18 Chapter 18: It fell upside down

Rica knew this day would come. But when it actually did, she can't help being anxious.

Rica was nervous to meet Dave's parents. But it had to happen before the engagement party on Sunday. She had met Dave's parents the past parties, but not as Dave's Fiancee.

"Do I really need to do this?" asked Rica

"Yes. You need to meet my parents." said Dave.

Dave almost laughed because Rica really looks nervous. Dave reached for Rica's hand and held it.

"I will be there. So don't worry." said Dave.

Dave felt good. The truth is, he had always wanted to present his girlfriend to his parents to honour them. But it wasn't possible when he was together with Di. Her parents always told him they did not want Di as a daughter in law. It's such an amazing feeling when you can finally present the woman you love to the parents you respect so dearly.

Rica took a deep breath and smiled.

Rica knew the house was big but she was still surprised to see how far the house was from the gate. When she entered the house, she saw its elegance and was amazed.

"This is why you felt our house was too small?" asked Rica

"FlyAir is is a much bigger company than SkyRock. So I was a bit surprised when I saw your house." admitted Dave.

"There you are! Welcome!" greeted Dave's Mom.

Dave's mom immediately hugged Rica.

"I am happy to meet you, Dear."

"I am happy to meet you too, Auntie." said Rica.

Dave's mother is still the epitome of elegance and fashion.

Dave's Dad approached them walking slowly.

"Uncle, why did you get up? You don't have to get up just for me." said Rica.

"No, I can't stay on my bed when I heard you're coming." said Andres laughing "My best friend's niece will be part of the family, I can never be happier."

Rica's cheeks got red. Dave can't help but pinch it lightly.

Dave's Mom saw her son's sweet gesture and smiled.

-----------------

Rica went to the kitchen with Dave's Mom.

Dave's Mom was intimidating at first, she had this royal air around her. But Rica can see the older woman's effort to reach out to her.

"I'm glad to see that you two are getting along well." said Dave's Mom.

"Dave is a good person. He treats me well." said Rica.

"Not just as a person, but I'm glad to see that he seems to be fond of you." said Dave's Mom "When I tried to tear him apart from his girlfriend few years ago, I regretted doing that. Since then, I would feel that Dave had started keeping secrets from us. I felt he distanced himself from us. But now, he started opening up to us again. He now shares his plans in life. And that makes me really happy."

Wow… there was family drama around Diana, huh?

"Sorry. I shouldn't have talked about his ex." said Dave's Mom.

"That's fine, Auntie. You make me feel welcome. I was very nervous before I got here. But when you greeted me when I arrived, I felt the nervousness melt." said Rica.

Dave's Mom smiled at Rica and nodded.

"I've seen changes in my son and I can only guess that it's you who brought that sunshine in his eyes again. Please make him happy." said Dave's Mom.

-----------------

Dave drove Rica home that night.

"We're here." Said Dave

"Your parents are the warmest people." said Rica "I like them a lot."

Rica smiled her happy smile. It's been a while since Dave last saw it. Dave's throat moved.

"I'm glad you did. And I'm sure they were happy to see you." said Dave. "By the way, how is your Mom?"

"I'm convincing her to stay here. I like seeing her when I get home. She said she'll think about it. I think she's hesitant since she is no longer part of the family. You know…because she divorced my Dad. But Uncle was supportive of what I wanted. He said the family ties did not break just because of the divorce." said Rica.

"Your Uncle loves you very much." said Dave.

"I know that." said Rica. "I need to get in now. You better go home too. It's late." said Rica.

Rica opened the door. But when she was about to step out, Dave grabbed Rica's hand and pulled her closer. He kissed her on her cheek.

"That's the right way to say goodbye to your Fiancée." said Dave.

Rica was surprised. Her entire face turned to red!

"Go ahead." said Dave, laughing.

Rica went inside the house dumbfounded.

