Chapter 5

"Selena Santiago Portia." I walk towards the stage when the teacher called me.

It's our moving up ceremony, finally I'm a senior now! I smile when the principal handed me the certificate. I saw my parents taking pictures of me, they even shouted smile in front of everybody.

"Congratulations." Kuya Anthony gave me a bouquet of flowers.

"Wow, you're so proud of me huh?" I laughed.

"Yeh think of that, you passed the juniors with having a pea sized brain." He teased.

I frowned and beat him up, he's always good at teasing me around.

"We will have a celebration in your grandfather's house. He's so proud of you and your cousins." My mother smiled.

"We will go to first, the dinner is exactly 8:30 don't be late, someone is waiting for you there." Dad pointed the white car at the parking.

I looked directly at what he is pointing, then I saw his car, he's here!

"Selena don't do something that will disappoint us ok? You're not yet a big girl, your my baby." Kuya patted my head.

When the ceremony ended, Tito Mark, Tito Caspher and my mother talked with each other. I saw Carylle and Yuri waving at me that's why I walk towards them.

"Congratulations!" I said while hugging them.

"I thought I'm not going to graduate." Yuri laughed.

"You jerk, you need to. Being a doctor is a long process." Carylle added.

"Who says I'm going to be a doctor huh?"

"You need to Yuri, it's the law. Don't be stubborn." I frowned.

All first born child from the family should be a doctor because of our family business. Yuri is the first and only child of my uncle Caspher Santiago and my auntie Talia Vokzia, he has no escape.

"Yeh, I'm just joking. I want to be a lawyer so bad but yeh law is a law. I already talked to Kuya Mikko and Kuya Anthony and they said it was boring at first but happy too." Yuri said accepting his defeat.

"You should talk to Kuya Tristan too." Carylle nodded.

"Nah, you know that I don't want to go to their house because of Hazel. She always set me to a blind date that I don't like, she didn't even ask about my permission. Maybe I'll talk to Kuya Tristan to the university." Yuri smiled and waved his hand when Tito Caspher called him.

"Gotta go, see you there!" Carylle kissed my cheeks.

My older brother put his arm around me and we walk towards Ciro's car together with my family.

Ciro bow his head in respect to my parents that made my mother smile.

"She needs to home at exactly 8:00. You know where Santiago residence is?" My father said formally.

"Yes sir, I've been there back then when my grandfather talked with the honorable Alfredo Santiago."

"Ohh nice then, just call us Tita and Tito. The sir or mam is too formal iho." My mother said.

"Thank you Tita."

My parents waved their hands and kissed me.

"Don't do anything stupid or I'll beat you up." Kuya warned.

"I won't." Ciro said.

I got in his car and ponytail my hair, it is so hot.

"Congratulations!" He said while clapping.

He looks like a cute sea lion HAHAHAHAH.

"Looks like someone is already senior." He teased.

"Yeh, we can be for each other now." I said proudly.

"Who said we can't be for each other when you're still a junior?" He asked.

"Your sister." I whispered.

"Don't mind her, she always set me with this date thing I'm always pissed."

I shrugged my shoulders.

"And remember we can be together even if you're in grade school." He chuckled.

"Nah you've got to be kidding me." I laughed.

He started the car and drive far away. I don't even know where we are right now.

"Which school are you going to?" I asked.

"I'll go in manila, my grandfather said there is a better law school there."

I stayed quiet for a while and think about how far manila is here. Are we going to text each other? Or we'll just end here.

"Hey why are you not talking?" He stopped the car.

"Are we still going to see each other?" I frowned.

"Baby girl it's just manila, after 2 years you can join me there. I'll go home every weekend, don't miss me." He chuckled.

"I wish I was older."

"Don't wish for that, I don't like girls my age. Younger is always better." He continue driving.

"Can I borrow your phone?" I asked.

He gave it immediately and focus on driving. I opened it and saw his lock screen, it's my text saying I should go to the cafeteria.

"What's your password?"

"Your name."

I tried Selena but it won't work, Portia didn't even work too.

"It's not my name big brat."

"It's my baby girl Selena, try it." He chuckled.

