Chapter 4 - A Glimpse of the Past

“I was followed by some stranger and end up entering your place. That’s it!” She was very agitated as she explained. I can see her annoyance through her eyes. But that made me smile.

“Can you let me go now? I need to get out from here. This place is too noisy for me,” Yvee said as she tried to move my hands off her.

“I also want to get out from here but I’m too tired. I’ll take a nap here. You should go out but be careful,” I said while I gave her a last tap on the head before sitting on the corner to take a rest.

She turned her back to me and started walking but suddenly stops midway.

“You take care also….Sandro,” she said with a smiling face. That left me speechless for a while before I managed to nod at her.

“Okay, see you when I see you!” I waved and she waved back before walking ahead.

I straighten my back and laid my legs on the floor before I closed my eyes.

“You are not a true Mercado! You cannot be!”

“You don’t deserve to be a Mercado!”

I find myself standing on a very dark place and all I hear is a voice of a woman shouting at me with anger. I tried to find where the voice is coming from but all I see is darkness. I tried to walk but it seems like I am walking on an endless path. I still cannot see the light.

I felt a cold breeze against my skin and it made me open my eyes. I woke up and felt relieved knowing that it was just a dream. No one will ever tell me that I don’t deserve to be a Mercado.

I rub my eyes to fully wake myself up and went to the balcony and looked if the crowd already disappeared but I was surprised to see that Yvee is now standing on the platform and surrounded by all.

I knew she is in trouble. Some girl tried to push her but she remained still. As what I see, she looked so angry and might be caught up in a fight soon.

I hurriedly run to the crowd and saw some men that is holding Yvee on bought arms.

“Are you kidding us?! Why are you here in the first place? You are not part of the guest list and you are telling us that you are with Sandro. You are a trespasser!”

A girl raised her right hand to slap Yvee but I ran to stop her before she can hurt Yvee.

“She isn’t a trespasser. I am with her. I know what everyone is up to here. I will call a cop to investigate everyone here if you will not leave us alone.” I bravely threaten them.

I rarely associate myself with cops or any men in government because I don’t want them to keep on pushing me to be part of their alliance and use me to be in the good side of the country’s people. I knew some big officials are doing some illegal activities and being close to them can taint our family’s image, especially my great great grandfather’s heritage of being the nation’s hero.

“What are you talking about Mr. prince Charming? We are not doing some illegal activities here. This is just a misunderstanding, right Steffi?” A man went close to the girl that confronted Yvee and gently grab her shoulder to speak.

“Y-yes. It was just a misunderstanding. We didn’t know that she is telling the truth. I apologized for my behavior.”

I gently grab Yvee’s hand and get out from the crowd.

“That was dangerous. You might end up being beaten if not with me. I told you to take care of yourself. You are lucky to have me, the great Ferdinand Alexander Mercado.”

I tried to get off the tension between us but Yvee seems so silent.

“Are you alright? Tell me if you are hurt,” I stopped and asked her but she just shut her mouth and stare at me. Here we are again. She is back being silent. “Can you please tell me? You are scaring me here. You turned again into a voiceless ghost.” I slight pressed her shoulders to get her attention.

“I-I don’t know how long can I survive this?! I am not supposed to exist here. I am not supposed to be with a Mercado but….but here I am entrusting my life with a Mercado,” she started to sob and broke down.

Her both hands covered her face. I can only see her tears as it fell from her chin. I suddenly felt guilty. I am the one who brought her here. I was so insensitive to her feelings. I should’ve been more attentive of her. But why did she say that she isn’t supposed to be with a Mercado? What’s with being a Mercado?

I have so much in my mind right now. I wanted to ask her but I don’t have the courage to ask looking at her state right now. She seems so tired of so much crying.

I slowly stood her up and hugged her.

“You don’t have to be scared. You exist for a reason. We exist to live a life we wanted.” I hushed her. “And you don’t have to be scared of me. I will protect you from now on.”

She started to stop sobbing. I wipe her tears while she was hiccupping.

“I am tired…” That was her last words before falling onto my arms.

Just seconds after my phone rang and luckily it was Elise calling.

“Hey! Where are you? We are park infront of the 2^nd gate.”

“I need you to call a doctor and tell him to go straight to our ancestral mansion.” I told Elise.

“Wait, why do we need a doctor? Did you get hurt?” I heard Elise’s hysterical voice on the line.

“I am not but…but someone,” I panickly replied and ended the call to carry Yvee who is now unconscious.