The day is gloomy and their moods matched with it. JL, their senior, and the five other representatives of their family legacy are about to battle for the last time. If they win, then it will surely be not the last for them but if they lose, it is sad to say that hope will concede on its own for the Tiueco family.
Lt. Col. Peredo, JL, and Dior entered the stadium like there’s nothing happened from the crisis they encountered with their previous opponent – Team Abucay. JL uttered, “Get ready, the program will start in a few minutes”. They thought the battle will go just like what happened from the previous match, but they were all confused when an issue leaked.
Elijah Abucay – a member of their opponent stood in front of the stage while holding a microphone. At that moment, footages of Dior and JL were projected on the big screen. The footage revealed what the two is doing outside Prideus. After the footage, JL’s credit card information is also leaked. It showed expenses from a hospital, a baby stuff shop, and prenatal pills.
Everyone witnessed the issue, including the team. One rule in the Prideus Mite is to not get married and produce a family not until the competition ends. The committee and the administrators immediately took an action. The battle should start half an hour from now, yet it is moved to the next hour for the admins to decide whether to or to not disqualify Team Tiueco.
Elijah - who leaked the issues did not escape the consequence he will face just to get revenge from the loss they faced. Dior also made a mistake and Elijah compiled his and JL’s issues outside the legacy to drag them down together with Team Abucay who lost because of disqualification.
The team gathered inside their dressing room. Everyone is disappointed with the two. Lt. Col. Peredo talked disappointedly. “Is it true, JL and Dior?” he asked. He can’t keep his eyes off the two. JL answered, “There’s this woman, a friend of Lorenzia who approached me during the first battle. She said that she is carrying my child. I still doubt that it’s mine but for the meantime, I lend her my card so she can go with her expenses”. “It still didn’t change the fact that you hid that from us. You can just ask for help!”, said Lt.Col. Peredo.
JL answered with a sentiment, “Maybe she’s right. We have this perfect bloodline; we can’t just marry or produce a family without the higher up’s approval. Our family never conceived a child without marrying. I am afraid to lose my image to you guys”.
The team heard, it’s hard to believe and it’s too good to be true in some ways. The two had their regrets, but it is too late. The Prideus committee decided to remove their name in the legacy, which means Team Vasquez – their supposed to be opponent in the second match of the legacy, won by default.
For the first round of the legacy, it is JL who led the team to win against Team Abucay. The opposing team’s leader – Elijah Abucay who is also known for cheating in the legacy, played a dirty trick and exposed Dior and JL’s secrets from outside the camp. Now they are delisted from the legacy, JL lost a priority but he also lost the legacy preserved by his late grandfather.
“When will you settle the things you left, JL?” Lt. Col. Peredo asked. He replied, “I will make sure first if I am really the father. Once I proved it, I will legalize everything”. His senior nodded and said, “I am so proud that you know how to make things work. Stay strong especially on revealing this matter to your parents and to Caleigh” he affirmed. JL looked away and answered, “Give me some time. I had enough disappointments for this day”.
JL retreated to Lorenzia’s condo unit where Naomi is staying. He abruptly opened the door and found her watching a series in the television. “They already knew” he initiated; “What do you mean?” she asked with a confused look. He looked at her coldly, “I know you will be satisfied now. I am a mess in the legacy now. You and I’s issue is already widespread in the camp where we staying. Now, I am free from my family’s jail” he answered sarcastically.
She walked closer and stopped JL by holding his arm. “Do you love your family that much?” Naomi asked while her eyes are focused on JL who is facing around. He slowly nodded, “I love them that I do not want to disappoint them. It is not that I am blaming anyone, but you should know that I love my family in contrast of your hate to them” he replied while removing Naomi’s hand from his arm.
He was about to go back home when he felt Naomi’s wrapped arms on his waist. “Do you think this is a sign? If your family turns you down, at least you have a family to back up. You are starting to build your own family, JL” Naomi started comforting. His eyes are at rage and there are many thoughts running in his mind. “I told you, I am not owning the kids in your womb unless it is proven” he replied.
“And what if these are really yours? Can you learn how to love me again?” she asked critically. The small bump he can feel from his back is Naomi’s belly carrying a pair of twins. “I have my word, Naomi. I am not into discussing that matter right now. Better plan things when the situation is already in the perfect shape” he uttered and rashly removed Naomi’s wrapped arms in his waist.
It is already almost three weeks since Naomi got contact with JL. She is often in the hospital for her maternity check ups and she is just glancing on JL from afar. She also casually sees JL with an intern which seemed to be his assistant in few surgeries. The intern hands him a cup of coffee and she is annoyed that JL is always glad to accept it.
Now she is hiding in the hospital’s compartments while glancing at JL reading a surgery book in his office. Suddenly, the intern knocked to the office and did not bother to wait for JL’s signal for her to get inside. This time, the intern bought desserts for JL. She rolled her eyes when he saw JL’s approachable look when the door opened. She continued peeping from the glass of JL’s office door and observed.
“What brings you here, Intern Amber Boromeo?” JL asked. Naomi scoffed, “So Amber Boromeo is your name, huh?” she said while continuing the eavesdropping mission she started. Few thoughts ran to Naomi’s mind thinking that maybe the reason why he can’t accept her kids is because he is dating someone else younger and more beautiful than her. Amber held JL’s hand casually and it triggered Naomi.
JL refused to take an action. Naomi whispered, “Why don’t he remove that flirty intern’s hand from his? Unlike me, I am always driven away!” she said feeling annoyed. When Amber gets really urged to be intimate, Naomi did not stop herself and went straight to JL’s office. She is wearing a pink cloth mask with her name’s initial embroidered in the cloth.
