The Promise

People can push us in a direction that no one could not anticipate. 

"I will be so dead when they catch me," he said. 

"Did you hear their thoughts about you? Just now?"

"They are going to tie me up once they catch me," he said while trying to laugh.

I cringed. But I stopped thinking about what might happen if Cedric got caught. 

"So, what was your plan?" I whispered.

"I'll escape with you. But we will part ways as soon as we're far from here."

Cedric crawled and looked at the glass window. Once he knew there was a clear path, he held my hand and slowly opened the locked door. We were walking outside near the garden again.

It was really like seeing a secret garden. And I meant the one written by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Tall trees, vines on the wall, and several flowers bloom. 

Yup. The Secret Garden.

The lot is enough for a pool and fountain. 

The gate was quite far from the house, too. The house built in typical two-story house is for five or maybe six people. There was nothing odd about it except that it is old and the place makes me feel like I am suddenly in London.

If not for the situation, I would be amazed while looking around. The place is so peaceful and quiet. But it was those same reasons that we must be vigilant. 

Everything I saw made me forget that I was still in the city. 

The swimming pool needed some cleaning. Dried leaves floated in the water, and I could almost not see my reflection.

The water is still, and so is the air. It suddenly felt creepy.

I love the rocks near the pool. I wanted to kneel and touch it if only escaping was not the priority. 

I look around to see if anyone will see us as we walk towards the gate. I saw something moving from the pool. Suddenly, there was a loud splash of water near me. 

Then a frog suddenly appeared near my face. It was a stuffed animal held by a boy who came out of the pool.

What the hell?

How long was he holding his breath in there?

And based on his slim-fit trousers and three-layer top, I doubt he intends to go for a swim. He was even wearing his shoes. We should have heard something, even from inside the storage room, if he tripped earlier and could not raise himself from the water. But everything was still and quiet. 

His hair was dripping wet. His long bangs covered half his face.

I felt scared as he slowly rose near the rocks I wanted to touch earlier. I manage to step backward. But Cedric holds on to me.

There was no way this boy was a ghost, right?

Cedric nodded and held my hand to ease my fear.

The boy swipes his hair to uncover his face.

He has straight caramel blonde hair, green eyes, pale skin, a small nose, and thin lips. He was like a ball-jointed doll. 

Cedric held my hand, and we prepared to run. But as soon as we face the other direction, the stuffed animal hits Cedric on the head. We stopped on our track, and the boy jumped from behind and tackled Cedric. They wrestle on the ground.

"What the hell, Louis? Get off of me!"

"No, you piece of shit! I will drag you back in the house if I have to!"

"Just leave me alone! Ouch! That hurts!!!"

My eardrums just bled hearing these two.

I walked away from them while hugging the envelope I was holding.

Once I reached the gate, I was surprised to see a metal padlock.

I do not know how to dismantle them, so I look at the two. They are now staring at me as they stop moving on the ground.

"May I borrow the key, please?" I said while opening my palm in front of them.

"Who the hell are you?" the boy asked before he moved to stand.

Cedric moved, too, and was acting protective.

"She's no one."

"No one? And yet you two are escaping," the boy said as he looked at Cedric suspiciously.

The boy tries to step forward and almost falls when a rock bumps the tip of his leather shoes.

Cedric was attentive in an instant.

He was worried that the boy would fall on his face. But he did not.

"Hey, you…" he said as he looked in my direction. "What are you doing here? Who sent you? And what were you doing with this asshole?" he added while pointing his thumb at Cedric.

"Lou, listen—"

"Shut up! I've been searching where you have been only to find out you were trying to escape. Don't think I'll cover your sorry ass this time! You're on your own!"

I did not expect a kid to be this foul-mouthed.

But did he say he was searching? Searching where? Under the pool? And all this time, we were panicking because of a kid?

"Lou is not just a kid. He is my cousin."

"Why are you telling that to her, you asshole?" Lou asked as if he was humiliated.

Then he looked at me and then back to Cedric.

"Lou… she is not a threat," Cedric said in a soothing voice. "She came in thinking she was at the right house, I think."

"Wait! So, was I really in the wrong house? Is this not the residence of Mr. Sanchez?" I asked to confirm my hunch.

"Uh… Yes," Cedric replied unsurely.

