Chapter 4 Welcome to Bayanan

---At Bayanan Province

Saturday night arrived, casting a serene ambiance over the coastal town of Bayanan. Ethan exhausted from his long journey, finally reached his destination. He is now staying at his simple, little house and very different to the mansion that he used to live. Ethan take a quick shower and started to rest his weary bodies after a tiring day of traveling.

The next morning, as the sun painted the sky with shades of orange and pink, Ethan set out to explore the town. They strolled down the bustling streets, their curiosity piqued by the charming shops and friendly locals.

Feeling hungry from his morning adventure, Ethan decided to have breakfast at the canteen nearby where Kitty worked. As they entered, the enticing aroma of freshly cooked food enveloped their senses. It was a cozy place, with simple wooden tables and chairs, and the chatter of patrons filled the air.

Kitty, ever the attentive server, noticed Ethan's arrival. Her imagination took flight, weaving a narrative of grandeur around the stranger who had stumbled into her life. She couldn't help but imagine him as a dashing hero, a person who could whisk her away from her mundane routine.

Lost in her own world of fantasies, Kitty approached Ethan's table, a wide smile adorning her face. However, in her distracted state, she accidentally tripped over a chair, causing the tray she was carrying to tilt precariously. Before she could regain her balance, Ethan became the unfortunate recipient of a plate of piping hot food, right on his clothes.

A mixture of shock and anger crossed Ethan's face as he felt the warm food seep through his clothes, scalding his skin slightly. He looked at Kitty, his eyes burning with frustration, and opened his mouth to let out a sharp retort. But as he gazed into her wide, apologetic eyes, he couldn't help but soften.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Ethan managed a forced smile. "It's alright. Just be more careful next time," he said, trying to suppress his annoyance.

Kitty, mortified by her blunder, could barely muster a response. She stammered an apology, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. From that moment on, Kitty vowed to make it up to Ethan.

The another waitress come to ask Ethan's order and serve it to him. Ethan enjoys the food but, he cannot forget his encounter with Kitty. He didn't understand his feeling right now, is he embarrassed, mad or whatever. He can't stop on thinking about Kitty.

The following day was Monday, marking the beginning of the second week of the semester. Ethan began getting ready to commute to his university, which happened to be quite a distance from his house. Due to his father's men taking his car as part of his "poor boy" experience, Ethan had to resort to riding a habal-habal to reach his destination.

---At Kitty's apartment

Tooth, ring, ring Tooth!

The sound of the alarm clock jolted Kitty awake, filling her with panic.

"What on earth... It's already 7:30? I'll be late for my class; I need to hurry."

Kitty quickly got ready to go to the university and grabbed a piece of bread to eat on the way while waiting for a habal-habal ride.

As Kitty rushed through the hallway, she accidentally collided with someone.

"Um, I'm really sorry. I'm just in a hurry because I'm already late for my cla..." Kitty's words trailed off as she recognized the person she bumped into. It was the handsome customer from the cafe yesterday. Reminded of what happened at the cafe, she swiftly ran towards her classroom.

"Hey, good morning! I haven't seen you since you got fired from the cafe. What happened to you?" Shiela asked as Kitty entered the room.

"You know, I had to find another job. I've been late on my rent, and if I don't pay it, I might end up on the streets. I found a job at a canteen near my neighborhood. My boss is really kind, and I need to do my best for them."

"I'm really sorry, Kitty. I tried to convince Mr. Chan not to fire you." Shiela felt guilty, although it wasn't her fault.

Their professor arrived, initiating the discussion of their lesson. In the middle of the class, there was a knock on the door, startling Kitty. The girls' attention turned to Ethan, who entered the room, capturing their admiration with his good looks.

"Good morning, is this the class for BS HRM major in Culinary Arts?" Ethan inquired, addressing the professor.

"Yes, and you are?" the professor responded.

"I'm Ethan Gonzales, a transfer student here."

"Okay, take a seat next to Miss Perez."

Kitty was taken aback as she witnessed Ethan walking toward her and sitting beside her. Shiela playfully pinched Kitty and giggled, enjoying Ethan's attractive appearance.

The class proceeded smoothly, and before they knew it, lunchtime had arrived.

Ethan felt a sense of loneliness as he thought of his friend Danzel, wishing he were here too. Ethan found an empty table and began eating the food he had bought from the canteen. The taste of the dish, Sisig, was unfamiliar to him, and it seemed odd, but he had no other choice since it was the only option available.

---At Luchess Mansion

"I've heard that Evan Gonzales, the only son of the Gonzales family, has left the city in an attempt to hide from us. Smart move, Evan, trying to protect your son. But I'm even smarter than him. I will find his son and exact my revenge on him. Hahahaha," Mr. Ricardo spoke to his most trusted member among his mafia associates.

"Do you want me to initiate a search to find him, sir? My men and I can start looking in the nearby provinces," Gomez offered.

"No, Gomez, let your men rest for now. I have a plan to completely ruin Evan Gonzales," Mr. Ricardo replied.

"Alright, sir. I'll take my leave then. Just call me if you need anything from me," Gomez said as he exited the room.

As Gomez left, Mr. Ricardo's fierce expression softened, and he gazed at a picture of a baby girl on his desk.

"I wish you and your mother were still alive. I hope Evan's men never took you away from me. I don't know if you're still alive or if Evan has harmed you," Ricardo spoke to the picture of his daughter.

His wife had tragically passed away while giving birth to their only daughter, Kittiana. However, during the attack on the Luchess mansion, Evan's men had taken Kittiana, and Ricardo hadn't seen his daughter since then. Evan denied that his men were responsible for the abduction, but Ricardo was convinced it was them. They had been bitter enemies ever since. Now, Ricardo sought revenge not only for losing his gambling business due to Evan but also because he wanted justice for his daughter.