PAUNAWA

Ang lahat ng mga pangalan, lugar o pangyayari sa kwentong ito ay pawang kathang isip lamang.

Maraming salamat sainyong pag suporta.

• Shawn Yu

Unang Kabanata ay mabasa nyo na, malapit na

Konting

abang lang mga Mahal. ❤️😘

CHAPTER I: THE INHERITANCE AND THE THREE NUISANCES

“Teacher Dabby?”

“Teacher Dabby, are clouds color blue?” a little student asked, looking up at me with tiny hands covered in colorful crayon smudges and dry glue.

I smiled softly, dropping to one knee to match her height, and gently stroked her soft hair. “Yes, sweetie. The sky turns blue when the sun is happy… just like us today.”

I’m Dave—though everyone around this daycare center knows me as Teacher Dabby. A simple kindergarten teacher. They say early childhood educators serve as a child’s second set of parents. Truth be told, that’s where I draw my daily joy and strength. Ever since my parents passed away in a tragic accident years ago, I’ve been entirely on my own. The cheerful chatter, burst of laughter, and tiny daily hugs inside this classroom have become my only family.

However, my quiet and humble world was about to be rocked by a sudden storm. I never imagined that on this very day, three arrogant nuisances would crash into my life to accuse me of being a fraud and a gold digger.

I was in the middle of teaching the daily alphabet when the door burst open. My co-teacher, Darlene, stumbled inside—gasping for breath, clutching her chest, and looking pale as a sheet.

“Excuse me, class,” she managed to squeak out, forcing a strained smile at the children.

The kids immediately stood up and waved enthusiastically. “Good morning, Teacher Darlene!” they chorused.

After acknowledging them, she swiftly grabbed my arm and tugged me out into the hallway. “Teacher Dabby, can I talk to you for a second? Emergency!”

“What is it, Darlene? Did Leo and Tobey get into another squabble?” I whispered, my brows furrowing.

“No! There are people outside looking for you! Three delicious… I mean, three insanely expensive-looking men, Dave! They are ridiculously handsome, smelling like fine luxury, looking like K-Drama CEOs… I’m losing my mind!” she squealed nervously, fanning her face as if she were on the verge of fainting.

My brows knitted even tighter. “Huh? Why? Are they parents of new transfer students?”

“I have no idea! But do you see those three high-end sports cars parked right outside? Those belong to them! Wait, Dave… is there something you haven’t been telling me? Did you secretly become a sugar baby?! What did you do?” Darlene interrogated, raising an eyebrow suspicion.

“I didn’t do anything wrong! Where are they?”

“In the conference room with Madam Principal. She ordered you to report there right this second. As in NOW!”

I hesitated, glancing back into the classroom. “What about the kids? They’re still outlining their coloring books…”

“I’ll handle them! I’ll hand out their snacks. Just go before our Principal loses her temper!” she urged, shoving me down the hallway before I could object.

Walking toward the main office, I ran straight into Mrs. Dela Cruz, our Principal. Her face was a messy mix of confusion, anxiety, and sheer panic.

“Mrs. Dela Cruz! You sent for me?”

“My dear…” she whispered, placing both hands on my shoulders. “What kind of mess did you get yourself into? Why are Mr. Cheng’s three grandsons standing in our building?”

I froze. The name sounded faintly familiar, but I couldn’t quite place it. “Who? The ones from the Cheng Group of Companies? The largest conglomerate in the country?”

“Yes, child! The actual billionaires! Look, I’ll be right outside if you need back-up or the police. But goodness… they are breathtaking in person!” she joked with a quick wink before cracking open the conference room door.

Stepping inside felt as though time itself slammed to a halt.

Three tall, imposing men who looked like they stepped off the cover of a high-fashion magazine were positioned around the room. Tailored designer suits, sharp haircuts—and as I walked in, all three slowly removed their black sunglasses in unison. It was an action so brazenly arrogant and intimidating that it filled the air with tension.

“I’ll leave you to it,” Mrs. Dela Cruz blurted out, slamming the door shut from the outside. She really just abandoned me?!

“Wait, Mrs. Dela Cruz—”

Before I could finish, the three strangers slowly closed in, encircling me.

The tallest one—bearing the coldest, most authoritative aura—stepped forward. His eyes were sharp as razors.

“Hello. I am Charlie Cheng, the eldest grandson.” He extended a hand. Stunned and completely on edge, I accepted it with a tight grip. Good grief, his palm is so soft… this man has clearly never lifted a heavy object in his life, I thought to myself.

Without a shred of warmth, he introduced his cousins: Charles, who leaned against the central table staring at me with a mocking sneer, and Clint, who stood crossed-armed in the corner, eyeing me like I was scum on his shoe.

I stood my ground before them, forcing my posture straight even as my heart hammered against my ribs like an accused criminal facing a trial.

“So, Mr. Arashi,” Charlie began, his voice dripping with icy disdain as his eyes burned with hidden anger. “How exactly did you persuade our grandfather into willing ninety percent (90%) of the company’s shares directly to you? What kind of scheme did you pull?”

My jaw dropped in complete shock. “N-Ninety percent?! Hold on! I have never met or even seen your grandfather in my entire life! You have the wrong Dave Arashi! It has to be someone else!”

“Or maybe you put a spell on him? Or threatened an old man?” Clint chimed in, taking a slow step forward, pure mockery lacing his tone. “Look at yourself. A kindergarten teacher? Laying claim to billions?”

Blood rushed to my face. The one thing I refuse to tolerate is having my dignity and profession stomped on.

“Excuse me?!” I snapped, locking eyes directly with Clint. “If I had threatened your grandfather, he would have filed a police report, and I wouldn’t be standing here teaching children! And if I were a sorcerer, sir, I would have turned the three of you into frogs minutes ago just to get some peace and quiet!”

“What did you just say?!” Charles spat, stepping forward to intervene, but before the argument could escalate, the door swung open. A man wearing glasses rushed inside carrying a thick leather briefcase.

“That is enough!” the newcomer declared firmly. “Mr. Arashi, I am Atty. Fernandez, the personal legal counsel for the Cheng family. Please excuse my client’s grandsons,” he offered calmly, stepping between us.

He unzipped his briefcase and laid several heavy legal dossiers onto the wooden table. “What they are saying is true, Dave. Mr. Cheng officially bequeathed the vast majority of his personal estate and controlling interest in the Cheng Group to you.”

He handed me a leather-bound folder. As I flipped it open, my pulse spiked. Everything was in there—my full legal name (Dave Arashi), my address, the exact school I worked for, my personal identification details, and even old family records.

“H-How do you have all of this? Are you stalking me?!” I stammered.

Meanwhile, in Downtown Makati…

Far away from the chaotic confrontation inside the quiet daycare conference room, high above the city skyline on the top floor of Cheng Tower…

The elderly Mr. Cheng stood quietly by a massive floor-to-ceiling glass window, leaning on his carved wooden cane.

“Atty. Fernandez is currently presenting the paperwork to Mr. Arashi in the presence of your three grandsons,” his loyal executive assistant, Hanna, reported while holding a tablet. “Sir… if I may speak freely, what if Dave decides to sell off or revoke all corporate rights from your family? Isn’t that unfair to your grandsons who labored for the company?”

The old man let out a soft chuckle, tilting his head with a warm, knowing smile.

“What’s so terrible about that? That young man saved my life when I had nothing and no one recognized me. Dave possesses a pure heart, Hanna. I can feel it. And more than anything… he is precisely the lesson my spoiled, arrogant grandsons need to understand the true value of life and family.”

Back in the Conference Room…

I shoved the leather folder right back into Atty. Fernandez’s hands.

“Look, I give up! Right or wrong, I DON’T WANT ANY OF THIS! You can shove your billions wherever you like! I just want my quiet life back!” I stated with absolute finality, turning toward the exit.

“That is impossible, Mr. Arashi,” Atty. Fernandez cut in, raising a hand to stop me. “According to the explicit terms of the last will, if you reject the inheritance without a legally binding clause under the provision, 100% of the estate liquidates directly to charity , leaving the three grandsons without a single cent.”

I froze in my tracks right at the doorway. Charlie, Charles, and Clint whirled around toward the attorney—shock and outrage instantly sweeping across their faces.

“Scammer…” Charlie muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on me. Though spoken quietly, it hit my ears like a sharp blade.

That was the absolute last straw. My vision went red.

“What did you call me?!” I lunged forward, reaching to grab him by the collar, but Atty. Fernandez caught my chest, restraining me forcefully! Charlie squared his shoulders, clenching his fists ready to throw hands, until Charles and Clint rushed over to grab their cousin back.

“ENOUGH! Charlie, stand down!” the attorney bellowed at the top of his lungs. “All of you, listen to me!”

Silence fell over the room as we all backed off, breathing heavily from the sudden outburst.

“Mr. Cheng anticipated you would refuse this arrangement, Dave,” Atty. Fernandez continued, adjusting his glasses. “Which is why he instituted one final condition within the testament that must be executed.”

All four of us—myself and the three nuisances—stood paralyzed, staring at the lawyer.

“What condition?!” Clint demanded angrily.

Atty. Fernandez flipped to the final page of the legal document. “If you wish to transfer and restore the wealth back to the Cheng family, Dave… you must choose one of the three grandsons . The one you select to become your spouse within the duration of one year will legally hold and inherit the entirety of the family fortune.”

The room went dead silent for three agonizing seconds.

“WHAT?!”

Our collective roar—mine and the three grandsons’—echoed loudly throughout the entire school building.

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER II: THE THREE PRINCES OF THE CHENG EMPIRE

Charles Cheng lived by one golden rule: Order is power.

As the eldest grandson of Christoffer Cheng—the pillar and foundation of the vast Cheng Group of Companies—he was tasked with running the prestigious Hotel De Concierge and the city’s most exclusive luxury bars. Many branded him as ruthless, unforgiving, and perpetually irritable, but in his eyes, it wasn’t bad temper—it was power and pure discipline.

“Sir Charles, you have appointments po with Mr. Sandoval. This will be at 6:00 PM,” his secretary reported, standing nervously before his massive mahogany desk.

Charles slowly raised his gaze from his documents, his brows sharp as razor blades.

“Wait. What did you say? Appointments? Plural, right? Meaning… multiple?” he asked coldly.

The secretary’s voice trembled slightly. “Y-Yes, Sir…”

“So, where is the plural in that if I am only meeting with Mr. Sandoval? Is there another schedule today that I’m somehow unaware of?”

“N-None, Sir. It’s really just Mr. Sandoval,” she stammered, keeping her head low.

“Thank you. You may go,” Charles replied abruptly, turning back to his laptop. But before she could take a step toward the exit, he spoke again without an ounce of emotion. “Secretary Gonzales… pack your things and head home. I won’t tolerate this. Simple English grammar, and you fail? Appointments , really?”

“S-Sir…”

Just then, Clint Cheng strolled into the executive office holding an iced coffee.

“Dude, be nice to your employees. You’re being paranoid,” Clint chimed in with a playful smirk. “I know you’re stressed, but the staff downstairs are even more stressed because of you.”

Clint glanced at the teary-eyed secretary. “You may go, Secretary Gonzales. Let me handle this,” he said, flashing a quick wink that oozed his signature playboy charm.

“Clint, is that why you’re here? To hunt for your next target to woo and abandon once she gets pregnant? Who do you even wake up for every morning, you animal?” Charles remarked, not even lifting his eyes from the financial statements.

“Don’t blame me, your cousin was simply blessed with superior looks and natural charisma,” Clint chuckled. “Besides… where on earth is Charlie?”

