Chapter 2

Leaving the restaurant was tougher than I thought. Being a politician’s daughter is worse than being an artist. 

If you’re an artist, people will have reasons to approach and know you. They love you so they give you attention. They willingly allow themselves to live in a world where their influences are impactful. But when you’re a politician’s daughter? You’re just awfully in the headlines in spite of no one giving a fuck. You’re always being captured by cameras yet no one loves you. You’re just simply the talk of the town, no matter how low profile you might be. 

“Miss Salvatera!” a guy from the other table approached me as soon as I stood up. 

I scanned his whole being and saw that he was wearing casual attire. Baffled, I wondered hard how normal people would be this bold upon calling my name. 

My thoughts were answered though when he took his card from his wallet. It was an identification card that showed proof that he was part— a chief— at a famous news company. 

I wanted to sigh loudly. Great!

My father’s inauguration is later, it would be stupid to refuse to any media right now. I can’t reason out that I’m busy when I’m seen inside a restaurant. 

I only smiled and nodded to the guy. However he will respond to that, I guess I’ll just have to go with it. But then again, that is the press. They never once tried to take a step back away from a prominent person’s personal life. The more personal stuff they get, the better the news. 

“Would you mind if I ask you a few questions?” he coped immediately. 

I smiled sweetly. “No problem.” 

I may have been homeschooled, but I certainly was trained. My life may not have been socially active but I was taught how to act just in case times like these occur. 

Facade. 

It is the most important thing for a politician. So it doesn’t matter if I just walked out from the lunch I was just having or if I’m in a foul mood, I have to set myself prim and proper for this sudden interview. 

It felt awful, having to fake it out like this. I wanted to puke. 

“Can we ask what you were doing here?” he asked before glancing at the table I just left. “And who you were with?” 

I nodded as he placed his phone recorder just a few inches from my face. 

“I had lunch with my personal stylist. Just a few preparations for the afterparty later…” I answered.

“So you’re getting geared up for the event?” 

“Of course! After all, my father’s success is mine to celebrate!” I lied.

“Do we expect to see you in a long gown?” 

“No,” I chuckled to pause. “You’ll see me in a cute dress soon!” 

“We’ll look forward to that! Did you and your father talk about this day already? I’m sure he’s also busy preparing…” 

I paused at that. I had to think of the best answer for every question that was thrown at me. And this answer was a bit confusing. 

Of course, I and my dad are both busy preparing for our special day so it would be plausible to answer that we haven’t talked yet. But then again, what will the critics say about our father-daughter relationship? That we aren’t that close to not even sending a text to each other? 

“We did, we did. I sent him a good morning and a good luck text as soon as I woke up. He replied two hours after so I assumed that things were tight on his end. But then, I’m really excited to see him!” I came up with the perfect answer. 

The reporter’s face glowed with my answer. I smirked. 

The media may be manipulative but they are also most gullible. They can’t take out of you something you don’t show them. It’s only a game of deception, and who plays better matters the most. 

“Well, I’m pretty sure you’ll be busy soon! I’m sorry for the sudden interview. I’m sure you were surprised. We just couldn’t miss this chance!” he said as he removed the recorder near me. 

“Oh, no worries. I’ll gladly answer at any given day!” I lied once more. 

The interview ended with everyone looking and smiling at me. It made me feel awful once more. People suck. All they really care about is your power and image. 

“Motherfuckers,” I cursed under my breath. 

My heart felt heavy as I sashayed my way outside the restaurant. I breathed in and out to allow myself to get over the disappointment I was feeling, but all of it became anxiety when my skin felt itchy. 

I felt like someone was watching me. 

I shrugged it off thinking that it may have been the people from the restaurant, or my personal stylist herself. But even when I got to the bathroom, my skin was burning from a certain feeling. I felt… cold. 

My hands were shaking from fear and confusion. I could really feel like someone was staring at me, but I was too scared to crane my neck to see who. 

All I did was turn the faucet on and allowed my thoughts to be drowned by the running water. I was damping my hands before tapping my face lightly with water. 

I hope this wakes me up. 

“Get your shit together, Lianna!” I whispered to myself. 

I turned the faucet off and that was when silence enveloped the bathroom. Something crawled within my skin. I didn’t realize I was all alone in the restroom! 

With fear and slight annoyance, I quickly walked out of the bathroom with my heart beating loudly. I was so fucking scared, alright! 

“Fuck,” I cursed. “What the hell was that?” 

I held my chest tightly, hoping a single hand of mine would at least calm the beating. But it didn’t work, my heart was hammering through my ribs and it was amplifying through my whole system. 

I didn’t know what was happening. There was nothing that happened! But as soon as I walked out of the restaurant, I felt like I was being stalled. It was terrifying. 

The most frightening part was that I couldn’t see anything. I know I didn’t look but there was a strong feeling that I was being watched by someone… something… that was really unnatural. 

