The Plan

"Mom, we'll be back on the road next week," I said while we're eating dinner that day.

"I thought you're not starting until the 5th week?"

"Change of plans," I answered weakly.

She put her spoon down and looked at me. We were the only ones at home. Tita Mary and Sheena were working late today.

"Adam? Is there something wrong? You're very sad, I can tell." She asked concerned.

"Mom." But I started crying again. Mum got up from her seat to comfort me.

"Shhhhh. That's alright. You don't have to tell me anything."

This is the first time I cried again since dad died. It was very painful. I've already thought that Raine will be with me but she has decided to marry Arthur. I have assumed so much.

When I calmed down, I told mom everything about her. She just listened to me attentively.

"Don't worry. There are things in life that surely have an explanation. And she has an explanation for all of this, it's just not the right time for it." She said with a smile.

I went to my bedroom and locked up myself. To relieve my sadness, I started to play the piano and recorded it.

I set up my video camera and started filming. I uploaded my videos on youtube and Facebook and it instantly reached 1,000 views. Everyone's asking why I started doing this kind of video so I told them that it is dedicated to someone.

My phone suddenly rang. It's Ralph. "Hey, Adam. Lucy's happy with your recorded videos on Youtube, and you have to know that someone uploaded our video with Arthur. And the company's trying to hush it up. It's gone on Youtube by now. If ever it comes up in many interviews, just deny it ok."

"Ok," I answered simply.

"Still sad about Raine? She's going to call you anytime. Monique just hung up on her."

"Sure. Sure."

Surely, there was a beep in my phone signaling that there's an incoming call. "Talk to you later man. She's on the other line."

"Ok man. See you." Then he hanged up.

I took Raine's call.

"Adam." She started.

I love the way she said my name. There's full of love and longing in her voice. "How are you? Where are you?"

"Adam, I miss you." She said quietly.

"Raine. Please answer me. How are you?" I asked her desperately.

"Don't worry about me. I'm fine. But, they had moved the wedding 2 weeks from now. I don't know what to do. I've been speaking with dad, but he just said that it was for our own good. And mom, I don't know what she's thinking." From the sound of her voice, she's crying.

"Can we meet tonight?"

"I don't know."

"Please. I need to see you."

"Someone's coming. I'll text you." Then the line's dead.

2 weeks from now. I have to do something to stop this marriage, but I don't know what!

I lie awake waiting for her text. It's 2 a.m. in the morning and I'm sleepy when suddenly my phone vibrated. It's a text message from Raine.

"Meet me outside our village."

I put on my jacket and hurried down to my car. In 10 minutes, I am waiting for her outside their village. After 5 minutes I saw her walking towards the car. I climbed out and meet her. I hugged her tightly. My heart starts to race again.

"Oh my God, thank you."

"Let's get out here." She said looking back. We climbed the car and I sped away.

I was holding her hand while I drive. She was looking at me with a content smile on her face. "Adam, I miss you so much. I thought I will not see you again."

"Of course I'm always here for you."

There weren't many open shops at this time, so I stopped at a coffee shop. We sat on the farthest seat inside.

"Let's get you out of here. Come with me." I said to her while holding her hand.

"No, you can't. Mom talked to me a while ago. She told me everything about this fixed marriage. My dad and Arthur's dad were partners in business. But the company is really ours. Arthur's family just bought a big share from our company. Then, just this month, mom and dad learned that Arthur's dad was siphoning money from our company, but the worst part is that they will make it look like my dad's been using the money for illegal transactions. That's why our business is on the verge of loss. Arthur's father said that if I don't marry his son he will kill my parents."

Of course, marrying the daughter of the owner of the largest clothing company in the world is a big profit. And he's using Raine's parents to trick Raine into marrying his son.

"Why don't you tell it to the police?"

"When Arthur found out that my mom tried to report it to the police, he held me hostage and he beats me up. I think he's really a psycho. That's when Monique hid me in her condo." Then she added, "But we do have the evidence now. That they are doing some bad business inside the company. They were siphoning money from our sister company too, forging my father's signature and issuing bounced checks to our other stockholders. I just wish these things will end. As of now, the wedding is still hanging in my head like a knife."

I pitied Raine for this. She's suffering because of the sake of her parents.

"Raine. Are you sure of this?"

"Adam," She held my hand tightly. "I hope you can help me with this. On the day of the wedding, you have to make sure you stop it before the priest's blessing. We just have to make them think that they are successful with their plan so they will not harm my parents. That's the time the police can arrest them."

"But why?"

"They paid men who will look after us if we go to the police. And if that happens, they will not think twice to kill us."

"Ok, trust me on this Raine."

It's getting more complicated. I never thought that I will meet someone like Arthur. And his dad, who only thinks of money.

"But please, Raine. Please come with me."

"Please, Adam. I don't want you to be hurt. If those men have known that I am with you, they might hurt you."

"I don't care. Raine, don't you understand that I'm taking all the risk here. I don't care if they hurt me, I don't care! I just want to be with you much longer."

"I am too! I want to be with you! But, please. I have to go back now. Please, Adam." She pleaded with tears in her eyes.

Defeated, I let go of her hand. "Adam. Please. Just stop the wedding, and this will all end soon."

I stood up and walk towards the door, I don't even mind looking back if she's following. When I was to open the car door, she hugged me from behind.

"Adam. Thank you." I can't ignore her now. On the brighter side, it was I that she wants to be with. So I faced her and hug her.

"Just promise me, we'll be together when all of this ends."

"Of course Adam."

I drove her back to their village. She was about to get out of the car when I stopped her. She spun around and her face was a few inches from mine. In the faint light, I can see her face. I focus on her lips. I slowly lean forward and touch my lips in her nose. She sighed, I was just checking if she's intimidated by our nearness. I held her face in my right hand then kissed her forehead, her closed eyes, her nose, saving her lips. She sighed again and open her eyes.

"Thank you." She breathed. Then got out of the car. She ran towards the gate. When she's out of my sight, I drove slowly back home.

I save her lips last because I want her to know that I respect her. And I can wait till that day when she agreed to be with me forever. I instantly slept when I got home.