4

                           Cherry

“Miss you? Why would I miss you?” I demanded back. His eyes twitched, and his expression immediately changed to something darker. I stood still, watching as he stood up.

“You’re not supposed to be here. You’re supposed to be in Gueneve’s room—that should be more familiar to you.”

He smirked a little and began to take predatory steps towards me, but I’m not one of those girls who would cower back in fear. Matter of fact, I believe in an eye for an eye, so I stood my ground as he stopped right before me.

“You’re becoming more feisty by the day.”

“Why? You don’t like feisty girls?”

His eyes rested on my lips, and the corners of his mouth slowly curved into a dirty grin.

“Quite the opposite, princess. I love my women feisty.”

I rolled my eyes and walked past him. I walked to my dressing room by the corner and grabbed a pair of nightwear.

“Get out. I want to change.”

“Change? I thought we were past that.”

“Past what?”

“Princess, if you want to change, then you can do that. I promise I’m not going to watch you.”

“Watch me? No, because you will never get that luxury.” I glared at him and walked into my dressing room. I changed into a pair of pajamas, hoping that by the time I came back, Xavier would be gone. Just like I predicted, I sneakily came out from the dressing room and peeped into the room. There was no one. A smile appeared on my face seeing that he was gone, so I walked fully into my room.

“You’re back,” I heard that familiar voice and was about to turn when I felt a pair of arms wrap around my waist, stopping me from turning.

“Xavier, what are you doing?” I groaned, suddenly feeling nervous.

“Doing? Come on, princess, don’t act like you don’t know what I’m doing. Remember, you’ve always wanted this.”

“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” I could already imagine him smirking right now.

“Have you forgotten? Back in your last grade in high school, you had just recently turned eighteen. On the night of your birthday, have you forgotten what you did?”

My heart skipped immediately. No, no—there’s no way he knows about that.

“Princess, I heard everything. You want me so badly. You’ve always wanted me.”

“Stop talking…!” I yelled and aggressively pushed him with all the strength I had to finally break free.

“Get out.” I pointed towards the door, but instead he stood still, staring at me with those eyes that I could not decipher.

“Get out, or am I going to call Zayn?”

He stared at me for a few more seconds, and without saying any word to me, he left. My legs were wobbling—I almost could not stand anymore.

I held onto the bed frame and finally sat down. That night was the first time I began daydreaming about him. I thought no one saw me. I thought I hid my trails so well. How did he get to know my deepest secret?

I thought I could hide my feelings so well. How did he notice? How do I live freely with my brother’s best friend who knows I have a crush on him? Damn, I’m fucked up.

I tried sleeping throughout the whole night, but sleep was far from my eyes. I didn’t even sleep a wink until early in the morning, when I finally slept off. I woke up by 1 PM the next day. It was a Saturday, so the cleaners would be here soon. I went to the bathroom and did some ladies’ stuff, after which I came out of my room. I wanted to check on my brother in his room, but the fear that he might be with Xavier got me walking downstairs instead.

“Xavier, come on, you don’t want them to kill our couple pair,” I heard Gueneve’s voice. Turned out she was playing a video game with Xavier where they pair up as a couple. But I don’t understand why she’s screaming for me to hear.

I ignored them and went straight to the door to meet my manager because I’ll be having a photoshoot tomorrow, so we needed to make plans and get ready for it. And yes, my manager is the same age as Zayn and Xavier, and he’s not one of those old managers. He’s the perfect six-pack, tattooed, and sexy guy that girls will fight just to have. But between us, it’s strictly business.

“You’re here,” I said with a smile.

“Hmm, and here is what I got for you to cheer you up, because tomorrow’s shoot is about to be hectic.”

“Aww, Martin, you’re the best,” I pouted as I collected the bouquet of flowers from him. It’s not just some regular flowers—it’s my name: Cherry Blossom.

“I got it for you because to me, you’re like this flower.”

“Are you not being so poetic today?” I said to him as we both burst out laughing.

“Come, let’s go to my room,” I said to him and grabbed his hand. But as I turned, I found everyone staring at me, including my parents. Martin waved at them as we went upstairs.

Martin and I spent the whole day creating concepts for the photoshoot I have tomorrow, and by the time we were done, it was already approaching dawn. I was so tired. I walked Martin outside the mansion and watched till he got inside his car. I stood waving at him till his car was out of sight.

“Looks like you’re going to miss him even when he’s just leaving?”

Even without turning, I already knew who had that voice.

“You’re something else, Cherry. Act all innocent, but a man is already bringing you flowers, and you spend all day with him in your room under the cover that he’s your manager.”

I wanted to ignore the attention seeker and leave, but as I turned, it wasn’t just her—my parents were there as well, including my brother.

“We’ve been waiting for you to finish so we can go for dinner together,” my brother said to me.

“Dinner, as what? One happy family? Come on, you guys should spare me the inconvenience. I’m already used to eating alone.”

“Chery….” My father growled. I halted and turned to him.

“Don’t you get tired of calling my name? Because I’m tired of arguing with you.”

“You…….”

I didn’t wait to exchange any words with them. I went straight to the kitchen because I was hungry. I wanted to make hot noodles because it’s the easiest thing to make right now. I already brought out everything I’d need to make the food, just the pot that is in the cabinet. Right now, my hand could barely reach it.

I stood on my tiptoe, struggling to grab the pot when all of a sudden I felt a presence behind me, and the pot was brought down.

“Why don’t you want to have dinner with everyone?”

“It’s not your business,” I gritted out. And just when I wanted to walk away, Xavier pinned me down, wrapping his arms around me.

“Who’s that guy from earlier?” His voice was not friendly. It was deep and hoarse.

“And who are you to ask me that question? Should I run to you and start telling you everything about me?”

“Fuck, Princess. You can act arrogant in front of everyone but not me.”

“Hmm.” I rolled my eyes.

“Remind me who you are again. Looks like I’m missing something.”

He forcefully spun me around to face him, and right now his eyes were blazing with anger. But why am I not fazed?

“Who’s the guy that came this afternoon?”

“You know who he is. So why are you wasting my time with unnecessary questions? Cut straight to the chase.”

“Are you two dating?”

“Is this your question?”

“Hmm.”

I sighed and turned, totally ignoring him as I began to cook my noodles, acting like he did not exist in the room.

“Are you doing this because you saw me with Gueneve the other day in the kitchen?” I paused and turned to him.

“You’re wrong, Xavier. I had feelings for you, but that was in the past. Right now, your business with anybody has nothing to do with me, so quit thinking that my world revolves around you. Obviously, you’re not that important. Keep playing around with Gueneve. I hope you guys last.”

He didn’t say anything to me, and minutes later he left. The fact that he doesn’t talk a lot annoys me so bad. How can someone be so mute that he cannot say more than three sentences?

I’m just protecting myself from getting hurt. It’s obvious he likes Gueneve.

The next day, I had my photoshoot, and it went so well. I also signed a new endorsement deal with Bottega, which is one of my biggest collaborations ever. The day was a blast, and I was finally going home. I was driving in my Porsche, which I purchased recently with my money. But upon driving into the mansion, I noticed Xavier and Gueneve walking out of the mansion, all dressed up and holding hands—or should I say she was clinging onto him.

I stepped down from my car, and Gueneve intentionally stood on her tiptoe to kiss Xavier, but for some reason the kiss landed on his cheek.

I ignored them, and my brother, who was also coming out of the mansion, stopped me.

“You’re back?”

“Hmm, where are you guys going?”

“A club date.”

“Club date? Who is dating who?”

“Xavier and Gueneve. They are going on their first date.”