SECURED

LEAVING.

• CIYA •

I could hear the faint hum of voices downstairs as I slowly woke up. I guess I’m the last one awake again. I yawned and stretched before heading downstairs, the sound of breakfast being set up filling the house.

When I walked into the kitchen, everyone was already there—Dad, Ray, Ivan, kirril and Roman… all looking at me in a way that made my chest tighten. Their faces changed when they saw me, especially Dad. He looked tense. The others glanced at him, too, like they were waiting for something.

I noticed it. Of course I did. But I didn’t want to start the day with that strange, heavy feeling, so I tried to brush it off.

“Good morning!” I said, forcing a smile, hoping it would ease whatever was in the air.

My brothers gave me thier usual warm smile. “Good morning, Princess.”

Dad, though… his smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Morning, Angel.” There was that sadness again. That sadness I didn’t want to think about.

I opened my mouth to ask him what was wrong, but Dad spoke first. "Let’s have breakfast. We were waiting for you, sleepyhead."

I instantly felt a pang of guilt. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you all wait. You shouldn’t have waited for me."

Ray chuckled, waving it off. "It’s okay, Princess. David just messing with you. We always have breakfast around this time." He smiled, trying to make things feel normal.

I shot Dad a playful glare, but he just chuckled, his eyes glinting for a brief moment, though that heaviness was still there, lingering beneath his laugh.

We ate in silence for most of the meal, but I could feel something looming over us, something unspoken that everyone seemed to know except me. I could barely enjoy the food. I kept glancing at Dad, waiting for him to say whatever was on his mind.

After breakfast, Dad set his fork down and looked at me seriously. "Angel, we need to talk. I need to tell you something."

My heart skipped a beat. My body tensed as I nodded. "Yes, Dad?"

He stood and gestured toward the stairs. “Let’s talk in your room.”

I swallowed hard, my mind racing as I led the way back to my room. What was going on? Why did everyone look so serious? I sat on my bed, trying to stay calm, but my heart was pounding. Dad sat beside me, and when I looked at him, I saw that same sadness from before, but deeper, more raw.

I couldn’t take it anymore. "What happened, Dad?"

Dad took a deep breath, his eyes full of something heavy and painful as he looked at me. "Ciya, listen to me carefully…"

"I have leave, I have to leave for America, the organization needs me and as a director, I cannot stay any longer" He said with serious face.

My heart clenched.

“I’m coming with you,” I said, almost before I realized the words had left my mouth.

His face softening as he spoke"Ciya, sweetheart, you know how much I’d love to have you with me, but it’s not safe. America is different right now… things are tense. I need you to stay here where you’re safe with your brothers"

"What about you" Does he really think that he can left me safe here and he himself be in danger.

My heart sank. "I don’t want to lose you. What if something happens? What if you don’t come back?” The words tumbled out of my mouth, my fear breaking through the surface. I couldn’t hide it anymore.