Stefani's heartbeat stopped. She looked over at Jonathan.
"It's going to be fine," Jonathan assured, giving the younger one a small smile.
Stefani's heart hurt. She didn't like how Jonathan was looking at her. It was as if he was going away and never returning back. She didn't like that. Stefani was confused why. She hated Jonathan, from the beginning of this engagement plan, she has always hated Jonathan. She was the reason why Stefani wanted to escape. She hated Jonathan. So why was her heart aching upon seeing that smile?
"I'm going to distract them. Run after I count to three. Here," Jonathan handed some cash he had hidden in his pockets to Stefani. "I don't know where we are but I could smell grass and soil, which means it's pretty far from the city. As soon as you're out, go to the nearest bus station and wait for me there."
Stefani knew Jonathan was lying. How dare he lie to Stefani at times like this? Just what was he trying to do? Why was he acti
"Here, this is the only room we can offer for now. I'm leaving this key to you then," the auntie said and handed the key to Jonathan. She then walked away, going down to a mini village where her own house stood.Jonathan and Stefani stared at the only small house up in the center of trees and plants around like it hasn't been touched for the past hundred years. Suddenly, it became windy and the roof that was made of bamboo and hay moved like it would be swept away like a wig from a big muscled bald man. Now Jonathan had to think if there was even a use of the key if the house looked like it didn't even need a force for it to be opened at all. It was a house that looked like the ones people see in TV documentaries in remote areas.Jonathan shook his head. He needed to stay rational and practical. They needed a roof before it turned dark again. "Come on, let's head in-"He turned and found Stefani already walking away even if it was obviously not okay for her to d
"What? Are you just going to stand there all day?" Stefani asked as she had already stepped foot inside the small house.Jonathan balled his fists. The younger seemed to have not taken the accident too seriously as Jonathan. There wasn't even a look of shock or fear from her eyes the moment she fell down and hurt her leg. Jonathan wondered if the younger was only faking her bravery or she wasn't just as fragile as Jonathan thought her to be. Well, she did save Jonathan yesterday. The younger was dead serious when she said she could fight too.The moment Jonathan went in, it was becoming dark outside. They were lucky they had shelter for the night. Jonathan gave whatever he had to the old woman a while ago to let them stay. He only had a little cash left in his pocket. His wallet and Stefani's other belongings might've been stolen by the men who kidnapped them while they were unconscious.There was only one bed inside. Stefani was already heading for it. "I'm goi
There he saw Stefani standing on a chair in a corner. Her face was extremely pale as if she had seen a ghost."What happened?" Jonathan asked, looking at Stefani and all around the room.Stefani pointed to the bed. "T-There's a monster!"Jonathan's heartbeat finally became slower after seeing his little fiancee safe. "Monster?" He looked over the bed. What monster was this kid talking about now?"Under! It's hiding under the bed! It attacked me just now!" Stefani looked extremely terrified it was impossible to calm her down for now.Jonathan ducked, checking what was under the bed that was making the younger look so scared. He sighed though as he found a grasshopper sitting prettily under it.He stood up, staring at the younger. "A grasshopper?" Is Stefani being serious?Stefani looked disgusted and scared even more now. "I-It's a grasshopper? But it's so big! How can it attack me earlier?!"Jonathan sighed. "Just what do you e
A day after the first kissStefani rolled to her bed, screamed on her pillow, got up, frowned while panting, then rolled over again."Young Miss, I brought you hot milk. You should be able to sleep after drinking this. You still have school tomorrow.""Big sister, what does it mean when someone kisses you?" Stefani asked, now sitting at the edge of her bed and expectantly looking at Rose.Rose paused, taken aback by Stefani's sudden question. She then placed the tray at the bedside table and moved to sit next to Stefani who looked nowhere near getting a sleep."Well, it depends," Rose said, observing Stefani's reaction. By the way, Jonathan took Stefani back home a while ago and Stefani's death glare was thrown at Jonathan, and the way Jonathan stared at Stefani's back when he entered the mansion, she could already guess what had happened."What do you mean?" Stefani looked at her, now all too serious even with messy hair and wrinkled sleepi
Jonathan sighed, observing his little fiance from a distance."I-It moved!" Stefani's face looked horrified again. She was wearing a farmer's set of clothes, a hat, and a pair of black farmer boots and gloves."It's an earthworm," one of the kids, Emerald, age six, told her.Stefani looked scared as she distanced herself from the creature, "W-What is that thing doing there?!""It's for fertilizer. It makes the soil healthy for plantations. Right, Big sis?" Emerald said as she asked her older sister beside her.How is that even possible? Aren't earthworms the ones that eat the growing plants and ruin their health? Stefani thought to herself. However, she was wrong about it since the ones she was thinking about were the bugs and pests that destroyed the plants. They were, in no way, resembling the helpful earthworms she saw today. For Stefani, as long as the creatures look small but are ready to attack her, she would consider them as deadly monsters.
Inside the Hill residence, Stefani was still trying hard not to cry. Emerald and her other siblings ages 3, 5, and 8 were trying to calm the shaking youth. Stefani, upon being comforted by little children, couldn't help but feel more emotional. She started bawling her eyes out."I don't care about him anymore!" Stefani cried out, "why... -hic- why did he have to treat me like that? I'm not useless! I'm not handicapped!" She cried even louder. What upset her the most wasn’t the fact that she couldn’t do the tasks given to her well but it was that Jonathan was treating her as if she couldn’t do anything right at all.Emerald shook her head, her little hands caressing Stefani's back. "Calm down, Big Sister. Maybe big brother Jonathan is just trying to help you since you're younger than him..."Stefani bawled her fists, her face contorted in anger. "I'm not a kid anymore!!" Then she started crying loudly again. "I hate him! I hate him! I hate him!!
The wind blew and a four-leaf clover fell under the slide in the playground.Sounds of the children laughing, giggling while playing echoed around.Stefani pulled her knees closer to her chest, head duck down, not letting anyone see her crying face."Stefani!"That voice again. It was trying to pull her out of the dark abyss.She sniffed before she wiped her cheek and spoke with a crying voice."You found me, Jonathan."She heard him sigh.When everyone else couldn't find her, he always did.He has always been an exception.Always."It's okay, Stefani. I'm here. Don't be sad. I'm here.""Stefani! Stefani!"Stefani opened her eyes, squinted as they were welcomed by the strong light above. Ruby was beside her, frowning in worry or anger, Stefani couldn't distinguish. She look
Twelve years ago"Stefani! Stefani!"Jonathan just arrived at the Hernandez Mansion after he and Jane went to their parents' grave and gave their mother her favorite flower when he noticed the butlers and maids all wore anxious expressions on their faces. He didn't waste time as he ran towards Mr. Hernandez."Quick!! Find my daughter!" Mr. Hernandez looked miserable and full of anxiety as he shouted at his bodyguards."What happened, Mr. Hernandez?" Jonathan asked, feeling anxious himself."Ah, Jonathan! Jonathan, please help me. Stefani, my Stefani is missing. What am I going to do? It's her mom's birthday today and we said we're going to visit her grave. When I went to check her bedroom, she's not there anymore... Jonathan-ah, my daughter... my daughter is..."Jonathan decided to remain calm and think. They wouldn't be able to find Stefani if all of them were going to panic. Just then, he remembered Stefani's story about her mothe