Chapter 3

Nathan was quietly playing on his phone. He was obviously used to her sister’s behavior. After their conversation, Joy and Ara returned to their work, while Nathan was left in the living room watching the television.

Ara was looking to her pet dog. Everyday Amber need to take shower. She treat her pet like a human. 

  “Amber! Amber! ” I call the dog. 

  Where is she? I'm going to take her a shower because I don't want my bosses will smell her. I was still wandering inside the mansion. I've circled at the back of the house and still I cannot find her. I sighed as thinking, where is she now?”

  I went inside again and groped before the poor girl here in the mansion could even see her. As I looked around I heard Nathan talking to someone but I ignored him.

  I suddenly turned to him when I heard Amber barking.  Nathan is happily playing with my pet dog. No wonder I can't find her because she is with someone. 

  Amber is a gentle and kind dog, she like to play with anyone. I approached them to pick up Amber. 

 

 “Ahm…” I cough intentionally to get Nathan's attention who is busy dealing with the dog.  He immediately turned to me when he heard my voice.

 

 "Hi baby."  He smiled in greeting and bit his lip staring at me.

 

 “What baby are you talking about? I'm not young enough for you to call me baby, ” I said calmly.

  

He laughed out loud at what I said. And I turned narrowed my eyes as I looked at him.  This man really makes me pissed off.

  

“You smell like a baby, that's why I call you baby. Let me smell you! ”  he teased.

  

 He approached me nearer close to my face and sniffed at me. I turn my face away from him and slowly step my feet back. I didn’t realize that I was already leaning against the wall and he was still teasing me to sniff.

  

"What the fuck! Stay away from me! ”  I growl at him.

  I was even more nervous about what he was doing to me. I turned left and right to see if anyone was around to ask for help because Nathan was seriously teasing with me.

 I feel like my blood pressure has risen. My face become hot and I think it was already blushing. I don’t know if Nathan is joking about what he’s doing. I was surprised when he suddenly squeezed my blushed cheek.

  

"You’re blushing huh! I’m  just kidding! But I want you. I like your innocence, ” he said at once winking at me.

 

 

 I just gasped at what he did. I was confused by what he said. He want me and he like my innocence but it was joke. What is really true? ” I asked myself in confusion. 

  He slumped back on the sofa and played with his phone.  Amber jumps in front of me. I was stunned thinking and bit my lower lip. He drives my heart crazy every time he approaches me.

  I called Amber to bathe her and I didn’t want her to be stinky because she was playing with my bosses.

 I was about to turn around, leaving him without saying any words. But he called me. 

“Wait!” he said. But his eyes were still focused on his phone.

  "What?"

  

"Why both of you smell the same like your pet dog?" he asked but he did not glance at me.

  "What do you mean? I do smell like my dog? ” I angrily asked him. 

 "No… No… I mean, why both of you have a nice smell?" he defended his response.

 “Oh really! You are pretending but the truth is you just want to tease me over and over again, ” I said with a smirk.

  

He stood up suddenly at what I said. I carried Amber and hold her tightly. He approached me with his serious face and he stared at me biting his lower lip. I feel nervous that he might do something silly again, I acted immediately.

  “Amber, hold on, we need to run..."

Ara run so fast to avoid Nathan. She knew Nathan could do something to tease her, while Nathan shook his head looking at Ara who was running away from him. 

 A week pass and classes open.  Everyone prepared early for the first day of their entrance.

 In the garage, Mr. Arthuro was waiting to take them to school.  Nathan and Crissy went down early for their breakfast. While they were having breakfast Crissy called Ara and Joy.

 "Hey!” She pointing Ara and Joy. "I want to let you know that when we're at school, you pretend that we don't know each other," she said.

 "Yes Ma'am, we understood," Ara and Joy replied.

“Okay good!”

 

After fifteen minutes they were all done. But Crissy was reluctant to go with the same vehicle.

 "Bro, come with me," she invited Nathan. She was holding the key of the black Porsche.

 "I'm sorry my dear sister but I'd rather to go with them," Nathan refused Crissy's invitation.

 

"Your unbelievable brother, you'd rather be with them than me," she said bluntly.

After she heard his older brother's response she immediately walked into the car and drove fast. 

 "Father, we’re leaving early because Joy and I are going to read some books in the library," I said to my father.

 "All right, get on board," my father replied.

 We immediately got in the back seat but were stopped when Nathan preceded us. Joy and I looked at who would be next to him because my father use the car was only four seater.

 "You'll sit next to me here and Joy will sit in the front," Nathan said.

 "Huh!"

My heart pounded with excitement when he asked me to sit with him. I calmed down myself and didn't want to reveal it to my father.

 "Dear, get in!" my father called my attention.

