"Secret room?" I reiterated. He nodded and held my hand and we walk towards the stairway.
"You never visited the room beside yours, didn't you?" I shook my head. He chuckles. "I think it is the best time to let you know about the secret room." My brows furrowed. Why now? Why not last week? Kidding.
"How has it become a secret room?" I ask.
"Simple, because there were hidden things inside." We both laughed as we made our way towards the secret room. "This is the key, I will give it to you and you should take care of it. Many things were important inside the room." He handed me the key. I look at it, it's an old fashion key, and it is a golden key and you can see the color is slowly fading into black, which means it is really old and came from the 19th century.
"This is making me nervous. What's inside?" I ask as my gaze was still on the key. "This was an old-fashioned key, I like how this key was designed." I heard him smile and made me lookup. We both stayed in front of the door beside my room.
He looks at me while I look back at him with nervousness. Will this room will be the answer to all of my past and question? Why do I feel like I am going to learn new things about this family? Will it be heartbreaking or will it make me cry?
"Open it," he urges. I look at the key that was in my hand. Can I do this? I am not ready to know everything. If it will make me cry then I can't— I can't do it. I look at him with worriedness in my eyes. He sighed, "It will surely make you cry but it is worth it to know," he said. I call him, summoning my strength but I can't seem to do it.
I took a deep breath and out. I took a step forward and held the key up to the doorknob and unlock it. I open the door and the darkroom greeted us. I look at dad behind me and he just nodded his head, indicating me to continue. I continue to walk towards the room and dad went behind me and open the light.
My brows furrowed looking at the room. It wasn't messy but it wasn't clean also. I shook my head and sighed. "This is where your mom delivered you," he said. I look around the room once more. The bed was also a queen-size bed.
"These boxes' supposed to be your clothes back then but you know," He sighed. I nodded and went both went towards the box. It has a lot of clothes, neatly placed in the box. I took one of the cloth on the top and a smile crept on my lips.
"This clothe— I still have a clothe like this in my things." I wrapped the clothe around my arms and feel its fabric. "Mom take this with me for years until I grew up and give it to me when I was in 12th grade."
"This is the only thing I left with them and three clothes in the bag. I'm so lost that day so I think many things."
"It's okay, dad. Nothing to worry about, I don't hold a grudge on you back then and would never do, I understand your reason dad." I hug him and put the clothing back in the box and went to the nightstand.
"This nightstand has your ultrasound and your picture when you're a first-day baby. We stop taking your picture when you're a month old." I nodded. He opens the drawer and takes an album, it is looking so old but still pretty. Dad must be going here every day or the servants were cleaning this room.
"Can I put this in my room, dad?" He nodded while I giggle.
"You ask how this becomes a secret room, right?" I nodded as I look at him, waiting for his next sentence. "Whenever I go here, I remember everything that happened since that day. We both argue, but of course, I try to think of other things to clean this room. I just think of when I first saw you and you were crying loud while the doctor is taking care of you. You were just a little back then, I can hold you with my one palm."
"What?" My lips parted as my eyes did.
He laughs at my reaction. "I mean, you were pre-mature that day, you were 1 month early but you were not like a pre-mature child because when you reach 1 month old, you're so a little bratty back then."
"Dad, why would you say that? I am just a month old that day." I pouted. He chuckled.
"I didn't mean to. You were just cute back then, I wanted to pinch your cheeks and hold you longer but I am more brat to think about that."
"No, you were not. You were just hurt that day and stress." I console him.
We continue to look around the room and there's a picture of mom, she's holding me with her blank face. The way she holds me is hurting me, I know it. By the look on my face, I am frowning and ready to cry but it seems like it was nothing to her. It was framed and placed on the top of the table in the room. There's a lot of boxes and some of the boxes had a lot of documents.
"Can I check these files, dad?" I ask. Maybe here, I can see their marriage certificate? I am dying to know her name. She's making me curious about her. What's her reason for hurting dad? How can she do that? Does she want to be back with dad? Obviously, the answer is no. She's trying to kill him so she doesn't want to get back with him.
"Yes, it was from years ago, I thought of putting them here for remembrance and so you could see the files. But I don't have any interest in telling you anything about what happened back then but I know no lies are always keeping for a long time," he said. "That files, I think it was all about our marriage and your copies of birth certificate. Before I thought of giving you, I copy a certificate for an important thing but unfortunately, I drown and I thought of doing it." I nodded and sighed.
