He had been sitting there with a look that didn't recognize me at all. His eyes gleamed as the corner of his mouth quirked up.
"You keep watching me. Don't tell me you're after my chicken, huh?" I asked in between eating chicken meat.
"What? No." He shook his head swiftly, "It's been a long time since I've seen you eating that much." He smiled broadly.
Oh.
"I don't want to waste any more food. Accept what I've got and stop torturing myself too much by not enjoying life." I couldn't explain what was on his mind but his alluring eyes had spoken without direct words, they were gazing at me full of admiration and meaning.
I shrugged, broke off eye contact, "It's not a big deal."
"It's a big deal for me." He smiled.
Looking into his eyes, a memory flashed through my mind.
Jazzlin and Barra had been friends for a long time and this was the first time he saw Jazzlin eating much, usually she ordered salads and the hassle of counting food calories.
Trust me when I said there was nothing wrong with Jazzlin's body. She looked so freaking proportional like a model, then what was the definition of proportionality in her head?
After Barra continued his studies out of city something happened that affect Jazzlin's mental health. She was tightening her diet which of course I didn't get the memory pieces what caused it.
I literally needed to know more about their relationship.
He waved his hands, "Principessa?" I realized from my daydreaming, "Are you okay?" He asked.
"God, sorry." I snapped to reality.
"Do you wanna have some more?" He asked as he wiped his mouth with tissue.
I shook my head, "Nah, I'm full." I said then stroking my stomach.
After finished eating, I went back into confusion. It was completely dark outside and it was really bad when not a single vehicle had passed.
I looked at the man next to me who had been leaning against the glass door. He looked so relax without the slightest fear on his face.
"Hey, I have an idea. How about we borrow the waiter's phone here?" He swung his restless gaze and chuckled at my question.
I shook my head, reminded myself how annoying he could become.
"I already did it. But, I don't remember anyone's number." The answer was simple. He was leaning his head again and rubbed his eye, twice.
All that flashed in my mind was my own phone number. There was no point in calling my phone when the battery was low and I hadn't charged it yet.
"I didn't see it." My eyes searched for his expression because he put on an expressionless face.
"It's because you never care with what I did." The statement was a little startled me. I caught a glimpse of an emotion in those eyes, but it quickly disappeared as if swallowed by the darkness of the night.
"Sorry." I apologized, knowing his mood had suddenly changed.
I was so stumped that I didn't know what else to do other than waiting for him to come up with his ideas, but he just stayed there busy with his own thoughts.
The night was getting darker, it was impossible for us all night at the front door like this.
Just as my mouth wanted to say something, "Sorry to keep you waiting." A waiter had finished his work then locked the door.
Barra smirked at me. No wonder he looked so calm, it turned out he had been preparing everything, "Let's go."
I was speechless, "How about your car? You want to just leave it there?" I bet his car was so expensive.
"I'll tell my man to take it later, but for now the most important thing is we go home. It's getting darker and cold."
I sat in the backseat, when Barra sat in front with the waiter, "It's an honor to be able to drive the Ainsley and also meet a woman as beautiful as you." His compliment made me blush, "I'm Zohran by the way."
I saw from the side, Barra's eyes rolled skyward seeing my blush cheeks.
"Thank you for giving us the lift and glad to meet you, Zohran." Barra replied politely.
My naughty idea came up, this one would disturb Barra's mind, "Aww, you're such a babe-magnet too." My words were half true, Zohran couldn't be underestimated. His face was cute with his jet black eyes that gave peace to anyone who saw them.
Through the rear-view mirror I could see he was smiling shyly while Barra wrenched his gaze at me like I was his prey, "What?" I shot him a challenged glance.
"Women." He muttered then took his eyes off my sight.
"You guys literally made for each other." Zohran's comment immediately caught our attention.
"No!" We yelped at the same time.
"That's what I meant by made for each other." Zohran chuckled.
"We're not!" We said at the same time again.
"When two people say the same thing at the same time, it means they're in love—" He refrained from adding when both of us stopped him, "Shut up!" We said at the same time again.
"Again?" Zohran guffawed quiet loudly.
"Stop following me!" I literally peeved.
He swallowed down his frustration, "You're the one who keeps following me." He declined.
"What?" I pressed my lips ready to throw a tantrum, "You're the one who keeps following my words, idiot!" I said through clenched teeth.
