Alina woke up with a smile. She had a dream last night, she said she was with Ricky and she hugged him. She would have been thrilled but for a moment she remembered something — her Math projects and homeworks weren't finished yet!
She hurried to get up from the couch but she was also startled right away.
‘Wait, why am I here? All I know is I've slept my assignments ah.’
She shrugged and immediately tried to continue her unfinished work. And to her surprise, there are answers to the math problems she was dealing with last night.
"Alina, you're just overthinking. Maybe you finished that last night but you're just thinking about him." He was unaware that he had already heard that. He stretched first before standing up on the seat and turning his gaze to the right.
She almost ran away in shock when she saw Ricky staring at her seriously.
"Who are you thinking of huh?" a smile curved on Ricky's lips and he slowly approached Alina.
"When did you arrive? Then how did you get in?" she asked and then averted her eyes.
"I have a duplicate key. That's why I got in the other day, isn't it?" Ricky replied and narrowed his eyes at Alina. "Who do you think of first?"
She smirked. "Who else? You didn't even say that you work at the university."
"I'm sorry, can I borrow your time so I can tell you everything?" Ricky guided Alina back to the couch and simply put his arm around her.
He began to reveal what he and Nanay Remmy had discussed about why he had to keep his work at the university a secret. They also set an agreement. They will not disappoint Nanay Remmy and they will remain committed to each other even if they are not yet a full-fledged couple.
****
"Text me later huh?" Ricky suddenly appeared in front of Alina while they were alone in the library again. Alina looked around before giving Ricky an evil look.
"Can't you be surprised? I am currently reviewing," she growled and bent down to read the book again. She needs to gain more focus because the final exam is later. In just a few weeks, she will be a fourth year student.
"You don't want that? You'll have a lucky charm later because you saw me." Ricky's smile was sweet as he winked at Alina. They are happy with this setup, even if they haven’t turned it on yet, they are considered best friends.
They distance themselves from each other because it is strictly forbidden for Ricky, an employee, to have a student relationship within the university. He is content that he visits Alina from time to time at the mansion when they both have free time. Ricky looked around. He confirmed that there was really no one in the library and without saying a word he stole a kiss on Alina's cheek.
"Hey! That's a foul! What if someone sees? Then I haven't seen you yet—"
"Keep your voice down, they'll know you're about to be my girlfriend," Ricky teased with his soft voice. He could barely speak because someone might hear. He just couldn’t stand the cuteness of the woman he loved most now.
And he giggled when he noticed how Alina's face blushed. "All right, I'll work again, good luck with the exams!" he said before turning away.
****
Fast forward and now it's time to celebrate after Alina's graduation. Mother Remmy prepared an event at their mansion and only close relatives and friends were present. Alina smiled from ear to ear as the celebration ended with a smile. Of course, her ex crush June also attended. She smiled even more because only now could she talk about it without formality.
"Thank you for your help Sir so that I can get through my studies. It was a huge help," Alina said to June with a smile.
"You know you're important to me because you're like my sister, don't you? I also did that as a teacher's role," June replied and sighed when he glanced at Ricky who was smiling at the two of them.
"Alina, since you are now a graduate, I also want to inform you that I have already submitted my resignation from the university."
Alina's smile faded because of June's news but she was surprised because she seemed happy with the decision. She has to respect that, she doesn't even have to find out the reason for his resignation. She knows how June is keeping his life private.
"Your admirers will be sad Sir," trace the regret in his voice.
"There's still a lot of handsome guys out there, there's Ricky. Oh yeah, you're about to be in a relationship so they don't have to fantasize about him anymore." June laughed, she knew that Alina and Ricky were committed to each other because Nanay Remmy had already told her story. Even the fact that Alina had a crush on him was no longer hidden from his knowledge.
"Ah eh," Alina's tongue twitched and she scratched her head.
"I know he loves you. Look at him, he waited for you and he didn't even look for the other girls. He only looks at you," June said.
"I hope he doesn't change Sir," Alina replied and glanced slightly at Ricky.
"I'm going home because it's late. Congrats again Alina, you have fulfilled your dreams," June said goodbye.
"Be careful when you go home." Alina waved her hand as June started to bid his goodbye to other people.
She sighed out of relief. Everything she dreamed of happened according to her plans and wishes. She may not be rich but at least her treasured loved ones remained true to her and didn't stop to give moral support.
She had already found the luck that Nanay Remmy was saying. She's lucky with her friends, she's even lucky with her future boyfriend. And speaking of boyfriend, she blushed and looked away as Ricky stood and walked towards her without breaking a smile on his face.
He realized that there were no other people in the garden but the two of them. It's already 12 midnight. The stars are brightly shining in the dark sky.
Ricky sat down next to Alina and put his arm around her. "So, what's the status of the two of us?" He asked.
"What do you think?" Alina asked. Even though they haven't turned on yet, she considers Ricky her boyfriend. She felt that he was sincere in waiting so she promised that just after graduation, she would respond with love to him.
"Don't hang me like that, you know I've been waiting," Ricky scolded with a frown.
"Yes, let's go. Aren't we the first to confess because we're already committed?" A delicate smile flashed on Alina's lips and a kiss stole Ricky.
"Good, because if you don't answer me, I won't give you this ring." Ricky grabbed something in his pocket, it was a ring that Nanay Remmy gave to him as a gift.
