5

Chloe Montclair

"Why do you two look stunned? Don't tell me you had no idea of what's going on?."

"Of course, we don't. If we do then, we wouldn't be this shocked?." I said. 

"Well, Mr. Kenneth asked to make provisions for you two since Christiana here is your friend... You won't be lonely in the room alone. I thought, you two talked about it before leaving?."

"No, we did not." I answered.

"So, you're saying that both Chloe and I can stay in the beautiful room?." Tiana asked. 

"Yes. Now, if you'll excuse me." She said to us and left. 

"Chloe, I swear I love you so much!" She exclaimed in an excited tone as she jumped on me. 

"Hey! Don't kill me. I have no power to carry you, you crazy woman!" I chuckled and smack her back. 

I was only kidding though. She does not weigh at all. 

"Whatever!" She hissed and rolled her eyes making me chuckle again. 

"Chloe, tell me what's going to happen next? Am I dreaming?." 

"No, I don't think so. Come on, let's go check the room out." She held my hand and drag me to the room. We both got in and opened our mouths in awe. This is quite different from the room we both in hours ago. Now, there are two different beds. Not only that, but a lot of things have also changed. The carpet, the settings... Everything has changed. 

"Chloe, pinch me. This must be a good dream, you need to pinch me so I would know it's not a dream." She said to me.

Well, you call for it my dear friend. 

I pinched her so hard on her right arm and she screamed out in pain. "Are you crazy?! What was that for?." She glared at me. 

"But, you asked me to pinch you. I only did what you asked me to do." I replied with a shrugged shoulder and an Innocent face. 

"Whatever! You're so mean!" 

"You can say that again." I stick out my tongue at her and she decided to start tickling me. 

She knew I'm ticklish and she's doing this to me on purpose. "Crazy woman! You stop right this minute!" 

"No, not until you apologize to me."

"But, why should I do that? I only did what you asked me to do."

"You still have the gut to argue with me, huh? Well, let's see how long it last." She said wickedly as she continue with her assault not until when I begged her to stop. 

"No, it doesn't sound like you mean it."

"But, I meant it. I'm sorry." 

"No, say it again."

"Okay, I'm sorry your Royal Highness... Christiana Johnson, please just let me go before I faint on you." We were still joking about this when we both heard the same familiar voice again. 

"Ladies." She called out for our attention. Both Tiana and I refrain ourselves and stood on our feet. 

"Erm... Sorry, we were just trying to-"

"You don't have to apologize. This is now your room and you can do whatever you wish to do with it." She said with a smile on her face. 

Huh? Both Tiana and I again looked at each other in bewilderment. 

Did this lady hit her head on something? Why is she being nice to me all of a sudden? 

"Keep that aside, I came here to ask you what you'll care for lunch?."

"Huh? What do you mean, what I care for lunch? Of course, the usual meal you've been giving to us for the past years. Do we have any other meal apart from that?." I asked in a confused tone. 

Because at this point, I don't understand what's happening anymore. My life changed within a blink of an eye almost 4 years ago and now, it's changing right in my presence again. 

Why am I being treated like a queen all of a sudden? 

"You're getting it all wrong. That was in the past. I mean, that was when you were under the jurisdiction of criminals, and now... I'm glad to inform you that you're not, any longer."

"Juliana, I'm still not getting you right... What are you talking about?." 

"I'm in no position to say anything to you right now. Just name anything you would love to eat this afternoon and it shall be prepared. Plus, please take a bath and change into something comfortable. Your dresses will arrive soon before you have your lunch?." She said to me. 

"Erm, Juliana... Can you just prepare anything good for her? That will be okay for now." Tiana answered her in place of me. She again smiled at us and left the room. 

Once she was out, she drag me and made us sit on the couch. "Chloe, what's going on?."

"I should be the one asking that and not you. What the hell is going on in my life because, at this point, I don't seem to understand anything any longer. The visit, the offer, the money, the respect I'm getting all of a sudden from Juliana, the beautiful room..." I said as I wave around the room. "And now, they're asking what I would love to eat, and even, dresses are coming in for me?!!! What the hell is going on, Tiana?! Is my life about to get ruined for the second time?." 

"You silly girl!" She hissed and smack my arm roughly. "Your life isn't getting ruined but getting better. You say any more bad words at yourself again and I won't think twice before plucking out those pretty eyes of yours from its socket." She threatened me. 

"But all these... I don't seem to understand it." 

"Me too but, it's all for the better. This shows that Mr stranger is trying his best to look out for you. He's taking good care of you right before you accept him. Now, you'll believe me when I said... No matter what it's, you have to say yes to him. Only him, can change your life."

"Oh please, don't start again." I said, rolling my eyes. 

"Whatever! At least, I got to use a beautiful bed for the first time in my life." She said happily as she jumped on and ran towards her bed and slumped on it. She won't stop spreading her hand all over it and I can't stop watching her this happy. 

