Chapter 5

ARA 

After we had dinner I immediately finished the pending work.  I never showed up to Nathan when they had dinner.  I told Joy that she would take care of our bosses dinner. 

A few more moments passed and I finished my task.  I was about to go home to the house we were sleeping at the back of the mansion when I met Mrs. Amalia.  She was carrying a cardboard box.  I immediately helped the old lady and presented that I would just pick it up and take it wherever she want to put it.

 

"Give it to me Mrs. Amalia, and I'll take care of it! You should have just called me so you wouldn't have any more burden. After I said that, I immediately took the big box from her. Where should I put it?" I asked. 

 

"It's okay, I can still lift. Please just put that in the basement," she replied holding her hip.

 

"Oh there! Your hip might already hurt," I said worriedly.

 

"Ah... it's nothing, it's a sign that I'm getting older," she replied with a smile.

 

I smiled at what she said.  She actually admitted that she was getting older.

 

"Oh, where is Joy?"

 

"She's upstairs, Madam Lucia just ordered something," she replied immediately.

 

"Take that to the basement and go home so you can rest. You'll wake up early tomorrow," she ordered.

 

I immediately obeyed her command.  I hurriedly walked to the basement to get home early. I plan to read a story book that my father's gift. One book that I like the most is called Yhe Journey. I collect a lot of books and one of them is The journey.  Not only just books, I always sing the song The journey because it is fits my life.

 

I couldn’t stop myself from singing as I walked towards the basement.  I used to do as much singing while working.  When I reached the basement I almost jumped in panic when I heard a voice behind my back.

 

"What a nice voice," he said smiling. 

 

I suddenly let go of the box when I heard a voice familiar to me.  I immediately turned to him and my eyes widened when I saw him.  He followed me here in the basement even without my noticing.

 

"Why are you here?"  I asked nervously.

 

“I meant to follow you because I noticed you were avoiding me.

 

"What do you want to me, flirt with you?"  I asked disgusted. 

 

"I just want to be friends with you and you don't have to flirt with me because I'm already fallen for you," he replied with a smile.

 

There is he again and he starts to tease me and I don’t know if he is telling the truth.

 

"Didn't I tell you that we can't be close to each other.  If you are here to tease me, please let me go!”  I said irritably.

 

I turned to him with sharp looks because I no longer liked his approach to me.  How can I avoid trouble if he approaches me and I will only get more involved in trouble.

 

“Please!  Please ... Please don't avoid me," he begged.

 

“No!  You can't have what you want!” I refused emphatically 

 

When Crissy found out about it she would only hate someone like me even more.  And I don’t know what else she can do to me.  Even now she is starting to bullying me.

 

"Why?"

 

"I don't need to explain to you sir Nathan," I replied calmly.

 

"I won't stop until you tell me."  He stopped in front of me as if he didn't want me to pass.  He stared at me so seriously that his gazes almost stripped me.

 

“Don't insist on something that shouldn't be for us.  You are heaven and I am earth, we can never be together as friends or more than that.  We are far apart in standard of living, so you must have thought of that.  How many times I tell you that someone like you should not mix with the poor like me," I  said frankly. 

 

“Is that your reason? Because of  what, you are poor?  Is that so?”  he asked boldly.

 

"Stop! May I excuse me sir Nathan.  Goodnight to you,” I replied and turned my back on him.

 

I'd better just leave and stop arguing with him.  But when I turned my back, he pulled me by the arm.

 

"Wait!" he said.

 

"Can you let me go!"  I growl at him.

 

My chest throbbed harder.  I want to be kind to him but I need for the sake of my peace.  Unexpectedly he kissed me on my lips.  Our lips meet and my eyes widen at that incident.

 

My nervousness turned to fear when he kissed me.  I was stunned at where I stand.  Our bodies were closer and I could feel the warm of his body.  His right hand was holding my left arm and his left hand was holding my cheek.

 

My heart raced rapidly and my breath almost stopped.  I can even smell his fresh breath.  He moved slowly and brush his lips to mine.  I could do nothing but close my eyes.  I knew I was no longer young, as not to feel the warmth of his kiss.

Is this a sin for me to feel this way?  But I suddenly opened my eyes when I remembered the thing that should not have happened.  I immediately pushed him and hurried away.  I almost run on my steps. I clutched my chest as I hurried away.  I met Joy in the kitchen who was surprised to see me.

 

"What happened to you?  It's like you saw a ghost.  Why are you running?” she asked confused.

 

I gasped as I faced Joy.  Even if I wanted to tell her what happened recently, I couldn't do it.  It was as if my mind were in a dream.

 

"A-Ah ... nothing."  I grabbed her by the shoulder and said goodbye as I went home.

 

“Okay!  You just tell me the story tomorrow.  Take a rest!" she said. 

 

Joy knows when I’m not telling her something.  She also knew that the night were getting late so she no longer struggled to figure out what was bothering me.

