WINTER'S POINT OF VIEW

Dad called me to his office to tell me something. I guess I already know what we are going to talk about.

When I reached my destination, which is my Dad's office, I knocked three times. When Dad heard three knocks on the door, he will immediately open his door for you, so I knocked three times.

When dad opened the door, I can see from his eyes that his worried. "Jin, come inside and please close the door," Dad said.

When dad is calling me by my second nameㅡwhich is Jin,ㅡI already know that our conversation will be serious. "What are we going to talk about, dad?" I said when I finished closing his door.

"Do you remember when I told you that our bar in London was losing money?" he said and I nodded. "Well you said that you will fix it right?" he said and for the second time, I nodded. "I know you said you should fix it on Friday, but, anak, it will close soon, and I won't let that happen," my dad said.

"So what do you want me to do dad?" I asked him.

"Jin, listen, if you are still going on Friday, it will be possible that our bar will be closed." Now, I understand why is he worried.

"Do you want me to go to London today or tomorrow?" I asked, and as I just expected, he nodded.

"Exactly! I will send you to London by tomorrow. You will stay there for six days and don't worry about your teachers at school, I already excused you," Dad smiled a little.

Actually, I am happy that I will not go to school for five days, but knowing that I will go to London and fix the problem of our bar makes me feel so nervous.

"All right, anak. Pack your things so you don't rush tomorrow."

After he said that, I immediately went to my room, and I just lay on my bed.

When I went back to reality, I called one of our maids. "Ano pong kailangan niyo, Ma'am?" she asked with a polite tone as she bowed in front of me.

"Just pack my clothes and after that, you can go," I said to her, and she started packing my clothes for my tomorrow's flight going to London.

"Argh! I cannot believe that Dad entrusted me with fixing our bar problem," I said in my mind, wincing.

Actually, when I told Dad that, 'I will fix this mess', I thought he will also come, but the total opposite happened earlier.

This is the first time my dad has entrusted me with business because he always is behind me when I do such things.

"Ma'am, tapos na po ako. Saan ko po iiwan itong bagahe?" the maid said to me.

"Just anywhere as long as it is in my room," I said sarcastically and I rolled my eyes. Duh! Isn't it obvious where to put the suitcase. Argh! Some people really, they are asking for what is obvious, and I rolled my eyes again. Sometimes I am feeling comfortable when I am rolling my eyes, and that explains that rolling eyes is one of my habits.

When I felt drowsy, I fell asleep immediately.

***

When I woke up, it was lunchtime. It surprised me when the door suddenly opened, and I saw the maid in-charge of our meals Yaya Martha entered. "Ma'am the foods are ready. Master Jerome is also in the dining hall," said Yaya Martha.

"Yaya Martha, just tell my dad I'm follow," I said as I stood to fix myself before I went to our dining hall.

When I opened my window, I saw a piece of paper tucked in there. When I got the paper, I immediately opened it. It surprised me to read the contents of the paper and to whom it came from. I left the paper in my room first because I will show it to dad later after we ate our lunch.

"Dad, can I talk to you in my room?" I asked when we finished eating our lunch. After going to my room, I immediately locked the door so that no one could hear us because I wanted it to be private.

I made sure that the door was locked before I immediately showed Dad the paper I saw inserted in my window.

We could hardly paint his face when he read what was written on the paper. The paper says, "Have you forgotten who killed your beloved mother? Why, I'm sure you still don't forget who I am. I just want to tell you that BE READY -Aristotle."

I think the message is for me.

It surprised me when Dad suddenly grabbed the paper. Dad really doesn't want to be reminded of what happened 5 years ago. All the memories I buried in the pit also came back immediately.

~FLASHBACK~

"Baby girl, promise me that you will take care of yourself when I will be gone."

"Why mom? Where are you going?"

"Just somewhere so that your life will not be at risk."

"Mom, I am just 11 years old then you will leave me Mom?"

"Listen, Winter, mommy got involved in one of the most dangerous organizations named Poison. Their mastermind has a codename of Aristotle. Their buㅡ"

"Mom, what happened? Why did you stop, Mom?"

When I looked at the back of Mom, there was a gunshot wound there. We are just walking now because it damaged the car, so I didn't know until now that they had shot her.

"Mom? Why do you have a gunshot in your back, Mom?"

"Listen, baby girl, please take care of yourself. I am always here to guide you. I am happy that you are my daughter. All right, baby girl, Mommy is going to rest now. Always remember that I love you so much, Winter Jin Schneider."

And by that words that she said made me burst into tears. I didn't know that that was the last words that she said before dying.

"I love you too, Mom."

~END OF FLASHBACK~

The Aristotle that Mom told me before is making a move again. I almost cried now as I remembered what happened to Mom. My Mom is not just my Mom. She was also my first best friend. I promised to myself that I would seek revenge on whoever killed my mother. Even though he is the mastermind of their f *cking organization!