Slowly, I tried to move further away from the restroom. My knees wobbled as I started to get dizzy. 

Unfortunately, I bumped into someone. I wasn’t sure if my reflexes were slow but as soon as I turned around, whoever I bumped to was gone. I was sure that it was a guy. I heard his voice. 

“Fucking tomato,” he insulted my hair probably. 

I was too weak to even give a fuck about him. I was still getting weaker and weaker for I don’t know what reason. 

I know I wanted a way out of my father’s inauguration but holy fuck, did I not wish that something bad would happen to me! I would be alright with getting sick… but this… it’s different. I feel like someone was purposely taking the life out of me. 

With shaking hands, I tried to reach for my phone. A few swipes  and I was already calling Akihiro. 

“Lia, what’s wrong? It’s very rare for you to call—“ 

“H-hiro… 976 Mall… please…” I breathily said. 

I heard and noticed how Akihiro quickly stood up from wherever he was. 

“Are you okay? Lia!” he called. 

I nodded as I couldn’t speak anymore. He didn’t see it of course, and it led me to be more worried than ever.

“Fuck! I’m going there. Which floor are you on?” he probed more. 

“Two…” was the last thing I said as I was pretty sure I fainted. 

I slowly tried to open my eyes. After a few movements, I saw Akihiro pacing back and forth towards my door, obviously panicking. 

“Hey…” I tried to call for his attention. 

Surprised, he stopped midway step and faced me. 

I chuckled at his reaction. Oh, Akihiro. 

“Lia. Fuck! You’re awake! I was so fucking worried!” he shouted. 

I placed my pointing finger above my lips and gestured to him to tone it down. I didn’t know what he was being so noisy for. 

“I called a doctor. She’s on her way,” he informed me. 

I shook my head and mouthed, “You shouldn’t have.” 

“What do you mean I shouldn’t have? You were literally unconscious. You were already in the clinic at the mall when I got there!” he argued. 

I laughed at the concern of his face, but my mind flew to another thought. I was already in the clinic? The last memory I had was fainting, and of course, it couldn’t be Akihiro to have brought me there. 

I wonder if it was a random stranger or was it the one I bumped into… the guy who called me a tomato. 

I rolled my eyes as I remembered the guy’s words. I didn’t give a fuck about it earlier as I was too weak to bother, but now that I’m regaining energy, annoyance is creeping in. 

“Do you know who brought me to the clinic?” I asked Akihiro when I realized that the thought will linger in my mind if I don’t address it sooner. 

Akihiro stood up and took a cup of water before answering me. 

“Nope,” he responded as he gave me the cup. 

I sat down and took the cup in his hand. “The nurses didn’t tell you anything?” 

“Not a single one,” he responded. 

I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I was in major disbelief. How could I end up in a clinic and the nurses just keep their mouths shut? 

“Did you not ask them anything?” I asked once more. 

Akihiro crossed his arms and sighed as if he’s sick of the topic. He knew, though, that I’m not stopping anytime soon. My curiosity is as wide as the ocean, and until I reach the shore, I’m never going to withdraw. 

“Beats me, Lianna. They were dumbfounded as I was talking to them. They couldn’t even look me in the eyes. Maybe I’m too handsome for them to take,” he joked. 

His wit didn’t meet mine, Instead, the sentence he said before the last echoed inside my head. 

“They couldn’t look at you?” I asked, repeating and emphasizing what he said. 

He nodded. “Their eyes were different.” 

“What do you mean?” I probed once more, my tone now in a high pitch. 

“Like they were hypnotized or something....” he said nonchalantly before laughing. “That was a weird thing to call it. They did look that way, though.” 

I sighed and rested my back on the tower of pillows Akihiro made as we were talking. Though it was weird for him, I couldn’t help but think that everything that happened today ever since I got out of the restaurant was eerie and… enigmatic, at most. 

“Are you bothered by it?” Akihiro snapped me out of my thoughts. 

I shrugged. “It was just weird,”

“What is? That they didn’t look at me?” 

“Wait, did you try to snap your fingers?” I disregarded his question and asked another. 

“What…” he whispered, confused. 

I shook my head and realized I wasn’t making sense. Is it true that a snap could end someone’s hypnosis? Does hypnosis really exist? Even if it did, who would have been able to make it.. And why? 

Was the one who hypnotized the nurses also the one who brought me to the clinic? 

“Don’t let it bother you, Lianna. You have important matters to attend to later. That’s where your head should be,” Akihiro warned me. 

I nodded and agreed with him. But something inside me was growing tired, I didn’t want to head-on with the event. I wanted to ditch. 

So once again, I silently hoped and prayed that something would take me away from all these. But I think I prayed a little too hard. Because the last thing I remember now is when Akihiro went down to check for my food, I was swiftly taken away by an enigmatic aura… one I’m certain I saw at the mall earlier.