Moments later, the heavy doors burst open, revealing Charlie. His designer polo was disheveled, his collar sat crooked, and his hair looked as if a hurricane had rolled through it.

“Charlie? Where have you been?” Charles inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“Just at home,” Charlie answered breathlessly, wiping sweat from his neck.

“At home? I asked Auntie, and she said you left early.” Charles scanned his cousin from head to toe before rolling his eyes. “And your zipper is open. You look like a warrior… a warrior fresh out of a brutal battle in bed.”

Charlie hastily zipped up, his cheeks flushing slightly before he quickly recovered his composure. “Wait! Change of topic. How are we going to convince Grandfather to revoke those shares from Dave?”

Charlie stepped closer, leaning against the edge of the desk as his expression turned serious. “Charles, you take charge of convincing Grandfather. But we all know the old man—once his mind is set, it’s final.”

“So, what do you suggest?” Charles asked.

A sharp, cunning smirk spread across Charlie’s lips. “What if we play along with Grandfather’s game? We make that small-town teacher fall in love with us. Once he falls for one of us—whoever ends up as his ‘partner’—we just ensure the shares are legally transferred back to our name before we kick him to the curb.”

Clint bolted up from the lounge couch. “Count me out! Dude, I’m not gay!”

“Me neither!” Charles added, shooting a glance at a framed photograph on his wall from his Air Force days—a constant reminder of his rigid masculinity.

“So does that make me the winner by default? Should I be the one to court Dave?” Charlie teased.

“Screw it! I’ll do it!” Clint quickly backtracked, refusing to lose when billions and a 90% controlling stake were on the line.

“Good. How about you, Charles?”

Charles took a deep breath, adjusting the lapels of his suit. “This is easy for you two since you’ve dated half your workforce. Fine… we’ll see.”

Three distinct men. One singular objective: win the heart of a kindergarten teacher to secure ninety percent of the Cheng empire. What they failed to realize, however, was that Teacher Dave Arashi wasn’t someone who would be so easily played.

THE VOICE IN THE DARK

Later that evening, Dave couldn’t refuse when his co-teachers practically dragged him out for a night of celebration. They brought him to one of the most elite, high-end nightlife lounges in the city—a venue owned directly by the Cheng Group.

Unbeknownst to them, up on the second-floor VIP mezzanine, Charles was quietly monitoring his business operations while sipping a glass of neat whiskey.

“Dabby! You never mentioned you were this close with the owners of the Cheng Group!” one of his colleagues teased over cocktails. “Since you’re a multi-millionaire now and bound to leave our little school, we have to celebrate!”

“Guys, come on… I’m not going anywhere,” Dave smiled politely. “I’ll still visit. Besides—”

Dave’s words were cut short as another co-worker pulled him toward the main stage, where an acoustic set was underway.

Under the harsh brilliance of the spotlight, Dave was introduced to the crowd. Down near the stage floor, Charles was tapping away on his phone, typing a frustrated message to his cousins.

“Where are you guys? I’ve been waiting forever,” Charles muttered under his breath, visibly annoyed.

“Alright, everyone! Give it up for our birthday boy… Dabby!” the host shouted into the microphone before stepping off the stage.

Dave was left standing alone under the blinding beams of light. He could feel his hands trembling; he wasn’t accustomed to large crowds, and the modest amount of alcohol he had consumed was beginning to blur his senses. When the guitarist asked what song he wanted to perform, Dave spoke softly into the mic.

“Don’t Speak… by No Doubt. Do you know it?”

The guitarist gave a swift thumbs-up and struck the opening notes. The main ambient lights dimmed, leaving only scattered neon beams cutting through the dark lounge.

As the melancholic guitar intro echoed through the room, something pulled Charles’s attention away from his phone in the VIP lounge. He slowly raised his gaze toward the center stage.

“You and me… we used to be together… everyday together, always…”

Charles froze in his leather armchair, his lips parting in quiet shock. “Dave…?” he breathed to himself.

Dave’s voice—which usually sounded gentle and modest when speaking to toddlers—suddenly transformed into a rich, deep, and soul-stirring melody that captivated every single person in the venue.

When Clint and Charlie stepped through the lounge entrance, they stopped dead in their tracks. The “nuisance” and small-town teacher they had dismissed earlier possessed a voice capable of silencing a roaring crowd.

“Don’t speak… I know just what you’re saying… so please stop explaining…”

As the song reached its peak, Dave’s eyes drifted toward the upper VIP floor—and in that split second, his eyes locked directly with all three cousins standing above.

His composure shattered instantly. He stumbled over the next lyrics, his lips trembling.

“S-Sorry!” he choked into the microphone, rushing off the stage and bolting toward the exit.

Before he could reach the heavy doors, Clint and Charlie stepped directly into his path, blocking the exit.

“Where are you running off to? We’re not going to hurt you,” Charlie said softly, his voice noticeably warmer and laced with genuine concern.

“Dave… I want to apologize for everything we said back in the conference room,” Clint added softly, staring down at him with an earnest expression.

“Yes, they’re right. I apologize as well,” Charles concurred, descending from the VIP staircase to join them.

“H-Hold on… my colleagues are calling for me,” Dave stammered, keeping his eyes glued to the floor to avoid meeting their gazes.

“Don’t worry, we’re not angry with you,” Charles assured, slipping his hands into his pockets.

“See you tomorrow at the main office,” Charlie smiled, revealing two deep dimples on his cheeks—a look packed with charm and mischief.

Only then did Dave recall Atty. Fernandez’s parting instructions from earlier. A clause in the testament required him to shadow the executive operations of the company to learn the ropes.

“But Atty…!” Dave tried to protest, spotting the family lawyer appearing right behind the three cousins.

“Mr. Arashi, I understand your hesitation, but we have no choice. This comes directly from the CEO,” Atty. Fernandez explained, adjusting his frames. “You will start at the Main Executive Office alongside Charlie. He will be guiding you through everything. Right, Charlie?”

Instead of answering, Charlie frowned and averted his gaze, his sweet smile vanishing in an instant, leaving Dave to sigh heavily at the overwhelming ordeal ahead.

“Fine, I’m heading back!” Dave blurted out anxiously. In his rush to escape the suffocating tension, he accidentally brushed past the broad shoulders of Clint and Charles before bolting out into the night air.

Once they were certain Dave was well out of earshot, Charlie’s playful expression completely dissolved, replaced by a cold sneer.

“Playing hard to get,” he muttered, adjusting his collar. “My killer smile costs a fortune, and it didn’t even phase him.”

“Don’t get impatient,” Clint smirked, watching the glass doors through which Dave had just fled. “What matters is that we completed step one—stepping into his orbit. We haven’t completely won him over, but we’re almost there.”

Charles scoffed, sliding his hands back into his tailored pockets. “Almost there? We’re nowhere close. Did you see the way he looked at us? Pure suspicion.”

He turned to his two cousins with unwavering authority. “Regardless. Starting tomorrow at the office, we execute this together. Nobody backs out until that 90% controlling interest is back in our hands.”

The three cousins exchanged a knowing look. Under the neon glow of the lounge lights, a dangerous, secret pact was sealed—a game of romance, deception, and charm, with Teacher Dave Arashi as their unsuspecting target.

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER III: THE NEW WORLD AND CHILDISH GAMES

CHAPTER III: THE NEW WORLD AND CHILDISH GAMES

“I am so excited to see Dave today. Do you know why?” I asked my secretary, unable to wipe a playful grin off my face.

Before she could even answer, she released a deep, exasperated sigh.

“Why? Do you have another scheme to make that poor man’s life miserable?” Secretary Amara Gonzales asked sternly, raising an eyebrow. “Charlie, if that’s all you’re planning, I won’t allow it. I promised your grandfather I would look after Dave while he’s here at the company. Please, don’t do anything reckless.”

“Nope. You can’t tell me what to do. Because…” I teased, slowly reaching into my desk drawer to pull out a crisp white envelope.

Her eyes widened, panic immediately washing over her face. “What is that? You can’t terminate my contract! I don’t work for you, I work for Mr. Christoffer Cheng! You can’t do this to me!”

I burst into laughter at her reaction. “Chill, Secretary Gonzales. That’s a three-month vacation leave—and yes, it’s fully paid. I spoke to Grandfather about it before he made his decision regarding the shares. Besides, it doesn’t start until Monday. You still have a week to train my replacement.”

She quickly snatched the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. There it was—Grandfather’s familiar signature, officially approving her extended leave. She had served our family since I was in high school, and I knew she genuinely needed a break from the endless Cheng family drama.

“Well… before I leave on Monday, I’m going to give him a list of warnings about you,” she threatened, glaring at me.

She was just about to head out when my office door gently opened, revealing Dave. He was wearing a simple, neatly pressed polo shirt and jeans—a stark contrast to the tailored designer suits that usually filled these halls.

“H-Hi…” Dave greeted, his voice laced with nervous hesitation.

“Oh, you’re here!” I greeted him warmly. Without missing a beat, I stepped forward and pulled him into a swift hug.

I could feel his entire frame go rigid—clearly uncomfortable and completely taken aback by the sudden physical proximity. But this was all part of the plan; I needed to make him fall for me, no matter what it took.

“Ahem!” Amara cleared her throat loudly, cutting the moment short.

I slowly pulled back with a smirk. “Sorry. Dave, I’d like you to meet my secretary who’s about to go on maternity leave. Meet Secretary Amara Gonzales.”

Dave knit his brows, scanning Amara from head to toe. “M-Maternity leave? Are you pregnant, Miss Gonzales? But… you look so fit and stunning?”

Amara chuckled at Dave’s innocence. “Don’t mind Charlie, Dave. The truth is, I’m just going on an extended vacation. But before I leave, I’ll be teaching you everything you need to know over the next five days—what a real secretary’s job entails here at the Cheng Group.”

“Like brewing coffee!” I piped up with a laugh, though I quickly backtracked when Amara shot me a lethal glare. “Just kidding!”

Dave let out a soft smile at my joke, and for the very first time, I noticed deep dimples flashing on both of his cheeks. This teacher actually has a bit of charm to him, I thought to myself, unable to take my eyes off his face.

“Since you’re here, let’s start with the paperwork and the departments Charlie oversees. Follow me,” Amara instructed.

Dave quietly followed her out, leaving me alone at my desk, plotting how my strategy would unfold over the next seven days.

Meanwhile, inside Mr. Christoffer Cheng’s grand top-floor office, a silent danger was unfolding.

As the old man gazed at a framed photograph of his three grandsons sitting on his desk, a sharp, crushing pain suddenly gripped his chest. His hands trembled violently as he fumbled with his desk drawer, searching for his maintenance medication. But the moment he swallowed the pills with a glass of water, his vision blurred, and the world began to spin.

Losing his balance, he collapsed heavily onto the cold marble floor. Before darkness completely consumed his mind, his trembling finger managed to strike the red emergency button hidden beneath his desk—his sole lifeline to safety.

On the other side of the building, as Amara was guiding Dave through a computer module, a blaring emergency tone rang out from her phone. Her face drained of color as she bolted up from her seat.

“Dave, wait here. Emergency!” she uttered hastily, gathering her things with shaky hands.

“What? What happened, Miss Amara?” Dave asked anxiously.

“I’ll explain later. Wait here for ten to thirty minutes. If I’m not back by then, head straight back to Charlie’s office, okay?”

Without waiting for a response, Amara rushed out into the hallway while frantically coordinating with the building’s emergency medical team on her phone.

“Who had an attack? What’s going on?” Dave whispered to himself, filled with worry as he stood alone in the grand hallway.

