Chapter 101 - Her Husband's Competitor

The people stood up and applauded the moment they saw Hayri kissing Zheena. All of them, especially those who worked for already twenty years, knew what happened to Sr. Dioko. Though they didn't know exactly the anger and bitterness which Hayri had been struggling for years, it was not difficult to conclude that he may had lost all his courage to hold on with the great loss and shame he suffered. They were happy for him and were thankful that Zheena came into his life.

When Hayri finally released her, she spanked the top of his head, making Hayri smile even wider. He was so handsome with those glowing face and tender look of his eyes. Even Allie, herself, was emotionally moved. Hayri was innocent. His love for her, the inspiration he got from her and that emotional drive to move on and change the course of his life, were all true and honest. How could she be angry of that kiss? It was not about lust or desire, it was an expression of love and gratitude.

As she bowed down to take her exit afterwards, Hayri held his hand, instead, while someone gave him a microphone.

"Five years ago, " he began, " as all of you may have known already as all of you are our loyal staff to which we are grateful off, my life turned upside down. With my father's misfortune, I also didn't want to live anymore. I was angry, very angry. I had even sworn, that the day I will know who betrayed my father, I will kill her with my own hands. I wouldn't mind if I stain my hands with blood, my conscience won't bear the guilt. Her death would not be enough to compensate the pain, the fear, the loneliness and that great pity I feel for my father. "

"Though I know that my father deserved it, I did not see him, myself, as a tyrant and someone greedy of money, because all his life, he had been giving and sharing his blessings to others, most of all, to the less fortunate. "

"Unfortunately, the traitor was identified as someone who was granted with my father's scholarship program. It hurts, right?"

"But then, God is so good and He loves even me. He send Zheena into my life in a most unexpected way. Every morning for almost six years now, she kneels down with me, to ask God to take away all the claws of anger, hatred and bitterness I feel inside. She kneels down with me, to ask God to let me see what good I can make out of my life than dwelling in that pit of depression. She kneels down with me, to ask God to let me see the good things and the welfare of many if drugs would be cleared out. "

"And God let me see the joy of the children, the happiness of every home and the peace of the society if drugs would be kicked out from all the face of the earth. "

"It may be ironic to say that, today, I would like to thank whoever is she who betrayed my father. Because I, now, understand her intentions. Drug cartels should be thrown out and drug syndicates should be toppled down in all the face of the earth. "

"Even my father understands this better than I do. He's never angry and for him the iron bars give him the true freedom. It was not his will to do it anyway, something had happened in the past which forced him to do it. "

"And now, because of gratitude to this beautiful woman beside me, who becomes my strength, my inspiration, my spiritual adviser, my everything, I would also like to present my gifts to her. "

Zheena's tears were already falling like torrents and before Hayri could even present his gifts, she was already sobbing. Hayri reached up to her and brushed her tears away. He then wrapped an arm across her shoulders and pulled her closer as they looked up together to the big screen.

As the music began to play, the aerial view of the New Bilibid Prison rolled out into the screen. Located in Muntinlupa,  Philippines, it is the main insular penitentiary designed to house the prison population of the country.

A video of his father happily dancing with the inmates then followed. The next scenes were about him attending a motivational lecture, participating in a game, joining a spiritual retreat and working on a livelihood - making projects.

Then, a narrator's voice was heard from the background telling the crowd that despite the painful incident which happened to the Dioko's, better and beautiful perspectives were born. Photos of the drug rehabilitation center and places of retreat which were built inside the jail's premises, then came into view. The narrator then stated that Hayri funded all these projects with the hope to create change in the hearts of those individuals whose lives were ruined because of drugs.

Allie was too overwhelmed to see this. She realized that all of her efforts were paid off. Her fear was worth it because, not only Hayri did have a change of heart, but also those thousands whose lives were destroyed by drugs.

She sobbed loudly as she burrowed her face into his chest but her voice was clearly heard inside the hall. Her cries moved the crowd and they cried with her, especially Cherry, whose emotions were mixed up. She was hurting for the misunderstanding of the two but, now, she also understood and pitied Hayri. Her heart just broke for the three of them.

A different and happier music was then played into the background. The photos of the shipyard which only accepted repairs and conversions floated into the screen. The narrator then happily announced that because of a woman's dream, a new shipyard with a separate entity from the main Gretel Shipping Lines, Inc. was founded. Registered in the name of Zheena, this new company which would build the world's most beautiful and most luxurious superyachts, was named as Rina DK Builders.

The narrator then emphasized that Rina DK was a combination of the last syllables of the names Hayri and Zheena and the combination of their last name's initials.

Those men whom Allie did not recognize then came up to the stage in their uniform. They were, then, introduced by the master of the ceremony as the engineers and architects of Rina Dk Builders.

The team leader then picked up the microphone and looked at Allie in the eyes before he started to speak.

" Ma'am Zheena, after this, we will all go together to the Philippines to present Mr. Hayri's another gift to you. But since we know that it is not good to left you hanging in curiousity, we decide to let you take a glimpse of it. "

Allie felt tickled and awed as he looked at Hayri. "You already have so many gifts which I don't deserve anymore. How could... " Hayri instantly covered her mouth , keeping her from speaking out her mind.

"Just watch. " He said as he lifted up her chin to let her look back into the

wide screen.

Suddenly, Allie froze at what she saw. She felt her heartbeat had just stopped. Her tears then fell like fountains which knew no end.

On the screen, while the music in the background pierced into the deepest recesses of her heart, an animated pictures of the crew ship she and Hayri had designed together, rolled up.

Then, another actual video was then played. It started on the transport of the materials to the stockyard followed by the plate bending and the hull formation. Then, it moved forward to the outfitting and block erection to the steps towards the completion of the product!

Allie was still dumbfounded when the project team bowed down simultaneously before taking their exit.

In her mind, she still couldn't believe how she became her own husband's competitor...

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Note: My next update would be tomorrow night. My head is aching due to writing simultaneously two different stories. My astigmatism has worsened.

But I love the challenge.