account of his college experiences, sharing stories about his classes, friends, and basketball team. Cariah listened intently, asking questions and making witty remarks that left Miguel laughing.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, like they were close pals. Cariah's casual demeanor put Miguel at ease, and he found himself opening up to her in ways he rarely did with others. Mr. Jackson watched from a distance, a pleased smile on his face, happy to see his son connecting with his aunt in such a warm and natural way.
As they chatted, Cariah leaned back in her chair, her eyes sparkling with interest. "I'm so proud of you, Miguel. You're growing into a remarkable young man, just like your mom would have wanted."
"Forget that." She noticed his eyes welling up and changed the topic.
"How's she?"
"Who?" Miguel was confused.
"Don't pretend. Claudia." Cariah wiggled her eyebrows mischievously and Miguel rolled his eyes.
"We broke up. Long ago."
"What?!" Cariah yelled dramatically, shocked.
"Why?"
"Not just meant for me. I never liked her. We only dated for some reasons."
"What reasons?"
"I don't wanna talk about it." Cariah's look switched into a thoughtful consideration.
"Fine. Who's the new lucky girl?" Cariah winked.
"Aunt, enough about girls."
"We can talk about it upstairs." Cariah whispered with a smirk.
A notification appeared on Cariah's phone, attracting Miguel too.
"Oh. Miss. Flores' new post!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Hold on. Let me check out Gabriela Flores' new selfies. I'm a big fan of her, following all her social handles. Do you know who she is?"
Miguel was flabbergasted.