CHAPTER SEVEN
FINDING OUT MICHAEL
Alfred Watts took off the mask and went further to slowly kneel on one leg beside Michael.
It was here that Kelvin and others were in awe. Michael was the son and sole heir of WattsHouse Group of Companies. They knew the company so well. Who doesn't?!!!. It's even a topic in one of their History classes. They handled nearly the largest part of the economy of international trades and Alfred Watts was the founder and Chairman of the company. Their wealth was mostly from oil and gas alongside stocks and shares from other subsidiary companies he owned. They just sat there staring at the man in awe. It was then they realized who Micheael was and they wondered what he was doing in their school. Not the least expensive but definitely below what they already concluded was below Michael's standard. It was even now that they realized why Michael was always taking calls.
Alfred Watts didn't even mind the teens at first. Kneeling beside Michael, he slowly caressed his son's face.
"Mine", he muttered softly.
He started imagining things, what if he had given up the ghost? He wondered, what it was like for Michael to bear the pains before his friends came to help him. If it was possible, he was ready to give his life for his son. People had even advised him to train someone else to become his heir. He had bluntly refused. He believed Michael would be okay, someday. He had inherited the illness that killed his mother, but Mr. Alfred believed Michael would overcome it, especially after Michael's surgeon had assured him of it. Michael is a strong boy. He knew that. He had trained Micheal on everything concerning WattsHouse from when he was a baby. He can't afford to train someone else. What if Micheal becomes better, then there would be a power struggle for something that rightly belongs to his son? He seriously didn't want that. If all the eggs would break, surely, he has put all of his own in one basket and he has vowed to protect the basket with his own life. Just like he knows the boy that caused this whole thing to happen. Almost exposing his son's illness to the public's eye. When he found out who Raymond was, he planned to punish his father in retaliation for not training his son properly. But that would be later after Michael had recovered this one.
He touched Michael's cheek and murmured,
"Mine, please stay strong for me, okay?",
At this point, he looks up to find six pairs of bright eyes looking at him. None of them had pity in their eyes. It was awe.
"WattsHouse...", Sylvester couldn't hide his excitement.
"Sssshhh!!!", Mr. Alfred was amused as he placed a finger on his lips as a sign for them to keep it a secret.
Sylvester nodded covering his mouth.
Mr. Alfred chuckled softly and sat on the chair. The others sat beside Michael on the floor.
"Now, it's not WattsHouse but Michael's dad, okay?" he said, and they nodded. Looking at Sylvester and Kelvin, he said,
"Thank you for helping my son. I'm very grateful".
"We thank God. But then, Michelle was the one who found him here", Kelvin replied and Mr. Alfred darted his eyes to her.
To himself, he said, "She's beautiful. Wow!"
"Michelle! Mmmh!", he smiled at her, "Thank you".
Smiling back softly, she replied, "You're welcome, Sir".
Peering closely at her face, he asked,
"Did you ever take a photo with Michael's phone?"
"Um! Yeah!", she was looking at Kelvin and Sylvester. She remembered the photo he was talking about. She had collected the phone from Sylvester one day and took some photos of her and some with Sylvester. It was the latest model and she wanted to try out the camera. While she did that, Michael walked up to them with Kelvin so they would walk to the school cafeteria together. She saw Sylvester hand over the phone to Michael. She didn't know it belonged to Michael. She thought Sylvester got a new phone. She begged Sylvester to delete it from Michael's phone, which Sylvester agreed to do later, but he forgot. Kelvin and Sylvester knew Michael didn't delete the photos. They knew because they sometimes had access to Michael's phone. At first, they were surprised the photos were still on his phone, but they never asked him about it.
Michelle looked at Sylvester who shrugged and avoided her eyes immediately.
"Michael told us his surgery is in six months," Kelvin said, looking at Mr. Alfred.
"Yeah! I almost didn't agree with that. It was a very hard decision agreeing to sign his surgery papers...", He paused. He felt he was talking too much.
"Don't be sad, Sir. Everything will be alright, and Michael will be fine", Michelle said softly.
Mr. Alfred smiled at her, "That's very true".
"So..." He was saying, looking at all of them, "What about Michael coping with everyone around here?".
"Well...at first he wasn't very friendly to others except for Sylvester and I. He seems to be adjusting very well currently but that's at a very slow pace though", Kelvin explained.
Looking directly at Michelle, he asked,
"What about Michelle and the females around?", He was trying not to make his query obvious.
"Um! Michelle's our friend. It wasn't so from the beginning but he's starting to talk to her. As for others, it's rare".