After a few minutes, driven by sheer nervousness and restlessness, Dave decided to visit the nearby restroom. Stepping into a private stall, he unzipped his jeans to relieve himself.

In the middle of taking care of business, a long, slick figure slowly slithered under the stall door.

A black and yellow snake!

“Son of a—!”

Dave nearly caught himself in his zipper as he frantically pulled up his pants! Frightened out of his wits, he practically threw the door open to escape the stall.

The moment he burst out, he found Charlie leaning against the sink, clutching his stomach and practically in tears from laughing so hard.

“It’s a prank! Haha! It’s not real!” Charlie wheezed, picking up the rubber snake from the floor.

Dave took rapid, deep breaths, clutching his chest to steady his hammering heart.

“That’s not funny, Charlie!” Dave snapped, his face flushed with anger as he shoved Charlie’s chest hard.

“Whoa, it was just a joke! My bad if you got mad,” Charlie replied, though a playful smirk still lingered on his lips.

Dave turned to face him with absolute seriousness, his usual gentle demeanor completely gone. “Honestly? I don’t even want any of this! I was perfectly happy with my life as a teacher! I don’t know your grandfather, and I have zero interest in your family’s fortune—”

His words were cut short as Charlie’s phone rang loudly in his pocket. It was Clint calling.

Charlie answered it. Though Dave couldn’t hear the voice on the other end, he clearly witnessed the sudden shift in Charlie’s demeanor. The playful, childish air vanished instantly, replaced by a dark, heavy seriousness.

“What happened?” Dave asked as Charlie ended the call.

“It’s Grandfather… he was rushed to the ER because his insulin and blood sugar dropped drastically. But he’s stable now,” Charlie explained curtly, his tone cold.

“We should go check on him. I want to see him,” Dave offered.

“No need. My mother and aunt are already there,” Charlie replied, turning his back to leave the restroom.

Before stepping through the doorway, however, he quickly tossed something back over his shoulder toward Dave—a brown toy cockroach with wiggling legs!

“Aaaaaah! You rascal, Charlie!” Dave shrieked in total shock, leaping to the side. Of all the creatures in the world, cockroaches were his absolute worst nightmare.

Charlie dashed down the hallway toward his office, his roaring laughter echoing off the walls.

“Charlie!” Dave called out again. He paused, resting a hand over his racing heart.

He couldn’t help but recall his kindergarten students back at school, who were constantly teasing each other and making one another cry. A faint smile touched his lips as he shook his head. No matter how rich, handsome, or arrogant… a Cheng still has a childish side.

THE MANOR AND SHARP WORDS

(One Week Later)

The days flew by, and soon enough, Dave had fully caught on to Secretary Amara’s daily routine. The complex corporate paperwork and scheduling no longer felt completely overwhelming.

Mr. Christoffer Cheng’s condition had stabilized, and he was discharged from the hospital. As a gesture of gratitude and welcome, the family invited Dave to their sprawling estate for a dinner celebration.

Amara accompanied Dave all the way to the main gates of the massive property before heading off to the terminal for her three-month getaway in the province.

“Are you sure, Miss Amara? Can’t you come inside with me for a bit? This place looks intimidating…” Dave pleaded nervously, staring up at the towering iron gates.

“I can’t, Dave. It’s getting late, and the trip back home is long,” she smiled, patting his shoulder gently. “Just remember what we talked about, okay? Get them back if they prank you again—especially Charlie!”

“Safe travels, Miss Amara. Until we meet again,” Dave said warmly.

Stepping inside the Cheng manor felt like walking into a European palace. Soaring ceilings held massive crystal chandeliers, and every corner was adorned with priceless antiques and fine art. Dave swallowed hard, realizing his lifetime teaching salary wouldn’t even cover the cost of a single antique vase if he accidentally broke one.

Since the formal dinner wasn’t until the following evening, the head housekeeper led Dave to one of the guest suites on the second floor. When he walked in, his eyes widened—the room was practically the size of the dream condo he had wished for his entire life!

If ninety percent of all this really ends up in my hands…

Dave cut his own train of thought short, staring at the king-sized bed. He averted his eyes. No. A house this huge feels too lonely and cold if you’re all by yourself. You’d at least need a partner to hold you at night!

His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp, aggressive knock on the door.

When he opened it, he was met by Charlie’s mother—a tall, elegant woman dressed in an exquisite designer ensemble, though her eyes held a cold, condescending glare.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she stated flatly, her voice dripping with frost. “I don’t know how you managed to fool, manipulate, and wrap my father-in-law around your finger. If I were you, I’d undo whatever spell you cast on him before things get worse.”

Dave took a deep breath. Refusing to back down, he raised his chin and met her gaze directly.

“I don’t understand what you mean, Ma’am. I never manipulated Mr. Cheng. And if I actually knew how to cast spells, I would have used them on people who lack basic decency and respect for others. But don’t worry—tomorrow morning, I intend to speak with Mr. Cheng and ask him not to leave a single cent of your family’s fortune to me.”

Her eyes widened at his sharp retort. “You must do something! You’re not family! You don’t have a single drop of Cheng blood in your veins!” she hissed.

“With all due respect, Ma’am,” Dave replied, keeping his head held high with a confident smile. “Family or not, I have zero interest in becoming part of this household. And for the record—I may not be a Cheng by blood… but neither are you. You only became a Cheng because you married Charlie’s father, right? Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m exhausted from the trip and need to sleep.”

Dave swung the door wide open, gesturing outward for her to leave.

“We are not done, Mr. Arashi!” she warned, her face flushing red with fury before she turned and stormed off.

Dave didn’t bother responding, shutting and locking the door immediately. He leaned against the heavy wood, breathing heavily. He was annoyed, but he knew he had to stand his ground. He wasn’t going to let anyone bully him.

THE NEXT MORNING

Dave woke up early as sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains. He planned to head downstairs to cool off with a quiet swim in the estate’s massive backyard pool.

However, the temperature poolside felt like it spiked the moment he arrived and spotted the three cousins already in the water.

Charles, Clint, and Charlie.

They looked ridiculously good under the morning sun—and good lord, the defined abs on display! Broad chests and athletic shoulders glistened as pool water cascaded down their skin.

Dave stood frozen at the edge, staring at the three of them, until Charlie caught sight of him.

A mischievous smirk crossed Charlie’s lips as he swam over to the edge, resting his arms on the concrete deck to hoist himself up slightly.

“Are you okay, Teacher Dave? Is this your first time seeing real handsome guys?” Charlie teased boastfully, flashing a subtle wink. He slowly adjusted his wet trunks, deliberately playing into Dave’s stunned reaction.

Dave swallowed hard, fighting to keep his knees from going weak.

“I-It’s just… really hot outside today…” Dave stammered playfully, hastily averting his blushing face and looking away from all three of them.

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER IV: THE SECRET OF BILOY AND YAKIN

It is said that every dream has its limits, but waking up inside the colossal Cheng estate felt like merely turning to another page of a lavish movie. Every architectural detail of the mansion was breathtaking—from the soaring ceilings framed with gilded moldings to the pristine furnishings that felt too sacred for ordinary hands like mine to touch.

The heated encounter with Charlie’s mother from the night before was still fresh in my mind. Her sharp words should have been enough to break my spirit, but the true test to my composure came first thing this morning.

Because what actually made my knees weak was the sight awaiting me at the pool area.

Charlie, Clint, and Charles—the three heirs of the Cheng empire—were putting on quite a show in the clear water. Wearing nothing above the waist except their swim trunks, their sculpted, athletic physiques were on full display. Every drop of water glistening and rolling down their chiseled abs felt like a deliberate provocation to my sanity.

“I-It’s just… really hot outside today…” I stammered playfully, hastily turning my back on the three of them.

I could feel a rush of heat flooding my cheeks. I couldn’t tell if it was the morning sun or the three “blessings” currently stepping out of the pool behind me.

“Wait, aren’t you going for a swim? And… I am so sorry about what happened last night,” Charlie spoke up, his voice surprisingly soft and sincere for the first time as he dried his hair with a towel.

Clint and Charles walked over to join us, water still dripping down their broad shoulders.

“What happened last night, bro?” Clint inquired, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah, what’s going on?” Charles added, gazing at me with a touch of concern.

“No, it’s okay. I’m fine. Your mother was right, anyway,” I answered briefly, forcing a small smile before facing them. “Anyway… where is your grandfather? Can I speak with him today? Just so I don’t disrupt your lives any longer.”

The three cousins exchanged quick glances before Charles offered a serious reply. “Grandfather is still at the hospital for final observation. The doctors haven’t cleared him for discharge yet, but don’t worry, his condition is stable.”

“Ah… I see. Alright, I’ll head back inside then. I need to pack up and get back home to clean up,” I bade them farewell, turning quickly to leave.

As I walked down the long second-floor corridor toward my room, I crossed paths with two women who radiated elegance and luxury. They turned out to be Clint and Charles’s mothers.

“Dear! I’m Celine, Clint’s mother,” greeted one of the women with a gentle smile, a soft voice, and an understated elegance.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Celine,” I responded respectfully with a small bow.

“And my name is Celestina Dominguez-Cheng! And I am twenty years old!” introduced the other with a dramatic, slightly exaggerated British accent as she adjusted her designer silk scarf.

“Twenty, really, mare ? Not thirty-five?” Miss Celine teased with a playful nudge.

“I’m just joking! Anyway, dear, Celestina here, there, and everywhere! I am Charles’s drop-dead gorgeous mother!” she announced with a loud, vibrant laughter.

I let out a soft chuckle at their dynamic. “Nice to meet you both. Honestly, I thought you were both in your mid-20s when I first saw you.”

“See! I told you, Celine, our anti-aging routine works! And remember, children and teachers never lie!” Miss Celestina beamed, looking as proud as a pageant queen receiving her crown.

“Celestina! We came here to apologize for what that ‘monster’ did,” Miss Celine gently reminded her, lightly elbowing her companion’s side.

“Oh, right! Dear, please forgive our ‘friend’—though she isn’t really a friend of ours, just a mood-killer. We heard every single insult she threw at you last night. I already adore you for my Charles! Bravo for standing up to that witch!” Miss Celestina cheered, as both she and Miss Celine broke into light applause.

A genuine smile spread across my face. Unlike Charlie’s mother, these two were like angels—full of warmth, humor, and welcoming energy. After a brief chat and a few laughs, I took my leave, retrieved my sling bag from the guest suite, and headed out of the mansion.

As I stood outside the massive subdivision gates waiting for a ride, a familiar, sleek black sedan slowly pulled up beside me.

“Get in, I’ll drop you off,” Charles said, lowering the car window. He was dressed casually now, sporting a pair of luxury sunglasses.

“Charles, no need. I’ll just catch a cab at the main corner,” I declined.

“Taxis are rare around here. Come on, I’m not going to bite,” he winked, stepping out to open the passenger door for me. “Sit up front next to me. You might try jumping out if you sit in the back,” he teased, a deep dimple flashing on his cheek.

During the drive, my impression of him shifted completely. The conversation became easy and comfortable. He mentioned that starting next week, I would be assigned to the Hotel and Resort division—his personal domain within the company.

“I’m actually excited to work with you, Teach,” Charles said, keeping his eyes on the road.

“‘Teach’? Since when am I your student?” I retorted playfully.

“Just kidding. You’re just cute when you get annoyed and your face turns red,” he chuckled.

I smiled secretly to myself. Who would have thought that the strict, terrifying Charles Cheng from the office could be this warm and playful in real life?

When his high-end sports car pulled into our narrow alleyway in the local neighborhood, sheer amazement and curiosity washed over Charles’s face as he took in the surroundings.

“Do you really live here, Dave?” he asked.

