Chapter 9: Got into Trouble
As the class hour has met its end. Fera went straight out of the school campus. "Fera!" someone call her before she could take a step out of the school gate. 'Did I leave something again?' She mentally asked herself. "Oh, hey!" "Going home already?" He asked, Fera, noticed the sweat on his forehead and messy hair. "Yeah," she answered hesitantly, 'he smells good still,' she thought. "Would you mind if I walk you home?" He smiled charmingly, his charismatic build and smile were too dangerous to trust if Fera would judge. "For what reason...exactly, I mean why?" It came out a bit panicky and she almost cursed herself upon sounding silly. "No, don't be skeptical about this. I only thought that maybe I could walk you home. You know, maybe we could be friends?" She realized that they'd been standing in the middle of the gate and they have drawn much attention. "Not a problem at all." She answered so they could move already and get away from those stares that were creeping her out. "Yeah? Let's go?" His smile widen even more and he somehow lost his eyes by doing it. They started walking away from the crowd. "So, do you have a boyfriend?" Fera already knew, where they were heading to. "I don't," she answered while struggling from the inner battle inside her, it was she doing just fine. Was it offending or flirting? "Good to know, are you related to Nick somehow?" Good thing he was keeping her distance from Fera as they walked because the entire walk was awkward for her. "No," "If you don't know, one of our schoolmates said that you two are together or dating." "I never remember that we did something affectionate to each other that made everyone think we're dating." She concluded, for her all of it was nothing. "Yeah, I believe so. Maybe because you two were seen together most of the time. But I believe you two don't have a relationship." 'He was making it too obvious that he was just accompanying her for information,' she commented. "We're neighbors maybe that's why." "Their tongue was ungrateful sometimes," and he laughed at his joke. Fera being merciful, smiled for moral support. "We'll be graduating soon from junior high, what major are you taking?" 'He's making a good conversation huh?' she couldn't help to remark. "I think HUMS would be fine or ABM." "I'll go for GAS, my brain doesn't suit that kind of major." "Suit yourself." However, she was formulating a plan to drive him away. "Oh, by the way. Can I get your number?" "Can you tell me what you want?" There, she had given up on trying hard to be respectful. "I want you." That straight-to-the-point confession caught her off guard. "Okay....and what is that mean?" "I want to court you." The courage he did have was impressive but that crept Fera out. "Can I court you, Fera?" "I'm sorry, Tunner. I'm really sorry but the relationship is too much for me at the moment. I know I cannot handle such responsibility yet." She politely declined, and Tunner's hopeful face fell in just a snap. "I understand, I can wait." And he gave her a weak smile. They've reached the apartment without realizing it and Fera awkwardly bid goodbye. "I'll be going now, I'm sorry to decline but you'll find someone better." It was the most sincere way she could deliver her apology but it sounded not that genuine. Since she sounded bored. Tunner only nodded and smiled. "Okay, goodbye." Fera went up first before he started walking. She went inside and she could feel at home. Since her apartment was still undone, she sat on her chair facing the mini table across the wall. She gathered her newly bought painting tools. She tied her hair into a messy bond and started painting. She used black paint to outline a woman's face. Round shaped eyes and full lips, she added curly hair and on the left part of her face, she added a huge drop of tear below its eye. Inside that huge drop of tear she carefully created an image inside it, a figure of a girl being caged. It was small, without looking closely you wouldn't notice it. "Knock! Knock!" she let her brush go and went to open the door. Her lips parted and looked at the man in front of her unbelievably. She opened her door wider so he could enter. As soon as she closed that door, "what happened?" she blurted. He sat on the couch and Fera quickly went to her Frig and offered water. "Got a bit in trouble," he answered and drank the whole glass of water. "A bit? On what part? You have scratches all over, and bruises fit well on you." She spoke laced with sarcasm. "I at least fix everything up." He showed her his key. "Tomorrow, everyone can move on already." "Are you alright?" "Yeah, just a few scratches." His white shirt was now dirty white. "If few means multiple times three, I will agree." She turned her pivot and got an ice bag for him. "You should rest now," all she could say. "And congrats." She thought, she must be saying congrats since it was an achievement for him. "Yes, thanks to you. I just want to say thank you." Nick stood up and returned the glass to Fera. "No, take all the credit. I don't think I did help and I won't be helping if ever I had a chance. I'd rather stay at home than go with you and went home with blood all ever my