Chapter 23: Chapter 23

When Peppermint called his heart leaped. He didn’t even finish his meeting with his new investors and quickly headed straight to the parking lot. He needs to go where Peppermint. That Vincent is such a jerk. He already rejected her tempting confession but Vincent still continued with his evil plans. This time, he won’t let him slide anymore. He won’t let him hurt Peppermint, the woman he loved always and forever. If he was able to push her away before then this time, he wouldn’t do it anymore. He will do everything he can just to protect the woman he loves and that includes, if he must, he’ll kill Vincent.

He drove the Beetle Volkswagen recklessly towards the address and dialed all the numbers for all the police stations in Rizal. He needed help ASAP. He gave them the full details of the situation and let them move on their own to find Peppermint. The good thing was it was not longer than fifteen minutes did he had her communicate with him through the phone. He mentioned it to the police to track Vincent and be alert around him. He needs to make sure of Peppermint’s safety.

Due to his excessive worriedness and anger, he immediately reached Rizal in less than hour. The police already surrounded the place, each one of them pointing their guns at the person inside the building. He called the police so that Vincent wouldn’t be able to escape anymore. He didn’t want to kill but at least he needs to pay for his scenes especially, when he succeeded from taking Peppermint away from him for all those years. He approached the chief of police named Mr. Jackson Galleon.

“What’s happening inside now?”

“Negative sir. We haven’t felt any soul inside at all. There might be something wrong with the source of location,” the man said honestly.

“Vincent is a sly, chief. He can sneakily escape that’s why everyone should stay alert. I’ll come inside.”

“But sir your actions are deemed dangerous. We don’t know what trap is planted inside.”

“He captured the woman I loved, chief! Do you think I can just sit around and wait while my woman’s in trouble? I need to get inside!”

“Sir this is a dangerous situation. It would be better for you to stay and wait here while we deal with it.”

“Mr. Galleon I’d rather die than let her suffer.” He gritted his teeth.

“If that’s what you’ve decided then we have no choice but to follow. We’ll help you.”

“Thank you chief.” He lightly patted his shoulder. The police then started talking about their strategy among themselves. He raised his hand upward and then signed to move forward. The police then started surrounding the perimeter.

“Now move!” the chief commanded. “The three of you, cover Mr. Fabregas!” Brenan immediately came inside the old building. His heart was pounding heart because he knows how much of a crazy bastard Vincent was; the fact that he can do everything just to get what he wants.

As soon as he entered the building, you can’t even tell if there was any human inside. It was too quiet. He couldn’t help but be nervous while running towards the third floor of the building. It was the last floor and Brenan was so sure that Vincent kept Peppermint there.

When he was finally there, he became more alert. He was careful with all of his movement, trying not to make any noises. He knows that Vincent is a psychopath. He’s good at hiding himself. When he was standing in front of a room, he saw the door open; inside was Peppermint with a cover in her mouth with rope tightly wrapped around her body.

When she sensed his presence, she quickly opened her eyes. Her eyes were filled with terror as she started crying. Brenan didn’t stop himself anymore. He almost flew towards Peppermint and carefully removed the thing covering her mouth.

“Brenan!” she quickly mumbled his name.

“Don’t worry, I’ll save you,” he said reassuring her. He promptly removed the rope tightly wrapped around her body. As soon as he unwrap it, she hugged him. “We’ll get out of here, okay? Trust me, just stay by my side and hold my hand. You will be safe.” He wiped her tears away from her eyes. They were now heading towards the door when they noticed Vincent on the corner of the room, holding a gun while pointing at the both of them.

“And do you think I’ll just let you both escape?” Vincent asked furiously and then fired his gun once. Peppermint covered her ears from the sound.

“Vincent please stop this now! Drop your weapon and surrender. The police already arrived—“

“Peppermint, I’ll only stop when that man beside you is long gone! I won’t let him stand between us anymore!” She was already trembling from all the things happening. “I will fucking kill this man because you’re mine alone!” he shouted.

“Vincent please, I beg of you. You’re a good man.” She couldn’t help but cry. All she’s been doing was to continue cry and beg him to stop.

“No! I will kill this man to make you mine!” Vincent pointed his gun towards Brenan and fired but even before it could hit him, Peppermint shielded him.

The gun swept through her body and with Brenan frozen in his feet, he saw how Peppermint slowly lost consciousness. She was bleeding. She was hit on the back. Brenan quickly caught her in his arms while on the other hand, Vincent was in panic. He didn’t think he’d hit her. He threw the caliber away from his hands.