“Yeah, like I told you guys yesterday, I live in a modest neighborhood,” I replied.

Before I could unbuckle my seatbelt, he quickly jumped out and walked around to open the door for me.

Just then, our neighbor, Aling Nene, walked by holding her market basket.

“Dave! Is that you, child? Word on the street is you married a billionaire! Is this him?!” the old woman called out, unable to hide her curiosity.

“No, Aling Nene! I just got a new job and—”

“I’m his boyfriend,” Charles cut in smoothly with a wide smirk.

I immediately brought my foot down hard on his shoes.

“Ouch! What was that for, Dave?!” Charles groaned, clutching his shoe.

“Wait a second…” Aling Nene murmured, adjusting her reading glasses to stare closely at Charles’s face. “Charles… Charles Cheng? Don’t you remember him, Dave? Back when you were five or six years old?”

Both Charles and I knit our brows in confusion.

“Your mother, Celeste, used to leave you with me when you were little, Charles! I looked after the two of you every afternoon while you played out in the street!” the old woman continued.

Charles and I froze, turning to look at each other.

“You used to call each other Biloy and Yakin back then, didn’t you?” the old woman recalled with a warm laugh. “Charles, you were Biloy because of the deep dimples you had whenever you laughed. And Dave, you were Yakin because you were such a crybaby whenever someone took your candy!”

Charles’s eyes widened in total shock. He took a small step back. “Ate… Ate Nene? It really is you!” He immediately pulled the old woman into a warm, tight hug.

Aling Nene quickly pulled out a worn, faded photograph from her old wallet—a weathered picture of two young boys hugging each other with dirt smudged on their cheeks.

In that singular moment, every forgotten memory of my childhood came rushing back.

“Biloy…?” I whispered softly, staring directly into his eyes.

“Yakin… it’s really you! That’s why… that’s why you felt so familiar to me!” Charles held both of my hands tightly, raw emotion trembling in his voice. “I searched for you everywhere in this neighborhood when I came back from abroad! But the people living in your old house said the Arashi family didn’t live there anymore…”

“My stepmother lived there after my father passed away, but she kicked me out later on…” I explained, keeping my eyes fixed on him.

“You’ve been gone a long time, Charles. Come inside! I’ll make that favorite treat you two loved when you were little!” Aling Nene offered happily.

“Biko!” Charles and I shouted in unison, massive smiles lighting up our faces.

Confirmed. The strict, intimidating Charles Cheng… and my childhood friend Biloy… were the exact same person.

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER V: THE SECRET OF THE TWINS AND THE FAKE ROMANCE

“Amara?” Mr. Christoffer Cheng called out from inside his private study.

The door swung open immediately, revealing his long-time secretary who had been patiently waiting outside. “Yes, Mr. Cheng? How can I help you, Sir?”

“Come in,” the old man instructed, slowly removing his reading glasses and resting them on his polished wooden desk.

“Is there any problem, Sir?” Amara inquired as she stepped forward.

“Not at all. I just want an update… how is Dave Arashi doing? And how are my grandsons treating him over at the company?”

Amara took a deep breath, a gentle smile breaking across her face. “Before I left Mr. Arashi at the main office for my leave, there was a bit of chaos caused by your grandsons. Charlie and Clint were constantly giving Dave a hard time with their pranks, but I have to hand it to that young man—his patience is incredible, so steady and resilient. You two almost crossed paths when you had your episode at the office, but per your instructions, I made sure you didn’t formally meet just yet.”

Mr. Cheng nodded approvingly, looking pleased with the report. “And regarding his work ethic?”

“He catches on so fast, Sir. I’m truly impressed. He isn’t just sharp and hardworking; he speaks with such genuine warmth and respect. He is every bit deserving of your consideration,” Amara added softly.

AT THE CHENG MANOR…

Charles and Dave returned together from their brief visit to Aling Nene’s neighborhood alley. But the moment they set foot inside the estate’s grand foyer, they were met with sharp, suspicious glares from Charlie and Clint.

“Where have you guys been?” Charlie questioned, crossing his arms over his chest, his voice laced with heavy skepticism.

“Yeah, you two sure took your sweet time out there, didn’t you?” Clint chimed in with a taunting smirk.

Charles brushed them off without a word. Instead, he turned to his two cousins with a broad smile. “Bros, remember that childhood friend I used to tell you about from the neighborhood? The crybaby? You won’t believe this—”

“Miss Celestina? Good evening,” Dave interrupted, cutting Charles off as he spotted Charles’s mother descending the marble staircase.

“You shouldn’t be here! Stay away from my son!” the woman shrieked, pointing an accusing finger directly at Dave, her face contorted with fury.

Dave paused, completely bewildered. Just this morning, she was so kind, warm, and playful with Clint’s mother… Why the sudden change in temperature?

Before Dave could respond or Charles could intervene, a familiar voice echoed from the adjacent hallway.

“Celestina, stop it!”

Dave’s eyes widened in total shock. He turned toward the sound. Another woman stepped into the living room alongside Celine—a woman who possessed the exact same face, elegance, and posture as the furious woman standing right in front of him!

“She’s right, Celestina. The young man is our guest. There goes your monster side acting up again,” Celine scolded gently, supporting her companion.

“Wait… t-there are two of you?!” Dave stammered, his eyes darting frantically between the two identical women.

“Do whatever you want! But I’ve warned you all. And as for you,” the harsh Celestina spat, pointing aggressively at Dave, “I will NEVER allow you to become part of this family!”

That was the absolute breaking point for Charles. He immediately stepped in front of Dave, shielding him from her sight.

“Mom, he WILL be part of our family! Because we’re together now! And something already happened between us!” Charles roared, his voice echoing loudly across the massive hall.

Gasp dropped throughout the entire room. Clint and Charlie exchanged looks of sheer disbelief, while Dave froze solid, feeling a cold chill sweep across his entire body.

“I am going to marry him. Stop trying to control my life! I am not your puppet! Whether you like it or not, I am marrying him!” Charles declared boldly before grabbing Dave firmly by the hand and pulling him upstairs toward his private suite.

INSIDE CHARLES’S ROOM…

“Wait! Hold on! Biloy, why on earth did you say that?!” Dave barked the moment the door slammed shut. “Have you completely lost your mind?!”

“To get my mother off your back!” Charles exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. “Dave, just listen to me first. The kind woman you talked to earlier—Celestine—isn’t my biological mother. She’s my aunt. That cold woman who just attacked you, that’s my biological mother, Celestina. They’re twins. Aunt Celestine acted as my surrogate mother back then due to a family arrangement, but my biological mother ran away when I was young after a massive fallout.”

“That’s right. She’s my twin sister, though I’m clearly the prettier and kinder one,” a soft, familiar voice chimed from the balcony.

It was Celestine, stepping inside from the terrace doors. “I’m so sorry again for what my twin sister did to you downstairs, Dave.”

“I-It’s alright, Aunt Celestine,” Dave offered with a strained smile.

“Mom, do you remember that kid I used to play with back in the old neighborhood? The one Ate Nene used to look after every afternoon?” Charles asked his mother Celestine.

“Of course I do! Why? I actually wanted to visit and thank Ate Nene again,” Celestine replied, looking at them intently.

“Mom… Yakin is standing right in front of you,” Charles said, gesturing toward Dave.

“Oh, my goodness! Is that really you, Yakin?!” Celestine gasped, stepping forward to pull Dave into a tight, warm embrace. She recalled his childhood vividly—how she used to dress little Dave in cute girls’ clothes during playtime, and how he never complained. “Wait… are you and my Biloy really together?”

Charles quickly shook his head to clarify. “No, Mom. I only said that so Mommy Celestina would leave him alone.”

“Is that so? What a shame… But Dave, dear… let me ask you something,” Celestine said earnestly, cupping Dave’s face gently. “Does my Biloy stand a chance with you?”

A faint flush dusted Dave’s cheeks, but he smiled and gently held Celestine’s hands. “It’s not hard to care for someone like your son, Ma’am. He’s kind and very protective. But right now, I’m just happy to have found you all again.”

“Don’t call me ‘Ma’am’. Call me ‘Aunt Celestine’ or just ‘Mom’ from now on,” the older woman coddled softly.

“Mom! Stop teasing Dave,” Charles chuckled, nudging his mother, though he caught Dave flashing him a subtle thumbs-up behind her back—a sign that everything was okay and that he was grateful.

THE HOTEL AND THE BARE TRUTH

The next morning, I was jarred awake by a frantic, repeated pounding on my bedroom door. Panicked and fearing some sort of emergency, I bolted straight out of bed, not even bothering to glance in the mirror or pull on any clothes.

The instant I pulled the door open, there stood Dave, fully dressed and looking sharp.

But before I could speak a single word, he let out a loud gasp and slammed both hands over his face!

“Aaaaaah!”

That was the exact moment my brain fully booted up. Every trace of sleepiness evaporated from my system as I suddenly remembered that I slept completely naked!

“Wait!” I yelled, slamming the door shut right in his face.

I frantically snatched the large comforter off the bed and wrapped it securely around my body from my chest down to my waist. When I pulled the door open again, Dave had his back turned to me, breathing heavily as if deciding whether to run away or stay put.

“Y-You can turn around now…” I murmured, trying desperately to conceal my sheer embarrassment and my burning face. “Why are you bothering me this early in the morning anyway?”

“A-Ah… well…” he stammered, taking a deep breath. He slowly turned to face me, though his eyes remained strictly glued to the floor. “Today is my first day working at Hotel De Concierge… I wanted to head in early to prepare. I’m sorry if I woke you up…”

A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips as I noticed he still couldn’t bring himself to look directly at me, the tips of his ears turning bright red.

“Don’t look down like that, Dave… This comforter isn’t that thick. You might end up seeing… well, you know!”

I teased with a playful wink, sending a fresh wave of blush straight to his cheeks! The sheer embarrassment mixed with a hint of helpless shyness in his eyes was unmistakable.

It seemed like more than just the hotel workload was going to heat up today.

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER VI: THE WOUNDS OF THE PAST

In a dim and noisy corner of the bar, Dave continued to drown his sorrows in one glass of margarita after another. He was thoroughly intoxicated, his eyes bloodshot and filled with bitterness, when his best friend Danica finally arrived.

“Dave! Goodness gracious! What on earth happened to you?!” Danica asked anxiously, pulling up a stool beside him.

Dave immediately signaled the bartender for another shot.

“That’s enough, bes ! What’s really the problem?” she demanded, grabbing his hand to stop him.

Dave let out a ragged breath before facing her. The tears he had been holding back finally streamed freely down his cheeks. “ Bes … I knew it. Gabby and I were never meant to be.“

“Why? What did he do to you?”

“Danica, I knew this would happen. I was just so stupid. So foolish!” Dave sobbed, his voice cracking completely. “Five years, bes … Five years of fighting for us even when the world wouldn’t accept our relationship because we’re both men. My instincts were screaming at me all this time, but I chose to play blind!”

Dave downed another drink straight from the glass, as if letting the alcohol burn his throat just to numb the searing pain in his chest.

“Did you catch him with another woman?” Danica asked softly, trying to digest her friend’s heartbreak.

“Once, he asked me, ‘What if I make a mistake? Would you still forgive me?’ I said it depended on his explanation. But damn it! He was fooling around right in front of my face, and I kept convincing myself it was nothing!” Dave choked out, striking his own chest in sheer despair.

Unbeknownst to them, Clint was sitting just a few stools away in the dark. He listened in silence to every sob, every falling tear, and every agonizing word coming from their teacher’s lips.