I don't know how many hours Dad and I have been here. All I know is that we will soon get justice for Mom's death.

"Anak, I'll come with you in London," Dad said after he returned to reality.

"But, Dadㅡ" He didn't let me finish what I was about to say when he suddenly spoke.

"No buts. Whether or not you like it, I will still come. Anak, I hope you understand that I can not afford to lose another important person in my life, so I will protect you even if it costs my life." Dad used a serious yet scary tone that made me shiver in fear. "Go now, Winter, you can rest, so that you can gain strength for tomorrow."

"Dad, can I just go to the park alone?" I asked, giving emphasis to 'alone'.

"Okay, but please, don't stay away from mansion," he said and to my response, I just nodded.

I just want to be alone for the moment. I thought it was okay with me even though I still remember what happened to Mom, but it wasn't.

It's just a thought because no matter what angle I look at it now, it still hurts. It still hurts when I remember the tragedy that happened to Mom. It still hurts that I can do nothing before to save her. It still hurts when I think that Mom was gone. It still hurts when I remember that my first best friend was now gone.

No matter how deep I bury it in the pit, all the pain will come back and will still come back to me when I remember that.

Why does Mom needs to die? Why is her destiny so severe? She did nothing wrong. It was not her fault if she got involved. Thus, she need not die in the first place. Why don't the bad guys just die? Why not just the man with the codename Aristotle dies?

"THIS IS BULLSHIT!" I shouted.

There are many so many why's in my mind that only one person can answerㅡAristotle. But first I have to be ready for my revenge.

I saw a middle-aged woman with her teen daughter. They were buying ice cream from a distance. They were so happy with each other as their company. It felt like I was being jealous. Jealous because Mom and I can't do that because she's already dead.

And that sudden thought made me burst into tears. Tears of longing. Tears of missing her. Tears of the pain. Tears of all the negative feelings that I felt while trying to move on from her death.

I tried to ignore them, and when I succeeded; I walked back to our mansion. I was still thinking of a strategy on how will I take my revenge.

When I returned, I could not sleep at first because I still remember the tragedy that happened to Mom.

"Ma'am dinner na po." I heard Yaya Martha called me.

"I don't want to eat Yaya," I answered, still have teary eyes. After a few minutes, there was another knock on the door. "I said I don't want to eat, Yaya!" I shouted, getting a little annoyed now.

"Anak, its me." Suddenly the door opened, and I saw Dad standing there before she walked to me. "Is my baby girl okay?" he called softly. I want to be angry because I really don't want to be called baby girl.

"Dad, don't call me baby girl," I told him.

Dad approached me and sat beside. "Eh, basta kahit na. You will still be my baby girl."

"Dad, you're like a child," I laughed.

"There, baby girl laughed now. You are more gorgeous when laughing than being sad. Baby girl. Baby girl. Baby girl," he teased, grinning then laughing.

"Dad, I miss Mom. I thought I buried all the pain already. But no, Dad, I didn't still. It still hurts. Dad, I miss those moments when Mom was still with us. Dad, I miss every detail that we are together. Dad, I miss our moments when we sleep together. Dad, I miss our moments when he caresses my back when I cry. Dad, I miss my first and foremost best friend. I miss her, Dad. So much," I told Dad, bursting into tears again.

Dad caressed my back. "Anak, I know that I can't get rid of the pain that you are feeling right now, but for now, I will be the one next to you when you sleep. I will be the one to caress your back while crying. I will be with you when you're in misery. I will be your best friend. I will do everything to reduce the pain you feel because, anak, I do not want to see you cry. Do you know, baby girl, the last words your Mom told me before you two left are, 'I do not want to see my baby girl crying and being hurt. I want to always make her smile.' So please stop crying now, anak. Because if you won't, Mom will be mad at you."

I smiled at what dad said. Now I know the wound of the past is slowly healing.

"Dad, you promise that, ha?" I asked and Dad nodded. "Thank you so much, Dad. I love you," I added.

"I love you too, baby girl," he said as he kissed my forehead.

"Dad, can we watch our favorite movie?" I asked.

"Of course, anak. No matter how many requests you make, Dad will try to fulfill that just to ease the pain you are feeling. If you wish to watch our favorite movie with me, then we will watch until my baby girl falls asleep," Dad said.

Dad went down first to get our snacks before we watch the movie. I just smile when I think of my happy moments with my Mom. I feel happy when I remember the times that she is joking and I do not laugh, then after that, she will tickle me until we fall asleep. Thanks to my Dad.

Dad and I watched all of our favorite movies as well as Mom's favorite movies. I am happy because it somehow relieved me. I do hope that Mom is happy wherever she is now. I just promised her that I would avenge her death. Rest In Peace, Mom. I love you, and I will forever be. I hope you can hear me now, Mom, wherever you are.

I did not realize it was dawn. Dad said goodbye and told me to rest because our flight is at 7:00 A.M.

London! Here we come!

(To be continued...)

VOTES and COMMENTS are highly appreciated