I took a half-bath the moment I entered my room. I'm brushing my teeth while looking at my reflection on the plane mirror when I remember what Akira said earlier. I stopped and furrowed my brows. My grip on the toothbrush have tightened.
The nerve of her to predict that Rocelia will betray me soon like what my friends before did to me when I'm already at the verge of trusting them too much.
She doesn't know anything. She doesn't know what I'm feeling. She's probably just insecure because I got a new best friend unlike her, still hanging out with her bitches.
"Sir Martin wants you to join the dinner, Ms. Vanez." Anya slightly bowed her head after I opened the door for her and she told me that.
I looked at her with no emotion on my face. He's still pushing it, isn't he? Aren't he gets tired for even at once?
"Okay. I'll go there in a minute. I'll fix myself first."
She slowly lifted up her shock face. It's as if she didn't expect that would be my response this time. I put my palm few inches away from her face to snap her. She blinked twice."I-I'll tell that to him."
I just nod my head, but before she could turn her back at me, I caught her lips twitching a smile. I watched her going downstairs. I sighed and went back to my room to change clothes.
I was walking down our grand staircase, I heard their voices from the dining room. I composed myself and remained calm even though I'm feeling a little bit nervous. I don't know why, maybe because this is the first time I'm joining the dinner with the Consuelos after years of being rebellious. After the unending steps, I finally laid my feet on the ground floor. As much as possible, I made my face hard as rock because I don't want them to conclude that I'm happy to join the dinner.
"I have attended consecutive appointments----Oh, there you are!" Dad didn't finish his lines when saw me walking slowly towards their direction.
"Nice. You're joining the dinner tonight." Innov showed me his usual grin.
Psh. I just moved my eyes away from him and looked straight at Dad. Sharon took a quick glance at me, I caught her and Akira looking at each other like they're talking through their gazes. Akira rolled her eyes at me. I tightened my grip on the both side of my pants.
"Come here, Vanez. Sit beside Innov." Dad gestured.
I nodded and sat there quietly. Anya and the other maids were preparing the dishes for tonight. She put the table napkins so as the utensils. I'm watching their every moves, not moving on my seat like I have been cemented for a moment. It feels really, really awkward being with the new family of Dad.
"I'm glad you decided to join us tonight." I heard Innov, I can sense he's really glad, just the way his eyes gleamed.
I didn't speak up. We started eating after the maids prepared the dishes for tonight. I'm planning to stay muted until the dinner ends but I guess Dad won't let that happen.
"Good thing you have finally decided to join us here. I've been ordering Anya to call you out of your room but you're always ignoring her. Now, I wonder what changed your mind." He slanted his head while holding his own wineglass.
I paused from chewing my own food to utter my reply."I feel hungry and I don't want to sacrifice my starving tummy for anything or anyone."
His face filled with amusement. I heard Innov chuckles. Dad put down the wineglass and took a tissue to wipe his lips.
"Well, you did the right thing. Eating means living. It is important to eat three times a day so your body won't drain too fast... I don't want to lose another love of my life again." I literally stilled when he suddenly, uttered those words.
Really, Dad? Love of your life? Oh, don't spread some white lies here in front of the foods!
I want to utter those replies to him and walk out the table but I controlled myself. I can feel the stiffness of my fists on the top of my thighs under the table. An striking silence embraced the whole atmosphere, only the sound of crisckets and rattling utensils we can hear.
Sharon cleared her throat."By the way, I heard from Akira that Vanez will join the Ms. Intramurals on their school, sweetheart." She informed as she broke the covering silence.
I almost roll my eyes. I predicted it already. I knew it. I shifted my eyes to Akira and I caught her smirking behind the glass she's pressing against her lips.
"Really?" Dad responded in his amuse voice. He took the utensils and continued eating his own food."You're joining the contest, Vanez?" He repeated.
I let out a deep sigh and put down the fork."I'm not joining, I'm participating."
"It's just the same." Akira mumbled from the other side.
I pierced my eyes and gave her a sharp look. Innov caught my attention by tapping my shoulders. I irritably removed his heavy arms away from me. Dad sighed loudly.
"What's the exact date of the intramural event?" He questioned and I wondered.
Don't he know? Didn't Akira tell him? She spread the tea about me but she didn't tell the details about the main event? Preposterous!
"Next week, Friday." I informed shortly and continued munching.
He was about to talk back but Sharon intruded."Same with the Alteria!" She mean, the private school where Akira and Innov are studying."But unlike you, she's more dedicated to the beat of music. She'll be having a special number with her co-dance troupes, right sweetie?" She even faced her daughter.
"Yes, mommy. That's why I need your full support!" Akira exclaimed happily.
"We are here to support you, Akira. You have our full support." Dad assured her.
"Oh my! Thanks, Dad!" She grinned and took a swift glance at me before she turned her attention to her food.
