We rushed to the hospital. Uncle Zhao called and told us that my dad regained his consciousness. I was still in the same clothes I had when I reached L.A. I knew I was stinky and sweaty from the flight and staying up all night, but it didn't matter, we reached the hospital and I rushed out of the car. I ran to his room.

I slammed open the door and heard some Shhhhs! and Hushes from grandma and the nurse who were assisting dad that moment.

He was resting against the pillow, an intravenous-drip on his right and grandma was on the sofa, smiling at dad as he said something to her.

"You look so better,"I blurted entering his room.

He foraged as he took me into his view. He gazed at me in his fatherly way, that look always told me he was seeing mom in me. He smiled,"I woke up two hours ago."

"Really?"I doubted. It made sense since the villa was a hour and half drive from here, there was plenty of traffic.

"Haha I miss your hug...if I could get one?"

"Dad!"I whined hugging him.

"Ouch,ouch,ouch...ouch!"he spluttered.

"Sorry."I bit my tongue and moved back, apologizing cause I probably almost knocked his IV out. "It's okay,"he laughed it off.

"I missed you,"I kissed his forehead, lightly. "I missed you too,"he whispered back. I was a real fake-strong character in front of him. I never showed him how weak I was. I had learned to oppress my emotions.

 I was still shaking the moment he first looked at me with such tenderness, I felt scared that if I didn't get to see my father look at me in that way I would have died.

"Do you feel any pain?"I inquired. "No...it doesn't hurt except my kidney."

"Sweetie,"the nurse politely asked me to move as she adjusted his drip. He hissed. "I'll change it in some time, till then try to get more sleep, Mr.Bridges,"she told him before leaving. I assisted her out. I was still at the door when Mr.Eugene came to the door.

"You are really fast when it comes to running,Nora,"he complained,"you should have been in a marathon." I rolled my eyes at his stupid remark. "You're just too old to compete with me,Mr.Eugene!"

"Am I?"he quizzed making me roll my eyes in annoyance.

"Leo?"I heard my dad call out. Mr.Eugene pushed me out of the way, almost making me fall out of the door and walked in. "Sir!"

"You've grown up son!"he laughed and coughed. "Don't laugh,James!"Grandma scolded from her spot. I turned to them and crossed my arms, leaning against the wall.

"It's nice to see you in a better shape,sir,"Mr.Eugene said acting all sweet tongued. I gagged mentally.

SUCH AN ACTOR!

He went to greet grandma after greeting dad. I frowned,"Gran gran!do you know who he is?"

"Of course I do!"

"You do?"

"She knows me,"he hinted, almost loosing his sweet smile to a smirk. "He's not a math teacher,"I tried explaining.

"I wouldn't let him tutor you in the first place sweetie if I didn't know who Leo originally was."She chuckled.

I blinked in confusion as I found that I was the only one who was unaware of the whole situation. Well, I clearly needed some answers but not right there. They talked for a while before I fell asleep in grandma's lap.

By the time I woke up, I was alone in my dad's room. He was also snoring. I stared at him, laying in my position. I was grateful for being able to hear him snore after so long. I stood up and walked to his bed.

I sat on the stool to his right, he was so peaceful.

"I'm sorry,"I rested my head on my arms. Staring at the man I had always loved so much. He was probably the only guy I had loved at that time. "I should've been here for you when you needed me,dad."

He softly snored, he must have been at peace by then. It should have been a relaxed atmosphere at that moment but somehow I still felt that unsettling feeling in my gut. I had a very bad hunch that something was up. I looked around to see if someone was here. Where were Mr.Eugene and grandma?

I walked to the door,it was locked.

"Is anyone there?The door's locked from the outside!"I yelled rattling the door. No one answered. I felt like something's off. I turned back to rush to dad, he was probably in danger but when I did...his bed was empty!

"DAD?!"I looked around.

"DAD?WHERE ARE YOU?!"I yelled.

"DAD!"I called him again but no one answered. "DA-"

I WOKE UP!

I was in my room, my room in our villa. I studied my surroundings...I was safe and in my home?wait but wasn't I at the hospital?

I got out of my bed. Ran downstairs. "Is anyone home?"

"Nora,"grandma came out of the kitchen,"sweetie I brought you back cause you were really tired." She told me.

"But I was with dad just now?"I scratched my head. "You and I came back with, Leo,"she placed the bowl of soup in her hands on the table. "You were asleep throughout the whole ride and-"

"Who's with dad?"I asked.

"Oh...it's Daveney, she's with him and some guards."She went back in. I was confused as hell. This was probably the craziest chapter of my life for now. I followed her to the kitchen,"Grandma he's not supposed to be left in the hands of a stranger!"I protested.

"Sweetie she's no stranger and it's her duty to be with him all the time, also she's in a better shape to take car of your father than us both,"she stirred the soup. I pouted cause I couldn't argue with grandma. "But she'll just snatch him away,"I mumbled.

"Let her and James do whatever they please,"she smiled at me,"it's his right to opt for a partner to accompany him in this age."

"I hate it,"I rolled my eyes and whined.