“Enough, Dave! This isn’t the Dave I know—the fighter!” Danica scolded gently, placing both hands on his shoulders.

“He told me when we were intimate that it was just me… that I was enough. But damn him! There were two of us! Well… she has what a woman has, and I don’t. How can we gay men ever compete with real women?!” Dave broke down further as the live singer on stage began strumming a hauntingly painful ballad.

“ Bes , I’m not a real woman either. I’m half-woman, half-gay,“ Danica tried to joke to lighten the heavy atmosphere, but nothing could dull the sharpness of Dave’s agony.

“That’s what they’re good at… using your body and then walking away the next day. He even had the audacity to suggest we find a woman we could both sleep with just so he could start a ‘real’ family! I adjusted in bed, bes … I gave everything! But it still wasn’t enough because he said I wasn’t aggressive enough… Fuck him!”

Dave suddenly pushed himself up from his seat, swaying dangerously and almost losing his balance.

“Where are you going?” Danica asked, alarmed.

“I’m going to sing that song. I need to sing it…” Dave mumbled stubbornly.

He stumbled toward the stage and pleaded with the performer to borrow the microphone for the second stanza and chorus. Taking pity on his visible heartache, the singer nodded and handed over the mic.

The moment Dave gripped the microphone, time seemed to stand still inside the crowded bar. Closing his eyes, he poured every drop of sorrow, betrayal, and shattered dreams into the music:

“ …And if I don’t need your touch,

Why do I miss you so much tonight?

If it’s just infatuation then

Why is my heart aching to hold you forever?

If I’m not in love with you… why in every fantasy do I feel your arms embracing me? “

With every line and lyric, tears overflowed down his cheeks. The entire venue fell completely silent. As he struck the final note, the crowd rose to their feet—a thunderous standing ovation for a soul so visibly bruised and broken.

But as he stepped off the stage, his eyes caught a sight that shattered the remaining fragments of his heart: Gabby, sitting at a center table with his new girlfriend, happily clapping while staring right at him.

Dave couldn’t process it anymore. He bolted straight for the exit, tears streaming endlessly down his face.

“ Bes , wait!“ Danica yelled, rushing after him.

BILOY’S RESCUE

In his blind rush to escape, wiping the blurry tears from his eyes, Dave slammed right into someone near the glass entrance doors.

“S-Sorry…” Dave muttered without looking up.

“You really are a crybaby… through and through.”

Dave froze. That voice was so familiar, so disarmingly tender. As he slowly raised his head, he met the deeply concerned eyes of Charles.

“Biloy…?” Dave whispered softly before bursting into tears all over again.

Danica finally caught up at the entrance. She and Charles exchanged a subtle, understanding nod. It was Danica—alongside Clint, who had quietly reached out—who called Charles while Dave was up on stage. Danica knew that in this moment of utter devastation, only the “Biloy” of Dave’s childhood could soothe his pain and keep him grounded.

“Yakin… let’s go home,” Charles murmured softly, gently cupping Dave’s cheeks and forcing Dave to look into his eyes. “We’ll talk and rest back at the estate. How does that sound?”

Dave stared into Charles’s eyes. Through the haze of alcohol and relentless tears, he felt as though he were five years old again—the little boy who always leaned on and hid behind Biloy whenever he got hurt.

“If you hadn’t left back then… I wouldn’t have grown up to be this reckless and full of tears,” Dave rasped out, covering his mouth. “But… it wasn’t your fault…”

Dave couldn’t finish his sentence. His body completely gave out from the sheer weight of intoxication and emotional exhaustion. Before he could hit the hard floor, Charles reacted instantly, catching him firmly in his arms.

Gently, Charles lifted Dave into a bridal carry out of the bar, as if holding the most precious jewel in the world—one he refused to let suffer even a single scratch.

He paused for a brief moment beside his car, gazing down at Dave’s closed eyes and peaceful face—the face of the person he had searched for so tirelessly from his past. And now that he held him in his arms again, he swore never to let anyone hurt him ever again.

“I never really left, Yakin,” Charles whispered, softly brushing the damp hair away from Dave’s forehead. “I’ve been right here… and I’m never leaving you again.”

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER VII: THE CROWN

“He completed all the tasks, Sir,” Amara reported, her eyes fixed seriously on the tablet screen inside the Don’s private office.

Mr. Christoffer Cheng slowly rose from his swivel chair. He paced toward a glass display case housing an antique, crown-shaped ornament—crafted from fine gold and studded with shimmering jewels.

“The Crown?” Amara uttered quietly, as if reading the deep, unspoken thoughts of her employer.

“Yes, Amara. This crown symbolizes my family… and my passion for work,” the old man replied, gazing at its reflection in the polished glass. But before he could finish his sentence, a sudden, agonizing tightness seized his chest. A sharp pang of pain contorted his features.

Amara rushed to support him before he could collapse. “Mr. Cheng! Maybe you should ask for a second opinion regarding your condition. These frequent chest pains are no longer something to ignore!”

The old man inhaled deeply, fighting to regain his composure as he carefully sank onto the sofa. “Amara… the doctor gave me two years at most. That is more than enough time. Once I am gone, I know my estate will pass to my grandsons. But before that happens, they must become good, honorable men… and that will only happen because of Dave. I see myself in him when I was young—principled, brave, and noble-hearted.”

Amara looked out the tall bay window. She understood that “The Crown” was not merely about wealth and power, but about the heavy mantle of responsibility and transformation that Mr. Cheng was preparing to place upon the shoulders of a simple kindergarten teacher.

CHELSEA’S ARRIVAL AND THE PATH TO THE HEART

“How is he?” Charles asked Charlie on the second-floor balcony, raw concern bleeding through his voice.

“Don’t worry, bro, he’s okay. Luckily Danica and Clint spotted him at the bar last night,” Charlie replied, taking a slow sip from his hot coffee cup.

Charles knitted his brows. “Wait… what were Danica and Clint doing there together? Are they dating now?”

Charlie merely shook his head and kept sipping, lost in thought.

“I want to see him,” Charles declared, turning abruptly toward Dave’s room to check on his Yakin. But before he could take a step, Charlie spoke a sentence that froze him dead in his tracks.

“Wait… before you go, I think he loves you, bro.” A meaningful, slightly bitter smile touched Charlie’s lips.

“Why do you say that?”

“The night I picked him up at the bar… he called me ‘Biloy.’ He also said that if you hadn’t left his life back then, he wouldn’t have ended up with the wrong person.”

Charles remained silent, taking in every word carried by the breeze. He knew his name still held a sacred space in Dave’s heart, and he resolved to do whatever it took to reclaim the years they had lost.

Meanwhile, across the grand hall of the mansion…

A loud, flamboyant, and bratty voice shattered the quiet morning.

“Miss Chelsea, good morning po,” a housemaid greeted hurriedly as she collected stray items.

“Where are my cousins and Kuya?” Chelsea demanded, casually tossing her expensive designer bag onto the table.

“They’re upstairs in their respective rooms, Ma’am,” Manang Ging answered politely.

“Manang Ging, were they informed that I was arriving today? Why does everyone seem so busy? And besides, I heard the guy Lolo left his fortune to is living here now? If I’m not mistaken, his name is David, right?”

“Dave Arashi po, Ma’am. And Sir Dave has been exceptionally kind to all of us here,” the maid defended instantly.

“Whatever. And by the way, Antoinette will be arriving later. But for now, I want to see my kuyas,” Chelsea huffed before turning away pompously.

CONFRONTATION IN THE KITCHEN

In stark contrast to the cold tension upstairs, warm laughter and the irresistible aroma of garlic fried rice filled the spacious kitchen. Dave was helping the household staff prepare breakfast.

“Oh goodness, Sir Dave! This is crazy! Please let us handle this, we might get scolded!” protested Carla, one of the younger maids.

“Carla, don’t worry about it. I’m completely used to doing this at home, so please, hand me the frying pan,” Dave insisted gently, skillfully tossing the savory rice in the pan.

“The masters are really going to reprimand us if they see this, Sir!” Carla worriedly added.

“And… done! Now, go ahead and take a seat. Manang Helen, Manang Bing, and you too Carla—we’re all eating together right here,” Dave invited warmly, laying out the plates.

“Oh, Sir… it feels so wrong. Having our guest and master serving us,” Manang Bing stammered, flustered.

“Yes, Bing is right. Sir Dave, thank you so much. Only Sir Cheng ever treated us like this when his grandsons were young. You truly inherit Sir Charles’s kindness,” Manang Helen added touched.

“What are you saying, Manang Helen? Sir Charlie and Clint are sweet too… except for Sir Charles’s bratty little sister, Chelsea!” Carla blurted out, sending a wave of chuckles across the kitchen table.

Dave smiled gently as he plated generous portions of beef tapsilog for each maid. Unbeknownst to him, a new storm was brewing right outside the kitchen door.

“So this is why no one is upstairs taking care of us—because you’re all eating before your actual employers,” Chelsea drawled from the doorway, her arms crossed and eyebrows arched in disdain.

Manang Helen stood up in a panic. “P-Forgive us, Miss Chelsea…” The elder woman moved to serve her, but Dave firmly caught her by the arm and guided her back into her seat.

“Manang, keep eating. You too, Manang Bing and Carla,” Dave said calmly before turning to face the girl. “Besides, it’s not their fault that you arrived completely unannounced. Hi, I’m Dave.”

Dave extended his hand in polite greeting, but Chelsea merely sneered and looked away haughtily.

“I know who you are. You’re a social climber,” Chelsea spat. “I’m certain you put a spell on Lolo just so he’d hand over all his wealth to you.”

Dave let out a short, quiet laugh at the absurd accusation, though a sharp fire glinted in his eyes. “Well! The rumors about you around this house are certainly true… you really do have quite the devilish streak.”

Dave turned his back to walk away and avoid a pointless argument, but before he could take two steps, Chelsea snatched a plate loaded with rice and viand and hurled it straight at his back!

CRASH! Food, sauce, and shattered ceramic splattered across his clothes and the spotless kitchen floor.

A heavy silence fell over the kitchen. Dave slowly turned around. The calm, smiling teacher was gone—replaced by someone whose patience had been pushed past its absolute absolute limit.

“Girl… you said it yourself that your grandfather willed everything to me, right? Maybe it’s precisely because of your wasteful, arrogant attitude toward blessings,” Dave said, his tone icy yet commanding. “Now, you’ve pushed me far enough. Pick up every single piece of food scattered on the floor.”

Carla and Manang Bing rushed forward nervously. “Sir Dave, please…” they pleaded.

“No, Manang. I will not tolerate this girl disrespecting me, and especially not you! Just because you work here doesn’t give anyone the right to hurt you or step on your dignity!” He faced Chelsea with imposing authority. “Now, Chelsea Cheng… get down on your knees and pick up the food from the floor!”

“Why should I?! That’s YOUR job, poor boy!” Chelsea retorted haughtily before turning on her heel and strutting off as if nothing had happened.

Dave made a move to follow her in fury, but the three maids held him back firmly.

“Her day will come! Just watch!” Dave fumed, wiping the stains off his shirt.

“That’s enough, Sir Dave. Please don’t waste your energy on her, she’s always been like this,” Carla soothed.

“Thank you so much for standing up for us, Sir Dave… No one has ever done that for us before,” Manang Bing said, wiping a stray tear.

Dave took a deep breath to cool his burning anger. Manang Helen suggested softly, “Dave, why don’t you head upstairs and speak to Sir Charles? Report what happened here so he can put his sister in line.”

“Right. Good idea, Manang Helen,” Dave agreed, adjusting his collar and calming his heart. “I’ll go talk to Biloy.”

