It all starts here

Chapter Three

Dad cancelled our office day. He has an emergency in one of his projects. He looked so worried when I saw him running to his car. 

"Mom what happened?" I asked. I'm all dressed up. 

"I'm not sure Hija, but I hope it's not serious." My mom held my hand. "Come on, eat your breakfast. Join your brothers."

I first saw Calen. He's my 2nd brother. He's reading a book while drinking his chocolate drink. 

"Hi Ate!" Calvin smiled at me. He's our youngest. "Let's watch spider man?" He jumped out of his chair and ran to me. He hugged my left leg. He's just 3 years old and he loves spider man. 

"Finish your pancake first baby." I picked him up and put on his chair. 

"Yummy." He clapped and dug in his plate. 

Stef texted me. She told me that Steven will go here today to bring my things and Leo's gift that we left at the condo. 

"Hija do you want French toast?" Mom asked. 

"No mommy, I'll just have milk." I answered. I tried to call Leo but he's out of coverage. 

Oh. I forgot his broken phone. Maybe he doesn't have time to buy a new one. Should I buy him? 

"Ate can we go to the mall? I have to buy some things for my volcano project." Calen asked. 

"I'm going with you guys." Carlo butted in. He's my third brother. "I need a new baseball bat." 

"Mom can we go? I'll drive my new car." I smiled. I'll buy a new phone for Leo. 

"Of course not. You will not drive. Your driver will join you guys. Calvin and I will watch spider man today, right baby?" She gave me warm milk. 

Ohhkay. Whatever. 

I finished my milk and changed my clothes and shoes. I'll just wear sneakers or doll shoes for our errands. 

The boys were already inside the car but Simon waited for me outside the car to open the door. 

I looked at my phone again. No text or missed call from Leo. Is he still busy? 

I opened my social media account to check if he's online but no, he's most recent post was eleven o'clock in the morning yesterday. I'm a little bit worried. I tried to call Paul but he's not answering my calls too. 

Carlo poked me. "What's with your face? You don't like your car?" He suddenly asked. 

I looked at Calen on the shotgun seat. He's reading a book again. He's the most studious among us. He excelled in school also.

"No Carlo. I'm just thinking about some stuff. Why would I not like this car? It's my dream car! So make sure that your shoes are clean okay?" I chuckled. He hurriedly looked at his shoes. 

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I got Leo a new Iphone 4. I really wish he would contact me soon. I used my own savings to buy this thing. I can't use my credit card because Dad gave me a new phone just last month. He didn't know about this, so I asked Simon to go with my two brothers before I went to Power Mac Center. I let Carlo pick a restaurant for us. It's lunch time so I will have it here in the mall. 

"Calen where are you guys? I'm done with my shopping." I also bought new Gucci shades and three pairs of two-piece. Summer's around the corner so I need to be ready. 

It's already two o'clock in the afternoon when we got home. The boys were tired so they went straight to their rooms. I needed Simon and two of our maids to help me with my things. Mom was so mad when she saw the Gucci & LV boxes. 

"I love you Mom. Relax. That's my last shopping trip for this month." I run to my room before she can speak again. 

I grabbed my phone. No text or call. Urgh. Leo what are you doing? 

I opened the phone that I bought for him. I saved my number and put my selfie for his wallpaper. 

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It's been a week. A whole freaking week that I didn't see my boyfriend. He didn't try to contact me or our friends. I went to his condo almost everyday, but I didn't see any sign of him. His social media accounts were all deactivated.

I'm crying every night. I didn't know what to do anymore. 

"Paul are you sure? He's your best friend and you didn't know their house in Tagaytay? Are you serious? I just wanted to talk to him." I pleaded to Paul. 

"Cinds I'm telling the truth. I don't know where he is. He didn't call me either. I swear to God." He let me check his phone. 

"Girl calm down. We should go home. Let's just go back tomorrow. The guards are looking at us. " Stef said. 

We're still here at the parking lot of Leo's condo. 

"I don't care Stefanie. If he wants to break up with me, he should say it to me. Not like this." I'm so tired of crying. I'm just hurt. He's my first boyfriend.

"We still don't know what happened but I'm sure that he loves you Cindy. Just give him a little more faith." Steven said. 

Arriana hugged me. My insecurities are eating me. What if he didn't love me anymore? Maybe I didn't satisfy him enough when we had sex that's why he left me. 

"Oh my God, it's Leo! Guys! " I heard Stef exclaimed. 

I almost pushed Arriana and looked at my back. It's really him. 

He's walking slowly while his left hand is holding his stomach. I saw blood in his face and shirt. 

"Dude, what happened? Who did this to you?" We all ran to him. 