"And you were only telling me now?!" I screamed at him.

Both Cedric and the boy seemed surprised by my yelling and panicking. 

I looked at the time. 

It was only twenty minutes before eleven in the morning. I felt like waking up from a weird dream only to realize I would be late for work.

I rushed towards them.

"Give me the key," I demanded from Lou. 

I no longer care if I am being mean or rude. I must leave that place. Now.

"And what made you think I'll give it to you?" Lou looked at me with contempt. He is still a few inches shorter than us. But he acts as if we were his peers.

Cedric touched my shoulder and turned me to face him.

"Calm down, and please do not scream again," Cedric told me. He looked worried. And that only added to my confusion about whether I should run or apologize. I looked at the gate. 

"Is she a thief?" Lou asked.

I saw him look at me from head to foot. 

"No. I told you already, this person just got lost," Cedric defended me.

"And you let a total stranger get inside?" Lou asked again before kicking Cedric on his shin. He suddenly let go of me.

Cedric gasped and tried not to yell at Lou.

"Zyren will kill you," the boy said to Cedric. "No, wait. I think torturing you is better, so you will remember to stop doing stupid shit."

"Sorry. But I must go now. I needed to deliver something important—"

The boy snaps his finger at me. I step back while holding my forehead.

It hurts.

I looked into his eyes. I could not believe how rude he was.

"Who says you can easily come and go here as you please?"

I lowered my hand and glared at him.

"Who said you can just do and say whatever you want?" I retorted.

If there is one thing I hate about younger people, it is when they act like spoiled brats.

"Oh, please. Shut up," the boy said to me.

Lou had no finesse and was a hundred percent pure evil.

I knew beautiful people could be ugly within. But this? It was extreme for me.

"Lou! Stop it," Cedric intercepted. I think he could sense I was starting to get angry. Really angry.

Again, Cedric seemed worried about something I did not know. And at this point, I no longer care.

I tried walking past them again.

This time, Lou grabbed my arm. But I am now more determined.

"Are you not listening? You are not allowed to barge in here and—" 

"Let go of me!" I yelled as I pushed Lou away.

It was like adding gas to a lit fire.

Lou exploded.

He grabbed my arm again. But his intention is clear.

His other arm grabbed the ID clipped on my chest.

It happened fast, and I reacted quickly.

I grabbed his hand with my identification card. I will not allow him to take anything from me. And most importantly, I will not give these people any personal information.

But things did not happen as I expected. I was so angry. I only focused on what I felt. And what I had to do that day.

I pushed Lou hard while not letting go of my ID card. He fell hard to the ground.

I expect him to spit on me or curse me.

But he did not move.

And as I looked at the boy, I just stood there frozen.

For a moment, I thought blood would spill from his head.

"I…" 

I could not finish what I was saying.

I think I hurt him. Bad.

Cedric picked him up and put Lou in a sitting position.

Lou was unconscious, and he seemed pale. 

"Lou! Wake up! Wake up!" Cedric said while shaking his cousin.

But he was not responding clearly.

Cedric shakes him again.

I stopped holding my breath when Lou stirred.

"Stop… Mm-fine. Just dizzy." 

When I heard Lou speak again, I was relieved.

But I breathe heavily.

My strong emotions were suddenly fading.

I no longer know what to do.

I am scared.

I do not know if he hit his head. There was no blood. But what if there was internal damage?

"Shit!" Cedric said. He was frustrated. He carried Lou and knew he had to take care of him first.

When he noticed I was only staring, he spoke to me again.

I was expecting him to be irritated at me or the situation. But he asked me in a quiet voice.

"Hey… are you just going to stand there?"

I understood that this was the kind of situation nobody hoped to happen.

But pity should not be an option here.

Either leave or stay.

Those are the usual two options.

It was always that way.

My conscience was eating me from within.

Will I be the cold-hearted person who does things because of personal reasons? 

Maybe it was my stupid day or something. And during this type of moment, I get to be afraid. It felt like I no longer had control of myself. And of the situation. My walls were disappearing. And yet, I could not just walk out. 

Cedric was looking at me. His reaction was calm and sincere, especially when he said something unexpected, but I knew I wanted to hear it.

"Stop worrying. I promise I will help you get out of here."

Was that supposed to reassure me?

No. 

Promises were meant to be broken, after all.