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Chapter 43 Part 1

Angelo's P.O.V

I heard a light snores beside me and I could feel a warm bodies in front and the back of my own. 'This is new. No annoying beeping anymore.' I thought. My eyes were still closed when I felt something flinched in my arms.

Slowly, I opened my eyes only to be blinded by the light. I took my time to adjust my vision.

As soon as I can see clearly, I saw a small body snuggled up in my arms. Jared was breathing slowly as he was sleeping peacefully. His chest was rising up and down. My arms were wrapped around his thin body comfortably. Jared kicked his foot in the air suddenly, but he remained asleep. He must be dreaming about jumping into something. I kissed his cheeks when I realized that there is a strong arm wrapped around my waist.

Daniel's breath was hitting the back of my neck. He was pressed within me as his warmth radiated through my entire body. It felt so comforting and somehow, satisfying.

I slowly got up, carefully entangling Daniel's arm from my waist.

I flinched when my left foot cramped. "Owwww..." I whispered yell, making sure Daniel and Jared won't be disturbed from their sleep.

In an instant, my dad and mama was standing in my right side. Their faces were full of worry as my dad gently took my left foot. "Are you okay? Does it hurt? Tell me where." I was surprised how worried he was. He never showed any affection to me ever since I disobeyed what he planned for me.

"Don't touch him." My mum said while greeting her teeth. I looked at her only to see her glaring daggers to my dad.

My dad heaved a sigh and slowly let go of my foot. "I'm sorry. I'll be just here." He answered. He turned his back from me and walked back to seat in the chair in the corner. As he seated, he smiled at me affectionately and hanged his head down in defeat. There was a stabbing pain I felt in my heart when I saw my father's expression. He was supposed to be strong and hard like he always have, but what happened now?

I looked at my mum. Her furious expression morphed into sadness, yet she flashed me a smile. "How are you feeling, dear?" she asked, her voice was low, almost a whisper but audible.

I smiled at her and massaged my leg. "I'm fine mum. It's just a spasm." I answered.

Daniel suddenly giggled and talked in his sleep, "You are so clumsy sometime, aren't you Angelo?"

My mum and I looked at him in surprised. We had to suppress our laugh so the two boys sleeping in my bed won't wake up.

I leaned closer to Daniel and whispered, "Because I know you'll catch me, whenever I fall." That was so cheesy but I said it in a whisper that is inaudible to my mother's hearing.

Daniel smirked in his sleep and I had a feeling that he was dreaming about something that it involves me.

I kissed his cheek before hanging down my feet on the bedside. "They must be tired. Let them sleep some more." I told my mum.

"They really are. Specially Daniel. The poor man was so broken, his life became a mess." My mum replied.

I looked at her and back to Daniel and Jared. "What happened? I mean, after the incident? Why is it Jared look like this? Why is it Daniel so broken?"

My mother sighed, "Jared was traumatized, he's condition came back just like when he seen his dad beat up by his mum. He stopped talking, he stopped communicating. Nothing. He was like a lifeless body that only function for basic necessities." She explained, looking at Jared.

My eyes started to blur with tears. My mother wiped it off with her thumb. "Our poor boy." I whispered and leaned closer to peck his cheek. Just like his dad, he smiled on his sleep. "I'm sorry dear. It's papa's fault. I'm so sorry." I whispered.

"No. No dear. Don't think like that. It was not your fault." My mother cooed.

"But mum..." I protested but she cut me off.

She cupped my face with her soft and warm hands, "Don't ever blame yourself of what happened. In fact, it is you who helped him to come back. It's because of you, we have him back." She smiled.

I nodded. "Can we move down there so we won't wake them up?"

"Sure thing, dear. Here, let me help you." My mum held me up as I tried to stand.

However, being in a coma for a couple of year makes my feet inflexible for a while. My feet wobbled and I was about to fall down, my mum coming down with me. Fortunately, my father was alert and strong. He caught us just in time before we hit the floor. He held me on my waist while he put his shoulder under my arm. My mum caught her balance.

"Take it easy son. Where do you want to go?" he asked me. I looked at him in the eyes, trying to find any anger or disgust towards me. But all I could see was love and worry.

My stare was broken when my mum took my other arm. "We're fine Nicholas. I can do it." she snapped.

I looked at my defeated father and turned to my mum. "It's okay mama." I said. My mum looked at me as if she's saying 'are you sure?'. I nodded at her in reply. My mum let go of my other hand and place it on my back.

My father stabled his balance and guided me to the chair. "One step at a time son, we're not rushing." He said.

Slowly and very carefully, he seated me on the sofa near the door. It was the area where the visitors seated. That's when I realized that my hospital room is quite spacious for a single patient like me.

"Thanks...Dad." I said, a little bit hesitant to say the word 'dad'.

