Chapter 21: He's Back
Their date was a blast and full of pleasure. Although after that Viking ride, Riley didn't saw again the man who always haunted her mind and soul. But that doesn't erase her joy and excitement because Jake was on her side.
He captured every moment and every second with his camera. They also had several pictures together on their first date.
But when they got home, at the mansion, Jay crossed her mind again.
Maybe he's just an illusion?
She did saw her but what if there's another person who looked like him? What if her eyes were playing with her? And knowing Jay, he will never dye his hair blonde.
And black hair really suits him well.
She shook her head and went inside her room. Just beside the maids quarter. Her Masters decided to separate her from the other maids inside the mansion for the reason that she's a student and they're the oldies.
Riley readied her project for the school tomorrow. It's weekdays again so she had to focus on her studies without getting distracted by her work as a maid. But that isn't a hindrance of being a student. She can definitely do both.
MORNING CAME and she was about to leave the mansion after she vacuumed the second floor and did her morning routines when Hoon blocked her way.
"Good morning, Master Hoon."
She knew he hated being called Master by her but that was very unfair for the others like her who work here.
So she promised that if they're outside the mansion, she will call him and her other Masters by their names and when they're inside, they are her Masters.
"Morning. By the way, Riley. I want you to invite on my upcoming show." He handed her an invitation. "It's Wednesday, 9am. Don't be late. I'll expect you there, okay?"
She accepted the invitation and thought about whether she had class or work.
I had a class but our professor wasn't attending every Wednesday morning. Maybe I could work out with that.
"Okay. I'll be there."
Hoon smiled. "Great! Goodluck on your class."
She thanked him and bid goodbye before she stepped out of the mansion.
And because her uniform was too comfortable for her, she decided to go to school riding her bike that Ethan gave her as a present on her 18th birthday last-last year.
She's wearing a foamy coat down to her knees since it's getting snowfall and long pants that cover her thighs and legs partnered with ankle boots. She has her bonnet and scarf so she wouldn't catch a cold.
"Good morning, Ms. Gomez. I really thought you would be late for today."
She greeted the guard of the school's gate while opening the gate for her.
She chuckled. "Not a chance, Mr. Hoffman."
She's close to the school's guard because she's always an early bird and a very hardworking student in Seattle University. She's in the college nursing building at the moment.
"Hi, Riley!"
Her classmate and also her best friend, Charlotte approached her while she's parking her bike at the parking lot of a student's bicycles.
Charlotte Mtchell was an architecture student. She met her on their first day of school because the two of them became a victim of bullying.
The reason why is that she's too old for becoming a freshman at that time. The bullies find out that she's a maid, had no parents and her father was a Filipino citizen that's why her surname is Gomez. And for Charlotte, they bullied her because she's too weak, idiotic and easy to fool by students.
That's why she's her hero and she always saves her ass from those bullies around them. She fought them back so as years passed, they stopped bullying and making fun of them.
"Lotte!" She gave her a warm hug.
"I was actually waiting for you. Are you done with your project?"
They went together to their respective buildings.
"Yep. Thanks to Jake's help."
"You're too close to that Jake, huh?" Lotte gave her a side smile.
She silly bumped her shoulder. "Hey. He's my Master so I have to be close to them to know what they like or not so I can properly do my job."
Lotte shrugged. "Well, you have a point. See you at lunch?"
"Yeah, see you!"
They parted their ways when they arrived at their buildings. Though the Architecture building was just across the Nursing building.
Riley was busy chatting down on her notes when her phone beeped. Sign that someone texted her. And to think that it's her Momma, she checked it right away.
But the message was sent by her Master Ethan.
From: Ethan pogi
Pogi is a Filipino slang word for handsome. She was little by little learning Filipino or Tagalog words.
Morning, Ry. Are you free later?
She texted him back.
I'm not sure. Why do you ask?
It did not take long for him to reply back.
Meet me at the Bar Cave at 10pm. Your special song request will be granted by this handsome male specie.
She can't help but to quietly laugh at the word he described himself. She replied back and inserted a laughing emoji.
See you there, Mr. Handsome male specie. 😂
AFTER HER morning classes, she went to the Archi building to meet up with Lotte. They will have their lunch together at the University's Cafeteria as always.
They talk and joke around while eating. Share their stories on what happened on their weekends that's why they almost forgot that their lunch time was over.
They once again met up at the parking lot of bicycles so they could go home together. That's their everyday routine as a student and best friends.
Night came and Riley was busy reading her outfit for tonight. She just finished cleaning the whole third floor.
And finally, her most awaited song will perform live! And Ethan is the one who will grant her request!
She's a fan of the Little Mix girl group but sadly Jesy Nelson left Little Mix at the end of 2020 after nine years, she recently launched her solo career with her new single, Boyz. That's all she knows. She's been looking forward to their live performance with their song entitled the Secret Love Song.
Riley knew it was impossible to witness their live performance and perform their song that's why Ethan insisted on making it possible.
But she's worried though. The song was made by a woman and not a man. What if Ethan didn't hit the high pitch of the song?
He can do it. I know he can.
She felt excited so she took a half bath, then wore her black tight pants, spaghetti strap tube with a black leather jacket partnered with a stiletto that Hoon gave her as a present to her 19th birthday last year.
She went in front of the mirror to check herself.
Perfect!
She smiled and grabbed her hand bag then left the mansion. She just takes a cab that will drive her to the Bar Cave.
"Wow."
Her jaw almost dropped when she got in the bar. All the people were dancing on the dance floor and only a few were in the drinking section. It's you wouldn't know that this place is a bar, then you would definitely misplace this as a chaotic place with many people.
