Chapter 5

Chapter 5

“Oh hey miss Lyssa Angel Shermis. I am Herriette Lardizabal. Would you mind joining our modeling agency because you look like my aunt. My cousin......... .”

She’s the girl. The girl who claimed that I am her cousin and she’s standing in front of me. The fuck. I don’t wanna see her because her words keep messing with me and now that she is talking to me, I don’t know what to do and what to feel.

“You look like my auntie, my cousin's mother.” She continues her words and she’s smiling ear to ear. I can’t believe that she can act like that. If I didn’t hear their conversation, It would be a pleasure to me.

“I–I am . . . .” I am so nervous that I can’t talk properly. Damn it. Why am I nervous? Fuck it!

“Yes? Interested?” She said with her eyebrows up. There’s something in her words. The word Interested. Is she playing with me? Is she really mocking me?

“I am sorry but I am not.” I said without stuttering. I am not interested in their modeling agency or whatever she wants, I am not interested!

“Oh , okay . You're so gorgeous and your face will be enough to pass our standards but you turn down my offer. Not my loss but . . . yours” She smiled and even winked at me before she went inside the elevator and before it closed we looked at each other— eye to eye and then she smiled mischievously.

What’s wrong with her? If she wants to say something, spit it out. Stop playing with me. I am not good at playing with strangers. I didn’t move, my foot glued on the ground. I want to chase her. If I have guts a while ago I would confront her but I am afraid of her aura and the truth.

“Lys! Lys! Lyssa!” I heard my name and I looked back. I look at my Kuya running towards me.

“Why are you just standing there?” He said and checked up on me.

“I am about to go. W-Why are you running?” I compose myself. I have no plans to tell them what I heard this morning. I won’t tell them.

“Where is Kiram? Did he ditched you? We’re about to go, we have to prepare for a party at 8 pm. Mr. Chan, Dad’s friend, is celebrating his 60th birthday.” I just nod. I can’t do anything if dad wants me to attend the party.

“Lyssa!” Kiram is running towards us and he’s sweating.

“What happened to you Kiram?” Kuya Zach asks.

“I run.” he answered and kuya didn’t ask anything so we left the condo and went to his car. We saw Kira waiting for us and she’s smiling. I greeted her and kissed her cheeks and she did the same.

“Did you have fun?” Kuya asked me.

“Yeah. It’s very fun and I am so happy.”

“That’s good. I would like to meet your friends again. What if you invite her to our wedding?”

“That’s a great idea. I already mentioned it and they say they will wait.”

“Okay. That’s great. I want to meet your friends Lys.” Ate Kira said and her tone is so excited.

“My friend is also Kiram’s friend. Have you met them?”

“Nah. I haven’t. Kiram is such a cold boy to us but I think when he’s with his friends he’s an energetic and lovely friend.” She teased her brother.

“I doubt that.” I suddenly said and the two of them burst into laughter while Kiram looked at me. He’s not glaring, he’s just looking at me.

Kira kept teasing her brother until we arrived at our house. Kiram didn’t mind her and he just took a nap. He’s closing his eyes and I can see that he has long-curled lashes and his eyebrows are so thick. He’s indeed a gorgeous man.

“Mr. Chan, our business partner, is having a birthday party and we are all invited, even Fledirika.

We need to prepare and find decent clothes. Kiram, you are also invited because Mr. Chan wants to see Tito Gregs unico hijo and he wants you to meet her daughter. Be ready. They are matching you two.” He chuckled.

“Wait. Why am I even here? I mean my clothes aren't here so how can I prepare?” He said.

“We'll buy you clothes, don't worry 'bout it.” Kuya said and left us.

“I need to go to my room, just call our maids to fix your room. There’s a lot of room here so just choose.” I said and left.

I went inside my room and took my laptop. I posted some pictures of me and my friends on my social media. After that I searched for the Lardizabal, the one who’s managing the firm is not here in the Philippines and the whole family is a clan of lawyers. Ohh.

