Chapter 3 Stop

Dazzling light dawned on me, I blinked my eyes for a couple of times until I’ve finally adjusted my sight into a luminous light. I feel the weight of my body and the pain of my head. I was not familiar with the area where I was but when I saw the devices next to me I knew that. It is not clear to me how I got here, nor is it clear in my mind what happened last before I lost consciousness.

"Cyreese! Thank God you're okay." I looked at the door when I heard a voice from here.

"Celest."

I did not expect to be mentioned. A beautiful pair of clothes covers her body and I don't even know and it's definitely a famous and expensive dress. How is she here? She seemed to hear my question to myself and he answered it.

"Levi called mom when the incident happened. They couldn't go because their flight was early and I just missed my flight in the afternoon because I'm still finishing a project. How are you feeling? Do you need something?"

She said next and was obviously still worried about me. I followed her hand to caress my hand. I can't help but feel joy in my heart, I don't know when was the last time someone worried me like this since my mom and dad disappeared so now my heart is really softening.

I'm used to Aunt Celest being considerate, if she treats me like she's my younger sister, even though there was a time when Aunt Celest was really serious and didn't talk and abuse me, and I understand this because it's normal for women.

Just as he inherited his Mother's tender heart, so he inherited his father's seriousness. He once told me that he wanted to have a brother because he was an only child and he said it was a sad part of his life, in this part we got along because like him I was also an only child and only a parent grew up with him.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, Celest. Don't worry and I'm fine. I don't have to pay my bill here so can I go home?" I was even worried saying he cut right away.

"No, don't worry about it. Rest first until the doctor says you can go home. For now, Levi will be in charge of you until you get out of here. I have to catch my flight in a couple of hours so he will take you home. "

Now that she mentioned it, my sight caught sight of a suitcase parked next to the chair. I didn't know that the Solidad family would be saved in Manila. They often leave because of jobs but I don't know how long they will be safe, and now, I have learned that something has happened to me and I have had to interrupt them. I am their only assistant.

"I'm really sorry Ate Celest. Please just tell Ma'am Mira and Sir 'that I'm fine and I'm sorry because I went to town."

I couldn't look into Celest's eyes as I said that, if I hadn't gone last night and just sent the feeling that I wouldn't have bothered anyone.

"No Cyreese, I'm sure mommy will do the same."

She just shook his head at what I said. At the same time, we looked at the crack of the door and the man who was still a puzzle appeared.

His darkeyes made it's way into mine and I hardly scape in it. I wasn't dreaming and hysterical last night, he was the man who helped me and brought me here. I don't know, for me, it's impossible for me to see him there and at that time.

Sister Celest mentioned her name and she approached it and said something that I think is ordering and letting go. He just nodded sparingly and for a moment a dark look passed me again and just sneezed. Sister Celest approached me again and said goodbye, I just realized that it was morning and the darkness I experienced last night had passed.

I was too busy reprimanding myself for lying down here because of my reckless decisions, I'm not even sure if I can call it reckless because this is the first time I've wandered but, I was hurt. I was harassed. And worst, who will ever know what will happen to me if Sir Levi doesn't save me?

Sister Celest just kissed Sir Levi's cheek and hugged him gently as he left. I just avoided looking at what I saw. What exactly are they? I heard a soft sigh and when I shook my head at his side his two hands were always tucked in his two pockets.

He was still wearing the same pants that I saw last night or not? But now this almost white v neck shirt, no longer has the polo he was wearing when I last saw him. I could feel his gentle stare at me as if he wanted to throw words at me but he was still figuring out what I was going to do. Maybe I should thank him and let him know and say that he is no longer obliged to take care of me because the inconvenience I have given him is too much.

Although it was difficult, I forced myself to sit up and I immediately felt the familiar headache that I felt last night, my eyes also rotated a little but I still tried hard for the sake of my gratitude to him.

"Thank you so much for helping me last night. I'll look at that with great gratitude. I'm sorry if I have to bother and-"

I stopped hitting our eyes and from there-- to his side of the lip that was obviously bad because of a little blood clots here. My eyes widened and I tried to reach his wound but nothing came out of my mouth and I just closed it tightly because I felt so annoyed. Look at what you've done Ava.

"I'm sorry. If it wasn't for me you wouldn't have gotten that. You don't have to do that, so ... thank you."

I waited for a few seconds for him to say but his jaw tightened and he focused sharply on the small window. I could do nothing but bend down and play with my finger and look at the device attached to my hand. If it weren’t for me nothing like this would have happened, I wouldn’t have been hurt and no one else would have been hurt. If I had just worked hard on that project I would not have had to fulfill Oli's favor with me.

