Chapter 1 Chapter One: First Meeting

　　She is hiding inside the closet of the abandoned house near their home. She's sweating and afraid of being found by her mother.

　　Every time her mother got drunk, she will be beaten up until she's half-dead. Her body still have Sim bruises from previous abuse.

　　She hugged her knees and tightly closed her eyes. She tried to calm down herself because she's also afraid of darkness but she has no other choice. She must hide so that her mother wouldn't be able to find her. When the time her mother sober up, she will return but still beaten less than she got drunk.

　　Her body jolted when she heard a sudden bang in the living room. She slowly stood and her eyes squinted in order to see through the crack of the room where she was.

　　She saw six black men. One of them is holding up a young boy. The young boy's mouth was taped to shut him up and his limbs are tied up tightly by thicked ropes.

　　Sandra's eyes narrowed and immediately covered her mouth but her eyes are still staring at this kidnappings incident. She is very careful not to make any noise until the man who carried the young boy looked around to find a room.

　　Sandra quickly hid inside the closet while her eyes are on the scene. The man lay down the young boy on the bed.

　　The young boy is staring at the man. His eyes moistened while struggling. He tried to untie himself but couldn't. It was too tight!

　　The man left the room and silent overcomes it. Suddenly, the young boy stiffened when the door of the closet slowly opened. He was scared to death!

　　He even imagined the horror scene of Sadako coming out.

　　However, he was stunned when he saw a young girl slowly walked out of the closet while vigilantly looked around to check.

　　The young boy narrowed his eyes when he got a perfect look on Sandra's face. Although, she's still young but she's beautiful. It is obvious that she will become more beautiful when she grows up. However, he was puzzled as to why the young girl is wearing a shirt and pants for boys. He wanted to ask but it isn't the right time for that.

　　"Sshhhh" - Sandra

　　He nodded silently and Sandra sat beside the young boy. She slowly untied him.

　　After untying him, her eyes couldn't look away. She was stunned of his beauty. The moonlight exposed his collarbone, his sweating forehead shone despite the darkness, his perfect-sculptured face is certainly gift by God to him. If you don't mind his sorry state, he is the perfect prince of many young girl or maybe, prince of many women when he grows up.

　　"Thank you" the young boy awkwardly as he caressed his wrist where he was being tied up.

　　"You're welcome!" Sandra said but in low voice in order not to alert the men outside.

　　"I'm Rico Reyes" he introduced himself shortly.

　　"I'm Sandra Pangilinan" Sandra did the same and they both shake hands but Sandra felt hot on her face.

　　"Are you okay?" Rico asked worriedly and got closer to her to check.

　　"Y-Yes" she answered and stepped back. She still feel hot on her face and she doesn't want this young boy to notice it.

　　Rico felt awkward and didn't notice her reddened face because it is too dark. However, the moonlight illuminated enough for both of them to glimpse of each other earlier.

　　Rico stood up without making any noise and leaned on the door to listen their conversation.

　　"We're now far from Reyes Mansion. Even if they found out that their young master is missing, they wouldn't be able to find us here" a man's voice said to his comrades.

　　"This is good enough. After getting the money, we will just give them this location and escaped" a hoarse voice said, still another man.

　　"As long as the money is divided evenly among us, I don't care of your next plan for this young master" another man said.

　　Sandra was about to stand up when her phone rings loudly. They both stiffened and their faces showed fear.

　　Sandra didn't accept the call but pulled Rico inside the closet. Rico was stunned of her sudden outburst of strength.

　　Sandra pushed the floor of the closet and a human-sized downstairs appeared. They fell inside it and the floor automatically closed up.

　　Rico, unconsciously, hugged Sandra for fear of hurting her from the bump and his back will receive the hit of the fall but he felt a soft foam on his back while he groaned on the impact that Sandra gave on his body.

　　"S-Sorry!" she exclaimed and immediately stood up. She reached out her hand on him to pull him up and he reached out to receive her good will.

　　"It's fine. I never thought there is a underground hidden room" he said and felt the warmth from Sandra's hands.

　　"Well, I accidentally opened it earlier. This abandoned house was my hideout but I didn't find it before. Strange" she answered while looking around but darkness covered the whole room.

　　Sandra patted her pants to look for the lighter she got before coming here. It was her hobby to carry lighter and now, she pressed the button on the butt of the lighter and light appeared.

Chapter 2 Chapter Two: Until When to Endure

　　"AHHH!!" she exclaimed when many rat's eyes stared them but scattered and hide.

