"Well let me know when you get back okay?"

I said into the phone while searching through the kitchen.

"I'll let you know honey. I love you."

I miss Kay. Oh, I miss her too much.

I had pancakes for breakfast, had my bath and dressed casually in a jean and white cropped tee before heading to Mr. Tim's house.

Dante left home so early in the morning. He went to see his mom. He wanted me to go with him actually but since my encounter with his father I thought it would be a bad idea to see him anytime soon.

I pressed the doorbell and waited patiently.

"Ria, Oh my!" Mr. Tim's wife, Jane exclaimed before hugging me tightly.

"How have you been?" I asked, smiling at the beautiful woman in front of me.

"No how have you been? It's been a while we saw you around here."

"I know. I've just been busy you know."

"Come in please."

Mr. and Mrs. Kim or should I say Mr. Tim and his wife are Asians, Koreans to be precise. Their family have been so good to me and I can proudly call them my family. They are so warm and kind. It feels good when you have people to call your own. Their family is just like that to me.

Mr. Tim sat on the sofa, his glasses on with the newspaper in his hand. I laughed unknowingly.

He must have heard me because he turned his head and his eyeballs almost fell out of it's sockets the moment his eyes landed on mine.

"You little rascal, where the hell have you been?" he said, raising his voice as he rose to his feet.

"Language darling, language." his wife shouted from the kitchen and it made me laugh even more.

"Sorry baby, I'm so sorry." he scratched the back of his neck nervously before returning his attention to me.

"You come here."

I dodged immediately he launched towards me, hiding behind one of the sofas in the living room.

"With you acting like that? No way."

"Stay right there Ria. Don't you dare move."

As if I will.

After making several attempts to get me but none quite successful, he finally settled down on the sofa. We were both breathing heavily.

When was the last time I worked out? I think I need to hit the gym soon.

The room was filled with silence and I sighed thinking of what was coming next.

Mr. Tim patted the space beside him and I moved towards him, settling down beside him.

Immediately I sat down he gathered me into a tight hug.

"My poor little Ria." his body shook as he sobbed.

"Oh, Mr. Tim." I patted his back gently.

"You've been through a lot when you are so young. I'm sorry I wasn't of any help to you."

"No, don't say that. You've done enough, more than enough already." I pulled back, smiling up at him.

But he didn't return my smile instead he covered his face with his palms, unable to hold back his sobs.

Oh, dear!

"Is this how you plan on spending the rest of the day? Come on, Mr. Tim."

"I promised you a spot in Paradise yet I couldn't do a thing when you got fired. Do I even want to know how hard it must have been for you? You loved working there and I know that."

"Yes, I loved working there." I rolled my eyes.

"But it wasn't your fault I got fired. The order came from above, there was nothing you could have done to stop it. And besides, I'm okay now so please, just stop crying for God sake."

"Still-"

"No, it's fine. I'm fine Mr. Tim, come on." I tickled him until he gave in and started to laugh.

"But seriously, I'm fine. Stop worrying about me okay?"

"You will always be my little girl you know that?" he said, wiping his tears.

"I know." my voice betrayed me because I couldn't hold back sobs of mine this time.

He was everything I wanted in a father and so much more.

So sad my father is playing the role elsewhere.

"There's something you need to know." he said quietly.

I wiped off my tears and nodded for him to continue.

"Your father." he paused before speaking again.

"I saw Edward at the park on Christmas day, he was with a woman and two little kids. He has another family now Ria, I'm so sorry."

He sighed, shaking his head.

This is something I already know, the fact that my father has a new family now. I must admit, it really sucks.

"I know." my voice came out smaller this time and it took all my strength not to break down again.

"You met him?" Mr. Tim's eyes went wide but I simply nodded.

"You saw Edward?" Mrs. Kim's voice came from the kitchen.

Mr. Tim and I turned in our seats to look at his angry wife.

"What did he say huh? That bastard." she scoffed, wiping her hands with the napkin in her hands before flinging it across the room in annoyance.

"Nothing."

I explained the whole thing to them and just when I thought Mrs. Kim couldn't get any angrier, well it turned out I was wrong.

"He left his kid when she was just little and now he has a new family? That woman better be careful, he did it once and I'm sure he can do it again. I pity her kids." she shook her head.

"Did you tell your friend that her stepfather is your biological father?" Mr. Tim finally spoke.

He had been quiet the whole time I was doing the explanation.

"No I didn't."

I shook my head in disapproval the moment I saw the anger in his eyes. I knew exactly what he wanted to say.

"And I can't."

"Bullshit Ria, bullshit." he groaned in annoyance, rising to his feet.

"Language Timothy, language. And please give the child a break, I'm sure everything is quite overwhelming for her."

"No Jane, he left her when she was just a kid. Now, he saw her again and he couldn't even make up a tiny bit of excuse. He owes her a whole damn explanation."

