Chapter 3

It was him again.

 

He smiled at me. That usual smile that seemed to be poking fun at me. 

"What are you doing here?!" I asked angrily. 

My jaw dropped as he closed the door before finally facing me. He rolled his gaze all around and spun around the room. "This room is too insufficient. Are you sure you guys are comfortable here?" 

"I said why are you here?! What do you need—" My eyes widened as he approached me. 

"I said don't come near me..." 

Luxious stopped walking when he noticed my terrified response. He stared at me. "Look at you..." A wicked grin flashed on his lips. "Why are you so frightened, Tiarra? I haven't done anything yet." He smirked sarcastically. 

Irritation showed on my face as I stared at him. "What do you need?" my lips trembled when I asked that. 

"Need?" He looked heavenward, thinking. "Should I tell you something first?" 

"Huh?"

He came at my direction and sat on the edge of the bed. He glanced at me. His face is unreadable. "You know, when you suddenly pulled me that time... I really assumed I was going to die. I saw stars. I even saw heaven open their gates for me as I fell down." He giggled.

Heaven open the gates for him? Is he certain he saw heaven or maybe it is hell? 

He suddenly pulled me, making our face closer. 

 

 

"I won't tell anyone what you did, just do what I want in return. What do you think?" his face went serious when he raised a question.

I stared into his eyes. Eyes with a variety of colours I couldn't identify. 

"What are you saying?"

He released me. "I won't tell others what you did. In return, you will do what I need..."  

"What do you want me to do then?" I weakly inquired him. Luxious face brightened. 

"You just have to be my dog," he spoke casually. 

My jaw dropped. 

Huh...?

Huh?!

"You remind me of my puppy who died a month ago, so..." He tapped my head and smirked. "Are you willing to be my dog then?" 

"Dog?!" My eyes widened in shock. "Are you completely demented?! Who wants to be your dog?!" I nudged him so hard and quickly ran towards the door.

Did this creep bump on his head really hurt that it affected his way of thinking? He's weird and terrifying! I turned the door handle and was immediately stunned. I tried to turn it again but still couldn't open it. 

"What did you do? The door won't open!" I turned to Luxious who's looking at me malevolently. He remained sitting on the bed, just watching me serenely.

"Oh? I locked the front knob before I entered. You can't open the door unless someone arrives here... My bad!" 

I glared at him. Piss off!

"Stop fooling around! Get me out of here! Now!" 

"Oh, Tiarra... do you really feel hostility towards me so much that you couldn't afford to breathe the same air that I do? Come here. I won't hurt you." He tapped his side. I just frowned more.

It took minutes before I decided to approach him. I heard him grinned. I sat down next to him and looked at him sharply.

 

"Why do you look furious? I am being nice to you here. C'mon, don't be mad at me," his face was so innocuous when he uttered that! 

"Are you intimidated because of what you've done to me?" he asked, obviously heckling me.

I was immediately petrified.

"I... I swear! I didn't mean to do that..." My voice was shaking. I remembered what happened again. Everything went into a flashback.

"I knew that you didn't do it intentionally, it was an accident. However, once my family finds out what you did, they will never give attention to any of your excuses. You and your mother will instantly kick out of here." My chest throbbed from what I've heard. 

"So Tiarra..." Luxious grabbed my shoulder and made me face him slightly so he could see my exact expression. "I won't tell anyone what happened. I will keep my mouth seld. I will guarantee your secret. In return, you will be by my side." 

"Why?" I asked, mystified. 

"Hmm?" Luxious frowned due to my question. "I said that's because you reminds me of my dog. Are you even paying attention?"

I was frustrated. I almost punch him. "I still don't understand, you idiot." 

"Oh? Is that so?" He chuckled. "I'll clarify it then." He sat properly. "I had a lil' dog. He always had been by my side. He's awfully cute. Yet suddenly... my dog ​​disappeared. He vanished and since then I became totally lonesome." Luxious smiled sadly. 

"Don't you still get it?" He glanced at me.

"What if I don't agree?" I said. 

The smile disappeared from Luxious's lips quickly. "Shame." 

He stood up and put his hands in both pockets of his shorts. "I won't force you though. If you don't want to, I can't do anything about it. Even so, my mouth will still remain shut." 

I fell silent.

 

Luxious wouldn't tell anyone the truth? Even if I don’t follow what he wants, he still won't say what happened? 

"O..Okay." 

"Okay?" He turned to me quickly. 

"Fine... I'm gonna do what you want." I averted his sights. 

"Really?!" he said happily, he came over to hug me. I quickly pushed him and kicked his stomach. 

"Hey! Don't even come near me!" 

He ignored that and just smiled. "So cynical..."  

"Why do I need to be your dog? I can... just be your friend—" My cheeks heated.

It's such a shameless thing to say! Why did I even say that? I'll take it back! 

"Friend, huh?" he uttered and then smiled. "I preferred you to be my dog. I could have leashed you so that you wouldn't run away." 

I was dumbfounded. 

Is this boy really serious?!

Now that I think about it, he doesn't seem like a child when he speak...

"Leash?" 

