Chapter 4: DON'T LEAVE ME

Charles walk out of the room after his heated conversation with his mother. Then he saw Mina near his room crying.
"Mina, did you...?" Mina cut Charles had to say. "Leave me alone for now please." Mina said. Then she ran away from Charles, but he don't know what to do. If he will chase her or not.


Late at night.....

Charles found Mina at the veranda. "I've been looking all over for you! What are you doing here?" Charles asked. "I'm praying to Bathala for guidance." Mina said while her eyes are still close.
"I know that you heard everything, and I really meant what I said." Charles holds her hand. "Charles." Mina's face turns to red. "So please answer my question..... Do you love me too?" Charles asked.
"I - I don't know!" Mina turned her back to Charles.
"My marriage with Liel's mother were just arrange by our parents. But since Liel were born we became a happy family." Charles hugged Mina.
"But I fell in love with you from the very first time I saw you." Charles said.

Mina faces Charles and she looked on his eyes. "I love you too... But I love my husband more, until now." Mina looked away after saying it.

"It - It's O-OK!.. I will do anything for you to love me, the way that I love you!" Charles became desperate but Mina kissed him, then suddenly he fell asleep.
"I'm so sorry Charles." Mina said.
After Mina put Charles onto his bed, she go to Liels room quietly.
"Forgive me Liel." She kissed Liel on his forehead while sleeping. Then her tears fell down.


In the morning.....

Everyone in the house seems so busy, and Joy is wondering why Liel is not in his room.
"Where is Liel?" Joy asked to herself. "I need to tell him what happened to the ring that he gave me." Then she look in every room in the second floor but she didn't find him. She tried to look outside through the window, then she saw Manong Ben carrying 2 big luggage's and he put it at the back of the car. Suddenly she saw Charles and Liel go inside the car.
"No no no! It can't be!" Joy said.
Joy ran as fast as she could but the car already left.
"NO! LIEL DON'T LEAVE ME!!!" Joy shouted. She burst out crying while kneeling on the ground.

"ATE!?" Peach and Sarah found Joy outside crying.
"Big sis, please stop crying?" Sarah said.
"We have to leave now, and this is all because of the wicked witch!" Peach is getting furious.
"Peach don't say that." Mina said.
They are carrying bags but Mina got a bigger bag on her right hand and she is holding Ian on the other hand.

*Clap! Clap! Clap!*
"I'm glad that I don't need to kick you all out of this mansion by myself..... And since I'm still kind to the poor,... HERE! (she throw some money to Mina) TAKE IT AND NEVER COME BACK!" Charles mom said then she walk inside laughing.
" Come on let's go." Mina said. Peach want to pick up the money but Sarah grabbed her and Joy to follow their mother. "Mama? Where are we going now?" Sarah asked.
"I - I don't know." Mina answered.

*Beep Beep*

They heard horns of a car while walking down the road. On the other side they saw Yuriko waving and calling them. They tell all that happened to Yuriko then she offered them home.
"This is not big like the mansion but you can live here with us. I only have my son with me cause my husband is working abroad." Yuriko said.
"Thank you so much." Mina said.
Yuriko's son also greet the the three girls.
"Hi girls! My name is Khay Yuki Fujima, and from now on I will be your big brother! Hehe." he said to the girls. "Hello Khay! This my Big sisters Joy and younger sister Peach, thank you for having us." Sarah introduced them.



After 6 Years.....

"Waky wakie Sleeping Ugly, I mean Sleeping Beauty! Or your Prince Charming will kiss you!?" Khay said while grinning then he acted like he will kiss Peach while she is asleep.
*PAAAK* Peach slaps Khay to stop him. "OUCH!" Said Khay.
"Serves you right for disturbing my beauty sleep!" Peach said.
"Aunt Mina asked me to wake you up, before we become late for school." Khay explained.
"Oh shoot! I forgot it's Monday today!!!... Shooo! Get out of my room now!" Peach said while pushing Khay outside.
"But why??" Khay asked.
"WHAT? Do you want too see me putting on my clothes? YOU PERVERT!" Peach
"You will not take a bath first??" Khay
Peach kicked Khay outside her room then slams the door. *BAAM*

At the kitchen...
"Mama I'm going now." Ian said.
"Already? But you haven't eat your breakfast yet." Mina said.
But Ian still left for school. Joy and her mother Mina was finished preparing the packed lunches that they will sell to some neighbors and at the school.
"This is ready for delivery. I will now go ahead too." Joy said.

"Sarah wait for Peach and ride on Khay's motorbike. I need to deliver this first before going to school." Joy said to Sarah who were about to eat her breakfast.
"OK Ate!" Sarah replied.
Then Joy followed Ian. "Ian do you want to ride at the back of my bike?" Joy ask.
"It's OK Ate Joy. My friends will pick me up at the bus stop." Ian said.
"Oh? OK." Joy is a bit worried for her youngest brother.

Joy knew how hard it is for Ian to get along with other people especially with his condition, because he is a 'Boy without shadow'. After the sealing ritual, Ian looses his own shadow and can only see the shadow of his clothes. So he needed to wear hoodies and pants every time he go outside to replace it. But Ian is sometimes bullied by the way he dresses that resulted for them to transfer schools until Yuriko asked them to enrol Ian on the school where she teaches. Now Yuriko is the principal on that school and the triplets are also studying there as scholars.
After Joy delivered some of the packed lunches, she saw a familiar kitten at the middle of the road. She put her bike near the tree then she sat to pick up the kitten.
"What are you doing here you poor little kitty? You might caught up in an accident if you stay....."
Then suddenly a fast car is heading to their direction, luckily Joy dodged it while holding the kitten safely on her arms.

"Phwew! That was close!" Joy. Then she look at the car and check for the driver if he/she is safe. *Knock knock*
"Hey! Are you alright? Please open the window!?" Joy asked. The car's window opened and Joy saw a boy that was about her age and he is touching his forehead.
"Are you insane?! What are you doing, sitting at the middle of the road?!" The boy said. "Meow!" Then he saw the kitten that was in Joy's arm.
"Tsk! Whatever!" He added.
He pull out the car and started to drive again.

Joy saw her bike is broken and some of the packed lunches are on the floor.
"HEY! COME BACK HERE! YOU NEED TO PAY FOR THESE!!!" Joy shouted. She had no choice but to walk and 10


"This is the first time that you're late. I will record this and hope it will never happen again. You may now take your seat." Joy's teacher.
"I'm so sorry Sir." Joy.

"Before we start our lesson, I would like to introduce to you your new classmate...
Please come in!" The teacher call for the transfer student and it was the boy in the car.
But he now have bandages on his forehead.

"IT'S YOU!" Joy suddenly stand up and pointed to the boy. Everyone is now looking at her.


>>>>>TO BE CONTINUED!