CHAPTER TWO

Now I know how Travis felt when I was chasing him before. So, this is how it feels, Empress?

So annoying.

I frowned as I watched the coffee that Travis handed me. Instead of accepting it, I did nothing but frown while continuing to fold my arms in my seat.

"It's for you, Empress."

"I don't like coffee," I answered before rolling my eyes at him.

I could see him grinning in front of me, and that's why I didn't do anything else but scowl at him while keeping my mouth shut on my seat.

As I expected since our paths crossed in Barcelona, ​​he forcibly took me to the airport to take me home to the Philippines. I don't know how he managed to pick up all my things—even my passport—at home. Did my parents have anything to do with Travis coming here?

Are my siblings involved? Is it Lienzo? Lienzo never forced me to do something he knew I didn't want, so it is impossible. Is it Lucho? It's unlikely to be him because... even though we often fight each other, he never betrayed me to people I didn't like. It is impossible that Nathalie would also betray me this time because I already warned her at the very beginning. Lucas is even more clueless because... I didn't even get to say goodbye to him when I left.

"From whom did you know I left the Philippines?" I asked Travis with a frown when I couldn't hold back anymore.

He looked up at me, which is why my eyebrows arched even more when I stared at him.

"Everything works out, Empress," he said before leaning back in his chair, which made me roll my eyes at him. "Just like I told you before, you will never be able to escape from my hands again."

Instead of replying to him, I just decided to roll my eyes in the air before turning back to the window. It's only a few hours before we land at NAIA. I know Nathalie will be surprised when she finds out I'm back in the Philippines. She might even laugh at me if she finds out that I am here again.

"Is... there anything you didn't like about what we talked about last time, Empress?"

I frowned and turned to look at Travis, who I didn't realize was staring at me now. There was sadness in his eyes that I couldn't look at. It seems that even I am hurt every time I see that sadness in his eyes.

What did I not like about what we talked about? Is it because of the forced marriage we are facing right now?

Honestly, I don't want to marry him, not because I don't like him. I don't want everyone to think that he will marry me just because his parents want him to. I want him to marry me because he loves me. I don't want to think that he only married me because I like him; I love him.

I don't want the time to come when he divorces me because he fell out of love. I don't like that stuff. I don't want to look ridiculous in front of everyone.

"Don't even think about that," I simply replied before looking away from him and just sighed.

I love him. I used to love Travis. Maybe I still love him now, and that's why my heart ached like this. If only the Empress he met before was still here, even before his parents made a decision, I would have asked him to marry me even before they could ask their son.

I was that crazy about him then. I just don't know why or what exactly is happening to make me feel the way I do now. Was I really just infatuated with him, and that's why I feel this way now?

Maybe this is what it feels like when a person matures. You gradually lose interest in all the things you once loved.

I felt someone caressing my cheek, so I slowly opened my eyes. Travis' face immediately caught my attention. As usual, he was looking at me now.

"We're here, Empress," he said while caressing my cheek, which made me close my eyes. "Wake up."

It's like before, I was the one chasing him and desiring his attention, but now, it's me he's chasing. It's just funny.

"If I could really turn back time, I would go back to the time when I was the one chasing you," I whispered to myself, which made him chuckle.

How did Travis and I met each other?

"May I know which architect you hired?" I heard my mother's friend ask as they walked on the pool deck. "You know I'm quite a fan of Spanish-style architecture. Mostly Pueblo Revival, Monterey, eclectic, and such."

"Alright. When I get my friend's number, I'll just email it to you," Mommy replied.

Instead of listening to their pointless conversations, I decided to head to the small garden that had been catching my attention since we arrived here.

We've been here at her friend's house for a while now, but it seems that this is the first time I became interested in what I saw. I mean, not to be judgmental, but... to me, her friend's house doesn't really look nice.

Is it just me, or did I just get used to the infrastructure in Barcelona?

I felt my mouth part when I saw a blue butterfly flying among the flowers there. I menacingly took the away inside the small garden. I love nature, which is why it's so hard for me to describe the beauty of this place.

"Maybe I'll just force my mom to make this kind of room in our house," I whispered to myself while nodding.

There are many butterflies scattered around. Almost all the insects I see in the jungle, I found inside that place. I didn't know that it was possible to build an outdoor garden in this kind of space.

When I saw a blue butterfly flying above the bush, I wasted no time touching its wing.

Its blue wing has shades of gold, which made me even happier while staring at that little insect.

"What will happen if I pick you?" I asked before gently pointing my finger and bringing it closer to the resting butterfly.

"Who told you to come in here?"

I immediately jumped in shock when I heard that voice. Because of what I did, the butterfly flew away quickly, which caused my gaze to become even sharper at the boy in front of me now.

He has a pale white skin, and I am also sure that we are the same age. He looked like he was deprived of pleasure, because just by arching his eyebrows, I could tell that he looked like he had a problem with the world because of what he was doing right now in front of me.

"You startle me!" I complained before turning back to the bush. "Look what you did! He's gone! Gone!"

"I just saved him from the disaster you brought," he said before folding his arms in front of me. "Answer my question, stupid. What are you doing here, and who told you that you can enter this place?"

"That's not important, and one more thing... I'm the daughter of the guest of the owner of that house," I answered, pointing to the mansion outside. "What about you? What's a gardener's son like you doing in this place? Does your father know you're interfering with his work?" I asked before turning my back on that boy. "This is my first time to encounter such a nosy boy like him. Pablo isn't like that," I kept whispering to myself.

"Get out of here," the boy behind me said.

Instead of listening to him, I decided to keep walking. I only stopped when I suddenly felt him pull my hand, which made me stumble to the ground.

"Did you do that on purpose?" I exclaimed before getting up and giving him a blow that he would never forget.

