CHAPTER ONE

Chapter One

Keith

I'M ABOUT TO MAKE A LIFE CHANGING DECISION. I stared into Jonathan's amber eyes as I think this through. We kept eye contact, and he was the first one to break it.

He forced out a laugh as he looked away and was about to lower his hand but before he could do so, I placed my hand on his and squeezed it. His eyes widened and immediately looked at me, eyes asking for confirmation.

I smiled at him and nodded, "I'll runaway with you, Jonathan" I stated, making him smile widely. He walked closer to me and pulled me into his embrace.

"I'll keep you safe, baby" I hope so, Jonathan. I really do.

After a few minutes of talking about random things, Jonathan and I decided to go home when we realized that it's getting dark outside. We lost track on time. We were too engrossed in our conversation to even notice that we've been talking for a few hours.

"M'lady" Jonathan teased as he opened the car door for me. I flipped him off and entered the car. After closing the door, he quickly ran around the car to go on the driver's seat.

He started the engine and we immediately left the parking lot. While he was driving, I glanced at him. His eyes are focused on the road, his left hand is on the steering wheel while his right hand is on my thigh.

I smiled and placed my hand on top of his before giving it a light squeeze. He looked at me and cocked a brow at me. I shook my head, so he focused back on the road.

"I love you, Jonathan" I whispered, leaning my head on his shoulder. He turned to me and placed a kiss on my forehead, "I love you, baby" He said, and I smiled.

"I know"

"Good" He mumbled.

The milktea shop was only ten minutes away from my house. It was a quick ride. For a moment, I was leaning on Jonathan's shoulder, then a few seconds later, I found ourselves outside my house.

As usual, Jonathan walked me up to our front porch. He kissed me goodbye before walking back to his car. I waved him goodbye and waited for his car to disappear from my sight before turning to the door.

I flinched when I saw my mother, Felicity Velasco - Chua standing at the doorway, looking directly at me. "Mommy, how long have you been standing there?" I asked her.

She flashed me a sarcastic smile, "Long enough to see you smiling like an idiot while watching your lover's car disappear" She answered.

I took a deep breath before walking pass her. This is the reason why I hate being home. Specially when she's here.

Before I could walk away from her, she called my name — making me stop at my tracks. I didn't bother to turn around. I just stopped there and listened to her heels clinking on our marbled floor getting louder and louder as she walked closer to me.

"Get ready for dinner. Your father and siblings are already preparing themselves for our family dinner so be fast. Your father doesn't like to wait" She said. I only nodded and walked away.

Once I'm in my room, I entered my walk-in-closet and picked a simple white off-shoulder dress. I took a quick shower and didn't bother to dry my hair. I quickly got dressed in my walk-in-closet and went out of that room once I'm done.

I walked up to my body length mirror — that's placed between the door leading to my walk-in-closet and my study room, and fixed my dress. My wet brown hair reaches down to my waist. My violet eyes stands out the most.

Aside from having my father's eyes, I look like my mother. Well, Sam and I look like our mother. If Sam isn't sick all the time, she would really be the mini-Felicity Velasco. Unlike me, she got our mother's eyes. Hazel.

She and our eldest sister, Carrie are the only one who got our mother's hazel eyes. Kuya Matteo, Sage and I got our father's violet eyes.

I glanced at the wall clock that's up on the door and my eyes widened when I realized that it's already six-thirty in the evening. Our family dinners usually starts at six-thirty. I took one final look on my mirror before heading down to the dining room.

As what I expected, my father is sitting at the end of the dining table. Mommy, Sam and Carrie is seated at my father's left side. Daddy looked at my direction once I entered the room and flashed me a warm smile, "Here comes my favorite girl" He said, making me chuckle. I greeted everyone and took a seat beside Matteo — which is the first seat at daddy's right side, right in front of mommy.

"You're late, Serenity Keith" Mommy said in her usual strict tone. Daddy scoffed at what she said, "We haven't started dinner yet, Felicity. So how is she even late?" He asked mommy in a sarcastic manner.

Mommy's perfectly thin eyebrows furrowed, her eyes filled with disbelief. "Showing up at the dining table with you already sitting down is considered as late, Leonardo" She stated, making everyone, except from Sam, sigh.