face." He chuckled as he started walking to the door while Fera was walking behind him. "Whatever, good night." "Okay-okay just go." But truly, seeing him in that state made her feel guilty. She shouldn't have given him words of encouragement to him. He looked like a beaten eggplant. She thought of mending his wounds but she doesn't know how to. She sat back in her chair but she already lost her mood to finish her painting. She washed her hands and went to her computer. She email Lora to send her details regarding how his investigation went. After a few minutes of waiting, Lora responded in a timely manner. She sent some video clips too, he bravely confronted the teacher then a fist flew onto Nick’s face. She flinched seeing Nick receive the impact, he took several steps back and almost lost his balance. He has opened his mouth again and said something. Mr. Constancio's eyes sharpened followed by a harsh move of his jaw and his lips turn into a grim line. She saved all the clips and files in her safe storage. She gathered important files too, Nick was being impulsive in doing things. Mr. Constancio could easy easily flip the table to his favor, he has the privilege and money. Nick forgot how powerful he was, why would the government side with Nick when it was Mr. Constancio who was been paying higher taxes. Fera has all the knowledge of how justice work, and plays with those big people. Evidence was much more valuable than a statement of the most truthful man in the world whether it was doctorated or raw. Money was more powerful than the voice of a victim who was screaming for justice and fell on their knees while begging. She emailed Lora again and asked for evidence she could get to support Nick’s claim. Erika had been found dead in a hotel room. Fera deleted the clips of Nick broking into Constancio's private property. She clean every trace that Nick clumsily made. The next email from Lora was about the incident Nick passed a piece of evidence to prove Mr. Constancio's relationship with the victim. The crime was suicide yet it was because of the teacher. "I need solid evidence," her soft raspy voice resounded within her room. She took her bag and took her recorder device out from it. Her whole day was recorded for safety purposes, it was her fifth birthday gift from her father. She cut the long audio record and extracted the part where Mr. Constancio and Erika talked at the back of the building. She emailed it to Lora with her encoded files that stated how Erika was related to Mr. Constancio, the time and clip of his appearance in school, the Wednesday they've seen talking, at the end of the class Erika rode into Mr. Constancio's car. That time Fera and Nick were arguing about whether Fera should be got on Nick’s motorcycle. Thursday she have a clip that both Erika and the teacher hadn't appeared in school. Friday, which was last morning a clip of him entering the school ground, that same time he bump with Fera. 'Send this as Evidence if ever Mr. Constancio files a case on Nick about trespassing or he turned the table upside down.' she quoted the mail. Fera leaned on her chain and slowly shook her head. "He's careless, isn't he?" She suddenly felt her cellphone vibrate, she took it out and the name of her dear cousin reflected on her screen. She swiped to decline at once and waited for him to call again. And true enough, he called again. 'What was that?' a monotone voice greeted her. "For you to know that I'm not in a good mood for bullshits," she boringly answered. 'You never been in a mood to talk to me,' he corrected into the right term. "Good to hear that you know. What do you want?" 'I only want to ask about your well-being, and I could say that you could still breath, that's good.' That made Fera's eyes rotate. "Anything else?" 'And I heard you're meddling something.' And Fera's unimpressed face turned into the dead. "I meddle nothing, Fredy." "Who is this Nick Kingston Hernandez?" Fera unconsciously licked her lower lip. "You tell me," she instead answered. 'Your neighbor.' And Fera seemed to forget how to breathe, " He's playing hero, isn't he? Why are you helping this man? You know how much trouble he created today."Chapter 10: Meeting the Grandparents She unconsciously tightened her grip on her phone as she answered. "Back off, Fred."'I humbly suggest that you must take your words,' his using that dangerous to Fera. That was a warning for her. She was doing illegal and dangerous. "I know what I'm doing." 'Of course! You're not dumb to jump in such a dangerous pool, Fera. Bending a bent law by those powerful dirty players was safe for you!' She took a huge gulp and breathe for her tensed lungs, sarcasm had perfectly fit his words to tug a guilty feeling in her heart."I know, just this once." "Interesting," she annoyingly rolled her eyes hearing it from Fred. "He must have something to do with you, why would you help a man, Fera?""Nothing, don't make this a big deal." She hissed in an attempt of shaking the topic off."It is a big deal! This wouldn't stop here, after you meddle with Constancio's business he will hunt you down." She took a deep breath and looked up. She kne
