Chapter Four

"Guys, we will continue our group study in our house."

We all turned our eyes to Cassie.

"Are you sure, Cassie? How about your parents? Is it okay with them?" Juliana, the leader of our group asked, with hesitation in her voice.

We are currently here in the library doing our last requirements, a thesis before we graduate. We are taking up BS in Hotel and Management and apparently after we finished our thesis, we will be able to finally graduate.

The library we're about to close, so we needed a quiet place again to continue our study and fortunately, Cassie volunteered.

"Yes. I texted mom and she agreed."

She was holding her phone on her right hand. And obviously, she had just finished texting her mommy. She even let us read her mom's reply, and she did agree.

We started fixing our things. Julienne put the pencils, stickers, glue, and board markers on the paper bag. Liliane, on the other hand, seized all our garbage and throw it all away. While I, carefully folded the Manila papers and postcards one by one.

"Where do you live Cas? Is it far? Is there any jeep there that we can ride back home?" Liliane, asked, as we walked out of the library.

I forgot that Cassie lives in Forbes Park that is located in Makati. I know that Cassie is rich. It was obvious in the clothes she's wearing. All of it was branded that came from a well-known designers.

"Don't worry guys, our driver will take you home straight to your houses after we finished our activity," Cassie assured us.

Our faces suddenly lit up.

For a poor students like us who are just relying solely on our scholarships, we really can't afford to ride on a taxi because the fare is so expensive.

I used to think that Cassie is a snob and airy because I know a person that acts exactly like that, but I was wrong when I got to know her.

We have known each other for almost four years. And I can say that she is the kindest and generous rich girl I have ever met. She was bubbly and easy to get along with. That is why I was able to easily adjust myself to her.

It's just that, sometimes, she makes me feel annoyed and pissed and how I wished, I didn't meet her at that specific time.

I was really quiet. I don't like talking too much. I prefer to be alone than to socialize with other people, that's why I don't have friends, not until she came. She was the first person whom I ever let into my life aside from my parents.

"Elle," Cassie calls my attention as we were waiting for her driver in front of the university.

It was unusual that her bodyguards are not around, but I didn't dare to ask.

"Yes?" I asked, and glance at her.

"Can you sleep at our house? After all, there are no classes tomorrow, pretty please?"

She clasped her hands in front of her chest and looked at me with her pleading eyes.

I smiled reluctantly." Cassie, I don't think I----."

She stopped me by putting her index finger on my lips.

"Na-ah, I won't accept a no."

I slapped her hand that was in my mouth.

"I don't have clothes with me."

She's been asking me to sleep in their house for how many times already, but I am always declining her offer. It's not that I don't want to, I'm just not comfortable sleeping in another house. And I am not used to talking to others, especially high profiled people.

"Is that your only problem? I can lend you my dress."

"But we don't have the same size."

I am way taller than her. I am 5'7 while she is only 5'2. I don't think her dress will fit me.

"I can tell my driver to buy you one," she reasoned out.

She looks persistent. She would do anything for me to agree, huh?

"Is that a yes now?" She asked, grinning when I did not speak.

I bit my lower lip and nodded. Do I still have a choice?

"Yes! Yes!" she said while jumping with her two hands in mid-air.

I shook my head and decided to text my dad eventhough I don't know if he does care because I still respecthim as a parent.

"OMG Cassie. This is not a house. This is a mansion," Liliane commented in astonishment when we get inside their house.

She was gaping while she is looking around.

I was no longer surprised. When she told me before that she was living in Forbes Park, I knew immediately that she was rich because only high-class people can afford to stay here.

My eyes roam around their living room that screams luxury. From the extravagant chandelier that is hanged on the ceiling. The black and gray U-shaped sofa set seems soft and comfortable to sit with. The wooden U shape with glass railings staircase, no doubt, was all worth a penny.

I saw Liliane and Julienne walked closer to the paintings that were hanged on the wall. And my eyes widen when I recognize the abstract painting they were staring at. Like me, their eyes also widen. They seem shocked. I am too.

The abstract painting was called Interchange, and it was painted by Willem de Kooning. It has a record-breaking price of three hundred million dollars.

I can't believe I am seeing this here. I don't know why they wanted that painting. I don't even understand what it was all about.

