Chapter 7: Dinner

My guards stiffened upon hearing those words.

They knew that Mia wasn’t bluffing. Whatever she says, she does. 

And if she said that she’ll take this incident to the principal’s office? She will.

“So, what can you say?” Mia asked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. “Would you like me to go to the principal’s office now?”

“No need, Ma’am Mia,” one of my guards answered as he took a step back. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Good. Now, go.” Mia shooed them away, her brows furrowed. “And… please. Study how to be a cool bodyguard. Because what are you doing right now? It’s not cool.”

The guards didn’t reply. Instead, they took another step away until they were now far from us.

I heaved a sigh, although I can still see them in my peripheral vision.

“Haah. Finally, they’re gone,” Mia said as she turned to me. “To be honest? I really don’t have any idea how you are enduring that, babe.”

“I mean, if my parents control me like that? They won’t see me in this country anymore. Ever,” she added, snorting. “Maybe that’s why they’re giving me my freedom, though.”

“Silly.” I chuckled and shook my head. “But… Thank you. At least, those bodyguards were tolerable now. I don’t feel like someone is holding it through my neck already.”

Mia nudged onto my shoulder. “No problem. You know that I always got you, right?”

I nodded.

And Mia didn’t have any idea how thankful I am to have her as my friend.

“But seriously… I just hope aunt and uncle would give you a cooler bodyguard, if they really insist that you should have one,” Mia mumbled, now clinging her hand to my arm as both of us walked into the classroom.

We’re classmates in English, but the next subjects will be in our majors, so we need to part ways.

“A cooler bodyguard?” I frowned. “That doesn’t exist.”

“Oh, yes. They do!” Mia giggled, as if she remembered someone. “Before you came to the bar last time? I saw a really, really handsome bodyguard, girl! I think he’ll work for another person, but whoever it was, I’m sure they’re the luckiest person alive!”

Mia’s voice was louder than usual. Maybe it’s because she’s excited about what she was talking about, but the others kept looking at us.

She never had a problem taking the spotlight. That’s Mia Hernandez for you. 

The center of attention, and even one of the most famous students in the university, not just because of how attractive she was, but also because she’s a varsity player and a party goer, too.

I, on the other hand, always do my best to stay away from the spotlight.

I’m not afraid of people, but I’m afraid of what my parents do to take the opportunity. It’s like… I’m just a cash cow or something for them.

“Anyway, did you talk to your parents already and say that you’re opposed to the marriage?” Mia asked, halting me from my thoughts. 

Her voice was lower than before, yet I heard it loud and clear.

“I didn’t.” I shook my head. “You know I can’t do that, Mia.”

“And why?” She raised an eyebrow, looking at me as she leaned forward onto my ear. “I thought you already had guts because you’re talking to a handsome man last night.”

“What?” My eyes widened. “Wait… How did you know that?”

“Of course, I saw it. Duh!” Mia rolled her eyes playfully. “To be honest, he’s hot as fuck. And the fact that he’s older? Goodness. I’m on my knees.”

I grimaced.

With her blushing cheeks combined with her giggling, I’m sure she meant it in another way.

“That person you’re talking about is no other than my cousin, Mia.”

She froze.

Mia’s eyes widened, now looking at me in disbelief.

“What?” If her jaw wasn’t intact with her face, it might have fallen. “You’re saying that you have a cousin who was drooling with so much sex appeal like him?”

I sighed, massaging my forehead. “Language, please.”

“But I just can’t believe it!” she exclaimed, and this time, she got everyone’s attention again. “Like, do you want me to be your cousin-in-law?”

“Oh my God, Mia. Stop it.”

She should be thankful that she’s currently clinging to my arms right now, because if not, I would have left the moment she mentioned River.

Smirking, Mia said, “I’m just kidding. Because you know what? I think he likes you.”

My eyes widened, and even though I didn’t like it, my cheeks blushed hard as soon as I heard that.

But it’s wrong. So wrong.

“Didn’t you hear what I said earlier? He’s my cousin,” I repeated just in case she had a problem hearing me. “You’re giving me the chills.”

“Chills, huh?”

Mia’s lips curved into a smirk, then she stared at me. It’s as if she could read my mind, like all the things I’ve been hiding.

I almost wanted to step back, but I couldn’t. A part of me wanted to stay away, and another part of me wanted to hear what she was about to say.

“I don’t think that’s the case? And do you want another hot take from me?” she added to ask, now leaning into my ear, whispering, “That guy… He’s the one who will make you free. I can feel it.”

What does she mean?

I wanted to ask, but before I could even speak, the bell rang.

“Let’s go, babes!” Mia said as she pulled me inside the classroom, smiling brightly as if nothing happened.

As if she didn’t say anything that would make me think of her words until the end of our class.

*****

After classes, I went home.

To be honest, I really don’t want to. I wanted to stay in school for longer, even just in the library, so I could study.

I feel suffocated when I’m at home, especially when it comes to dinner, where everyone is present, acting like a perfect family even if we’re not.

“Serenity,” Mom called me as I approached the dining area. “Come here, sit.”

“Yes, Mom.” I nodded and obliged.

Heaving a sigh at the back of my mind, I sat on the chair in front of Mom, and across from Dad, who was sitting at the head of the table.

I looked at the table. The food was too much just for the three of us. And when they start to talk about business and other things? I can’t even taste the food even if it reaches my tongue.

The atmosphere looked good with the same crystal chandelier I’ve always seen every time I’m here, but… dinner was always the same.

Exhausting.

“What are you waiting for? Eat,” Mom commanded, looking at the food, then her gaze moved toward me. “You’re not waiting for me to spoonfeed you, right?”

“Y-Yeah. I’m not.”

I started eating, chewing through the vegetable salad, even if the last thing I wanted to do right now was stay here and pretend that everything was alright.

I came home from university, and it’s not like it’s rare, but still, I hoped my parents would ask me about my day the way normal parents did.

That they would ask if I was tired. Or happy. Or hurting.

They didn’t. No one between them even cared about me.

“There were changes in some of the business schedules,” Dad said, his posture rigid, and his eyes sharp as he cut through the steak. “Make sure to fit that in your schedule. Remember what I said. I don’t accept no as an answer.”

“Yes, Dad.” I nodded.

The silence followed as no one spoke. If silence were a knife, it would have been cut into the air right now.

Only the sound of the cutlery made me sane as my parents started talking about their usual business, as if I were just a wallflower in between.

No one even noticed me. No one.

Not until someone came into the dining area.