Thorns of White Rose

Chapter 4 - Details

My aunt picked me up at the bus terminal. and we arrived at around 10 PM. She asked me about my week and if I meed anything. I couldn't ask for more, she already owned the task of raising me.

I was about to get out of the car, but she held my arm. She looked nervous as she stared at the house.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked.

She looked me in the eyes as if hesitant to tell something. I held her hand to give assurance that I'll be fine with whatever she says.

"Your dad is back. He's here tonight, he insisted tonsee you." My jaw dropped.

"W-why didn't you tell me ahead? I don't want to s-see him." I don't know what to feel at that moment. I want to run away, but I can't move. If I saw my father, I might feel the same pain when they left me. It's not that I didn't grow up or mature, it's because the pain sticks with me all these years. I was traumatized. My own parents remind me that I shouldn't have been born.

The front door of the house opened, and I felt panic.

"No. Please I don't want to see h-him." Tears start running down my face. I never thought this time will come. I never prepared for this because in my heart I know my parents treat me as good as dead. They never reached out to me all these years.

"I'm sorry, Laurian. He came here directly fromcthe airport. He wanted to see you so bad. He's your father afterall." I didn't understamd what she said. My instincts told me to run away from that place.

I opened the door of the car, and ran as fast as I could. We are in a subdivision, sonwhen the guards saw me they ran towards me and looked around if somebody was after me.

"What's wrong, Laurian?" One of them asked. I shook my head and tears started falling again. I felt so weak that all I can do was sit on road.

"What happened? Do we need to call the police?" They are obviously concerned.

"No. Not a big deal." As always, I composed and pulled myself together. I looked for tissue in my bag, but I can't find any. Ome of the guards handed me a handkerchief. I've been living here ever since so they knew me well. They must be really surprised now tonsee me at this state.

"Thank you. Please tell my aunt that I left. I will stay in a hotel and give her a call when I safely get there. Thank you... very much for the handkerchief." I had to walk away from them without giving them any explanation.

That night, I stayed in the nearest hotel. I tried to distract myself from destructive thoughts, but I can't help it. What does my father want this time? I am afraid of every answer I give to myself.

With a trembling heart, I still managed to call my aunt to let her know I'm safe. I apologised to her for running away like that.

The next day, she called me early to twll me that my father went to Manila to gwt to his. business. She picked me up from the hotel and we had breakfast together in the nearby restaurant.

"You lost so much weight. Are you sure you're eating at the right time? I'll give you more allowance if you need. I heard from Aubrey that..."

"It's okay, aunty." I reassured her with a smile. She's giving me enough.

"What about grocery? Do you want me to come over your condo and help you with the grocery? I can stay there for a week to teach you how to cook."

I took a deep sigh and stared at her. She looked around with teary eyes. Gladly, we are the only customers that time.

"It's because I'm worried about you. I really support your dreams, Laurian, but I hate to see you losing weight and getting sad. Do you have friends there aside from Aubrey?"

I smiled.

"I made new friends. I thought I'd confine myself to Aubrey's company forever, but I managed to find new friends, aunty. I'll make sure to keep my weight, so I won't make you worry about me. I'm not a kid anymore. You raised a beautiful independent woman. Don't you still know that?" She laughed.

" Indeed!"

We went shopping after that.

We watched Netflix series, cooked, did the laundry and even cleaned the rooms. That's how we spent the weekend. She wanted to drive me to my condo, but that will just makenher tired. She has work tomorrow, so I insisted to take the bus. I texted her when I got to my place safely. We never talked about dad again.

I might never be able to see my parents again, but I think that's the best for all of us.

Another week started. I woke up early to prepare for school. Aubrey and her driver waited for me in the parking lot of my condo.

We grabbed breakfast before heading to school. She's telling me about thos guy she met online. She would meet him invthe afternoon, so she will need to skip the afternoon classes again.

"Is he from Stallion as well? Why don't you meet after all your classes? You'll be noticed if you skip classes 2 days in a row."

"It's okay. I can just sibmit a medical certificate. That works all the time." She giggled as she continued to tell me about him. He's the captain of basketball team, so I'm not surprised she's this excited. I just hope the guy is decent.

"Oh no. It's Sir Kale's class, I don't want to skip but I have to. See you tomorrow, Laurian!" She winked at me and excitedly ran to the Blue Sapphire where they're meeting. It's a restaurant inside the university.

"Just go before you run ober that professor!" I loathed her. She wonled at me and waved goodbye.

Just as expected, Kale noticed that Aubrey's missing for 2 straight days.

"I saw her earlier. Am I mistaken?" He murmured. Now, I'm paying more attention to his gestures. I find him sexy just by standing in front.

He has a perfect built as if he goes to gym regularly. Everything from his hair to toe looks expensive. Suddenly, a question popped. Is he single? Does he prefer woman as partner? I shook my head to erase those silly thoughts.

"Ms. Savedra..." His loud voice ruled the room.

"Yes?" I asked.

"I was asking if you can tell Aubrey to hand me a copy of medocal certificate when she returns. You're shaking your head which means you're declining... again?" He sounded like his ego is fraying.

"No worries. I'll do that, S-sir." I still can't get used to calling him that.

"Good!" That remark made me feel inferior again. I rolled my eyes, and he saw. I saw him smile. My stupid heart won't settle again.