ELIZ'S POV
I was driving to the Cortejo Campus.
After being admitted to the hospital, the doctor discharged me. He said I was just exhausted yesterday, and my body couldn’t handle it, which is why I fainted, coupled with what happened yesterday.
I parked my car near the gate and got out. I knew today we were setting up the booths, so we were all busy because there was a lot to organize.
In the distance, I saw two men dressed in black walking towards me. I ignored them and opened the backseat door to get my things.
"Miss, come with us." I turned and saw the two men from earlier.
They grabbed my arms. "What the heck?! Let me go!" I screamed, trying to break free, but they were too strong.
I also noticed the tattoos on their wrists. It was a butterfly, but the structure was skeletal, very peculiar!
Damn! There was no one in the parking lot because it was still too early. Am I doomed?
If I had known I was their target, I would have been prepared. Duh! I just got out of the hospital.
"Just come with us," said one of them, but I didn't give in and kicked the one on my left. He let go of me, but I forgot there were two of them.
The other one grabbed my hair, so I couldn’t run. "Help!" I shouted.
Damn! That hurt! I just got my hair rebonded yesterday!
"Mine!" One of them shouted—Mine?
I was shocked when the two men suddenly fell to the ground. I fixed myself because those guys messed up my hair.
The two men didn't know what to do, so they ran away.
I turned my attention to the guy who helped me. He had his back to me, so I tapped his shoulder.
He slowly turned around, and I was stunned.
"C-Cairo..?" I was shocked to see him. Cairo Stephen Montemar.
"Mine..." He said my name, and memories of our first meeting and our last day together came flooding back.
FLASHBACK
"Why are you here? You don't belong here, Eliz!"
"Yeah, you're weak because you're rich! Go to a private school!"
When I was in elementary school, I attended a public school because I really didn't like private schools. Even though we were wealthy, I preferred public school—it had more excitement.
My classmates always told me I didn't belong in public school, so they bullied me.
"Hey! Stop that!" A boy shouted. It was Cairo Montemar.
"Mind your own business, Cairo!" One of them said.
"Pick on me instead, not Eliz," Cairo said, and I felt something different.
They were about to throw something at Cairo when the teacher arrived, so everyone went back to their seats.
"Are you okay?" He asked me.
"Yeah, thanks," I said and smiled.
"Just remember, if they bully you again, they'll have to deal with me," he said seriously.
******
"Can I court you?" Cairo suddenly asked, making me stop writing.
Court?
"Cairo..." I didn't know what to say.
I didn't know what to do. Was he serious? We were still kids, and he was already talking about courtship?
"I'm serious about you, Eliz. No matter how many years it takes, I'll wait for you," he said, leaving me speechless.
END OF FLASHBACK
Not knowing what to say, I turned away from him and started to walk away when he grabbed my shoulder.
"Mine...let me explain," he said, and tears started to fall from my eyes. His voice, which I hadn’t heard in a long time, could make someone like Eliz Cortejo cry.
"We have nothing to talk about...Cairo. You were the one who said...to forget you," I said bravely and left him in the parking lot.
I was right, wasn't I? He was the one who ended whatever we had. Why did he have to come back?
Yes, I wanted to see him, but this wasn't the right time and place because I wasn't ready.
As I ran, I continued crying until I bumped into someone.
"Sorry.." I apologized and wiped my tears.
"Damn! Why are you crying?!" The person I bumped into, Ruhan, said frantically.
"Ruhan.." I said and hugged him. I really needed someone to lean on because I felt like I couldn't handle this anymore.
I told myself I was ready to face Cairo, but I wasn’t. I was brave in many things, but when it came to him, my courage vanished. He was my weakness...
"Mine!" Ruhan and I both turned. It was Cairo again.
"Leave! I don't want to see you!" I said to him, breaking free from Ruhan's embrace.
"Please, Mine, let me explain. We can resolve this!" Cairo pleaded.
No, Eliz. You can't let yourself be swayed by him. Don’t let him fool you again. You can't be weak.
"You better leave, dude," Ruhan said.
"Why? Who are you? Mind your own business," Cairo snapped at Ruhan.
"Just go! We're happy now, can't you see? You were the one who gave up, not me. I'm happy with my life, and so are you. So please...leave me alone. Please..." I begged, still crying.
"But Mine..." He tried to protest, but Ruhan stepped closer to Cairo.
I was behind Ruhan and could see the intense stare-off between them.
"Let her be. If you're a real man, you'll let her go," Ruhan said.
I felt a pinch in my heart. I didn't know if it was pain or if I was touched by what Ruhan said.
I panicked when Ruhan slowly approached Cairo, fearing they might start a fight.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Ruhan whisper something to Cairo. After that, he came to me and pulled me away from Cairo.
What was that?
"What did you say to Cairo?" I asked, looking at him.
"It's nothing, don't mind it. Are you okay?" I didn't know why, but I felt like I was seeing a different Ruhan. The kind and caring Ruhan. The Ruhan from the night he got shot.
"I guess," I replied briefly, but the truth was, I wasn't.
Believe it or not, I wanted to hear Cairo's explanation, but I was afraid of what he would say. I was scared...