I start to look for my birth certificate. "Did mom write her name to my parents?"
"I don't know, you can see it there. But I know she didn't." I nodded and for what I am looking for. There are so many papers around here, I am not having the courage to read them all as I am very lazy and I wanted to look and search for her name. Tonight, we're going to a ball and this afternoon, we need to get ready.
I and Hunter already talk about everything. What I want to do later tonight. I don't want to do things alone. I needed Hunter to know about my plans so he won't be worried. Dad won't be worried if he doesn't know what we are planning, right?
I lift the paper with a black tint and fading words. The paper I've been looking for. It was my birth certificate. The one I am giving in my school is my fake certificate. My eyes popped out as my lips parted. "E-Eleanor?" Tears start to form my eyes. "Is my mother's name is Eleanor?"
No. Pleases say no. Tears were attempting to come out from my eyes but I am fighting it. Mrs. Eleanor is my mom? No, it can't be. Why did she come from my mind after reading the name? Could she be? NO! She's good to me, I call her mom because she likes a mom to me. She will never betray me and Hunter.
I keep on looking dad until he responds. He nodded. I can't fight my tears anymore but to falls down. This is making me weak again. People around me are targeting my heart, they knew how to make fun of me. They just know how to hurt me.
"Why are you crying?" Dad went towards me and sat in front of me.
"I just heard her name somewhere and she's like my mother. She's Hunter's servant."
"Just maybe just had the same name. Your mother never knew how to be nice." I wipe my tears and nodded. Maybe, he is true. They both had the same name.
I take the paper with me and continue to look around. I found a paper under the nightstand and it makes me wonder. I look around and see father is busy looking at the other things, I took it silently and put it in my pocket. I will read it later. I giggle at myself. I never found anything interesting to read, like the paper I took under the nightstand.
"What are you laughing at there?" Dad asks, turning his head around me.
I shook my head. "Nothing, dad."
After checking the room with dad, I went to my room. I let a heavy sighed. I also put the other boxes in their place and change the bed comforter. Dad let me do what I want to do any. I let him rest because he's having a headache and he went to his office, I guess.
I sighed before wiping my sweat on my forehead. As soon as I close the door and take it forward, someone holds my waist and pulls me to them. I let a small squeak because of the shock of the sudden action of that person. "What happened? Why did your dad call you?"
"Hmm, it's just dad let me see the secret room beside this room."
"Really?" I nodded and turn around to look at him. I put my hand to his chest.
"You should not touch me, I am sweaty. I should take a bath so we can get ready for the ball."
"Let's shower together?"
"No," I sternly said. I push him away from a little and he steps back. I went to the bathroom and giggles when he tried to run after me but can't.
"Your dress is here. Inside this box has your dress, go check it later." I nodded as if he could see and shout for him to let him know I heard it. Soon, I heard a faint door closes, indicating someone went inside or outside. Maybe Hunter went outside.
I did my business and hummed an unknown song. I went outside as soon as I finish and look at the bed with a box. I pouted. Doesn't he know he had to open the box and laid the dress on the bed?
I open it and saw a peach dress. It doesn't have gems, it's just a flower design to my chest to my waist, like I wanted. I lifted it with a smile on my face, they are making me blush for giving me this kind of dress. The dress is sleeveless but it had a long sleeve like a net falling down, the size was like it is touching the floor just like the dress. It s long. How can they know this is my taste?
I don't know what this is called but I think it is Luxury Appliqued puffy Long? The skirt in the dress is what dress making it cute. I think I can wear this every day. This is wholesome cute!
I went to the chair, in front of the mirror, and do my make-up. My hands were a little shaky from the nervousness since it is the first time I am going to do make-up for myself. I let a sighed while holding the mascara. "You can do it," I console myself. When I had the courage to do it, I do it.
I smile at myself as soon as I finish doing the mascara. I look at myself, it is better to do light make-up than heavy. I also start to do my hair, I put them in a messy bun. I giggle at myself after seeing myself in the mirror. I did a great job in my make-up!
I went to the bathroom to change my outfit. I look at myself in the mirror, not fully zipped in my back. I am pretty, not gonna lie.
I heard the door opens and footsteps coming from the outside of the bathroom. "Are you done, Lia?"
