She never thought that the game nine years ago is a scheme by his father.

"Dad, that's unreasonable!" Alora retorted.

"Alora, behave yourself! The company is already at stake and you are still stupid!" her Dad yelled back. He is in anger given the fact that Alora is not convinced to the idea of getting married as soon as possible.

"I cannot do that! I have big dreams other than getting married!" Alora is in deep sadness while thinking of a life she didn't plan for herself.

"Where is your brain? Don't make it hard for me!" Her Dad stood up from his office chair while glaring at her.

"You're making it hard for me too, Dad! I've been by your side so many years, I did all the things you wanted me to be, but I won't let you decide for the rest of my life," she protested.

There is only person in her mind— her bestfriend.

Alora went out of her Dad's office even the latter was calling her name. Therese, her Dad's secretary and a second wife at the same time, is heading to her Dad's office.

"Why are you crying, my dear?" Therese is worried.

"Don't fake your character," Alora said and passed her stepmother. Therese followed Alora through her eyes until she is gone. "I mean it, silly girl," she whispered to herself as she smile a bit before entering the office.

Alora is crying while taking the hallway out of their company. Her white dress is already in a mess and her high heels made her ankles sore.

It's getting late that's why taxi cabs and busses are seldom to pass along the sidewalk where she is. She is reaching for her bestfriend through a call but the line is busy.

"Gab, please pick up..." she whispered while trying to dial it again. She noticed a taxi coming towards her. She waved her hand desperately and almost hit by taxi. The driver stopped the car.

"Miss, if you're going to suicide, not here, and I have a passenger," the driver confronted her.

Alora close his eyes firmly with the thought of the driver. "I am in a rush, Sir. I don't have time to kill myself."

She opened the taxi in the backseat. There is a young man in a suit leaning on the other side. Alora thought that he is sleeping.

"Pardon me, I really need to go." Alora somehow felt guilty but she doesn't want to be caught by her Dad's bodyguards. Otherwise, her life will be more misserable.

"Miss, this is a special ride. You can still wait outside–" The driver didn't finish his words when the young man raised his right hand and gestured 'stop', but his eyes is still close.

"Let her be," the only line he said as if it's nothing.

"Thank you," she almost whispered but the young man didn't bother. "You just take him first, it's fine with me."

"It depends on your location," the man interrupted while the driver starts to take the highway.

Alora was embarrassed but she thinks of other way, "How about I will pay for your fare?"

"I already paid yours," the man replied.

Alora's eyed widened and confused. "I will repay you–" The man interrupted her.

"Get out of the car if you can't shut your mouth," he said.

Alora pissed off but she took a deep breath and shut her mouth. She thought that this man is kind, but actually a hearthless.

Suddenly, her phone is ringing. It's Gab. She immediately answered the call and didn't give a care to the other person.

"Finally, you picked it up!" she almost cried. "Gab, I need your help. May I come into your house tonight? I have nowhere to go. I have to tell you something," she added.

"What's with the reaction? Okay, you come here. Just take care," Gab agreed.

On the other hand, the young man described Alora as a stupid girl based on her actions.

"Sir, please take me to #101 Ling Steet, East Village," Alora stated. The man is confused as well as the driver.

"Miss, did you quarrel?" The taxi driver asked.

"With whom?" she asked but she already get what the driver meant. "No, no. It's my first time to meet him. Why?"

Before the driver could answer her question. The man answered. "We are both heading the same location."

"Oh, I see–WHAT?!"

"Are you sure that he's blind?" Alora asked for the nth time. They are both in Gab's bedroom. Gab is a gay but not a cross dresser. Only Alora knows him so much and they both trust each other.

"If you don't believe me, then ask him yourself," Gab replied while arranging the quilt and pillow on the floor. He knows that Alora doesn't like to sleep with him even if nothing would happen. He respects Alora so much.

"No thanks. If it's not because of him letting me into the taxi, I would not be grateful to your cousin." She chuckled.

"Speaking of, how long will you stay here? What if your parents will know that you're here? I'm much worried to you." Gab worriedly stated.

"Dad is my only parent since Mom died. I don't consider the other," she bitterly speak.

Gab tried to understand her. "Anyways, do you know your supposed to be husband?"

Alora crossed her brows. "Why would I need to know? I cannot do what I want to do especially if my husband would be so unreasonable like Dad," she paused and her mother's image pops in her mind. "Mom wanted to be a surgeon, it was her dream but when he married Dad, Dad wanted her to stay at home and because of her love towards him, she chose to use her hands doing chores and serve him. I don't want to be like that, Gab."

"Don't be in grief. As long as I am alive, I will protect you with all the strength that I have." Gab showed his muscles to Alora and they both laugh.

"No wonder why you are the first and only person I count in. Thank you so much, Gab."

"Drama is enough, my pretty friend. Let's sleep because I have my Accounting class tomorrow," Gab said and they both lay in their respective place.

In that moment, Alora somehow felt relieved knowing that there is still someone who can stand with her during her crisis in life.

