Chapter 1

"I can't believe this! I can't believe him! I hate him!" I was walking back and forth in Bella's room while saying that, but Bella just laughed at me after hearing what happened.

 

 

I went home immediately after that. That guy! How dare he embarrass me? Fvck him! 

 

"He had the courage to make me look like a child and he compared me to the girls there. He even told me to go home and not to play in a place like that because it's not a playground. How dare he do that! His face is so thick! I really want to punch him! He said he didn't need to come closer to any woman because the woman would approach him first! What does that mean? That he didn't need to do something because a woman would go to him without even doing? I want to erase his thick face!" I yelled because of the annoyance and irritation I feel to that Maddix.

 

 

"I wore something nice and revealing. I did my makeup, and that's all he said? What is all he is going to say? For the first time someone said I was young! A kid! Damn it! I even wore something like this, and then he's just going to call me a child?" I continued while the irritation and anger were really displayed in my eyes.

 

 

 

 

"Well, he is really so handsome. The way he looks, it's not shocking that he doesn't need to get a woman beside him. Girls will surely want to go beside him," Bella said. I gave her an angry look.

 

"And you think it's right to brag about that? He is just an asholle! He's arrogant! I hate him!"

 

Bella scratched her head and shook her head while looking at me. I know that she is seeing how annoyed I am right now.

 

"Come on. It's true that you're still young. I'll just remind you that the man you want to fall in love with is 27, so I won't be surprised if he thinks you're young because you're really young. You think you're the only one who thought of making Maddix Villaranza fall in love? I don't think so. On his money and his look, I'm sure there are many women who have tried to do that. It's not just you."

 

 

 

 

I looked at Bella blankly, but she didn't mind it. Instead of making her stop saying those words, she just laughed again while shaking her head.

 

 

 

 

"I have a perfect body at my age; didn't he see that? Didn't he see that my body is not young like he says? I am also pretty!" Damn it!

 

 

 

"So what's your plan? Don't tell me you'll continue your plan after he says those things. Obviously he will never like you; you'll just waste your time if you are going to continue this," she said before taking her phone from the side and getting busy on that.

 

 

 

 

I went home to their house because I didn't want to go home dressed like this. I will change my clothes here and go home. There's no problem if I sleep here. All I need is to call mom and say that to her, but I don't want to leave mom tonight because she is starting again and trying to take her own life. We have someone at home, but I still want to be there.

 

 

 

 

Mom was suicidal; since I was 15 years old when Papa died, she tried to take her life several times. That is the reason I'm so angry with Maddix Villaranza. If my dad hadn't died because of him, mom wouldn't have thought of killing herself and following dad in his death.

 

 

 

 

She loves Papa so much that she can end her life just to follow him, but I just can't get her. Why do I feel like I'm not enough to give her strength? Am I not enough? I think so. If I am enough, she will never think to take her life.

 

"I will continue. I can't give up. I will never just give up because of what happened.I have to carry out my plan to get revenge on him. If only you had seen his smile, it was irritating. I want to take that smile on his face. He doesn't deserve to be happy, or even just put a small smile on his face."

 

 

 

 

I heard Bella sigh after what I said. 

 

 

 

 

"But how? This is not really a good idea, Aliyah," she said gently.

 

 

 

 

"I'll find a way. I can find a way no matter what happened." I say it briefly because, after what happened, I don't even know how I'm going to do what I need to do.

 

I don't know what to do next, but I am sure that I will not stop here.

 

 

I went home after changing my clothes; I didn't want to go home dressed like that. I sighed and approached mom, who was now lying and sleeping on her bed. I came closer and fixed his blanket. She is hugging her dad's photo. It's been a year, but she's still very affected by what happened, and so am I, but I have to be strong for my mom.

 

If she can't be strong for me, I should be the one who will be strong for her.

 

Even though I'm weak, I have to get stronger.

 

I kissed her forehead before leaving and heading to my room. I spent the whole night thinking about how I could finally get into that man's life.

 

 

"We have finished discussing the work immersion that you will do next month." I lazily glanced at the front.

 

 

 

 

I'm in grade 12, and next school year will be college. Last month, they were still talking about the immersion, and it seems that now they are able to discuss where we will be doing the work immersion.

 

It's making me excited, but I was really thinking these past few days about what I would do to get into Maddix's life. I was too focused on him and planned to make him fall in love and ruin his life.

 

 

"Half of you will be put in a 5-star hotel, but the other half will be put on a cruise ship."

 

 

 

 

Many people were surprised to hear it and immediately cheered, even though no company had been mentioned yet. My whole spirit almost woke up when I heard it.

 

 

 

 

"That's why it took so long to make a decision because the original plan was for you all to go to a 5-star hotel, but VICL already offered. Last year, they didn't accept students, but now they are accepting."

 

 

 

 

Is this a joke? Or am I really just super lucky right now? I glanced at Bella when I noticed her glance. I just bit my lip to stop myself from smiling.

 

 

Ghad! I can't believe this!

 

I raised an eyebrow at him when she raised his hand.

 

 

 

 

"Are we the ones who choose where we do the work immersion? Or do you arrange the line-up, Mrs. Palaya?" That is her question.

