Biological Parent

TW: mention of cases and different crimes

That's not true. I won't believe that! He's not dead!

"Take back what you said, Jennifer. He's not dead, he can't be," I solemnly whispered. Depressive and heavy breaths were released in emptiness. It's too heavy on my chest and it seems like I can't handle the feeling at any time.

"Take it back!"

"My husband isn't dead yet. How can you say that to me?!" I scolded. It was as if something was blocking my throat because I couldn't breathe properly, the weight was heavy to feel. It felt like it was repeatedly and relentlessly punching my chest.

"Get him back to me!"

"Ciara, please. Calm down!"

"Let me go. Let go of me!

"Ara, please that's enough." Jennifer sobbed holding me back as she forced me into her arms, engulfed with an embrace, making my whole system calm, but that didn't lessen the pain because it's only gotten heavier.

"Jennifer, tell me, he's coming back, right? He's alive, Isn't he?" I asked her, hoping, but she didn't answer and just hugged me tightly, causing my chest to get even heavier.

He said I'll wake him up when we get home, right? I'm still going to wake him up.

"I-I want to see him."

"Are you sure?" She asked, I immediately nodded even though I didn't know what I was going to witness. The shiver was rumbling in my chest but there was an eagerness inside me to see him. See him alive.

"Please..." I begged, she nodded and helped me stand up.

"Be brave... Ara, please.." I didn't listen to what she said because I was even more confused thinking about what she meant there.

He's alive, isn't he?

We had already walked out of the room and it seemed as if my two knees were gradually stiffening when I realized where we were going.

N-no.. why here? Why are we in the cemetery?

I clenched my fists when I felt the intense tremor. I restrained myself from weeping as we headed straight inside the cemetery.

"W-why are we here? Is he here?" I asked, tearing up, hoping Jennifer wouldn't answer yes. But darkness quickly engulfed me as she slowly nodded up in response to my question. My shoulders slumped as we stopped in front of a tombstone.

I even heard Jennifer hold back her sobs as I unwittingly knelt on the grass when I saw whose name was engraved on that tombstone.

N-no!

In loving memory of Tyron Collins.

Born: September 26, 1997

Died: April 2, 2020

"No... no! Tyron, no! W-why?! Why did you leave me?!" Trembling, my whole body touched its tombstone accompanied by very loud screams and groans. It takes out all the resentment that has accumulated in my chest. But with each drop of my tears, my chest grew heavier and my heart broke.

Why don't you fight...

"This can't be, no Jennifer, it can not be!" I turned to Jennifer, depressed and begging.

"H-he told me to wake him up when we get home. He said we should go home together. B-but what is this... how can I wake him if he's been sleeping all his life? H-how can we go home together if he leaves me all alone?" My voice cracked, trying to say it all. My chest is full of anger now because the last thing he told me was I would wake him up, but why did he sleep in here?

"There's a lot of places to get sleep, but why did you choose here? A place where I would no longer gonna hold you," I said weakly.

"You're annoying. You said you'd get me back, but why did you hurt me again?" I just bent my head down because I couldn't handle everything anymore. I can't really accept it. My brain and heart don't want to accept that he just left me this easily.

I felt Jennifer kneel and lean over to hug me and caress my back.

"He did it..." I felt the bitterness in Jennifer's voice when she said that.

"When he said that, I didn't know he really meant it." I didn't look at her because my heart hurt even more.

"I didn't know he'll be that regretful for everything he did to you, that he'll be able to risk his life just to get your life back that day." She was referring to the day I was hospitalized. I heard Jennifer sob, causing me to caress her hand.

"He's brave. I salute him."

"But until now, Tyron's parents are still seeking justice for his death, because they can't accept it. They filed a case against the Soriano's. Tyron's father was so furious, can't believe that Hannah did that to Tyron, so until now they haven't stopped looking for Hannah."

"She's in France," I replied, which surprised her.

"What do you mean?" She asked in astonishment.

"Hannah. She's in France. It's only now that I understand everything. The suddenness of her departure. On my birthday, I found out that she was going to France. I was surprised because it was so sudden. It's only now that I realized that even her flight was part of her plan. After our encounter, she will probably flee for her flight to France. I know that was her purpose, she wanted to flee."

"Are you sure? All I know is that she was also rushed to the hospital. I just don't know where she is right now, but she ran away," she said.

"Why is April 2 written here?" I asked in surprise because it was only an interval from my birthday. Maybe my birthday was celebrated yesterday, but he died the next day? Does that mean...

"Yes. He's dead on arrival, Ara," she replied, my lips loosening.

That only means... It was really the last time? By the time his body fell on my arm was he really gone?

I just bit my lower lip because of the sadness, that for the last time I could touch his cold and lifeless body.

"His body was very weak at that time, that's why he couldn't fight anymore and lost his life immediately."

"But why is that? I was also shot. Why am I still alive? I hope they just let me die if this is how I will end up," I said, full of resentment.

"Don't say that. I'm still here, Ara! I'm worried about you, so don't say those things, because I'm hurting!" My heart pounded when I heard what Jennifer said.

"You haven't been my friend, just only to be your friend, Ara. I love you, your life and condition are important to me. You don't know how hard it is for me to see you repeatedly lying inside the hospital. It hurts me, Ara." She cried as she said it, which made me hug her even tighter.

I'm sorry.

"I'm sorry... I'm really sorry for being selfish, I didn't even get to think about you. I'm sorry," I apologize. In the days that have passed, since she came back, I have not been giving her too much attention, because I focus too much on how I feel. How could I get out of my problem? I didn't know she was here to help me.

