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Chapter 42 Part 2

Daniel's P.O.V

It worked.

It actually worked. Not that I don't believe that it will work, but I can honestly call it a miracle.

Angelo, my beautiful boyfriend, was staring with his angelic dark brown eyes. His stare was like piercing right deep into my soul and it felt nice and warm. It felt glorious to see those eyes again after his long and deep slumber. It felt so good to hear his angelic voice that is a music to my ear.

"I heard you." He said. His voice was groggy but still sweet.

A tear fell from my eyes to his cheek. He looked confused as he looked around the room.

"What is going on?" Angelo whispered. Confusion lingered around his rough voice.

"My love." I spoke for the first time since he opened his eyes. As much as I tried to resist enveloping in my arms, I couldn't. So I scooped his small body from the bed, and looked him in the eyes. He was surprised by the sudden action but he didn't say a word.

My tears couldn't stop falling from my eyes. It was like a stream- a stream of happiness. Another tear fell from his cheek. I slowly leaned in closer to his face and kissed my tears on his cheek away.

"I missed you." The only three words I said before burying my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his intoxicating scent- sweet and alive. I carefully tighten my arms around him as he kissed my left cheek.

After a moment, I heard him gasped.

"My love, what's wrong?" I asked worriedly, breaking the embrace. I looked at the direction where he was looking. On the bedside, a grinning Jared was standing and staring at us.

Angelo cupped his mouth with his hand and gasped. "My god, is that you Jared?" he said. He then held his right hand out towards Jared.

Jared took Angelo's hand without any question. He jumped on Angelo's arms as the older man took him in his embrace.

"What happened to you sweetie? Oh gosh. What happened?" Angelo cried in confusion. His eyes were filled with unshed tears. I was guessing that the tears was the result of confusion, sadness and happiness.

Suddenly, Angelo's heart monitor beeped rapidly.

"Calm down, Angelo. Everything is fine. Breathe my love. Breath." I cooed as I try to calm him down. I took him in my embrace while his face was buried on Jared neck.

Slowly, the heart monitor beeped normally as Angelo calmed down. Just then, the doctor with a nurse came in. Maria and the others entered the room next.

Everyone was either crying, especially the three aunties and Veronica, or has a teary eyed like my best friend Alex and Dianne. It was all thanks to them that this miracle happened. They played a great role to execute the plan and save the two lives of our love ones.

The doctor stepped near Angelo and whispered something to the nurse. The nurse wrote down something on her notebook and proceeded to check the I.V that was standing behind me.

"May I please ask for a moment to check up on Angelo? It will not take a while. I'll be quick." The doctor asked, his voice was soft and polite.

I nodded in response and walked to the other side of the bed to get Jared.

Angelo gave Jared a quick kiss on the cheek and I gave Angelo a kiss on the forehead. I took Jared in my arms as we stepped away from the bed to give the doctor the space.

I walked onto the corner to where the others were standing and watching the doctor do his thing with Angelo.

While the doctor and the nurse was checking up Angelo, I took it as the moment to evaluate my surrounding.

On the left side corner were Maria and Veronica. Maria was sitting on a chair, crying and smiling at the same time, while Veronica was whispering soothing words to the matriarch.

Three metres away from my right side were the three aunties, balling their eyes out. Aunt Lisa was shaking from hear silent sobs as the other two aunties were trying to calm her down. Aunt Carol and Aunt Anna were wiping their tears away with their hanky.

Five steps away from them to the right were my best friend Alex and Dianne. Dianne was clinging on Alex's arms intimately. Alex looked at me and give me a thumbs up as he grinned from ear to ear. I smiled at him in reply and mouthed the word 'thank you'. Alex really is my best friend. His girlfriend Dianne never left us too. I was extremely thankful for both of them.

On my left side were Nicholas and Sebastian. I almost forgot about the evil patriarch as soon as Angelo woke up. Nicholas' face was a mixture of regret, happiness and sadness. Behind him was Sebastian, standing tall and alert. His gaze never left Angelo. I might have been looking at him for a long time that he felt my stare. He turned his attention towards me and gave me a quick nod and a thin line of smile formed in his lips.

I smiled back in response. The man has been a great help to us all the way from the beginning. Although he serve Angelo alone, he didn't have any second thoughts to look after us, especially Jared. He will always be the man I admire and respect.

I took a deep breath and expelled the air out of my lungs. It was as if all the stress and worries have been lifted up from my chest.