"You rest. We will be needing your statement once you get out of here. We will file a case for those idiots who did this to you."

I don't know how many more times I will be shocked today but the ear tingles when I heard that from him. No. He didn't even pay attention to what I said and I was the one he really targeted. As he hurt it.

"Case? H-not anymore. They did the same to me. I'm fine, and one more thing, it doesn't matter anymore because I also don't have the money and time ... to be allocated for that. "

I swallowed the lump on my throat when I met his eyes who's starring so dark at me. It seems like I said something wrong that I need to regret and he will never forgive me. I don’t know how I convinced him not to continue what he was saying but when I saw myself in the windshield of his car as he drove me to the Solidad’s house I already knew what he was up to.

I have a sore on the side of my lip and it is a different color because of the bruise but it is not as bad as his. There is also a cast that supports my hand because the swelling of my left arm is so big that the doctor needs a break because if it is moved it will slow down the recovery and I may not be able to go to school yet.

I never saw myself sitting in the car of a man who would rescue me, with a man I didn’t even fully know. Now that I can see him up close I can clearly see how delicate the curve of his nose, his jaw, and the neat arrangement of his hair, his tight grip on the steering wheel showed even more the perfect shape of his arm to wrist like yesterday there was an armor watch.

I would have liked to thank him again for the kindness he did for me but I was afraid that he might think I was too thankful. Maybe one is right, because he ignored me before. I was able to deliver my gratitude already, now, whether he accepts that or not, I will still be grateful. I saw the crack of his lip and his next swallow. He cleared his throat and said,

"Take your meds, it will take a li'l bit of time for your recovery. Do you study?"

He turned to me for a moment and I nodded and smiled sweetly. He just nodded and cleared his throat again.

"It's better if you stay at home for now."

he tapped the steering wheel a couple of times and looked at me again. I didn't even take my eyes off him and just stopped at what he said, waiting to see if there was more to come.

"It's ... according to the doctor."

I just smiled and shook my head.

"I'm okay. I can still write and I can move my body."

I looked at the sea I could already see, signaling that we were close to the land of the Solidads.

"And one more thing, I can't miss class because our exam is coming up."

I said next as I looked along the road where we were. I feel that no matter how much peace the sea brings me, it seems like here I will be okay, with all the fatigue I have experienced it is my rest.

"You are so stubborn."

I almost forgot that I'm with him. In his words I could almost feel the weight of his mention of it. It was so serious that you would feel that you're obliged to do whatever that pleases him. I just bowed, not sure what I'm gonna reply to him. I was intimidated.

I feel like I have done something wrong to him and I don’t know how to apologize. I seem to have forgotten the distance of the state of the two of us. I have to respect him because he is a guest of the Solities. I have seen the lofty house I am staying in and now it has stopped being attemptedI immediately opened the door to my seat at the same time as the door next to me collapsed. I was able to do it, although I struggled a bit, he opened it widely for me.

When I got down I waited for him to leave in front of me so I could walk but it didn’t happen.

"Hey."

He said and as if it was my cue I met his eyes. Kind of bothered and worried at the same time.

Now, I saw the wound on his lip again. Carrying the medicines in my hand I approached him more carefully to investigate it. Obviously it has not been given first aid.

So as a thank you, "I'll cure that." I stared at his wound and he just shifted in his position and shrugged. "... if, it's okay."

His eyes made it's way into mine and nodded. I was moved a bit. At least, through this I can show my gratitude to him.

I went inside the house first and saw a few housemates doing their work. They have returned from their families. I first looked for mother Celia, the head maid here but according to them it was not there yet. So I put the medicines in the living room first and went to the powder room to get the medicine kit. And when I came back I saw him sitting intently waiting for me.

I saw the two housemates muttering as they stared at the figure of this man occupying the entire living room. Maybe they were wondering why this man was here and why I was with him. I took out what I needed and was ready to face him. I dabbed to it little by little taking care that I hurt him. I'll just clean it and put the medicine in it. I can feel his eyes tracing every part of my face as I continue. I couldn't help but be distracted by the intensity of his stare at me. I wanted to concentrate well on the treatment but just as I have said, whenever I met his eyes, I could do nothing but smile at him sweetly to hide the nervousness I was feeling.

“Thank you very much.” I smiled.

He stared at me for God knows how long.

"It's okay now." and I have withdrawn myself from him. It was also a sign when the pope reminded myself that it had to end there.

"Cy!" My peaceful time stopped here in the shade of a tree on the beach when I heard Oli's voice again. He came over to me and hugged me which surprised me. I was in so much pain when he pinched my arm, which is still swollen.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Cy! I'm sorry! It's my fault!"

