I was halfway downstairs when I spotted my grandma in the dining hall. I covered my mouth, but the gasp still fled. She's my grandmother, Amera Awsman. She's still beautiful and elegant at the age of 67.
I hastened my pace in descending downstairs. I miss my grandma so much. It's been a while since she last visited us here because they lived in California now.
When I got into the dining hall, I immediately hug grandma. I chuckled softly at her reaction when she leaped out of shock.
"Miss you, grandma!"
"And I miss you too, my favorite granddaughter."
I departed from our embrace 'cause of the glares my mother throws at my way. I collected myself 'cause I will be chastised again later.
"Careful of your actions, Lea. You might hurt your grandma in the reckless process." Napangiwi ako.
Kahit maliit na bagay, pinapalaki niya.
"Sorry po, mama, grandma. It's just that, I miss grandma so much."
My grandma stroked my back and gave me a soft smile. I love the comfortable tenderness her smile brought to my heart.
"It's okay, hija," she surveyed my whole figure. "You're fully grown up."
"It's been years, grandma. But still, you're so beautiful as ever!"
"Ah, always have a sweet tongue we have here."
We ceased chatting to catch up with sana when mom sneezed. Her eyes were telling me to act like royalty in front of her mother. My mother is always like this, she doesn't like anyone to see any flaws in her. She always wants everything to be perfect.
That even me- her daughter is not an exemption. She wants me to pursue in the footsteps of her dream. But it wasn't my thing. I don't like the life of a showbiz woman. In short, I don't like her ruling in my life. But I don't dare to defend my point 'cause I'm just Lea Awsman, a 16-year-old girl who happened to be her daughter.
I shrugged those thoughts off.
My lips sprawled for a wide smile. I pulled a chair for my grandmother. In such a situation, mom shot me a sharp gaze. I ignored her glances and let the maid drag a chair for me.
I thanked her and she just bowed for the courtesy. I would like to say that she shouldn't have done that, but the piercing glances made me keep those suggestions by myself.
My mother doesn't like serving someone because it's the other way around. That's how high she thinks of herself. And my father? Probably occupied on counting his money in the bank? It seems that only my grandparents are sober in this family.
"How's school, hija?"
"It was good, grandma. I don't have the slightest problem on that one."
"But I heard that you almost got raped outside in the school's perimeter?"
Grandma shifted her gaze to me before looking at my mother. I swallowed hard because of that. It's just an accident, not a rape statement! I wanted to scream my rights for my grievance but I can't.
My lips twitched and can't utter a word. I stayed tight-lipped but my inside being wasn't at peace.
My mother formally turned to grandma after wiping her lips using the tissue. With her head high and overflowing confidence in her sleeves, she gave me a brief look. And I know that stare, implies that I should remain quiet and let her handle the situation or either make it worse.
I keep my lips clogged. What's new? I don't clutch the superiority of my voice and the switch to make a change regarding my decisions in my life. Sucks, isn't it?
"Yes, mother. My innocent child was almost tainted by the cruel world. That's why I'm calling her cousin to watch her out. I don't want that accident to happen again. I can't bear to see my child hurting." and just like that, my grandmother agreed with her, no words wasted to insist.
She has everything in her fingers. My mother is scary, that's a fact. The unavoidable explanation why I don't want to defy her words.
"Her cousin? Ang anak ba ni Diego na pinsan mo ang iyong tinutukoy?" she nodded.
Cousin? I don't remember my mother acquainting me to my cousins. She's that distant from her relatives. I don't argue with how her intestinal coil works. Perhaps, indifferent.
"Yes. Maybe later he's here."
After that, I was neglected in their conversation when they conversed about some business matters. Business staff, old staff, I guess?
I excused myself after eating. Fortunately, mom and grandma were swayed away by the ebb of their conversation. Kaya naman, I chose to saunter in the broad garden of our mansion for a while.
I love the fresh air that touches my skin. It gives me a sense of relief and the obscurity of this night too. Those stars look impetuous on this astonishing night. Every star shines through in the night sky and accentuated its grace like a precious jewel.
My foot voluntarily halted along with my eyes firmly tight shut.
