Losing Them

"Nhnn~" The bright sun shone directly on Noelle's face which made her squirms before she could feel a huge shadow that gave her some shade. Her long lashes flutter as she blinks and try to focus her eyes to the towering figure in front of her.

"Kian?" Noelle says in a low soft voice that croaks slightly while her hands wander like a blind person touching the face in front of her.

"Yes? Morning Noelle." Kian smiles and rubs Noelle's head. He was half sitting on the bed while there was a huge album on his lap.

"What are you looking at?"Noelle scoot closer to Kian and lay her head on his chest while both of her arms creep around Kian's waist and give it a tight hug.

"What a minute. That is my photo album." Noelle tried to grab it from Kian before she realized there were other stacks not far from Kian's legs. "This is so embarrassing", she thought to herself before crossing her arms together.

"I am sorry for opening the photo albums but you look so cute and I can't stop opening more afterwards." Kian hugs Noelle by her shoulder before pinching her nose and lands a kiss on Noelle's face.

"I am not angry. I am just embarrassed for showing my pre-glow-up pictures." Noelle chuckled slightly before she grabbed the album on Kian's lap.

Noelle's facial expression turns gloomy before tears collected around the well of her eyes. "This is from 2003.", she says softly while holding back her tears. It is her last Christmas with her dad. That year, they have chosen to celebrate Christmas in their own house instead of going to Switzerland.

In the picture, Noelle's dad and her mom are dressed as Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. Meanwhile eight years old Noelle in cute Rudolph the reindeer suit with the tip of her nose colored red. No one could tell that happy family would break apart if they were looking from the outside.

"Mama~ Mama~ Can I open the presents now?", little Noelle pulls her mom's sleeve begging with big round eyes.

"Not yet sweetheart. Let's wait for Papa to come down first.", she calms Noelle down.

Suddenly footsteps can be heard coming from the stairs. "Noelle gave Papa Claus a big hug!" Noelle's dad kneel down while opening his arms as wide as he can once he reaches the first step of the stairs.

"Yay! Papa is here!" Noelle ran and jumped into her father's arms. Papa carried Noelle in his arms and set the camera facing two armed chairs with the Christmas tree decorated in white at the back. Mama taking her place and fixing her costume.

"Ready. 1.. 2.. 3.." Papa ran while carrying Noelle and put her on his lap. Multiple shots taken with the timer. Noelle's favorite is where both of her mother and father kisses both of her cheeks while she sits in the middle.

It was the greatest Christmas for little Noelle because she finally can visit her friend's house during Christmas. At night time, they have a Christmas party right at their house. Their house is warm with child laughter and adults enjoying their evening.

However that night Noelle was awakened by a loud banging and crashing sound coming from her parents room. There was shouting and it ended with the woman's voice wailing. Noelle was so afraid because her parents had never fought before. So she covers her ears with pillows and falls asleep after crying her hearts out silently. The next day was the last time she saw her day.

"Noelle, it's alright now. I would never leave you like he does.", Kian hugged Noelle tightly while kissing the top of her hair and giving her promises. Noelle buried her head in Kian's chest while sniveling.

"Excuse me Miss Noelle." Knocking sounds echoing in the room.

"Sir Friedrich is requesting your presence in his study immediately.", a servant voice can be heard from the other side of the door.

"Thank you Marie. I will head there soon.", Noelle replied. Then footsteps can be heard leaving the hall. Noelle quickly heads to the bathroom and wash her face and change into an oversized blue knitted sweater and a pair of grey long pants.

Kian was already waiting in front of her door, looking dashing as ever when Noelle opened her bedroom door. Kian is wearing a long sleeve black shirt with white long slacks. He tied his hair in side swept ponytails.

They walked along the long corridor while holding hands. Noelle feels grateful that she has Kian around to comfort her when the painful memories come back. She found something she did not know that she needed all along.

"Grandpa, I heard that you were looking for me.", Noelle whispered while peaking into her grandfather's study.

"Noelle... Kian... Come and take a seat because I have something to tell both of you.", he says in a grieving tone.

"There is something that I did not disclose on the day you arrived.", grandpa rubs his forehead and starts to explain.

[3rd of December]

"Sir, we lose her at the corner of the block." A man in a black car informed his superior using the earpiece communication device. By the time they reached the scene, she was nowhere to be found.

"I need you to track Noelle as soon as possible.", the man replied from the earpiece.

[4th of December]

"Sir, we have found Miss Noelle. She is heading to Genting Highlands.", the same man in black informed his superior.

"Do not do anything until I reach there.", a stern voice came out from the earpiece.

That was the day where Noelle was caught by her dad and brought to Switzerland on the same day. As soon as Noelle reached Switzerland and Papa was assured she was in good hands. He followed grandpa's instruction to deploy a search and rescue team to retrieve Mama.

[Morning of 11 December]

"Sir Friedrich, we are sorry to inform you that Sir Leon and Madam Vera were lost in the sea.", the man in black informed grandpa through a phone call.

"What?! How on earth did you guys do your job?", grandpa screamed through the phone while clenching his fist.

"They managed to escape from the island however while heading to safety using a small speed boat. The AAA organization fired a rocket launcher which caused the boat to explode.", he explains clearing his throat.

"Unfortunately after a thorough search, we were unable to find any survivors from the wreckage. We are positive that Sir Leon and Madam Vera have perished from the incident.", the man explains further while waiting for further instruction from grandpa.

"As far as I know there are no bodies found yet. So I want a team to keep searching around the area in case they were safe from the explosion.", grandpa replies before ending the call.

"Noooo! It can't be! We need to find her! I will go there myself grandpa.", Noelle wailed while kneeling in front of her grandpa as the audios finished playing.

"Noelle, I have sent a team to search for your mother and father. I could not risk to lose you too. So I can not let you go there.", grandpa pats Noelle's back to comfort his granddaughter.

"Kian. Now this leads to you. I will need you to protect Noelle with the best that you can. Because I know that I can put my trust in you to take care of her with your own life.", grandpa take a glance at Kian.

"I will not let you down. Sir." Kian shakes grandpa's hand.

"Noelle, I know this is hard for you. But you need to pull yourself together.", grandpa hugs Noelle to comfort her.

"We will need to show that this incident does not sway us. I will hold a banquet next week to announce that you will be my heir.", he explains further.

"But I have never done this before.", Noelle replies.

"No worries. I know you can do it with a little bit of training. You have been an excellent student from a young age until your university years. I also know that you have rejected a lot of big companies' job offers and decided to work silently behind the scenes in customer service.", grandpa cough relentlessly after explaining.

"Drink this grandpa." Noelle hands over a glass of water to him.

"This week I will send a few tutors for you so that you will be prepared for the banquet. I hope that you will try your best to ace it."

Noelle was about to get up and leave the room before her grandpa stopped her.

"Your father has left this box to me. He wants you to have it if he passes away. I hope you know that your father has always loved you even though he was not around when you grew up", he says in a sorrowful voice.

"Thank you grandpa. I will see into this." Noelle nods and leaves the room with Kian.