"Just please.. promise me, you won't put your life in danger again, I don't want to see you suffer again." I nodded.

"I'm really sorry."

AFTER TWO MONTHS

"This is where you will stay for a while, Ara. Don't worry, we have maids here and they're kind." Jeniffer explains to me while dragging my two more suitcases.

"Where's Mom and Dad? I haven't seen them yet." I asked in curiosity, since I got out of the hospital, I didn't even see them. I didn't ask Jennifer about them because she also seemed to avoid answering it once I tried asking her where they are, so I didn't force her, but I was sad because I'm expecting them to be by my side during those times, but they're not there.

Jennifer took a deep breath before facing me and smiled bitterly. "I think it's also time for you to know the truth," she said, I frowned.

"They're in jail now, Ara," she said, causing my lips to loosen up and unable to speak immediately. I blinked for a bit and tried to understand what she just said because it didn't seem to sink in my mind right away.

"W-what? Why? What did they do?" I asked in surprise, restless. I was shocked and seemed to want to leave immediately to go to them. But Jennifer immediately grabbed my shoulder.

Why did she just tell it me only now? I have a right to know about it!

"I only told you now because you're still not healed, I couldn't tell you before because you've been in so much trouble, Ara. I thought that you wouldn't handle Tyron's loss, that's why I hid about your parents, " she explained but I still couldn't understand. It's not sinking in me. What is the reason why they are in jail ??

I didn't answer her, I just gave her a puzzled look, and couldn't seem to understand what she was talking about.

"Ara, they're not your real parents," she said seriously as my two eyebrows met even more. I think the nerves in my brain rumbled even more because of what she just added.

What?? Did I become deaf or what?

"What do you mean? I was just adopted?" I asked in confusion and she nodded. My lips parted.

What?!

"Actually, you're stolen. Raiza found out that they just stole you from your biological parents," she explained and it was as if my head was going to explode because I couldn't process everything in my brain.

Wth?! Stolen?? Me?? Is it why it's so easy for them to not believe me and didn't care about my situation at all back then? It is because they're not really my parents. But, why did they steal me? And who are my real parents?

It was as if I was depressed and my body wanted to collapse as my knees were shaking so hard. Interfering with the truth of what I found out.

"W-wait, then who are my real parents?" I asked, confused, but Jennifer just smiled at me as if everything was fine. But for me, it wasn't!

"Your parents are criminals, Ara. They are not good people, they have killed many victims and they are handling various scary cases."

This time her face was more serious. It was as if I was terrified and all my hair stood on end.

"W-what happened to them?"

"They went through a lot of trials, it didn't take long either because many also filed cases against them. Different people and different cases, and if I'm not mistaken, when I was in court, what I found out about all their cases was just so unbelievable! Kidnapping, Assault, Bribery, Homicide. And they are even one of the drug dealers here in our city. Gosh! They are horrible! I can't believe what I heard then, if only you were there and you heard everything, you might pass out!" She said tremblingly as she remembered all that, while I seemed to be stuck to where I was standing. My whole body seemed to be a stone because I couldn't believe everything Jennifer said.

T-they did all that?

It was as if I was scared of myself and terrified because I thought that I had been with them for a long time and that they were the parents I considered that I didn't know were... criminals.

All my life, I was living a whole life. I thought my parents were my own race and blood. But turns out not, because I am actually who they really are. They're criminals.

"Don't worry, Ara, with the help of Raiza, they're now doing everything so they can find your parents as soon as possible. Your fake parents won't be able to mess with you either, because people are watching around you. You won't see them, but I'm sure they're just there around you watching to protect you. We've done everything we can to protect you. Don't worry, because mommy paid those people, and don't be afraid because they're also an agent just like Raiza, we can trust them," she added with a smile, I was a little surprised but it makes my heart soften.

I don't know how I'm going to react because I feel like I'm a very important person. After all, people are watching around me that I don't even know who I'm grateful for because I know that on my own, I don't have to worry and I can move freely without worrying if someone will suddenly shoot behind me.

"Don't look at me like that, Ara. You're disgusting, I know you want to say thank you but don't. Because it's my obligation to take care and protect you, until the person who should be doing this returns," she said. My brows slowly furrowed.

"Return?" I asked in surprise, she still seemed a little surprised by my question, but she also recovered immediately.

"Yes, your real parents. Once they find them, I don't have to worry about you because I know you'll be finally safe with them." She gave me an assurance smile.

"Are you smiling?" She teased me and I nodded. I am glad and thankful that I have Jennifer Jeon in life.

"But they? Who else is with Raiza to look for my parents?" I asked as I remembered.

"Altair."

"Altair? Who is that?

"Yes, it was Cupid."

Ah, the cupid that was also with Raiza when they saved us?

After the small talk with Jennifer, she already bid her goodbye, since she needs to go somewhere. I dropped my body on the soft bed and hugged the pillow.

I remained in that position for a while, letting drowsiness engulf me. But I was also immediately startled when I heard the notification on my phone. I immediately grabbed my phone from my pocket and frowned when I looked at what it was.

Axel Cipriano sent you a friend request.

"Who is this?" I wondered to myself. I don't know how he found my account because we don't even have mutual friends. Apart from that, my account is private and locked. How did he send me a friend request? Is this a spy?

But to my surprise, my notification rang again.

Axel sent you a message.

Axel Cipriano

Active now

Axel: Hi.

Ciara: hey.

Axel: How old are you?

Ciara: why'd u want to know?

Axel: I just want to.

Hey?

Hello?

Seen 5:50 pm