Due to Brenan’s excessive anger, he rushed towards him and grabbed him by the collar. He started punching him on the face until his lips started bleeding. “I’ll fucking kill you! I’ll fucking kill you!” he threatened, glaring at him with all his might. He heard his teeth cracking. When he eyed his gun on the floor, Brenan grabbed it and pointed it towards Vincent. He could pull it at any moment. “You will pay for this! I’ll kill you!” As he was pulling the trigger, the police rushed in and stopped him.

“Sir please calm down! Drop your weapon!” It was none other than Mr. Galleon. He carefully approached him. “I’ll kill him chief! I’ll kill this man!” he said furiously.

“Please sir, think about Ms. Peppermint.” He suddenly wavered when he heard the chief of police mentioned his beloved woman. He needs to take her to the hospital immediately.

“Just pray that Peppermint is alive and well, you bastard or God knows what I might do to you,” he said glaring at Vincent who was now beaten on the ground.

The good thing was the ambulance quickly came and picked Peppermint. She was transported to the ER mentioning that she was in a critical condition.

Brenan waited on the waiting area when the police called again to report what was happening. They mentioned that Vincent was now detailed in the Rizal Police station. There were bombs surrounding his body but the truth was, those weren’t working at all. It was all decoys.

He might not want to leave her side while she’s having an operation, he needed to do so. He needed to file cases against Vincent. Brenan made sure that Vincent will never get out of prison by handing evidences of him doing illegal negotiations with people whom he doesn’t know of. It was the case from three years ago when Vincent was making an ordeal with some people, talking about how they plan to plant a bomb on his private helicopter, added that there were cases lying all over the place with his employees being mistreated and given unfair employment salaries.

When Brenan finally came back to the ER, Peppermint wasn’t there. His heart started pounding hard thinking that he won’t be able to forgive himself if something bad happened to her. When he passed by the doctor who operated on Peppermint, he asked how she’s doing.

The doctor mentioned that they finally transported her in one of their private rooms as the operation was successful.

He immediately headed towards her room. He wanted to see her quickly with his own two eyes that he was safe. As he opened the door, the first person to greet him was none other than Orange, Uncle Patrifico and Aunt Salome. Their eyes widened in surprise as they saw how alive he was. On the other side of the bed, he finally lose all the strength he had in his body.

His mother was crying as soon as she recognized him, “Kael, son… is that you?” He nodded. His parents promptly rushed to him for a hug. It was his first time to see his father cry in front of him. Obviously, they were so relieved that all this time he was alive and well. He explained what happened from three years ago until he met Peppermint again.

Peppermint woke up in her bed after a few days. The first people she saw on her room were her parents. They embraced her into a tight hug. As her eyes roamed around the place, she looked for Brenan—no Kael but he was nowhere to be found.

“Do you think Kael didn’t remember to visit you?” her mom asked teasingly and gave her a letter. It was handwritten by him. “He left this for you.”

She opened the letter and started reading.

My love,

Even if you don’t see me on the day you wake up,

It might be because I’m in an important meeting.

But don’t worry. Please know that you’re more important for me.

Remember that I will always be here for you.

I will protect, love and care for you.

Please know my love that you’re the only woman for me whether when

I was Kael from the past and Brenan now. I don’t know what

I might do anymore if I lose you again. For all those three years that

I couldn’t be with you, I was saddened. Yes, I could see you from a far

But I couldn’t hug you at all. I was scared that I might lose you that’s why

I resisted it all. I did my best but I still couldn’t. I hid my identity while

Slowly approaching you again. I wanted to talk to you and be with you.

Now that you’re in my arms, I don’t want to let go of you anymore.

Just like the Peppermint flavor, you’re different but you’re worth having my taste.

I won’t let anyone take you away from me.

I love you.

Kael.

Her mom reached to give her another folded paper and a box wrapped in golden giftwrap.

“Kael wanted you to wear that dress.” Peppermint smiled.

“Thanks mom and dad. You’ve always been here for me.”

“It’s nothing my beautiful daughter. Just follow your heart.” Her dad approached her and gave her a hug.

“Is my outfit good enough?” Peppermint asked while looking at Orange. They were currently at home, doing their makeups.

“Of course! I’m a great stylish plus you look stunning in that dress! Kael chose it perfectly for you!” Her friend’s eyes shone like they were real light bulbs. Orange helped her put on the necklace on her. It was given by Kael.

“Hey, I’ll blame you if Kael doesn’t find me beautiful,” Peppermint jokingly said.