He flashed me a warm smile and took the wooden chair from his spot before and placed it near me. My mother seated beside me and hooked her arm around mine.

"So, mama, would you mind to tell me all the things that happened when I was in a coma?" I asked.

My mother was a bit reluctant to say a word but she decided to tell me nonetheless. "You took a lot of damage all over your body. Mostly, it's on your head. It's a miracle that you survive and for that I am thankful. You are a strong man." She said, smiling genuinely with admiration.

I smiled back at her but never said a word. She took it as a cue to continue. "You fell into a coma as soon as the doctors stabled your condition. Since then, you were here. Everyone was waiting for you to wake up, but 2 years have passed, you're still asleep. In that two year, a lot of things have happened." She paused for a moment and looked at my dad with anger oozing in her eyes. "It's all his fault." She hissed towards my father. My father looked at her in shame and full of regret.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused.

My mother was about to answer me when my father cut her off. Both of our head snapped towards my father's direction. "It's my fault son. I paid that woman to separate you from Daniel. I gave her money to do whatever she must do just to separate you. But I told her not to hurt anyone. I really did. I just didn't know that she was capable of doing that. Oh god, forgive me son. I didn't know. Please, forgive me." He cried.

I watched my father broke down into sobs. And then my mother spoke, "You didn't know? The woman was a criminal. You know she is capable of hurting anybody because she is crazy!"

The tension inside the room became suffocating. I tried to change the topic instead. "What happened to Daniel? I mean, he look so sick. Is he alright?"

My mother directed her gaze from my father towards me. "He is fine, dear." And then she look at my father once again. "You father forbid everyone to come and see you. He posted armed guards outside the hospital and around the area."

"What? Why?" my tears started to line my eyes because of the anger that started to boil in my chest.

"I can explain, son. Please hear me." My father answered.

I looked at him without saying a word. He took it as a cue to carry on. "The truth is that I was really angry at Daniel because he let that happened to you. You were on his roof and care. He was supposed to care and protect you, but when you needed him, he was not there. You almost died because of him, because he took you for granted. Or so I thought."

My tears started to roll down my cheeks. "Dad, it wasn't Daniel's fault. I don't need any protection. He was always there when I needed him, unlike you. Daniel loves me more than you could. I felt loved by Daniel more than you. I almost died not because Daniel was not there, I almost died because of your doing." I sobbed.

My father crouched on his seat, defeated. "I know son. Daniel proved his love for you yesterday and I witnessed it. I was planning to take you to Italy so we can seek better medical provisions. I guess Daniel have heard about the news and so together with his families and friends, they planned to storm this hospital against all odds. Albeit the threat and tight security, he managed to get to you. That was the first time I saw his son, Jared. I swear, I didn't know the poor boy's condition until yesterday. Oh god, I am so wrong." He paused and placed his hand on his face in shame. "I never saw such dedication in a man before. Daniel really love you."

I turned my gaze towards a sleeping Jared and Daniel. "He really do love me. And I do love him too. I'll fight for him no matter what. I don't want to do this but if I'm ever to choose between you and him, I'll choose Daniel over you." I said with conviction.

"Yes, I know that. I won't get in your way anymore. Please forgive me son. Let me be a father to you. Give me a second chance." My father pleaded.

I looked at my mother. Her eyes softened as her tears were rolling down her cheeks. "Dad, all these years, I have been dreaming to have a father- a real father. A father that I can tell about my problems, a father that will be glowing with pride for everything that I achieve. If giving you a second chance would be the way to achieve that dream, then so be it. We can start all over again, as a family."

My dad looked at me surprised. I think he wasn't expecting me to forgive him that easily. I haven't forgave him completely. But I was given a second chance to live; to be with my love ones once again. Who am I to refuse someone who's asking for a second chance? I was more than willing to build my family. It won't be easy but I am dedicated to achieve one of my greatest dream.

As soon as my eyes landed on my father's eyes, he broke down in tears. He slowly walked up to me and said, "Can I please hug you, son?" My heart leaped with joy from the word 'son'. It wasn't just a simple word at that time; it was a word full of love. Love that I have been longing from a father.

I nodded. Carefully, as if I was an ancient artifact, he enveloped me with his embrace. The warmth of my father flooded my entire body and I couldn't hold on the tears of happiness. "I promise son, I will change for you. For our family."

My father calmed down after a while and went back to seat on his chair. He has the biggest smile etched on his face. However, my mother kept on ignoring him. I know my mother still love my father, albeit all the silliness he have done. If I want a family, I better be the instrument to build it.

So, I decided to tell what was on my mind. "I'm coming home with you, to Sydney."

My mother and father looked at me in surprised.

I was more than surprised when I heard Daniel spoke from the direction of my bed. He was looking at me with hurt in his eyes. "What? Are you leaving me? Are you leaving us?"

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