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CHAPTER 8 ANNOYING

((( Rhio POV’s )))

She was asleep.

An annoying ringtone suddenly blared and destroyed all silence I was savoring. Everything about her was just…noisy. I parked the car for a moment and snatched the bag she was hugging tightly. The volume increased as I took her phone out so I hurriedly turned it off.

I returned her bag and watch her sleep. She was the very first woman I ever took in my car. But she was asleep so I guess that doesn’t count.

She was probably tired from work to doze off the moment we left in moderate car speed. I sighed at the thought I was borrowing her time already, for free.

The air was breezy when we got there; the place I’d usually go to when I have some spare time. I turned off the air conditioning and opened the window beside her to let some fresh air in. She was still sleeping so I didn’t bother to wake her up. I took off my coat and wrapped it around her.   

It was a plateau that ends in a cliff and was overlooking the ocean. The water often turn a dark orange hue when the sun sets and it was what I wanted her to see. All effort I took went in vain as she spent the time asleep. But I disembarked anyway and sat in the grassland as it danced with the wind.  

Sometimes the cliff would beckon me to push myself and plunge to my death. It was a beautiful place to die after all. Its deathly call was still there and has gotten worse since dad died. I’ve done my best for the past five years so he could be proud of me if ever he wakes up.

But it wouldn’t happen anymore.

Time passed and the light drizzle began to pour generously. I slowly walked back towards the car and let myself be soaked. She was still napping comfortably when I returned.

(JASMIN)

Something wet trickled on my skin and cool wind gnawed at the side of my face. I blearily forced to open my eyes and saw Rhio’s body leaning in closer. My eyes widened but he hissed at me before I could speak.

“Don’t ever think I’d sexually harass you,” he spat. “I’m just trying to close the window at your side.”

His clothes and hair were drenched. Streaks of raindrops ran down the windows and the surroundings got dimmer than I last remembered. “Where are we going? I bet we’ve gone far since it was already this late.”

“I’m taking you home now,” he glanced at me briefly. The water has combed his fringes down and shadowed half of his face so I couldn’t really tell his expression.

“Have we gone there? And why are you wet? This was your coat, right?”

“Shut up.”

“You need this more,” I said as I removed his coat. He stopped the car quickly and took it.

Nobody spoke throughout the ride until we reached the chapel.

“Where’s your house? I’ll take you there,” he broke the silence first.

“It’s fine. Your car couldn’t possibly go through the narrow alley anyway.”

“Sure?” he asked as he glanced around at the rain that has gotten heavier since.

I nodded, “Thanks.”

He got off the car to open the door for me. He put back the coat atop my head. “You’ll be needing this.”

I took one final glimpse at him and waved goodbye. “Take care.”

I was smiling like crazy as I ran through the rain. He has not woken me up throughout my sleep and made me feel secured. Any girl would be lucky to have him as a husband.

A guy that wasn’t pure talk but makes you feel loved instead.

(RHIO)

I slouched back at my seat as I watched her go and disappear in the downpour. Our time passed too fast and I couldn’t get enough of it.

My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Elthon.

“How long are you going to keep us waiting?”

“I’d be going home alright,” I replied exhaustedly.

I hung up the phone and thought I’d be resting there a little longer until I caught something by the side mirror. Parked at a decent distance, Elthon’s car was unmistakable. His lights were on so his serious eyes that stared at me were visible. Several more cars were parked behind him. They were obviously my men who I strictly told not to follow me.

I picked my phone again and gave him a call. I irritably spoke, “Since when were you following me?”

“Since you left.”

“Sweet,” I replied sarcastically. “Now what?”

“Go home. The guests are waiting at your father’s wake…”

(JASMIN)

I hurriedly sprinted over the puddles of water until I got home. The coat helped but the rest of my body still got soaked.

“Didn’t you bring any umbrella?”

I gaped at the sound of that familiar voice. It was him. His height towered at the corner outside our house.

“Derick? H-how…?”I stammered.

“”I remember I told you that I’d find your house no matter what,” he spoke coolly and took a folded paper from his jacket pocket. It was my resume.

“Nothing that money couldn’t buy…”

Nadine let her in when she noticed our presence and upon seeing that he looked welloff had insisted of giving him something to drink. She held a cheap sachet of fruit juice and talked pretentiously modest. She even acted kind and gave me a towel to dry myself with.

“Please seat,” I offered unwillingly to him as I took off the coat to hang it by the window.

He noticed it and immediately asked, “Whose coat was that?”

He isn’t even my boyfriend to be that nosy about me!

“Ah, this?” I feigned a smile. Lying has been so easy for me this past few days. If not for the fact that he’s a regular at the fast food I was working at, I had probably kicked his ass out the house already. I also loudened my voice for Dexter to hear “I stopped by the thrift shop to buy a coat for my brother, Dexter, so he could finally get a job.”

“It’s late. You should go home already,” I added.

“Yeah,” he crossed his legs “But I could stay up late just for you.”

“I actually wanted to sleep early.” Dang, I really do.

“Oh, then I’d be straightforward about my visit,” he stood up and grabbed a sheathed lavender rose from the recess of his expensive Rideau Parka. “I like you.”

Shoot! I knew it was what he’s going to say.

“And I want to court you to be my girlfriend.”

Even worse!

I shrugged my head in disapproval. “You’re joking.”

“Do I look like it?”

“You don’t look like a clown but damn, you have a talent to be one,” I spat in annoyance. “What did you even saw in me? I’m not even beautiful!”

“You are! I was in fact, blinded by your dazzling beauty,” I frowned at his clichéd pickup line. It was so cheesy I wanted to puke again right now to turn him off. I always hated awkward moments like this.  

“Clarita’s boyfriend?!” Ma excitedly spoke when she emerged from her room.

“Her suitor,” Derick answered.

Ma’s eyes widened like golden coins as she smelled our family’s chance of getting out of poverty. As expected, she was ready to sell me off. “You are Governor Brundon’s son, right? How affectionate of you to even go the slums just to meet my daughter!”

“I am,” Derick smiled.

“Here’s your juice Derick,” Nadine interrupted when she came back with a glass of orange drink.

I shrugged at the charade I was seeing and excused myself to change clothing. I had tried to avoid him the moment I noticed he was taking interest in me but it was of no use. He was still here and was being interrogated by my second family. Someone like him doesn’t suit someone like me. We’re like oil and water, we don’t mix well at all.  

His smile was wide when I returned. He seemed to be answering a question that had just been asked “I do. And I will not give up until she becomes mine.”

I choked while my family cheered on him.

“Derick,” I forced a smile “I think it’s dangerous for you to be staying here this late. People know you. I’ll escort you out to the highway.”

“Thanks but it’s better for you to be resting already,” he advised. I know right! I’m just being adequately thoughtful. “I’ll be going then.”

Dexter volunteered to go with him and when they were finally out, Ma and Nadine turned to persuade me.

“Don’t be so hard to get, Clarita,” Ma enthused. “It’s one heck of a luck for a rich to fall for someone below their status.”

I was right about their motive.

A matchmaking for the benefit of the least.  

Sena Mangampo Copyright Property

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Comments (2)
goodnovel comment avatar
Elisa Reyes
I thought it was Jasmin? ...
goodnovel comment avatar
Yvonne Gala
confusing names Clarita or Jasmin
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