"Stop complaining and get Leo inside to eat with us,"she ordered me. "HE'S EATING WITH US?"I cried.

"Nora!where are your manners?"She scolded and forced me to walk to his room and personally invite him to our table. I wished I could make him pay for eating all of my deliveries in high school.  (￣ε(￣)

~

The dinning table was pretty lively, grandma and that pervert had been having non-stop chatter about world's history for an hour. I looked at them dumbstruck.

"You were from, Japan?"He inquired, seeming excited at how grandma mentioned her full name in front of him. It was Aoi Onishi.

"Yeah I was only three when we moved here,"she fell back in the story of her life,"I was only fifteen when I first met Nora's grandpa at a pet shop...then he became my student at the academy I used to teach Japanese." Whenever she used to mention about her time with grandpa or mom, she always seemed so peaceful.

She sure lived with the best two people in this world.

"Look at me,"she laughed,"talking about old things again!"She uttered.

"No it sounds fascinating...my mom used to love the country as well."He smiled back at her. "She did?"Grandma felt happy at his remark. I silently noticed that it was the first time he had mentioned his mother in front of me. He once told me about him not getting along his father but I never saw him talk about a family member like that.

"She must've loved the antiques?"Grandma asked. "Very!"he pressed.

I felt heavy and knew I hadn't slept peacefully for so long. "I'll go and take a nap...I still feel sleepy,"I greeted them goodnight and slipped into my room. My phone was on the side table. I hadn't felt like checking it. I was sure that if I turned it on...by now Tyler and Britt would've ended me.

If they were to know that I was in California...I'd be dead meat. I still managed to turn it on after contemplation about doing it or not.

The moment I switched it on, it started buzzing with notifications. I was so dead! I turned it to silent and threw it over my bed, it landed in my bag that was still half packed. I didn't feel the energy to unpack it.

I was about to drift of into sleep when grandma knocked on my door.

"Nora?"

"I'm up!"I called her inside. "I was going to James, he needs his medicinal soup and I'm sure they both are hungry by now."She told.

"I wanna go with you!"

"No you're not going!"She denied. "You're going to take a shower and wash your hair!you stink right now!"she complained. "Sorry for sweating I guess,"I shrugged playfully.

"Yes and it means you need a proper shower!"she held her nose. "Come on!"I threw my hands in the air, she was so dramatic,"I'm going!DON'T BE SO DRAMATIC!"

She laughed softly,"Unpack your stuff."

I swear I never stink but I sort of did at that moment. I went in to take my one hour shower and grandma went over to see dad. I didn't even know that by the time I came out, it was already 12 am. It was getting late and I was sort of scared of being alone. Mr.Eugene was in his room, across the hall from mine.

I went to check if he had left with her or stayed. I pressed my ear against his door, it was silent. Maybe he was sleeping?

I tip toed back to my room. Closed my door and slid under the sheets. I would've been enjoying an average summer or maybe we'd be planning that trip to Hawaii with everyone like we had promised but no...I had to be boiled in L.A right now! (no offense to L.A...I LOVE YOU!)

This day warmer than usual, probably 38°C.

I pondered over my life, almost at the verge of going back to sleep when my door rattled.

"Nora open the door!"Mr.Eugene knocked it violently. I woke up startled by the noise. I ran up to unbolt the door. I swung it open.

"WHAT?"

I was taken aback for a sec to see him all dressed up.

"We need to leave!right now!"he wore a black suit and tie, if he were planning to hang out in that, I was going to decline cause that was totally not in fashion of hanging out theme. Also I was in my BT21 pajamas, I couldn't just walk out like that!

"To where and why?" I jested,"are we going out?"

"Pack your bag and meet me downstairs in 3 minutes!we're leaving!"he jabbered. "My bag?Is everything okay?"I asked.

"There's no time!"he looked around and saw my unpacked bag, he grabbed it and pulled me with him. "Where are you taking me?"I asked again, feeling worried.

"I'll let you know everything but before that,"he dragged me downstairs,"get into the car!"He pointed at my dad's rover.

I did as directed. I hesitantly sat in the passenger's seat and fastened the seat belt.

"Can you at least tell me what's happening?"I asked impatiently.

He sat in the driver's seat as he took the wheel of my dad's black rover. "This is dad's favourite car!"I squealed,"he loves it more than he loved his dogs."

"Listen to me,princess!"he held my chin in his hand, his thumb resting over it, as he looked at me dead in the eye,"we're being targeted by the mafia right now and you are their main target!"

"WHAT?MAFIA?"

This is new!

GOD WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH?I EVEN EAT MY BROCCOLI!

"But-"

"Now should I take your dad's best car?"He glowered at me for a sec. I was silent when I heard a gun shot knock our guard down.

"Now?!"he asked impatiently.

"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?STEP ON IT!"I closed my eyes before he grinned wide, starting the engine,"Hold on tight,princess...we're going in for a long drive." 

I prayed with my eyes closed as the car's engine roared... this was going to be one long night.

~

"I lie to them, saying that we're frenemies...but it's just us. So us."

~