She ran, before I even had the chance to explain. I called out her name and even called her on the phone but the line was as good as dead, walking outside to look, I'd figured she knew I was going to and what do I expect, she steered clear.

I stop in my tracks halfway walking through the park, hopeful she'd be here. Its been a half an hour but I still see no sign, my eyes searched the area trying out my luck. Unfortunately, I came back to the company after a phone call from the executive head, the meeting was about to start. 30 minutes in, I struggle to listen and with my divided attention, I kept thinking about her. Iv'e been pacing out from conversations, trying to re-adjust my clothing while I occasionally glance on my watch. In what felt like in an excruciating time, the meeting came to an end.

I was still deep in thought of where the hell did she went to. Worried about her, I had to do something. Just in time for Celia as she came outside the board room with co-workers, I needed to have a word with her.

"Um, do you know where Cleo went off to?" I spoke approaching her, anxious of conversing when it comes to Cleo.

"Mat." She greeted with a beam on her face, a look of assurance that she's all ears to understand.

"Cleo called me an hour ago before the meeting and she told me she's at Brenna's, telling me there's a family celebration and she was invited to come." She explained.

But of course, I knew Cleo was lying. Makes me think that she had no plans to go home to this day and plans to stay away from my presence as long as she can. I ponder as to what was I about to do, I needed to make sure that she's safe. She might have lied about her whereabouts but my intuition was telling me she would need to see her best-friend. I remember she had mentioned one.

"Do you have her best-friend's number? If you mind me asking." I respond, hopeful.

"Sure, I have it here ... I'll just send it to you." She replied, fishing out her phone in her bag.

"Thank you." I said with a small smile, thankful of her given informations.

"No problem, Mat." She smiled back and said her farewell leaving, while I was left onto what I was going to do next.

I plan to head out as I try to see what I can do to look for her. Dialing the phone number, the call dialed a couple of times and as anxious I was, I still persisted. After a couple of times I dialed the number, she answered.

"Um, hello?" Her voice timid, unsure of the phone call.

"Is this Brenna? its Cleo's stepbrother." I asked, odd that in reality she's still my stepsister.

"Yeah, I am. You're Matheo, right? Why? What happened?" She asked hastily, worried in a sudden.

"Is Cleo with you? Or did she called?" I asked, a hope in my voice.

"I'm afraid she didn't."

Goddamn.

"If she calls, could you please inform me? Iv'e been trying to reach out to her but she's not answering any." I spoke, closing my eyes as I took a deep breathe, starting to feel frustrated.

"Sure, I'll help you. I'll call Jack to see if she's with him." She assures me but the worry on her voice was as well evident.

We both knew she does go out on her own terms, let alone listen to what other people would think. The greater question is, where on earth would she be at this point of time. And the mention of his name made me boil with anger, he better not fucking take advantage of her because this time I won't be able to control myself.

Breaking my thoughts, Brenna's caller ID flashed through the phone and as eager to hear what she was about to say, I hastily answered.

"Any news?" I asked, undoing a couple of my buttons to take a breather.

"Unfortunately, Jack told me he was in Jersey, haven't even seen Cleo after her last race." She explains, worried as I was.

"Fuck." I mutter, while I run my hands through my hair.

"What's been going on with you two? Is everything okay? Look, I'll help you on this okay. I'll update if I can try to reach her." She suggested while I stayed silent on the line, as I struggle to focus at the moment.

I just wanted to see her, to see if she's okay and tell her everything, but I can't. I fucked up before I even made a move.

"Thank you." I reply shortly as I had no time to react but to make a move to look for her.

I drove as I took every corner and turn near downtown while I try to figure she may not have went too far to wind down. I tried to look on downtown's any clubs, pub, the beach and even my last resort of going to the race tracks, but I found none. I arrived home late, as I went straight upstairs and the place felt blank knowing she wasn't about to show up because I fucked up. Taking off my clothing, I needed the shower to clear my thoughts as I start to think about how can I explain and ask for her forgiveness. The day may not be as successful, it still doesn't change a thing that I was determined to win her back.

