Leave Me If You Dare

The night came for Celine’s awaited concert. It was held in the biggest event’s place in the city as the concert tickets were sold like hotcakes.

It was dim inside when the crowd was surprised with the soft, euphonious piano piece soothing one’s soul.

Then the candles lit up gradually. The serenity sounded like a good wave that everyone wanted to drown in.

Quiet.

Calm.

Peaceful.

That kind of music that craved one’s mind, heart, and soul.

After a while, the spotlight turned on and focused on the girl standing in front, the star of the night, Celine.

Then Celine sang one of her hits.

The audience gave her an overwhelming standing ovation every after her impressive performance.

On the other hand, Arabella had fun playing her piece but she stayed her head low all of the time. She didn’t dare to look at the crowd let alone the cameras.

Tonight, she was wearing a very simple maxi flowing dress. Her makeup was too little like nothing at all.

This isn’t her night.

She never wanted to own the night.

The stage lightings were fixed according to her request. Her side was dim and only the warm soft glowed candlelight lit her up.

Arabella was very happy to play with her idol and at the same time, she felt somewhat secure.

Adam and Lira were sitting in the front row. For some reason, Damien had excused himself not to watch her performance tonight. He never skipped a chance to see her concerts even if it’s just a small event but tonight, Damien didn’t show up.

Lira was quite disappointed. She was expecting Damien to be at the concert. After they kissed that night, she didn’t see him anymore. She didn’t know if he was avoiding her or he just didn’t want to see her at all. Thinking of this, Lira’s heart was clenched hard as she was expecting something.

Something more.

More than a hug.

More than a kiss.

More like love…

“Aunt Lira, my mom is the best. Isn’t she?” Adam proudly whispered at her. He was wearing a black tuxedo. Of all the kids in the city, Lira had no doubts that Adam was the most handsome and different. Without any effort, Adam’s look was like an elite and he was like a son of royals.

A prince.

Lira couldn’t help to wonder who’s Adam’s father.

He must be a king.

Lira shook her head to get rid of her crazy thoughts about Adam’s father.

“Of course, your mom is the …. Adam?” Lira replied to the boy who was sitting beside her but to her shock, Adam was no longer sitting in his seat.

Lira felt panicked. She suddenly felt a twitch of impending doom.

How could she lose Adam?

She hated herself to be so absentminded while with a 5-year-old kid. Lira stood up from the crowd. Her eyes were finding him everywhere.

There’s no Adam.

What if Adam was kidnapped?

Beads of cold sweats began to appear on her skin. Her heart was thumping very fast. She could not lose Adam.

She didn’t know what to do.

Lira wanted to look around but what if Adam would go back to his seat and she wasn't there anymore?

She couldn’t call Arabella as her cellphone was with her.

Lira had no choice. Using Arabella’s number, she contacted Damien.

“What’s up?” Damien sounded cheerful on the other line.

“Damien. It’s me, Lira.” She replied with her voice and hand shaking nervously.

Damien didn’t reply. Lira felt clenched hard.

“Damien, something happened. I need your help.” Despite his silence, Lira had no time to waste.

“What happened?” Damien’s worried voice sounded like shouting.

“Adam. I lost Adam. I can’t find him.” Lira was already crying in her fright. She couldn’t help it.

“Okay. I’m going there now.” A mere disappointment was in his voice. Then he hung up first without waiting for her reply.

Lira felt a twinge inside.

She couldn’t decipher if it’s because of losing Adam or because of Damien’s treatment towards her.

Or both.

After a while, the concert had ended.

Damien also came in like a flash since he had a VIP ticket.

“You stay here and wait until he came back.” Damien blatantly ordered Lira.

“Should I tell Ms. J about it?” Lira was awfully petrified. She couldn’t imagine Arabella’s reaction knowing her only son was missing.

Damien stopped and looked at her with deep eyes, “I will be the one to inform her. Stay here.” He added then he quickly ran off.

Lira was left fidgeting as she felt helpless and felt like she was the one to blame for everything.

Arabella had exited the stage when Damien came panting.

“Damien? I thought…” Arabella showed her bright smile as she was surprised to see Damien.

“Arabella, Adam is missing.” Catching his breath, Damien said firmly.

“What???” Arabella shouted flamboyantly. The news freaked her out. Her knees instantly softened and her whole body quivered as intense fear forayed all over her.

“We don’t have time, let’s find him first. I go to the right-wing and you go to the left-wing. If we can’t find him then let’s call the police.” Damien ordered hurriedly. He didn’t want to let Arabella know about it as he already knew her reaction to this matter especially her son’s matter, but he needed help.

They quickly ran off.

Arabella didn’t know how she could still keep up running with weak knees. Her tears rolled down uncontrollably. She had been through hell to save her son before. Now, she couldn’t afford to lose him just like that.

The place was big. Knowing Adam, he would not go out alone unless he would get his guardian’s permission. Never did he break any rule of courtesy as he didn’t want someone to worry him. For so many concerts she had, this was the only time he disappeared without consent.

Unless he….

He was kidnapped?

With the thought of it, her panic heightened.

Who would have kidnapped her son?

For what possible reason?

Kids trafficking?

Arabella’s head was hurting so bad. Her body was so weak and tired but she still kept on running.

Even if the road is endless, she will continue to run if it would take her to Adam.

