Chapter 8: A New Day

Albert went downstairs dragging his feet towards the dining room. It was 7 in the morning and he needed to go to school for their varsity practice. Part of their yearly event was the Intrams.

Aside from the coming Photoshoot that would be held in Georgetown, their school was also busy choosing some students to represent the once-in-a-lifetime The International Physics Olympiad which would be held in Ireland.

"Albert, good thing you woke up early!" Christopher, his business tycoon father uttered.

Christopher was already having breakfast when Albert sat on his seat.

"Have to dad. The varsity has a practice every morning!" still groggy, he politely replied as he drank a glass of cold water.

"Hmm! That's good. After your class, if you still have time, come to the company. I need to teach you something!" Christopher sternly explained.

Albert's father was in his late thirties. He was in his prime. His features were actually the same as his. He was a spitting image of his dad in almost everything. Except for his eyes. He got his eyes from his mom, Carla who succumbed to cancer when he was just ten years old and that was four years ago.

Since his mom died, his father swamped himself with his work to forget the painful moments he and his beloved had experienced.

As for Albert, that was also the most excruciating pain a kid could ever encounter in his childhood life. Witnessing his mom suffer on daily basis, being with her on her death bed, watching her take her last breath, her eyes opened without blinking till she closed them for eternity.

The father and son managed to move on by making time as precious as gold.

His father was busy making money, he was busy spending them.

His father went out of the country six times a year and went back home with new multi-billion projects in his hand, he competed overseas and bagged home with one-of-a-kind awards six times a year.

What his father did, he copied in his own way and on his own level.

Albert snapped his fingers and nodded before he picked up the cutlery beside his plate.

When they'd finished their breakfast, he strode back to his room and took a bath.

Andy was waiting in the car when he caught a glimpse of Samantha walking in quick steps going to the main gate.

"Sam!" he called her name as he went towards her.

"Good morning, Uncle Andy!" she greeted as she bowed her head.

Andy didn't reply. He tucked her hair behind her ears and checked if there were dangling diamonds on both of her earlobes.

He checked her neck if there was a chain made of gold with a heart-shaped pink diamond wrapping around it.

He raised her left hand to see her wrist if the limited edition of the diamond watch he just bought yesterday was there.

He squinted his eyes on her new sneakers. They were not the ones he bought. He knew that. He could still remember the design for it was Samantha's favorite. Simple white and light pink stripes.

Then he pushed her to turn around.

"Sam, who bought your new backpack?" his voice was stern with a little hint of fear.

"Ahm, it's Andrea, Uncle!" she knew what Andy meant.

"Where are they?" he asked meaningfully.

"I placed them in my closet!" she twitched her lips with beseeching eyes.

"Listen to me, kid. I know it is not comfortable to wear them around for it might bring danger in your life but he is going to kill me when he sees you're not wearing them!" Andy was also entreating.

"Err! Uncle, can I just wear them occasionally?" Samantha's eyes flickered hoping to get his side but he beseeched her even more.

"Sam, can you do it for me, please?"

"Andy, where are you?"

When Albert's domineering voice sprouted like a mushroom behind him.

"Coming, Young Master!" he almost jumped to his feet. He immediately turned around before giving Samantha a 'run now' glare.

Samantha obeyed right away.

Inside the car, Albert's eyes were fixed on the path they're taking like counting the tall cypress trees aligned on its sides. If only Andy could speak that time, he would definitely ask "How many cypress trees have you counted so far?"

But he was wrong. His light brown orbs were glued outside coz he was looking for someone.

"Have you seen Fe's daughter today?" suddenly he popped out a question that made his hands tremble while holding the steering wheel.

"No, Young Master. Probably, she went to the bus stop early!" he hid his face from his reflection in the rearview mirror to avoid Albert's scrutinizing stare.

"That's odd. I'm already early!" he sat straight with an expression showing some frustrating despair.

