Chapter 17- Trouble

Sabrina's POV

"It seems that you're the favorite topic of the class " We're silently walking when he broke the silence between us. I don't know why he helped me a while ago, but somehow I'm grateful that he did.

I looked at him and pretended that I didn't have the slightest idea of what he's talking about, but he just smirked at me.

"Let me have my book" I tried to snatch back my book from him, but he's just too fast, given also that he's way taller than me.

He laughed at me when I tried to reach the book, he even tiptoed as if the gap is still not enough. I tried to jump higher but still failed to reach it.

He let out a chuckle.

"Just ignore those girls," he seriously said before finally giving back the book to me. He looked at me thoroughly. I saw a glint of concern in his eyes before he avoided his gaze like he didn't want me to see it. Then, he left me there completely baffled by his actions.

**

I just arrived from school and asked Manang Fe immediately if my parents are already home. She nodded and told me that they are in the library. I excitedly climbed the stairs when I heard someone yell. I'm very sure it's Mom's voice. Are they fighting again?

These past few days have been very difficult for me to understand things. I've known my parents as one of the sweetest and understanding couple but their frequent quarrels are not something to be ignored.

If I only knew that they were like this then the whole setup before is way better than what is happening recently.

I would endure missing Dad than Dad is here but they are always fighting with Mom. I continued walking upstairs when I saw Mom went out of our library.

"Mom" I muttered, just to announce my presence. She abruptly turned around and no matter how she tried to hide it. I know she's wiping her tears.

Her slightly red eyes confirmed my suspicion.

"Oh, you're home" Mommy went near me and kiss me on the cheeks.

"Mommy, what's wrong? Are you and Daddy fighting?" I asked as I can no longer hold myself from asking her.

Mommy smiled maybe to reassure me, but I remained doubtful.

"It's just a misunderstanding, Hija. Don't think about it okay? Go change now and we'll have our dinner " Mommy said and then a faint smile registered on her lips.

I'm not convinced with Mom's explanation but I want to believe and hope that it's just a petty quarrel.

I've been trying to sleep but my mind is wandering. I've been thinking what would be the possible reasons why my parents are fighting.

Could it be a possible third party involved? I quickly shook my head just to dismissed my thought. That would never happen. Dad is so much into Mom. But what else would be the reason?

I decided to just watch videos online to keep myself busy and refrained from thinking those negative thoughts when my phone beeped for notification that someone chatted me.

Red:

Why are you still up?

I can't help but rolled my eyes when I saw who chatted with me. I quickly type my reply.

Me:

Mind your own business!

Why does he care? What's wrong if I'm still up he sounded like I'm violating a law. I suddenly remember the girls who confronted me at school, and it's all because of him.

Red:

There is someone who's not in the mood tonight. Why is that? Let me guess. You miss me already?

Me:

You wish. I don't care if you never show up again.

I quickly replied, annoyed at him.

Red:

Hmm. You replied quickly, that's enough reason for me to say that you miss me. Don't worry, I'll be back next week. We just have Leadership Training here in Manila.

That explained he wasn't around these past few days but what did he just say? I miss him? He's so full of himself.

Me:

I'm not asking. Not interested.

Red:

Yes, please. Kindly check tomorrow it's in the blue folder. Thanks, Clara"

I raised a brow and read the message twice.

Since when did I become Clara? Or maybe he did think he's chatting with Clara from the very start. I can't help but felt irritated but slowly questioned why would I felt that way.

I decided not to reply to his message anymore. In the first place, why would I even bother to entertain his message?

Maybe I just need someone to talk to or even keep myself busy for me to stop thinking about my parent's problems. Yeah, maybe that's it.

***

"Dad, why don't we go out of town this weekend? You know swimming, I kinda miss it," I suggested. This is one of the days that Dad is driving me to school.

"I'm afraid we can't, Baby. I have many commitments to attend the whole week," he said, and it made me sad. "But how about next week? I'll clear all my schedule. How's that?" he added maybe when he noticed I frowned.

"Really? Deal. Thank you, Dad" I hug him, and Dad laughed at me. I can't wait for next week hopefully, Mom and Dad could settle their problems.

Dad dropped me off at the gate of our campus. Surprisingly, the queue to enter the campus is quite long. I was already in line when someone patted me on my shoulder. I turned my back to checked who did that, but I found an unfamiliar guy behind me. He looked at me defensively as if he's ready to explain his side when a person behind him caught my attention.

I rolled my eyes and ignored him. I pretended I didn't notice him.

"Hey, miss me?" I raised an eyebrow when he's suddenly behind me. So he's back from Manila, huh?

I ignored him. I started walking when he called my name loudly, not just once but twice. It's enough scene to catch some attention from other students.

"What?" I muttered. I eyed him hoping he got my message that some students are looking at us already. I saw a pleasing smile on his lips.