Chapter 11: False Alarm "Look at your face! So it's true that you broke into Constancio's private rest house!" Fera immediately stepped back and create a distance from Nick. She doesn't want to be noticed by the lady as soon as possible. "I'm sorry, Lola." The only thing that Nick afford to utter."How many times do I have to remind you that you are sixteen!" Nick was indeed troublesome."Seventeen, Lola," he still has the nerve to answer despite his grandmother's annoyance."Minor! A Constancio can easily kill you. Nick this is serious trouble, this is not fun anymore." Fera awkwardly looked around, 'I think going with Nick is a bad decision, I should have stayed at home.' she mentally hissed. "La, I have my classmate with me." And the lady turned to her. She put herself together and awkwardly stretched her lips into a tight smile."Clever, very clever! You brought a classmate so I would prioritize her over your trouble. Not this time, no motor from now on." The ol
Chapter 12: I don't like HerWHILE DRYING HER hair, she got a message from Clarita. 'He's home, it was a false alarm.' After reading it she checked what time was it. Six in the evening, she swiped her phone and texted Lora.'Good Job,' just that. It was laced with sarcasm and partly genuine. She was thankful that she did what she was asked to but she couldn't let the part that Lora betrayed her by informing Fred too. She was already in her apartment, their driver send her home at three in the afternoon. As her eyes fell on her painting materials, she seemed hypnotized by them. She put her blower down and got her paintbrush and started mixing paints. While dipping her paintbrush into a bloody red shade of color, she was staring at the white Oslo paper on her painting stand. She was already imagining the image, she carelessly stroked the red paint on it. There has no definite direction it was messy in the center. After drying it she got her black ink, using that ink for her pen
Chapter 13: Cheese Burger Fera on the other hand tightened her grip on her pen. 'This idiot had a bad tongue,' she remarked silently. In her side vision, she saw that Nick turned his head toward that girl. At the end of their first subject the girl waited for Nick at the doorway, Fera pretended as if she saw nothing, it was not a big deal, and she care none.But the conversation between them was much clearer than her footsteps. The girl asked Nick to go with her to buy something in the canteen. Together with some of her classmates, they head to the next subject. In the room, she found Tunner in there.As Tunner saw her a wide smile escapes from his lips. He tapped the desk of a chair next to him, it was the first time that someone offered a seat to her. She awkwardly walked towards him and sat down."How was your weekend?" he asked with a full smile."It was fine," socializing wasn't her thing the reason why she found it awkward upon talking to someone she wasn't comfo
Chapter 14: NicknameFera realized what she said and Nick turned to her. "Sorry?" he asked. Then is followed by an awkward silence. "Did you just say, Nicky? I am not a gay." He saved her from feeling embarrassed. "I thought you are, Nicky." She loosened up eventually and felt comfortable with his response. "Disgusting," he blurted which made Fera laugh. While he hold his smile back looking at Fera who was laughing. She rarely laughed and he treasured every laugh she did with him."It's great, Nicky," she giggled."Don't call me that," he even pretended not to like it."No one tells me what to do,""That's unfair."They reached the apartment before dark and Fera peacefully cooked her dinner. This time she browsed how to cook step by step with video. She couldn't risk her apartment anymore. She tried to fried the chicken coated with flour. When someone knocked on her door, her face turned into annoyance. She had been struggling to do it right, she was afraid of thos
Chapter 15: Rain Drops WHILE WALKING INTO the gate someone was eyeing her like a hawk, her hair was dark as night and plain shiny hair. Fera noticed her stares, yet she acted unbothered. She was heading straight and the girl who was eyeing her stepped in her way. She tried to walk passed her yet she stopped her. Her frowned face turned into confusion. She flashed an innocent face before looking at the girl in front of her."Yes?" she asked. She took a step back to make her feel superior. "You are Fera, right?" She asked with full blunt, thinking Fera was an easy prey. 'What is her problem?' she mentally asked. It was the girl who hugged Nick yesterday. She dressed just fine for Fera's judgment. She wore a gold necklace, branded bag, and shoes. Flashy, all she could comment."Yes, I am." She politely answered in her most submissive tone. She was trying to avoid trouble at all costs. She couldn't risk her identity for a small petty fight."Could you stay away from Nick? I