I was seven at the time when I first met him. I don't know why, but it seems that my blood boils more every time our eyes cross.

"This is actually my son," Tita Brenda introduced her son with a smile while pointing to the boy I had punched earlier.

There is a bruise on the side of his lip because of what I did. I couldn't do anything but keep quiet while repeatedly feeling the ice pack that my mom was putting on my eyes.

Here we are now in front of the dining table. He is with his whole family, like mine. I thought that his parents were going to kick us out because of what I did to their son, but I was almost surprised when I saw that they even laughed when they saw the scratch on their son's lip.

May I know the truth—do you really love your child?

Is he adopted?

"This is Chester, my last born," Aunt Brenda introduced before turning to another girl, who I was sure was about our age. "This is Gaile, Chester's twin," she added before pointing to a young girl who was by Tito Charlie's side. "And this is Chessa, our eldest."

I can see Lienzo turning to look at the young woman like his age. Even Chessa's smile on my brother didn't escape my eyes; that's why I didn't do anything but squint in my seat.

"This is Lienzo, my firstborn; this is Lucho, my second," Mommy introduced my older brothers before she stroked my shoulder, which made me snort. "And my daughter, Faye."

"My dog ​​is named after her," Gaile replied.

A goofy laugh quickly escaped from Chester's mouth, which made my face turn bright red. I can see Aunt Brenda quickly patting Gaile's back, which she just sneered at.

"But I'm just telling the truth, Mommy."

"That's rude, Gaile," she insisted, which I just ignored.

I didn't have a good day at that house because of what happened between me and Chester. I often see him staring at me, which I just ignore. I feel like all my actions in their house are controlled by him.

I'm a fool; I didn't do anything other than stay silent on one side like a cat. Because of the fight Chester and I had earlier, it seemed that fear only prevailed in my heart. Do you ever have the feeling that you are afraid of committing a sin? That's how I feel now.

"I hope you can attend my twins' birthday next year," Aunt Brenda said, to which my parents immediately nodded.

Wanting to get out of that place, I just decided to hurry on my walk to get ahead of the car. Lucho was smiling at me when he came inside, and that's why I couldn't help but feel annoyed, especially when I heard him laugh at the reaction he saw on my face.

"Why do you look like that, youngest?" he asked, causing him to get the attention of our brother, Lienzo, who was just getting into the car. "You look like you're not in the mood, huh?"

"If you're the one who gave a black eye, won't you be upset?" Lienzo asked, causing them to laugh, which I ignored.

On the ride back to the mansion, Mommy was just thinking back on what she and Aunt Brenda had talked about. It seems that she was the only one who enlivened our quiet trip because almost all of us who were with her inside were quiet and our minds seemed to be occupied with different things.

That was my first and last meeting with Chester. As promised by their parents, they came home for Aunt Brenda's children's eighth birthday. I didn't do anything but stay in Barcelona because I was more sure that my vacation would be ruined if I went back to the Philippines. I haven't been back to the Philippines since that incident happened, so I haven't heard from that boy again. I don't want to see him anymore after what he did to me.

Does he think I can forgive him for what he did to my face? I looked like a fool in front of them! My shame only increased during those times when his twin called me a dog. They really like each other!

I will never waste my time just for that man. He is not that important, and he is even more pointless if I pour my attention on him.

I'm not getting something from him if I entertain him, right? As if I will earn a dollar from him if I entertain him?

"I need someone to accompany me when I go home, My," I heard Lucho say, raising our mom's eyebrows.

I was busy typing on my cellphone while eating breakfast at the table. My parents don't care about what I do, so what I do in front of the table is not a big deal for them anymore.

"Can't you do it alone, son?" Daddy turned to him, which made Lucho shake his head. "Okay, then. Just take Lienzo with you while he prepares for his exams."

"Dad, it's not possible," I heard Lienzo reply, which made me wince. "I have a lot to review. Every other day, we have group activities, so it's impossible for me to accompany Lucho."

"You're already an adult, Lucho. Why don't you fly by yourself?" I tease him, which catches their attention. 

"Good thing you spoke up, Faye," Lucho answered before turning back to our parents. "I will take Faye back to the Philippines with me."

Because of a mixture of shock and fear, I quickly threw up the water I had drunk. Lucho laughed a little because of what I did while my parents didn't do anything but be disappointed with how I acted in front of them.

"What are you talking about?"

"Since you're on vacation from your class, then I will choose you instead," Lucho replied to me, which I ignored. "You have nothing else to do here in Barcelona either. Just come with me—"

"No," I growled before leaning back in my seat. "First of all, I'm getting jetlagged. Second, traveling repeatedly is not healthy for me. Third, I don't want to share the same house with you. Barcelona is an exception. Fourth, be alone. Fifth, I.Don't.Want.To.Be.With.You.Period."

"Accompany him, Empress Faye," Mommy pleaded, which I just ignored. "It wouldn't make me feel at ease if we left him alone in that house. There are a lot of bad people in that place."

"Then hire a bodyguard," I said before snorting. "You can do it, Lucho. You can even ditch your class by yourself, so I'm sure you can live alone by yourself."

"Ditching your class? What is she talking about, Lucho?" Dad asked, causing the two of them to focus their attention on my brother again.

I thought I could get away with what I did, but it looks like I was even more wrong than I had thought.

"Welcome to the Philippines, Empress Faye!" Lucho laughed teasingly, causing me to knock him down and lock my room.

I was fifteen at the time when Lucho and I returned home from the Philippines. As usual, I have no choice, do I? Whenever Lucho has an errand, he chooses no one else to be with but me, me, and only me. He wants me to always be with him on all his trips in life. That's why some of our relatives tease us.

If there is really a chance for me to escape this life, I will just run away, just like I did before.