I unlocked his phone and saw his wallpaper, it's their family picture. His mother have the feature of being a model, he looks like his father.

I saved my number there and got his number too. I looked at his social media and add them all.

"Here, I'm done." I gave his phone back.

"We're here."

He held my waist and give me this blindfold thingy.

"Why do I have to wear thi—"

Before I could asked, he blindfolded me. Is this a surprise?

We took a lot of steps when he whispered something.

"I made this."

I took off my blindfold and saw a beautiful tree house with a swimming pool in the left corner. I never been in a tree house in my entire life.

"Y-you made this?"

"Yes, remember the first day I met you. I was about to sell this property but it reminded me of you, my baby girl." He chuckled.

"C’mon let's go." I held his hand and we come into the tree house.

It was hard to climb at first but it's worth it. I saw a bed for two in the right side. There is a dining table on the left side and a stunning chairs.

"I forgot to bring our food, I'll be back." He said and went outside.

I took a picture of everything in here, this is life! A calming place from the toxic society.

I saw him walking towards me with a Mcdo in his hand.

"I'm sorry I brought you fast food, I was late so I have no choice."

"Nah it's ok, I like their foods."

He laid the foods and we started eating, he's busy at his phone but I don't mind it, maybe he's talking to someone important.

I was about to bite the chicken when a flash reached my eyes.

"Damn you big brat, you could've said that you want a photo of me so I can post." I laughed.

"Nah, I want it this way."

We finished our food and he pointed the pool.

"I don't have spare clothes." I frowned.

"I bought you one." He handed me a paper bag.

He's so not ready for this, damn it was so planned.

He went outside and I saw a shorts and a swimming top, thank God he didn't buy me a two piece, I'm not yet confident with my body.

I went down and saw him swimming at the pool, he's muscle were flexing, he's abs was shining, oh damn that.

I went down to the pool and felt the crystal water rushed to my skin, it was so cold to ease the hotness that I felt when I saw Ciro earlier.

"Maybe this is the last day that we can bond before I go to manila." He said.

"Behave there, there's a lot of sexy girls with big boobs and big butt—"

"Stop that thing, I won't look for anyone else. I have my baby girl here. You'll wait for me right?" He said seriously while looking at my eyes.

"I will." I assured him.

"I have a lot of spy's in the campus, I'll saw your every movement." He chuckled.

"That's unfair."

"But I have Liam with me, you can ask him, also your Kuya Anthony."

"Now that's fair. Wait for me to grow up a little."

"I'm sorry Selena." He frowned.

"Why are you saying sorry?" I asked confusedly.

"I won't be here in your birthday. It was next month right?"

"Yeh, it's ok. Studies before me." I flashed a genuine smile.

"Studies with you." He smiled.

It's getting dark, I think we should change our clothes but I want to be with him more.

"Let's change our clothes." He said.

I stood out the pool and went inside the tree house, I changed my clothes and fix myself. When I went down I saw him fixing his hair.

"This is the spare key, you can go here whenever you miss me." He smiled.

"It means I'll go here every day." I laughed.

He escorted me to his car and he drive slowly, like every second means a lot to us.

"I want assurance Ciro." I said.

He looked at me with his confused eyes and smiled.

"Assurance that?"

"That we'll be together despite of that long distance." I said.

He nodded and give me his phone.

"Can you record something that I can watch whenever I miss you?"

I opened his camera and took a lot of pictures of myself. I pressed the video button and it starts to record me.

"Hi Ciro, behave big brat. I miss you, when will you come back? Come back here to your baby girl. I miss your laugh, your smirk, your teasing voice. Come home early ok? I'll wait for you and make sure you'll wait for me too. I love you." I ended the video.

He stopped the car and looked at me.

"Did you really say I love you?" He asked shocked.

"Are you deaf?" I laughed.

"Hey, I'm serious, Selena, did you really say that?"

"Yes Ciro. I love you, I'll love you anytime even if I will not see you often, even if I'm younger than you, even if the world goes against us. I love you big brat."

Before I could said another sentence, he held my face and kissed me. That was the slowest seconds of my life, he's kiss was slow and sincere.

"Your mine Selena, and I'm all yours."