Sometimes when I look at her closely, she behaves exactly like my sister, Janet. Janet has always been the materialistic type, even though we had enough then, she still wants more. The only difference is, Tiana has always been contented with what she has while Janet is not. 

•

I'm standing in front of a mirror right now and I can't stop admiring myself. Yes, this is the new Chloe standing right in front of me. I am putting on a slit golden skirt and a milk long sleeve top. This dress made me realize my shape is still intact if not more than how it used to be. 

People always thought I did liposuction and hip surgery unknown that, this was how I'm created. 

"Wow! Chloe, you look so beautiful right now. I knew you had a hot body but, I had no idea it was this hot. Girl, you're a hottie!" She exclaimed in an excited tone before smacking my arm again for the 10,000 times. Tiana always has this joy in smacking or hitting whenever she feels like it. 

This girl always acts like my mother most of the time. My body and I are tired of her. 

"You're probably dreaming. There's nothing special about my body." I said rolling my eyes. 

"Did you just say there's nothing special about your body? Now I see why that bastard came to you in the first place. He was only attracted to your body and used lies to take things away from you." She hissed. 

My mood changed all of a sudden. Not because I'm mad at her for the things she had just said but because, whenever I remembered how I betrayed my family... For him, it always hurt. 

"Hey! I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you fell ba-"

"It's fine, Tiana."

"Oh! So, you're-" 

"Ladies, lunch is ready." Juliana walked in with two other ladies behind her with several dishes. I and my friend as usual watched the scene going on in front of us in awe. She watch them set everything on the table. Once they were done, they left without saying anything. 

"Enjoy your meal." Juliana said and left also. 

"Chloe, these are foods! These are fucking great foods!!" She exclaimed, happily. 

"Language, Tiana." I said through gritted teeth before rolling my eyes at her. 

"Whatever! Just get up now and come eat."

"No. I'm not interested." 

"You must be kidding right? It's been years since we had such wonderful food. Stop being stubborn and enjoy yourself while you can. We have no forever, just once. Come on, you'll enjoy it. Your favorite meat is also there." She said as she walk over towards me, drag me up, and made me sit with her to eat. 

I smiled as I watch her ever move. She looks so happy and cheerful. I wish, she could be this happy forever. 

•

It has been four days already. Neither did I hear from Kenneth nor does he bother to show up his handsome face to me. 

Wait, did I just say- handsome face? Handsome face my foot!- I thought and scoff. 

Jerk! After making life very comfortable for me here, he decided not to show up his face to me. What does he think of himself? The almighty Kenneth that all girls fall and lick his feet?- I thought and scoff again. 

Well, I'm never going to do that. He can do whatever he feels like doing for all I care! 

"Is someone missing her prince charming already?." I heard a voice whisper in my ear. 

"Oh my God!" I jumped up in fear. And my crazy friend would not stop laughing at me.  "What's funny, Tiana? You just scared me! And... And who told you I'm thinking about someone?." I glared at her and stuttered on each word at the same time as I pointed my index finger at her. "I'm not thinking about anyone! You get that?!"

"Yes, your highness. I get it. But, I hope you know it's all written over your face. You missed him." 

"I said, I do not miss him! Besides, there's nothing special about his dork's face."

"W... Wh... What?! Do.. dor.. dork's face?! Did you just call that beautiful face a dork's face?." 

"Whatever! What brought you here?." 

"This is also my room, you dumbass!" She smacks my head with the small spoon in her hand. 

"Geez! When are you going to stop smacking me all the time?! It's so annoying!" I glared at her.  "Besides, where did you get a spoon from? What are you going to do with a spoon?." I added as I rub where she just hit. 

"I want to use it to farm."

"Wh... What?!!!"

"What? What? I said, I want to use it to farm. Tell me, what's the use of a spoon? For eating right so, why are you asking me an annoying question in the first place?." She hissed and rolled her eyes.

"You're hungry again?!! We just finished eating two hours ago besides, it's not even yet time for Juliana to bring lunch for us. There's still enough time for that." 

"Well, since you're the queen of this place now and, your precious friend is so famished... I went to meet Juliana and asked her to prepare our lunch. I can't wait till that time, I'm seriously famished right now." 

"What?!! Are you crazy Tiana?! You went all the way to meet Juliana and told her you were hungry?! Why would you do that?."

"Why are you getting so upset? I'm hungry, yes, hungry, hungry. Don't tell me it's now a crime for one to be hungry? 3 years and 6 months Raheenah that we've been brought to this place, we've never had the chance to eat good food and now that I've gotten the opportunity, you want to stop me? It's only for a few days, this is not even forever! Why are you getting upset about it?."

"Of course! I have all the right to be upset with you. You're taking advantage of the situation! You and I might be privileged to have a wonderful moment for just a few days but, what about our friends there? They've been starving!! You were not even bothered about them! Don't tell me you're now selfish because the Tiana I used to know isn't like this?."

"But Chloe, that's too much. Your words are hurting." Only then, did I realize I'd said what I shouldn't have.