His wife gave him a warning look. He sighed, throwing his hands up in defeat.

"All I'm saying is he could have at least said something, anything at all."

My hands were shaking the whole time, my breathing hitched in my throat. But I wasn't going to cry.

Not anymore.

I stayed with the Kim's till dinner but I couldn't eat with them because I had plans with Dante. The new year was in an hour or so.

Dante.

Just thinking of him warms my heart. He is definitely one of the reasons why I'm still moving. He is my strength and he keeps me whole.

"Don't think about Edward okay? That bastard isn't worth shit." Mrs. Kim told me when I stepped out of the door.

"Language, Jane." her husband groaned and I laughed.

The two of them were just too cute.

She shot her husband daggers with her eyes before coming to hug me.

"Take care of yourself okay? And make sure to visit often." she smiled.

"I will." I smiled.

"Happy new year Ria." they said in unison and I laughed.

"Happy new year." my lips broke into a huge grin.

"And bring that young man you mentioned too. I can't wait to meet him." she told me.

"Me and you both darling. I can't wait to meet him too. Next time you visit, you better bring him my little rascal." he hugged me and I smiled.

"Alright guys, I will okay? And hey, you guys should take care too."

I said good night and left.

I didn't bring my car and it was dark. I should have just brought the damn car but I didn't because I wanted to feel the breeze.

I know it sounds cliche- leaving my car at home in order to feel the breeze but it was exactly what I needed.

The whole thing about my father is always there even when I pretend it's not that important. It's just always there and needed badly, to clear my head.

I was walking down the alley closest to the Bus stop when I had this weird feeling. It felt as if I wasn't alone, like I was being watched.

I shook off the feeling, thinking it was just a thing I formed in my head.

My phone rang and I smiled immediately I saw it was Dante.

"Hey love." I said into the phone as I kept walking.

"Missed me?"

I rolled my eyes but still couldn't control the smile that formed on my lips.

"No." I bit my lower lip.

"Come on Ria, be nice. I missed you all day." he groaned and I laughed.

"And I know you do too, why play so hard to get?"

"Alright, I miss you too." I chuckled.

"Meanie." he groaned and I laughed.

"What, I said it already you grumpy old man."

"Tell me you love me." he said in all seriousness.

My heart was beating so fast, as if I had just fallen in love again. Only him could make me feel like that.

"I love you." I told him, stopping dead in my tracks.

"I love you, Dante. I love you very much, it hurts."

I felt this sudden emotion hit me like waves. I felt this urgent need to let him know just how much he meant to me, as if it was the last time I would say those words to him.

The thought scared the shit out of me but I didn't hold back.

"I love you Dante." I breathed into the phone and I heard him sigh in satisfaction.

"I love you, never in my life have I felt this way before." my voice was shaking like crazy and I quickly wiped the tear that escaped from my eye.

"I love you too Ria, so much. You have no idea how much I love you." I smiled, his voice seemed shaky too and the thought of him crying made me even more emotional.

"Where are you?"

"Uhm, almost at the bus stop."

"Okay, I'll pick you up at the bus stop then?"

"No, it's fine. I'll see you at home."

"Okay." he groaned, obviously not pleased with my reply.

"Happy new year?"

"We still have like an hour until the new year but fine, happy new year babe." I smiled.

"I have a surprise for you and I know you will love it."

I rolled my eyes. Dante and his surprises.

"I know." I chuckled.

"See you in few minutes, I love you."

"I love you too." I said before dropping the call.

I continued walking to the bus stop but I stopped when I heard footsteps behind me. I looked back but I saw no one in the alley.

I simply shrugged and kept heading to the bus stop. But I did stop again when I heard footsteps again.

I looked back again, still, I didn't see a thing.

I'm being followed, aren't I?

I started walking fast and the footsteps behind me sounded even closer. It was so scary.

I started running. The end of the alley was so near and I knew I would make it, if only I ran faster.

I was so close.

Oh, so close.

But I wasn't fast enough.

I felt huge pair of arms around me and I screamed, fighting the person's hold on me but all my efforts seemed futile.

I did the first thing that came to my mind, biting down on his arm with all the strength I had, I heard his groan and that was my cue to run.

I forced my way out of his hold and ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

I was so close, really close this time.

My hope got washed down the sewer immediately my assailant grabbed me again and punched me in the stomach multiple times.

No, this can't happen to me.

Not now.

I was on my knees, grabbing my stomach in pain.

I struggled, trying to crawl, I even tried to get on my feet, but it was pointless.

Next thing I knew, a huge man whom I saw through my blurry vision was standing tall over me. I couldn't see his face but he definitely had a cap on.

He bent down and I begged him over and over again. My voice came out really low but enough for him to hear my pleas.

I saw him smirk before his fist connected with my face, and all I saw was nothing but darkness.

I was in the dark, hurt and all alone with no one to call for help.

Dante.

Somebody, anybody, save me.

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