I buried my face on the neck of the small boy in my arms. Jared giggled and squirmed in my arms. His thin and light body was a reminder of all the years of torture without Angelo.

"How are you feeling, buddy? I miss you so much." I sad, my tears were starting to form in my eyes.

Jared looked at me and wiped the tears away with his tiny hand. Tears that I didn't know was already rolling down my cheeks. "I'm okay daddy." He replied. "I can hear you every day, but I can't find you. I keep on calling your name but I can't find where you are." Jared pouted and it was the cute face I missed so much.

I kissed Jared's forehead and asked, "So what did you do?"

"At first I cried. I cried a lot every time I hear your voice. But then I remember what nana told me. She told me to pray for a guardian angel to save me. And I did. The next thing I remember is that I was looking at Papa." He narrated.

I was stunned and amazed at the same time. I noticed that the whole room fell silent. I looked around just to see that everyone was looking at us- at Jared in particular. Their faces were full of amazement from Jared's revelation.

Alex and Dianne came over us. Alex patted my back as Dianne held out her hand to Jared. Jared took Dianne's hand as he was being taken away from my embrace. Alex messed Jared's hair and said, "We missed you buddy. Welcome back."

Jared looked confused at first but then he just giggled as Alex started tickling him. The room was filled with giggles that everyone had yearned to hear for several years. Everything looked so alive again.

Everyone were laughing and grinning at Jared's giggle that we forgot about what had happened from the past years.

Just then, the doctor fake coughed to get our attention. The room once again filled with deafening silence.

With a last glance at his watch, the doctor spoke. "Don't stop laughing people. Angelo is very well like new. He just needs to stay here for a couple of days for further observation, but other than that, everything is fine. He just need a little bit of rest, so I suggest to keep it down for a while" He announced.

The silent room were filled with sigh of relief.

Maria thanked the doctor and the nurse. She escorted both the hospital staff to the door as everyone started to gather around Angelo.

Veronica was the first one to give Angelo a massive bear hug and butterfly kisses on his cheeks. "I miss you, you crazy boy! Don't scare me like that again. Stress makes me look like a hobo." She huffed jokingly.

Angelo giggled. I don't know how he do it but that giggle was so sexy and angelic at the same time.

"I miss you too. You're still pretty, so stop freaking out." Angelo replied.

Just then, Jared jumped off from Dianne's arms into Angelo's lap.

"Be careful, buddy. You might hurt your papa." I said, worried etched on my voice.

"Sorry daddy. Sorry papa." Jared answered.

Angelo snorted and patted Jared's head. "I'm fine sweetie. Papa is strong. Am I not, daddy?" he said, glancing towards me.

I sighed. "Yes. Yes. You are strong. No doubt about it."

Dianne walked towards Angelo, Alex was behind her. "Welcome back Angelo. We miss you so much." She said, tears were started to line out on her eyes. Dianne is a very emotional woman but she was strong and calm nonetheless.

"Thank you Dianne. I missed you too." Angelo replied. He then turned his attention to Alex. "Looking good there, Alex." He teased.

"I always look good Angelo. It's nice to have you back, buddy." Alex clapped Angelo's back softly, as Angelo whispered a soft thanks.

The once silent room was now filled with laughter and teasing. After a while, Angelo spoke, "So guys, how long has it been?" he asked.

We all looked at him confused.

He might have read our mind and so he continued. "I mean, how long was I sleeping? I can see a lot of things have changed. Jared grew a lot, but what happened to this little boy? What happened to you Daniel? You look... unhealthy?" he trailed off.

I was about to answer when Maria cut me off. "Two years honey. It's been two years without you and during those years, I was really broken to pieces. I missed you, my dear." Maria said as she walked closer to Angelo.

"Mama." Angelo whispered.

On the other hand, I was relieved somehow that Maria had to speak up for me. I wasn't sure if I could tell Angelo how I blame myself for what happened to us.

I took Jared in my arms to give way to Maria.

Maria embraced Angelo with care and love. Her soft sobs can be heard as her face were buried on her son's neck.

Angelo cooed her and kept telling her that everything is fine now. As Maria calmed down, she stood up with an excited face.

"I have a surprise for you." She said to Angelo.

'What could it be?' I thought, until I realized that the three aunties were not in the room. I smiled at the thought of surprised Angelo.

"Come on in ladies!" Maria called out.

The hospital room door burst out with an excited and tearful three woman- Aunt Carol, Aunt Lisa and Aunt Anna. Without any seconds to spare, the three aunties enveloped Angelo in a big group hug, sandwiching my poor boyfriend in to possible suffocation.