JEALOUSY AND THE PAST

As Dave walked back down the stairs after changing his shirt, still nursing his irritation from the encounter with Chelsea, his world suddenly ground to a complete halt.

A stunningly gorgeous, glamorous woman stepped into the grand hall… and threw her arms around Charles without hesitation.

But what caused the blood to drain from Dave’s face and tore his heart to shreds was what happened next: the woman leaned in and kissed Charles directly on the lips, right in front of his eyes.

Dave’s entire body trembled. All strength left his legs. He turned away instantly, rushing back upstairs before either of them could spot him. In his blind haste and trembling state, he nearly ran into Clint and Charlie in the corridor.

“Oh, Dave? Where are you off to?” Clint asked, puzzled.

“Ah… n-nothing. I just forgot something in my room,” Dave stammered. Try as he might to hide it, his voice shook visibly and his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

“Are you okay? You’re shaking and pale,” Charlie observed, his eyes sharp with concern and curiosity.

“A-Ah, yes… I just… can’t catch my breath… I’m going to grab my inhaler,” Dave lied hurriedly before striding away and slamming his bedroom door shut.

Once Dave was out of earshot, Clint and Charlie exchanged heavy looks.

“If Dave likes Charles… what happens to Antoinette?” Clint whispered. “Didn’t they have an engagement party planned before, but Charles backed out and canceled it?”

“That’s the real problem,” Charlie replied, looking down into the grand hall where the woman stood. “I think I know exactly why Dave reacted the way he did.”

Down in the foyer, Charles forcefully pushed Antoinette away from him.

“There is no wedding happening! I won’t allow it, Antoinette!” Charles snapped furiously, wiping his lips with the back of his hand.

“But why, Charles?!” Antoinette demanded, frustration and shock written all over her face. “We were supposed to be engaged!”

“I have no feelings for you! How many times do I have to say it? We can be business partners without this damned arranged marriage!” Charles barked.

Antoinette didn’t argue further with words. Instead, she moved closer and boldly sat on Charles’s lap on the sofa, attempting to force his attention and touch.

“Ehem! Please, take it to a room…” Clint joked lightly from the top of the stairs alongside Charlie.

Startled, Charles immediately shoved Antoinette off him upon hearing his cousins’ voices. But in his mind, only one frantic thought consumed him:

Where is Dave? Did he see any of this?

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER VIII: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE PILLAR

“We need to find a solution right now! Why are you only telling us now that Lolo and his assistant Miss Amara are missing?!” Charles barked furiously at one of his grandfather’s personnel while pacing across the spacious office.

Clint and Charlie sat quietly in front of him, though intense fear and worry for their Lolo Jorge’s safety were vividly etched across their faces.

“Bro, calm down. Don’t yell at them, they’re doing everything they can,” Clint tried to appease him, but the tension in Charles’s body refused to subside.

Suddenly, the doors burst open and Dave rushed in, breathless and panting heavily, clearly having sprinted all the way from outside.

“Dave, inhale-exhale first. You’re speaking Japanese again because you’re talking so fast,” Charlie joked lightly to diffuse the suffocating tension, but Dave’s face remained deadly serious.

“Sorry… the police found Miss Amara!” Dave announced, causing the three cousins to spring up from their seats instantly. “She’s at the hospital right now, but she’s still unconscious. Now, what should we do?”

“Which hospital? Did they find Lolo too?” Clint and Charlie asked simultaneously.

“I don’t know yet… We better go to the hospital right away to watch over Miss Amara!” Dave answered hurriedly.

They rushed out of the office and headed down the mansion corridor, where they crossed paths with Charles’s younger sister, Chelsea.

“What happened? Have they found Lolo?” she asked, casually fixing her hair.

Charles didn’t answer and brushed past her as if she were air. Clint and Charlie were about to step past her too when she blocked their path.

“Where are you going? I’m coming with you!” Chelsea demanded.

“Then come along and drive your own car,” Charlie grumbled.

“Dave, let’s go. Ride in Charles’s car,” Clint instructed, pulling Dave by the arm toward the exit as Chelsea stomped after them.

AT THE GARAGE…

As Dave was about to open the front passenger door of Charles’s car, Chelsea shoved him aside slightly and cut him off.

“No, you will sit at the back! I’m sitting in the front seat!” she declared haughtily, forcing her way to open the door.

“Ah, right… as you say, Madam…” Dave muttered under his breath in irritation, stepping back slowly to avoid a scene.

“Good!” Chelsea smirked, sliding pretentiously into the seat.

Before Charles could even get into the driver’s side, he leveled a sharp, icy glare at his sister. “Get out. That’s where Dave sits.”

“But why?!” Chelsea asked, stunned.

“I said get out! You sit in the back if you want to come with us,” Charles ordered in a cold, authoritative tone.

“No! I’m staying here! It’s embarrassing for me to sit in the back!” Chelsea yelled back.

“Oh, really? Then don’t come,” Charles replied sarcastically. He stepped out of the car, pulled open the rear door, and guided Dave out from the back.

“Wait! Why do all of you cousins love yanking people around?!” Dave complained, but he couldn’t resist as Charles ushered him toward Clint and Charlie’s car to prevent further argument with Chelsea.

“Which hospital was it again, Dave?” Clint asked, gripping the steering wheel.

“Xen Meng Hospital…” Dave replied.

In an instant, both cars sped off into the distance, carrying intense anxiety and a burning desire to locate their grandfather.

THE VENOMOUS WEED

In a dark, dusty, abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city, the frail Don Jorge Cheng was tied to a wooden chair, gagged tightly. The only illumination came from a single bare bulb swaying gently overhead.

“Hi, Papa…”

A sharp female voice shattered the silence. Mr. Cheng’s eyes widened in horror as his vision adjusted to reveal the face of his own daughter—Charlotte.

“I don’t know what you ever saw in that gay guy! Unless you’re completely foolish and stupid, why on earth would you hand over your entire legacy to someone who isn’t even blood?!” Charlotte spat, yanked the gag brutally off her father’s mouth. “And it’s not fair! You even have to marry off one of your grandsons to him?! Have you completely lost your mind, Papa?! They are both men!”

“Charlotte… you? Why…?” the old man rasped out, tears rolling down his weathered cheeks at the ultimate betrayal by his own blood.

A moment later, a man stepped out of the shadows with a mocking smirk—Antoinette’s father and prominent businessman, Edward Lu.

“Mr. Cheng, I want you to sign this last will and testament. It states that Charlotte and I will assume full control of the Cheng Group of Companies,” Edward instructed, laying out a piece of paper and a pen.

“Edward Lu? Of course… you colluded with Charlotte?” Mr. Cheng let out a bitter laugh. “I am ashamed of you, Charlotte—not just for what you’re doing to me, but for how foolish you are. Of all people, Edward Lu?! You don’t know him well at all, my child!”

“Don’t worry, Jorge. We won’t make you suffer needlessly,” Edward threatened, resting a heavy hand on the old man’s shoulder. “The deal is still open: one of your grandsons marries my daughter Antoinette, or Chelsea. But if you refuse, the blood of your grandsons will be the ink you use to sign these documents!”

Unbeknownst to them, hidden behind a stack of wooden crates just outside the warehouse, Celestina stood frozen in terror. She had seen and heard everything!

“My God… Papa is here!” she whispered, her hands trembling violently as she hurriedly recorded the entire scene on her smartphone.

She was nearly caught when her foot knocked against a rusty tin can, but she managed to slip away undetected and tore off back toward the mansion!

AT XEN MENG HOSPITAL AND THE MYSTERIOUS CALL

At the hospital, Dave and the cousins were speaking with Miss Amara’s husband outside the ICU.

“We will request additional police officers to guard Miss Amara. And your lives are in danger as well,” Dave warned the secretary’s family solemnly. “For now, please understand it isn’t safe. Keep your guard up.”

“Who could have done this? I’m certain this is connected to the missing crown and Lolo’s disappearance,” Clint mused, crossing his arms.

Suddenly, Charlie’s phone rang loudly. He answered it immediately.

“Aunt Celestina called!” Charlie announced to the others as soon as he hung up. “We need to go back to the mansion! NOW! They found something critical about Lolo and they know who is behind this!”

The four of them sped back to the Cheng mansion, where they were met by Celestina and Celine, both looking as if they had seen a ghost, trembling uncontrollably. Celestina immediately pulled up the recorded video clip on her phone.

“Aunt Charlotte?!” Charles gasped in disbelief upon recognizing his aunt’s face in the video.

“What?! I knew she was a villain in our lives, but she went as far as doing this to her own father?!” Charlie fumed in rage.

Amidst the suffocating tension, anger, and dread filling the grand hall, the antique landline telephone in the center of the room rang out piercingly.

RINGGG! RINGGG!

Everyone froze, exchanging shocked glances. Hearts skipped a beat.

Dave slowly walked toward the table and picked up the receiver.

“Hello…?”

The voice on the other end was deep, ice-cold, and sounded as if it echoed from the depths of the earth:

“Are you going to look for your grandfather… or are you just going to let him die in the dark?”

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER IX: THE CROWN OF THE CHENGS (PART I)

“Hello?” Dave answered the landline coldly, while everyone in the spacious living room—Charles, Charlie, Clint, Celestina, and Celine—held their breath in absolute suspense.

“I want to speak with Jorge’s grandsons. Especially the one he calls his new heir… Mr. Arashi,” threatened a deep, gravelly, and terrifying voice on the other end of the line.

“It’s me. Who are you?” Dave asked bravely, though his voice trembled with anxiety.

“It doesn’t matter who I am. I called to let you know we hold Jorge Cheng’s life in our hands.”

“Mr. Cheng?! What do you want with him?! Please, don’t hurt him!” Dave pleaded. Hearing their grandfather’s name, the cousins rushed forward and Charlie snatched the receiver right out of Dave’s hand.

“Hello! I’m his grandson! What do you want?! Just name it and we’ll give you everything, just let Lolo go!” Charlie shouted furiously into the phone.

“We won’t harm the old man if you hand over the Crown. The Crown in exchange for the life of your beloved Lolo,” the man replied coldly before abruptly cutting the line.

TOOT… TOOT… TOOT…

“The Crown? What crown?!” Clint asked, baffled, as he rubbed his temples in frustration.

Suddenly, Dave remembered something he had seen recently. “Wait… I think I saw that when I was in Miss Amara’s office at the mansion… that golden crown in the glass display case!”

“The Crown is safe…” A familiar, yet weak and trembling voice spoke up right behind them.

“Miss Amara!” Dave gasped in shock.

They rushed to support the bruised secretary returning from the hospital, escorted by a household maid. “Goodness, Miss Amara! What are you doing here? You should still be resting at the hospital!”

“Your Lolo is in grave danger,” Amara whispered, her voice shaking with tears. “I was the only one who managed to escape when armed men ambushed us… we have to save him…”

“Papa! Why isn’t he with you?!” A shrill, mocking voice echoed suddenly from the grand doors of the mansion.

Everyone turned simultaneously—Charlotte strode in, accompanied by her daughter Chelsea and the businessman Edward Lu.

“You look like you’ve seen ghosts. What’s the matter?” Charlotte sneered as she walked in, an aura of pure malice wrapping around her.

“Charlotte, you have the nerve to show your face here after what you’ve done!” Celine screamed. She lunged forward to attack her sister-in-law, but Celestina held her back just in time.

“I can’t believe this, Ma… You of all people? Why?” Charlie asked his own mother weakly, feeling his heart shatter into a million pieces.

Chelsea and Edward stepped inside like a king and queen claiming a conquered palace. “Well, well… time for all of you to pack your bags. Because this mansion and the entire Cheng Group belong to us now. Right, Dad?” Chelsea arched an eyebrow smugly.