　　Rico covered her mouth to shut her up or else the men from above might find them. Death is knocking on their door if that ever happens!

　　"Sacredy cat" Rico said as he hugged her from behind. Sandra stiffened when he felt his warmth. Her back is sweating. She wanted to curse at him loudly but she was in trance of his stare at her.

　　Her heart throbbed badly. She felt she is having a heart-attack! She patted her chest to calm down but her face looks like a tomato.

　　"Are you sick?" Rico asked.

　　"You're sick! You're parents are sick! Your family are sick! Damn!" she cursed at him in her mind but her heart beats fast and couldn't control it.

　　"Let's look around" he said while still hugging her from behind and pushed her to walk ahead.

　　Does she even have a choice?!

　　They walked while looking for the exit but failed to do so.

　　"Maybe, we can find it tomorrow. It is night time right now. Tomorrow, the sunlight will be our guide towards the exit" Sandra suggested.

　　When Rico heard it, he hesitate because he is worried of his family's reaction if he went missing. However, he thought again and agreed. Anyway, they couldn't find the exit in this dark underground.

　　They couldn't go back upstairs, right? Those black-suited are certainly looking for him and Sandra's existence this night never crossed their mind. They thought Rico escaped and looked in every corner of the abandoned house but they couldn't find the underground room.

　　Suddenly, Sandra fainted and Rico got panic. He doesn't expect that she fainted after walking around the underground. Unbeknownst to them, the underground is huge than the house itself.

　　Rico supported her and laid her down on the ground. He looked around to find some things that will serve as a fan.

　　He saw an old scroll and quickly folded it like a fan. He swayed the fan back and forth on Sandra's body to give her some air.

　　Sandra's paled face becomes rosy, her whiten lips previously showed some red and her sweating face and body loosened up a bit of tension. Her face relaxed and fell sleep.

　　Rico was amused of Sandra's relaxation while he is trying to ease her up but he smiled. He caressed her cheeks and slowly put her head on his lap as a pillow.

　　Rico's eyes felt heavy and unknowingly fell sleep. They looked like they came out of painting. So peaceful and relaxing.

　　Rico smiled inside his dreams while Sandra drooled as she dreamt of Rico giving her slices of cakes.

　　Early in the morning, police siren sounded outside the abandoned house. Rico frowned. He doesn't want to be disturbed from noise and got annoyed because he has a good dream, dreaming of a young girl who saved his life but he was stunned when he felt something heavy on his lap.

　　He rubbed his eyes twice to make sure that he was not hallucinating. He was indeed saved by a young girl! And the young girl is sleeping peacefully on his lap!

　　He smiled and was about to reach his right hand on her cheeks but Sandra's body jolted up because of continuous sound of police sirens from outside.

　　She's still half-awake and felt dizzy.

　　"Good morning" he said to her and continued to reach out his right hand to hug her. Sandra felt warmth from behind her so she smiled and leaned on.

　　Rico chuckled and the fear from last night vanished. He looked at her soft and tender face and smelled her smooth long hair. He felt happy to meet her. He couldn't wait to get out of this abandoned house in order to keep her by his side.

　　Suddenly, a commotion broke out from above the underground. There are footsteps and gunshots. He hugged her tightly which caused Sandra to fully awake.

　　She was frightened by the gunshots but a gentle pat on her head eased her up. She doesn't need to look at who patted her. She already knows who it is and feels happy.

　　"Young Master Rico!!" many shouts of Reyesses bodyguards were heard from above.

　　"We are here!!" Rico shouted to call them. He heard the footsteps halted.

　　"Young Master Rico! Where are you?!" they shouted again and again while Rico responds after their fifth attempts.

　　They found Rico and felt relieved but were stunned when they found out that there is a young girl on their young master's arms.

　　They could tell from what they have seen that their young master is tightly hugging the young girl like a treasure.

　　"Quick! Call an ambulance! She's scorching hot!" he shouted and a panic was showed on his face.

　　He didn't notice her fever until she leaned on him like looking for something to ease high temperature.

　　Rico's bodyguard called an ambulance while the black suited men had black and blues bruises on their faces.

　　In the hospital...

　　Sandra was taken care by the doctors, who are working in the hospital owned by the Reyes Family. She was admitted inside the VIP room while the nurses are monitoring her condition.

　　At four o'clock in the afternoon, a call from Sandra's phone woke her up. She felt her weakened body while she's still muddle-headed.