I searched the name Herriette on facebook and she's studying law and she has a younger sister and older brother. The Lardizabal family is very huge and a lot of lawyers want to enter their firm because of a huge salar but the firm is very perfectionist and every year thousands of lawyers try but only 20 people have passed.

After I stalked them I took out my phone and scrolled on my social media and suddenly the face of Mr. Chan's daughter popped up. Kuya said that Mr. Chan and Tito Greg match the two of them but what if Kiram becomes rude in front of the girl, what if they argue at the party? But what if the girl is beautiful and attractive? Would he agree?

Damn! Why am I thinking of that! That’s not my business. I should mind my own business!

I want to nap but it turns out that my nap is going to be 5 hours sleep and damn! I haven't eaten lunch! I’m not hungry though. Before I went down, I checked my phone for a message from my friend and yeah I was right. They are asking me if I got home. If I am safe, If Dad scolds me.

I went down and there were no people here, only our maids. They looked at me and I awkwardly smiled. They are busy cleaning the living room. It's not that dirty but they want to keep it clean. I am thankful to our maids because when I am alone here in our house they always entertain me and make me happy.

“You're awake....” he said. He’s already beside me.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry If I didn't entertain you. I got tired so I slept.” I said and smiled politely.

“It's okay. By the way, do you mind if I ask what happens when you're inside the elevator this morning? Why did you cry? What happened?” He asked and he is persistent to know what happened.

“Would you mind If I don't want to answer your question?” But no matter how persistent he is, I am not ready to talk about that. It gives me a headache.

“Yeah, It's okay. It's up to you.” He said and wandered his eyes to our garden. “I like the place. I like your house and your garden. Dad and my sister are not fond of flowers but mom is. She really loves flowers but when she died, dad removed all the flowers and plants to our house and that makes me sad. Flowers symbolize my mom.”

“Hmm. . . Dad and Mom are not into flowers but I insist. Mom isn’t the type of mother who does the house chores, she’s a career woman. She loves working and she always supports dad but she died.” I said while looking to the plants

“Hmm. . . You know what, I am always wondering if my mom is still alive and she’s always with our house, taking care of us. I miss that and now every time that I go home it feels like hell. No one is taking care of me, no one is asking me if I am doing good or how’s my day. God! I miss my mom so much.”

“I'm already used to it. They are so obsessed with their works and I always understand. Only our yaya asks me if I am good or not and I appreciate her a lot and she taught me to love flowers and plants, she taught me how to take care of them.”

“I also love it. A lot.” He said while looking at the plants and got mesmerized.

“Yeah. I love it.” I suddenly uttered while looking into his beautiful eyes full of admiration to the plants that kept swaying when the air blew.

His eyes are so beautiful that if you dare to stare you know where it goes.... you'd fall and you can't get up once you do.

"Lys, we're here! What are you two doing?" Ate Kisha caught my attention when she called my name.

“Nothing. I just woke up and we just saw each other here.” I said.

“Did you rest Kiram?” Ate Kira asked and Kiram nodded.

“Great! You two are now ready. You two should prepare. Your clothes are in your rooms.” She said and she’s smiling. People around me love to smile and I am now doubting them if they are true or not. I got traumatized because of that damn girl!

I went to my room and I was thinking of what happened a while ago. Kiram is a gorgeous man, he didn't do anything, he just stared at the plants and I don't know what is up to me but I love how his eyes get mezmerize, how he admires the flowers. I love it and it makes my heart beat so fast.

The first time I saw Kiram, he is just an rebelion man who always argues with his father and always breaks rules but something is telling me not to judge him based on his actions. He has his reason and I don't know what it is. I should know it before I judge him.

A few hours have passed and the maids knock on the door and ask me to go down, I told her I am about to finish and she just replied ‘yes’. When I went down I saw the car in front of our huge door and the door of the car was open. They are waiting for me.

