Chapter 11: False Alarm
"Look at your face! So it's true that you broke into Constancio's private rest house!" Fera immediately stepped back and create a distance from Nick. She doesn't want to be noticed by the lady as soon as possible. "I'm sorry, Lola." The only thing that Nick afford to utter. "How many times do I have to remind you that you are sixteen!" Nick was indeed troublesome. "Seventeen, Lola," he still has the nerve to answer despite his grandmother's annoyance. "Minor! A Constancio can easily kill you. Nick this is serious trouble, this is not fun anymore." Fera awkwardly looked around, 'I think going with Nick is a bad decision, I should have stayed at home.' she mentally hissed. "La, I have my classmate with me." And the lady turned to her. She put herself together and awkwardly stretched her lips into a tight smile. "Clever, very clever! You brought a classmate so I would prioritize her over your trouble. Not this time, no motor from now on." The old lady was beyond angry when she said that. "Hello, dear. I've never seen you before, have you eaten?" She unbelievably took a few blinks before nodding her head. "Yes, ma'am. I already did, thank you." She politely declined. "Well, I have baked some cookies, you might want to try it." She walked closer to Fera and her hand softly pushed Fera to walk with her. She turned to Nick a bit panicky. "You're creeping her out, Lola." "No, I'm not, help your lolo load the truck." As they reached the kitchen, the old lady gave her a chair. "May I know your name, dear?" She asked while opening her oven. "I'm Fera, ma'am." Fera was too shy and it has visibly appeared in her voice. "No need to call me ma'am, call me Lola Clarita and my husband Lolo Nicholas. You do eat cookies, I hope." She prepared the cookies on the plate. "Of course, ma'am." "Yes, dear? I can't hear you." Her body tensed as the lady asked again. She knew she heard it. "I do eat cookies, Lola Clarita." She answered again to correct her previous answer. "That's great, I am sorry for what happened earlier, you shouldn't have witnessed that. My grandson was boiling my blood, he doesn't know how to behave. I understand children normally do something they like or are interested in. But his interests were quite dangerous and there is no way I can sit still knowing my grandson getting himself in so much trouble, I hope you understand." She was worried about her grandson, for a seventeen old boy, investigating was not just for him because he was too young for it. "I understand, I did warn him too." She lady gave her a cookie and she gladly accepted it. "And Nick was stubborn so it went to waste." Fera nodded in response, part of her nod was that she enjoyed the cookie. "This is great," she commented. "I'm glad you like it. You're the first-ever classmate he brought here so I prepared this, especially for you." That made Fera's heart melt in joy. She felt special that someone made cookies for her. "Thank you, I love it. I hope I know how to make cookies too." She thankfully said. "I can give you my recipe," she offered but Fera couldn't accept it. "She can't cook." They turned their head to someone approaching. Fera’s face turned sour and annoyed. "Unfortunately, I don't have the talent of cooking, Lola Clarita." She admitted that instead of Nick explaining it to her, she was sure that Nick wouldn't do it kindly. "She even burned a sausage." He sat next to Fera and Fera simply pinch his flank. "Aww," he whined and laughed at Fera’s embarrassment. "You're not in a relationship, I hope," she interjected and Fera instantly shook her head. "Not possible," she even said. "Good to hear that." And a servant called her attention so they were left alone in the kitchen. "You're such a troublesome, Nick. You're grandmother almost had a heart attack because of you." "And when did you develop your manner?" She slapped his shoulder and Nick playfully avoid it. "I was expecting you to burn my grandparents as what you did to me." "Whatever," "Maybe around three I can tour you around, it's still burning hot outside for now. Do you ride a bicycle?" She only gave him unimpressed look and rolled her eyes. "Why would you think I do when I don't even trust your motor?" "I will teach you how to ride a bike." He declared and Fera only bit her cookie. She never experienced that kind of activity, she preferred staying at home, painting, and writing. "Make sure I won't scrap my knees." She required, which means yes to learn how to ride a bike. "Why do you live alone, if you don't mind?" He suddenly asked which made Fera almost choke her food. She didn't see it coming. "Well-" "Nick, someone wants to see you." Their head turned to someone who had just come in. It was Lolo Nicholas, he sounded dead serious and hadn't cut his stare to Nick. "Who is it?" asked he. Before anyone in the room could talk a sound of a faint siren tickles their ears, which made Fera's heart start racing. "They are on their way." The old man turned his back and slowly walked to the front door. Nick stood and started his weak step towards the door. However, Fera took a few minutes to decide if she'd watch him arrested or listened to the whole scenario. She couldn't bring herself to sit still while everyone was in a panic. Especially his grandmother. While walking to the front door she heard the man's voice, a very authoritative and monotone voice. But she couldn't hear it right, the loud thud of her heart was deafening. She saw a broad back and reddish ears, as she walk closer men in blue uniforms came into her view. "My son! Don't touch him!" Lola Clarita tried to stop those men from putting handcuffs on his hands. The old man calmly stands in the doorway