“Ehem” she signaled to get the two’s attention. Amber looked at her and smiled, “Miss, I think you went to the wrong office. This is the General Surgeon’s office, not the OB Gyne” she said and it made Naomi more annoyed. She looked through JL’s eyes with rage. JL looked away; for him, what she did is foolish because almost everyone knows that she is a runaway bride and at the same time a CEO of a top media company in their country and in Australia.
Naomi crossed her arms, “Oh? Is that so? Then what does an intern doing here? I bet the interns’ office is on the other building. Am I right?” she asked. Amber stood up and faced her, “I just dropped to hand over the desserts I bought for Doc JL. I just want to converse about the surgery we will be performing later” she answered.
Naomi raised an eyebrow and said, “You are talking about surgeries while holding the surgeon’s hand? Is that a bit inappropriate?”. The tension between them is getting hotter as their raging glares greet each other. JL looked at the two of them who’s almost arguing.
Amber crossed her arms, “I have a practical reason to say but how about you? Why do you care about the doctor’s business?” she asked continuously. Naomi smirked as if she is looking onto something pathetic. She answered, “I care about the doctor’s business because he once loved me but I still love him”. Amber chuckled and it made Naomi raise an eyebrow again.
“Are you sure about that? You still love Doc JL while your baby bump is already visible? You said it yourself that Doc JL loved you once and it is in past tense! So why bother meddling with our communication?” Amber replied while looking straightly to Naomi’s eyes. Her face is covered with the cloth mask but inside it, her jaw is already clenching.
JL stood up in between the two women fighting for both of their stances. Naomi clung to JL’s arm the moment he reached the surface. Amber’s eyes widened with Naomi’s action but she chose to fake her reaction. She casually asked, “Doc JL, I thought you are single?”. JL slowly nodded, “I am, but she is right. All she said was a fact actually” he answered.
Amber faked a chuckle, “But you are letting her grab your arm. It is not normal for ex - lovers to do that in public” she uttered. JL remained to talk nicely but it was savage for Amber to take, “She is more righteous to grab my arm. Compared to you who is merely my student and assistant, I do not think it is proper to hold my hand like that”.
Amber’s eyes widened, “Doc JL, I know you usually do not talk like that. Is that your ex’s influence?” she asked unbelievably. JL shook his head and answered, “I just noticed that you have been crossing the line, intern Amber. We have known each other for a while now and I feel that there is something you are hiding with those treats you give to me every day”.
“What do you mean I am hiding something with those treats?” she cluelessly asked. JL sighed and answered her straight to the point, “You are hiding your feelings. Instead of giving me coffee and desserts, why not give me a little confession?”. Amber wowed, “You know all along?” she asked; feeling surprised.
JL nodded as a response. Amber covered her mouth in surprise of the sudden statement uttered by JL. “Now that you know that I like you, Doc JL, can I make this confession for formality’s sake? I really really like you, Doc JL. It brings me comfort knowing that you are receiving the things I buy for you every single day” she confidently uttered.
Naomi looked at her as if she is something disgusting. She took JL’s sarcasm as an adoration. JL looked away and replied, “Sorry, you misunderstood it all along. All the things you gave are consumed by the pediatric nurses downstairs”. Amber gasped in disappointment while Naomi silently chuckled; “You mean, you never ate any of those?” she asked to confirm. JL slowly nodded while feeling Naomi’s hand softly tightening the grip on his arm.
Amber bitterly laughed, “All this time, I am feeding the nurses?” she unbelievably asked. JL still remained calm and answered, “Amber if you really like me, then you should know what I like. Besides, the nurses in the pediatric section are the neediest of food. Unlike me, I can tap on my ID and have a nice warm meal in the cafeteria. Please do not get me wrong”.
Amber nodded while slowly wiping the little tears accumulating in her eyes. “I get it now. You do not like me. How could you be so cruel when you look angelic?” she uttered with words of bitterness. JL did not show any emotion at all. Breaking a girl’s heart is new to him but he did it swiftly with Naomi witnessing the situation. Amber embarrassedly walked outside JL’s office; Naomi waved goodbye to her and she annoyingly saw it.
“That was intense, JL” she commended while slowly loosening the grip of her hand to JL’s arm. “I just want her to cut her hopes. I don’t have time to fling around” he replied and went back to his swivel chair to continue reading the surgery book he left. Naomi went near him and clung her arms to his arm. Her hands caressed JL’s back and shoulders. She slowly slid herself in between JL’s stretched arms and sat on his lap.
She hung her arms to JL’s neck, removed her pink cloth mask and made their noses stick each other. “Do you miss this?” she asked while looking at JL’s eyes conveying the disturbance she gave to him. “Get down this once. Someone might see us” he replied but Naomi insisted, “Then I will tell them that we are in a relationship” she said while showing him a playful smile.
“That is my problem. What if Amber recognized you? And what if someone is spying on you? Are you sure you are secured in this area?” he multiply asked Naomi who is few inches closer to him. “I feel secured whenever I am with you. When time comes and truth needs to come out, promise me that you will take the consequences with me, and that you will never leave me and the kids fighting for our freedom” she answered.
Naomi leaned closer and pecked a kiss on JL’s lips. Her soft lips reminded him of the first kiss they shared. Her lips did not change at all. Now that he wishes to really be the father of Naomi’s unborn kids, he will make sure that Naomi is secured from Luke’s invisible plans. Fonsi did his job requested by JL and is still ongoing. The revenge is about to start especially now that Luke and JL are almost in the same area already. The history is chasing them and it is for them to choose whether they want to run from it or face it together.