I nailed my eyes on the glass I'm holding. I don't feel comfortable especially that the three ducklings are here with me. I can't even pick just an inch of food from the table because I am very conscious of my movements.
"You look wonderful, by the way." My eyes widened when I heard Kit spoke. Even though I'm not looking at him, I know that he is referring to me.
"What's wonderful with her? She looks trash," I heard Ella said.
"Your attitude is trash," Kit talked back.
I prevented myself from laughing even though I badly wanted to let it out. I never thought Kit would say that, though.
"What are you laughing at, geek?" I looked up at Ella when she suddenly grabbed my arm as she stood up. She looked pissed and her grip on me tightened.
I just looked at her innocently, wondering why she suddenly got pissed even though I'm not doing anything.
"I didn't laugh," I calmly stated.
"Oh, really? I know you were laughing, ugly! Don't you ever---" Her grip tightened even more like she's tearing my skin off. It hurts like hell so I threw a punch on her face. People around us gasped. I was a little surprised by my behavior but I don't care. She hurt me first and I'm just defending myself.
"Did you just---" Aubrey was about to slap me and avenge her friend but I showed my fist, threatening her that if she continued whatever is in her mind, I'll punch her just like what I did to Ella.
I glared at Ella while she's just wiping the part of her face where I punched her. I never thought I'd have a bad record here. Am I ruining the party?
"Woah, that was awesome, Marigold," Kenneth surprisingly said as he elbowed Kit beside him.
I diverted my gaze to these two guys and I saw Kenneth's surprised reaction while Kit...
Did he just smirked seconds ago?
"Excuse me, I'll just go to the powder room," I stated and stood up.
"I'll guide you." Kit stood up as well so I nod at him.
I took a glimpse on the three ducklings first before I focused on my way. They were literally pissed off and I wanted to put on a smile with smugness to mock them but I don't want to do it just yet. I'm still the good girl here. My time as the bad girl hasn't chimed yet.
"I never thought you'd do that," Kit spoke while we're walking together in a hallway.
People we came across with would stuck their gaze on us as if we're celebrities. I shook my head inside my thought. I think they were looking at the guy with me instead. Kit looked like a celebrity. Just looking at his appearance would make people think he's an anime character. Good-looking, attractive, fine-looking, well-formed--- okay okay, they are synonyms. But honestly, Kit really is handsome.
"I'm not really that kind of girl. I just can't let others hurt me. I also need to defend myself," I said, still my eyes focused infront.
"I'm amazed. I think I like you already."
My feet stuck on the ground while my eyes nailed straight ahead. Kit's beside me and I can't look at him after hearing what he said. My cheeks started burning and my heart's pounding fast. What did he just say? Did I heard it right?
"Hey. Are you okay?" He suddenly tapped my shoulder gently causing me to look at him. I gulped when I realized that I successfully made an eye contact with him.
"I... J-just show me the way to the powder room." I avoided my gaze. I heard him chuckled before he pointed the powder room. I thanked him and went straight to the place.
I looked at myself infront of the mirror as I held my chest. My heart's beating fast again. What in the world am I feeling? First, Neil and now, Kit. Am I feeling this thing because I'm not used to being with other people?
When I was about to go out of the powder room, I heard two people talking so I stopped and remained inside. Now, I'm overhearing things I am not supposed to hear again.
"I'm sorry but I can't accept the engagement."
My eyes widened when I heard Neil's voice. Engagement? So, he's engaged?
"We have no other choice, Oliver. Our parents decided it." A lady spoke.
I held my chest when I felt it tightened. Neil's engaged with someone else. Why does my heart started to feel pain after hearing it?
"But I am not inlove with you!! I wanna marry someone I love, Anthea!!" Neil yelled at her.
"But I love you!!"
I closed my eyes as I formed my hands into fists. What am I doing here? I shouldn't even listen to them. The more I listen, the more my head hurts.
I walked out of the powder room with heads down. I just acted as if I didn't hear anything. I passed by them but I stopped when Neil called my name.
"Gold!"
I didn't face him. I waited for him to tell me something.
"Did you... hear everything?" He gently asked.
"Don't worry. I'll just act like I didn't hear anything." I coldly stated and started to take steps away from them.
