Chapter 01- Kiss in the Alley

I was cursed in the way that everyone wanted to be cursed.

Looking at the largest headline in the newspaper, I want to give the daily newspaper a clap for doing their job, ruining my morning with their daily stash of my wild expenditure in life. Didn’t the scandal of me kissing a man at one of the government parties just died a week ago? Then, here I am again, with my face plastered in every sheet of daily newspaper of the country doing my deeds of being the most rebel daughter of the President.

“ Didn’t I tell you that you will stop going to those clubs?” Father, the country's current President, shouted as soon as I step my foot in our dining area. He didn’t take his gaze off the newspaper while sipping his favorite tea. The gray strands of his hair are beyond visible and even though his amber wrinkled eyes are hiding beneath those black-rimmed eyeglasses, I cannot deny the fact that my father is a very serious one.

He’s strict and formal but more importantly, he's protective. 

Rolling my eyes, I’ve assumed the seat next to his. “ At least, I’ve kind of endorse you. Dad, bad publicity is still a type of publicity.”

He glares at me and scoffs. I meant those words to confuse his anger.

“ It’s your third scandal for this month. You are grounded!”

No. I won’t be. I cannot believe what he just said.

“ I’m 21 and I am not a fucking child!”

This is the first time that I have raised my voice to him. He always deemed me as someone who will always obey his command but I needed to live my own life. He's depriving me of my freedom and I am a fucking model. How can I attend my photoshoots if I am here, cage in this house? 

“ And you’re my daughter. The President’s daughter! Your scandal is a stain on my name. Tell me, aren’t you happy with all of these things?”

No. I wasn’t. Who will be happy if all of your movement is monitored by the public? All of their eyes are looking for something to judge me. I used to love the idea of being the nation’s daughter but the cruelty of the media ruined everything.

“ You will not leave this house. I’ll triple the amount of your bodyguard.”

His final words echo in my mind. Is he serious?

With all of my strength, I’ve tried to catch him while he is walking to exit our home, the President’s home but he didn’t give me any attention. The guards open the car door and he just leaves without taking a glance at me.

Wearing the pajamas, I’ve stomped my feet and shouted out of annoyance. The guards that are guarding the house didn’t even flinch and acts like a statue. Exhaling, I irritatingly walked inside the house again but my blood boiled when the guard started to lock the tall gates of our home.

One guard looked at me and continue what he is doing. “ It’s the President’s order.”

President’s order. Fucking title. I’ve cursed to myself before going upstairs and slamming the door of my bedroom. How can he do this to me? I am not a child and I know what I am doing but this punishment is not fair.

Getting my cellphone, I’ve contacted my manager and tell him about my schedule. I am supposed to do modeling for an international brand but how I am supposed to do that If I am locked in this shitty home?

It’s a tall classic, Spanish-style house and the windows are large enough to see the view outside. Moving the large cream curtain, I tried to peek a look inside and there isn’t anything to catch my eyes. It’s just a simple garden but the tree just outside my window sparks an idea in my mind.

“ Hello, Amara?” Kiko, my best friend answers the phone. I’ve needed a drink and I wanted to get wasted tonight.

Biting my nails, I’ve looked through the window and remembers my plan. “ Let’s get wasted, tonight? I needed to get out of this house,” I mouthed.

“ You’re escaping?” he said and I nodded to myself. I have never been but tonight I will. The pressure and the strict protocols for being the nation’s daughter are boiling deep inside my head.

His laughter envelopes my ears before he answered yes. “ 8 PM, my car will fetch you across the street,” he excitingly said, and just like that my plans are in motion.

Throughout the entire day, I didn’t do anything suspicious. Just like the normal routine, I’ve watched the television and eat my lunch as well as my dinner while the guards are roaming the Presidential house. If you will ask me if I tried to count them, yes I did but there are too many to count. However, this day is special. The country is hosting an international affair and the prime minister of every country in SouthEast Asia is present and my dad brings almost half of the bodyguard. I’ve made my mental counting and approximately, there are at least 15 bodyguards that are present in this house today.

