I gulped in disbelief, as everyone in the room— including Hansel— went out to give us some alone time.
I didn't respond. I was too shocked. Mom was laying before me, totally ill, and my guilt was starting to eat me. Why did I feel so sympathetic? Why did I feel like I'd done something wrong? Why was this happening?
Tears fell down from her eyes continuously, and I found myself approaching beside her. She reached for my hand. The coldness of her skin along with the slenderness of it caused my heart to sink. I wasn't used to her touching me. It felt bizarre.
She looked horrible. Dad wouldn't even want her to be in this state. But why was I being like this?
"I didn't know you'll come," she said, tugging a genuine smile with her thin lips.
I looked away from her, not wanting to see her like this. I had wished for this to happen, but I didn't know why I felt so guilty.
Tomorrow, after the dreadful night at home, I still managed to get up and prepare for school. I wasn't going to stop, not now.Not now that I already felt good. Like the burden that was heft in my chest was put out. For the longest of years, I'd been wanting to feel alright. Then when this unexpected circumstance came, I was caught off guard. I'd been dreaming about the day Mom would suddenly realize her horrible deeds, but I didn't know why I felt guilty when she apologized. All I knew was that I was satisfied. Like I didn't need to prove anything to the world anymore.I couldn't believe I became vulnerable. I'd snapped, and the walls I built for myself was broken down. But I didn't regret it. It made me feel good, in a way that gave me hope to live. I was still sad though, to be honest. Dad was still held captive and Hansel's handling it. My reputation was still at risk and I had to deal with it.
The school was done, and I was heading to the exit. People were starting to diminish, as chitchats and cackles filled the entire hall. I was a bit exhausted, but it was unlike before. Maybe I was exhausted because I was so drained of socializing. Or maybe I wasn't still fine about what Daniel did awhile ago. Hell, it was beyond embarrassing.I walked to the section where bicycles and motorcycles were lined up to a straight line and approached Daniel to his Harley. He was fixing his helmet with a scowl on his face, as the sun struck his skin, illuminating the specks of freckles layed on the bridge of his nose. I moved closer to him, crossing my arms above my chest."Yo Daniel," I called, as he turned to face me. I grabbed the other helmet placed on the seat of his Harley and put it to my side."What?" he asked, eyebrows raised in confusion."Drive me home," I demanded with a stoic face.Dan
I couldn't utter a word, as my heart beat rapidly at the sight of Hansel. A grin was plastered on his face, bright and optimistic. My eyes were widened, my hands were sweating, and I caught a lump in my throat. I wanted to run and hide, but at this moment, I had no choice."Hi," I managed to utter, my voice sounded strained.He stepped inside without asking for permission and moved further inside the apartment.As soon as I turned my back, my world stopped when I saw Hansel and Daniel, staring at each other in confusion.Sweat started to trickle down to my temples, and my knees began to wobble. I hadn't pictured this scenario to happen and it was freaking me out. Daniel was staring at Hansel, eyebrows raised and eyes widened. While the grin of my stupid brother was replaced with a scowl.Clearing my throat, I moved in the middle of these two and curled my lips to a nervous smile.
I woke up late this morning. I'd forgotten to set the alarm, and now I was rushing to prepare for school.Beads of sweat trickled down to my temples, as my heart began to thump rapidly. I was sitting on the couch, slightly bent down as I rolled the black socks to my knees. Standing up, I moved to the shoe rack and grabbed my white Air Force. I slipped my feet inside of it, as I slung the bag on my shoulders.Just when I was about to go outside, my phone rang inside my skirt's pocket. I shifted my hand, twisted the knob and swung my apartment door open. Shutting it behind me, I fastened my pace down the hallway before answering the call."Hello?" I said, panting in exhaustion."Hey," I heard Miguel's voice from the other side of the phone. "The class is about to start. Are you gonna attend today?"When I heard his worried tone, comfort ran through me as I sighed in relief. I tugged a flatte
At lunchtime, I headed to the school's field to look for Daniel. Kourtney told me he and Mason were having training for tomorrow's football championship. I needed to talk to him before dismissal or else the questions in his head would remain unanswered. I wanted to clear things out, so he could trust me and there was no way in hell I was going to hide this for long. I hope he'd understand.I walked on the neatly groomed grass beneath me, approaching the leveled bleachers beside the field. Stepping on the stairs, I sat in the middle bleacher and roamed my eyes around the place.I was overlooking the green field that was packed with football players. They wore a black jersey and a football helmet that hid their faces. They ran along the field with their long legs, as the coach blew his whistle and signaled everyone to approach him. When they pulled the helmets off of their heads, I quickly spotted Daniel. His face formed into a tired scowl,
Hansel pulled up in front of William's place, as we both went out of the car and stood in front of the gate."It's massive," Hansel commented, viewing the house before us.I didn't picture myself to even return to William's place. And I didn't imagine that I would be stepping in this place ever again, just like when I came back home. This was making me feel uneasy, and the silence that covered the place was deafening.Heaving a sigh, I approached the guard beside the gate and gave him a stoic face."Is William there?" I asked."Unfortunately, he isn't. He left early and hasn't returned yet," the guard responded as he moved closer to me."Can we wait inside?""Sir Jones told us to not let anyone in unless he's home." The guard sounded hesitant, and I bet he knew I wasn't happy with his response because of the scowl on my face.The workers i
