Chapter 1
Robert, her skinny father, looked at the rear-view mirror and felt guilty. Her daughter's back was bent on the soft foam of her seat, yawning at each second. They shouldn't have brought her with them but Melinda, her pet.i.te mother, was overreacting. They'll be in New York for a month and she didn't want to leave Zheira all by herself.
He sighed. "You okay there, Zhe?" His voice was loud and throaty for such a small man.
"Yeah!" Zheira raised her thumb with a cute smile.
Melinda pressed the bridge of her round gla.s.ses. "Is there anything wrong, honey?" Her thin brows draw together.
"Nah! it's nothing to worry about." His grip on the gear level tightened.
"That's good to hear." Melinda tied her dark curly hair. "Just so you know, I'm not angry. You can calm down. Just making sure everything's fine."
Sighing out of relief, Robert murmured, "Hope this trip comes to an end. Her mood keeps switching at each second." He loosened his tie and swallowed hard.
"You saying something?"
An awkward smile curved his pale lips. "It's nothing, hon!" He tried sounding cool, though, there's an edge to his voice.
Zheira didn't mind them. She's way too busy wis.h.i.+ng to be on a soft bed and relax her body. Especially her back. It's starting to give her pain as they travel farther.
Out of boredom, she started reading on her iPhone. It's the only thing she could do best. Losing herself in the world of fiction.
"Love is a common mistake, we, ladies make. We let ourselves be captured, be vulnerable, and be crazy. Expecting that men would do the same." She read those lines thrice in her head and whispered it twice.
Melinda turned. "You reading again?" When Zheira nodded, she merely simpered. "That's lovely, Zhe. But, as your mother, I want you to not only read fict.i.tious books. Business books are better, and they'll also give you important lessons. After all, you are the heir to our mining business. You needed all the info you can get."
"Oh, come on, hon! That book is boring. They don't even teach you anything important—" He cleared his throat when his wife glared at him. "Just kidding. Zheira, your mother's right. At least, balance reading fiction and nonfiction books."
Zheira looked down. "I'm only seventeen. Those books bore me too much, mom. I'll learn those next year or the year after the next," she whispered while playing with her fingers.
"That is the silliest excuse I've ever heard, Zheira. Those books will not only help you be a good businessman but will also boost your confidence. Look at you, you've been concealing yourself with that jacket of yours. Do you think that is okay? You need to learn everything before it's too late. I'm warning you, Zheira. If I see you reading that fiction book again, I'll confiscate your phone." Her voice was sharp but controlled. As much as possible, she's trying not to hurt her that much. She wished for her daughter to realize that there's more to life than hiding in
Tears trickled pa.s.sed Zheira's cheeks. Melinda sighed and wiped her tears. "Stop crying now. This is for your own good, Zhe. It's not always that we're alive to keep you safe. You need to learn to be independent. You're turning eighteen two days from now, but you're still a crybaby." She touched her chin gently. "Now look at me."
Zheira shook her head repeatedly. Melinda raised Zheira's head, but she closed her eyes tightly.
"Zheira!" Her round eyes bulged.
Trembling, Zhiera slowly opened her eyes. A wild gasp escaped her throat when their eyes locked. At first, Zheira could only see the reflection of her eyes. Its blue iris has a slit-like shape in the center and was stained with red crystal-like particles. Until, a dancing figure appeared in Melinda's black irises. It was her younger self. She was turning and humming while carrying a cute baby girl with golden hair.
Melinda smiled. "I loved you even when you're still a child and that would never change, Zheira. If you can't feel it with the way we treat you, look straight into our eyes and our memories will convince you." She planted a soft kiss on her forehead before sitting straight on the pa.s.senger's seat.
Robert pinched her wife's hand. "That's so sweet of you, hon!" He smiled, showing off his yellowish teeth.
Silence enveloped them for a while. Zhiera was clenching her fist so hard. Her nails dug deeper into her skin. Tears were falling endlessly from her eyes. She leaned her head on the window. She's aware why her mother got to do that. Her doubts about their love were something they couldn't bear. But, what she couldn't understand was that memory thing. Melinda's aware that she hated seeing through people. It made her feel like a monster, and her eyes were enough for her to be treated like one.
A ring broke the pressured silence. It came from Robert's phone. "h.e.l.lo? This is Robert Martin of ABC Company. How may I help you?"
Zheira started reading once more. Though, she couldn't understand a word, she didn't stop. She's just distracting herself from the hatred rising in her soul. Like a snake uncoiling itself. She loathed everything about herself. From her red eyes down to her long legs.
Robert ended the call. "The Mason's are on their way, hon. They want us to be in Ippudo Westside before five minutes."
"They're really early. Let's head there first." She crossed her arms.
"How about Zheira?" He jerked his head to the back. At the mention of her name, she looked at them.
"She can stay in the car."
"We might be there for an hour. She'll be bored."
"What do you suggest? She'll stay in the hotel all by herself? That's not a good idea, hon. She's not used to be alone."
"How can you teach her to be independent if you keep treating her like a baby? Stop worrying about her. She'll not try sneaking out of the hotel, anyway."
It took a while before Melinda could decide. "Fine." She bit her lip. "If something bad happen, it'll be your fault."
Zheira's heart started racing. For the first time, she'll be all alone. She didn't know how it feels, but she's willing to find out.
When they turned in a narrow street, they found themselves jammed in traffic. Robert glanced at his wrist.w.a.tch and looked anxiously at the line-up of cars before them.
"We're going to be late," Robert said while ma.s.saging his temple.
Melinda patted his shoulder. "Just calm down. This is out of our control, you know. Traffic is inevitable."
"But how about the Mason?"
"You know, for a man you're soft-hearted. Stop thinking about them. We've been traveling for a day and we're willing to sacrifice our rest just for them. They can afford to wait for a while."
After their short argument, Zheira asked, "Mom, where are we?" Her voice was shaking while she watched a lot of people pa.s.sing through the corner.
"Where in Timesquare at New York. Is there a problem?" she asked, noticing the sweats in her daughter's forehead.
Zheira shook her head and looked at the winds.h.i.+eld. The cars were starting to move. She caught a glimpse of the big banners on the buildings. Mostly, they were advertis.e.m.e.nts for a certain product. What she loved was the big billboard, airing different trailers of movies she hadn't got time to watch. When they're in Angleton, all she did was to fill her eyes with new movies or else read new books and sip a cup of coffee. She missed it now.
It didn't take long before they stopped beside a tall building. It has a red banner just at its third layer and has neat lettering of CasaBlanca. From its first and last letter was a round thing that was painted green.
Melinda reminded her, "Don't ever go out without us. Understand?" She raised her tabby forefinger and shook it dangerously. Zheira nodded.
"Well then. Let's go." She then proceeded outside.
Zheira wore her black sungla.s.ses and facemask. As much as possible, no one must see her bare skin.
Two bonsai pine tree was facing each other in the corner of the gate, shaded by a red rooftop engraved by the hotel's name.
Melinda was talking to a guard just by the gla.s.s door. After a while, she patted the guard before going out. They bid their goodbyes to Zheira, planting a kiss on her cheeks and forehead. Reminding her once more to not stroll anywhere unless they return.
The moment the car moved away from her, she found herself shuddering. The guard looked at her with furrowed brows. Without any question, she was told to follow him and as they enter, her mind could only think of the possibility that this would be a long day.