---------------

Di does not know what to do anymore. When Dave broke up with her when she was in New York… She thought it was just one of their cool off stages… But when she could not reach him to talk to him about it… She started to feel like the world just collapsed on her. She still hoped that Dave was just confused. But when she saw the articles and the videos of Dave kissing Rica in public, she just can't bear it anymore!

The most painful part was that she was hospitalized yesterday but Dave did not come. Doesn't he care anymore? Does he treat her as a nobody now?

She can't just give up on Dave like this. All her life, she had never loved another man. Dave was her first and last love. How can she live without him?

Di dialed a number on her phone. Her hand was shaking while waiting for the other line to answer. She almost started biting her nails in frustration when the other line finally picked up.

"Hello?"

"Hi. This is Diana. Can we meet?"

-------------

Rica knew everything had to be settled. If she wanted everything to go well, all the open holes had to be closed. And Di was the biggest open hole that had to be settled.

A car stopped in front of Rica and she saw Di in the driver's seat.

"Get in." said Di.

Rica got in Di's car. She's nervous but they need to talk things out and close this.

"So…I've read from a magazine that the engagement party is two days from now?" asked Di.

Di doesn't look angry. She looks cool about it but Rica doesn't feel at ease.

"All the mushy sweetness in the news, all the photos on the internet, they almost looked real." said Di.

Wow… where is this conversation going?

"I don't know if you've already talked with Dave. But that kiss was real." said Rica.

"Real kiss is not just when lips meet, little girl. Real kiss was when two people have feelings for each other and you know… couldn't stop themselves from expressing it." said Di.

Oh so… Di is trying to point out that the kiss was not out of passion and feelings…

"He said he likes me. Dave likes me." said Rica.

"And you believed him? He's running out of time, Rica. I learned he was only given three months to find a solution, but the three months had already lapsed. The shareholders were all crazy asking his Dad to resign as CEO. Dave is desperate right now, of course he'll do everything to make sure SkyRock doesn't fall." said Di.

Di handed Rica a folder.

"That's the last minutes of the meeting they had on the last Board meeting in SkyRock. You will see there what I mean by he's desperate." said Di.

Rica sighed. She knows Dave is desperate of course. She knows SkyRock needs help. But she also knows Dave likes her.

Rica browsed through the document. But she stopped and can't believe what she's reading. It seems like just a day before the public kiss, the board had given Dave an ultimatum to obtain the contract with FlyAir. The minutes said the decision to kick his Dad out of the CEO position will happen in three days if Dave does not make any concrete action.

"You made this up. You are desperate to have Dave back." said Rica.

"Wake up, Rica. All this time you made life difficult for Dave. He almost died it that elevator trying to save you. You took his right to be with the woman he loves and now you're going to trap him into a marriage he doesn't want." said Di angrily. "You think he's starting to like you… you think he's going to love you? How can he love the woman who destroyed his life?"

Di isn't paying attention to her driving and when Rica turned to the front, a truck crashed with their car sending their car flying away falling upside down.

--------------------

Di woke up and took a few seconds to remember what happened. She's inside her car. Rica was beside her facing the other way. The car was upside down. Blood…there was a lot of blood. Di tried to wake Rica up.

Rica can't open her eyes. But she can hear Diana's voice. What was happening? Rica felt everything in her body hurts.

"We're not dead yet…But we might die here if we don't get out." said Di.

After all the things that happened in her life, Di can't believe it will end up this way. Her life was a mess. Dave, the most important person in her life, was already too far from her. How can she die like this? She had always thought it would be nice to die in her old age beside Dave. So there can only be one answer. No, she can't die here. She needs to live.

"Let's make a bet?" asked Di. "If we both survive this, if Dave goes to you…then I won't hold on to him anymore. But if he goes to me. Can you promise to leave and not bother us any further?" Di said tears flowing from her eyes from both pain in her heart and body, her voice breathless.