Two are guarding the main entrance gate, two in the exits, and another guarding the main door. The others are either sleeping in their room or roaming around the place.

Picking up my silver bodycon dress that hugs perfectly my body and black stiletto, I’ve made up my mind. I will get wasted and dump all of the problems through the magic of the alcohol. I didn’t deserve any of the hate comments and I wasn’t the nation’s daughter. Hearing them instructing to be perfect, elegant, and to be a good model for the country is exhausting. I didn’t run for the position and who are those people who are trying to manipulate me?

The cold breeze of wind touches my soft skin. It feels nice and refreshing. The outside of our house is dark, only the lamps installed at one of the corners are giving the whole garden a shade of light. There are no bodyguards, earlier I’ve made sure that they are in their post.

Balancing myself, I climbed through the window of my room but the heels became hinders my attempt. But nothing is stopping me tonight. Barefooted, I’ve successfully balance myself in the base of the window. The branch of the three is approximate almost one meter away and I needed to jump that much tonight.

Counting in my head, I’ve closed my eyes and pinch my wrist to stop the trembling. I can do it. I can climb to that branch. And I did. With a victorious smile, I successfully landed in the branch of the three without any sweat at all, and in just a minute, I was able to go down without anyone noticing. The sides of my dress are riding up but I didn’t mind at all.

The place is quiet and that is my cue. With a fast and calm movement, while holding my stiletto and looking around the place, I’ve crossed along with the garden and continues to jump in the concrete fence. This part is dark and it used to be my escaped area when I am young and tonight, after how many years, I have used it again to my advantage.

Sweats are formed in the sides of my forehead and my feet are cold from the bareness of the night. However, the plan isn’t finished yet. It took me all of my effort to run in the road and find Kiko’s car. While running, I saw the headlights and the front seat opening. Just like that, I have escaped.

 “ Well, aren’t you naughty enough?” he said and laughed because of what I did. I smiled at him and fixed myself before looking behind, ensuring that I wasn’t followed by anyone. Tonight, he didn't make any effort about his outfit. Being a socialite must tire him because he only wears a plain t-shirt when he is going through something but I decided not to comment with that. 

A smirk formed on my lips. “ Let’s go,” proudly, I’ve said. He shook his head in amusement but he started the car and drove away from the house

I was busy choosing from the DVDs in his dashboard when he suddenly looked at me and smirk like he’s thinking of something.

“ I can guess the headline tomorrow,” he teased.

He laughs and tried so hard to stop himself, putting his left hand to his mouth while his one hand is maneuvering the car.

“ The President’s daughter escaped the presidential house, spotted at a nightclub.”

He quoted and I had to roll my eyes. That wasn’t impossible but I didn’t care about all of that.

“ How much liquor can you handle?” he asked out of the sudden.

I scoffed and proudly stare at him. “ How much liquor can you handle?” I’ve emphasized and throws his question back in a proud tone.

He laughed and pinched my nose. “ Are you challenging me?” he asked.

We both laughed at each other until we find ourselves drowning in the taste of alcohol but since there isn’t so much fun inside the clubs, we’ve decided to drink along the streets.

The post of the lamps illuminates the whole place that we are in. Bottle of beers and plastic of junk foods are scattered in the corner. We don’t know how much sure, we are wasted.

“ You’re beautiful tonight.”

His eyes flicker with an unfamiliar emotion. It reflects the vintage illumination of the lamp. It’s enticing and alluring to look at.

Wasted, I’ve moved my body closer. “ Yeah?” My breath touches his cheeks and his stares landed on my plump lips.

It’s was like a sudden emotion and for how many years we didn’t felt this way. Until a kiss happened. His lips attack mine and my hand pulls his nape, closer to my head.

We are sure wasted. Crossing the line and doing this is in the middle of nowhere is beyond dangerous.

Then, all of a sudden, there was a sudden streak of light. A flash from someone in the bush capturing the moment. And at that time, I lost the game. Tomorrow, my name will be in the headline again and the president, my father, will surely not be happy about what he will read tomorrow in the headline.