"Do you really think I can read minds?" He groaned.
"I can't read minds too! Then, why the heck you telling me that I've been following you?" Rage nearly consumed me.
"Umm— guys, I—"
"Shut it!" Zohran immediately closed his mouth as we snapped at him simultaneously.
I looked away at the window glass, as well as with Barra.
"I promise I—"
"I said shut up, Zohran!" I was so emotional that I was lazy to hear the babble again.
"But, I—" Barra interrupted him as well, "Didn't you hear what woman behind you've said?"
Poor Zohran.
I took a deep breath, trying to remove the debris of exasperation. I tried to restrain my thoughts, throwing away all the anger that was stuck in my chest. My hands were still clenched a little.
If only he wasn't attractive, I would've scratched his face. But, rather than being scratched, honestly his face was more pleasing my eyes.
I leered at him who was now folding his arms as a pillow behind his head. His eyes closed. He took a deep breath like he was letting out his irritation. His face was soothing as his facial muscles relaxed, looking so comfortable in those position.
My expression softened at the sight of his innocent face. But, you wouldn't want to know how annoying he was when those eyes opened.
"Sorry guys, but since earlier I wanted to ask where I'll take you? Whereas I've never know where you live."
Barra's eyes opened one side, peeking. I let out a roar, "What a day!" Luckily my heart was calmer.
"That's what I've been wanting to ask." He smiled groggily.
"So, we were just going round and round?"
He shrugged, "I just take us to wherever my mind takes me. Sorry."
"Never mind, It's Mayler Avenue." Barra told him.
"I know that famous avenue."
About fifteen minutes later we arrived in front of the mansion. I thanked Zohran and walked straight inside, still on my gloomy mood. As for Barra, I didn't know what he was talking about with Zohran before he went inside.
My mother was standing right in the living room. The dinner was over, I saw none of the guests.
Seeing the wrinkles on my mother's forehead, as well as the lips that were already wrinkled made me sure she would pour out her anger for what I had done.
"I'm sorry, mom." I apologized first before she opened her mouth. Her face was radiant, vertical wrinkles appeared between those eyebrows just as she smiled. I was silent observing my mother's face who smiled like sunset. Did I see wrong?
"What are you sorry for? I'm happy because you can express what you feel, what your heart desires." I blinked for a few times seeing my mother showing her peaceful smile in front of me.
Relief brought a smile to my lips. A memory popped into my head. Since childhood, my mother had always justified my actions if it was because of Barra. Huh, that was explaining everything.
"Thank you for accompanying Jazzlin." Her eyes were fixed on someone behind me.
I turned around just to found those hazel eyes burning over my face. His intense gaze was steady and I wondered if he could really read minds, for sure his gaze seemed to know all the thoughts in my brain.
"My pleasure." A smile of joy and satisfication lit up on his face, "I'm sorry I didn't ask your permission directly." He spoke politely.
One thing I liked the most about this man was that he never stopped talking politely when around people except me.
My mother responded with a nods, "You don't need to be sorry, I am lucky enough to have you in my daughter's life."
Lucky? She seemed like took the wrong word. Luckily was far away from me when I was near this devilishly handsome man who could stop my breath and killed me with those deep stare.
I had a lot of bad luck all day, my cookies was spilled, the car broke down in the middle of nowhere, what's else later?
He was just spreading his smile hearing my mother's speech, "Now, both of you better take rest now. It must be tiring." Barra smirked at me before he left the living room.
"Oh yeah, I saw you two being given a lift from someone else, didn't Barra bring his car?"
I shook my head and replied boredly when the incident came to my mind again, "Barra's car broke down." I gave my mother a forced smile before leaving her to my room.
For some reason I missed my orphanage. My friends and my nannies there. A five-years ago accident completely changed the course of my life, replaced all the life arrangements that I had prepared for my future.
Who knows that my life was that short? In the middle of adolescence I died without at least a little success that I achieved.
After I thought I got a second chance, what I got was living again as another woman. The woman who was given a better chance of living than me but decided to end her life.
I accepted the way of life that was given to me. I believed if something wasn't created for us, then by itself it would go away at any time from our grasp. Life had its own consequences for every step and decision we took. So I'd marked myself from now on that I'd cherish my reborn and being a complete Jazzlin Ozza.