My face hardened. I felt the bitterness again.
"So proud of you, my sweetie!" Sharon pinched her daughter's cheeks that aimed a groan from the latter.
My breathe became uneasy. I started to feel the urge of crying but I controlled my tears from falling. I secretly leaned down my head and bit my lip. My vision started to get blurry. I tried to put the meat inside my trembling mouth.
When I felt someone's palm above my hand."I'm so proud of you." Then, I heard his low voice.
I almost choke upon hearing it. I looked at him shockingly but he just gave me a warm smile.
"I'm proud of you." He repeated, by mumbling.
"What are you two mumbling about?" Sharon's voice altered.
Causing Innov to move his eyes to his mother."Nothing, mom."
The dinner continued like nothing happened. But his words left a mark in my mind that in some case... it miraculously eased the burden on my chest.
Right after the super awkward and boring dinner ended, I decided to visit the brotherhood. We have this particular barn along the riverside, though it's too far from here that I need to take a cab for me to get there. But even so, I'll still go to the brotherhood. It's been a month since my feet stepped in their polished floor.
Usually I'm calling Dublin to ask for their help when I want to escape from the mansion this late night but tonight, I won't do that. Yes, I should take a risk for me to taste the real happiness of being freed. I took the ladder from the basement and positioned it down the opened window. I went out my room without doing any effort. I made sure the bodyguards wouldn't see me before I carefully sneaked out the yard.
Too easy to shed a single sweat.
Since I have my wallet, I took a cab instead of wasting my energy. I reduced my allowance and told the driver the location where he should drop me. I've been receiving missed calls and text messages from the four jerks especially from Dublin, but none of them got any response from me. I'm not avoiding them, it's just that, I came up realizing something.
"Who the---Woah! Our rebel baby girl is here!" I knocked the door and the amused face of Rashid welcomed me.
I just scoffed.
"Come in, come in! Don't be shy. You keep on ignoring us these past few days and you didn't even visit the brotherhood for a month but it's okay. We understand you, it hurts and it's hard to overthink but we really---"
I left him there because he's starting to become so nosy again. I stopped from stepping when I heard some familiar ĺvoices from the pool room. I know Rashid is just behind me. I nearly wondered why he's topless when he open the door for me but when I saw the members, now I know why.
"Look who's here!" Franco smirked as he paused from playing billiards.
All of them, stopped from what they're doing to take a look at me. The boys were smirking and grinning playfully while the girls walked near me.
"Hi, Amelia! We missed you!" Polla kissed my cheeks.
Missy followed."Missed you, girl! Oh, how I love your outfit today!" She even praised my simple shirt and pants.
I badly want to slap their faces. Damn so fake! I know they just joined the brotherhood to be the whores of the boys. Sluts. We never got along since day one. As in, never.
I faked a smile."I missed you two!" Gross."Anyway, where's Olivia and Ivonne?" I asked the only two girls in the brotherhood whom I'm closed with.
I observed their change of expressions. Polla crinkled her nose and Missy erased her cheeky smile.
"Olivia just recently went home! While Ivonne... she's not visiting here since you left the brotherhood hanging." Polla said to me.
My forehead creased on her terms of words."I didn't leave the brotherhood." I pointed out coldly.
Her lips parted.
"You didn't leave but by ignoring us for too long, it's nearly but not quite." Someone interfered.
"France," I turned around just to see his emotionless face through the dimmed lights.
Polla and Missy went back to the mini island bar with the drinking boys. I surveyed the whole place and spotted some changes. I indeed missed a lot. Richton nod his head at me when our eyes met then, he positioned himself while holding his taco. He's the co-founder of the brotherhood, he's the cousin of Lash, the founder. They're good at handling the group that's why the brotherhood have lasted for years now. We have already fought a lot of fraternities and underground games out there and we have won many times.
"I thought you have no plan to come over here anymore. I thought you'll leave us just like that."
"You know I can't do that." I snapped him."I'm not yet ready for his punishment if I leave the brotherhood." I smirked without humor.
He ended up sighing.
"Welcome here again then." I even smelled the elastic scent of cigarette in him.
"Thanks, F." I grinned.
"Damn! You're really back!" Another voice came out.
"I'm not back, really." I snorted sardonically.
France laughed hoarsely.
"You're ignoring my texts and calls! I almost cry, thinking where did I go wrong!" Dublin grabbed me for a hug. I laughed and pushed him harshly.
"You're overdramatic, asshole! Where's Baron? He's the only one I can't see here!"
His face crumpled."Just don't mind that pussy whipped fucker. You owe us a lot of explanations, Amelia!" He demanded.
"But---"
"He's right. What now?" I stepped back when Rashid entered the picture. I thought he's back on playing billiards already?
"You're wrong if you're thinking you can go back here that quickly." France said cooly.
Okay, I think I cannot escape myself this time.