[Flashback Start]
“Let go of me!” Fatima screamed and pushed Christopher away as he tried to stop her from leaving. The rain poured down as the two argued with one another.
“Come on, I’ll talk to my mother-“ he got cut off.
“And what?! This happened far too many times! Your mother never changed and I’m not going to bend over backward just to please that woman!” she frustratedly pushed him away and wiped the rain on her face as her makeup got ruined.
“Baby.. come on now, I promise this won’t happen again,” he tried to convince her but it seems that nothing can change her mind. “Let’s break up,” she said and he froze. They stared at each other as they both get soaked.
“What?” He wanted her to repeat what she said again.
“It’s over, Christopher,” she declared, and his mouth agape as he stared at her. Fatima started walking away as fast as she could but Christopher tried stopping her. She ran across the street while cars were moving fast. A big truck passed the street so Christopher couldn’t cross the road to follow her.
Fatima looked at their house one last time only to see his mother looking out the window while drinking wine. She furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at her before running in the opposite direction of the house.
She ran till she hit something hard. She fell to the ground before she saw a hand extended for her to grab. She grabbed the man’s arm and looked up only to see Grian’s face. She stood up from falling and he extended the umbrella he was holding to cover Fatima from the rain.
“Well, well. Did I just find a damsel in distress?” he joked but she was not amused and her face was just covered with fucked up makeup. She burst into tears and he didn’t know what to do. He scratched his head and moved forward so both of them could share the umbrella.
“What’s wrong, Fatima?” Concern in his voice is evident.
“Nothing, I’m going home,” she said and wiped her tears away. She walked away from him but he grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “Why do you always refuse to open up, hmm?” he asked in a low tone as he caressed her head and she pushed him away.
“Fatima!” They turned to look at the streets and saw Fatima’s father calling her while he’s inside his car. He removed his seatbelt and exited his car before walking to Grian and Fatima. “Why the hell are you wet? You’re going to get sick,” he told her before handing her a jacket.
“Mr. Mendez,” Grian greeted before bowing.
“What’d you do to her?” He looked at him like he’s about to kill him and Grian gulped before shaking his head and raising both his arms to show he’s not a threat. “I just found her-“
“Let’s go home,” her father said before sighing. He looked through his pocket and handed Grian some money. “Go home, as well. You’re Grian, yeah?” Grian nodded and bowed again.
“Take the cash and call a cab. It’s raining hard so the streets are a hazard,” her father reminded and urged him to grab the cash in which he did so hesitantly. He held Fatima’s back and looked at her with worry as he guided his daughter to his car. Grian looked at them and waited for them to drive away before he himself called a ride home.
[Flashback End]
“We got home safely that time,” Fatima said as she was telling the story to Grian as her breathing became ragged.
“It was in the evening when the incident happened..” she added before smiling sadly. They were interrupted when Grian’s phone started ringing.
He excused himself and answered the call. “Yes, mom?” he whispered through the phone.
“I’m visiting tomorrow, your birthday is next week!” she exclaimed happily and he closed his eyes.
“Mom..! Why don’t I just pick you up the day after tomorrow, yeah?” He tried bargaining with his mother but she refused.
“Do you have a woman over or something, hmm? Introduce me to her!” She teased her son and he looked at Fatima before shaking his head. “No, I don’t,” he told her but she seemed to not buy his answer.
“I’ll call you back tomorrow, okay?” His mother laughed before ending the call.
After that, both of them went back downstairs and Fatima slept next to her brother while Grian cleaned the plates before going into his room and laying down on his soft bed.
[Flashback Start]
When the night came, her father told Fatima to get ready. Philippe was being all jealous they’re going out tonight while he stayed behind studying for exams. Fatima got ready with no energy and followed her father outside. He wrapped a scarf around her as it was cold and rainy that day. “Where are we even going?” Her father shrugged before walking to his car.
“My daughter needs to cheer up!” he said and she frowned.
“Dad..” she complained but he opened the car door for her to go into. She went inside the car and sighed before he entered the driver’s seat and started driving.
“Let’s go to your favorite restaurant, you’d love to eat your favorite food, right?” He tried cheering her up and even if she’s on the brink of crying, she smiled and nodded her head. “Yeah, that’ll be nice,” she answered and he chuckled.
As they were driving, they heard sirens from police cars. Fatima looked outside the window in curiosity. “What’s that about?” she asked and her father shrugged.
“Crimes are happening so much around here. Don’t you get into any gangs or whatever kids are into nowadays,” he said and she laughed loudly before shaking her head. “No, dad. I’m not into what kids nowadays are into,” she said with a funny tone and he chuckled.
As they were crossing the street, another car was speeding towards them. “Dad!” she screamed but it was too late as the person was going way too fast for them to move out of the way. Their car was hit and it flipped over while the other car crashed into the wall after hitting them.
Fatima passed out but when she woke up, they’re upside down. She looked out the broken window before looking at her father. “D-dad?” She whimpered in pain.
“Dad!” She cried as reality dawned on her.
She held her head before removing her seatbelt and falling down on the broken window and the glass pierced her back. She ignored the pain and shook her father to wake him up. A couple of seconds later, he opened his eyes. “Fatima.. are you alright?” he asked as his face distorted from the pain he’s feeling.
“Dad!” she screamed in relief and he smiled as she cried harder.
“Are you okay?” She nodded.
“I’m s-scared..” she whispered as her tears fell like a waterfall. The night sky also started pouring down rain.
“Shh, sweety. Everything will be fine,” he said before his eyes slowly closed. She looked at him in terror and tried waking him up again. “Dad? Dad!”
[Flashback End]
Christopher’s mother played a CCTV tape on the night of the accident, showing him what happened. “The night of your accident was the same night of Fatima and her father’s accident, Christopher.” He sat there in terror as to what his mother is trying to imply. She has been explaining to her the events that happened in the past as he sat there, speechless.
“Do you think it was an accident that it was on the same night, Chris?” she asked as if teasing him and his jaw clenched. She stood up and approached his mother with his fist clenched.
“You said no one was hurt!” he screamed and the veins in his head were seen.
“You passed out driving, you wouldn’t remember,” she said with her eyebrows raised and he slammed his fist on the table beside them.
“Why did you keep this from me? I-I I killed someone’s father! Fatima’s Father!” His breathing became ragged as his eyes widened.
“It was to protect you- I didn’t want you to go to prison,” she explained and his anger grew.
“Did you pay people to keep things hidden? The police, the media- how about her mother? Does she know this too?!”
“For your own good, don’t get near Fatima again. Unless you’re begging to go to prison,” she said, ignoring his previous question. He held his head with both his hands, feeling like he’s going crazy. His mother asked him to go to their mansion but he didn’t expect her to reveal this to him. He still can’t believe it, he doesn’t want to believe it. “This is making me crazy, fuck!” He flipped the table over before leaving the room as his mother watched him. She sat down on her chair and sighed.