"Not yet," I respond. I stretch both hands to my back, attempting to zip my back. I failed on the first try as my hand feels hurt. I sighed and try again. But it is really hard. "Hunter?" I called. I stop at my moves and wait for his answer. It takes time for him to answer and ask if I need anything. "I can't zip my dress from the back, can you help me?" I open the door to the bathroom.
I am a little uncomfortable for letting him in. We might kiss or make out, my back was still exposed to him. I don't know why I am feeling this when we're gonna get married this upcoming January.
He steps inside. As expected, his eyes examined me from head to toe with amazement in his eyes, his lips parted a little. I also noticed that he was in his tuxedo, his hair was neatly combed and style. I smile at him as he stares into my eyes.
"You never failed to surprise me with your beauty," he said.
"And you never fail to surprise me with your beauty," I retort. he chuckled and went near me. 
"Can you zip the zipper in my back? It's making me frustrated." He went to my back and I turn to the front of the mirror. I look at it, watching him do what I ask him.
He was looking at my back. I feel his fingertips touching my skin and I can't help but gasp for air. It feels like he was teasing me but I didn't give it so much attention. I gulp and look at the mirror again, seeing him looking at me, eyes were darkening, his beautiful green eyes filled with love and lust. I hear the zipper being zip but he never leaves his grip on the to clothe on my back.
He slowly went towards my back and back hug me. He put his chin on my shoulder and smiles at me. His arms sneak to my waist, drawing circles to it. I gulp and lick my lips. "Why are you always making it hard for me, Lia?" He inquires with a deep voice. Goosebumps rise in my skin as soon as I heard his deep voice. It is the first time he uses that tone of his voice.
"You're giving me hint that you want as much as I want you," he whispers. His hands were trailing in my stomach, caressing it. My eyes never leave the mirror, still watching every move his arms will take. I fight myself not to lose control. I look at him while gulping.
"Hunter, we will be late," I change the topic.
"It can wait,"
"But dad is waiting for us." He groaned and stand straight but his hand never leave my waist. I blink my eyes and turn around. I wrap my arms around his neck while he's still gripping my waist. "Sorry, I am still not ready." I tip-toed and kiss his lips. "I love you." He kisses me again and again.
The kiss was supposed to be a peck when he followed my lips and bite them and make my face close to him while his hand was in my nape. Our breaths begun to get heavy, my mind was slowly getting blank, all I could think is answer his kisses.
I hold his chest and push him a little, breathing heavily. "Let's continue this later. We wouldn't like to be messy to go to the ball, wouldn't we?" He chuckled while still looking at me, with the same eyes. he lick his lips and breath heavily. He pecks my lips again before pulling away and turns me around to look at myself.
"Be thankful I didn't apply some lipstick, just a lip gloss. If I apply some red lipstick and you kiss me like that, maybe right now I am freaking out to make re-touch my make-up."
"Your lips were so beautiful but when you use red lipstick, I can't stop myself from kissing it minute by minute."
"You should just buy 30 red lipstick to taste it, my lips would be de-form if you continue to kiss me like I am your prey,"
"You are," he responded.
"I am human, Hunter." I re-touch my make-up a little and done! I look at Hunter who was watching me since we both pulled away. His eyes were shining as I look at them while there was a smile on his face. "You want me to meet her?" He let a heavy sighed as he had never breath for a minute and back hug me again.
"When we—"
"Don't you dare say it," I warned? He laughs. I sighed and drag him outside the room to downstairs. As soon as we came downstairs Dad and Mr. Navarro and his secretary were standing there. Dad was in his suit too, looking handsome as always. His gaze falls to us and his gaze falls onto Hunter and to me with his teasing look.
"So, how's your talking?" Dad asks as we halt beside him.
"He helped me to zip my dress, it is hard to zip." Dad 'hmm' while smiling, more like teasing. "I am saying the truth, dad."
"Why? I didn't say anything. If you both didn't do anything then why are you misunderstanding my words?" I pouted while he laugh.
"She's awkward saying we make out in the bathroom, dad," Hunter suddenly spoke. My eyes popped wide as I look at him. I throw my hand at his chest. Dad laughs while the two other guys chuckle.
"Dad, it's not like that—" I try to defense but dad is already satisfied with Hunter's word.
"Yes, I know," dad said.
To be continued.