I was about to walk away but something caught my eyes, it was their family picture with her parents, and Giovanni. And I think he was just 16 years old in the picture, while Cassie seems like four years old. Giovanni was sitting beside their father. Next to him is Cassie, and then, their mother.

I walked closer and studied his face. He has the same eyes as Cassie. I gulp when I saw how serious his face is. He wasn't smiling. It seems like he did not want to take a picture, but he was just forced to do so.

"Elle. Come, let's eat our dinner first before we resume doing our report."

I stopped staring at Giovanni's picture when Cassie called my attention.

When I turned around, they were already at the entrance of their dining area. There is something on the way Cassie looked at me as I approached them. Fortunately, she did not ask me who I was looking at there, but that's what I thought because she just suddenly opens up that topic while we were eating in silence.

"He's handsome, right?" Cassie blurted out all of a sudden.

I stopped eating and glance at her. She wasn't looking at me. She was busy twisting the fork around her pasta.

"What?" I asked after I chewed my food. I don't not know what she's talking about.

We are seating next to each other. Liliane and Julienne were sitting opposite us. There was a long wooden table with glass on top and twelve seaters separating us. A typical dining table for high-class people.

"I said, my brother is handsome. I saw you ogling at him," she replied grinning.

And now she was looking at me with that irritating smirk plastered on her face.

I glance at the two who seem to enjoy their food and are oblivious to their surroundings. I was a little worried because they might have heard what she said.

"Of course not," I denied.

I covered my face with my loose hair so she wouldn't see me blushing.

"Don't worry, he'll be here soon. He must be on his way now."

"Do I look like I care?" I answered rudely. "By the way, how old is he now?"

I am not interested okay? I'm just curious.

"And I thought you don't care?" She teased. I glared at her.

"I am just curious, okay?" I explained defensively.

"We have a twelve years gap. Mommy thought she would never get pregnant again because she was already forty-five years old at that time, but unfortunately, I happened," she explained then shrugged her shoulders.

"So he is twenty-nine now?" I mumbled talking to myself, but she heard me.

"Yes, and still single. Do you want to apply as his girlfriend?"

Her face suddenly lit up as if she had thought of a good idea.

"Of course not. He is too old for me," I answered, disgusted which makes her laugh out loud.

"Why are you laughing, Cassie?" Julienne asked frowning. Lillian also stops eating and looks at us curiously.

"Well, someone here doesn't want an older boyfriend," she replied while a grin is plastered on her face.

"Who wouldn't want an older boyfriend? I prefer to like them because they know how to handle a relationship," Julienne explained.

"Yes, me too. I want a mature boyfriend. They have more experience in handling a relationship," Liliane seconded.

I rolled my eyes at them. "Older guys are boring."

"Wow. Have you ever experience having a boyfriend like them?" Cassie sarcastically asked.

"No. I never had. But based on my observations, they are boring."

"It was just an observation. You have not verified it yet. Why don't you try my brother? You two look good together."

"What the hell Cassie. How could you say that?" I scandalously said.

She shrugged her shoulders. " I just knew it. There is nothing wrong. I like you for my brother. Your single and he's single too. You will be a perfect couple. And I can't wait for that to happen, " she answered while giggling.

My eyes widen."Are you even hearing yourself? I don't have plans to have a boyfriend especially if he is older than me." I hissed at her.

She makes a lopsided grin. "Are you sure? Don't be so sure of yourself. You may regret it in the future," she said mocking me.

I narrowed my eyes at her. 

"Yes, I am very sure about it. I will never like someone older than me. And please, not your brother," I replied in a high-pitched voice.

The thought of Giovanni being my boyfriend gives me goosebumps.

Her eyes dance in amusement."Is that so? Then why so defensive?"

I cleared my throat and shifted on my seat. "Of course not. I am just explaining."

I lowered my voice because I was suddenly embarrassed. Have I become too defensive?

I continue eating my food to divert my attention. The pasta is delicious. I wanna ask Cassie about the recipe later. I want to try cooking it.

I never heard Cassie talking again. Maybe she continued eating her food too, I don't know. But not less than ten seconds later I heard her hyper voice again.

"Kuya Van."

I was choked with the food I am eating when I heard the name she uttered.

The hell.