Chapter 1: A Promise Beneath the Rain
The morning sun was shining through the holes in the tin roof of the Santos family's small house. The ceiling had water stains from all the rain that came in during the monsoon season. You could hear the sound of roosters outside in the streets of their village, which was on the outskirts of Manila.
Tracy Santos was already up.
She was twenty-one years old. Was used to waking up before dawn. Tracy carefully folded the blanket that she shared with her younger brother, Joshua, and quietly got out of bed so she wouldn't wake him up.
Her mother, Maria Santos, was already busy preparing vegetables to sell at the market.
"You are awake again," Maria said with a tired smile.
"I have a presentation in my economics class this morning, " Tracy said as she tied her long black hair into a ponytail. "I want to go over it one more time before class."
Maria looked at her daughter with pride.
Tracy had always done well in school even though they did not have a lot of money. Her teachers always said that she was very smart and deserved all the opportunities in the world.
Opportunities are not free.
"There is some rice left over from last night," Maria said, looking sorry. "I am sorry we could not afford eggs today."
Tracy smiled warmly at her mother.
"Do not apologize, Mama," she said. "This is enough for me."
Tracy had learned not to complain about what they did not have.
Then her father, Roberto Santos, came home from working all night as a tricycle driver. He looked very tired. His shirt was all sweaty.
He put some money on the table.
"This is all I made," he said.
Maria counted the money. Then looked down.
"It is still not enough for Joshua's school fees," she said.
Roberto sighed deeply.
"I will work another shift tomorrow," he said.
Tracy watched her parents. Felt sad.
Every day they sacrificed everything to keep their children in school.
She made a promise to herself.
One day, Tracy Santos will give them a life.
Not because Tracy Santos wants to be rich.
Because Tracy Santos' parents deserve to be happy.
Two hours later...
The campus of Manila International University was busy with students running to their classes. There were luxury cars parked outside. Students were wearing clothes and drinking coffee from expensive cups.
Tracy Santos did not pay attention to the people staring at her backpack.
Tracy Santos had gotten used to not belonging to their world.
So everyone thought.
In her economics class, Professor Miguel Reyes was talking to the students.
"Today's presentation is very important," he said. "It is worth thirty percent of your grade."
Some students looked nervous.
Professor Reyes smiled.
"Tracy Santos, you are first," he said.
People started whispering.
"Of course it is, Tracy Santos."
"She is always the best."
Tracy Santos walked confidently to the front of the class.
For the twenty minutes, Tracy Santos presented a plan to solve the country's unemployment problem.
Tracy Santos spoke without looking at her notes.
Her ideas were great.
Her statistics were perfect.
When Tracy Santos finished, the classroom was quiet.
Professor Reyes took off his glasses.
"He said.
The room erupted into applause.
Even the students who did not like Tracy Santos could not deny how smart she was.
Among the people clapping was Jaden Villanueva.
He was tall, handsome, and confident.
Jaden Villanueva was the son of a rich family, the Villanueva Group, one of the biggest business empires in the Philippines.
Many girls on campus wanted to date Jaden Villanueva.
Jaden Villanueva's eyes were only on Tracy Santos.
As Tracy Santos went back to her seat, Jaden Villanueva leaned over.
"You were amazing," he said.
Tracy Santos laughed softly.
"You say that every time I present," she said.
"Because you amaze me every time, " Jaden Villanueva said.
Tracy Santos rolled her eyes playfully.
"Flattery will not help you get a grade," she said.
"It might convince you to have lunch with me, " Jaden Villanueva said.
Tracy Santos smiled.
"I already planned to," she said.
Jaden Villanueva's face lit up.
"You just made my day," he said.
Some students were watching them. Whispering to each other.
"Can you believe Jaden Villanueva is dating Tracy Santos?" one of them said.
"I do not understand what he sees in a girl," another one said.
"They will never last, " someone else said.
Tracy Santos pretended not to hear them.
Every word hurt her.
The university garden became Tracy Santos and Jaden Villanueva's favorite place to hang out.
It was hidden under trees and felt like a different world.
Jaden Villanueva spread a blanket on the ground.
"I brought your food," he said.
He showed her two sandwiches.
Tracy Santos was surprised.
"You made these?" she asked.
"I asked our chef to make them, " Jaden Villanueva said.
Tracy Santos laughed.
"I knew it," she said.
"I watched him make them, " Jaden Villanueva said.
"That does not count, " Tracy Santos said.
Jaden Villanueva smiled.
"It should," he said.
Tracy Santos shook her head, smiling.
Moments like these reminded her why she loved Jaden Villanueva.
Despite being rich, Jaden Villanueva never treated her like she was poor.
He listened to her.
He cared about her.
He remembered the things.
After lunch, Jaden Villanueva pulled out a box.
Tracy Santos frowned.
"What is that?" she asked.
Jaden Villanueva opened the box.
Inside was a silver necklace with a heart pendant.
"It is beautiful, " Tracy Santos said.
"It reminded me of you, " Jaden Villanueva said.
Tracy Santos looked at him, surprised.
"Jaden Villanueva..." she said.
"I know it is not an engagement ring, " Jaden Villanueva said.
Tracy Santos laughed.
"I figured," she said.
"One day..." Jaden Villanueva said.
He took her hand.
"I will replace it with one," he said.
Tracy Santos' heart was beating fast.
"When we graduate, I will ask you to marry me, " Jaden Villanueva said.
Tracy Santos stared into his eyes.
"Really?" she asked.
"I promise," Jaden Villanueva said.
Tracy Santos had tears in her eyes.
Her parents might not understand now. Jaden Villanueva would convince them.
Jaden Villanueva loved Tracy Santos, no matter where she came from.
For a moment, everything seemed perfect.
Tracy Santos believed every word.
Jaden Villanueva meant it.
Neither Tracy Santos nor Jaden Villanueva noticed the luxury car parked across the street.
Inside was Isabella Villanueva, Jaden Villanueva's mother.
Her face was hard as she watched Jaden Villanueva put the necklace on Tracy Santos.
"So that is the girl," she said coldly.
Her driver nodded.
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
Isabella Villanueva kept staring at Tracy Santos.
"She is beautiful," she said.
Then she said, "Beauty is not enough if it does not come with status."
Isabella Villanueva picked up her phone.
"Tell my husband we need to talk about Jaden Villanueva," she said.
The car drove away.
Tracy Santos and Jaden Villanueva did not know that their love story had just become a target for a family that wanted to stop it.
The promise Jaden Villanueva had just made would soon be tested.