I sat beside Kiram. He looks like a gentleman wearing his tux. The lucky girl is seeing his beauty tonight. We spent an hour on the car. I can't help but to glance at Kiram. Sometimes our eyes meet and he will just arch his brow like he is asking why and I just smile and shrug. Like hell why can't I stop myself looking at him!

The party just started when we arrived and I saw Kuya Zonash and he was smiling but I know he is exhausted and tired. He hasn’t slept because he has an out of town meeting and now he is here. I pity him. I haven’t seen dad, maybe he’s not here yet. There’s a lot of people here and different professions. Mr. Chan is famous and her daughter is lucky because a lot of men here are good-looking and Kiram is counted. I know that Mr. Chan will find a lucky man for his daughter and her daughter is lucky though I never wish that kind of life I find her lucky.

“There’s a lot of people here. I got anxious.” Kiram is now beside me and he whispered that to me. I got chills!

“Me also.” I said and I barely uttered those words because of his arms that are now touching my arms. He’s beside me and I got anxious.

“Let’s go to our seats.” Kuya Zach is leading us towards to Mr. Chan and his daughter. We’re gonna greet her because it’s her birthday.

The girl is smiling to every person who’ll greet her. Her smile is so sweet and she literally says through her red shining gown that this is her night and she owns it. What a gorgeous woman.

“So we are here because that girl is her birthday?” Kiram suddenly uttered and I looked at him, shocked.

“Yeah. For our father’s business.” I laughed. Even if I don’t want to be in here or at any party my father would always say that I need to and I have to. I have to help them and support them. If I refuse to join them my conscience will hunt me and I can’t sleep even if I am sleepy.

“Yeah. Damn business!” He whispered to my ear again and I got chills for the second time. What’s wrong with him?!

And now that we are in front of the celebrant we greet her a happy birthday and she thanked us. Us? Or only Kiram. When she saw Kiram she started to cling to his arms and I feel like she’s flirting with him. I don’t know but that’s how I feel. When we are far from her she acts so demure and she keeps her distance from the man who greets her but now? She even pushes her boobs to him and Kiram? I don’t to him. I wanted to go home.

Kuya Zonash joined us at our table and when he sat down I decided to leave. They asked me where I was going but I told them I needed to use the restroom so they let me. I wanted to go away from that slut. Dang! Why does she have to act like that? Demure at first but deep inside she’s a clingy slut.

I walked very far away from them. Away. I don’t wanna see her or Kiram. Gosh! Why am I acting like this? Am I being childish? Jealous? Wait. Jealous? Why would I? And to a slut like her? Never! Gosh! I am not a slut so why would I get jealous? Why would I? Gosh! They’re getting on my nerves!!

“Miss??” A man is standing in front of me

“Yes?”

“I know you.”

“Then?”

“Nothing.” He said and then left.

The fuck? People nowadays are fucking annoying. I wanted to shout at him but I know people might think I’m crazy. Gosh! I am not. I need to protect my pride and reputation so I should act a classy woman

I choose to go somewhere where there are only a few people. There are men here who are talking about something and I am not interested. I want to go home and just rest, sleep, eat and talk to my friends. Damn! I am not in the mood!!!

“Lyssa! We met again!” And there, I heard a very familiar voice. I am not in the mood so stop messing with me.

“What do you need?” I asked her with a firm voice.

“I told you already. We need a model. Interested?” That word! She already said that and this time I won’t let it pass.

“Yes. I am.” I said and I looked into her eyes. At first I saw her shock reaction but she managed to change it and she gave me a playful smile. I arched my brow and her smile grew wider. Tss

“You heard it right?” She said. She’s implying on what happened this morning.

“Yeah. Spill it.” I said. My emotions have already faded and I am ready to accept whatever it is. This is the only thing to stop myself from overthinking.

“Join us. Our table is far away from your brother. Our whole clan is here and we are ready to tell you whatever you want to know. We are ready to answer all your questions and arguments in your mind. As a law student and a daughter of a lawyer, I ought to tell you the truth, not only me but my whole clan. Join us?”