"Leash, Tiarra. You should leash the dog so it doesn't get loose." 

"You'll tie me up, then?" I asked. 

Luxious laughed so hard. "I wanted to... but I won't do that literally," he replied and glanced at me. He smirked. "That's not an ethical thing to do, y'know?" 

At least he's aware 'bout that.

"Fine." I sighed. "Just promise me that you won't hurt my mom." I looked at him seriously. "Don't make a fool of her or else, I'll punch your face," I added. 

Luxious smiled brightly. "I promise, I won't do that. You also have to vow..."

"What?" 

"I am who I am, and you are who I am..." he stated solemnly.

"You are who you are, and I am who you are," I said it in all earnestness even though it confused me.

What does it even mean? 

He smirked, satisfied. "That's the pledge."

_

I was really happy being with Luxious. For me, I felt like he was not just a friend but also a brother. That's what I felt about him back then...

When mama saw us together, she was surprised. She asked me a lot of questions. She is confused why Luxious approached me. 

“He just wanted me to be his friend.” I lied. 

"Friend?" Mom was shocked. "Tiarra! Didn't I tell you not to come near him?" 

"Trisha ..." Mom turned around when she heard Luxious' voice. I thought that moron had left the room but it seems like he remained outside the door to eavesdrop!

"S..Sir?" My mom looked startled. 

"Just let her." Luxious' face was emotionless. "I want Tiarra to be my friend. I hope you will allow her." Then Luxious smiled sweetly at my mother causing her to be surprised. 

Eventually she was convinced. Mama did nothing and just let the two of us, even though I felt her resistance...

_

"Hey, dumbhead..." I stopped watering the plant when I heard Luxious' voice. I looked where his voice came from and I immediately spotted him near the door, looking at me with his annoyed expression. 

I frowned. "Why?" 

"What are you doing?" he asked, looking at the plants.

"Watering the plant, obviously?" I sparingly answer and returned my attention back to my work. "Stop being a bothersome."

"It's not your responsibility to do that."

I stopped myself and glanced at him. "It is technically my job—" 

"Just come to my room." He cut me off. "I'm bored so... let's play," he said calmly and immediately turned his back on me to go back inside. 

It always happens every day. Whenever I was doing work in the mansion, or helping the workers, Luxious would immediately show up to stop me from doing it. Then he will invite me to come inside his room and play several games that I'm not familiar with. 

"You don't know how to play video games? That's lame," he commented as we played video games here inside his room. Compared to the maid's room, Luxious’ room is more spacious, more elegant and cleaner. There are lots of different kinds of toys around. He said that they are limited editions and were even purchased from other countries. 

He's indeed a spoiled brat. 

I sat on the floor while he was on the bed. He even tried to force me to sit beside him but I refused. I don’t want to dirt his bed. 

"There's nothing like this in our village. I'm just used to street games," I said while looking at the words 'Game over' on the screen of his big television.

"Street games, huh?" That seemed new to him. I turned to Luxious. "Street games like: chasing, hide-and-seek, heaven and hell, and more. It's fun especially when you have a lot of friends." Luxious went silent. 

"Why?" I was nervous at the expression on his face. 

"Wanna try it." 

I smiled as I've heard that.

"Let's begin with Heaven and Hell. It sounds interesting," he added and grinned.

Luxious and I played with those games I mentioned. I taught him what and how to play those games. We were happy even though we were the only two playing here in the front yard of their mansion.

Luxious seems enjoying though. It seems like he experienced being a kid just now. Well, he acts like an old person all the time, it scares me sometimes. Now that I felt that he is really my age, I am also able to enjoy with him. 

"Young Master Luxious? Tiarra?!" Mom's eyes widened when she saw Luxious and me. We were both sweaty and dirty. The sky is turning orange too, we just finished playing.

"Prepare my bath, Yaya Trisha," Luxious ordered my mom while wiping his sweat with a white towel. 

Mom nodded and glanced at me. "Tiarra, come inside and take a bath as well—" 

"We will take a bath together," Luxious interrupted what my mom was going to say. I quickly turned to Luxious, wondering what he said. 

"Hey?! What are you saying?"

"S..Sir?"

"My bathtub is not that tiny. She and I can fit in there, right? Is there any problem with that?" Luxious asked my mom innocently. He also glanced at me. My mom immediately shook her head, although she was hesitant, she immediately obeyed his command. I know my mom was against that idea because like what she instructed me, I shouldn’t be close to him. 

But what else can we do? Luxious is the boss. We are just his servants.

We don't have a choice but to follow him.

"Why do we even need to take a bath together?! Are you an idiot?!" I asked him as we headed to his room.

"I used to took a bath with my puppy before—"

"That's a dumb reason! When will you stop treating me like your dog, huh? I am human. A human!" I said, already irritated.

 

Luxious can sometimes be so annoying. He always has been.

 

"Additionally, I am a girl! A boy and a girl should not take a bath together!" I tried explaining it to him but he didn't seem to care.

He glanced at me with his annoyed expression. "Are there any ordinances that forbid females and males to take a bath together?"

I was speechless because I also had no idea.

I just followed him and no longer say anything.