　　She reached out her arms to get the phone and answer it.

　　"Why are you in a hospital?!! Have you ever thought of the bills there?!!" a woman's shout from the other side of the phone. Her muddle-headedness disappeared and her body tensed up.

　　"I'll be discharged immediately" she answered and hung up the call. She quickly fixed herself and slowly walked towards the nurse station. She inquired about her hospital bill but her eyes narrowed.

　　"Young Master Rico owned the hospital. You are admitted her free of charge. Please wait at your room and I'll call the young master for your dis...charge" before she finished her words, Sandra already left the hospital.

　　"YOU F*CKING B*TCH! YOU LEFT ME YESTERDAY WHILE RELAXING INSIDE THE HOSPITAL?! WHERE WAS YOUR MONEY COME FROM TO BE IDLE JN THE HOSPITAL?!!" Her mother shouted at her like a madman and grabbed her hair.

　　Sandra felt fear when she was grabbed on her hair. She knows what will her mother do next!

　　It was too late to react when her mother grabbed a scissors on the drawer and pulled her hair. She cut her long hair into a cut suited for boys. Sandra shriek while tears flowing out of her eyes.

　　Since she was born into this world, her biological mother disguised her as a boy in order to get the compensation from her biological father who already have a wife and children.

　　If her biological father wouldn't send a money, her biological mother will keep pestering endlessly. That's why her biological father hate her so much like she's not his flesh and blood.

　　She cried loudly while her hair keeps falling down from the cut. When she reached the age for entering the compulsory primary school, she started to wear a hair wig for boys to hide her gender but she still have her long-hair because she wanted to be treated as a girl by others. However, right now, her biological mother is cutting her long hair into a haircut for boys.

　　She was pushed on the ground after the haircut by her own biological mother. She silently cried while her hands clenched but still, her heart still desire her biological mother's affection so she endured.

　　However, until when will she endure? She doesn't know.

Chapter 3 Chapter Three: Meet But Not Fated

　　Rico Reyes... He is the son of the first wife, inherited his mother's genes, lively and friendly. Everyone likes him but he's still frog from the bottom of the well.

　　His father got married again after his mother died of poison. The mastermind was not arrested and unidentified.

　　After one year, his father met a woman who almost look like his mother and got married. Rico tried to treat the woman as a mother but this woman is a two-faced wolf. She's gentle and lovely in front of his father but fierce when his father is not around.

　　He never thought this would happen but let the woman does as she wants and never cared. However, it doesn't mean that the woman wouldn't deal with him. This time, she hired men to kidnap him and exchange for ransom.

　　While he was locked up inside the abandoned house, the woman kept saying to his father that he's still a kid who has no mother and needs care, a kid who is easily deceived that's why he was kidnapped and many more in order to make his father feels that he is a useless son. He succeeded but also failed because his father still keep him because he is his flesh and blood. Even a tiger wouldn't kill his cub. His stepmother was angry to the point that she wanted to kill him but controlled herself.

　　He hated being in the crowded places, parties or physical contact but to his surprise, he doesn't hate the intimate contact with the little girl he just met inside the abandoned house. He thought there was no one in this world that could manage to get his curiosity and fondness for a short period of time. However, she does. From now on, no one could enter his mind and heart other than that little girl.

　　After three months of searching, no news from his trusted men about the little girl's whereabouts. It was like she enters to his world and vanished at the same time. He felt heavy on his chest but told himself to never give up the search until school ended in primary school grade six.

　　He was about to exit the school building but a petite little boy blocked his way. He looked at him and frowned. The boy's appearance could be said as not ordinary. His eyes are clear as blue sky, his short curly hair sways back and forth because of the light gentle wind passedby, his pointed noise is beautifully sculpted as well as his rosy cheeks and lips. If this petite little boy is not wearing a school uniform for boys, he would think that he's a girl.

　　"R...Rico R-Reyes! Please accept this!" the petite little boy exclaimed while his eyes showed nervousness while reaching out both his hands towards Rico. His hands hold a folded letter with heart icon on the center. His hands are sweating while his feets are trembling. Maybe, in one blow, this petite little boy will collapse.

　　Rico observed the petite little boy's face that looks familiar to him but also unfamiliar. He doesn't know why the image of that little girl he met in the abandoned house emerged out of his mind.

　　"It will be good if she's the one who gives him a letter" he thought in his mind. While contemplating, they caught the attention of the students. As they look back and forth between Rico and the petite little boy, their eyes lit up! Ah, a huge gossip!