"I'm fine. Why are you all here?" He asked and looked at me. He's in pain! "Did you miss me babe?" He pulled and hugged me. 

"Why? Wh--what happened to you?" He hugged me tight. 

"Can you stay with me tonight?" I didn't answer him. I can't help but cry. 

I didn't think that something bad happened to him. Oh my God. 

"Dude, your head's bleeding. Let's go to the hospital." Paul said. 

"I said I'm fine. I'll catch up with you guys. Thank you for taking care of my girl. I just want to rest, please." He hooked his arm around my shoulder for support. I can feel his hurting. 

His face was bruised. Who did this to him? 

"Do you have an emergency kit here dude? We can buy." Steven offered. 

"No need. I have it in my unit." he answered and looked at me again. 

"I'll stay here guys. I'll just text dad that we had a sleepover." I caressed his face. 

We bid them goodbye before we go to his unit. 

I let him sit in the bed before going to the bathroom and look for an emergency kit. 

The setup that he made was still here, but roses are all dried up. 

"What happened?" I asked while putting plaster around his right hand. His wounds are not too deep. Thankfully. 

"Family matters. But it's okay now. No need to worry okay?" He cupped my chin and made me face him. He gave me a soft kiss. "I missed you. Sorry for keeping you waiting. It won't happen again, I promise." I tried not to cry again. 

This is the first time that I saw him like this. It's like he fought three to five men. 

"Just tell me. Who did this to you?" I asked once again. 

"Dad. He already knows about us. He wants me to break up with you. He hit me. Things got heated and the next thing I know, I'm locked inside a room. He got all my gadgets there and deactivated all of my social media accounts." Oh. His dad can do this to him? 

His own son? He's only son? 

"That's why I can't contact you. He locked me there for six straight days. I just got a chance to escape when one of his men gave me food. I fought with them." my poor man. 

I'm not aware that his Dad can do this. 

"What do you feel now? Are you hungry?" I don't know how to cook but we can order food if he wants.

"Yeah, I'm starving." He hugged me tight. 

"Leo, you have to rest. I'll order food." I gently pushed him and grabbed my phone. 

I just ordered pizza and chicken. I got his clean clothes and I asked if he could wash himself. 

"What happened to your eyes?" He asked while I'm washing his face. 

"I cried for days. I thought you left me." I pouted. 

"You know I will not do that intentionally. We have to talk but let's finish here first." I pulled the robe and gave it to him. 

I help him with his clothes. I let him eat first before giving pain relief medicine. 

"Thank you babe." I changed my clothes too and used his white v-neck shirt. 

We both lay in bed and I cuddled him. I missed him so much. It feels like ages. 

"I can't be here long. I know dad. He will not stop until he gets me again." He said. 

"Where are you going?" I asked. Will he leave me again? 

"I'm looking for a place. Far away from here. I want you to go with me." What? Elope? "Next year I can marry you even without our parent's consent. I can't live without you baby. Please, come with me." He hugged me tighter, as if I will leave him. 

I don't know what to say. I don't want to leave my family, but I don't want to let him go too. 

"I know it's a hard decision, but I love you. I have my savings. We can go abroad if you want. You can still study there. I'll work hard for you. Just please, I need you with me." He pleaded again. 

"Babe I'm too young to elope. I can't leave my family. Do we have other options? Can we talk to your dad? I will talk to him." I said 

"No, you will not talk to him. Look at me, he can do a lot worse baby. You don't know what he's capable of. I don't want you to get hurt. I'll handle this." I didn't know what to respond to him. "I know it's all of a sudden, I'll give you time to think. Goodnight. I'll drive you home tomorrow. I'm really sorry baby." He kissed my forehead. 

He cuddled me to sleep. 

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Leo's voice is still in my head. I'm so torn. I love him but I also love my family. Dad's counting on me. If I go with Leo he will be very disappointed. I will break his heart. If I choose my family, Leo will suffer. Urghh. 'Think Cindy! Think!'

"Girl are you okay? What happened to Leo?" I heard Arri's voice. We're in our English class.

"He doesn't want to talk about it but he's fine." I lied. I promised him last night, I won't say anything to our friends. I also promised him that I will decide this week. He gave me one week to decide if I want to be with him. Of course! Of course I want to be with him. But my family, they need me too.

This week is also the last day of our senior year. If I go with Leo, I can't go to our graduation ceremony. 

I received a text from Leo.

'Love, just text or call if you need me. My dad already knows about the Condo unit. He's there right now.' I gulped. How about him? Where is he?

I went to the washroom before calling him. He didn't answer my calls. Leo, don't do this to me again. 

'Where are you? Answer my calls!' I'm nervous. What if something bad happened to him again?