He brushed his hair for a time and his guiltness was visible in his eyes. Slightly, I patted his head as he hurt Padin himself.

"It's not your fault Oli."

I still sympathize with him. It’s one of the things I’ve realized since a series of storms came into my life. Some people stray from the path because of things that are happening or have happened in their lives.

In my own view if you have anything to blame it’s not anything or anyone. I believe there is an end to it all, just like me. If I had just tried to do my project I would not have had to go to town and it would have happened to me. I don't know if this thought is for everyone but I can only be sure of one thing, even if your path is wrong and you can't go back to correct it, you must first forgive yourself so that he can forgive you. You can't even change things nIf you start wrong, you can do something new to make up for what you did before. Most of all you don't have to repeat it.

"Did you know those who blocked you? We're going to make Cy's barangay!"

He said hysterically. Now that he mentioned it, I remember that argument Sir Levi and I had earlier.

"No, I'll just be careful next time." I said timidly. Oli will say goodbye to me for a few more minutes because his mother is supposed to do something.

I don't have anything to do now so maybe it won't be a waste of time if I go there again. I counted a few knuckle trees before I reached my destination, only the sounds of dry leaves accompanied me as well as the rumble of the waves of the sea.

The grabbing orange and a mixture of red and yellow can also be seen in the sky- it's late afternoon. I have reached the place where it is truly peaceful, but it is no longer the same as before. The former thatched houses standing on that land have been replaced by high -rise building constructions, the peaceful surroundings of the island have been replaced by loud building -making instruments.

I hurried to the very spot I always stood on. I stared in amazement at the busy workers there regardless of the thick dust there. It's only been a few weeks since I came here but now it's so much changed.

"Ineng, you can't come here."

A man passed by as he bit by bit a sack of cement. I don't know how I feel, but I slowly backed away while still staring at the events. I saw a log and there I sat. From the construction my eye went to the beach.

What happened? I totally thought it was a public port of the ships they were doing here but I realized it wasn’t because of a picture I saw glued somewhere.

"Yes ... Yes ..."

I looked at the fine voice I heard, a man talking on the phone while standing and mowing, he was there in the high part of this place, it seemed to have been demolished flat before and now has become high.

"Well, I don't get the point of me being here at all. Why didn't you just come here and ask a lot of questions?"

I slowly stared at the man and I could clearly see his stare for a moment and immediately his eyes caught my gaze.

"Wait. Call you later."

I even heard it say. As if it was my cue I hurriedly turned around and walked the road I had come from earlier, regardless of the somewhat wet leaves on my way.

"Hey!"

I ignored his definite call to me and just continued my walk.

"Stop."

I sighed at what I heard and immediately stopped, afraid of the emphasis of his voice and its authority. I swallow the lump on my throat before facing the man behind me. I can't be wrong, this man .. I know him. Who wouldn't know him if his photo was spread in the few magazines I read at the Solidads' house? I once heard my classmates talk about him and they were obsessed with it.

Our eyesight was right and I could immediately see the coldness of his gaze as if I felt it crawl all over my being. And with that I found myself slowly looking downavoiding his gaze. What is there and this is how I always find eyes? I said in the back of my mind.

"You're not allowed here. How did you get in?"

It said coldly to me. I quickly lifted my head and,

"H-ha? Uhm..."

I still couldn't find the right words so when he raised an eyebrow at me I just looked at the road I came from earlier hoping he would understand what I wanted to say.

Reluctantly, he followed the path I was looking at and then stepped closer to me. I was trying to hold my breath the whole time, now I just realized that earlier I couldn't breathe because of the presence of this person in front of me.

He is Lourd. I'm not interested in listening to my classmates every time they tell this story so I only know his name, as far as I know he is a model who studies in town, I'm not sure but based on what I see I in the magazine and some television commercials that might be true.

And why he is here now in front of me and approaching me I do not know for what reason. I was nearly gasping when he suddenly said.

"You know that when someone disobeyed some rules, they have their own punishments. And I know you're in your right sense to know that."

He seemed to be sarcastic and said while I was nervous because he was so close, I couldn't breathe. So I don't know where else I got the strength to answer him.

"Ha? I didn't violate any of the rules here."

I said hesitantly and looked around. He raised his hand and when I followed that I saw in which direction his hand was pointing and shouted that NO TRESPASSING was placed in the front part of this place.

I didn't notice that because I came from the trees where I always go. I just swallowed and when I looked at him again there was a crazy smile plastered on his face.

"Come with me" I almost fell as he pulled me and I finally ran away on my own.