　　The wind blows as their uniform sways while looking at each other's eyes. Rico is still silent while the petite little boy slowly showed sadness because Rico is not reacting to his action.

　　"Yo! What a big day! Our little nerd is confessing to you, Rico!" Damian exclaimed as he excitedly walked towards Rico and the petite little boy. He is Damian Dominggo and Rico's friend. Even though, he hates being surrounded by a crowd, he never pushed away his friend but keep a physical distance, as much as possible. Damian doesn't mind because he was used to it.

　　"Wow! It never occurs to my mind that there will be a day I witness a confession!" Alex also exclaimed while being petrified by this sudden event.

　　"Of all students here, a boy confesses to Rico. What a day!" Jannica, Rico's fiancée, sarcastically said while she never bothered to conceal the disgust on her face.

　　Because of what Jannica said, the students on the sideways are pointing on the petite little boy.

　　The petite little boy is sweating from head to toe because of the crowd's ridicule and contempt. The petite little boy hang down his head while his hands are slowly lied down.

　　However, the petite little boy narrowed his eyes when a hand suddenly grabbed on his wrist and picked the letter from his hand. He was stunned of this sudden development and expectant showed on his eyes.

　　However, a sudden expectant was torn apart after Rico reads the letter and torn it into pieces.

　　"I'm straight and will never fall in love with a man" Rico said as he turned back and left. The petite little boy looked down on the pieces of the letter while tears flowing down his cheeks.

　　"I won't give up, Rico Reyes!!" he declared loudly while the crowd gasped of his words. He picked up the pieces and left hurriedly while silently crying.

　　Rico stopped when he heard the declaration of love and persistence of the petite little boy. Jannica, Damian and Alex also stopped and turned their head to look at the petite little boy, who hurriedly left the area after the declaration.

　　Rico walked out of the school gate and a car from afar stop in front of him.

　　"Young Master Rico" the driver called Rico and opened the car door. Rico entered the car without looking back to his friends. However, his heart throbbed after hearing that declaration like he is looking forward to it but also felt disgust because a boy confessed to him.

　　He was stunned of this realization and shook his head to forget such wrong feeling.

　　"I hope I won't see him again" he said to himself.

　　After two months, another school year starts.

　　On the day of opening ceremony to welcome the freshmen to the Divonne Academy. He is also a freshman this year but selected as temporary Freshmen Year Representative.

　　As he enters the stadium, the girls scream because of his handsome face and physique. Even though he is still a High School Freshman, his appearance gave out a ruling aura while the boys applauded loudly.

　　He walked towards the stage and stood uprightly in front of everyone.

　　He is giving heart-welcoming speech while his gaze looked around the crowd steadily and calmly. He looks like a country president who is confident of protecting his countrymen from invaders.

　　------

　　Sandra ran hurriedly to the stadium to attend the opening ceremony but she's late because there's no taxi to take her to school so she had to run. Anyway, she has good endurance because of how vigorous her training is. She does self-physical training every day in order to avoid her mother's nagging every morning.

　　She was about to reach the stadium's entrance door but he stumbled when she unknowingly brushed pass a stone. She closed her eyes and waited to feel the pain but she felt a warmth arms around her waist.

　　She was stunned when she looked at the arms on her waist and traced it back to the owner. She turned her head and saw a familiar face. She narrowed her eyes and her heart throbbed again. She never thought that she enrolled the school where he is.

　　"You should be careful next time" his cold voice sounded which makes Sandra trembled.

　　Sandra won't ever forget the man who reject her two months ago and shamelessly declared her persistence to pursue him but she didn't know where he enrolled. Fortunately, she entered the same school as he is.

　　"T-Thank you" she said and hang down her head to prevent him of remembering the confession that day.

　　Rico steadied her carefully. He was about to ask something but Sandra hurriedly ran out of his sight. He frowned and thought that she looks familiar.

　　"Hey! Isn't he the one who confessed to you two months ago?" Damian appeared from inside the stadium entrance door while looking at Sandra's back.

　　Rico frowned but didn't say anything to Damian's teasing tone. Jannica followed Damian but her face showed disgust after hearing what Damian said.

　　"Did he follow us here? L City is far distance from City B" Alex said. He appeared behind Damian.

　　"Don't speculate. I don't to hear it, again" Rico said and entered the stadium.

　　After giving a long speech, he strolled around the Divonne Academy to familiarize.