When I went back to the table where the others are, Kit asked me if something happened but I answered nothing. I just nailed my face down on the floor, still thinking about the scene earlier. Really, my heart is getting weird. Do I have a sickness?
Seconds later, a music started to play. I looked up and turned my gaze around the people when they started to stand up from their seats and move to the center of the place. They started to pair up, and started dancing. A slow dance.
Kenneth stood up from his seat and looked for a partner. The three ducklings too, stood up and walked to the center. Now, both Kit and I are left here at the table.
"Wanna dance?" He stood up and offered his left hand.
"No, I... I'm not into---"
"Please?" he insisted.
I sighed and slightly nodded. I stood up and slowly reached out to his hand. When my hand touched his, I felt an electricity that flowed through ny veins. I wanted to let go of his hand but I can't. We walked to the center with the others. His right hand touched my waist and he pulled me closer to him, making me gulped. Slowly, I placed my left hand on his shoulder. I just kept my gaze on my side even though I know Kit is staring at me. I can't do it. I can't look into his eyes anymore.
"Marigold?"
"Y-yeah?"
"A partner should look at her partner in the eyes."
"I don't want to." I pouted.
I swear, my insides are screaming! What in the world am I feeling right now? Am I... inlove? But with whom? With Kit?
"Oh. There he is."
I immediately looked to the direction where Kit is looking. My eyes widened when I saw Neil appearing from somewhere and now he's walking here to the center. His eyes were cold as he nailed his gaze on me and Kit. The spotlight focused on him. He's still staring at us and I can't explain what emotion was shown on his face. But I felt anger coming from him.
I remember that time when he told me that I should be his partner. Is he mad because I'm dancing with another guy?
Someone went near Neil and gave him a microphone. Still glaring at us, Neil spoke.
"Didn't I told you that you are my partner?" Anger is evident in the tone of his voice. Is he referring to me?
I gulped. I don't know what to say.
"Gold..." He spoke with authority.
What should I do?
I can feel the eyes of the people on me. My whole body started shaking. Is this it? Is Neil trying to embarrass me infront of all these people?
I don't want attention. I don't want any eyes on me. I prefer to be alone and lock myself up in my room. I shouldn't have come here.I started to take steps backward, starting to lose my sanity. Someone, please, make me vanish. The eyes of the people around me are like those red eyes lingering in the shadows as they surround me and I am in the middle, trying to escape from these monsters."Marigold." Suddenly, light appeared. This simple brightness outstands the massive darkness, enough for me to find my way out from this nightmare."K-kit...""We're out of here." He grabbed my arm and pulled me, helping me to get out from this place. But we stopped when Neil spoke through the microphone."Kit. What are you doing?" I can still sense anger in his voice.Kit didn't answer and continued to walk with me. But I stopped so he looked at me with his forehead knotted."Why? Don't you wanna go home?" He asked.I shook my head. There's st
I stood up from my seat with my chin up. Everyone's eyes were on me as I walk out of the venue. For the first time in my life, I never thought I would be this confident. I never thought that the presence of everyone didn't make me uneasy.When I finally went out the venue, no one was around. I let out a loud sigh as I held my chest. I felt my heart pounding fast. What did I just do? I just saved Ella from the fate that she might possibly be in if I didn't interfere. I just saved someone who made fun of me, who bullied me at school. Am I doing the right thing?"So, how was the party? Isn't it too early for you to be home?" my brother asked me as soon as I entered the mansion. He was watching the TV in the living room while he's drinking something. He's sitting on the couch with his legs crossed."I'm not feeling well, brother," I stated without energy. I walked like a zombie and sat beside him. I watched the TV but my focus isn't on it but to the scene I made at
I felt an electricity that flowed through my veins the moment Neil wrapped his arm around my shoulder. Ella and some of my classmates glared at me. Shouldn't they blame Neil instead? I didn't do anything. Neil was the one who act familiar like we're friends, wherein, in fact, we're not."Oh, Oliver. You're here," Aurelia said with a smile on her face.I was waiting for the moment Neil would remove his arm but it seems like he's enjoying this. Is he crazy? He's doing this infront of his fiancé?"Are you guys friends?" Aurelia asked as she diverted her gaze to me. She's still wearing that bright and beautiful smile of her."Nope. This one's my prey." Neil answered with a smirk on his face.I looked at him beside me with my forehead knotted. But his scornful smile didn't fade when he looked at me. Oh yeah, I almost forgot this guy's a bully here."Prey?" Aurelia's forehead knotted. "What is going on here, Oliver? Are you bullying this cu
