Chapter 1: The Car Accident

“Grr… what an unlucky day!!” Andrea cursed as she drove her motorcycle.

It was raining cats and dogs due to heavy thunderstorm. She went outside to deliver her customers’ orders and she didn’t expect that she’ll finish it so late. It was reported in the news that there would be a tropical storm, so she delivered her goods as quickly as she could, but she didn’t ever think that the tropical storm would catch her at any moment. She speedily drove her motorcycle because she already felt the coldness on her back down to her spine when suddenly…

Beep… Beeeeepppp…

“Ahhh… Screeeeeech…” Andrea shouted as the metal screeching of the wheels from her 2-wheeled vehicle could be heard. She fiercely pressed the brakes. She was scared to death as she thought that she would be hit by the opposite car moving towards her direction.

Crash… Whack!

Andrea opens her eyes when she heard a loud bang of collision coming from her sideways. Only did she realized that she was not hit by the car, but it bumped on the tree alongside the street at her right side. She was so dumb shocked with what she witnessed.

“Oh no! Did someone have an accident because of me? No, please, please God save whoever that person is.” Andrea prayed hysterically as she almost faltered down upon the terrifying car accident. She frantically watched at her front and back direction if there are other people who witness the accident in that dark side and remote area. Realizing that no one is around, she immediately approached the luxurious car nervously to help those involved. She tried to open the car even though she can’t barely see the person inside the latest Rolls-royce car model. She frantically hit the car’s window with her helmet and alas she made her way inside to see a handsome man in the driving seat whose head is leaning on the headboard with his seatbelts wrapped around him. Andrea has checked the man and she was relieved to know that the man is still breathing. She then buckled the man’s seatbelts and used all her mighty strength to pull him over, but his weight is incomparable to her.

She heard the man grunts.

“Hey? Can you hear me? Let’s try to get out of here!” Andrea whispered desperately. She was almost giving up when suddenly she saw reflection of lights coming from an approaching car.

There, she saw glimmers of hope!

***

9:47 PM!

Miguel slowly opened his eyes, squinting in attempt to sharpen the blurred images before him. He blurredly looks up the clock hanging on the white wall and saw that it’s almost 10 o’clock in the evening. He was actually awakened by the pungent smell of hospital purifiers entering his nostrils. He heard faint female voices speaking inside the white room that indicates he’s still alive. Hearing the approaching steps and small voices getting clearer, Miguel closed his eyes again and pretended he’s still unconscious.

“My god Andrea, don’t you know that you have thrilled me out when you call? Thanks goodness that you’re just at the nearby clinic! And thanks to the heavens that you’re okay!” Trina spoke worriedly. She went hurriedly to Dr. Calvo’s private clinic when she received a call from Andrea, her housemate.

Andrea - who just finished brushing her teeth at the bathroom came out and responded drowsily, “I’m sorry Trin, but you know I can’t leave him after what happened. It’s because of me that he was lying there.” She already wore the new set of clothes that her housemate has brought for her. She called her housemate, Trina for this matter after she completely damp and soak herself in the rain.

Andrea sat on the couch and within two meters away, she glanced at the very good-looking man with sturdy muscles who unconsciously lying in bed. Looking on the clock, she realized that it’s past 3 hours since the car accident, but the man is still unconscious. She was looking the man’s face and felt guilty. She believed that the man would not be in that condition if not because of her.

Andrea let out a sigh as she was in deep thought, "What a night! But thanks to the heavens because, even though I'm misfortunate for several of things, but here I am - still alive. Thanks for that good-looking Samaritan as well who passed by at that area, and help me carried this unconscious man up to this nearest private clinic."

"So, I'm not that very 'malas' afterall!" She blurted out faintly after her deep thought.

"What did you say?" Trina asked - confused by her words. 

"Huh? Ah- nothing. I'm just praying for him to wake up soon." Andrea reasoned out as she pointed the man and shook her head. 

"Uh!" Trina reacted as she nodded. Later, she raised from her seat and walk through the man’s side. She studied the man while flippantly asking, “Andre where did you pick this Adonis? Is he the one you’ve tried to convince to be your fake fiancé and be introduced to your stepfather, so he'll stop pestering you about that arrange marriage thingy, and when he didn’t agree you beat him up, causing him to lose his consciousness?”

“Girl, your ideas are really silly.” Andrea replied hilariously as her eyes rolled down. She was used to her housemate’s drollness for they’ve been living together since the day she ran away from home. Wait, how many years has it been? Ah! It’s almost half of the year since Andrea escaped from home. She ran away because her mother’s second husband wanted her to marry the man they’ve arranged for her, and worst was her own mother was not against to it. She believes that her mother was totally blinded by love because she supported and believed every word that her stepdad would say.

