CHAPTER NINE: You're not leaving

"There's someone who will fall for you even though you're not perfect."

Lucas

I awakened to the sound of my cellphone. So frowning I took it to the side table and answered.

"Lucas!" I kept the cellphone away from my ear because my younger sister suddenly shouted on the other line.

"What the hell, Julie! What do you need?!" I shouted angrily while lying on my bed.

"Pick me up." I frowned at what she said. Maybe, she's just tripped me up. So even though my sleep was interrupted, I still rode her in her nonsense.

"What? to fetch you? Are you in America, right? Shall I fetch you there?!" I asked sarcastically.

"No, I'm here in the Philippines now and at the airport. So hurry up and don't slow down! Get me here, I'm so bored, duh!" She shouted at me and turned off the call.

I was just shaken by my sister's behavior, you thought she was the eldest of the two of us. When I looked at the clock it was five o'clock so I frowned and got up and took a shower.

Even though I didn't have enough sleep, I finally see my baby sister who has been away from me 2 years ago. Damn, I miss her so much.

Wait for me, Julie.

...

As I was driving I remembered what happened last night, I didn't realize I was smiling. So I immediately shook my head. Maybe later someone will see me and say I'm crazy. Crazy over her?

Damn your smile, Lilie. It never left my mind. How can I stop thinking about it, Lilie? How?

When I entered the entrance of the airport, media and reporters approached me so the guards immediately blocked it. I just walked straight and did not answer the questions they were asking. It was so damn irritating because it just happens over and over again.

I saw my sister sitting in the front with earphones still in her ear and she was not paying attention to the cameramen around her. I just chuckle at what I saw.

I put the earphone over her ear so she looked at me with irritating eyes, but she immediately hugged me when she saw me.

"I miss you!" She shouted so I tapped her head and hit her forehead gently. She glared at me because of what I did to her.

"What the heck, Lucas! It hurts, do you know that! Are you surprised when I come home?" She asked so I put on her bag and put it on her shoulder.

"No, I was disturbed because you woke me up." so she punched me in the arm causing me to frown. It hurts. Why does she like to hurt and slap me?

"The bad thing about you is that you already like a woman," she teased so I just frowned at what she said.

When we came out, only a camera flash appeared on us so I covered my sister with a jacket.

I know she is not used to this while I am used to it. Other reporters ask us questions but we do not answer because we are in a hurry. I know that Julie is not ready to answer all the questions that they are asking us.

When we entered the car Julie Ann removed the jacket and I saw how her face frowned. She even parted her curly hair.

"Thank you for covering me to those flashes of camera and reporters, Lucas," she said so I just smiled. As I was driving I looked at my sister when she suddenly spoke.

"Brother, look. I made this for you," she said. She showed me her drawing like a child. I just smiled because my youngest sister has matured.

"Hmm ... why the design is a wedding?" I asked curiously and just glanced at her for a moment.

"Maybe when I come back you'll have a fiance or girlfriend. It's better to be ready, no!" She explained and just smiled. Pure nonsense. A few minutes later I thought she was quiet next to me but I was just shocked when she hit me on the arm and seemed to be trembling while looking at her cellphone.

"Omg! Lucas, is it true that it's spread today on social media?" she asked me so I stopped the car on the side and showed me something.

• 37 minutes ago. Lucas Nixon Montiero has a girlfriend now?

Just yesterday afternoon multi-millionaire Lucas Nixon Montiero was photographed with a woman. He hugged the woman and others suspected that she was his girlfriend.

Who is the lucky girl?

I looked closely at the pictures, the last one is Lilie and I holding hands while I was looking at her.

"They'll take care of it. You don't have to be worried about us, just don't give them your damn attention," I said and continued driving so she was quiet next to me.

"I told you, she was the woman you saved! I want to meet her! I guess she's really beautiful."

"Yeah, she's really beautiful," but I just didn't say that and changed my answer. "No, I know that you will say something to her. So you better shut up your mouth, Julie."

"Oh, what the heck? You look like a turtle. Very slow," she teased so I laughed.

"Yeah, I'm like a turtle but I'm not your ex-boyfriend who left you," I returned so Julie fell silent and glared at me at the same time staring at me causing me to laugh.

"I hate you!"

...

Lilie

My forehead frowned as the other housemates rioted, they waited at the door as if someone they had not seen for a long time.

The first thing I saw was Lucas carrying a bag so when he saw me he immediately put it on the sofa and approached me.

"How are you?" he asked while smiling at me.

"Ah, I'm okay ..." I replied and looked at the woman who entered and they were already upset when they saw her. While Lucas was just staring at me.

"Julie, you look even better!"

"I know that girl. You are blooming, are you in love? He will leave you too."

"You're bitter, Julie."

"Duh, I'm just telling the truth."

I don't know but I just laughed. Lucas's sister looked at our behavior and came in front of me.

I saw the seriousness in her eyes and face, so I was nervous. I was surprised when she suddenly hugged me and screamed.

"You're really beautiful! I can't believe I met you in person," I felt the joy in her voice to me while holding me on the shoulder so I just smile sheepishly.

"Ah, hehe ..." I just said while looking at her so she just laughed at my reaction.

"I just want to introduce myself first," she told me as she parted her hair and held out her hand to me. "I'm Julie Ann Montiero, the artistic sister I once called handsome Lucas Nixon Montiero." so I laughed again at what she said.

