Chapter One

Talking to a stranger can really be scary, I know that and I'm also aware of the consequence of doing that. But, I felt like its different, way different than the stories I heard. there's no fear or uncertainty while I am being lulled to comfort by that someone. 

This story starts when I was still a Sophomore in High School and known as a prim and proper lady. My mom trained me to be one since I was can remember and it stuck to me like glue. my hair will always be tied in a tight bun on my head without a single strand falling down my face, my school uniform should always be ironed without any visible creases and I have to make sure not to have any dirt on my shoes. I also have to watch my weight and figure to look pristine. 

I know it's not much of torture but along with that are the restrictions of my social groups as well. I was not allowed to have any friends outside the social circle she approved nor am I allowed to talk to my classmates she deemed dangerous and bad influence to her little princess. She doesn't expose me to people who do not have any form of education inside their homes before being sent to school, they are just wasting their time and will be sent to jail when they grew older anyways. 

So, with that, it's safe to say that I have a limited number of friends. They are the daughters of my mom's friends who are as socially awkward as me. We barely hang out too since they live in different towns and we are not that close for me to pour my heart out whenever I need to which sucks. 

But, in that year of young innocence, I still can't figure out what's going to happen nor was I looking forward to it. I still have no idea what I really want to do in life, all I know is that I'm living through the strict enforcement of instructions and restrictions given by my parents. 

I lead a life laced with loneliness and melancholy. 

Until that one encounter. 

The day started with a usual early morning encounter with my parents. A usual episode took place which always became an alarm twice or thrice a week. 

It will always be my mom's screeching voice that will wake me up. She'll be throwing another round of tantrums or they are in another fight. I can hear my dad shouting at the top of his lungs while my mom responds louder than him, which makes her sentence almost inaudible.  

I rubbed the sleep off of my eyes and checked the clock hanging on my wall which indicates 4:00 in the morning. I rolled my eyes and groaned. They definitely started earlier than usual, it freaking four in the morning and I can hear the plates being thrown around the room, waking the whole neighborhood up in this ungodly hour. 

It was still dark outside my windows but I don't think I can still salvage a few lost hours of sleep while my parents are breaking all the silverware in the house, which they will hastily try to clean up or replace before I went back home from school. 

I waited for them to cool down and take a minute to pause from yet another huge fight but after time passes, it seems to be getting much worst. 

Sighing, I carefully peeled my blanket covering me from the cold and tiptoed my way towards the door, pressing my left ear on the surface of the said slab of wood, trying to figure out what they were fighting about. But, my ear welcomed another screeching inaudible screaming from my mom who seems to be expressing her frustrations through breaking another kitchenware that loudly hit the floor. 

I felt my heart dropped and shatter in million pieces like it always did when this occurred. Even if it was unbearable, I stayed there. I sat on the floor listening to them, brokenhearted and silently praying it will end soon. 

It was only getting worst...

Every passing second seems to be building up their anger towards each other. 

Giving up hope, I tear myself away and stood up, wiping my tears off my face and finally switching the lights on, blinding me for a few seconds as my eyes adjusted then decided to start my day. 

I was drying my hair and styling it when the war taking place downstairs stopped. I didn't hear any noise after that, meaning they decided to do a ceasefire until they wanted to do it again in the next few days, picking where they left off, or so I thought... 

it was already five-thirty when they started again and I know for a fact that it will continue for the rest of the day, wherever they might be which is humiliating since my parents wanted to let everyone knows that we are a perfect little family. 

If only they know... 

~

I have no idea where they went.

I was prepared to go to school hours earlier than usual and I was just mustering up the courage to climb down the stairs and see the damage, telling myself that everything is okay and that it's normal for the house to be in chaos every morning.

"It's okay, everything is fine. It's normal for couples to fight all the time." I assured myself over and over again, clenching my fist into a ball and burying my nails on my palm to the point of stinging. 

Taking another deep breath, I finally descended the stairs getting a full view of what happened in the room, and I have to admit that it was worse than I thought. Everything was out of place and everything is broken and on the floor.