Since the incident he heard at the corner in school yesterday, he had never seen Samantha again. Even when he went home, not even a shadow of her appeared in his sight.

"Young Master, we have arrived!"

Andy knocked his Young Master's senses that were occupied by the absence of their servant's daughter. He immediately composed himself as Andy opened the door for him. He got off the car well-mannered imposing a lordly aura that made the students turn around and stare at him.

This was his daily dose in the morning every time his luxurious Mercedes-Benz arrived. Students' heads turning, looking over their shoulders, sideward glancing, and the one he hated the most~ obvious deep stare which absolutely one of the so-called 'popular belle' was doing right now.

"Albert, I have been waiting for you!" it was Vanessa in her long wavy blonde hair and pouted plum lips, wiggled hips like she was doing a catwalk on the runway.

"What do you want?" packed with aloofness and coldness he naturally possessed, she was even more eager to be with him every day for she thought, they were match-made in heaven. An icy cold arrogant young man and an attractive hubristic young lady.

"I'm joining the photoshoot and one of the rules is, I have the right to choose my assistant. The modeling agency will pay the person per hour!" she excitingly uttered as she wrapped her hands around his hand.

"Great! Break a leg!" Albert nonchalantly responded.

"Thanks. Please watch my photoshoot!" she pouted her already pouted lips and flickered her obviously mascara-covered eyelashes onto his face.

"Alright. Let me know the date and time!" he felt burning with disgust. He removed his hand from her tight wraps and strode away.

She was left dumbstruck in the corridor while prying eyes and mocking smiles of 'nosy' students were fixed on her.

Meanwhile, in their classroom...

The boys couldn't settle on their seats. The girls were also gawking at her in disbelief.

Was she a new student? No, she had just dyed her hair!

Was she from a powerful family? No, she had a friend from that family!

Was she taller now? That's a big question, maybe!

"Sam, why do I feel like all eyes are in our direction?" Andrea whispered as she glanced around.

Samantha remained quiet. She busied herself looking at her books on the table. Like admiring their colorful covers.

"Alright, class!" their PE teacher arrived.

One of the students' favorite teachers for she always wanted them to play on the court early in the morning when the varsity team was practicing.

The girls were all agog to hear her next sentence. The boys sighed out of annoyance.

"We're going to have your practical exam in the court today. The team that wins will receive a high grade so better work in teams. The boys will go with Mr. Davis. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am!" after a long sigh, they replied.

Working in teams might be hard for some. For their members weren't all adept in that category. Some were well-versed in writing, and others were in practicals.

But Samantha and Andrea were skilled in both!

As they arrived at the covered court, the girls screamed in giggles right away. The squeaking of running shoes and the loud thumps of the ball engulfed the wide space.

"Fellas, belles!" Same as they were in primary days, Eddie would always consider all-girls 'belles'.

Albert ignored his words. He didn't even bother to glance at them.

"Wow! Albert, did you do a makeover on your daughter's servant?" Chester was flabbergasted upon seeing Samantha and Andrea quietly standing in the corner while listening to their teacher.

"What?" he turned around as he squinted his eyes while following Chester's gaze.

His blood boiled right away. Although her new looks were appealing and they really suited her persona, he hated the fact that almost everyone's eyes in the team including his two bestfriends were glued on her.

"You're really itching for your punishment!" he muttered inwardly.

The practical exam had started while the varsity team was watching. Samantha had never been this conscious in her life. She could feel a pair of burning eyes watching her every move. As the result, she lost a lot of scores. She cursed herself and him who wasn't doing anything except for glaring.

"Just look away, please!" she beseeched in her thoughts.

After the game, Albert strode straight towards her ignoring the confused looks of everyone including the PE teacher and their coach.

He held Samantha's elbow and scanned her from top to bottom.

"Why are you not wearing them?"

A roar soared in the whole basketball court. A flare that made everyone hold their breaths. A sentence that made Samantha shrank in her post.

"Young Master. I put them in my closet!" an answer that made him more upset.