“Really? Would I do something ridiculous to my one and only best friend in front of her boyfriend? Of course not, just invite him on my wedding, okay?”

“Sure.”

After a few days from the hospital, someone picked her up. When she came to the Fabregas Suites, she found all of the staff members lined up with one rose each. It reached until the 19th floor. While she was walking on the middle, they slowly gave her one rose at a time. As she reached the end of the 19th floor, the last one to give her was the secretary. Because the flowers were too many, she just needed to hug them. The secretary escorted her to the rooftop where Kael was.

When she stepped on the last floor, what caught her eye was the petals scattered all over the floor. It was enough to cover the whole cement. Her heart started pounding hard out of happiness. She walked through the middle and saw a table. It was set up in a romantic manner and the waiter pulled the chair for her. The music suddenly started, a guitarist appeared out of nowhere and decided to play Perfect by Ed Sheeran.

I found the love, for me

Darling just dive right in and follow my lead.

While she was mesmerized by what she was seeing, Kael finally appeared. He was holding a bouquet of roses. She wanted to melt immediately when she noticed what he was wearing. It felt like the butterflies in her stomach wanted to escape while her heart thumped hard and loud each time he took a breath. Kael started singing as well.

Well I found a girl beautiful and sweet

I never knew you were the someone waiting for me

'Cause we were just kids when we fell in love

Not knowing what it was

I will not give you up this time

But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own

And in your eyes you're holding mine

Kael approached her slowly and then gave her the roses. He reached for her hand and then he gently kissed the back of her hand. Peppermint blushed from what he did.

For three years, she’s been waiting. She couldn’t contain the happiness in her.

“I love you,” Kael whispered in her ear while asking her to dance with him. He held her on her waist and stared right through her eyes. He was filled with sincerity.

In Peppermint’s thoughts, she couldn’t ask for more. If God will take anything from her, she can give it to him as long as she could stay by Kael’s side.

While they were dancing together, Kael started singing again.

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song

When I saw you in that dress, looking so beautiful

I don't deserve this, darling, you look perfect tonight

Baby, I'm dancing in the dark, with you between my arms

Barefoot on the grass, listening to our favorite song

I have faith in what I see

Now I know I have met an angel in person

And she looks perfect

I don't deserve this

You look perfect tonight

After the song, she thought it was already the end of the surprise not until he kneeled in front of her. Her tears started streaming on her cheeks. The man took her hand gently and stared at her. The world looked like it stopped for a moment. His eyes were begging to give all of her attention to him.

“I know I have a lot of things I should make up for, Peppermint. I caused you pain for all those years and that I’m not the perfect man for you but I wanted to tell you how much I need you,” he started. “You’re the missing piece of my jigsaw puzzle, Peppermint. I wouldn’t be completed without you.” Her tears wouldn’t stop flowing and so he slowly wiped it away. “This time, I want you to stay by my side forever,” he added and pulled someone from the inside of the rose petals that were scattered on the floor. It was a red box. He picked it up and then slowly opened it. It was the ring from before.

Peppermint gasped as she realized it.

It had three heart shapes engraved wherein she fought with him on the Jewels and Weddings. She couldn’t explain her feelings anymore. It was not just her thinking about spending the rest of her life with him. It was also the thought the she had always loved him, always and forever.

“You know Kael, I had always wished for this day to happen. I’ve prayed for this for so long and now it finally happened,” she said smiling. She knows she was having a hard time speaking from all the crying. “I thought it wouldn’t happen anymore but I held on my faith, believing that someday you’ll come back and I was right,” she paused for a moment. “Whether you’re Kael or Brenan, I don’t care. I just love you,” she confessed and then gave her hand to him.

“Peppermint, this is the truth. I love you and by putting this ring on your finger, I promise to continue loving you, caring for you and to protect you; not as Brenan but Kael who had always loved you since the beginning.” He gently put the ring on her finger and they sealed the promise by a tight embrace. He wiped her tears away and continued, “On top of this building, I’m promising you that I will love you and will continue to love you! I will never leave your side.”

“On top of this building as well Kael; I’m promising you that forever I will continue to love you and will serve you. I will never be fed up from loving you.”

After saying those words, Peppermint automatically closed her eyes. Kael already know what it meant so he slowly closed in for a kiss. The sensation of the gentle kissed shared by the two of them.

“I love you Peppermint,” Kael whispered near her ear. She smiled.

“I love you too, Kael,” she answered before holding onto him for another kiss.