“You have no right here!” Clint defended, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

“Why wouldn’t I? I’m also a Cheng, and besides, this mansion was sold to me by my half-brother, Jorge,” Edward Lu boasted, pulling out legal documents and titles from his suit envelope. “Here is the proof that this entire property was mortgaged and sold to me.”

Charles grabbed the papers to inspect them, but before anyone could react to the staggering shock, Dave stepped right into the center, snatched the documents out of Edward’s hands, and violently RIPPED AND SHREDDED them to pieces right in front of their faces!

The torn paper fragments fluttered down onto the polished floor.

“Sorry, but I don’t believe in your fabricated documents,” Dave said coldly yet fearlessly, staring straight into Edward’s eyes. “Didn’t you know? All of Mr. Jorge Cheng’s assets were legally signed over and willed to me before any of this happened. So, any sale or mortgage by the former owner is entirely useless—because I am the legal owner of this entire mansion and the company now. Now, get out of my home before I call the security guards to have you arrested for trespassing.”

Charlotte and Edward’s eyes widened in disbelief. Blinded with rage, Chelsea lunged forward to slap Dave, but Charlie intercepted her instantly, shoving the young woman back!

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Charlie snapped.

“Are you all out of your minds?! He’s a man, and Dave is a gay guy! Do you think people will accept this trash?!” Chelsea shrieked, pointing aggressively at Dave. “That guy can’t even give this family an heir! He’s a total joke!”

CRACK!

A swift, resounding, and fierce SLAP landed squarely on Chelsea’s cheek, delivered by Celine! Chelsea gasped, clutching her burning cheek in absolute shock.

“That’s enough! You have no right to insult or disrespect anyone in this household!” Celine yelled angrily. “I’d rather have a gay man with a golden heart inherit my nephew’s place than a devil’s spawn like you!”

“You better leave before I call the police!” Amara added firmly, standing tall despite her injuries.

Edward Lu merely offered a bitter, deceitful smile as he adjusted his suit. “We’re not done yet, Mr. Arashi. I’ll get everything back… sooner than you think. Let’s go!” Edward ordered, and they all stormed out in defeat.

“Ma…!” Charlie called out to his mother Charlotte. But like a cold stranger, she didn’t even look back at her own son as she walked out the door.

THE FIRST MEETING AND THE SAFE DON

With the help of authorities and Amara’s covert plans before the situation escalated, Don Jorge Cheng safely returned to the mansion that very afternoon. Though marked by exhaustion and trauma, he was in stable condition.

“Lolo, how did you survive the kidnapping by Aunt Charlotte and Edward Lu?” Clint asked softly as he sat by the old man’s bedside.

“Amara hid me in a safe room before Edward’s men could take me far away,” the old man replied weakly, though profound sorrow filled his eyes because of his own daughter’s betrayal.

Moments later, Dave and Charlie quietly entered the room carrying a warm bowl of soup. When Mr. Cheng saw the young man, a gentle, tender smile graced his lips.

“Biloy…” the old man called out using the nickname reserved exclusively for family.

“Lolo… I am so ashamed of what Mama did,” Charlie said, bowing his head, unable to look his grandfather in the eye due to the crushing weight of shame. “I’m asking for your forgiveness…”

“Grandson, listen to me… I understand why your mother did it. She was consumed by anger and envy. Don’t blame yourself, Biloy,” the old man comforted, before slowly shifting his gaze toward the young teacher standing beside him. “Is that Dave?”

“Yes, Lolo. This is Dave Arashi… the person you passed everything on to,” Charlie introduced.

Dave froze. He stepped forward slowly, gazing deeply into the old man’s face—the lines on his face, his eyes, his warm smile—and the young man’s eyes suddenly went wide in utter astonishment!

“Wait… You?! You’re the grandfather I helped in the mountains last year?! I’m not mistaken!” Dave blurted out in shock!

Suddenly, all the memories rushed back into Dave’s mind…

FLASHBACK: ONE YEAR AGO…

Dave was in the middle of a hiking trip and provincial retreat with his fellow teacher and best friend Darlene. While trekking along the foothills of the mountain, they were startled to find an elderly man leaning against a massive tree trunk, unconscious and suffering under the scorching heat.

“Oh my goodness! Bes, look at this poor old man!” Dave rushed over and checked the man’s pulse. Finding a weak heartbeat, he hoisted the old man onto his back without a second thought!

“Bes! Are you sure he’s not dead?! He might be a ghost, for goodness’ sake!” Darlene panicked, jogging closely behind him.

“Darlene, stop it! He’s still alive, so help me carry him! Hurry!” Dave shouted, drenched in sweat.

“What on earth is this old man doing up in the mountains anyway? Thank goodness we aren’t too far from the foot of the trail!” Darlene complained while lending a hand.

Spotting a taxi driving down the road, Dave flagged it down desperately. “Bes, I’ll take him to the hospital! You go ahead and explain to Principal Mercedes why we’re late!”

Inside the cab, Don Jorge Cheng slowly regained consciousness. His vision was still blurred from severe dehydration and exhaustion, but he clearly heard the voice of a remarkably kind young teacher who was deeply worried about him.

At the small hospital, while a nurse tended to Mr. Cheng’s scrapes, the old man covertly observed. He saw Dave pacing back and forth in the corner of the room, biting his fingernails, frantically checking the remaining loose coins in his pocket just to pay for the medication of a total stranger.

“Sir, do you remember anything else?” the nurse asked Mr. Cheng.

The old man simply nodded. But instead of focusing on his own wealth and name, the image of Dave’s pure, selfless heart—helping someone without expecting anything in return—became permanently etched in his mind.

The Don smiled secretly to himself. Right then and there, he knew: He had finally found someone truly worthy of holding the Crown of the Chengs.

THE MOUNTAINEER “TATAY”

Back at the hospital room that day, as Mr. Cheng watched the young man, he could deeply feel his honest, unselfish concern.

“You can take Tatay home now. Thankfully, his scratches and dehydration aren’t severe,” the nurse told Dave.

“Thank you so much! Let’s go, Tatay. I’ll take you home,” Dave said gently, carefully supporting the old man.

Mr. Cheng handed over a slip of paper with his mansion’s address. But before they could reach the door, Dave’s phone rang repeatedly—an emergency at school involving a lost student on the hiking trip.

“Tatay, I am so sorry! I won’t be able to accompany you all the way to your house. There’s an emergency with my students on the mountain, I have to run!” Dave apologized profusely. He hailed another taxi and carefully settled the old man inside.

“Driver, please take Tatay to this address. He’s a mountaineer, I think he just got lost on the trail!” Dave instructed the driver, handing him 500 pesos for the fare, then leaning down to look at the old man through the car window.

“Tatay, this is the last of my money, 200 pesos. Use it for food along the way. I’ll just bike back, I live nearby! And here’s some water—sorry it’s not cold anymore! But it’s clean. Don’t go climbing mountains alone anymore, okay? It’s dangerous at your age!”

Dave didn’t even finish his reminders because of another frantic call from his friend. “Just stay safe, Tatay!” Dave shouted as a final farewell, patting the taxi door before it sped off into the distance.

Arriving at the mansion, the taxi driver was stunned by the massive scale and luxury of the estate. “Sir, I already texted your ‘grandson’ using my phone. You’re so lucky to have someone who cares for you that much.”

Mr. Cheng smiled warmly, gazing out the window. He knew the young man wasn’t related by blood, but at that moment, he regarded him far higher than any blood relative.

“May I have his name and number? I seemed to have left my phone behind,” the old man requested. The driver handed him the paper containing the name the young man had given: Dave Arashi.

BACK TO THE PRESENT…

“It’s really me… the ‘mountaineer’ you helped on the mountain,” Don Jorge Cheng confessed with a warm smile, staring directly at Dave.

Charles, Charlie, and Clint’s eyes went wide with sheer disbelief! The stranger their Lolo always talked about—the one who saved his life in the wilderness—was the exact same teacher standing right in front of them now!

“No wonder! That’s why your name sounded so familiar when Lolo mentioned it in his Last Will!” Clint gasped.

“Unbelievable… you’re the angel he kept talking about,” Charles added, his eyes shining with deep admiration and sudden, overwhelming affection for the teacher.

“Thank you, Yakin… thank you for saving Lolo!” Charlie said emotionally, wrapping Dave in a tight, heartfelt embrace.

Dave’s cheeks flushed red with intense embarrassment and shock. He never in a million years imagined that his simple act of kindness toward a “struggling old man in the mountains” last year would lead him right into the blooming, chaotic, yet colorful world of the Cheng family.

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER X: THE CROWN OF THE CHENGS (PART II)

The entire mansion was brilliantly lit and exuded pure luxury. Amidst the joyous laughter and the clinking of crystal glasses during the celebration, Dave still felt the weight and heat of the powerful guests’ gazes. Now that he knew the whole story behind Don Jorge Cheng’s deep trust in him, the responsibilities resting on his shoulders felt even heavier.

While he was busy talking with some of the Cheng family’s primary business partners, a familiar, warm touch brushed against his arm.

“Excuse me… may I borrow the most important person of the night?” Charlie chimed in with a smile, extending his hand to Dave like a prince inviting a partner to a dance in the middle of the grand hall.

“Sure, sure! You two look great together!” the business partners teased playfully, making Dave’s cheeks flush bright red with embarrassment.

“Ugh, this is so awkward! I’m not used to this high-society nonsense,” Dave whispered under his breath as Charlie pulled him away from the cluster of people.

“Why’s that? Just leave them be for a moment. Come on, there’s someone I want to show and introduce to you,” Charlie said, a spark of mischief and big secrets gleaming in his eyes. “I want you to introduce you to my dad.”

Dave froze. He looked at the young man with narrowed, skeptical eyes. “Wait… I thought your dad was long gone? You told me before that—”

“Just trust me,” Charlie replied briefly and meaningfully before leading them into a quiet, dimly lit, and abandoned section of the garden, far away from the noisy festivities inside.

There, beneath a massive acacia tree, sat a man in a motorized wheelchair. Though advanced in age and visibly bearing the heavy toll of a long illness, an aura of stern authority and dignity still lingered in his posture.

“Papa,” Charlie called out gently. “This is Dave… The new heir of the crown… and the person I love.”

Dave’s eyes widened in utter shock. If Charlie’s father was actually alive, why had the entire Cheng family hidden him away for all these years? And why was there such a strange mixture of fear and pain in the old man’s eyes the moment he heard the word “Crown”?

THE CHASE ON THE ROAD

Meanwhile, inside the main hotel venue, as Clint and Charles joyfully sang on stage, Don Jorge looked on with eyes full of admiration.

“I want to hear Dave sing, Amara. Charlie said that young man has a wonderful voice,” the old man smiled, clapping gently.

“He truly does, Sir. I only wish I could sing like that,” Amara replied with a smile.

Don Jorge paused slightly. He looked at his secretary with a deep sense of sorrow. “Amara… I am sorry for the past years. If only my son Martin were still alive…”

“I understand, Mr. Cheng,” Amara interrupted softly with a warm smile. “I’m sure Martin is happy wherever he is now. I loved your son dearly, long ago.”

However, the sentimental moment was abruptly shattered by a sharp, piercing shriek echoing through the venue!

Events unfolded faster than lightning—Chelsea barged in, lunged at Celine, grabbed her hair viciously, and pressed a black gun hard against the side of the woman’s waist!

“Chelsea, let go of Mama! Have you completely lost your mind?!” Charlie shouted in horror upon seeing the scene.