"At least she's only late for our family dinner, mom. What about you? You've always been late at the events we tell you to go. Especially at Keith's graduation day" Sage, who is sitting at the end of the table — right in front of Carrie, pointed out.

Mommy's eyes widened and she opened her mouth to say something but daddy raised his left hand, silencing her. "Stop it," He coldy said to mommy before turning his head to me, "Let's eat, shall we?" Daddy said and smiled. The maids who were standing behind us walked up to the table and placed our food down.

We all started to dig in quietly. No one bothered to talk, and it seems like mommy still hasn't got over the fact that his favorite son talked against her.

After a few minutes, Carrie decided to break the silence by asking daddy the question that I've been wondering as well. "What's up, dad? Why did you suddenly call for a family dinner?" We only have family dinners whenever there's an occasion or our parents has something to tell us. I was also in shock when mommy approached me at the door.

Daddy had a confused look on his face and wiped his lips using a table napkin before looking at mommy, "Well, actually your mother is the one who called for this family dinner. Can you bother telling us what's the reason behind this family dinner, Felicity?" He asked mommy.

Mommy had a tight smile on her lips as she looked at each one of us before settling her eyes on me, "Samantha's going to have a kidney transplant" She announced.

Matteo sighed and placed his chopsticks down. He looked at mommy in disbelief, "Are you saying that you made me cancel a very important meeting just for you to announce that your sick daughter is going to have a kidney transplant?" He asked, annoyed.

Mommy glared at Matteo, "I'm not yet finished with what I'm saying, Matteo Cole" She said, making him scoff.

"Finished or not, when it comes to Sam and her sick self, I don't give a damn. That's her problem, not mine. Nor ours. She already has your attention and care, so why should we even care for her?" Matteo answered back. At thid point, everyone at the dining table stopped eating. Well, except from Sage since he's still digging in — as if his life depends on it.

I looked down at my food, and continued to eat — like Sage, as if they aren't arguing in front of me. I'm also used to this type of situation. Even if they're in front of a table full of food, they would still argue.

And our father, as usual, is sipping on his glass of red wine as he watched his wife and his eldest son argue. What a weird family that I have.

"Will you guys just stop? Matteo, let mommy finish, please?" We all stopped at our tracks when Sam suddenly talked. Even Sage, who was too engrossed with his food stopped.

Matteo forced a chuckle, "Oh. You know how to talk now, huh?" He sarcastically asked her, and Sam immediately closed her mouth — probably intimidated by him.

Mommy nodded at Sam and cleared her throat before looking back at me, "Though she haven't found a donor yet" She said.

"And?" Matteo asked.

"I was thinking of... Maybe Keith?" With that being said, I placed my chopsticks down on the table. I placed it a little too hard though, because it made a loud sound.

Everyone looked at me. They had the same look on their faces. Confused. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath before opening it again. Without thinking twice, I stood up and mumbled an excuse as I walked away.

I went straight to my room and locked the door. I leaned on the door and slowly sat down on the ground. Kidney donor? Is she insane? I... I can't give one of my kidneys to Sam just because she needs it.

My eyes started to moist as I imagined how would I be if I gave my other kidney to Sam. I still could study and be a doctor with only one kidney, but I can't. I just can't and I won't. Call me selfish but I just can't. It's too much. They're being too much.

Jonathan. I bit my bottom lip as I stood up. I searched for my phone and found it inside my sling bag. I unlocked it and quickly tapped Jonathan's name in my contacts.

I tried to call him but he wasn't answering. I ran my fingers through my hair, frustrated as I paced back and forth in front of my bed with my phone pressed on my ear — still trying to contact Jonathan.

What is that idiot doing right now? Why isn't he answering?

He messaged me a few minutes ago saying that he got home safe. I don't think he had something to do since it's his day off. Where is he?

After multiple times of trying to contact him, I gave up. I angrily threw my phone to the wall — breaking it in the process of doing so. I screamed and threw the first object I got hold of to the wall. And I flinched when glass shattered everywhere.

I looked down as I felt my right leg sting. I bit my bottom lip as I saw blood dripping down my leg. I looked at the wall and saw that the object I threw to the wall was my mother's favorite vase. Well, damn it. She's gonna kill me for sure.

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