I think for a moment before looking straight in his eyes and giving his answer, "I came because I care for you."

For a split second he looks startle but he composes himself with a wary smile, "You care for me?" Doubt and uncertainty clear in his voice.

My heart aches at the vulnerability he is so trying to hide, "I do. You sounded so angry when you called and when you hung up abruptly, I got worried. I thought of worst and couldn't help but come here." I admit honestly.

I still feel disturbed at the thought of him here alone in his drunken state. His drinking habit bothers me, I don't want him driving drunk. It gives me chill. I should know what it does to people.

"I didn't hang up," I turn to him at his voice, not getting what does he means.

"What?"

He looks agitated as he rakes his hand through his hair as he sneers, "I said I didn't hang up. I was furious when I heard that café fucker's voice, I lost it. I don't remember when I threw it away or when I passed out." I can see he is trying to control his temper by the way he is clenching and unclenching his fists.

I am little shocked how easily his demeanor flairs at the mare mention of Alex. A bulb lit in my head at the sudden thought. I wonder, could it be possible that he is jealous?

Cease your wings lady!

Right.

But if he was jealous, then it would at least give me an idea of his feelings for me. My own feelings wouldn't go on vain. I'm quite sure he does have some kind of felling for me, after that kiss earlier. If not then why would he kiss me like that. I just want to it be parallel with mine.

I sigh, "Alex is my friend. I don't have many friends, even back in home I didn't have many friends. He is good guy and he-"

He cuts me off with an irrigated growl, "Tell me about your family." He demands.

I look at him in surprise, from his expression it's clear that he wanted to change subject like he doesn't want to talk about Alex but family?

Alright.

A smile automatically comes to my face when I think about home, "My grandma is an old fashioned type and is very strict regarding me but she loves me, might I add very much so. My best friends Logan and Bella, they both helped me to reach here, if it weren't for them I'm quite sure I wouldn't be here. I'm lucky to blessed with such friends." I tell him.

I remember how they both sugarcoated my only chance to come here, when they were persuading grandma. After so much of reassurance that they would continuously check up on me and I would come home whenever I could, she finally nodded her head in yes. They practically lived in my home for almost a week so grandma couldn't change her mind, when she agreed.

"And your parent?"

I inhale sharply at the mention of my parents. The rush of panic that engulfs me from just thinking about them, starts to bubble up. I try to breath but find it difficult to. My heart starts pounding in my ears and so many voices overlaps each other in my head.

Stop!

Please.

My eyes begins to blur when I feel him gripping my chin and turning my head so I can face him. My eyes connects to his drunk hazy grey eyes and I find myself hypnotised by them. I stare at depth of them and feel my breathing starts to get even.

My psychiatrist voice echoes in head, 'You need to talk Akira or it will eat you from inside.'

So I talk, "My parents are dead along with my little brother, Jake. It was hit and run, they died on spot."

The memory of that night resurfaces but unlike usual I don't run away from it. I embrace it.

I wake up hearing shouting from living room. I jump out of my bed and glance at time, it's six pm. What going on, I wonder, coming out of my room. I turn toward stairs and see my six year old brother, Jake standing at corner looking terrified. I quickly rush toward him.

"Hey buddy, don't worry I'm here." I take his hand.

His green eyes, just like dad's looks scared as he turn toward me, "What's happening Ira? Who is that bad man shouting at daddy?" He points at man whose back is turned to us.

I turn back to Jake "Hey hey, look at me," he does, I smile, "don't worry daddy will kick his butt. You will see."

"I don't care, she is my blood. I demand to to see her!" The man shouts again.

We both turn toward them when we hear daddy's voice, "She is my daughter. Mine. You hear me? Just because you are sperm donor doesn't make you her father!"

Are they talking about me?

"Your wife lied to me, she said she'd give her for adoption. I didn't know that she still had my daughter!"

Mummy sounds broken as she speaks, "Please she is just a child. If you want to, we will let you meet her but please understand she is just ten years old. It'd be too much for her. Let us talk to her first, I promise I will tell her about you."

"Fine. I give you one week to tell Akira about her real father. If you don't, you will see my lawyer." The man threatens before storming out of door, his face still invisible from where we are standing.

