CHAPTER TWELVE
MICHELLE KNOWS SOMETHING
"I know that you know something. Just tell me and I won't do anything to you", Raymond said softly while touching Michelle's face.
"I already told you several times that I don't know what you're talking about. Besides, if you hurt me, I'm very sure that you know you're not gonna go scot-free", Michelle told him.
"This beautiful mouth of yours!" he tried to touch her lips, but she tilted her face away from him. He takes a step closer to her. With his face on hers, he said, "Lies. You are close to Kelvin and Sylvester. They are supposed to tell you something. I'm also very sure you saw his father's face the day he fainted. Like man!", he shifted back a little, "No one comes to pick up his son with a helicopter and you tell me he's ordinary".
Michelle looks up at him.
"Yeah! I saw that too. So you better start talking before I hurt you in beautiful ways" he gave her a half smile.
Michelle sniffed but didn't say a word.
"What do you want to know about me? You can ask me directly." Michael said from the door. They didn't even notice that someone had entered the dark and empty storage room.
They all looked up and saw him standing at the door.
"Michael," Michelle whispered looking to see if he was stepping in with Kelvin and Sylvester. But he wasn't. He was alone.
"Well, well, well...look who's here? The golden boy!" Raymond said, clapping.
Michael stopped at the center of the room. He glanced briefly at Michelle before turning his attention to Raymond.
"Aren't you inconsiderate? Michelle's too stressed out for those questions. You could have easily browsed about that,"
"I did. But you hid it so well,"
"Did I?" Michael raised an eyebrow. "Then you would have asked me," Michael said.
"Michelle, come here," he called out and Michelle quickly ran over to where Michael stood and made sure she held his hand. He didn't remove his.
"I will soon find out about you. Boys, bring that girl back to me!" Raymond ordered.
"Maybe we should start with you having to appear in court tomorrow. Or...should you start with praying for your dad's health and for his company? I don't even know...," Michael sighed.
The boys paused. Even Raymond was shocked.
"What?!," he muttered.
"Yeah! Oh! You think I don't know. Besides, are you that desperate to know who Michael is? You can ask your father, even though I doubt he will tell you," he said and turned to walk out with Michelle.
"What the....," Raymond suddenly realized why his father hadn't been home recently. Whenever he came back, he would just look at him and look away.
Michael stopped at the door and turned to him again.
"Also...," he looked directly at Raymond. "It's very stupid of you to try to hurt Michelle because you want to find out something about the guy and the helicopter or whatever. The next time this whole scenario happens—," he said, waving his fingers in the air lazily. "Your entire family would likely suffer it. Including your grandfather and your uncles. Okay?" he nods and walks out with Michelle.
For some minutes, Raymond didn't say a word until one of his boys asked him,
"Ray! Are you okay?",
"Call Daffy. Tell him to run a deep background check on Michael and to dig up everything he can. I'll pay him any amount he wants" Raymond said to him.
"Okay", the boy nodded.
* * * *
As they were strolling back to class, Michael was still holding Michelle's hand. Suddenly, he stopped walking and turned to her, letting go of her hand gently.
"Hope he didn't hurt you?" Michael asked looking directly at her.
"No, he didn't" she smiled.
Michael nods. And they continue walking.
"You knew it was Raymond that did that to you?" She asked, walking beside him.
Michael had to walk slowly, so she could keep up with him.
"Yeah"
"Why is he not getting punished?" She asked and stopped walking because Michael had also stopped and turned to her. His eyes were almost boring into hers.
"Why?!" She asked in a small voice while dragging her gaze away from him.
"You're very small. Are you sure you don't need judo classes?"
Michelle scoffed. "Michael! When will you stop teasing me about how small I am?"
He gave a half smile and resumed walking as Michelle followed.
"Have I done that before?"
"Of course, you have. Besides you didn't answer my question"
"Don't worry. He's getting punished. In a way, he isn't expecting it," he said like he didn't care.
* * * *
Kelvin, Sylvester, and Michelle kept noticing that Michael was spending most of his free time at Teacher Johnson's office. Whenever they asked him, he would only shrug and smile. They weren't very happy about it but they didn't know how to tell Michael about it.
One time, Sylvester suggested they confront Teacher Johnson but they didn't know what to say since they had no evidence. Not until one day, Michelle tells them she heard the principal saying that Teacher Johnson got a new job offer at a prestigious university and he had accepted it. When she told others, they rejoiced and were so happy but they kept it a secret from Michael.
Finally, exams started. It was fun for the four of them. Michael didn't know the full story, but whenever her aunt wasn't at home, Michelle would follow them to a bookstore that had a private library. Michael and others had the VIP section to themselves. There, they would have their lunch and read their books for exams. It was here Michelle got a tiny bit closer to Michael since he always paid extra attention to her even if it wasn't so much. They wrote their exams, and when the results came out, Michael was the overall best. Seconded by Michelle. In front of the whole students, the principal called them out and handed excellent medals to them. Michelle was so happy as she stood beside Michael who had a small smile on his face. Other students clapped and cheered for them. Kelvin and Sylvester also did well. They had the same score following Victor, the class head.
The next day, at the school hall, the principal then announced that the school would be throwing a party for the whole school. He only told them that the sponsor is anonymous but everyone should attend looking their best. Michael knew it was his dad. They argued about it. His father was happy that Michael had scored the overall best and wanted to throw the party but Michael refused. After much argument, he finally agrees when his dad tells him he will send it to the school anonymously. This had all the students talking as they were already making preparations for what to wear for the party.
When they got to class, Michael was the last to walk in. He was holding a medium-sized decorated box. Odelia excitedly rushed to walk behind him. Michael just walked towards where Michelle sat with Kelvin and Sylvester. Kelvin was playing with her hair while she was playfully telling him to stop doing that.
That ended when they saw Michael stop at where Michelle sat with a gift in his hand. He hands it to her, and she collects it with a questioning look on her face.
Kelvin and Sylvester had surprises on their faces.
"Congratulations, Michelle" Michael said smiling softly.
Michelle couldn't believe her eyes. Odelia was so jealous and stomped directly out of the class.
To Kelvin and Sylvester, Michael said, "Elphaba"
Kelvin and Sylvester laughed.
* * * *
Michael had left school immediately after giving Michelle the gift. Kelvin and Sylvester were so curious to know what was inside the box. When they saw that Michael's car had driven out totally, they turned to Michelle. She opened the cover and handed it to Sylvester. On one side was another box; she opened it to reveal different customized pens that had her name scribbled on them. She let out a soft sigh. Next to it was a little painting of her. Kelvin held it and smiled. She also took out a beautiful pink colored comb. It was so small and beautiful. It had her name on it in script font.
"Is that all?" Sylvester asked shifting aside the box that had stationery in it. He took out a little white rose flower that had no thorns.
All of them stared at it like it was their first time seeing a rose flower.
"What could be the meaning of this?" Sylvester asked and looked at Kelvin.
"His love confession!" He answered.
"You guys are joking!" She collects the things and puts them back into the box.
"Michelle, I hope you're attending the party tomorrow. We asked Michael, and he said he's coming," Kelvin said.
"No..."
Sylvester interrupts her. "We aren't taking no for an answer. We already bought a gown for you. So all you have to do is convince your aunt"
"You guys got me a gown. Oh! My! God!" Tears were already gathering up in her eyes.
"Do not shed a tear" Kelvin said as Michelle hugged him and placed a small kiss on Sylvester's left cheek.
"Thanks, guys. I'm so grateful" She told them as they walked back to class. "Let me see it"
"We'll go pick it up after school. You have the right curves needed, so fitting won't be a problem.