"I didn't expect you to be here." I heard him said and gently smile at me.
"Ah, me too." I immediately calmed down and sat straight. I even glanced at mom and dad who were watching me while my sister had a knowing smile as if she knew what was going on.
"You knew her, Zaine?" Auntie Zandra asked when she saw my reaction. That's why the surname Madrigal is familiar because it belongs to Zaine.
"She's my friend and schoolmate," Zaine simply answered. I felt my cheek getting hot so I just bow my head down so they couldn't see my cheeks' redness.
"Oh, that's great." I looked at Zaine's mom's direction who's wearing a smile on her face as she looked around us. I don't know how I will feel right now.
"Will the Waltridge come?" Mommy changes the subject. There I looked at his direction.
"Waltridge?" I'm not sure. Maybe they are referring to someone else and not the person I am thinking of.
"Yes, Jane. Mr. Joshua Waltridge." My sister answered. I seem shocked that made my mother frown. Mr. Waltridge is the boss of Aunt Gisselle and the father of James. What a coincidence.
"Good evening, I'm sorry we're late."
We heard a baritone voice as we heard footsteps approaching us. He stopped in front and roamed his eyes at us as if he's observing us. There were two men next and one of them is an acquaintance I knew. The other guy looks more mature like Zaine. He approached Auntie Zandra first and kissed her on the cheek.
It was Mr. Waltridge and his son, James. He greeted us before taking a sit on the occupied chair beside dad. James, on the other hand, look at my direction as our eyes met. I quickly looked away when my older brother clear his throat next to me. James didn't seem to mind that and just went to his father's side.
I feel more uncomfortable now that James is here. He looks intimidating right now compared to the James I always met. He always has that looks that make people turn their head on his direction.
The meeting continued and I am bored as hell. Why did I come along? If I only knew that the three of us would meet, I would have just made an excuse not to be here.
"We're planning to expand the business here and needed more workers to finished it," James said as he looks at my dad. He's serious and well mannered when it comes to business, gone the James who acts very childish.
"We already agree on that, as well as the finances of the business that we'll be making. As of now, the Salvadors are taking the lead." The guy beside Zaine said.
"What did you say Clared?" Zaine asked, slightly confused. "Is that Cheska's family?"
"Unfortunately, yes."
Zaine suddenly stood up when he heard his older brother's answer. There was a look of shock in his eyes and I noticed his rapid breathing as he looked now on his mother's direction, hands clasped as if holding back.
"I'm leaving."
He left without even waiting for his parent's permission. Everyone got silent as they looked at Zaine's direction. I felt sorry for Zaine. Even I will be shocked by that news. Cheska didn't tell us that she's a heiress. Leaving without reason also made a big impact on us, especially for Zaine. It surely made a damage to their friendship, or maybe it is.
I just sighed and focused on Auntie Zandra who is now apologizing for her son's behavior. She didn't expect that either.
"Sorry for that unmanned behavior my son did earlier," she said.
"It's fine, we already talk the important things," Mom answered. "Thank you for the dinner, Zandra."
"My pleasure."
"That's for tonight. We'll go home." Everyone turned to dad as he stood up. Blank expression can be seen on his face, do not know glad of what is happening.
"Thank you for coming, Mr. Valdez and Mr. Waltridge."
We got up and said goodbye. I even looked at James' place for a moment when he looked at me intently. Inexplicable emotion can be seen on his eyes as I stared at him.
I just smiled.
He just answered with a smile too, a fake one though.
**
" So, do you like that Madrigal, Jane?"
I turned my gaze to Jace when she said that. She was sitting on the side of my bed while I was in front of the dresser, combing my hair. Smiling, she looked at me as if I was hiding something from her and I need to confess that.
Am I really that obvious?
"Don't deny it already, I saw it through your gestures." She's been asking me since our dinner with the Madrigal's. She has always asked me and my answer to her is always a 'No'. I don't want to admit it to her.