Years later...The wedding vows that had been taken, would always be the binding between us. We had built a prosperous and peaceful family together during our ten years of marriage.I am grateful to have two children, Adrian and Skylar.Adrian Ainsley, aged nine, had become an older brother who loves his younger sister, Skylar. He really became a big brother for her.His face is not the same bit as mine, but with his father. Sometimes I got annoyed by comments from people who never realized my resemblance to him.They often said that none of my children look like me. Even my lovely baby, Skylar. She's 99 percent like her father, only different genders."Look mom, I have a new word to tell you." Adrian came over to me with his favorite basketball between his right arm.I don't know where his hobbies come from, but he really likes playing basketball. Barra and I don't
He doesn't understand!He doesn't get it at all!My thoughts about marriage had changed. If I used to think of a beautiful wedding like in the world of fairy tale, now I wasn't thinking the same anymore. I became to think differently. I was terrified just thinking about marriage.Especially after clearly knowing the details of what happened in past. My own parents' marriage did not go smoothly.It was so toxic and full of cruel twists. Rose Ozza, my mother, or Yolanda may be strong in facing their ordeal, but it was different for me. I got fragile easily and now I scared so much.I was afraid that Barra would leave me for a better and worthy one. I got so fed up just thinking about other women had the edge over me.I'm a woman and of course, wanting the same thing all women wants, to get married.A sacred event that I wanted to happen once in my life and with the ri
All problems had found a bright spot. Then what now?Haytham and Alia had returned to their mansion and living their lives as before.I gave Ronald and Elsa a day off as a token of gratitude for helping me all this time, while Jake ... that guy was busy running his single life by becoming a player. He dated different women every week, I didn't even know their names.As for Jazzlin, I asked her to stay with me, in the mansion. Everything felt lonely when she was not there, around me. So, we decided to stay together from now on.I looked at her whole face. She looked innocent with her eyes closed. I pushed aside the strands of hair when it covered her face, then looked at her again.A smile appeared on my face, imagining how lucky I was to finally with her again.I put my head on the pillow, tilted my face closer to her.Her breath blew to me as her hand was right in
"Principessa?" Barra's voice assured me that I'm still alive.I was so limp as I opened my eyes. My hand had its way to my face. I shut my mouth closed while I yawned."Glad to see you wake up again." His words made me chuckle."Hmmm, you're still waiting for me? I thought Moorah already stole you from me."His face frowned when I mentioned Moorah's name, "I'm just kidding." I laughed out loud, "Besides, I know who you love. That person is me and not another woman."He gave me his best smile, "Oh yeah?" His finger poked my nose."Auch! Stop it." I tried to reach his finger. The more I couldn't get it, the more he kept teasing me. He kept poking my nose, every time I tried to stop him.He chuckled, "I win and you lose." He told me then showing me his thumbs down."I hate you." Hearing my answer, he moved closer to me. He pulled the strands of my hair
It was like dejavu. I brought her back to my mansion. It was like the old time, I sat waiting for her to wake up.The last time she was unconscious was because she attempted suicide. I didn't realize she'd woken up again, but with someone else's spirit, Janielle.Now she was unconscious again, and I gripped her soft hand with hope filled my heart.The doctor said she was just passed out, but it had been hours and she hadn't opened her beautiful eyes yet.I remembered how terrified I got when I was told that she was unconscious because she had tried to kill herself.At that time the feeling of regret got me. I wasn't there when she needed me. Then now, I was by her side and still couldn't take care of her.(Flashback to chapter one from Barra's point of view)It had been a long time since I met my old friend, Jazzlin Ozza. The news about the woman was circulating in
I had to tell my truth to Jazzlin's father, so he would forgive his daughter. He used to love her so much, but because of this ... everything had changed.Haytham insisted on joining us to Jeremy Ozza's penthouse, even though at first Barra didn't want him there. They both tried to dominate each other, but they just ended up falling in a cold war for a moment.When I was right in front of the penthouse, my palms got cold. I rubbed my itchy eyes then prepared myself once more.I was so restless and it really made me want to pee. Before the others got inside, I had already rushed in there to find a restroom.I went into one of the restrooms and immediately peed. The sound of footsteps made me stop my next action."Jazzlin, are you in there?"My lips pouted when I noticed it was Moorah.For God's sake, I don't like her so why does she keep walking around in my life ?