Angelo couldn't believe that his three aunties was present in the room with him. "How? When?" he asked.

The three aunties broke the hug and talked all at the same time. They started to argue who should talk first until Maria decided to send them out to get some food. They complained at first but obeyed nonetheless.

Veronica, Alex and Dianne with Jared went with the three aunties as well, leaving me in the room with Angelo, Maria, Nicholas and Sebastian.

When everyone cleared out, that was when Angelo noticed the two other person on the corner.

"Dad." Angelo acknowledged his father. I was surprised that his expression was soft and seemed happy to see his father. Meanwhile, I clenched my fist into a ball as I glance towards Nicholas.

Nicholas looked up towards Angelo. His gloomy face slowly faded into a soft smile. "Son." He whispered.

"Sebastian." Angelo turned to his butler.

Sebastian knelt down with his one leg and place his right hand on the left side of his chest in courtesy. "Master. Welcome back." He bowed.

Nicholas stood up but was stopped by Maria. "Stop right there!" she yelled angrily. "Don't you dare go closer or touch either Angelo or me. I despise you!" Maria said.

Nicholas was taken aback and seated back to his chair, his head was hanging low.

I never seen Maria furious and it scared me. Her face was hard and full of anger. Until Angelo grabbed her hands, she instantly calmed down. She placed her hand on Angelo's cheek and smiled lovingly at her son.

"Let's calm down and tell me what's happening. Please." Angelo said. He looked at me for answers.

I didn't want to tell Angelo how horrible his father was just to get what he wanted. Despite the urge to brake the old man's nose, I didntt want to show Angelo a horrid view specially when he just woke up a moment ago from 2 years sleep.

I looked up at Maria for help. But I was surprised when Nicholas answered Angelo.

"It was my fault. It was all my fault. Please forgive me son. I didn't know it will end up like this. I didn't know, believe me. Please son." Nicholas broke down. He was a crying mess and full of regret.

That day, I saw a proud man broke down into nothing as he admit his mistake. That day, I learned that despite his pride, he was still a father that care and love his son. My anger towards the old man disappeared as picture of my father flooded my memories.

Angelo didn't say any word. We were silent. The atmosphere inside the room was tense.

After a while, Angelo spoke. "I'm tired mama. I'd like to get a rest first. When I wake up, we'll talk about this." He told Maria.

Angelo then turned his attention to his father. "Dad. I want to hear your explanation later. Please don't go anywhere. I'm just a little bit tired. We'll talk later."

"Thanks son. Thank you." Nicholas replied.

"We'll grab some snacks at the cafeteria, if that's alright with you?" Maria asked Angelo. "Daniel can stay here with you while you sleep. Is that okay with you, Daniel?"

I nodded in response.

"Well then, Sebastian, take Nicholas with us. Let's go get some food." She told Sebastian.

Sebastian held Nicholas shoulder as he guided him out of the room, Maria trailing behind them.

As soon as the door closed, silence filled the air once more.

I was standing on the corner awkwardly until Angelo called my name. "Daniel. Come closer. I don't bite." He teased.

I laughed, easing the tension between us. I walked up to his bed, suddenly afraid to touch him. I was suddenly afraid that if I touch him, I might break him and he will be gone from me forever. I couldn't risk that chance. So I hesitated to.

"What are you doing?" Angelo asked. His eyes were staring at me with confusion.

"I...I'm just gonna stay here and watch you while you're asleep." I reasoned.

"It's been two year since I felt your warmth. So hopped in and cuddle me while I sleep. Please?" he pleaded.

He doesn't need to ask me twice. I carefully plopped down beside him and placed my arm on his waist. He positioned himself facing me and buried his face on my chest.

Angelo's warm body sent a satisfying effect on me. I was contended. I kissed his forehead and began to draw small circles on Angelo's back.

"I missed you so much. I love you. Don't forget that." I whispered. Angelo replied with a soft hum, letting me know that he heard me.

As I was drawing circle on my angel's back, I too started to doze off. My eyes became heavy as the exhaustion consumed me. With a final sighed, I let the sleep took me. I can finally sleep without worrying what might happened about tomorrow.

My future was in my arms, sleeping soundly. My son- our son is well now. Everything finally seemed to be in order.

As I was dozing off a deep slumber, I heard a very warm and familiar voice. I wasn't sure if I was already dreaming, but I definitely heard my father's voice. "Rest now my son. You did well, you deserve a good sleep."

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