Probably because they knew that it's Ethan and his band performing today. Well, that's not surprising at all. Ethan mostly caught every woman's attention here because of his deadly gorgeous looks, attitude and became the best singer and performer here at the Bar Cave.
She sat on the only vacant seat but at the very side of the bar. But what's more important is, she can still see that stage where Ethan performs.
She ordered some light drinks to satisfy her thirst when the spotlight on the stage turned on. Showing the gorgeous man on the center of the stage with his band at the back of him.
"Woohoo!"
"Ethan you're so handsome!"
"I love you, Felix!"
"Goodluck, Heinrich!"
"Marry me, Ethan!"
Riley smirked when she heard the last female voice said.
It's really true that all women here are head over heels for Ethan.
Oh, boy.
Music filled her ears but before they could even start, Ethan spoke on the microphone.
"Sound check… Uhm, I just wanted to thank all of you for coming tonight and to listen to our song that we'll perform. This song is called Secret Love Song by Little Mix. I hope you like it." He paused and looked at her eyes like he knew where she was. "Riley, this is for you, honey."
He started to strum his guitar and all the girls were howling his name and squealing in so much excitement they felt.
His friends behind him started to play their piano and drum.
"When you hold me in the street
And you kiss me on the dancefloor
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't it be like that?..."
He stared deeply into her eyes.
"Cause I'm yours
We keep behind closed doors
Every time I see you I die a little more
Stolen moments that we steal as the curtain falls
"It'll never be enough
It's obvious you're meant for me
Every piece of you it just fits perfectly
Every second, every thought, I'm in so deep
"But I'll never show it on my face…"
He closes his eyes before he hits the chorus part.
"But we know this, we got a love that is hopeless
Why can't you hold me in the street?
Why can't I kiss you on the dancefloor?
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't we be like that?
"Cause I'm yours
When you're with him, do you call his name
Like you do when you're with me?
Does it feel the same?
Would you leave if I was ready to settle down
Or would you play it safe and stay?
Girl you know this, we got a love that is hopeless
Why can't you hold me in the street?
Why can't I kiss you on the dancefloor?
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't it be like that?
"Cause I'm yours…"
He looked back into her eyes like he's pleading. Pleading to love him back.
His eyes were filled with too many emotions while singing.
"Why can't I say that I'm in love?
I wanna shout it from the rooftops
I wish that it could be like that
Why can't we be like that?
Cause I'm yours…"
Until the song was finished, Riley was still amazed and bewildered. She couldn't believe that he actually sang it perfectly, not just perfect but outstanding. He sang it with mixed emotions. She can clearly see it in his eyes.
Like he's been in love with someone but he cannot say that out loud.
"Thank you for the wonderful performance! Let's give Dark Moon a round of applause, ladies and gentlemen!" said the emcee on stage after their performance.
Out of nowhere, Jake and Hoon sat in front of the vacant seat in front of her.
"Hi."
"Hey."
"W-What are you guys.."
"We came to watch Ethan hyung." Hoon said and grabbed the glass of wine on the table and he did bottoms up.
"I was amazed actually. He never performed with such pure emotions written on his face like that before." Jake shrugged. "And I can totally say that he's into someone. He's just a chicken not to tell how he feels." He laughed. Making Hoon laughed too.
"Hey, guys."
All three of them looked at the person who spoke.
Hoon and Jake clapped their hands.
"Good job, bro!"
"That was quite impressive." Hoon gave him a thumbs up.
Ethan chuckled and sat beside her. "So? How was it?"
She smiled. "Ecstatic."
Ethan has a proud smile on his face. "Thank you for listening and for coming here."
She taped his shoulder. "And thank you for granting my request. By the way, is Dark Moon the name of your band?"
He nodded. "Yes. Me, Felix and Heinrich. The three handsome and downright gorgeous men here in the club. And not to mention that women were head over heels for us."
The three rolled their eyes and said… "Whatever."
Ethan just laughed at them. "Oh I remember, Jay is back."
Riley stilled. The smile on her face suddenly faded and gave Ethan a surprised look.
"W-What did you just say?"
"Jay's back from Toronto, Canada." Jake answered her.
"Why… I mean… you said you have no idea where he was, right?"
Her Masters look at each other then look back at her with an apologetic look.
"Sorry to tell you this late, Riley. Yes, we didn't know at first but we just got an update of him last-last year. We didn't tell you so soon because he's not worth it. He's not worth your worry. He only brings bad vibes on you. So we decided not to tell you. It's not that he's important to you, right?" Ethan uttered.
She wanted to ask. She wanted to say something but she remained silent and waited for them to tell her what happened in those three years of Jay's disappearance.
So her eyes weren't playing with her when she saw him at the amusement park. It's true that she actually saw Jay Park. Her Master.
But why does his actions tell her that he didn't know her when he looked at her? There's not much change in her in those three years.
Is he pretending or what?
"He's sick." Hoon said.
"S-Sick?"
"Yes. He had amnesia." Jake explained. "He got into an accident three years ago and he was found at the top hill lying on the ground wet and unconscious. It was raining that night. The police said his blood was dripping out from his head. And because it's raining and dark, he slipped from the sloppy ground and hit his head on a hard rock."
She gasped. "O-Oh, God." Her hands are shaking and she's sweating cold.
I left him that night…
"That was the night where I found you, Riley." Jake crossed his arms over his chest. "Are you sure you didn't meet up with him that night?"
She gulped.
"It's my fault… It's my fault that he got into an accident…"
Ethan, Jake and Hoon's eyebrows furrowed and asked together. "What do you mean?"
Tears started to fell down on her cheeks from her eyes.
"I-I was with him that night and I… left him." her voice was shaking and she looked at their eyes one by one. "It's my fault…"
~amph1trite~