In the morning, Gab is in a hurry while tying his necktie. Alora just woke up and noticed that Gab's necktie is in a mess.

"You're a grown up man but does not know how to tie it properly," she teased.

"I am a woman!" he protested.

"Sshhh. What if your cousin might hear you?"

"Don't worry 'cause he knows already. Both of you know about it. Come on, finish it faster!" Alora finish it with a single snap.

"There, you look more handsome!" Alora teased again.

"Stop that, Alora or I might throw you away," he teased back. They both laugh until they reached the front door of Gab's apartment.

"Don't move anything in my house, okay? Otherwise, my cousin cannot do what he wants here. If he needs help, accompany him okay? I'll go back in the evening," Gab instructed Alora.

"No, problem. I will do everything you say just don't send me away," Alora agreed happily.

"Sure, my pretty friend. Behave yourself! Bye!"

When she closed the door, she smirked. "As if I'll do something to your cousin," she said.

"What did you say?" A deep voice from behind.

She suddenly felt nervous. "W-What? I said nothing." She stuttered.

"I'm blind but not deaf," he replied and directly staring at Alora's eyes.

"Is this man really blind?" Alora asked herself. She snapped her fingers in front of him just to know if this guy is pretending, but she failed.

"Well, if you need something just tell me and I will help you," Alora said casually to cover her nervousness. She walked away from the man but she stopped when she remembered something. "What's your name again, by the way?"

The man didn't answer instead, and walked towards the stairs. "Okay, I will take Silent as your nickname. You are Mr. Silent in this house," Alora decided.

"Don't make my name stupid. I'm Cleo," Cleo answered without meeting Alora's stunned gaze.

"What a marvelous name," Alora whispered as if she's in a cloud 9, but a part of him poked her daydream. "No, this is not right. He is not as kind as what you think, Alora. No, no, no. I might be crazy!" she added while tying up her hair.

"What would I cook for our breakfast? Should I ask him?" Alora is talking to herself.

"Anything aside from egg, silly girl." Cleo replied from above the staircase.

Alora hold back her annoyance because she doesn't want to disappoint Gab, especially he is her friend's cousin.

While glaring at him, she didn't notice that she was holding the knife too tight and caused to wound herself.

"OUCH!"

"What happened?" Cleo asked without looking Alora, and he didn't show that he's worried.

Alora looked up to see Cleo's reaction. "As expected, he's true color is being heartless," Alora whispered herself while trying to stop the bleed on her index finger. Since he's blind, she decided not to tell it. What is the sense if she'll tell? There will be no difference.

"Nothing. Just a mosquito bite. I will spray mosquito repellent later," Alora replied. She was about to leave the kitchen to get a band aid for her wound when she noticed that Cleo is still on the staircase. "I said it's nothing. I will call you once the food is ready," she repeated before leaving.

Cleo didn't bother to care more about her and continue walking towards his room.

Alora blew his wound before putting the band aid. Her mother used to do it whenever she gets wounded when she was a child. A tear unexpectedly comes from his eye. She misses her mother so much. Alora still cannot forget how her mother died in front of her innocent eyes. If her mother didn't cover herself for Alora during the earthquake that has a magnitude of 7.8 twelve years ago, probably that she is the one in the grave now. Since then, she keeps in mind that it was her fault.

Since her mother died, their company met several problems which caused of decreasing investors. She didn't know that her father would tricked her and manipulate her future just for the sake of their company.

Nine years ago, her Dad went home and he was quite stress. Alora was waiting her to show the invitation from the school administration. It was for the Father's Day. Her Dad supposed to ignore it but he come up with the idea of making a contract. It was the last sort to ensure the sake of the company, and that is to arrange her marriage to the son of the company's biggest investor.

She can still remember what her father asked. "When you grow up, what age would you want to get married?" Her innocent mind decided on it. "Dad, is it okay to get married at 20?" Her Dad caressed her hair and smiled. "That will be great, sweetie. Okay, just sign here and I will accompany you tomorrow. Daddy will spend the Father's Day with you." And the rest is history.

Alora didn't notice that she's already crying silently. It was too painful for her especially that she's already experiencing the consequences of her innocence.

The front door suddenly open. "I don't know why the administration didn't inform us that classes today are cancelled—OMG WHY ARE YOU CRYING?!" Gab exclaimed and rushed beside her to give a hug.

Alora let her tears to flow in Gab's arms. "Did Cleo hit you?" he asked and Alora shook her head. "Don't worry too much, Alora. It will take time but I'm sure that this will be over soon. Just cry, my girl."

Gab felt sorry and worried towards her. He knows that Alora is too fragile and too sensitive whatever she faces. That is also the reason why Alora trusts him so much, is because he can offer himself for her.

They were sitting in the sofa while hugging each other not until they heard a glass fell on the floor.

"What was that?!" Gab exclaimed.

"Your cousin!" Alora worriedly stated.

They both rushed into the dining area to check what happened to Cleo.