Chapter 16: Fever"Oh! I do, fantastic. And look! It's nine pm here when you're supposed to be home at six." He flashed a fake smile that made him more sarcastic. "Get in," Fera was far from afraid, she only raised her eyebrow and got in while not letting Nick's hand go."Children, let me remind you that it is not safe to play at night, especially you Fairly." He glared at her through his rare view mirror. He started the engine and drove off. While Nick felt her annoyance, he regularly glance at her and the man who was driving. Different theories flashed in his head like he might be her brother or relative."You're not my father, Fred." She lost her mood when he called her Fairly, Nick wasn't dumb not to realize it was her name. Nick bit his tongue to lessen the awkward feeling."Cause he's dead and I am left to a hard-headed daughter, I was fucking tired from work an-""Enough!" she cut him off. They both knew that it wasn't safe for them to talk about it in front of Nick
Chapter 17: Taking Care Of HerFROM HIS DEEP THOUGHTS he noticed the paintings around. Her walls were almost covered with paintings. It was dark and sorrowful art. One was a hand holding a piece of broken mirror, and there was an image inside the mirror, an eye, with smudge eye shadow and it was teary-eyed. The other was a girl with curly hair with a smile on her lips yet her eyes were full of sadness. And he also noticed that the hair on that painting was sentenced, where the sentences were negative comments and criticism that the girls commonly receive. Such as she was ugly, fat and any other negative words that ruined every girl's self-confidence. He turned to her and touched her hand. While his eyes wander around her face, from her naturally thick eyebrows down to her pointed nose and her full lips. She was peacefully sleeping, while Nick felt his heart rate increase. A guy, when they want someone, they'd never deny it. And Nick knew what those heartbeats meant.A weak sm
Chapter 72: Epilogue“Wow, the beauty still falls in love with the beast?” Little Laire amusingly said after her father finished reading the story. “Dad had read that story for a millionth time,” Laike the other little girl boringly whined and pouted. “Like, it’s the love story of our parents.” She exclaimed and Nick cringed his forehead. “Dad isn’t a beast, that’s not true.” Laike pushed her which made Nick nod and agreed with her daughter. “Mom is, it was just a little twisted.” Laire and Nick’s eyes widen and turned to his wife who was busy cooking for dinner. “Did I hear that right, Laire!” “I would very much happy to be excluded from this narrative,” Laike said and jumped down the chair. “Shut up, you’re not Taylor.” Nick only crossed his arms looking at his children. “Well, at least I’m gorgeous as her,” Laike said and placed her palm on her hip. “Well, we’re twin, what a shame.” Laire rolled her eyes with her twin’s nonsense remark. “You copied my face whe
Chapter 71: Clearing OperationShe went back to the car and found that Lora was out of nowhere. “Where’s Lora?” “Brought a coffee for you.” He said and she opened her laptop. A smile instantly formed on her lips. “Gotcha.” She whispered when she saw the one who was following her. “Did Fred stop following me?” “Yes, you’re on your own now, according to him,” Bald replied to her. “Prepare yourself, we’ll conduct a little clearing operation.” Soon as Lora got into the car she threw the coffees out and Baldo drove fast to chase the one who put poison in her drink. “Who’s that? Is it Constancio?” Lora asked but Fera shook her head and change her clothes. Prepared her gun and wore combat shoes. “I think it was him who killed Nana Felly.” She dropped and Lora started changing her clothes too. Baldo used to see Fera change but Lora was a little distracted. “Eyes on the road!” Lora shouted when he almost bumped a car in front. He traces the other direction to corner the motor
Chapter 70: Terms and ConditionFera’s POVShe was looking at his text message, it said ‘Our flight will be today eight pm, will you be there?’ She didn’t reply whether she’d be there or not. He called but she only watched it ring and didn’t pick up. She looked out of her window, she was in her pajamas still even though it was noon. When she promised ‘all yours,’ she meant it. Still, it didn’t mean that she’d be active. She was all his by heart and by soul not by her, the whole she. “The word us has ended when Fera Luzares has fallen.” She knew that no one, not even herself could love her. She opened her laptop and she saw an email too. It was from Lora and quoted, Nick, wants you to read this.’ She didn’t open the letter and proceeded on checking the data. She checked the company's situation. Two of her stakeholders pulled their shares. Didn’t want to get involved in any issue. “Good to see you, Lora.” She greeted before Lora could address her. She was visibly surpris
Chapter 69: ConfrontationFera’s POV“Good morning, Miss Fera.” Baldo greeted her as he stood beside her bed. “I want to leave now.” She dry voice has returned, the chill that it brought was there too. I little glee Baldo felt when he confirmed that she was finally back. “I have arranged the bills, should I wait outside?” He answered and she nodded, he walked back out of the room and she change her clothes with the clothes he brought. She was wondering, why Lora didn’t come to get her. Without further orders, they drove away from the hospital. “I want to see, Fred.” He immediately turned to the other lane and drove to Fred’s penthouse. It seemed quiet and calm in his pad. “Are you he’s inside?” “He knew that you’d come for him.” She went out of the car and entered flawlessly into his penthouse. As she reached his room, she didn’t bother knocking and harshly opened it. She stepped back enough to reach Baldo’s gun behind her. “Miss-”“Shh, wait outside.” And she enter