"Why are you not replying to my messages?" I let out a sigh. Really? He's asking that even if we are surrounded by many students?

"I didn't know that you have messages," I explained and started walking again. I felt him followed me.

"I know you intentionally did not read my messages," he said as he tried to keep up walking with me.

"And why would I do that?"

"Because you're mad at me. I'm sorry. That message is for Clara. She called me, and I also asked her if she could look--"

"Red, please, you don't owe me an explanation, so there's no need for you to do that. Are you still going to follow me?" I asked him and pointed that I'm going to the ladies' restroom.

He quickly glanced at where I pointed before he seriously looked back at me.

"I'll wait here then," he firmly said and leaned on the wall like he's ready to wait for me all day. "You go ahead. I'll stay here," he added and smiled at me.

Whatever! I don't care if he'll be late for his class. I didn't ask him to wait for me anyway. So, I took my time in the restroom.

I went outside, and to my surprised, Red is still there, but he's talking to two girls. They are laughing, and it seems that Red is having a good time talking to them.

Red is always around with girls. Her girls accused me and now my name is also labeled as the third party. The irritation that I tried to ignore these past few days is starting to consume me.

I tried to walk past them when I heard Red called me. Red said goodbye to them and walk towards me.

The two girls looked at me before they walked away.

"You're rude. I waited for you, but you'll just leave me like that," he said like he's hurt by what I did.

I lifted an eyebrow. With Red's words and moves, it's obvious that he's really good at handling girls. I smirked in response.

"Rude? I just don't want to interrupt your conversation with them. That's what we called being polite," I corrected him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll still have a class," I added and then walked away.

I don't have time for his game.

***

"How many times did I try to ask you about this??" I stilled when I heard Mommy's voice. I hide through our main door.

My parents didn't know that I'll be home early today. I am planning to surprise them, but I guess it would be the other way around.

"If only you had said it much earlier, we could think of other ways" I heard Mom sobbed.

I secretly peeked at them.

They are in the living room. Mommy was standing in front of Dad, she looked tense and her eyes are filled with tears while Daddy is sitting on the sofa, massaging his temple like he owned all the problems in the world.

What's going on??

"I'm sorry. I thought I could handle it myself." Daddy said, and I saw fear in Dad's eyes.

"What do we do now? We're talking about millions here, Roman. Even if we liquidate all our assets, we will not be able to pay them one by one," Mom said.

"I'm already working on it. Even if I have to borrow from my relatives. I would do that,"

"I don't want to lose our house, Roman. Please promise me. We worked hard for this. How about Sabrina? She is not ready for this." Mom cried, and Dad hugged her while saying sorry.

"I promise. I won't let it happened,"

"Didn't you validate first?! This is not you! You're not the Roman I've known of."

"I did! My trusted friends also invested in this contractor for years, and it went just fine. It just that I partnered with the wrong people,"

So, this is about Dad's business?

"I'm scared for our safety Roman, especially for Sabrina. I can't just ignore those death threats that you're receiving recently."

Death threats? that bad? Now I know that this no ordinary problem. It's way bigger.

"Daddy?"

"Sabrina?" Mom hurriedly wiped her tears. I didn't know that they are dealing with problems like this. "How did you--go home?" Mom asked me like it's more important than their issues.

"Mom, I heard everything!" and then I can't help but cried.

Daddy explained everything to me about how the contractor got away. He was scammed. At first, everything is going according to plan, not until the contractors didn't show up at their scheduled meeting. It was right after Dad released the agreed budget for the project.

To add insult to an injury, clients are accusing Dad as the one who stole the money. That Dad is a big scammer. Clients wanted their money back. Now, how could Daddy pay all of it?

***

I woke up to a loud scream. Is it part of my dream or it's true that I really heard someone shouted?

I didn't know I fall asleep while reading a book. That's what I'm doing these past few days when my parents decided to let me stay here at home because of the death threats that they have receiving. They said they won't take risks. Dad confiscated my phone which Mom agreed. I can only open and check my social media sites using my laptop.

Cheska called me often and even offered to visit me here at our house, but I suggested that it would be best not to go here. I don't want them to get involved. I'm just so blessed to have a true friend whom I can lean on, despite what happened.

I looked outside. My room is completely dark. My room was only illuminated by the lamp post outside our house. I nearly jumped out of my bed when I heard the loud sound of a gunshot.

What was that? What's happening? Thinking of the death threats my parents were receiving made me tremble. Where's Mom and Dad?

It's like my feet have their own minds that I'm already heading to the door when I suddenly heard heavy footsteps outside. Then, I heard Dad's voice. I somehow felt relieved, Dad is okay, but I stiffened when I heard him talked.

"You were behind this. How could you!" Daddy sounded like he's in pain.

Somehow it felt like someone whispered to me not to go out of my room. Something's not really right. I carefully open the door and slowly peeked.

I gasped when I saw what was happening outside.