I lay in bed in a pensive mood. While my thoughts fight my sleep, I tossed and turned with eyes tired but yet I wouldn't sleep. But at some point, I was not aware that I already fell into my slumber.

The morning came around while I woke up late, exhausted from the lack of sleep and the nagging thoughts since yesterday. I wasted no time doing a usual routine as I get ready for work and a long day of reaching out for Cleo.

Cleo.

The name brought a surge of emotion through me, I could not even put to words of what I feel about her. Too see the look in her eyes pained and regretful, makes me think that I may not even have the chance to be good for her but I try not to let my doubts hinder what I was about to do as I went downstairs looking forward to this day, still hopeful that I'd get to see her and talk to this time. But a commotion in the dining room brought me into a halt;

"Cleo, if you'd like to eat for later ... the food's in the refrigerator just reheat one." I heard her mother's voice, making me pay close attention.

So she was here.

Nervous in all of a sudden, I was anxious to see her as she had arrived though I didn't expect. I took a deep breath, trying to make myself calm and collected. Walking through the living room just to see her, right at that moment.

"Mat, would you like to eat? why don't you join your father in the dining room." Celia as vibrant as always, with a beam on her face.

While my eyes were much more focused on Cleo. She had her black sunglasses on, her clothes were changed and she definitely not interested when my name was called. It took every inch of my body not to hold her and ask for her forgiveness, as she felt like barely alive because it was my fucking fault.

"Mat?" Her mother asked, breaking away my thoughts.

"Um, I'm good. I'm just going to-"

"Mom, I'll go ahead." She spoke, interrupting what I was about to say while she was in a hurry to leave.

While her mom had no time to react but instead agree with a concern on her face. Cleo didn't looked well today, she might be sick. I spoke a quick farewell, as I start to follow her trying to get her attention.

"Cleo." I called, as she was about to take the stairs just in time for me to stop her.

She came to a stop, and she never turned around to acknowledge my presence. I come closer while she shuffled her feet as anxious as I was of our encounter.

"Cleo, could you please hear me out?" I said but more like I was pleading, reaching out for her at the same time but she flinched, worried for herself.

How badly I wanted to tell her everything and to hold her in my fucking arms right now but how her body responds to my touch was not even close as to how she felt the day we met.

"Cleo, I'm sorry." Was the first thing that I said, I swallowed a lump on my throat surprising myself, unusual of me to apologize straight away.

"I-"

"It's okay, I understand." Cutting me off as she spoke briefly, taking her sunglasses but her eyes were still avoiding my presence.

"It's not like you're my man or anything, I get it. It was casual and you where done with me. I should actually be the one who should apologize, so I'm sorry .... that I reacted that way." And as she said, her eyes met mine as she took a glance as she looked tired and distant. Then she looked away, avoiding me at all cost.

"Cleo .... it was a mistake and I shouldn't have kissed her, I just wanted to know if I still ..." My thoughts trailed off as I was about to say something that I wasn't ready for.

"Still what?" She asked, an anger in her voice.

I couldn't finish, thinking that the thought will scare her away from me.

"About what?" She repeated like she's expecting me to say something.

I kissed her to know if I was still interested to know if it was just lust that I'm after for you, but the second I did. I knew it was wrong of me and I like you, all this time.

My mind raced into thoughts, hoping I could spit the words out but to no extent, it was fucking holding me back.

"You don't really have to force yourself to make it seem like you didn't want it. Like I said, I understand and you can do what the hell you want." My silence evidently annoyed her while eyes disappointed, she was about to leave.

"Cleo, I'm sorry. please ..." I spoke like I pleaded her to stay.

But the way she walked away, it felt like an achievement. Because as she did; she never looked back, even I called for her, many times.