while watching his grandson getting arrested. Before Nick got into the police mobile, he looked at his grandfather, they exchanged nods, and Nick's eyes fell into Fera's. He was forced to get in after that. Lola Clarita furiously got in the house and started calling everyone. "You seem calm," she got surprised by the old man's question. "I am always, sir." A confident low voice came out of her lips. "You're his classmate, did I remember it right?" The moment he opened his mouth this time, Fera sensed his agenda. Her defensive mood automatically activated. "Yes, sir." "Who are you?" "His classmate, sir." A quick response made the old man smile. "Attorney Nickolas Hernandez," he took his right hand out and offered a handshake. Fera was clueless but maintained her calm expression. "Fera Luzares," she accepted it and they did shake hands. "I know everyone from my circle, Fera." And he gave her a warm smile, she lost her words and her hammering heart against her chest brought an electric current throughout her body. 'Attorney,' she quoted mentally. "Feel at home, my driver will send you home by four in the afternoon." She unconsciously nodded and he let her hand go. He walked out leaving Fera in the doorway, if she wasn't just tensed, she might have dropped her jaw hearing those words. She was left in her most awkward situation, she didn't know if was it fine to walk in again. Would it be appropriate to roam around? "What should I do?" she spoke through her breath. "Miss Fera?" A servant approached her and she weakly turned her head. "Yes?" "Madame, Clarita asked you to come upstairs." 'Thank God,' she thankfully commented in silence. The servant guides her to Clarita's library. "Lola Clarita?" she called out, and she was too shy to repeat it. She couldn't feel comfortable in someone's presence, which she met just now. The library was indeed a library, she was expecting an office with a bookshelf or two but no. It was literally full of books, lines of bookshelves in a huge room. She unconsciously touched a book and read its title. It was a law book, articles, and history books. The next shelves were thick encyclopedias and then found the shelf full of romance stories, the shelf across it was a mystery thriller. "The secret room," she read its title. "Dear, I am sorry if I left you out there." She almost jump but managed to restrain herself and harshly closed her eyes. "No, I understand. I would have done the same if I was in your shoe." She answered and gave the lady an assuring smile. "My grandson has been giving me headaches, but he never came this far. I expect this from Constancio but it still did make my heart jump." She guided Fera to her coach and offered some tea. Fera quietly listened to her rants. "I know that it was very brave for Nick to help them but risking his life was a different story. His parents died when he was young, my son was a Detective and her mother was a loving housewife. Maybe he always craves for justice 'cause he never got that justice for his parents." She was a bit shocked by the mind-blowing information about Nick’s family. Her face turned into a confused look, and the lady realized her story. "I have gone far, that is not my story to tell. However, I have contacted my lawyers and promised that Kingston won't be spending his night in jail." She nodded shortly. "That's good to hear. He'll be out in no time. You have a great library, if I may mention." The topic was so down so she tried to lift it a bit. "Thank you, I love books, their smell, and the stories they hold."Chapter 12: I don't like HerWHILE DRYING HER hair, she got a message from Clarita. 'He's home, it was a false alarm.' After reading it she checked what time was it. Six in the evening, she swiped her phone and texted Lora.'Good Job,' just that. It was laced with sarcasm and partly genuine. She was thankful that she did what she was asked to but she couldn't let the part that Lora betrayed her by informing Fred too. She was already in her apartment, their driver send her home at three in the afternoon. As her eyes fell on her painting materials, she seemed hypnotized by them. She put her blower down and got her paintbrush and started mixing paints. While dipping her paintbrush into a bloody red shade of color, she was staring at the white Oslo paper on her painting stand. She was already imagining the image, she carelessly stroked the red paint on it. There has no definite direction it was messy in the center. After drying it she got her black ink, using that ink for her pen
Chapter 13: Cheese Burger Fera on the other hand tightened her grip on her pen. 'This idiot had a bad tongue,' she remarked silently. In her side vision, she saw that Nick turned his head toward that girl. At the end of their first subject the girl waited for Nick at the doorway, Fera pretended as if she saw nothing, it was not a big deal, and she care none.But the conversation between them was much clearer than her footsteps. The girl asked Nick to go with her to buy something in the canteen. Together with some of her classmates, they head to the next subject. In the room, she found Tunner in there.As Tunner saw her a wide smile escapes from his lips. He tapped the desk of a chair next to him, it was the first time that someone offered a seat to her. She awkwardly walked towards him and sat down."How was your weekend?" he asked with a full smile."It was fine," socializing wasn't her thing the reason why she found it awkward upon talking to someone she wasn't comfo