"And your Lilie De Vega, right?" so I just nodded even though confused about how she met me.

"I know you because Lucas always talks about you to me," she laughed as she pointed at Lucas and when I looked at him he turned pale.

"Shut up, Julie!" he shouted and turned his back on us so I looked at Julie who is laughing hard right now. Why was he suddenly embarrassed?

"I'm just joking. By the way, you pretend you haven't heard anything," she whispered to me and hugged me. "I'm happy that Lucas met you," she added to me again and left me confused by what she said.

Is she happy because Lucas met me? It seems to be the other way around, I must be the one who is happy with me because I met Lucas.

...

A few days ago I met Julie. She is a fashion designer in Korea, she lived for two years and she also graduated there.

She is 20 years old and she is only one year older than me. It's funny because she's easy to get along with, at least sometimes she wants to talk. When I opened the door, Julie and I were shocked.

"Ahm ... can we bond together?" She asked. "So we can get to know each other better." She continued so I was still hesitant before answering.

"Lucas might be angry with us once we left without telling to him" so she frowned at my answer.

"Oh c'mon, Lucas won't be mad at us. Let go, so you better take a bath," she said to me again and pushed me away. So all I did was do the next thing.

...

"So, you took psychology?" Julie assured me, so I nodded as I drank the milk tea we bought.

I wanted to ask her if I had dirt on my face because she had been staring at me for a long time. After I drank I leaned back in my chair and stared straight into her eyes.

"Honestly ... I did take psychology but I couldn't save myself from sadness, from pain," I laughed and played with the straw.

I heard Julie sigh and say, "It's okay, I'm a fashion designer but I can't design exactly what dress I want. It's okay to feel the pain, but after it ... you have to let go of all your pain and worries to let you move on. "

Julie and I were silent for a few minutes, so I drank my half-full milk tea again.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend, Lilie?" I almost choked on Julie's question to me.

"Nothing!"

"There was a crush?"

"Nothing"

"Hmm... Do you like my brother, Lilie?" She playfully asked me.

I felt my cheek turn red when she asked me that. So I shook my head immediately. "No!" I shouted back and I felt I was blushing so she laughed.

"No, why are you blushing? Do you have a feeling for my brother, right? But, don't worry I won't tell him," she said while smiling even though I was shaking.

"Can you tell me what happened to you 4 months ago?" She asked me a reason why I was dumbfounded and I saw how her face turned pale when she seemed to realize what she asked me.

"Oh gosh! I didn't know that I will ask it, Lilie. I'm sorry..." She stopped speaking when I shook my head. "You're ready to tell me your past?" She couldn't believe the question.

"I mean, it's okay that you don't tell me. I will respect your decisions," she promised with a smile but I did not answer her.

"I was walking that night. Maybe about eight. I took a few more minutes and I decided to walk because there was no one to ride. As I was walking, I felt someone following me. I calmed down first myself because maybe we have the same direction to take us home. Then ... "I stopped because my lips were shaking.

"Then suddenly someone overtook me and I lay down on the grass. I was about to run away but he suddenly pointed a gun at me and he did. He raped me," I said to tremble and I didn't realize I was crying so she hugged me.

"Was the one who made you in prison now?"

"Not yet, but the police are still looking for it."

She took my hand and stared into my eyes. "You deserve justice, Lilie. You don't deserve this kind of world. Just like your name, you're so pure and amazing, Lilie."

"You're so strong. You make me amazed and admire you more. Now I know why Lucas fell in love with you." I never heard the last thing Julie said to me because someone passed in front of us who was laughing loudly.

...

During the four months I stayed here I decided to leave Lucas. He has helped me a lot. I am ashamed of those he helps, I feel I am only adding to the problems in his life.

If at the moment I leave Lucas I will continue my studies. While I was studying, I would work to pay for everything he had done and did for me. Even though I know it's hard, I can handle it.

I no longer have to empathize with other people with the problem I bring. I no longer have to train myself to have someone help me and they are always by my side to save me.

I also have to live alone. I have to train myself that I will be the only one to face the battles that will come in my life.

"Just in case I will leave, how can I tell Lucas that I need to leave in his life?" I asked while amazed in the garden and weakly swinging the swing.

I sighed loudly and thought even deeper. I need to think about how I will let him know.

"Lilie, what were you saying earlier?" I was shocked to see the person who suddenly spoke behind me. When I turned around, I was just pale as to who was standing in front of me.

Lucas with a dark face and looking straight at me. I don't know why he reacted that way.

"Lilie," he said firmly in my name so I was almost confused and I could not say the word that wanted to come out of my mouth.

"L-Lucas, I decided to leave here," I said nervously and looked at him as well. I could see how his jaw tightened at what he heard from me.

"Why do you have to leave?" he asked emphatically so I answered again even though my lips were shaking.

"Because you have helped me a lot. Not in all cases you are always by my side and ready to save me. Do not worry, once I get a job I will pay you immediately ..." I stopped explaining when he spoke angrily.

"You will not leave my side, Lilie! You are just here with me, my home is your home too. You do not have to leave here. You will not leave," he assured angrily and quickly turned around to enter the house.

I was just amazed at what he said. I wanted to speak but he suddenly left in front of me. I just leaned on the swing and thought about the words he left out.

Why does he not want me to leave here? Why don't you send me out of your life, Lucas Nixon? Why do you want me just here next to you?

If by the time I ask you those questions, can you answer me, Lucas Nixon?