It was Thursday, meaning the football championship will start anytime soon. I was heading to the parking lot to meet Daniel because he offered to drive me to the game at Cedarwood High.A while ago, during lunchtime with The Royals, the atmosphere seemed to change. I didn't know if it was just me, but everything went . . . dull. Amanda was always on her phone, talking to a random person and completely ignored everyone's presence, including Miguel. Emma and Caley seemed to be close now, and they would casually talk to me in a random moment. Then Kourtney wouldn't stop babbling about how stressful she was bearing with her sister. Miguel seemed distant, and every time I would approach him, he seemed calculated. Mason and Daniel were having their practice for the championship later, making the whole lounge . . . quiet.Suddenly everything went uncomfortable, I didn't know why. So for the entire school hours, I was silent. I didn't bother to ve
I was sat next to Caley and Miguel the whole game. Caley would casually talk to me about how good Daniel at running around like a sprinter. While Miguel kept quiet for the entire game. I felt a little embarrassed about making him uncomfortable, especially after what he saw a while ago. And I was starting to notice how him and Amanda were so distant lately. Did they have a fight?As unexpected as it seemed, though Daniel and Mason did their best, they didn't win the championship because one of their teammates was disqualified for punching a jock while the game started. Mason-- being the captain of the football team-- immediately stopped the fight before it got too far. They had a few minutes break before continuing the game, and unfortunately, Kingsley was deducted three points because of that.Daniel didn't seem happy with it, that's why he poured all his energy to surpass the opponent's leading score. All of us held our breath while watch
The whole ride on the way back to the hotel was quiet. We immediately left Paola’s house after the conversation we had, and Miguel didn’t choose to persuade her more for he understood her situation. All that I could do at that moment was empathize with her for her loss and we did everything we could to not make her feel bad about not helping us. Miguel also had told her to go to their mother which Paola instantly declined since she felt hesitant to show up to him. Then we all bid her goodbye along with Xavier.
“I met up with our father yesterday,” Miguel said and it received a baffled reaction from Paola.Her eyes widened and she stiffened on her seat as she stared at Miguel.
The next day, Gwen, Miguel, and I left the hotel in the afternoon along with William’s men. We would be heading to the person Miguel was referring to yesterday and we would try to talk to him or her about Fernando. To be honest, I was full of anticipation and I was being optimistic about the outcome. I wouldn’t deny, I was still a little nervous.We were inside the car and Miguel was in the driver’s seat. Gwen was sitting at the back while I was on the shotgun.
No one knows where the golds are, only your father, I repeated Fernando’s words in my head. I was certain that I knew where my father hid them, and he entrusted those to me that’s why I became the new keeper. Why did he come up to that conclusion? Did the Houstons know that I hid the golds?“You know that my father’s dead, right?” I said, my tone was laced with resentment. “And the treasure didn’t die along with him.”
Seeing Fernando sitting in front of me was probably one of the most unsettling feelings I’d ever had. I stared at him in awe, trying to hide the anxiousness I suddenly felt at the sight of him. He plastered a stoic face, and only two guards were standing on both sides of Fernando. I was right, he looked just like an Italian mafia boss in his early thirties. But I knew he was older than that, he just appeared younger because there weren’t any apparent wrinkles that formed on his face. I knew where Miguel had inherited his features, and I could already visualize how he would look like when he got old.
I was seated in front of these men who were gawking at me as if I was prey they needed to devour. There were five of them, and Fernando sat in the middle, contemplating. Beside Fernando was Dmitri, smiling mischievously like he was planning something sketchy. They’d locked William up in a chamber, and I was left alone because we got caught. We failed to conceal the secret between Arthur and William, and we were about to escape Mexico when we got caught by Fernando.
We got out of the car and moved closer to the house that looked just like a freaking castle. It was an old-style house, a bit outdated if you would ask me. But it was gorgeous, dark, and foreboding. It was the house you would expect a beast would live in. The house was surrounded by trees that there were dried leaves that scattered all over their unkempt lawn. The grass had grown tall, maybe because no one was staying here and no one looked out for their house. The hedges that ran along the front of their house also looked dehydrated, and they weren’t the luminescent green color we’d always had at our home. This looked more like a haunted mansion that no one would ever dare to stay here for long.
I was in a deep slumber for the entire ride that I hadn’t realized that we’d landed already. Though I’d already slept, it seemed like I had just blinked my eyes and now we were here. It was quick, about an hour or two rides that I honestly didn’t expect. Gwen had woken me up when we arrived and we quickly got off the plane. William’s men, who I barely communicate with, held our luggage. When I roamed my eyes around the place, we were taken to another hangar which wasn’t expected.
I was in a deep slumber for the entire ride that I hadn’t realized that we’d landed already. Though I’d already slept, it seemed like I had just blinked my eyes and now we were here. It was quick, about an hour or two rides that I honestly didn’t expect. Gwen had woken me up when we arrived and we quickly got off the plane. William’s men, who I barely communicate with, held our luggage. When I roamed my eyes around the place, we were taken to another hangar which wasn’t expected.