"How many times do I have to say that I don't have a thing on Zaine," I refused. "And one more thing, he likes Cheska."
"Oh." There, she fell silent. "If you say so."
I shook my head. I don't want to confirm to her that I like Zaine. I know my sister sees that too. I finished combing before lying on my bed. I felt my sister and squeeze herself towards me. I just ignored her and forced myself to sleep.
"Jane?" I heard my sister mention my name.
"Hmm?"
"How about that Waltridge guy?" She added. I opened my eyes but didn't look at her direction. "I think he likes you."
"How did you know? You didn't talk, did you?."
That's what Aunt Gisselle told me before my Moving Up. I didn't believe what she said, but when my sister Jace mentioned it again, I was hesitant now.
"I just know."
"You're just imagining things, Jace. Go find a guy. You're already twenty-three."
"I'm still busy," she simply replied. She got up. "And one more thing I have no plans to get marry."
I turned to him. "You want to be a nun?"
She just smiled and said goodnight. Confused, I just nodded.
I don't know why no one is courting with my sister even though she has it all. Knowledge, beauty, responsible and kind. Maybe my sister is very choosy when it comes to boyfriend. She's still single all her life.
I thought about what my sister said. What if James likes me? It seemed impossible for him to like me in the short time we met. And also, we rarely meet but there are unexpected. Just like at Zaine's dinner, I didn't expect him to be there.
I'm bothered with that fake smile of him. He always wear a genuine smile whenever we meet. But that night was different. I know it's fake as I always saw that kind of smile on my old friends. And to think that Zaine is with us, is very uncomfortable to be in that place.
THE next morning went by with people preparing for something. They're busy as if someone will go home. I just made my way to the kitchen to have some brunch.
It feels surreal now that I'm living with my true parents. I already miss Auntie Gisselle and Grandma Flores. I am used to the quiet and simple life with them. The last person I saw was Aunt Gisselle. She was different when the night I left. There was something strange about her that I could not understand. She treat me coldly when we last met.
I couldn't even said goodbye to grandma. She was sleeping in her own room the night I left with dad. I wonder if she knew about me leaving and just chose to be on her room. Despite that, I'm really grateful that I've been with them even for just a short time.
Since our Moving Up, I have not been able to see my friends. Maybe they are on vacation. Last time, we talked about having a vacation together was on one of the Madrigal's resort. It's just sad that Cheska can't be with us.
"Ma'am, you have a visitor," said the maid when I saw her approach me.
My forehead furrowed at what I heard. I didn't expect any visitors. My friends also did not know our house here and I did not mention it to them.
"Who is it?" I will ask.
"His name is James. He is waiting outside."
I was stunned for a moment but immediately nodded to the maid I was talking to. She said goodbye to the repairs. I went outside and saw a car parked outside. Our guard talks to the owner of it. When I approached them, the two immediately stopped.
"James, what are you doing here?"
"Jane..."
It seemed that he got stunned when we met again. I motioned the guard to come inside and I would take care of it. I do not know the reason why James came. I can't even consider him as a friend. We are just acquaintance and he is not my friend.
"I just want to see you," I did not hear the last thing he said. "I m-mean I'm lost at this village."
"Huh? Why did you come here?"
"I'm j-just touring around." He scratched his nape and averted his eyes from me. I looked again at the car he was driving.
"How come you can drive? I thought you're still a minor."
I saw him smile at what I said. I don't know what's in that smile and I can't take my eyes off him.
"I'm 19, Jane." Even the way he said my name feels different. A bizarre feeling I can't determine.
"If that's so, you can go now," I replied. "You can ask someone at that area." I pointed the guard house.
I saw him nodded. I stared at him as if observing him. Those blonde hair, chiseled jaw, reddish lips are pointed nose. He's really an art.
"Done checking me out?"
I was immediately shook my head to avert my gaze. I heard him chuckled at my gestures. I just bid my goodbye to him because of embarrassment.
"Take care."
"Thank you, Jane."