Chapter 68: Left OutBen’s POV(Before the hearing)He went to his car and watched Lora open the main door. He could drool over the Fuentes mansion, if a white house was full of white then the mansion was all black. They used to stay here and this house was off limits to anyone, it was a privilege for him to see. Their penthouse used to be the show house but this one. Only the Fuentes and their servants could enter here. He fixed his shirt as if he was about to meet the president. “You won’t see anyone in there, don’t be nervous.” She said and opened the house. He was greeted by a spacious living area with a grand stair beside him. The gigantic chandelier above was unbelievably huge. The black wall and black glass walls around were overwhelming. The crimson black couch was inviting and black glass center table with a black flower vase on a gray mat. “Aren’t you going to investigate, Ben?” She asked which snapped him back to reality.“Right, I want to see her room.” The f
Chapter 67: Night Full of GriefFera’s POVA hard slap planted on her left cheek, ‘Shameful! Haven’t I told you to take care of our name?’ That memory would never leave her alone. She would bow her head and say sorry. ‘Protect our name,’‘Make our family proud,’‘You are Fuentes, act as it.’ Words that she had been holding since then, she was tired of those rules and limitations. Deafening her in her dreams. “I’m sorry, dad. I should have protected your name. They dug up all that past we hid.” The angry face of her father was in her head. She could hear her father’s voice all over again, he was mad, very mad, and would slap her across her face. ‘Careless,’‘Weak!’‘Does crying will fix a thing?’ His words were hunting her, she buried her face in her pillows. The annoying beep beside her added frustrate her more. The pain still felt the same, it was the same pain when she realized that her mother was dead and her father died. Fate had been playing her life too much.“F
Chapter 66: In the ShadowFred’s POVIn his office, he was looking out of his window. A stick of cigar in between his finger. He blew the smoke out and put the cigar in his ashtray. ‘Look after you cousin, Fred.’ His father’s words were still in his head. She was the first lady Fuentes in the bloodline. She was sheltered and overprotected by them she had been the apple of their eye. Fred was the one who would walk after her where ever she goes. Her innocent era was enough, he knew that he need to unleash the evilness in her to survive the coming war. Normal life didn’t exist in the world she was born. Until he saw Nick, the man that created a place in her heart. The man that was willing to save her from dirt. He knew that if he would give him a little glimpse of her past he would scratch for more. He knew that his dear feeling for Fera would be enough to save Fera from that past. He knew how stubborn she was and when she decides, she rarely change it. He needed to break her
Chapter 65: Person Behind the MaskLora’s POV“Are you happy now, Fred?” She shouted making the man stop walking but he continued walking for a second. “I can’t believe you are this manipulative, Fred. Really? Your own cousin!” But he was still walking straight to his car so she ran to him. He opened the door of his car but she pushed it back to close. “Do you really want to be on my way?” His warning voice was never dangerous as this. She secretly gulp and moved away from his car. “I never imagine you are this evil, Fred. You are EVIL.” He turned to her which made her step back. “We not just me, Lora. You know that.” “I may do evil things but I never wronged or harm innocent as Fera.” Then slammed the door of his car and took a step toward Lora. “Fera isn’t innocent, watch her run her own kingdom and everyone will bow down even I. Letting her fall in love with the peace of normal life and what? Leave everything her father’s enemy to me? I have my own enemy, Lora, and I
Chapter 64: The Truth“That’s just a poem! A mere imagination, how come a law graduate would think art could be a piece of evidence?” She even insulted him but it appeared lame as to how she acted. “Proceed to the last poem,” Benjamin said and everyone let him, some were holding their smile back, thinking Benjamin was just desperate to win.“He’s high, but he’s low, But he’s the best dad.He loves me so muchAnd that’s all I knowSo I hide the whistleCause I’ll Never BlowDad loves me So I’ll be the good Daughter as I should be.” He turned to Fera who was smiling in triumph. “You are hiding the evidence,” Ben said but she shook her head. “No evidence needed here, we can not win this by those lame poems, Ben.” She whispered but everyone heard it. The door suddenly opens and Nick came in. He was holding a white porcelain jar. Her eyes widen as she saw it. “I think I have the evidence.” He said and walked to Ben. He handed it to him and all of them saw how surprised she wa