"What is that?" she asked as if she didn't know the contents of that box.
"I dream of marrying you because I know you will be a good mother to our future child but I don't expect you to agree right away. Of course, I know your priorities. But I just want to say that I'm ready to wait again. I don't see you, I will be pressured. Just accept it as a symbol that you accept that I will wait for you again. " Tears welled up in Ricky's eyes.
He gathered a great deal of courage to tell Alina what was in his heart. Finally he said it, without any regrets.
"Yes Ricky. I will marry you even if you don't have a ring, it's enough that you didn't leave my side and you supported me in reaching my dreams. I love you," Alina said tearfully. She didn't expect this to happen. She never imagined that she wanted to marry Ricky.
Of course she was also determined to marry the young man. So he held out his palm and Ricky put his ring with a shiny stone on his finger.
Their hearts sang a love song in perfect harmony.
"Alina, I have another wish." Ricky swallowed when he said that.
"Huh? What else?" Alina asked crookedly.
"Please take care of the ring. My installment payment isn't over yet," Ricky joked.
"Even if you don't say so, I'll really take care of it," Alina said laughing. After a while, Ricky grabbed her and bent down to do the thing they had both been waiting for.
"Can I kiss you now? Maybe yes and you won't beat me like before." He pressed his ears against her cheek.
Alina nodded softly.
Then she found herself drowning in happiness when she felt her man's soft lips gently claiming hers.
****
"Now that you're married to Vannesa, maybe the shares can be f-forwarded now Leonel? It's tedious to wait."
Dianne immediately flung herself on the couch and met Leonel's abusive gaze. She is a certified mistress of the man newly married to his bride.
"Shut up, I know what I'm going to do to Vanessa." Leonel sighed. He is not in the mood to talk because he even has jetlag, in London he and Vanessa got married and the divorce process is easier because divorce is legal there. He's a wise man enough to cheat.
Dianne has been his side chick for a long time, because she is more able to provide for his needs as a man compared to Vanessa who really insisted that she will not give up on herself until they are married.
Vanessa is also very busy handling the family business, a big advertising company. Vanessa is very passionate when it comes to growing the business and that is more of a priority than her boyfriend Leonel.
Vanessa and Dianne are very different. Vanessa is more rude to act, often mistaken for a lesbian because the dress is not girly. In addition, she has a background in martial arts and muay thai while Dianne is very feminine and like a crystal that should not be broken because of her shyness. But what Dianne regrets is the opposite of her attitude. She may act like a noble woman but when she and Leonel are in a private place, she's wild and liberated.
Dianne's worldliness is what Leonel liked about her so she became his lover while Vanessa was his girlfriend. It drove him crazy and he was able to spin it in his own palms. He also wants Leonel to grab Vanessa's wealth so that they can have money to use in case they settle down. But Leonel could only do that when Vanessa finally transferred her shares in her name. Just a little ironing on that mess and Leonel and Dianne will have the victory in their hands.
"Okay, I'm always trusting you Leo," she whispered as she approached him and pulled over Leonel's necktie to make it sink into her.
"Are you teasing me? You really know how to turn me on," Leonel said softly. He aggressively pulled himself against Dianne. They both lay down on the sofa and shared a passionate kiss that easily swept into the lake of fire.
Unbeknownst to the two traitors Vanessa heard everything they talked about, as well as their moaning in the office. She clapped his hands and called her secretary, Malou.
"Maria Lourdes," she begins on the other line. She mentions the secretary's name in full if she has an urgent order.
"Yes ma'am?" Malou replied. "Find an investigator. I'll catch a snake!" she commanded earnestly.
"Maam, you can just hand over that snake to the wildlife or animal rescuers, it's dangerous for you to be bitten," Malou replied jokingly. She thought Vanessa was joking but sometimes she was naive so he couldn't immediately get what the boss meant.
"Maria Lourdes, I'm serious here. Find an investigator, if you can't find an investigator, just find me a funeral home because I'll bury someone alive!" She sighed and hung up the phone. She let out a deep sigh and quickly wiped away the tears. Vanessa wouldn't let Leonel's infidelity affect her. She has endured many trials in life so she will not let just a worthless man bring her down.
A few weeks later ...
Vanessa fought hard against the men who beat her. She suspects that her husband and her lover were the culprit behind this. She was lying on the floor and she felt like she was about to catch her breath.
"She’s gone! She’s fallen. Call the boss!" said the man in the lookout companion as well. They are in a vacant lot and the said boss planned everything just so that Vanessa would die.
Moments later he heard the loud footsteps created by the heel worn by a woman. Vanessa reflected on her face, she was right, Dianne was the one who did it.
"If you had just let Leonel and you get a divorce and give him what he asked for, we wouldn't have reached here, Vanessa!" Dianne was so upset that she tried to make it look like Vanessa was to blame for her misfortune.
"Even if you kill me, he won't get a penny," Vanessa replied in a low voice.
Dianne's ear immediately tingled and she grabbed Vanessa's hair even though she was lying on the floor. Unsatisfied, she dragged her and pushed her against the marble pole so that her head turned. Next, she knocked Vanessa against the wall, there he saw blood flow from her forehead so she felt a little scared and stopped Vanessa, it looks like he killed her.
"Throw that woman away, take all possible identities of her. It's up to you where you throw her," Dianne replied irritably and the staff easily followed her order.