Chapter 4: Unwanted Guest

The hair on the back of my neck rose and I quickly stepped out of the dock. But suddenly I stumbled. I screamed and stood up shaking. I quickened my pace. My trembling only subsided when my feet hit the ground.

I bit my lower lip and glanced at the dock. No one was there. But who spoke earlier? I hugged myself.

Since that night in Boljoon two months ago, I have been hearing something. At first, I didn’t pay attention but now and then I was suddenly terrified especially since I could feel the eyes following my every move. These past few days I haven’t felt anything strange so I’m relieved, but when I heard that voice on the dock… I couldn’t help but think that my fear of that night still hasn’t gone away.

Whatever mystery was wrapped in that voice, I didn’t think about it. I quickly straightened myself up and ran back to the Larica building. I waited quietly for the family driver while looking at the full moon in the sky.

~~~

It was eleven o’clock at night when I got home from the city. I went straight to the room because I knew Mama was already sleeping. And while dressing in a nightgown, I felt a cold wind blowing in my direction. I ignored that and immediately jumped on the bed and covered myself.

Maybe because of staying up late for consecutive days, I fell asleep quickly that night. The next day, the family driver took me to the University. But when I came home at noon, Mama suddenly called me. Kervy is said to be visiting.

His name is Kurt Vincent. He’s still in his early twenties, but there are fifty condos named after him. Because he was famous and had money, Mama let him flirt with me. The heck. I don’t like men who are too clingy.

“What are you doing here?” I asked and reached for the cup of tea. I took a sip and looked at the scenery in the distance.

“Am I not allowed to visit you?” he asked with a smile before taking a deep breath when he saw that I did not react to his joke. “I don’t know what to do with you, Rishell.”

I put the cup down and sighed. I don’t even know what to do with him. He keeps visiting me at home and it’s irritating at times. Mama doesn’t scold him so he’s enjoying his stay in El Grande.

My finger pointed to the mountain that was visible from here, the terrace of the house. “If you go for a hike? There, oh. It’s free, making your life more purposeful?”

His lips twitched. “Rishell.”

“Why are you always here, Kervy? We don’t need you here at El Grande,” I said, folding my arms. I glanced at him. “Don’t be conceited. Mama is just being hospitable and that’s why she’s letting you stay here.”

He smiled and put both hands in his pants pockets. “Didn’t I say I am courting you? So here it is, I brought your favorite.” He took the Eco bag that was on the table and gave it to me. I accepted it with a frown. “Those are books by your favorite author. You told me the other day that you failed to order a book. So, there, I bought it for you,” he added.

I peeked inside the tote bag and my frown disappeared due to the four new books. Those are new releases not in my collection in the room next to Papa’s office. I blinked and bit my lip. “Oh thank you.” The edge of my lips rose and looked up at Kervy.

And because I was in a good mood, I allowed him to tell a story about his friend and boss. He told me that his real estate monster friend is eyeing a land in Sudtonggan. I just nodded while taking a bite of the cake. I’m not interested in his boss.

“Wait a moment, Rishel,” Kervy said and grabbed his phone from his pocket, answering a call. “What’s up?” He listened for a few minutes on the other line. Then, he frowned slightly while glancing at me for a moment. “Alright, I’ll be right there. Tell Jaxx.” He hung up and smiled at me. “There’s an emergency at the company.” He sighed.

I smiled and motioned him to leave. “Go, work is more important,” I said and took another bite of cake.

“You’re more important,” he said with a laugh and ruffled my hair before walking away.

I snorted at what he did and straightened my messy hair. And because Kervy brought forbidden goods, I immediately hid them inside my room. I plan to bring those to the port.

I looked for my phone given by Papa to check updates on my favorite author and band, but I remembered that the cell phone had fallen from the dock. I sighed again. Even though Papa was willing to let me buy a new cellphone, it was hard to convince Mama.

So I called Kervy’s phone number using the landline. Three rings before someone answered the call on the other line. “Hello,” Kervy’s voice.

“Hi. Are you driving right now?” I asked.

“Stopped at a red light. Why, Rishel?”

“Where are you now?”

“On the way to Sumaya Heights. This is the first time you called my number. Do you need something?”

I almost lost my temper at his question. My cheeks got hot from embarrassment and I slapped my forehead. Right. This is my first time calling his number and of course, because I need something from him. But it was too embarrassing to admit so I shut up and talked to him about a few things before getting straight to the reason why I called.

“I wanna ask if you can buy me a phone. But if you’re busy, never mind.”

He was silent for a moment before agreeing to my request. I just sighed secretly and answered his question about the brand and so on.

“That’s all, Kervy. Thank you. I’ll compensate you soon.”

“Don’t bother,” he said.

I stopped arguing with him and hung up. He’s driving and it’s dangerous. I stretched out on the bed and closed my eyes for a moment before reaching for the newly purchased book and reading it.

I DIDN’T wait for hours because someone knocked on the door. I looked at the clock on the wall. I’ve been reading for an hour. I put down the book and opened the door.

It’s Jemima. She is the new maid from Lapu-Lapu and a typical’s rebel against her parents. I heard that her grandmother sent her here to grow up. They say the girl’s too silly.

“Miss, someone is giving this to you,” she said and handed me a small paper bag. I knew it was a new phone so I accepted it.

I just watched her walk away before closing the door. After I set the phone up, I immediately opened social media. I just browsed through the new Vine updates in my feed.

What caught my attention was a fan’s post. It said that Ariel has more fans than Levi. I raised my eyebrows and commented. What did I comment? Of course, defending my idol Levi. I grinned.

It’s fun to fight on social media. They don’t know me and I don’t know them either so I can express all my ideas freely. Unlike in real life, I have to be careful with what I say because of my reputation.

And I was in the middle of a fan war when the wifi suddenly died. I cursed under my breath and quickly left the room carrying the phone. “Mama, the wifi has died again!” I screamed, annoyed.

“What tone is that, Rishel?” Mama asked. “If the wifi hadn’t died, wouldn’t you leave the room? Go to the kitchen and eat your dinner.”

I quickly shut my mouth especially when I saw Mama in the living room while looking at the modem. Huh. I knew Mama turned off the wifi so I would leave my room.

But it’s annoying. I typed my reply for too long, but I couldn’t comment on it in the end. Thank you so much. Please note the sarcasm.