"What are you doing here?" I asked him but he just stared at me seriously, his hands both inside the pocket of his pants.He started to take steps to my direction so I gulped, feeling uneasy. Why is he staring at me like that? Did I do something wrong?"Where are you two going? What is your relationship with him anyway? Answer me, Gold. Why are you fixed up? Are you making yourself gorgeous just for Kit?"His continuous questions made my jaw dropped. How am I supposed to answer his questions all at once? And why does he care in the first place?"Can you please stay out of my business?" I frowned, as I took steps backwards. He kept on walking forward even though he's already close enough to me."Your business is my business. Answer me or I'll lose my sanity." He's really looking at me seriously that's why I shouldn't do anything that can make him mad. He's about to explode but he's trying to control himself. Why is he acting like this?"You c
I decided not to go back home just for tonight. I sat here at the side of the bridge with a stranger beside me. She's already in a middle adulthood and she's here because she's selling balut, one of the first exotic food delicacies in the Philippines. She talked a lot and I find myself comfortable being with her. She told me that she came from a poor family and has to sell balut in order for her to feed her family. She even told me everything she do isn't easy, but her family is her inspiration for her to continue this. They are happy even though they are poor. But here I am, I have everything I need, I got everything and I can buy all the things I want, however, I am not happy with my life. Isn't it funny? This just proves that life with money won't always make you happy. It is the life with your family that counts.A cold breeze touched my skin so I sat with my legs together. I hugged both of my knees and I felt the roughening of my skin."It's starting to get cold,
I wanted to move but fear has taken over me. How did this guy even get inside?He suddenly placed his index finger on his lips, telling me not to make any noise."Hey, freak. Why are you awake—" Ella rose up from lying when she saw I'm awake. But then her eyes widened when she noticed the guy that's already between us."Sssshhh..." The guy hushed. We couldn't get to discern his face because it's kinda dark in here, plus, he's wearing a hoodie, so the shadow hides his face. But we can see his creepy smile and glowing eyes.Suddenly, I felt Ella holding my left hand. She squeezed it and I know that she's nervous and doesn't know what to do. I gazed at my side to see the two kids and also ma'am Edeline. My eyes widened when I saw blood on their shirts and even their mouths. T-they were killed?"Now both of you—""You murderer!!!" Ella immediately kicked him hard so he was thrown back a little. I stood up first and helped Ella. She's
"Ella?" I called her while she's washing the dishes. She knows a lot about the household chores whereas I don't. I even asked her to teach me but she doesn't want to do it because a princess like me shouldn't do what maids do. I just rolled my eyes inside my thought. I wished I was a pauper with a loving family than being a princess with a family who didn't care about me."Yeah?""You were about to tell me something, right?" I just seated here, watching her."Am I? Uh, no. It's nothing."I never thought I'd talk to her like this. For the first time, I thought, that she's a friend, someone special to me. And I also think she treats me the same. Or maybe she just needed someone to talk to but when we go back to school, she will return to her old self. Bullying me, with the twins at her side.After washing the dishes, she decided to take a shower. I still feel cold and maybe I'll follow after she's done. I strolled around the mansion. I turned my gaze
I don't get what he meant. What is he saying? For an unknown reason, tears started to form in my eyes."There was this girl. She became a part of our lives. She was the same as you at first. An introvert, she doesn't communicate with anyone. She's also smart just like you. I never thought that she would become more than a friend in Neil's eyes," he started as he placed his hands inside the pocket of his pants. He stepped backwards and leaned on the wall. He lifted his head to the sky like he's imagining what he is saying. I just looked at him as I focused in listening to everything his mouth says."When we were in our senior high school years, the four of us were always close. Close like those four guys we see in the anime Boys Over Flowers.""Boys Over Flowers? You mean the F4?" My forehead knotted as I asked that. Is it just me or there are four guys in their circle of friends? But why did I only met three, Kenneth, Kit and Neil? Who's the fourth one?"