“All of you, back away! Unless you want me to blow this woman’s brains out right now!” Chelsea threatened, tightening her grip on Celine, who was trembling in tears.

“Ija, easy on my hair! I just had it rebonded, ouch!” Celine complained even while standing at death’s door.

“Chelsea, I’m begging you. Don’t drag Miss Celine and the family into this. I’m the one you want, right? Just take me instead!” Dave bravely and resolutely offered, slowly stepping forward.

“That’s right… you’re the only one I need to get this nuisance out of my way! My life is becoming way too much like a soap opera if I have to deal with this old man first,” Chelsea spat, shoving Celine roughly aside. She instantly swung the muzzle of the gun toward Dave. “And nobody better make a move, or this gay guy goes home in a body bag!”

OUTSIDE THE HOTEL AND THE GETAWAY VAN

The group slowly backed up until they reached the front of the hotel, where Celestina was waiting in a black van flanked by armed men.

“Brilliant! Hurry, shove him inside!” Celestina commanded angrily from within.

“A van, really?! This doesn’t happen in real life, you know! Where are you taking me? To some warehouse far away from civilization? Where nobody can hear me scream? Good grief, your plans are straight out of a teleserye!” Dave ranted and complained even as Chelsea shoved him into the back of the van.

“Put a duct tape over that gay guy’s mouth, he’s too noisy!” Chelsea ordered in frustration before slamming the door shut as the van screeched away into the night.

“Where are you taking Dave?!” Charlie screamed furiously from outside, left behind in the dust.

“Probably an abandoned warehouse, that’s always the next script in the movie, right?” Clint joked aloud, causing everyone to look at him before Amara sharply pinched his side. “Ouch! Come on, Amara! Follow them! We have to save Dave!”

The three cousins instantly leaped onto their high-speed motorcycles. Charlie, Charles, and Clint sped off in hot pursuit of the van. Inside the dimly lit van, Dave kept fighting back and trying to bite his captors, leaving Chelsea no choice but to chop him firmly on the back of the neck to quiet him down.

“Ouch… So it’s true what they show in telenovelas… that when you get hit on the neck, you actually pass out…” Dave mumbled weakly before his body finally went limp and he lost consciousness in the seat.

“Ma’am Celestina, Sir’s grandsons are still tailing us!” the driver reported, spotting the motorcycles in the side mirror.

“Idiots! Then shoot at them! Make sure they can’t catch up or get close!” Celestina barked.

In a split second, the armed men began spraying bullets out of the van’s windows, forcing the three cousins to brake hard and swerve into oncoming lanes.

Using their advanced wireless earbuds, they communicated rapidly while dodging flying bullets.

“What’s our plan now? They’ve got way too many guns!” Charles shouted while maneuvering along the roadside.

“Let’s split directions! We’ll cut them off at the next corner before they reach the abandoned warehouse!” Charlie ordered with absolute determination.

“Approved, Mr. Lover Boy!” Clint teased in the middle of the high-stakes situation before they quickly veered off onto separate paths to time their ambush on the van perfectly.

BACK AT THE HOTEL

“I hope they’re all okay out there! Where are the police you called?!” Don Jorge Cheng paced frantically back and forth inside the office, unable to sit still.

“The authorities are on their way, Sir. Please calm down, you might have another heart attack,” Amara urged worriedly as she steadied the old man.

“Amara is right, Papa. Please, let’s just relax,” added Daniel, another son of Mr. Cheng.

At this, Mr. Cheng turned sharply toward his son with a mixture of intense irritation and rage. “Daniel! I thought Celestina had already been caught and locked up?! Why on earth did that woman slip away from our men?!”

THE HAIL OF BULLETS

Meanwhile, Charlie, Clint, and Charles successfully and swiftly blocked the van’s path on a dark, overgrown roadside. The driver slammed on the brakes upon seeing the three motorcycles blocking the middle of the road.

“Why did we stop?!” Celestina yelled angrily at the driver.

“Those three pests, Ma’am! They’re blocking the road!” the terrified driver reported.

“Kill them!” Celestina screamed, but Chelsea instantly intervened. “No! Don’t hurt him… don’t hurt Charlie!”

While chaos unfolded inside the van, the three cousins outside went to work. Charles quickly pulled a small, key-operated robotic insect drone from his backpack.

“Are you seriously sure that’s going to work?” Clint asked, keeping his gun raised and ready.

“Trust my genius!” Charles replied.

“Will Dave be alright with that? He might get hurt!” Charlie asked anxiously.

“It’s better for him to fall asleep than to die from those guns—” Charles didn’t even finish his sentence as the men inside the van opened fire once more. But before any bullets could hit them, Charles swiftly commanded the robotic insect to fly forward.

In a flash, paralyzing darts struck the armed guards outside one by one until they were completely immobilized and collapsed.

“You’re amazing!” Charlie gasped in awe.

“Just wait for it. Sleepy smoke, activate!” Charles commanded using his remote control.

The insect flew straight through the van’s window, and within seconds, the interior was filled with a thick, soporific smoke. One guard attempted to flee through the door, but Charlie met him with a powerful, solid punch, instantly knocking him out cold.

“Put on your gas masks so you don’t inhale the smoke!” Charles instructed, tossing face masks to his cousins.

They burst into the van, searching through the thick white fog for Dave. But right before they could reach or embrace their unconscious friend…

BANG!

A loud, deafening gunshot echoed from inside the dark vehicle.

Silence.

A chilling, heavy silence took over. The only things left audible were the rapid, pounding thud of their hearts as the thick smoke inside the van slowly began to clear…

TO BE CONTINUED…

CHAPTER XI: THE CROWN OF THE CHENG FAMILY (FINAL PART)

Amidst the clearing smoke and searing panic, Charlie rushed frantically inside the van where the successive gunshots had just rung out.

“Dave!” he screamed, his voice soaked in terror and trembling fear, terrified that it might already be too late and that he would lose the most important person in his life.

Clint and Charles followed immediately behind. But to their complete shock, only Chelsea’s henchmen were inside—fast asleep and completely knocked out by the effects of the sleepy smoke.

“Where are they?!” Clint asked anxiously, sweeping his gaze across the interior.

Charlie quickly whipped his head toward the dark, overgrown surroundings until moonlight caught two figures in the distance. There he saw Chelsea, holding Dave tightly. A small bloodstain marred Dave’s barong from a bullet graze on his shoulder.

“Chelsea! Don’t you dare hurt Dave! Let him go, take me instead!” Charlie shouted as he slowly advanced, his hands shaking with anger and dread.

Yet the soporific smoke seemed to have no effect on Chelsea. “Did you forget? You fools, I’m used to holding my breath for five minutes during our training!” Chelsea sneered threateningly, pressing the barrel of her gun hard against the wounded Dave’s side. “Go ahead, take another step! I swear, the next bullet goes straight through this teacher’s gut.”

“What do you want, Chelsea? Money? The company? Name it!” Charlie pleaded, forcing himself to stay calm while out of the corner of his eyes he signaled Charles and Clint to slip around to the girl’s blind spot in the back.

“You! I want you! I still don’t understand why you chose this gay guy over me!” Chelsea shrieked, consumed by bitter envy and a deranged obsession.

“Because he is different! And I don’t care whether the world sees him as a man or a gay person… I have loved him from the very beginning, since day one!” Charlie shouted bravely and without an ounce of hesitation.

“Wow… what a touching childhood fairytale,” Chelsea laughed sarcastically. Yet in a fraction of a second, her system seemed to give out under the weight of exhaustion and madness. She shoved Dave violently toward Charlie. “Fine! Take him! Take that trash!”

Charlie caught the weakening Dave and pulled him tightly into his embrace. But before they could even breathe a sigh of relief, the nightmare wasn’t over yet.

“I won’t let you two live happily over our corpses!” Chelsea screamed, bravely leveling her gun directly at Charlie’s back!

In a blinding flash of instinct and final choice, Dave sensed the danger. With all his remaining strength, he shoved Charlie out of the way so that he could take the bullet himself.

BANG!

A piercing, thunderous gunshot tore through the silence of the night. The bullet struck Dave squarely in the abdomen.

“DDDAAAAVVVVEEEE!!!”

A shattered, heart-broken cry broke from Charlie’s lips as Dave’s body slowly collapsed into his arms. Simultaneously, Charles and Clint sprang from behind—Charles tossed a stun device to knock Chelsea down, while Clint disarmed her and swiftly bound her hands.

“Wake up, Dave! Don’t close your eyes, please!” Charlie panicked, his hands already soaked in Dave’s warm blood.

Dave slowly fluttered his eyes open. He gave a pale, weak smile and cupped Charlie’s face amid his shallow, labored breathing.

“I… love… you…” Dave whispered before losing consciousness entirely.

“I love you so much too! Hold on, I’m taking you to the hospital right now!” Charlie scooped up Dave’s body with superhuman strength and carried him toward the motorcycle, while in the distance, police sirens began to wail.

THE CROWN OF TRUE LOVE

Inside the sterile, white walls of the hospital, time seemed to stand still for Charlie as he waited anxiously outside the emergency room. But through relentless prayers and the brilliant skill of the surgeons, the life of his beloved “Yakin” was successfully saved.

Months passed. The cold, white hospital walls were replaced by gorgeous, pristine white flowers inside a simple chapel.

“You and Dave better give me grandchildren, at least five of them!” Mama Celine whispered playfully as she helped me walk down the aisle toward the altar.

“Oh, Mama, we both know I can’t get pregnant! You always find a way to joke around even on my wedding day,” I whispered back, though I couldn’t stop a wide smile from spreading across my face.

“I know you can’t, but Mama’s a forward thinker! We have modern technology nowadays, you know!” she teased before finally handing me over to my groom-to-be.

I faced Charlie, who was waiting at the end of the aisle. “My husband looks so handsome today,” I whispered with a smile as I drew close.

“Don’t praise me too much, or I might get jinxed. Yesterday was Friday the 13th anyway,” he joked, making me giggle in the middle of my nervous jitters.

Standing before the altar, Charlie looked like he couldn’t wait another second for the final part. “Father, is the ‘you may kiss your groom’ part still far away? Because Yakin is getting impatient,” he asked playfully, drawing laughter from both the officiating priest and all the guests.

“Alright, alright, you two… You may now kiss your groom!”

Swiftly and with overflowing devotion, Charlie pressed his lips to mine. Amidst the thunderous applause of Charles, Clint, Amara, and Don Jorge Cheng, I finally felt the true meaning of the crown—it wasn’t gold, it wasn’t a corporation, but the freedom to love and be genuinely loved in return.

PASSING TIME…

Following the chaotic storm of events, we decided to quietly settle down in a province at the foot of the mountain—right in the exact place where “Biloy” and I first met. A simple life, far from the toxic noise of the corporate world, yet overflowing with laughter and warmth.

“Yakin, my head hurts so much today…” Charlie cooed playfully, wrapping his arms tightly around me from behind while I was busy cooking breakfast.

“Oh please, you brought this on yourself! I told you last night not to drink so much with Clint!” I scolded playfully, though I immediately turned around to press a soft kiss to his lips.

While we lived happily in our quiet world, everyone else found their own paths of grace. Charles officially became the brilliant CEO of the Cheng Group, continuing to invent innovative gadgets that benefit society. Clint found his own destiny and happiness in America alongside my best friend Darlene.

Chelsea and Celestina are currently undergoing rehabilitation and learning valuable lessons behind bars, where their past wounds are slowly healing. A brand-new beginning for everyone.

Here concludes our long, colorful, and action-packed story. Thank you so much for joining our journey.

Until our next storytelling…

THE END.