04: Keiko

Naiah's POV

I was staring at nothing particular when my phone rang. I creased my forehead, I am not expecting a call, so who is it? And besides, no one would like to call me. 

"Hello?" I asked in a monotone. Just to be sure it wasn't a prank call.  

"Naiah Rizonde" my confusion intensifies, how come this guy knows my name? 

"You know my name" I'm not asking, I stated that still in monotone. 

"Obviously" I furrowed my eyebrows more in irritation. This person has the nerve to be sarcastic, eh. Who the hell is he? 

"Who are you?" I asked, he's pissing me off. Once I've got to know this person, I will punch his face nonstop. 

"I'm your cousin" I smirked at that. 

"And then?" I asked and gritted my teeth. A cousin of mine? I don't even have the knowledge that I have a cousin, after all, he is a guy. I don't have any cousin from my mother's side that is a guy. Is he perhaps, my cousin on my 'invisible' father's side?  

"Are you from my daddy's side?" I asked, if he is, then we're good. I wanna know if who's who, but how come he knows me? 

"You can say that" 

"Uhuh" I waited for his response. 

"Okay, to be honest, it was such an honor to be able to talk to our boss's daughter" I wasn't able to hear his words because some students passed by and they are so talkative. But I was able to hear the word 'daughter'. So I assumed that he's about my dad. 

"Do you have anything to say?" I asked him as I scanned where I am. I'm in the garden of the school and I have an hour break before my classes this afternoon. I shifted my attention to the other line when he cleared his throat. 

"Actually, can we meet? Or maybe we can have dinner together later" he said a little bit unsure. 

"If I don't want to? Besides, you're still a stranger" I said as a matter-of-truth. It was true though. We just know each other through a call. 

"Expected that already. Well, I also have something to tell you about your father. Interested?" I stilled, not knowing how to absorb what he said, do I want to know things about my father from him? I was hesitant at first. 

After all these years, with all of the unanswered queries, am I able to fill those now? 

"Okay" at last, I answered. If it was just a prank call, he will really meet my fist.  

"I'll text you what time and where. See you, then. Ciao" I stared at my phone afterward. Later, I will be able to fill in all of my unanswered questions. Of who is my father? Since birth, I wasn't able to see my father. My mother won't let me. But, I secretly saw my mother crying on the balcony holding a picture frame. Perhaps, it was the picture of her husband, my father. I remembered, she doesn't want me to have a look at that picture or even to have a touch of it. 

Whenever I asked her about him, she will just divert my attention to other things, and as a kid at that time, it was easy for me to divert and just forget it for some time. 

"A penny for your thoughts?" I glanced at my side when I heard a woman's voice. I shivered at her voice. It was deep for a woman like her. But you'll notice a bit girly tone on it, it just that, you need to have a keen observation.  

"Seems like you in deep thoughts" I was out of my reverie when I heard her voice again, I crossed my arms at my chest for the atmosphere suddenly changed, Geez! Why is it so cold?  

"Not really," I said and looked at her face. She also has a deep pair of eyes, her orbs are in a dark green shade. That's not shocking as I also have a unique light gray pair of eyes hidden on my brown eyes right now. Yeah, I wore contact lenses. Since my mom died, I've decided to wear one. When I was only a kid, every time I'll go out, my mother would tell me to wear contact lenses. That seems weird, that was what I thought back then but I just shrugged it off. 

That time, I was thinking that maybe other people would be weirded out if they'll notice my gray eyes, that's why my mother always tells me to wear those. I am also scared that they will throw an egg on my face, my facial collections will be a waste, kidding. 

"You're wearing contacts" I was able to hide my surprise, but my voice betrayed me. 

"Do I?" I asked, I bite my lip. I wanna slap my mouth for I nearly blurted out questions on her. Though, I think she has a pair of sharp ones, she's observant. 

