Chapter 1

Ziah is walking down the street who knows where. She continues walking absentmindedly not knowing where to go and just following the road. She doesn't know where this road will lead her, it seems like she wanted to escape, but from where does she want to escape? She suddenly stop walking and realize that she is in a park. She decided to stop and sit down. As she sits, memories of the past started to flash back to her.

"Hi mom, hi dad!", Ziah greeted his parents and kissed them on their cheeks before she sits on the dinning table.

"Dear, how are you today?", ask her mother Cecill.

"I'm fine mom, I am enjoying my martial arts class very much, thank you for letting me study martial arts." Ziah answered with a smile.

"Darling, why do you want to study martial arts, you are too beautiful for that. Why not paint or study music, those will suit you better." her dad Zigmund said.

"Dad I can still learn those after my martial arts, I need it to protect myself, you know, from any untoward incidents that may happen.", Ziah explained in between chewing her food.

Ziah is the only child of Zigmund and Cecill Guevarra. Zigmund is the president of one of the biggest oil company in the country, while her mother is a commoner, she was a teacher in a kinder garten before she met her father. She's lucky that her grand parents were humble and kind hearted, so she was able to marry their only son. Ziah is a beauty, and no one dares not to deny it. She has white flawless skin, her lips are as soft as the petal of pink roses which is also its color. She has a big black rounded eyes that looks as if it scrutinizing one's soul and very much captivating. Her black hair is flowing down until the middle part of her back. At the age of thirteen she is starting to show fine curves that matches her body. Her appearance is not from her mother's nor her father's alone, it has a mixed combination of the beautiful features of his parents. They were living a happy and wealthy life, her parents showered her with love and kindness and their home filled with happiness. Who would think that it wouldn't last for long?

Ziah went back to herself as she felt tears started flowing down her face. She wiped it and decided to stand up from the bench were she was sitting and started to walk again with no direction.

While walking, she bumped into a young beautiful girl wearing a pair of shades. She was going to ignore the girl but she saw her falling on the ground and seems like she doesn't know what to do. She stared at the girl for a while and realized something, 'Is she blind?', Ziah said to herself.

Ziah slowly moved towards the girl on the ground that is struggling to find her belongings that are scattered on the ground. The blind girl felt that there is a fair of eyes looking at her.

"Is anyone there?", the girl said, as if confirming her assumption.

Ziah didn't react and just continued to look at the helpless girl.

"I am sorry, I am blind, could you please help me find my things?", the girl continued since the person near her did not answer.

Ziah went down on her knees and helped picking up the things of the little girl.

"If you know that you are blind, why are you wandering around without anyone with you?", sarcasm was in her voice.

"Thank you.", the girl replied as Ziah helped her stand up. "I live around here, and I know the place well.", the girl smiled. Ziah stared at the girl, she can't help but to be captivated in her smile. The girls smile is full of innocence and trust. She looked like a girl who believes that everybody has good heart. Just by watching the girl smile, she felt her restless heart started to calm down.

Ziah shooked her head. "Even though you live around here, you shouldn't have left home alone. This is a dangerous world", Ziah said without any expression on her face.

"Yes, you're right, I shouldn't have done that. Thank you for your concern." The girl started to walk again with the help of her stick. Ziah's forehead wrinkled, she might really have been busy thinking, that's why she did not see that stick that the girl used earlier. Ziah watch the girl walking straight ahead for a little while before she decided to walk on her path. Where should I go now?, Ziah asked herself. She decided to stop walking again and sit down on a bench. Worried that she might bumped into another blind person again. She listed her plans mentally. She has to know what to do next for her to live.

***

Lello was worried, he got back home from school and his younger sister is not at home. He ask the neighbors if they saw her walking out and if she told them where she would go, but none of them saw his sister. 'Just where on Earth could she be?', Lello continued walking. He went to the coffee shop nearby where his sister usually hang out. The owner of the coffee shop is a nice old lady who fancies his sister very much.

"Granny Perry, have you seen Nally?" Lello asked immediately after he went inside the coffee shop.

"Lello, have you just arrived from school?", Granny Perry said with a smile on her face.

"Yes, granny, did Nally came here?", Lello asked her again.

"Yes she was here a while ago, she said she's going home. Did you not see her along the road?"

"No, I did not see her. I couldn't find her.", Lello answered worriedly.

"Have you tried the park? She might have walk through the park before going home.", the old granny said after thinking briefly. Lello took the road that serves as a shortcut going to the coffee shop. The other route is through the park.