Chapter 14: NicknameFera realized what she said and Nick turned to her. "Sorry?" he asked. Then is followed by an awkward silence. "Did you just say, Nicky? I am not a gay." He saved her from feeling embarrassed. "I thought you are, Nicky." She loosened up eventually and felt comfortable with his response. "Disgusting," he blurted which made Fera laugh. While he hold his smile back looking at Fera who was laughing. She rarely laughed and he treasured every laugh she did with him."It's great, Nicky," she giggled."Don't call me that," he even pretended not to like it."No one tells me what to do,""That's unfair."They reached the apartment before dark and Fera peacefully cooked her dinner. This time she browsed how to cook step by step with video. She couldn't risk her apartment anymore. She tried to fried the chicken coated with flour. When someone knocked on her door, her face turned into annoyance. She had been struggling to do it right, she was afraid of thos
Chapter 15: Rain Drops WHILE WALKING INTO the gate someone was eyeing her like a hawk, her hair was dark as night and plain shiny hair. Fera noticed her stares, yet she acted unbothered. She was heading straight and the girl who was eyeing her stepped in her way. She tried to walk passed her yet she stopped her. Her frowned face turned into confusion. She flashed an innocent face before looking at the girl in front of her."Yes?" she asked. She took a step back to make her feel superior. "You are Fera, right?" She asked with full blunt, thinking Fera was an easy prey. 'What is her problem?' she mentally asked. It was the girl who hugged Nick yesterday. She dressed just fine for Fera's judgment. She wore a gold necklace, branded bag, and shoes. Flashy, all she could comment."Yes, I am." She politely answered in her most submissive tone. She was trying to avoid trouble at all costs. She couldn't risk her identity for a small petty fight."Could you stay away from Nick? I
Chapter 16: Fever"Oh! I do, fantastic. And look! It's nine pm here when you're supposed to be home at six." He flashed a fake smile that made him more sarcastic. "Get in," Fera was far from afraid, she only raised her eyebrow and got in while not letting Nick's hand go."Children, let me remind you that it is not safe to play at night, especially you Fairly." He glared at her through his rare view mirror. He started the engine and drove off. While Nick felt her annoyance, he regularly glance at her and the man who was driving. Different theories flashed in his head like he might be her brother or relative."You're not my father, Fred." She lost her mood when he called her Fairly, Nick wasn't dumb not to realize it was her name. Nick bit his tongue to lessen the awkward feeling."Cause he's dead and I am left to a hard-headed daughter, I was fucking tired from work an-""Enough!" she cut him off. They both knew that it wasn't safe for them to talk about it in front of Nick
Chapter 17: Taking Care Of HerFROM HIS DEEP THOUGHTS he noticed the paintings around. Her walls were almost covered with paintings. It was dark and sorrowful art. One was a hand holding a piece of broken mirror, and there was an image inside the mirror, an eye, with smudge eye shadow and it was teary-eyed. The other was a girl with curly hair with a smile on her lips yet her eyes were full of sadness. And he also noticed that the hair on that painting was sentenced, where the sentences were negative comments and criticism that the girls commonly receive. Such as she was ugly, fat and any other negative words that ruined every girl's self-confidence. He turned to her and touched her hand. While his eyes wander around her face, from her naturally thick eyebrows down to her pointed nose and her full lips. She was peacefully sleeping, while Nick felt his heart rate increase. A guy, when they want someone, they'd never deny it. And Nick knew what those heartbeats meant.A weak sm
Chapter 18: Somewhat a Deep Talk"Where are you?" Nick heard him ask. I couldn't answer right away since he was hesitant. "Let me guess, you're sick," he continued. Nick turned to Fera, he thought of waking her up to answer the call but he knew she needed to rest."State your temperature, I'll send Lora to take care of you." His bored voice spoke from the other line again, he did hear some noise of papers too."Thirty-nine," Nick answered and the other line went silent, it was awful silent."Where's Fera?" The only thing he spoke."She's-'"Give that phone to Fera," his monotone voice seemed deadly that didn't even let Nick finish what he was saying."She's sleeping," he only answered and instead of giving the phone to Fera, he went out of the room and lean on her door."Nick Kingston Hernandez," Fred stated his name which made Nick's face into a grim expression. "Seventeen years old, detective wannabe, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Hernandez who both died in a car accide
Chapter 19: My Nanny"FERA HONEY, WAKE UP," a soft voice entered her ears which made her open her eyes. She almost cried and jump to her when she saw who was it."Nana Felly," she whispered and the lady hugged her. After a tight hug, she stared at her white hair and white wrinkled face. Her caring stares made her feel comfortable. "Are you really here?""Of course," and she gave her another embrace, while Fera felt was just completely home. Fred may be evil sometimes but never did he fail to surprise Fera. She cooked for Fera and took care of her. She did all her laundry and never fail to check her once in a while. Before the day ends they had dinner together."When will you come home?" Her nanny asked. But Fera lost her words, she was never disrespectful to her nanny. She drank her water and cleared her throat."Nothing sooner," her cold answer was not new to her. She lives with her all her life."Why? Don't you miss hope?" Her caring voice and motherly tone was her wea