The Vanishing Hope

Chapter 1

Winterthur, Switzerland

INAYOS NI Aleandra ang suot niyang winter hat saka isinuot ang gloves niya bago lumabas ng gusali kung saan siya nag-aaral bilang lyceum student.

It's been three weeks since she left Moscow with Gavriil. Life in the Winterthur has not changed much for her. But the people she gets to meet every day are very much different. Hindi ilag ang mga ito sa kanya o mapilit na makipag kaibigan. Normal para sa kanya ang mga ito. Dahil siguro hindi siya kilala ng mga kaklase niya o ng teacher.

Hindi niya alam kung anong ginawa ng kapatid niya para maitago ang pagiging anak niya ng isang presidente. But she should give her brother a tight hug for that. In this place, she can be free and become whoever she wants to be. No bodyguards. No people gaping and most of all she interacts with different people every day. Tago naman kasi ang pagkatao niya. Alam ng marami may anak ang pangulo ng Russia na babae at lalaki pero hindi iyon makuha ng media kung sino sila.

That is one thing she can thank her father. Making sure her and his brother's life is private. Sabagay kung malalaman ng marami baka patay na siya ngayon sa dami ng banta sa buhay ng ama niya. Tch. Kaya nga wala na si Mom dahil sa punyetang politika na iyan.

Medyo napangiti siya ng ilibot niya ang tingin. It was good to be alone, free, and surrounded by people who doesn't gape at her. Hindi katulad sa Moscow. Sa mansion siya nag-aaral at may limang kaklase na nagpupunta sa mansion mula Linggo hanggang Biyernes. They are the daughters of a well-known and wealthy family. Of course. She can't get along with them because their likes and interests are far from what she has. Sila ang madalas niyang makasalamuha maliban sa bodyguards.

They often talk about beauty, guys, luxury items, and something that doesn't matter to her. Maarte at payabangan ang mga ito kaya't hindi niya talaga makuhang makipagkaibigan pero kaya niya naman makipag plastikan.

Aleandra sighed and look across the road, looking at the prestigious University of Switzerland. A privately owned school. Then she glanced at the digital clock displayed on the wall at her school.

16:13 -2°C

Tamang tama ang oras. Eleven minutes and Gav is surely in his car when the clock hits fifteen past four pm.

Sa isiping iyon ay mabagal siyang naglakad at bumaba ng underpass para pumunta sa kabilang parte ng kalsada kung saan ang Unibersidad na pinapasukan ni Gavriil bilang Automation Engineering student.

Pagkalabas ng underpass ay agad siyang nagtungo ng parking lot ng prestihiyosong unibersidad at hinanap ang sasakyan ni Gavriil. When she found it, Gav was still not there so she leaned against the car, pouting and crossing her arm in front of her after fixing her hat once more to cover her ears.

The wind is cold. She hope that the jerk did not flirt again and make her wait in this damn freezing cold parking lot. Or she really gonna kick his ass.

Aleandra entertain herself looking at the students passing by and checking those expensive, luxury cars.

Damn, this school has wealthy students. Si Gav lang ata ang hindi. Lihim siyang natawa. Hindi naman kasi mayaman si Gav. Butler ito ng kapatid niya na naging matalik na kaibigan. His salary though is hefty so he can afford an expensive car.

Ibinalik ni Aleandra ang tingin sa entrance ng unibersidad. Siya namang paglabas ng tatlong lalaki. Napalunok siya nang makita ang isa na nakasuot ng itim na winter jacket at hat. May sukbit itong laptop bag.

"Damn..." Aleandra drawled a silent cuss.

Gwapo.

Matangkad.