Joyce sat alone, a storm brewing inside her. When Kaye approached, Joyce smacked her with a notebook.
"What did I do?" Kaye asked, stunned.
"Why did you tell Dave about my money?" Joyce demanded. "Why couldn't you just keep quiet? You know Boss doesn't want anything to happen to me."
"Joyce, I can't lie to them," Kaye said. "Have you forgotten who Sir Nephtali is? If anyone hurts you, he'll come after them."
Just then, their school principal, Mr. Andrei Salvador, entered with their teacher, Mrs. Perez, followed by a surprised Dave.
"Call your students, Mrs. Perez," Andrei said.
"Garcia, Ciprano, follow us to the principal's office," Mrs. Perez said. "Your parents are waiting. Joyce, you come, too."
*Why is Boss so scary when he's angry?* Joyce thought.
In the principal's office, Andrei showed the parents the security footage of their children stealing Joyce's money.
"The students don't know that we have security cameras in every hallway," Andrei explained. "Mr. Gonzaga just had them installed at the beginning of the school year to protect the students and to know what's happening around the school. We also found where they threw Joyce's wallet. Because of what they did, your children are suspended for a week."
"We'll talk to our children," one parent said, apologetic. "We're so sorry for what they did, Mr. Nolasco."
"If this ever happens again, you know what will happen," Dave said, his voice firm.
"Yes, we'll remember what you said," the other parent said.
"Mrs. Perez, you can handle them now," Andrei said. "Joyce, you can stay."
"Yes, Sir," Mrs. Perez said. "Let's go outside."
Dave sat down, holding a phone on speaker. Jerry entered with a shopping bag and a white envelope, which he handed to the principal.
"Is what I asked done?" Nephtali's voice came through the phone.
"I wouldn't have called you if it wasn't," Dave said. "The thieves are suspended for a week. It's in line with the school rules."
"I also brought the bag you wanted for Joyce," Jerry said. "And I gave my brother his reward."
"You gave me too much, Boss," Andrei said.
"I just want to make sure you have sharp eyes when it comes to watching your students," Nephtali said. "If this ever happens again, someone else will get the position you've been wanting at the Division office."
"I'll do what you ask, Boss," Andrei said. "When Joyce graduates, I'll get the position."
"You know I'm a man of my word," Nephtali said. "Leave us."
Andrei smiled at his brother and left.
"My princess is quiet," Nephtali said.
"You're using your influence for something so small," Joyce said. "You didn't have to do this, Boss."
Nephtali was silent on the other end of the line. Joyce looked at the men in the room.
"Dave, you handle this," Nephtali said, and the call ended.
Joyce was shocked. "He's mad at me."
"He's hurt by what you said, Joyce," Jerry said.
"But what I said was true."
"When it comes to you, it's not a small thing," Dave said. "We know this is new for you, but everything he does is for you."
"I know," Joyce said, her voice heavy with guilt. "I just feel like I'm not worthy of what he's doing for me. I came from a simple family, and I'm always sick. Then I met him, and my life changed. It all feels like a dream."
"You should know that Nephtali doesn't do this for anyone else," Jerry said. "People say he's incapable of love and that he ignores everyone around him, but they're wrong. You know that, even though you just met him. He told us that you gave his life a reason to go on."
"To be honest, you saved him from his painful past," Dave added. "He's not asking for anything in return, just to see you happy and safe, right?"
Joyce thought about their words. Days passed, and she waited for Nephtali's call. She wanted to call him but hesitated.
She and Kaye arrived at a snack house, where they saw Gadriel, Ram, and Dranreb.
"I was so excited to come here because my idols are here," Kaye said, starstruck.
"Be quiet," Joyce said. "They'll hear you."
"Let's order for everyone," Kaye said.
"Wait, I don't have enough money," Joyce said. "Let's just wait for them. Our money won't be enough."
Ram approached them and handed Joyce a thick wallet. She looked at its contents, shocked.
"Dave sometimes forgets things when he hears gossip," Ram said, a smile on his face. "This was supposed to come with the bag Jerry bought for you the other day."
"Why are there two ATM cards here?" Joyce asked.
"There's also a credit card, but Boss said he'll give that to you when you go to college," Ram said. "There's always money in your ATM cards, and they're in your name. If your parents ask, just tell them it's from your scholarship so you won't have to keep switching checks."
"Can we order now?" Kaye asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Go ahead, Kaye," Ram said. "Order as much as you want. It's on me."
"You're my idol, Sir Ram!" Kaye said, rushing to the counter.
Joyce smiled at her friend's enthusiasm. "I've been waiting for Boss to call me, but he hasn't. He's really mad at me."
"He's out of the country right now," Ram said. "He'll be back tomorrow. The meeting was urgent, so he didn't have time to say goodbye. Do you really think he could be mad at you for long?"
Joyce smiled. Just then, Gadriel and Dranreb joined them.
"Did you know Boss gave them a hard time in his meeting because of your fight?" Gadriel said. "I heard one of his employees even cried."
"Why does everyone get involved when he's angry?" Joyce asked.
"No one wants to be around Boss when he's angry," Dranreb said. "But you're the only one who can calm him down. When he's around you, his anger just disappears."
"He has a bad temper, but I'm his weakness," Joyce said.
"It's obvious, isn't it?" Ram said.
They all laughed. Joyce's classmates arrived, and the men left.
---
During her second grading examination, Joyce was almost done when she handed her paper to her teacher. The teacher noticed how pale she was.
"Joyce?" the teacher asked. "Are you okay?"