 I didn't know that I was stunned and stood alone outside. When I sat down, Nathan looked at me foolishly.  But what I didn't expect again was that he poked me in my side. I was shocked and shout. 

 "Ouch..." I shouted so loud that I almost jumped on the seat. 

 “What happened to you Dear?" my father asked as he turned to me at the back. 

 I bit my lower lip by what Nathan did. I turned to him and narrowed my eyes.  He covered his mouth and suppressed a laugh.

 "A-Ahh...” No Dad I just dropped my stuff," I lied answering him. 

 "Ahm... Ahm..." Joy obviously acted that she is coughing. She knew Nathan had done something to me so I screamed.

 When we got to the school I silently went downstairs. I didn’t glance at Nathan because I was disgusted with what he did. Joy and I immediately went to the library to read some books because it was still early.

 Ara and Joy talked after they read some few books.  While waiting for their class time, they fell silent when they heard a group of students enter the library.

My eyes widened to see who had entered. Crissy was with her three wealthy classmates.  I just think they are impoverished, obvious in their actions.

 Joy and I were silent and reopened the book to read and just ignored them. They sat at the table next to where we were sitting.

 "Opss... Sorry!" said one of her friends.

 "Rag! Rag…” her friend shouted. 

I immediately turned to them.  I saw spilled orange juice on their table.

"Fool! You know that this area is library and you look for rags," Crissy said flatly

 "Oh wait! I saw a rag," she added again and turned to me.

 "Hey, you! Come on."  She pointed to me and waved to approach in their table.

 I approached without hesitation. I don't know why she called me. But I was surprised when she stared at my skirt. I checked my skirt and saw that it was not dirty.

 "Do you need anything?" I asked wondered.  Even though I checked my clothes a few times, I didn't find any dirt.

Without saying a word, she grabbed my skirt and wiped the spilled orange juice on their table.

 "Aww…” I shouted loudly. I unexpectedly she would do this to me.

 "Finally our problem solve, Thanks for that skirt of yours.” She laughed facing me and rolling her eyes. 

 Her friends non-stop laughing.  My whole body stiffened at what she did. It was as if something sharp had pierced my heart. For the first time in my life I was embarrassed. I hold back the tears that have accumulated in my eyes. While they were very happy with what they did.

 "You're crazy Crissy, your name really matters to you," her friend said.

 "Come on guys, let's just hang out in the canteen. Maybe I'll be going to wipe her skirt more." She raised an eyebrow in response and stared at me before turning around.

 The three immediately followed her. I sobbed when Joy tap me in my shoulder.  We both know we have nothing against them.

 We went to the bathroom to rinse my sticky skirt. I endured even wet clothes didn’t affect me to finish the whole day at school. What I have done wrong to her?  Why is she so mean to us I asked myself. 

 Joy and I quietly entered to the class, even though my skirt was wet but I endured it.  I didn’t care what happened, I focused my mind on listening to our teacher speak in front of us.

 "I noticed some of you weren't listening to me as I was speaking here in front of you. But it’s okay I'll let this pass because it’s first day of our meeting. And now I want to test your IQs and I have a question. To anyone who can answer will come home early and I will give you a big score in your grade, " our teacher said.

 "Here’s the question. ‘What is in the middle of the sea?" 

 Our teacher rolled his eyes to find who can answer to his question. He was holding a stick that he was using as he lectured in front of us.

 "Hm... Ms. Crissy Madrid please answer my question," our teacher pointing to Crissy.

 "What is in the middle of the sea?" our teacher asked again.

 "Of course the answer is fish," she replied with a high forehead.

 Her friends applauded. But they were all stunned when our teacher spoke.

 "It's a big wrong," a booming voice of my teacher in response.

 "Anyone of you can give the right answer?" my teacher asked while he walking in front of us.

 I raised my hand signaling that I knew the answer to his question. He immediately turned his gaze to me and pointed at me with the stick he was holding.

 "Yes, Ms. Sandoval, answer my question."

 "The answer is E sir."  SEA has three letters and E is in the middle, " I assured him.

 "Brilliant! You are correct Ms. Sandoval."  He is clapping at what I answered to his question and he is nodding looking at me.

 From childhood Ara was gifted. She carried it until she grew up. This is something that the Madrid couple likes her because she study so hard even though she combine work and her studies.

 "Now you are free from my class and have a points," he said and turning his back on me.

 "What the fucking answer," Crissy moaned and we all turned to her.

 "Please sit down Ms. Madrid. Your time is up to answer that question. Didn't I tell you all that is an IQ question," our teacher said emphatically.

 Crissy frowned as she sat down and she couldn't accept her defeat. I told Joy that I would be waiting for her at the library because it was too early to go home.  When I have a lot of time I devote it to reading.