Not like Us

Chapter 15

" Where is my daughter?! "

" Do not cause a scene so early in the morning, Rose. "

" This would not happen if you just let her there, Garry! "

" And what? Avoid my responsibilities as her father? Just like what you did? Leaving her to your mom?! "

" I am not avoiding my responsibilities. I am disciplining her and how dare you talk about responsibilities? It was you who was avoiding it ever since! "

" That was because you would not let me! And this is my chance to be a better father to her! "

Bella woke up from the noises outside the house. She sat up from laying down. She rubbed her eyes to adjust her eyesight.

" You will never be a better father to her! "

" So are you! Do you think you are a good mother?! Look how our daughter had become! "

" Give me my daughter back! "

" She stays here! She is not going back to you! "

Bella immediately looked at the window. She saw her mother and father shouting back to each other. Their own spouses were at their backs. Trying to stop them from hurting each other. How did their marriage turned into this? How did it became so sour to the point that they could not stand each other?

Bella clenched her fist while looking at them. She removed herself to the window and hurriedly pack her things. She made sure to pack her new laptop and tablet on the safe side of her luggage. She saw a bag above her closet. She reached it out and put the bulbs she bought for her grandmother. Bella went out of her room and hurriedly exited to the kitchen. The helpers were not present on the area since they were in front. Intrigued by what was happening.There was another small gate at the back of her father's house. For the past few days, she noticed that the helpers would not close it until nighttime.

She slowly opened the gate quietly and exited the house. If they would not be at least in good terms them I would not get back to either of them. Bella booked a cab outside the subdivision. The subdivision's gate and his father's house was just near each other so she would be walking that long.

" Where are you going ma'am? " The woman guard asked as she looked at Bella from head to toe. She looked like she just woke up and she was still in her pajamas. She was wearing the slippers that she bought four days ago.

Bella just smiled at her. The guard already knew her since she sometimes visited her father here. Her mother always dropped her off to the subdivision's gate or in front of her father's house. A cab stopped in front of her.

" A cab for Bella Rioflorido? " The driver asked. Bella nodded. The driver went out of the cab and helped Bella put her luggage on the trunk. She made sure that the laptop and tablet would not be squashed with her things. That two things would be useful if she became bored. She now went inside the car and beside her was the backpack where she put the solar dependent bulbs. She was glad that she went to the mall the other day. She got to use the slippers that she bought. She was now going back to her grandmother. She was at peace there and they were experiences that she only experienced there.

" To the north terminal, please. "

The cab nodded and started driving. She opened her purse and looked at the phone. There were still no missed calls coming from them. Their argument must still be ongoing. She saw the small red pouch that the old woman frrom the province gave her. She slid it back.

It took thirty minutes to arrived at the bus terminal. She entered the terminal and what greeted her were benches and snacks on each stalls. Not far away from where she was standing, there was a carenderia on her right. But what she needed right now was a comfort room.

She approached the guard who was on the entrance behind her. " Excuse me sir, may I know where are the comfort rooms are? "

Just like the female guard from earlier the male guard eyed her from head to toe. " I runaway from house, " she excused. She knew everyone thought she was crazy for going into the terminal with her pajamas.

" Did you see that line of buses there? " The guard pointed the buses on Bella's left side. " Just follow that snd you will found the comfort room. "

Bella nodded. " Thank you. "

The guard just nodded back in return and went back on checking the passengers bags.

Bella followed what the guard said. She followed the line of buses. The buses was now on her right and the benches were on her left. Finding the comfort room did not took much of her time. She saw it right away. She went inside the girls comfort room and enter one of the cubicles. She opened her backpack and grabbed some of the clothes that she put there. Most of it were the ones she just bought. She wore the jeans that she brought. It was more appropriate. Wearing ripped jeans would invite those people who had malicious intent especially that she was a lone girl. She wore her sweater,too, to cover her figure. She needs to be vigilant while traveling. After changing her clothes, she flashed her face with water. That should wake her up. She now went out and went back to the snack stalls. She bought a handful of snacks that she thought that were enough for her until she reached her destination. She then looked for the bus that she should ride. As she went in there were still few people inside. Maybe because it was still early. Bella looked at her watch. It was past 8. She sat on the two person seat on the middle row. She situated her near the aisle and her things near the window. She closed the window as well do people from outside would not be able to grab her bag.