“Adam? Adam!” She called out his name with mixed of so much love and fear.

There’s no answer.

Outside the main venue, there were few stores around. They need to find Adam before the whole crowd would come out or else it would be very difficult for them to see Adam mixing with the vast crowd.

Arabella went inside almost all the stores but there’s no presence of Adam. Rattled by his absence, she was really determined to call the police. Her instinct is to go outside the building as her feet led her in that direction subconsciously.

Beside the building, there’s an elegant Italian restaurant. The lightings were warm that made the place romantically cozy. It has a glass wall that one could easily see the elegant interior style and so the courtly people who dined in.

Walking closer to the glass wall, Arabella’s brain kept on opposing that it’s impossible for Adam to go to that kind of place. First, he has no money. Second, he doesn’t like Italian food that much. Lastly, he has no company. She didn’t think kids would be allowed to enter alone in that classy restaurant.

Time is of the essence.

She would just waste her time if she would enter that restaurant but still, it seemed her feet had their own mind. Her feet dragged her slowly in the restaurant’s direction. When she entered, her eyes wandered around instinctively.

There were only 4 tables that had been occupied with two persons at every table.

No.

It’s 5 tables.

The 5th table was in the corner.

Arabella walked closely and her heart almost explode.

Adam was in the 5th table. He was eating pasta with messy red sauce around the corner of his mouth.

She was caught in the middle of relief and joy. There’s also anger because Adam broke the rule but was satisfied because she saw him again.

Overwhelming joy dissipated her anger instantly.

What surprised her more was the person who was with Adam.

She could not see him clearly as there’s a brick wall division behind him.

He was wearing black leather shoes and a black suit. That’s the only sight she could see from her position.

She didn’t waste time to get closer to her son and check out the person who could easily bring Adam there with his own will but Adam stood up quickly upon seeing her.

“Mom!” Adam ran towards her leaving the man on the table.

Then her phone rang.

It’s Damien.

“Let’s call the police now.” Damien on the other line was panting while talking to her.

“Damien. No need. I found Adam just now.” Arabella said while holding firmly to Adam’s hand. She was afraid to let him go again.

“Oh! I’m relieved. How’s he?” Damien’s voice was relieved.

“He’s fine.” Arabella looked at the little boy’s pleading expression. She couldn’t get angry with her son any longer. She leaned over and hugged him.

“Let’s go. You still have so much explaining to do young man.” Arabella whispered at Adam.

Arabella sneaked at the man again but to her surprise, he was gone in a flash.

She frowned.

Where did he go?

Since he was elegantly dressed, Arabella thought he was one of the audiences in the concert.

“Adam, who’s that man with you?” With a puzzled look, Arabella asked Adam.

Adam looked in the direction of their table and his expression changed. He seemed to be disappointed that the man was gone without a proper goodbye.

Adam ran back to the table like he was not hearing his mother.

Arabella followed.

He found a handwritten note on the table then he read it.

‘Got to go. Nice to meet you, young fellow.

Bill.’

“What’s that?” Arabella asked with full of curiosity. She didn’t expect Adam to make friends with a stranger.

“Hmmm… nothing mom. Just a tissue paper.” Adam slowly put the white business card in his pocket. He had to make a white lie as he knew his mother cursed the name, Bill.

Earlier, Adam saw a man almost beside him. It’s his first time seeing the man but he felt he was very familiar. He thought of a character in computer games or a superstar on tv.

It didn’t match any but he finds him cool.

He was not the type of boy who loves to stare at someone let alone study people but for some reason, he couldn’t take his eyes away from the man.

He looked like him.

The weirdest part was they were wearing the same black tuxedo. They were both handsome and stunning. It’s just that, the other one was tall and the other one was short.

Short but cute.

When the man leaned his head to his arm, Adam did it too.

When the man crossed his arms in front, Adam followed.

When the man crossed his long legs, he did it too.

When the man stood up, Adam stood up too.

The man went out, Adam followed.

He didn’t know what’s got into him.

He had fun following the man’s every movement.

Adam saw his future self through the cool man he’s following. He was like looking at his mirror's reflection.

He continued following him and he didn’t realize that they were already walking outside the building.

He didn’t realize that they were already entering a restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, the man stopped then he turned around to see Adam.

Adam was a bit nervous.

“Who are you?” The man asked calmly as if he had known longer that he was being followed.

“I am Adam.” Adam raised his hand to the man for shaking.

The man squinted and shook his little hand.

“Hungry?” Then the man asked.

Adam smiled up to his ear showing his white big bunny teeth and nodded.

The waiter then ushered them to a table. The man didn’t talk too much and nor did Adam. He had fun copying his every movement without talking nonsense or introducing their selves to each other.

Adam eat quietly and the man was working on numbers in his mini tab.

He couldn’t see it clearly because the pasta was very yummy.

“Adam, who is that person with you in the restaurant?” Inside the car together with Lira and Adam, Arabella couldn’t get the man out of her head.

Is he a bad person or a good person?

If he had a bad intention to her son, then he would have not let Adam eat in that expensive restaurant.

“I think…”

“I think he is my dad, mom.” Adam suddenly answered.

Right after Adam’s announcement, a screeching sound of a car could be heard.

Shocked, Arabella stopped the car abruptly.