***Fours years later***
Vania, the nurse whom Richard paid handsomely for the well-being of Isabelle, got married and had two children. Vania mistreated a four years old Isabelle as a slave.
She tormented the poor little girl each day that passes by. A girl still at her tender age, was forced to take huge responsibility for herself. Vania beat her up whenever Izzy made a mistake and she also starve her whenever she do not finish work on time. Every single time, Vania always reminded the little girl that she is not her child and will never be her child. She was a stray child, a pain to her own parents.
Izzy felt the world was ganging up against her. She always questioned herself why her own parents had to leave her to suffer in the hands of another woman.
On a faithful day, after getting spanked in the butt for breaking a flower vase, Isabelle sat on one end in the balcony. Her eyes were very red, her smooth delicate skin was designed with bruises.
She was very heartbroken as she mumble bitterly in tears, "Mommy, daddy, why did you leave me? Why did you abandon me? Was I that bad as a baby? Did I cause you pain that you have to leave me with another woman to suffer?" Little Izzy lamented as tears keep dropping on her cheek.
She keeps wondering why the world was so cruel to her.
Little Izzy keeps battling and enduring her world punishment, but everything changed until one day.
Little Izzy always sells egg every day and night, before and after school hours, which happens to be her normal routine for the day.
After arriving from school, Little Izzy went home in a heist and took the full basket of eggs her adopted mother left behind. She went out on the street wailing loudly to get people's attention.
"Buy your boiled eggs!! fresh and hot!!! One bite for another!!!" She sang as she move around the street wearing a long torn shirt that covers her whole body with a short pant and a slippers.
A lot of people took pity on her and bought the boiled eggs, while some gossip about her and also make mockery of her. Poor Izzy...!
While Little Izzy was hawking her eggs, she met a group of children who are a little bit older than her running around the street. One of them mistakenly bump into her.
"Ouch..!"
Little Izzy became angry, she screamed, "Hey! can't you be careful!!" When she saw the person face, she realizes it was her neighbor's niece. Then she gulp in shock, "Joy?!"
"Isabelle?" Joy said.
"What are you doing here, won't your Aunt scold you if you come home late?" Little Izzy asked looking worried for her.
"Isabelle, I'm tired. I can no longer take it anymore," Joy replied in a frustrating tone.
"I don't understand," Isabelle furrowed her brow feeling very confused.
"I ran away from home, Isabelle. I'm not going back there anymore, I'll do better on my own than with my Aunt, she hate me to the last core. My Aunty would never treat me better," Joy explained, her eyes were fulled with bitterness and hatred.
Joy gaze at the children who she tag along with, "You see those children, they are my new family. We work together to look for food. Isabelle, I will advise you to join us, you don't have to endure the pain anymore, you're going nowhere with it, join me Isabelle. This is freedom!" she told Isabelle.
Isabelle was still confused, she can't believe what she's hearing. "Where do you live?" she wondered.
"Come with us you'll see. Don't worry I got your back," Joy encourage her.
"Won't you get in trouble?" Isabelle asked looking worried.
"Don't worry, think about it first, then give me your answer tomorrow. I wait for you here," Joy said and left with the rest of her friend.
The world night, Izzy was in deep thought. She got scolded by her adopted mum again. That night, she keep rumbling and mumbling in deep thought until her mind was made up.
After everything, Isabelle decided to go with them. She realize that staying here will take her nowhere, she'll only get beaten day in and day out. Little Isabelle was too young for this, but if this will guarantee a peaceful and a happy home, then what's there to be scared of.
The next day, she parked her clothes and put it in the bag which she use in selling balut (egg). She pretend to be leaving for her daily routine and left. She sold all the eggs and used them to start her new life with her new family.
They welcome her in and treated her like family. They support and help each other and they sleep in the inside part of the market. Every day, they'll wake up, help the market men and women in parking their dirt and cleaning their space. After that, they got paid then they used the money to feed and clean themselves.
Izzy enjoys her new life. It was much peaceful and fun. There are times when they entertain the marketers with a prep dance. There was fun day and hard times, yet they'll conquer it as one family. The marketers treated them well and show them love.
Until one day, their peaceful loving home turn into a massacre over a night. A popular syndicate group which has been terrorizing their communities, that deals mainly on children trafficking, attack the market at night.
That night, Izzy decided to sleep inside a counter, it was as if she saw it coming, no one noticed that she lean her head in a counter. The group of men sneaked in and left with her sleeping friends. Leaving no one behind.
Izzy woke up, she notice her friends were no more. She look everywhere for them but couldn't find them. The whole market was shocked in hearing the recent kidnap in the market, it was a big disaster. Isabelle became scared, she left the market. From that day on, Isabelle believes nowhere is safe for her especially now that she was alone.
Isabelle worked hard to survive. She had no home nor a family. Isabelle lean her head in any available place, she barely eat and she don't have much clothe to wear. At times, Isabelle steals from store to store to survive. While sometimes, Isabelle moves from one bin to another in search for food.
On a certain evening, a young man riding a tricycle tried to harass Isabelle, a girl in her tender age. Luckily, someone foresee everything and came to her rescue.
Isabelle savior was a young boy of seven years, his name is Hario.
Hario took Isabelle by surprise. When Isabelle felt it was all over, Hario pop out of nowhere and gave her a reason to live. She ran to his embrace with her eyes soak with tears, "Thank youuu! You save me my life. Now, I owe you my life..." Little Izzy manage to curl out a smile after a long time.
For the first time in her life, she felt comfort and safe. From that day onward, she promised never to leave his side, he became her home.
Hario held her tight. There was a lightning sparks that struck in his heart. He curled out a cute smile, "You're welcome." He pulled Isabelle away and glanced at her, "By the way, what are you doing here alone? It's not safe out here, where are your parents?!" he said to her looking worried.
After seeing the look on her eyes, Hario concluded, "I know... you run away from home. But don't worry from now on, I'll protect you. I am Hario, you?"
"I am Isabelle," she replied happily as she hold his hand tight.
Hario and Izzy became close as siblings. Hario was a young boy of seven, he played a good role as Izzy older brother. He did most of the work, took her to safer place and protect and defend her when necessary. The best of all, he never left her side. Hario, indeed, was an angel in disguise, sent to protect Isabelle.
They became too close as never before. Hario felt like they can't do without each other, he made a necklace as a mark of their friendship, trust and loyalty. They both do everything together. He always cuddle her while she sleeps as a way of ensuring her that she is safe.
Most nights, he's awake to be sure that they are safe. Then Hario made a promise to her and use the necklace as a symbol of the promise they made to each other.
"Hario, please don't leave me. I want you to promise me that you'll always be there for me. I don't know how my life will be without you in it. I don't want to lose you the same way I lost my other friends," she said looking very sad and terrified.
Hario smirked as he held her soft cheek, "Izzy, I promise I'll always be there for you. I got your back all through. I promise I'll do my best to get you to school and watch you finish. I won't leave you, that I promise!" he said as he sincerely stare into Isabel's eyes.
They both hugged passionately.