25 - Not There

A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means it has not yet been proofread or edited.

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"I'm here already, geez, Dad! Stop pressuring me! I just landed and I'm going there right away!"

Caedmon passed his bag to the steward. He's annoyed that the first thing he will receive after reaching Philippines is a call from his impatient father. He instantly became the center of attention. He wore his shades when the cameras began flashing on his face. Slowly, he caused a stampede. Securities acted quick and surrounded him to give him a path.

He ended the call and smiled at the ladies. Like a celebrity, no, he really is a celebrity---he signed pictures of him and gave autographs to his fans. He stopped by to pose for pictures with them, flirting with beautiful ladies, wrote his number on their palms and gestured to call him, and so on.

"Bye, everyone! Thank you, thank you!"

For the last time, he looked back to wave his hands to his fans before getting inside his Alterio Caxandra, the luxury car his father made for his mother, released and announced it during their double celebration: their first wedding anniversary and gender reveal of their second child, Callum. His mother was the very first to own the Alterio Caxandra.

While driving to ALY-IC, he turned the radio on to listen to some music and news.

"Hottest news! Yzaguirre Empire, hosting an auction convention and press conference for their newest intern! Who is this 'ace'? And why is she getting linked to Midas Yzaguirre? Stay tuned for further updates!"

His brows furrowed from that news. Just when he's about to pick up his phone, it ring. It's his father again!

"What now!?"

[Where are you?]

Caedmon groaned, "I near the campus! Stop bothering me now, okay? I'll take care of it!"

[You better be! Larry's hosting a presscon and even an auction for her and her works! You're an idiot! I can't believe you let Kalonice go from your grasps! I swear to your pregnant mother, I'm scrapping your work off my list! I'm telling you, Caedmon Alterio!]

"UGH, Dad! Enough! I'm doing it, alright!? Stop threatening me already! So annoying!"

He ended their call and put his phone on silent. He opened his Twittur but didn't get the chance to scroll through the hottest news when he saw the gates of the university. He hid it in his pocket and drove inside.

He parked his car in the middle of the campus. He can do it because he's Caedmon Alterio. But before they knew who's inside, everyone was judging him. No one in their right mind will park a luxury car in the middle of the campus. Might be the most arrogant person in the world. They thought it was Midas, but he's not that bold. He still have manners and class.

But when the Caedmon Alterio stepped out of it, their loud minds became silent and their throats did the honor to scream his name, glorifying him.

He smiled at them, waving his hands while on his way to Kalonice's room. How did he know? He's Caedmon Alterio, son of Cain Alterio. Of course, he will know! He have connections!

He knocked on the door before opening it. The Jaws of the people inside dropped and their hearts jumped everywhere in their chest with delight and honor to meet the Caedmon Alterio face to face. First, the Midas Yzaguirre. Now, the Caedmon Alterio!? Is the world ending!?

"Excuse me, Sir. I looking for my girlfriend,"

Gasps filled the room and everyone turned to each other. Even the boys pointed each other out as if one of them is his 'girlfriend'.

"S-Sir! I-It's an honor to meet you! W-Who? Y-Your g-girlfriend?" The professor stuttered as he staggered to walk to him.

Caedmon smiled and removed his shades. Ladies and gentlemen squirmed.

It really is the Caedmon Alterio! The famous and one and only Caedmon!

He looked around, checking the faces in the room but none of them looks like Kalonice.

"Is she absent? Where is she?" he's confused. Kalonice? That academic 'whore' is absent?

"W-Who, Sir?"

People began to buzz like bees, concluding things. The only one who's absent was Kalonice Montecristo, but they don't want to believe it's really her that he's looking for himself. No, they won't accept it. They CAN'T accept it.

But when he said it himself,

"Kalonice Montecristo. This is her room, or I'm lost?"

It was as if an angel passed by, gracing the whole room with an eerie kind of silence.

It really was Kalonice Montecristo.

But---HOW!?

How could she!?

How DARE she!

The ladies felt betrayed. Now, they're hating on her.

"U-Uhm, I heard she flew to America together with Sir Midas Yzaguirre for the b-big event...?"

Caedmon's ears clapped. His head tilted to the side, confused.

"Excuse me? With whom?"

"S-Sir Midas Yzaguirre...?"

Right then, his face darkened. They felt the change in his aura and they saw how his expression changed. He turned around and stormed off, calling his father's number who answered right away.

"Is she with him?" His voice was stern, his eyes are glaring.

[Who!?]

"KALONICE, DAD! IS SHE WITH MIDAS!?"

Cain grimaced and put his phone away from his ear. Caedmon was even more pissed when he heard his father laughing at him.

[Oh, boy. You're so oblivious, son. You're always late about everything. Yes. Yes, she's with him. Yes, lots of pictures of them together were posted online. And YES, SON! She's with HIM. Fucking sloth. We already lost her---]

Caedmon's phone snapped. He furiously threw it inside his car and drove off as fast as he can to make it back to the airport. He ignored his fans unlike before and went to cut the line.

"Prepare my private jet. I'm going to America," he ordered the personnel on the other side, shocked.

"I-I'm sorry, Sir. Please don't cut---"

"DAMMIT! I'm Caedmon Alterio and I want my private jet prepared RIGHT NOW!"

He ran his fingers through his hair and left to go and see his private jet.

Only for it to be unavailable and under maintenance.

There's always a private plane and jet in their international airports. One time, Cain Alterio was in Russia and his wife was in London. She's pregnant with their third child and son, Cadbury Alterio. She got into an accident, almost suffered a miscarriage, and Cain Alterio cursed everyone in their airport based in Russia for not having an emergency plane nor a plane boarding to London that same time because of the bad weather. He learned his lesson since then and implemented that policy.

Midas.

It's Midas again.

He's not taking Kalonice from him!

Kalonice is his.

ONLY HIS.