CLAIRE (NINE)

“Mom. Where have you been? I haven’t seen you since this morning.”

I took off my reading glasses and put down the novel I was reading.

My mom had just come back from who knows where, but she looked so happy. Her skin was so smooth and glowing, like it had just been coated in twenty-four karat gold. Mom was wearing a bright yellow sundress that suited her perfectly. It made her twice as charming as usual.

“I just got a half million dollar body treatment. A gift from Raviel.”

Oops. I guess I just made a mistake by greeting my mom. She wouldn’t stop babbling and showing off the things Raviel gave her until she was completely satisfied.

“Look at my skin, it’s so shiny and smooth like a baby’s skin. They rubbed me like porcelain and massaged my whole body. Hmm… It was so comfortable. Raviel was so kind. He pampered me today after draining all my energy last night.”

I choked on my own saliva as my mother started telling me things I really didn’t want to hear. Last night I had a very inappropriate erotic dream with Raviel as the main character. Obviously, It was just a dream. My mother was even with him the whole night. And I was sure that my mother would not let Raviel go for a second to go out through the door of her suite.

“Amazing. You must be very happy now.”

“I am more than happy. I am very satisfied. You should find a lover like Raviel.”

“I am not sure I will be as lucky as you, Mom.”

My mom looked at the novel on my lap with disdain.

“You won’t get one if you just sit here reading those romance novels. Life is not like the novels you read, Claire. No handsome and rich good men will come to you willingly without you trying to attract them. You need to do something.”

“I’m trying to do it, Mom,” I replied lazily.

I hoped this pointless conversation would end soon because, if not, my mom would stay for more than an hour to lecture me about men and how to attract them to your bed. Erwh… Life wasn't just about men and sex. Life was complex. Even after having a boyfriend, other things still had to be balanced. My mother was like an old-fashioned girl who only thought about how to satisfy men without thinking about other aspects that were equally important, or even more important than that.

“So far, I have never seen you try. At least, go to the salon. Beautify yourself with expensive and sexy clothes to attract men. Didn’t Raviel give you a credit card?”

“Yes, but I won’t waste his money on such things. He has been very kind by paying for my college and fulfilling all my needs. I won’t take advantage of him more than that. I will do as you say after I earn my own money. I don't want to waste Raviel's money.”

“Tch, when are you going to make your own money, Claire? You won’t be graduating from college for another two years. At the earliest. Meanwhile, your biological clock keeps ticking. Are you going to be a virgin forever, huh?”

“Mom. Don’t say it as if being a virgin is a big sin.”

I was offended by my mother’s outrageous words. My fists clenched on my thighs and my jaw tightened in anger. If she wasn’t my mother, I wouldn’t hesitate to yell at her and throw her out of here.

“It’s not a big sin, but it’s a disgrace. Every girl your age has had sex at least once. You need to take action now before you wither away and no man wants to touch you.”

Enough!

I couldn’t stand her hurtful words anymore. My mother didn’t even bother to apologize for hurting my feelings. She just stood there, in front of my suite, with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Grow up, Claire. How long are you going to stomp on the floor and run away like a coward every time you have a problem you can’t handle?”

Damn!

I didn’t want to hear it anymore.

I bolted into my suite and slammed the door shut. To hell with respecting your parents. Mom didn't even respect me or think about my hurt feelings. All she thought about was her own happiness and her own satisfaction.

Sometimes I was tempted to ask her why she didn’t leave me under the bridge after marrying her husbands. Unfortunately, I was too afraid to hear her answer. I was afraid that my heart would be hurt and would never heal if I heard her very hurtful words.

“Ssshh… Don’t scream.”

I flinched in surprise in front of my bedroom door and almost dropped the novel I was holding.

“What are you doing here? How did you get into my suite?”

I reached into my pants pocket, making sure that my key card was still safe in there and hadn’t fallen somewhere.

“I’m sure your key card is safe in your pants pocket.”

Raviel got up from the sofa and walked towards me. His steps were so calm, like he was a predator about to eat his prey.

My head turned towards my bedroom balcony, whose door was slightly ajar.

“You came in from my balcony? You’re crazy. What if my mother finds out you snuck in here? And even though you’re the one who paid for all this trip, I have my privacy. You can’t just come into my room as you please.”

“Ssshhh...”

I was silent when Raviel put his index finger on my lips. This man... I just realized that he changed so fast. He didn't just have one face. I saw him wearing two different masks.

“Your mother doesn't know I'm here. She thinks I'm out preparing a surprise for her.”

“Then what are you doing in my room?”

“I need your help.”

I took a deep breath, then pushed his index finger away from my lips.

“You promised to help me if I needed your help.”

“Yes, I remember. Tell me what you want from me.”

I still hadn’t fully recovered from my anger and shock at suddenly finding Raviel in my room. If he could sneak into my room so easily this time, it was possible that he would do it again another time. Yeah, maybe I was just being paranoid. But I couldn’t stop thinking about the horrible scenarios in my head.

“I’m going to surprise her at a bar tonight. I want you to help me prepare the surprise.”

“Just help you prepare the surprise?”

Raviel nodded briefly.

“What should I do?”

“I’ll tell you the details once we get there.”

He then looked down to check his watch.

“Meet me in the lobby in an hour. Wear something a little fancy because we’re going to party tonight.”

“Are you sure you want to invite me to your party? What if my mom gets mad because I’m a nuisance to you guys?”

“Why should your mom get mad? You’re her daughter. We’re family.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and looked away in annoyance.

“I don’t think she thinks that way about me.”

My eyes started to fill with tears as my mind replayed the events of a few minutes ago. My mom made fun of me in public, where other people could potentially hear it. It was as if she wanted to tell everyone that I was still a virgin and that no man would want to date me.

“Claire. What happened?”

Raviel grabbed my shoulder gently and turned me to face him.

“Why are you crying? Who hurt you?”

“Mom. She humiliated me. She never thought about my feelings.”

“The screams I heard earlier?”

I nodded. There was no way Raviel didn’t hear it. He had been hiding in my room all this time. At least, he caught a word or two that my mom said about me.

“Don’t listen to her words. Don’t let others trample on you.”

“Even if she’s my own mother?”

Raviel nodded and said firmly, “Even if she’s your own mother.”