Chapter 6 | Dad?

My seat was positioned on the second row of third column. Leisurely drumming my fingers in the chair desk with a pad of paper whilst my feet stretched, just heels touching the floor. The room was filled with thick cold air hissed out by the aircon that took a neat spot on the ceiling. 

I threw a glance at the man behind me, he's the same man that sweetly wrapped his arm around my neck just a moment ago. He's wearing a mischievous smirk after pulling his head back to seal a good sitting posture, his remarkable bluish eyes were fixated to the new student. My eyes traced down to his lips, that's the very lips that breathed out a whisper to my ear. It's sexy huh?

I shook my head a little to slash out the idea as I returned my attention to the dreamy eyed guy who's currently introducing himself.

"Uhm....I hope to have a good time with you guys, and expect to know y'all" he dismissed it with a shy smile. He roamed his eyes, apparently spotting for a vacant chair.

 I noticed that the new guy lifted up his right foot to trail his way to the spot at the back.

"Surely, you'll have a great time with the Queen" I heard my seatmate mumble. I finally gave in a look to her direction the moment that she suddenly raised her hand. 

"Uhm, you can take my seat" she unawarely said that loudly, but it seems like she didn't care. Her smile was from ear to ear. I'm afraid that it might reach further. She winked without putting down her hand.

"Hey, I think you don't need to that" I uttered in my serious voice. 

"I insist, Queen" gathering her things up, she offered an amused grin. I'm starting to wonder now whether the owner of this body got Queen Alyana Yvonne Veneracion or Alyana Yvonne Queen Veneracion, or Alyana Queen Yvonne Veneracion as her complete name.

I shoved off the idea, the transfery innocently set his nice aura beside me.

"Please bring out one fourth sheet of paper or a one-eight index card, write down your complete name, address, and contact number, after that you're dismissed." The professor in thick eyeglasses and navy blue dress instructed, "and don't forget your section 2-1" picking up her phone, she pouted and narrowed her eyes on the screen as if reading a suspicious message. I lazily opened my bag. Wow! Alyana was a girl scout! She got a complete supply of the different sizes of index cards and papers inside. A not so big purse was on the front most position, I held and opened it gently. A smile slowly curved on my lips in amusement. It was a collection of pens in different point sizes. I felt like a kid. I picked the black inked one, it was cased in gold and silver. Just as I'm about to write, I catched a shocked image on my peripheral vision, I spared a glance at him, he's moving his hand on his pack, desperately looking for something inside. Sliding his other hand on his pocket, his facial expression abruptly changed to dismay. I dropped my gaze back to my business in a snap the moment that he fired a glance at me. I fixed my posture.

"Ah, e-excuse me. D-do you have an extra pen" his vox almost cracked. I sluggishly leveled my eye to him. His eyes are shaky. I motioned my hand to lend him a pen, "sure..." I let out a wry smile. Then murmurs started to buzz around the room. Paying no regards on the matter. Slipping my palm on the purse, I randomly picked another marker. The buzzing annoyed me as it resulted into a mild uproar.

"Queen...y-you can get your p-pen back. I can give him m-ine"

"Or mine"

"He can have this too"

"Or this"

"Also, this"

 My classmates started to inch their way towards me. Parallel emotion was plastered on me and on the face of the man beside me: shock and uncertainty. After a second of thinking. The startlement sticked on my mood turned to smirk. Alyana is really something.

"Don't bother volunteering your ballpens, it's ok. And besides I have a lot of it" I signalled off the building commotion. I snatched the silver colored pouch and opened it wide to show it off. Instead of flicking up on the bundle of pens, their widening eyes were barred on me, disbelief were imprinted on their pale faces. Have I done something wrong?

I tried to display a it's-really-fine smile to the best that I could. I ran my finger in the pouch zipper and closed it slowly. They looked from me then to one another, then to me again, as if making sure that everything going on was real. 

Lowering my gaze, an authoritative complexion entered our classroom, everyone ran, some jumped to their respective seats. I began to lightly drum my fingers on my chair desk again, I heard laboured breaths around me. Taking in calm puffs on my lungs, the man who just entered started to speak.

"Good day students, I just want to inform everyone that the yearly grand ball that was cancelled last school year will be done this year," he paused, he smiled like a father gearing up to open a surprise, "and it will take place next week" after uttering that, he faced our attending class professor to hand a folder of papers. 

"Tell him later that he is really amazing" someone hissed at the back of my head. I didn't really understood. I just dropped off the notion. 

My heart almost escaped from my chest when I heard the man in black and dignified suit call my name.

"Alyana. Proceed at my office after class" what? He gave me a knowing look.

"Thank you, director" our teacher said, she bowed a little as a sign of respect and gesture of good bye. My jaw dropped realizing that he is the school's principal, that's what I thought, not until I entered his grand office located at the rearmost part of the campus.

__xXx__

"Good afternoon, sir" I said, it was so soft that I find it close to murmur. Screw it! can't you say it louder Vien?

The man slowly removed his coat and placed it to his wide table, in white long sleeve, I guess he's at early 50's, emitted in his vibe was humbleness. He slowly smiled when he noticed me standing by the door. 

Describing my posture: I'm frozen standing like a statue.

"Hi honey, have a seat" fixing the stack of papers, he placed a gold colored pen in his chest pocket. "I heard you're late this morning....what happened?" still preoccupied reordering the sheets. His brows suddenly arked the moment that he looked at me 'coz I didn't moved even a single step towards the sofa. I'm still towered stiff on the door.

I'm not just used to facing school heads even before when I'm still in high school, I hate the seriousness that's caged inside the room everytime, so here I am. Can't even dare to move my toes. 

"Hey, what's wrong? Is it too hot, your sweating," he chuckled as he made his way to me, he gently held me on my wrist and motioned me to have a sit. 

"I'm sorry," I mumbled shyly. Unceasingly playing the strap of my bag, I nibbled my lower lip. 

"Fix yourself then, honey... I'll head you home" he said sweetly with a sparkle in his deep hazel brown eyes. 

I'm starting to get suspicious of the relationship between this man and Alyana. But, judging from the surface, this man looks decent, even so, I can't trust anyone, especially at the moment. So, I don't want to draw quick and careless conclusions.

I wanted to resist his offer, but how could I further unravel truths if I won't go on with the bait?

F a s t F o r w a r d

Seating at the back seat. I opened the car window letting the cold air caress my skin. I closed my eyes as I tried to adjust and force myself to accept the bliss of facts running at the moment. That I have to live the life of Alyana Yvonne. A tear successfully escaped. I wiped it in a haste believing that no one, even the shadows creeping in the dark surrounding wasn't able to see it.

"Turn left please" I quavered when I saw a street mark, I can clearly remember that I passed that way this morning. 

I'm really used to doing that: directing a driver about the path. Not to brag, but I'm really good at remembering location and the exact path to reach there.

"Turn right at the intersection ahead" gesturing my hand to point out. Adjusting my pupils more at the lightless road, I managed to discern another yellow symbol.

The man at the driver's seat curved a smile while maneuvering. 

"And take another tu----"

"I know, I know...I travel that path home, dear. We're headed at the same house" he lightly laughed, he slashed my euphoric statement. Gaping in sight, I ran my gaze towards him.

"I'm your father, remember?" He jokingly said. Looking towards me desperately with the aid of the mirror, I saw him beam. 

What?!

I wanna scold myself for being suspicious towards them in a negative way. Even if I'm shrinking in self shame, I managed to show him a tamed expression.

So he's Alyana's father. No, my father from now on.