Blood started to pour from Joyce's nose. Her teacher helped her, but she fainted. Joyce was rushed to the hospital and had lost a lot of blood.
In Mike's office, Jerry and Dave had arrived.
"Boss's men at his office said he was waiting for their call to pick him up at the airport," Mike said, his voice grave. "Joyce's condition is critical. The treatment isn't working. She needs to be transferred to the city for surgery."
"Nephtali isn't going to like this," Jerry said. "Is there anyone in her family who's a match?"
"No one is compatible," Mike said. "Her parents have illnesses, her older sister is anemic, and her younger sister has a weak immune system. But Boss is a match, and they have the same blood type."
"How do you know that?" Dave asked.
"Boss had everything prepared once he found out about her condition," Mike said. "He talked to Tito Carlo, and he found out the treatment might not work, so he had to prepare for the surgery. It's the only way for Joyce to get better."
"Nephtali knew the treatment might not work, and he was ready for this?" Jerry asked, stunned.
"He wants to be the one to give her his bone marrow and blood," Mike said.
The phone rang, and Mike answered it on speaker.
"Transfer Joyce to the city," Nephtali's voice said. "I'm on my way."
"Boss, I talked to Joyce's parents," Mike said. "They said they can't afford the surgery. They've given up."
"I can't give up on Joyce," Nephtali said. "I won't allow her to be taken away from me. I will never give up on saving her. Do what I said. I'll meet you at Medical City, where her surgery will take place."
"What if her parents ask?" Dave asked.
"I'll talk to them myself."
The men looked at each other, shocked by his words.
The ambulance that would take Joyce to the city had arrived. Nida and Eddie were stunned by the sight.
"Doc, we can't afford the hospital you're taking her to," Nida said. "We borrowed money to pay for the hospital bill, and we have nothing left. If God wants to take her, there's nothing we can do."
"But there's someone who won't give up on her," Mike said. "He already took care of everything. You won't have to pay for anything."
"Who are you talking about?" Eddie asked.
"You're so lucky to have a daughter like Joyce," Mike said. "This person owes your daughter a lot, which is why he's doing this. You'll meet him when you get to the city."
"Nida, Eddie, get in my car," Dave said. "We have to hurry so Joyce can get her surgery."
"Sir Dave?" Eddie asked. "Are you the person Doctor Marcial was talking about?"
"No, I'm just one of the people he ordered to do this," Dave said. "He'll talk to you when we get to the city."
The couple couldn't believe what was happening. Their daughter was being taken to the city, and a lot of people were there to assist them. Nida got in the car and saw Dave's wife, Mina.
"Good evening, Ma'am Mina," Nida said.
"Just call me Mina," she said. "Come on in. We have to go. Your daughter's surgery is already scheduled."
"Who is this person helping us?" Nida asked. "What did Joyce do for him to do this for us?"
"Just calm down," Mina said. "You should be thinking about your daughter and her survival."
"We can never repay this person for what he's done for us," Eddie said. "He saved our daughter's life."
"Whether you believe it or not, this person just wants to see your daughter happy and safe," Dave said.
The couple looked at each other. They arrived at the city, and Joyce was immediately taken to the operating room. The couple was led to a private room, where they saw Nephtali talking to some doctors.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Gonzaga," one doctor said. "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have gotten the bank loan. You also gave a lot of money for our new equipment. We won't neglect Miss Almonte. She's in the hands of the best doctors. She'll get better soon."
"Just make sure her medication is right for her," Nephtali said. "She almost got hurt from her previous treatment. I don't want that to happen again."
"Yes, Mr. Gonzaga," another doctor said. "We'll be leaving now."
The couple was stunned by what they heard. They also noticed Nephtali had a dextrose in his arm and was sitting on the bed.
"Mr. Gonzaga," Eddie said. "Are you the person they were talking about?"
Nephtali looked at them. They were silent as he talked.
"No one will ever know I'm behind all this," he said. "I don't want Joyce to get hurt by what people say about me. Let me do this for her. I'm not asking for anything in return, just to see her happy and safe."
"You're an influential man, and everyone's watching you," Nida said. "What if something bad happens to our daughter because of you?"
"No one will ever hurt Joyce as long as I'm by her side," Nephtali said. "Even if I'm far away, I have a lot of people watching her."
"The Gonzagas are people of their word, and I know you'll do what you said," Eddie said. "Keep your promise. You saved our daughter's life, and I'll trust her with you."
"Eddie, do you know what you're saying?" Nida asked.
"If Mr. Gonzaga hadn't done this, Joyce wouldn't be alive," Eddie said. "Do you want to lose our daughter? I trust his family, so I trust him. Joyce won't get hurt because I know Mr. Gonzaga will do what he said he would."
Nida thought about what her husband said and then approached Nephtali.
"Joyce is a good and loving girl, but she's always been bullied and gets sick often," Nida said. "She's also brave, so I always focused on her siblings. I never thought there would be a person who would care for her. Thank you for saving our daughter's life."
"Thank you for trusting me," Nephtali said. "You can count on me. I'll do everything for Joyce, and I'll keep my promises."
Joyce's surgery was successful. She was taken to the ICU to be observed. Nephtali watched her through the glass.
"She's safe," Jerry said. "The operation was a success. She'll be out in a few days. How does it feel to have her parents' trust?"
"I was so nervous talking to them," Nephtali said. "It felt like I was asking for their daughter's hand, and they were giving her to me. But I'm happy they trusted me."
Joyce woke up and looked around. The nurses and doctors were checking on her. She saw Nephtali, but she fell asleep again.