"Maganda ka sana kaso mukhang bata para maging type ko." is there someone whispering?
My eyes were deep shut. Magaan sa pakiramdam ang ginagawa ko.
"Hey, baby girl?" someone poked my cheeks. I opened my eyes immediately. Only to see a man's face a few inches from mine.
I unconsciously trudged backward. My jaw almost dipped down upon catching the sight of his luminous countenance.
The word gorgeous isn't enough to describe him. Even the stars above were hurled clandestine upon glancing at him! A man beyond gods. Yes, that's what he is. He has this dominating aura over him. My poor height almost purrs in defeat, definitely towering me. Is he even human?
He arises like a fallen angel. From his thick eyebrows that look like a cramped little room metamorphosed into a voluminous space. And let's get down to his jawline that's beyond perfection like art with three-dimensional abstract forms, shape by a hand of excellent techniques. As well as his hazel eyes that bear prominent catkins. Pendulous, pompous, and meaningless rhetoric.
This man is quite a walking temptation, a sinful seduction. Indeed, women are willing to devote a hideous deed just by gawking at him, a wrongdoer to be exact.
"Done checking me out?" my senses came back and I was disgusted by my acts. What a cause of aversion, huh?
My cheeks heated up. I was caught red-handed by checking on how handsome he is.
I even praised him!
"I-i ahmmm..." I stammered. No words were tangled in my mouth to say something.
I'm embarrassed by myself. Why did I even gape at him that long?
Simple. You've got captivated by his looks.
Perhaps, I've been defrauded.
"I'm glad that you're getting to know each other." it was my mother's voice that pricked our attention. Gladly, I'm safe. Whew, that was close.
"Pakiulit nga, Natasha?"
I got alarmed by his words. He knew my mother and he treats her with contempt! And where did his guts get from? I wonder.
"Sharp tongue. Anyways, you met my daughter already."
"Oh? She's your daughter?"
"Yes," Mom gazed at me. "To formally introduce the both of you, let me do the honor. Lea, he's your cousin, Michael Lucian Lockwood."
I was dumbfounded after hearing that. It isn't the time for my jaw-dropping scene! I just can't believe it! This man that I drizzled with glories is my cousin?!
Oh my God! I was fantasizing about him earlier. I felt like a rascal for drooling at him!
He turned to me with a sardonic smile plopped on his lips. I felt the redness of my cheeks once more. I felt bashful. He was probably laughing at me secretly because I was flabbergasted by his elegant contours about a few minutes ago.
"H-hi? I'm Lea Awsman." I awkwardly brought it up. He just lent me a short nod for a retort.
"Let's go inside. We have some matter to talk over." Mom steered inside first, thus I just went after too, not having any idea what's happening. However, I can feel his presence tailing behind me.
When we got inside, mom motioned the chair for us to settle. I pulled one and took a sit without knowing a single knowledge for this topic. Nakakapagtataka lang na hindi ko makita si grandma. Perhaps, she's now sleeping in her room out of tiredness from her travel earlier?
"I have a task for you, Lucian." he whistled.
Pinigilan kong umawang ang aking labi. The audacity!
"And what is that?" he muttered in appease manner with an arrogant lift of his brow.
"I want you to tend an eye on Lea every day. In short, you'll stay here. My cousin Diego and I had already discussed it."
I want to voice out my objection, but can I even do that? Nope, I don't have a choice, to begin with. Hence, I just quietly paid attention to them about dictating my life's verdict.
Ironic how they see me as an invisible one.
I even asked myself if I'm a thing and not a human. Why does my mother have to do this? Why is she so cruel when it comes to me?
"A babysitter, huh?"
Please decline.
"If that's how you view this matter. Then it is what it is."
No. I don't want someone to manipulate my life again!
My cousin looked at me. His eyes were confiding me that he will undoubtedly drape every stir I make... that if I don't obey his words, granted that I'll be dead.
"Okay. Babysitter, then." he scraped his chin and gave me a taunting smile that will certainly haunt me forever.
No. No, no! Why did he even say yes?!
I gulped. His eyes didn't withdraw from mine.
Averting my gaze, I stared at my mother.
Am I her daughter? 'Cause, it looks like I'm not.