Mummy starts crying, "My Ira. I can't let him take her. Please do something."

Dad pulls her in his arms, looking helpless himself, "We will find a way, sweet. She is our daughter, I won't let him take her from us."

My brain stops working as I take every word spoken here. Does that mean my daddy is not my real father?

No! That man was lying. I know he was lying, he is not my father.

A sob escapes me and both my mummy, daddy turn to us looking shocked. With my wobbling knees I go down stairs.

Mummy gasps, "Oh Ira..."

I look at my dad, "Are you not my daddy?" I ask.

He shakes head, "No sweetheart, I'm.."

I shout, "Don't lie to me. I heard everything."

He steps forward to me but I back away, "Listen babygirl, that man may be your father but only in names. I'm your daddy."

No! No!

I scream, "You both are liar."

Crying, I sprint out of my home and run. I keep running till I reach at my hiding place then I fall on my knees and cry.

I don't remember when I fall asleep but when I wake up it's already dark. My head aches as I stand up to go home.

What will I do when I reach home?

I don't have any answer but I know one thing that my daddy is my real father to me and I'll apologize for my earlier behaviour.

Just as I'm about to reach my home street, I see my daddy's car coming toward me. Spotting me, he motions me to stop. I do stop and wait for him come near.

Then everything changes in flash.

Tick-tock

Tick-tock

Tick-tock

Boom!

One second I'm looking at dad's car and next second his car is flipping upside down. I don't see other truck, I only see my daddy's car whose door and widows are broken apart.

Horrified I run toward it and see Jake on side of car, his eyes are closed and blood is coming out from his head. I grab his face, "Hey buddy, open your eyes. Look your Ira is here."

He doesn't stir, "Please Jake, I'll let you eat my cake too and I'll let you drive my bicycle, if you open your eyes now." I cry.

He still doesn't open them, I beg, "Jake I love you, wake up. Please Jake, I'll will give my everything to you."

I look at my mummy and daddy, both have their eyes closed, "Mummy, daddy, wake up please. Look Jake is not opening his eyes. Tell him not to play with me, it's not even funny."

They both keep quite, "Daddy I'm sorry for screaming earlier. I won't do that again. Please talk to me." I sob crying their names, calling for them to wake up, but no one listens to me.

I sit there alone and scared, waiting for somebody to help me.

Suddenly I hear so many sounds coming toward us and the last thing I remember they are taking my Jake away, before everything goes blank.

I gasp for breaths as my throat is tightened once I end up telling Romero everything and tears are streaming through my eyes. Whole time I was looking in his eyes while speaking. I break free from his grasp on my chins, wiping tears from my face and look ahead in the lake.

I'm grateful when Romero doesn't make any move to comfort me. I don't need it. Just telling him everything feels peaceful enough. The dark place I go every time from thinking about them seems too far this time. It doesn't come for me to take me with it.

I'm glad when he doesn't tell me that it wasn't my fault, because I already know that. If the years of therapy taught me anything it's that what happened was not my fault but it still doesn't lessen the guilt formed in so many years. I know it was not my fault, it was that drunk driver's fault who himself died in that accident but my deep down somewhere my heart still blames me and that creates guilt.

We both are quite, deep in our own thoughts, when he suddenly speaks, "Do you know when was the first time I saw you?" He asks out of blue.

I know he is trying to lift my mood and change the direction of my brain. I'm thankful for that.

I nod, scowling, "How could I forget that? It was on my first day in cafeteria, when Sydney invited me to meet her friends."

When you insulted me, I think to myself but refrain from speaking aloud.

"Yes it was your first day but not at cafeteria."

"What?" I ask, confused.

He smirks at me, "It was in halfway actually, when you literally crashed into me."

I frown, not remembering what time he is talking about. I try to concentrate in my memory then it hit me.

My eyes widen at the flashback, "It was you!"

I recall bumping into someone when I was searching for Logan. I also recall the sensation and spark at the sudden contact with them. But I couldn't see their face since they left before I could open my eyes, then I found Logan and forgot about them.

If it was Romero that day then it's only logical considering he is only one for whom my body reacts like that.

He smiles a little, small but breathtaking nonetheless and his eyes intensify, "It was the first time I felt my heart beat."

Just like that my heart stops beating.