nothing lasts#17

#One month later#

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-Daniel: "I'm really tired of everything, but we can't just quit you know?"

-Anya: "I know.. when should we get back to school then?"

Anya who was talking with Daniel through the phone, cut herself off once she felt somebody trying to open the door of her room.

"Mom?"

Her mother who was eavesdropping to her conversation entered the room and started shouting and scolding her

-Lauren: "you're still talking about studying? Do you really think that I'd let you continue your studies after this scandal??! You've been hanging out with a murderer and you!

You brought him over to MY HOUSE many times. He even used to carry Nya with his killer hands!!"

Although Anya got sick of listening to her mother's insults everyday, and even sicker of bearing all the disrespect, mistreatment and the abuse, she never spoke up, she's never even tried.

But this time, it was different. Calling Kai a murderer after learning about his motive was something that Anya wasn't planning to be tolerant with.

-Anya: "WHAT DID YOU JUST CALL HIM?.. HE'S NOT A MURDERER!! AND DON'T YOU EVER DARE TO TALK BAD ABOUT HIM AGAIN."

-Lauren: "you're talking back?!"

Lauren pushed Anya to the ground causing her to fall and drop her phone.

She then started beating her up.

Daniel who was still on the call, understood the situation and reported it.

A few moments later, the cops got to Anya's house along with Daniel.

She was leaving the house with them,

And in spite of being in trouble, her mom was still not allowing her to go

-Lauren: "ANYA!! I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU STEP OUT OF THAT DOOR!" she shouted as she seemed to be losing her mind.

"MADAM! seems like you don't understand the trouble you're in. You've been caught abusing and detaining an adult, I can arrest you right now with one word from her."

said the cop with a serious tone of voice putting Lauren back to her place.

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#Later on, Daniel's house#

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-Anya: "thank you, Danny"

-Daniel: "no need! Kai would be so mad at me if something bad happened to you..

I- I couldn't protect Mina but I won't fall to the same old mistakes.."

-Anya: "what.. same old mistakes? You were doing your best."

-Daniel: "No.. I left her alone for 30minutes..

I shouldn't have left that day.. if only I stayed.."

Daniel zoned out for a moment, feeling a hot tear running down his cheek involuntary made him realize that he was losing to his thoughts again, and so he wiped the tear away and continued with a smile on his face

"You're like an honesty that Kai has left to me.

I'll make sure you stay safe and happy till he comes back."

-Anya: "Daniel..."

-Daniel: "12years is a very long while, that's why we have to use it to our advantage..

I'll study and work very hard so the day Kai comes back he'll find a very comfortable life waiting for him. He won't need to do a thing..

He'll just rest and everything will be at his feet.

We'll work hard for that day."

-Anya: "you're right.. Kai wouldn't like us to give up at a time like this."

-Daniel: "that's the spirit! And I promised Mina to marry her once I make it to college. I can't fail"

The two smiled then hugged each other.

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#12years earlier#

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-Angelo: "hey Gerald, why don't you bring your wife and daughter and come live with me in the palace?"

-Gerald: "you're calling it a palace? You seem so proud of what you've achieved."

-Angelo: "because it looks like one."

-Gerald: "I'm happy here though.."

-Angelo: "do as you see fit, but if you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask."

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Few months later, Gerald's quiet family life was turned upside down when his wife Linda was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer.

Gerald's state wasn't that bad financially, but he was still unable to afford the medical treatment his wife needed.

Seeing his world collapsing before his eyes, his wife fighting for her life on the death bed and his clueless 7-years-old daughter Mina thinking that her mother was just having a bad time, Gerald realized that he had to do something..

He went to Angelo for help,

And Angelo didn't turn him down.

He helped him financially and supported him emotionally, and even helped him fly with his wife out of the country to continue her treatment.

But her disease was discovered late, so she had no chance to survive.

After Linda's passed away, Gerald was convinced that the simple, humble life he had and was so happy with, was the very reason he was helpless and unable to do anything but watch his wife suffer from that malignant disease till she had her last breath.

He decided to work harder and harder

So that this doesn't happen again.

He got to the top, and became the successful man he's now, but he didn't forget where he came from and how it all started..

So he started helping people, be them poor, diseased, homeless, cannot afford education..

He was there for all the people who were in need just like he found Angelo when he needed it.

And because of Angelo's favor on him, He swore to himself that he would not interfere in Angelo's affairs or plan to bring him down, no matter what he did.

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-Jay: "hey mina, wanna play?" He smiled at her playfully

-Mina: "but where's my father?"

-Jay: "my dad told me that he'll be so busy from now on, so he asked me to keep an eye on you. I'm not boring, you'll enjoy your time with me."

-Mina: "keep an eye on me? Aren't you the same age as me?"

-Jay: "HAHA! I'm but! I'm very trustworthy."

-Mina: "hmm.."

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From that day on, Jay and Mina became very close, they go to school together, play together and sometimes even sleep together.

In one of these days, and exactly three years later, Jay gave up on his plans with mina just because his mother promised him to bake together. And that was when Jay's life became a living hell.

In the evening, and after he got kicked out by his own mother when he went to see her at the hospital, he went to Mina's house.

Once he rang the doorbell, Mina's babysitter let him in.

-Jay: "is mina here?" He asked with a shaky voice

"Yes, she's in her room coloring. Are you okay?"

He went straight up to mina without answering her.

When she saw him on the door, Mina asked him with a concerned tone

-Mina: "Jay? Are you okay?"

He threw himself between her arms and cried his heart out while telling her about what happened.

-Jay: "my parents hate me.." he said by the end of his speech.

Mina kept patting his head while holding him tightly then said

-Mina: "and my dad wasn't back home in days, he's always busy that he even forgot to cook with me last thursday and mom is gone..

We only have each other I guess."

Jay then slowly pulled away and said

-Jay: "then let's be each other's everything!"

He smiled while Mina smiled back at him.

They did become each other's everything, but unlike Mina, Jay made so many friends by the age of 14, he even started dating..

He used to spend money on people to make them stay no matter how mean and rude he gets with them. The only genuine friend he made at that time was Sezar.

He changed so much that even Mina failed to recognize him sometimes.. but she had fallen for him because although he became so messed up and got lost in clubs darkness in the daylight, he always made time for her, and in that time he used to give her, he becomes himself again.. the Jay she had always known.

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