She looked at her phone and turned on the data. She saw the message she received from Lucas yesterday. She had not responded to it. Maybe he could help her with things she did not understand during her trip.

' Hey, Lucas. I guess your mother's comment came true. I am coming back, alone. This is my first time taking a bus. I am already inside. I do not know how and where to pay. I do not know where to get off, as well. Would you mind help me? I would make it up to you once I get there safe. That is a promise. '

Bella pressed the send button and sighed. She leaned to her seat.

In a few minutes, she felt her phone vibrated. Lucas replied.

' There will be a conductor that would roam around the bus. Just wait for him until you saw other passengers handing them their fare. Just give him 170 php ( $3.40). You get off at a port, okay? Can you wait for me there? I will fetch you. Inform me after one and a half hour when the bus started to move. '

Bella looked at the bus driver and he was already starting the engine.

' It is now starting ' Bella replied.

' I will see you after two hours then :) ' Lucas replied with a smiley face.

' Thank you! '

Bella sighed in relief. She was glad that she message Lucas. He was a great help.

She put her phone back to her purse and prepared a money for her fare so that she would be ready once the conductor ask her for her fare. There was only a fee people in the bus as she looked around, estimated of fifteen people. Some were family, some were alone like her, and some came in pairs.

She grabbed some of the snack bars that she bought and ate it. She had not eaten a break fast. Her stomach was already growling. She entertained herself for the whole ride watching the movie being flashed on the bus' screen. She had not noticed that she was already in the port if the conductor did not shouted for anyone to hear. She hurriedly wore her backpack and dragged her luggage carefully.

She looked around the port and saw Lucas waving beside a motorcycle. She waved back. He really went to fetch her.

" Thank you for coming for me, " Bella shyly said.

She never really taught Lucas would help her big time. Lucas mounted himself on the motorcycle. He reached for Bella's luggage and place it in front of him. He used some chains to secure it so it would not be a nuisance during the ride.

He wore a helmet and handed Bella one, too. Bella immediately wore it.

" Hop in, " Lucas said while looking at her. " Your grandmother was waiting, " he said with a smile.

Bella placed her backpack behind him and hopped in. She held on Lucas shirt. " Thank you, " the words that came out from Bella with full of sincerity.

" Bella! " Her grandmother shouted as soon as they arrived outside the church.

" Grandmother, " Bella called and immediately hopped out as soon as Lucas already stabilized the motorcycle. She hugged her grandmother and buried her face on her shoulder.

Her grandmother tapped her back. "It is alright," she comforted. Bella wiped her eyes with her grandmother's shawl. She faced Lucas. "Thank you," she said. She opened her purse and was supposedly handed Lucas a money as payment for his service. "It is alright. Keep it," he said smiling. "Yeah, it is alright, dear. We are glad Lucas helped you," Lucas mother said.

"Is there any other way I could make it up, though?" Bella offered. She owed him It was pay to him.

"You could accompany him during the feast, dear. He kept bugging me to have a date with him but I am going to be busy during that time. So, can you?" Lucas mother asked.

Lucas looked at his mother and nudge her elbows, "Mom!" He said in a whisper.

"All right, I will accompany him," Bella said with a smile. "When was it?"

"Next Sunday, dear."

Bella nodded and looked at Lucas. "See you then"

Bella's grandmother directed Bella to her car while Lucas put Bella's luggage in the trunk. Lena held Lucas hands. "Thank you."

"No worries, madam Lena."