 

 

 

 

I frowned, but the smile returned when I heard Mrs. Palaya answer.

 

 

 

 

"You are the one to choose. We will give you the opportunity to make a decision, but I just want to remind all of you that if you choose to be on a cruise ship, make sure that you will not get sea sick because of your ten-day work immersion. You will be inside the ship while it travels. Don't let it happen that in the ten days that you are staying there, instead of being able to train, you will be in the toilet and vomit all day." Some laughed after hearing the last words by Mrs. Palaya.

 

 

 

 

After she gave all the details of our upcoming work immersion, she left us for our next subject. As I expected, Bella quickly approached me.

 

 

 

 

"Where are the two of you going?" Seji quickly asked when she noticed Bella pulling me. Seji is our closest friend in the entire section.

 

 

 

 

"What, Bella?" I boredly asked Bella, but even though I didn't ask her, I knew what she was going to say.

 

 

 

 

"Don't tell me you're going to pick the cruise ship. Don't you dare. Do you want to vomit until the end of your work immersion?" She said, but I know that it's not just that.

 

 

 

 

I snorted. I've thought about that, but I don't care.

 

 

 

 

"Maybe I'll get used to it--"

 

 

 

 

"And what if Maddix Villaranza doesn't come? Come on, Aliyah? Just pick the 5-star hotel," she insisted.

 

 

 

 

She's right, but how can I know if I'm not going?

 

 

 

"I'm on a cruise ship--"

 

 

 

 

"I'm also on the cruise ship. What's the problem with you two, and you seem to be leaving all of a sudden?" Because of Seji's approach, Bella and I couldn't talk about it anymore.

 

We both stopped.

 

 

Bella let out a few sighs until we got back to the classroom. I finished all my school activities. For the past few days, Bella has been trying to convince me that I should pick the 5-star hotel, but I really don't want to. I'm going on that cruise ship no matter what.

 

 

 

Bella chose a 5-star hotel, while Seji and I were on a cruise ship. Only ten of us chose a cruise ship and more than a 5-star hotel. I'm just staring at the big ship in front of us, and I can't help but be overwhelmed. 

 

 

 

We are all excited because this is our first time riding on one of the big ships of the Villaranzas. An employee had finished orienting us earlier, and he gave us assignments one by one.

 

 

 

 

Seji and three of us were in the ship's restaurant, while I and the three of us were in the rooms. The two are in the ship's bar.

 

 

 

 

Since the ship hasn't started sailing yet, I'm still feeling fine. I just hope that even when it starts, I won't get dizzy. I followed an employee when he said we needed to follow him. He showed us which room to clean and anything else we needed to know.

 

 

 

 

After a while, we were left to get started. I looked around the room where I was now. I couldn't help but be amazed at how beautiful it was. A while ago, I almost drooled at the beauty of the entire surroundings in the Atrium.

 

 

I went out to get some cleaning that I will use. I was already pushing some cleaning tools when I felt the movement of the ship. At the first movement, my stomach almost immediately turned upside down.

 

Come on. I don't want to vomit!

 

 

My tears immediately fell to the side of my eyes when the sh*t moved again. I held tightly and closed my eyes to the cleaning container that I was pushing. I tried to calm myself down, but the ship continued to move. 

 

I touched my mouth because I felt that I was really going to vomit. When I opened my eyes, a door opened not far from me, and then I saw a familiar eye. He frowned while he was already looking at me from head to toe and up to the cleaning containers and tools in my hand.

 

 

 

 

"What are you doing here-- hey!" I quickly ran towards him.

 

 

 

 

I pushed him and entered the room where he left. I don't care if he is the owner of this ship! I don't care if he is going to shout at me. I really need to vomit!

 

 

 

 

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" He chased after me and even managed to grab my hand to stop me, but I grabbed my hand back.

 

Fvck him! Can't he see that I need a toilet right now?

 

 

I couldn't speak and struggled. When I was released from his hand, I headed for a door. I was almost thankful when I saw a toilet and didn't think twice about throwing and vomiting all up there.

 

 

 

 

I vomited here and didn't care if the owner of this ship was watching me. When I felt better, I flinched and went to the sink to wash myself.

 

 

 

 

When it was over, I noticed Maddix's gaze. His lips parted as he stared at me. He was leaning against the door of the comfort room. I bit my lower lips when I saw his amused look while looking at me. When he saw me looking at him, he smirked.

 

 

 

 

Damn it! Because of his smirk, I couldn't help but feel embarrassed. I took a step back when he levelled our eyes. I blocked my two palms between us, and he looked down there. I saw him biting his lips while his smile still played there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"You smell bad. It stinks, Kid," he teased, reaching for a towel to the side and placing it on my shoulder.

 

 

 

 

"S-Stay away from me! Who told you to come closer?" I tried to brace myself. I'm annoyed because I felt weakened by the look in his eyes at me.

 

I sighed when he walked away and turned his back on me. My face is heating, and I know that it's becoming red. And what did he say? Do I smell bad? Of course! I know that I should not feel shy towards him because he is nothing but an asshole, but I just want the earth to eat me.

 

 

 

 

"There is a toothbrush there that is not in use; you can use it," he said before closing the door between us.