Broken pieces of whatever we have in the house are littered on the carpeted floor and I have to carefully navigate myself so that I won't step on anything. Looking at the damages, I tried humoring myself by asking myself how they will change everything back to the way it was since they have the habit of replacing everything they broke when they finally calm down. Looking at everything, it looks like they'll pay thousands for all of the mess they made.

Yet it was also evidenced by their deception to the community and to themselves. Something is terribly wrong with both of them and they do not have the courage to admit that. My parents are toxic individuals who fell in love with each other, hoping to change the other to fit their young fantasy but end up in a commitment they both loathe with the realization that they are not the person they wanted to marry.

But, for the sake of keeping up the image, they need to show everyone that they are happily in love.

It will actually be much better for my sake if they got divorced so I won't have to suffer listening through all their messy fights and then watching them act sickly sweet the next day, acting as if they're straight out of the 1950's black-and-white TV show.

Not being able to take it any longer, I dash out of the room and into the arms of the chilly air outside the front door.

The sky was still pretty dark but compared to the chaos I witnessed, I found it rather peaceful. Our neighborhood is pretty safe and I've always walked around this time so even though there's no soul left in sight, I wasn't scared. On the contrary, I was relieved to finally have the feeling of being able to breathe again.

Walking out of our gated front yard, I enjoyed the atmosphere while walking at the slowest pace I can make, not bothering to look to where I am headed. I let my eyes wander through the heavens and watch the magnificent show of the sunrise. The dark blue tint was slowly becoming a soft pink hue with the mixed orange ribbon-like swirls around it. The show goes well with nature's music of ruffling leaves and chilly wind, and then after a short wait, the soft light gracefully made its descent and touches the earth to which we were watching, covering every corner and act as the cue of the introduction of the forenoon.

The wind blows again and touches my exposed skin, making me shiver. The birds chirping in the background welcomed the new day and the picture of peacefulness I watched uplifted my mood and draw a huge smile on my face.

After waking up with the trouble, the scenery did a nice job pulling me away from my reality, even just for a few minutes.

I didn't realize that I halted my steps to watch the beauty unfold before my eyes, still treasuring every minute of it. If only I can stay like this forever, I would. I breathed the fresh morning air and closed my eyes, preserving the memory of everything around me.

"Watch out!" Someone yelled from behind me before I felt my arm being grabbed forcefully, making me scream in fright.

A hand covered my mouth to stop me from making a scene and settled me on the sidewalk, only mere seconds before a whooshing of the speeding car passed through us to where I was originally standing, unconscious of the world around me.

It took me a while to realize that I almost died and the person standing in front of me, looking at me with a terrifying glare saved my life.

A hint of anger and worry crossed his face which still scared the hell out of me, along with his towering figure hovering over mine, I have no choice but to just stand there and get overwhelmed with shock and speechless.

"What in the world are you thinking?!" He screamed, furiously. His electrifying dark gaze looking dead right at me. "Are you trying to kill yourself?"

My eyes widened and I looked away. "I-"

"Seriously?!!"

I shook my head, unsure if I can form a sentence. His hands are still on my arms, trying to steady my shaking figure.

He sighed as he tried to assess my well-being. "Sorry, are you alright?"

It took me a while to feel myself again and I tried to calm myself before answering. "Yes... I-I'm really sorry about t-this. A-and, t-thank y-y-you f-for s-saving m-me."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded while looking away. My heart beats furiously inside my chest as my mind process what just happened. He checked me again before finally letting go of his grip on me, still making sure that I can stand on my own before adjusting his backpack hanging loosely on his shoulder. He fished his phone out of his pocket and asked. "Do you want me to call 911?"

"No, that won't be necessary," I answered. "I'm alright."

I checked my hair with my hands, hoping that the little incident didn't mess it up, when I made sure that my hair is still neatly tied, I smoothed my uniform consisting of a white buttoned-down shirt tucked into a short pleated skirt consisting of the school's color, red and gray.

He was watching me the whole time while I was fixing myself with a questioning look before I gave him a smile and mumbled "Thank you" before walking away.

He was trying to call me back, not knowing why but I hastily fled the scene, unsure as to why as well.