The next day, I woke up with a headache.  I didn’t sleep well after the night Nathan kissed me. He stole the first kiss that was supposed to be for the man I love.  I can no longer really understand why he is doing this to me.

 

I was afraid of what might happen next.  And I think Nathan won’t stop chasing me.  What should I do?" I asked myself confused.

 

I didn’t expect it that I would come into this situation.  All I wanted was a quiet life but when Nathan and his sister Crissy arrived in my life was starting to get miserable.  I no longer knew what to do.  I get caught in my head with things that come to my mind.

 

"Why you woke up so early? And why you are stunned? Do you have a problem dear?"  my father asked.

 

I was surprised when I turned around when I heard my father's voice. He was wearing his exercise outfit.  It was only four o'clock in the morning when I woke up and I knew he would be surprised by my actions.  I usually wake up at five in the morning, if I have school session.

 

"Nothing, I'm just doing a project at school so I'll wake up early," I lied in response.

 

How can I tell him the truth if I myself afraid of what might happen.  He's the only one left with me.  What if my father also disappears from my life. He is my strength.  I knew I had to be careful because of his health condition. 

 

"Ah ... Is that so?"  he said nodding at me. 

 

He was about to turn around when I asked him.  Sometimes he forget his personal needs so I need to remind him. 

 

"Dad, do you still have a medicine?" I asked. 

 

"Yes, I just bought yesterday. Thank you dear for always reminding me," he replied kindly.

 

"Your welcome Dad. You know how much I love you," I said tearfully.

 

"Oh, why are you so emotional now? You really are!"

 

He approached me and squeezed my cheek.  I immediately hugged my father, even though I wanted to tell him the  things happened in recent days but I was scared.  He may suddenly have a heart attack.

 

"That's enough dear," he said and combed my long hair with his finger.

 

"I love you Dad."  I hugged him tightly.  He hugged me back.  There is nothing more than his love for me, even though I didn't see my mother but he loved me unconditionally. The love that I can't pay back even my life. 

 

"Why are you so emotional?" my father asked.

 

"Nothing," I replied with a smile.

 

"Okay, get ready because you have task need to do everyday before going school," he said while slowly pinch my cheek.

 

He let go of my hug and turned around and went out of the house to start working out.  I was left standing and my gaze followed him.  I knew he was avoiding showing me his reaction.  He is a good father and he is the only man I loved the most. 

 

As a child I would do it for my father's pleasure.  His love I will reciprocate more.  And as much as I can I will take care of him until his last breath.

 

I acted immediately and started the daily morning routine.  I need to be able to prepare for school.

 

Two hours later Joy and I were ready to go to school.  I’m also thankful that I didn’t see the siblings.  With Joy's help I was able to avoid them.

 

Joy said that Nathan and Crissy left earlier.  It's good that Nathan didn't come with us because I didn't know how to get along with him after he kissed me last night.

 

When I opened the car door I was surprised to see the couple.  I didn’t expect them to come this early morning.  I greeted them warmly and gave them a sweet smile.The couple was very kind to us.  Crissy not only inherited the kindness of her parents.

 

"Good morning Sir Benedict and Madam Lucia," I smiled greeting them.

 

"You are more beautiful than the morning Ara. Your smile is very attractive," Madam Lucia replied.

 

"Yes Honey, Arthur was lucky and had a beautiful daughter who was smart and kind," sir Benedict added. 

 

My father's smile widened at Sir Benedict's said.  Even I was pleased with what he said.

 

Come on and you'll be late," my father reminded me. We immediately got into the car. I sat beside from Madam Lucia and Joy followed next to me.

 

"Are you going anywhere Madam," I asked her.

 

I wonder because they're going to work so early.  Except when they have a meeting to attend.

 

"Ah ... yes we are going to Baguio because we will be attending a meeting there," she replied immediately.

 

"Will my father come with you?"  I asked. 

 

"Ahm, no! We have a bus with all our staff," Sir Benedict replied.

 

I breathed a sigh of relief when I heard Sir Benedict's answer.  I don't want my father get tired so much.  I know Baguio is very from the city. I also feel lighter when I see my father every day.

 

When we arrived at school Joy immediately pulled me towards the back of our school.  I just drifted off because I knew why she was in such a hurry to pulled me.

 

"Now can you tell me what happened to you last night?" she immediately asked as we sat on the bench.

 

"J-Joy I don't know where to start," I stuttered.

 

"I saw Nathan last night when you got home. Did he do something bad to you?"

 

I took Joy's hand and looked at her seriously.  I bit my lower lip and was nervous to recount what happened to Nathan and I last night.

 

"What?" she asked in shock. 

 

"Joy Nathan kissed me last night. But I didn't want to. I was just shocked at what he did," I explain.

 

"That idiot really took advantage of you!"  Joy said angrily.

 

"No its not, maybe it's true what you said that he likes me."  

I feel like defending what Nathan did to me.  I know he was intended to do, because of his emotion so, he did that. But that incident I wanted to find out from Nathan.  Why did he do that to me?  On the other hand I had a strange feeling after he kissed me that night...