"I'll go there now, thanks granny." Lello rushed outside the coffee shop after thanking the old lady.

Only few people are on the park at that time of the day. It's almost sunset, and since they are not on the city, most of the people go home before the sun sets. It is a tradition of the people in a province, they believe that every family members must be at home before dark. While running towards the park she saw a young lady sitting on a bench near the river.

"Ahmm.. Excuse me, miss." Lello tried to call the attention of the young lady whose head is on her palm. She seems thinking so hard that's why she did not sense him walking towards her. The lady slowly raised her head and looked at him. Lello is in a rush but he cannot help but to look at the young lady's face. She has a white flawless complexion, her face is so small that makes her cute matching with a big round eyes that sparkles at the night sky. Her small pointed nose is blemish free and her pink lips are pouting. Does she wanted me to kiss her?

"Hey mister, are you done studying my face?" the young lady said. Lello snapped back into reality with that sentence from the lady. Then he realized that her lips is pouting not because she wanted him to kiss her but because she finds him annoying. Boredom is evident on her face.

"Yes, I am sorry.", Lello apologized for his action. "Have you seen a young girl walking down this road?"

Ziah realized that this man might be looking for the blind girl. Maybe he is related to him, but what if he is not related to her? What if he just want to do something with the girl?

"Why?", Ziah decided to ask him first before answering. Just to know if he's harmless, that kid a while ago is so innocent and young, and blind. Ziah took a proper look at the man standing in front of her. He's black hair is combed neatly. He's eyes is black which has a serious and worried look at it. He's complexion is white and his lips looks like it promises thousand of good kisses. The guy also has a nice fragrance, it is very manly and soothing to her nose. This man is gorgeous and she cannot deny that fact.

"I am looking for my sister, its almost sunset and its not safe for her if it gets dark and she's not at home.", Lello answered impatiently, Why does this woman don't just answer me? Lello is becoming impatient.

"Is your sister blind?", Ziah ask expresionlessly.

"Yes! Did you see her?", Lellos face showed relief.

"She walked down that way, maybe she's going home.", Ziah shrugged her shoulders and point him to the direction her sister went.

"Thank you!", Lello hurriedly run down the path where the lady pointed him.

"Nally!", Lello shouted when he saw his sister walking down the road, going to their house. The girl stopped after hearing the voice of her brother. "Nally, where did you go? I was worried sick about you."

"I went in the coffee shop just like the other days." Nally smiled when she felt the touch of his brothers hand on her elbow.

"You didn't left a message in my phone."

"I am sorry big brother, I got bored and thought that you'll figure out that I am in the coffee shop."

"Then why did you not wait for me in the coffee shop?" asked Lello with an angry voice.

"I got bored, I thought you'll be coming home late, so I decided to go home."

Lello looked at his sister smiling at him while apologizing and sighed.

"Next time make sure to leave a message for me. It is dangerous for you to roam around alone."

Nally laughed a little.

"You sounded like the lady I bumped into at the park".

"Who?", his forehead wrinkled.

"A while ago, a lady bumped into me, then scolded me for wandering around with no one."

"Someone bumped into you? How could she do that when it is obvious that your blind. She must have dodged you." Lello answered irritated.

"Big brother, it is ok. I think that lady has a lot into her mind and did not saw me. Anyway she told me not to roam around alone again. According to her this is a dangerous world and it is not safe for me. She even helped me with my things." Nally smiled innocently after explaining it to her brother. It seems like Nally wanted him to not get irritated.

"Ok. I am not irritated anymore, just don't do it again."

"Have you seen that lady big brother?", Nally asked him.

"Yes, why did you asked?"

"She seems kind and beautiful."

"How can you say so?"

"She has a gentle voice, and I felt like she cares for me a while ago. And she smells good, just like mom." Nally said dreamily. "So, is she beautiful?"

"Well, not really." Lello answered.

"You're lying big brother." Nally laughed a little.

"No! Ofcourse not. Why would I lie to you?"

"Big brother, I know the difference of your touch when you are lying!", Nally answered while laughing. "So, do you like her big brother?", Nally asked him playfully.

"What are you saying? Stop your nonsense Nally.", Lello answered defensively.

"Let's go home, it's getting dark." Lello started to lead Nally to their house.

That lady is indeed a beauty, but he can't like her... And not just her, he can't like anybody... Not just yet.

Lello's face turned dark as memories started to come in mind.