'I'm outside your school. I borrowed Steven's car.' He replied to my text.

"Cindy are you there? Come on, it's History class." I heard Stefanie's voice outside the cubicle.

"I'll be there in a minute. Don't wait for me." I replied. I heard her closing the door. I slowly open the cubicle door to check if she's still there.

'I'll be there.' I texted Leo.

I fixed my hair. I made my decision.

I'll go with him. 

I looked for Steven's car when I got out of the campus gate. I told the guards that my dad is here to fetch me. I acted like I was talking to him on the phone so they let me out.

I saw Leo standing outside the car. He's wearing a black jacket with a hoodie. He opened the shotgun door for me. I kissed him before going in.

"Sorry to disturb your class. I just like to see you before I go." He drives the car while holding my left hand.

"What? Where are you going?" I panicked. "I'm coming with you." 

"No baby. You don't have to come with me if you don't like it. I'm sorry if I've been selfish. You're right, you're too young for this. You have a bright future here. With your family." He gently squeezed my hand.

"Babe, don't say that. I love you. I'll come with you. I want to be with you." He can't leave me again. 

He looked at me. He kissed my hand and put it in his chest.

"I love you too. I'm doing this for you. For us. I told you, you're making me a better man." He parked the car.

"Then let's go. I will go with you anywhere in the world." I said. 

"Are you sure? I want you to be sure. 100% sure love. We can't go back here. You might don't see your family often." He asked. 

"Yes. You'll be my family." I smiled and kissed him. There's no turning back. 

"I need to withdraw some cash. Before dad freezes my account." I told him.

"I got you baby. I told you I have savings. It's not that big but----

"It's okay. We need it for emergencies." I urged him. "It's for us too. Let me help you." I opened my bag to get my wallet. 

We looked for an ATM machine nearby. We both got out of the car. He holds my hand while walking.

"Thank you baby. You won't regret it. I'll make you happy. " I know babe. I love you. That's all that matters.

I just got twenty thousand pesos. I can withdraw money in the bank but they have to call my dad for verification, and we don't want that. 

"Leo I need to get my passport. It's in my room." We're eating our lunch inside the car.

"No need for that. We're not leaving the country today. We will just go to Cebu. From there we will buy tickets going to New Zealand. I have fake IDs and passports. We can't use our real names." He answered.

"But what if we got caught? Leo are you sure about this? You can go to jail!" I'm shocked. He can't be serious. 

"Ssh. It's okay babe. I have a contact in Mactan Airport, I told you don't worry. I already planned this. Just trust me okay?" I took a deep breath. This might be dangerous but he's by my side. I know he will do his best. 

That's one of the things that I love about him. He's making me his top priority. 

After our quick lunch. We drove for thirty minutes to go to the airport. He gave me my fake IDs. Sarah Sanchez. 

"Ohh and I'm twenty huh." I chuckled while checking my IDs. 

"Legal and my wife." He gave me his fake IDs. Peter Sanchez. Really Peter? I remember Calvin. He loves Peter Parker. My baby boy. 

We got out of the car and he gave the car key and a bag to the man that was waiting for us. They didn't talk but the man nodded his head and left. 

"Who's that?" I asked. 

"I hired him. Let's go." He reached for my hand and guided me to the departure area. 

He handed me a small bag pack and asked me to change my school uniform. 

He waited for me outside the comfort room. 

He got me a gray plain shirt and a black jacket with hoodie just like what he wears. We looked like a couple because of this. I smiled. 

My phone rang. I saw Mommy's face.

I'm really sorry Mom. I declined the call and composed a message for them. 

'Mom If you're reading this, know that I am really sorry. I love you. I love our family but I'm choosing the man that I love. Tell dad that I love him so much and I'm sorry that I broke his heart. Please don't look for me. I'm happy with Leo. I'm hoping that someday, you can forgive me. Hug the boys for me. I'm so sorry.' I sent the text before turning off my phone. I let go of the tears that I'm holding. I will miss them. 

"Babe? They're calling for our flight." I heard Leo outside. "Give me a second." I answered. 

I washed my face first and dried it with my handkerchief. I need to buy some stuff in Cebu. 

I opened the door. Leo's typing on his phone when he looked up at me. 

"Are you okay?" He noticed my eyes. 

"Yeah, I texted Mom to say goodbye." I honestly say. 

"Come here." He opened his arms and let me hug him. He still smells nice. "Sorry baby. I love you okay? You got me from now on." I patted my back and gave me my shoulder bag. 

"I love you too." I answered. 

I'm ready for a new life with him. I'll just look for the brighter side. We will always be together. No more curfews. No more secret dates. Just the two of us. 

I looked at him. 

We will be together for the rest of our lives. 

This is just the start. 

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