Rica can't answer. She could not find her voice. Darkness was slowly eating her mind until she can hear no more.

---------------------

Dave's phone rang while he was on his way out of a meeting.

"Carl, why were you calling?"

"Dave, It's Di…Her car got into an accident." said Carl.

"Here we go again." said Dave.

"This is not a minor accident, Man. Di's car…crashed with a truck, the car flew and crashed to the ground upside down."

Dave immediately ran out, leaving Luis confused.

----------------------

Dave arrived at the hospital where Belle and Carl were also waiting.

"Where's Di?" asked Dave, still breathless.

"They're coming." said Belle.

Just then, a bed was being pushed inside. Dave saw Di on the bed, she's full of blood.

"Di…"

Di was awake and when she saw Dave beside her she held on Dave's hand. "Please stay by my side, Dave." said Di.

"The doctors will take care of you, OK? You'll be all right." said Dave.

Di was brought into the operating room.

"Are you OK?" asked Belle

"How can I be OK when Di's like that…" said Dave.

A nurse went to Dave.

"Sir, are you relatives with the woman we just brought in? Can we get some information?" asked the nurse.

"I'll give it to you" said Belle

"How about the other woman?" asked the nurse.

"Other woman?" asked Carl.

"Yes, there were two women in the car. The other woman will be here shortly." said the nurse.

Just then another bed was being pushed inside the hospital. When Dave looked at the woman on the bed, he felt his blood drained from his veins.

No way…

That can't be…

Rica.

"Oh no…" said Belle her hands covered her mouth from the shock.

Rica was full of blood. She looks much critical than Di and she's unconscious.

Carl had to hold on to something when he saw Rica.

"Are you relatives with her?" asked the nurse.

"Why were they together?" asked Belle.

Dave's legs were shaking, his arms were shaking, everything in him was shaking. He can't breathe. It's like his chest was incapable of doing anything.

Carl immediately went beside Dave just in time to catch him when he fell. Belle was also there to help Carl lift Dave up.

"I think he might be in shock" said the nurse "We need to lay him down and loosen his clothes."

Carl and Belle helped the nurse to lay Dave down on a bed and loosened his clothes.

Dave's breathing started to get normal after a while.

"I can't blame him. I hope Rica's all right. I just don't think I'll forgive Di if something happens to Rica." said Carl.

Belle looked at Carl confused. His eyes was closed while trying to control himself.

"It is an accident, Carl… It's not Di���s fault… Do you…You like Rica too?" asked Belle.

"Will me liking her change anything?" said Carl "Dave was already in love with her when I started falling for her. There was no other way but to let go."

Belle took a deep breath. Everything was getting too complicated.

As for Dave, he felt like he was in a black hole. Rica's image when she was on the bed full of blood, looking so pale like a dead person keeps flashing on Dave's mind. And the fear in his guts was just exploding. That fear…The fear of losing Rica, was just overpowering.

---------------

Dave noticed Belle sitting beside his bed when he woke up.

"You feeling better?" asked Belle.

"I guess. How's Rica and Di?" asked Dave.

"Di's injuries were minor. By some form of miracle, she survived that accident with just some bruises and a few stitches." said Belle.

"And Rica?" asked Dave.

"She's…still in the operating room." said Belle.

"What happened to her?" asked Dave anxiety filling up his lungs.

"There was a lot of blood lost. And she took some hit on her stomach area. But the doctors were doing everything they can to fix her." said Belle.

Dave stood up and immediately went outside.

"Wait! Dave!" shouted Belle.

Dave found where Rica was being operated and saw a doctor going out of the room.

"Doc, what happened?" asked Dave. He doesn't know what to think and he doesn't know what to do anymore. He just want to know if Rica's going to make it.

"There was a lot of bleeding. Even in some of her organs. But good thing there wasn't really any critical damage. I can say she's a fighter. She is going to live." said the doctor.

Dave's knees felt weak. He fell to the ground in relief.