Andrea was in that verge of thinking when Trina had remembered something, she said, “But wait, I think this man looks so familiar. Hmm… where did I see him huh?”

Hearing this, Andrea’s attention has focused back to the man. She doesn’t know why, but she felt so nervous if what would she tell him if he wakes up. Suddenly, she noticed how the man’s fingers moved. Little longer, she heard the man grunts. Andrea immediately went straight to the man’s side and asked, “Hey y-your awake? How are you? How’s your feeling? C-can you hear me?”

“Oh! I’ll call the doctor.” Trina said instantly as her wandering thoughts has stopped as soon as she heard Andrea.

On the other side, Miguel whose head is like spinning moved slowly. He tried to get up as Andrea is abruptly assisting him until he’s halfway leaning his body on the bedrail. Minutes later, Trina together with Dr. Calvo have arrived inside Miguel’s room. Few moments later, Miguel is thoroughly examined.

“Based on your results, it shows that you don’t have any fracture. You only have mild concussion with bruises and cuts in your right arm, and other than that, everything is normal. You will surely feel pain and numbness due to the bruises and wounds you’ve got, so you have to stay here for at least 2 days for further observation.” Dr. Calvo explained while looking at Miguel’s records on his hands. He already checked and conducted the test for him the moment the latter has brought in his clinic.

‘Oh! That explains why my right arm is supported with bandage and even my head!” Miguel roared in his head while touching his temple with his left arm. Looking up, he seriously said, “Thank you, Doc. But, can I talk to you privately?”

Dr. Calvo stared Andrea and Trina blankly while the ladies have tacit understanding and they quickly excused themselves.

Miguel stared at Dr. Calvo’s nameplate the moment Andrea and Trina exited the private ward. Then, he said, “Do you know me, Dr. Calvo?”

Dr. Calvo gives a soothing smile as he responded, “Who am I not to recognize the most elite, eligible bachelor and the most fine-looking son of the Chief Executive Officer of the Jackson Corporation? Of course I know you and it’s a great privilege to personally take good care of you Mr. Jackson.”

Miguel chiseled chin moves up and down as he reprimands, “Aside from that two ladies, who else knows I’m here?”

“Well, aside from my two staffs, that two ladies outside and your cousin, no one else knew you’re here Mr. Jackson!” Dr. Calvo answered reluctantly.

“Marcus!” Miguel’s brow furrowed as he silently mentioned his cousin’s name. Looking up again, he added seriously, “If Marcus was here, I believe he already told you what I want Doctor, wasn’t he?”

“Of course, he already told me! That explains why you’re here in my clinic and not in your family’s medical hospital.” Dr. Calvo nodded approvingly. “Don’t worry because even though my clinic is not that advancedly well-known than Jackson’s Medical Hospital, but we will provide you good services and we'll hide your identity as we strongly promote confidentiality of our patients for their security and welfare.” He reassures him.

“Thank you Dr. Calvo. Now, I understand why my cousin trusted you with my life!” Miguel replied calmly.

“Another thing Doc, in my records here, it should be Miguel... Miguel Imperial!" He requested, intently staring at him.

Dr. Calvo nodded positively.

"Also, I don’t want the media to trace me here, so I want you to release me tomorrow morning. Just prescribe me all the necessary prescriptions and advise that woman who took me here for all the things she has to do, because from now on she'll be my caregiver.” He added coldly.

Outside the ward, both ladies are finding ways to listen on the conversation inside.

“Hey! Can you stop it? You’re just wasting your energy, you can’t hear them!” Trina said irritatingly because she tries to eavesdrop too, but can’t barely heard the conversation inside.

“Why are you prying at them though you can’t hear them?” Trina asked furthermore when Andrea didn’t listen and continued to eavesdrop.

“Because I want to know if he'll sue me.” Andrea retorted.

Trina’s brow met as she asked, “What? Why would he’ll sue you when you're the one who saved him?”

“Because I’m the reason why he’s here. If I didn’t interfere and stopped at the middle of the road, he wouldn't take turns and have his car crashed.” Andrea replied timidly.

… “Ouch!”

“Oh! I’m sorry.” Dr. Calvo apologized. He actually caused Andrea to almost falter down the moment he opened the door.

“Ahh... it’s alright D-doc. I was about to knock on the door, I-I j-just lost my balance when unexpectedly, it opens.” Andrea immediately find her excused when she noticed the devil-may-outlook of the man inside the room was on her.

“Ah! Okay. Well… Miss… –

“Andrea Doc.” She answered directly.

“Ah, Miss Andrea can I have a private talk with you later at my office?" Dr. Calvo asked.

Forcing a smile, she replied, "Okay, Doc!"