I Love You to The Stars and Back

CHAPTER 4

"You look so happy." Kristelle said as we walked to the classroom. 

"H-Huh?" I said while smiling and looking around. 

"Huh?" she mocked.

"I know that smile, Eli. Maybe you have a boyfriend, right? Hmmm?" she said teasingly.

"No. It's Chloe" I said smiling as I remembered what happened last night. 

"What's wrong with Chloe?" she asked in astonishment. 

And there was nothing I could do, I told Kristelle everything that happened last night. She was overjoyed when we arrived at the room.

"What? I can't believe she called you Ate. Oh my, she also hides her kindness. And what's more, she also accepts you as her sister" Kris said happily. 

"That's why I'm so happy now" I said.

"Do you really love Chloe?" Kris asked. 

"I love her so much. Even though I won't get a boyfriend as long as she accepts me as her sister, I'm happy and satisfied with that" I said with a big smile. 

"Hope all" Kris said as if she was jealous. 

"Hey, I love you too. I love you both. Don't be jealous" I hugged Kristelle. 

"Haha, I'm just kidding. Also, I didn't say I was jealous" she defended. 

"Just admit it" I teased her.

"Nye nye nye" and we both laugh at her reaction. 

After school, my friends, especially Kristelle, came home early because they still had things to accomplish. Even around eight o'clock at night, my driver had still not come to get me. I'm curious because my driver doesn't usually pick me up at night. He usually arrives at 3:30 pm. I messaged my mother, and she replied that our driver was unable to pick me up due to an emergency. All I have to do now is commute.

So I did what Mommy advised and just waited for a cab to get here. But it was nearly ten o'clock, and I still couldn't find a vacant taxi. So I decided to take a jeep. At exactly 11 p.m., a jeepney arrived. So I hurried to ride. There were three guys in front of me now, and I was terrified because the passengers were all men. I didn't wonder why there were so few passengers since it was already eleven o'clock in the evening. There were just five of us in the vehicle, including the driver. I called Mom, but she couldn't be reached. So I called Chloe because I knew Dad would be unable to answer. After all, he was so busy.

"Oh Ate, where are you? It's already 11 pm you haven't come home yet" Chloe asked immediately. 

I am happy because she called me Ate again. 

"Our driver had an emergency so I spent the night waiting in the shed" I explained to her.

"You would have just called me earlier" she said. 

"I didn't find out right away. It's good that I called Mom. I also waited for a taxi earlier but there was no vacant so I just took a jeep" I lowered my voice because the men were already looking at me. 

"W-What? A jeep? Ate, you know what Manang Ester told us that it's dangerous to ride a jeep at night, especially now that it's already 11 o'clock" she shouted. 

Our maid Manang Ester said that it is dangerous to ride a jeep at night because there are many bad people. It was then that the rape and killing cases increased. 

"That's why I'm scared because, Chloe. I'm only with men now. They're in front of me. They look scary as if they are planning something bad" My voice trembled because it was true. 

A man in sleeves like a drug addict, was looking at my legs like a dog salivating. The one with a cap was glancing at my boobs. It's not that I'm arrogant, but I'm not embarrassed that I have big boobs. I'm wearing a long-sleeved uniform, so it's really noticeable. The other man was talking to the driver. 

"Where are you, Ate? Get down there. I'll pick you up, I'm going" she said while turning on her motorcycle. 

She owns a motorcycle, but she hasn't used it for service because she's worried her bullies will ruin it.

"All right. I'm at the City Mall. I'll just go down here" I told her.

"All right, Ate. Don't end the call. I'll make sure you're safe" she said concerned. 

So I did not end the call. I was ready to go down at the waiting shed of the mall. But the driver turned it around and headed in the wrong direction which I was not familiar with. So I was nervous because there were no lights around. 

"Ah Manong, the road to the waiting shed is not here" I said while pointing to the right way. 

But he didn't listen. He just continue driving. So I told Chloe. 

"Chloe, help me. This driver took me in the wrong direction. They're scary to look at. I'm not sure where it is, but it's close to the mall and has a little road..." I did not finish what I said because the man with a cap grabbed my phone.