"Mmmmh!", Mr. Alfred nodded. "I knew it," he muttered but then looked at the teens to know if they heard it, and of course, they heard it.
"Is there any problem, Sir?", Sylvester asked quietly.
"No. Nothing", Mr. Alfred replied blinking severally.
Sylvester just looked at Kelvin who shrugged.
Just then, Michael slowly opened his eyes. Through a blurry vision, he saw Michelle. She was still holding him. Everyone rushed to help him sit up properly.
"Mine, how are you feeling now?" Mr. Alfred asked, holding Michael's face in his palms.
Michael only nodded.
"Let's go to the house." he looked at his watch. "Your doctors must have arrived by now", Mr. Alfred said as they helped Michael up. And his friends followed him to where cars were parked. About five different cars in black colors. There were also men in suits standing beside each car. Raymond also hid to watch them. He couldn't see the face of the man holding Michael's shoulder while slowly leading him to the car but he was sure that person was Michael's father. He also guessed that Michael was no ordinary kid, seeing that the principal and two male teachers were also rushing to meet them. He would ask Michelle later.
On getting to the car, before he entered, he stopped and turned to Michelle who stood in between Kelvin and Sylvester.
"Thanks..." he paused, then smiled at her. "Michelle".
Michelle didn't reply. She couldn't reply. She just stared at him with shock all over her face. Michael quickly turned to Sylvester and Kelvin and said,
"Thanks, guys." his dad gently helps him into the car and closes it. Then, to his friends, he said, "Bye!". He walked to the other side of the car as others watched as their cars drove off.
The principal turned to them, "You guys did a wonderful job today. I'm so proud of you all. Michelle!", He called her out of her reverie.
"Yes!", her voice came out as a shriek.
"You and your friends have a gift. From me. Okay?", he said and walked out with the teachers.
"Yes, Sir", she answered bowing slightly.
"I hope I'm not the only one in awe that I'm friends with the sole heir of WattsHouse. It would sound crazy if I told my dad that I even had a word with Alfred Watts, right?", Sylvester said, completely lost.
"Me too", Kelvin replied. "But hey!", he shouts as others jerk turns to him. "Remember he asked us to keep it a secret. For Michael's sake. And for our sakes too", he said quietly.
"That's true", Sylvester nods. "I don't want to become my dad's middleman", he sighs. "But then, how do I hide this exciting news?!"
"Well...am I the only one that noticed that Michael called me Michelle directly for the first time?", she giggled.
"Oh! That's true", Sylvester hollered as they all laughed. "Michael is something. Guys...", Sylvester started as others looked at him curiously.
"I think there's something Alfred Watts knows about his son".
"Yeah!", Kelvin nods. Michelle nods too. " I also had the same thought. You remember that day he told us he has a confession to make but later wads it off?" Sylvester nodded.
"Um! Are you guys very sure?", Michelle asked.
"Mmmmm! Two days ago, he almost wanted to touch Kelvin. I guess he had to stop himself", Sylvester sighed. "I believe he's trying so hard to stop, so as his friends, we need to help him, and it's you we'll use to do that."
"What? Me?! No way! He doesn't even like me or talk to me that much!", Michelle hollered softly.
"You see, I wonder why you are still scared of Michael. He won't talk. Yes. Would he bite? No. Can't you see Odelia? No matter the number of times he pushes her away, she still goes after him and she doesn't even know how much she's helping him", Kelvin added sharply.
"Oh! Why are you upset, Kelvin?", Michelle shifted back a little. "I mean, it's typical of Odelia to be fearless and flirt as she wants. It could be infatuation".
"Michelle, flirt if you can. You're at an advantage because you're closer, and we also know you like him. It's not bad", Kelvin said looking at her. Then, he walks closer and holds her shoulders. "To Odelia, it's more than flirting. This time, it's very obvious that she likes Micheal. But in all this, we are winning him over—for you. You do the major girly charm, we'll have your back always".
"You mean it?", Michelle asked softly, looking at Kelvin and then at Sylvester.
"We do. Just forget his mean demeanor and try getting closer to him. Typical of him not to make room for so many words but look at the way Odelia cut herself just to grab his attention", Sylvester said, slightly amused.
"You mean she did that to herself?", Michelle asked, surprised. Kelvin and Sylvester laugh.
"Of course she did. But you don't have to go to that extent", Sylvester replied chuckling. Even Michelle started laughing.
"That's extra. She's always extra", she said and they all laughed again. They started walking back to class.
"You promised to delete those pictures?", Michelle asked.
"I'm sorry, I forgot—besides, he didn't delete them, so why would I?" Sylvester replied as their voices faded away.