"Yeah" she only said and shrugged. Silence ruled the place. So casual, it was as if we are friends before, tsk. Why is it that there were people who I don't know that will talk to me as if we know each other? Do they have an intention? Is it good or bad? Is it only a coincidence? Those are the main questions that lingered on my mind. 

"I'm Elziara, but I prefer L," she said, I immediately looked at her. She scared me. 

"Naiah" I introduced. And then silence ruled the place, again. Geez! One phrase at a time. This is really an awkward situation for me. I'm not used to socializing with other people. I admit that I am an introverted kind of person. I think it was because I'm used to being alone and my mother was always away. I am left alone at our house, so I discovered things on my own, even the knowledge of actions. 

"Care to share?" I averted my eyes and looked at L.

"Share what?" I asked her, confused as to why did she ask that. 

"Your thoughts. I might drown any time" I rolled my eyes. She talks as if she isn't the same. 

"I'll ask the same then, care to share?" I said, she lifted her lips for a smirk. And so I did. I don't know why but in one glance, we were able to understand each other. I found a friend, at last. 

I was fidgeting my fingers as I wait for my oh-so-called cousin at the back part of the restaurant. So much for trouble, I glanced at my clothes, I suddenly feel out of place. They didn't inform me that it was a party, not a restaurant, note the sarcasm. All I know was, it is a dining place not for a party. But yeah, I don't really understand those people who have money or wealth. 

"I'm sorry, I got stuck in traffic" I grimaced at how he uttered those words. 

"It's okay, your treat right?" I asked, I smiled when he nodded. I ordered all the food I want. Besides, he told me it's his treat. I'm hungry, so it wasn't my fault. 

"You can also order now, I'm done with it" and he looks like he has money everywhere, so he shouldn't mind the bills, right? Well, he chose this kind of restaurant, I presumed, he knows that. 

After we ordered, silence filled our table. Not knowing what to say, I just stared at him. Based on his features, I believe he is really a cousin of mine. He's good-looking! And I'm gorgeous, of course, justice serves us right. Kidding.  

"Here's your order Ma'am and Sir," a waiter said, he placed down the food on the table. I ordered crabs and shrimps, chicken fillet, beefsteak, and pair it with an iced tea. I glanced at my oh-so-called cousin's dish for tonight. He only chose a fried chicken and a beefsteak partnered with a wine. I don't know what wine, though. 

"I can finish it, don't worry" I interjected when he was about to say something about the meal in front of me. I was really nervous to meet him, it makes me want to eat a lot to make up for it. 

"Okay, enjoy with your feast then" I rolled my eyes at him, though it was only a joke, my eyes do the job. 

"I'll help you with that," he said when he saw me having a hard time taking out the shells. I nodded. He helped me with the shrimps and crabs, at the same time, taking his meal.  

"Are you allergic to seafood?" I asked, he looked at me and shooked his head. I nodded my head.  

"Don't want to? It's delicious" I said as I handed him a piece of shrimp. He stopped for a while but took it in his mouth. I looked at him, asking if it was good. 

"Indeed," he said as I smiled and continue eating. I shrugged, I feel like we know each other for a long time. The atmosphere was light and maybe this was the connection that we had as a blood-related. 

"You want wine?" He asked after we finished eating. It took us 30 minutes to finish those, he also helps me finish all of the food on the table. 

"I don't drink," I said and sipped on my iced tea. A prefer juices to alcoholic drinks. Wine is for those who have wealth and money. And I am not that person. 

"Where do you want me to start?" He asked but as I glanced at him, I caught a glimpse of someone I know. He's with two guys and they were laughing. Whoah, he knows how to laugh, huh? I thought he is as cold as an ice and as hard as a stone. But then, I don't know him that much. 

"Who are you looking at?" I didn't take my eyes to the person I saw just now. I stared at him. 

I hurriedly glanced at my oh-so-called cousin when he asks me a question. That damn question really took me by surprise. 

"Is that Keiko?"