Maya's POV
I can't stand myself from being affected by Cassandra's insult no matter how I tried to be enthusiastic in front of my boyfriend I remained silent the entire trip, in going home after we watched the movie. I am too tired to pretend I am okay when I am not, and I am having a second thought if I could endure the hardships I am going to face being his girlfriend, but when I shifted my head and looked at his calm demeanor and handsome face I can't stop myself feeling so lucky to be his girlfriend, and I will face whatever it takes.
I felt guilty that he is in this predicament because of me, and the main reason for all this, I am not good enough for him because our family is poor, and I have nothing to offer him, and if his mom will use her power over me to take my scholarship I will become more incompatible for him. I am just glad that Adonis gives me space, he just drives the car without talking to me.
"Babe, please don't mind Cassandra, she just wants to ruin our relationship, and I am telling you, she can never have me. I don't have any feelings towards her, especially now that I know her true colors. I never expected her to look down on someone, and I couldn't forgive her for hurting you. She mistreated you last year, and it seems it wasn't enough for her. Just don't believe whatever she says." Adonis declared the moment we climbed out from his pickup, and we are standing face to face with each other while he is squeezing my hands.
"Don't worry, Adonis, I am fine, you are here with me, so I am still the winner. I just hope you will never leave me again." I replied, and he takes me into his warm embrace. He smells so good, and I want to hug him even more, but it is already past midnight.
"Never again, Maya, you will be in college, and we will study at the same University, so we will spend more time together." He spoke, and I can't stop my face to be sad because I am uncertain if I can really pursue my college education.
"Hey! Don't look so worried about it, I will make it certain you can continue your studies, Maya, I will do everything I can to support you." He said, and I offer him a weak smile, then he kissed me tenderly on the lips that made me grin. I can't deny his kisses always drive me to feel alive and happy.
"That's my girl, just always smile for me, babe because you always light up my day with your smile." He said, and I can't hold the wide grin on my face. He said goodbye and drives away from me, and I get inside the house with mixed emotions in my heart. I am so pleased and so anxious at the same time. It took me a long while to fall asleep because I can't avoid thinking about Cassandra Montemayor.
"Hello! Good morning, Babe!" Adonis said on the other line, and I wonder what is wrong why he is calling me early in the morning.
"Hi, wonderful morning, Babe!" I answered.
"Did you sleep well?" He inquired.
"Yes, of course." I lied.
"That is excellent, I am sorry for calling you this early." He declared.
"It is fine, I am already awake, I am cooking breakfast as of now." I replied.
"I just miss you, and I want to inform you I can't be with you this morning since my grandpa asked me to accompany him to attend a luncheon in the city, and we are going to leave early, and we will be back later this afternoon." He replied, and I am a little disappointed since I miss him already.
"Okay, be careful always, Babe." I replied.
"Of course, for you, I will always take care of myself, I hate to be away from you today, but I can't say no to my grandpa." He declared.
"It's okay, I understand, I will miss you today." I responded.
"I will miss you more, Babe, I hate to hang up the phone, but I need to go, goodbye, Maya, always take care." He said, and he hangs up the phone.
I leave the house and go to the Hernandez Hacienda early in the morning using my bike, and I miss feeling the fresh air, and I am humming a song while I pedaled in going to the flower farm, Rich greeted me the moment I get off from my bike.
"Hello, Maya! Good morning! Where is Adonis?" Rich asked.
"He left early together with his grandfather, Don Miguel wants him to attend a luncheon in the city." I replied.
"Ah, I see, it seems Don Miguel is now planning to turn over the business to Adonis in two years. I think he will retire the moment Adonis graduates from college." He said, and he smiled at me, and he offers me to ride with him since he is on his course to the flower farm. The day ended quickly and I already on my path to get my bike when I hear my phone ringing, and it was Mary and I felt nervous.
"Maya! Where are you?" She asked, and I can feel the panic in her voice.
"Mary, I am still here in the Hernandez Hacienda, but I am on my way to get my bike, is everything alright? Why you sound so anxious?" I asked, and I can't stop the rapid beating of my heart.
"Listen, you have to come home right now, I came from the Monleon Hacienda, and Adonis just arrived with his grandpa when Madam Kriselda arrives she sounds so angry, and I can hear her voice outside when I am on my way home. They are arguing about the bike and the incident that happened in the theater, and she was looking for grandpa Bert." She spoke, and I felt my knees go weak.
"Okay, I am on my way, please take care of grandma." I said, and I run going to my bike, the minute I get on my bike, and I cycled so fast in going home. I don't want his mother to confront my grandparents, she hates me, and she should deal with me, and my grandparents have nothing to do about it.
The moment I arrived I go inside the house, and I saw my grandfather sitting on the bamboo bench and his head is down and when he sensed my presence he looked up at me, and some tears welled up in his eyes.
"Maya, I am so sorry, I am not rich, that is why you have to undergo something like this." He spoke, and I draw closer to him and sit beside him, my sweat is dripping from my forehead, and I am still panting from driving the bike.
"Grandpa, I should be the one who needs to say sorry, I apologized for dragging you into this mess, what did Madam Kriselda say to you?" I asked, and I can see the sadness on his face.
"It was nothing, Don Miguel's father hired me to work on the hacienda, and Miguel asked me to stay on his property, so you don't need to worry about anything." He stated.
"I just want you to learn, Maya, whatever happens, we will survive, I won't let anything happen to you." He added I realize he is hiding something from me. My grandfather looked so disturbed, even though he tried to cover up his emotions as he smiled at me. And then he taps my shoulder. I am so speechless, and I am thinking about how can I save my family?
"Grandpa, don't worry this is my battle, I need to face Adonis's mom alone since we all know she is on her way here to meet me. I am not frightened of her because my conscience is clear." I replied feeling so great, and I perceive there is nothing I should be scared of since my family is with me.
We both fell silent when we heard the screeching of tires outside our house, followed by the opening and closing of the car doors. Mary looks so terrified, but I tried my best to look so fierce, I have to face the mother dragon now, and I need strength, but I can't contain myself from feeling so nervous. I can feel my hands and legs are shaking, and I looked at my grandpa and offered him a weak smile as I stand up and open the door.
Madam Kriselda as always looked so stunning, sophisticated, and gorgeous. She is striding towards me while Cassandra was trailing behind her. And I can't stop myself from feeling so worried, not for me, but my entire family. It seems like my confidence evaporated in the air the moment she stared at me in the eyes with hatred on her whole face.
"Maya?" She asked sounding so unsure when she had seen me with Ariana so many times already, maybe my face didn't register on her memory because I don't belong to the elite family in our place, in short, I am a nobody in her eyes. I see Cassandra is smirking, and it feels like she was telling me she wins.
"Yes, Madam Kriselda, delightful afternoon." I replied, and it seems my voice became so weak, and I can't deny I feel so intimidated by her confidence.
"I will make this brief and fast. Are you dating my son?" She asked and her eyes are looking daggers at me, and I wonder why she looked at me like I committed a mortal sin, and it feels like I am a criminal, now that I saw her bodyguards surrounding our small house. I have done nothing to her, I only fell in love with her child, and I didn't realize loving Adonis Monleon could be this hard.