"Hey, Vince!"
I turned in the direction where I heard the familiar voice of Anne. "Anne, hey."
Anne ran towards me, wearing the usual. Biker shorts and a loose shirt with a bone and skull print on the front and back. As she calls it, a sexually fluid outfit.
"What are you waiting for, Vince? Let's go? Nathan is waiting at the fertility tree."
I stared at her and smiled. "You know, you keep on hanging out with Nathan. I'm starting to think you have a crush on him."
Anne blushed and I had to hold on my laughter, or else she'll definitely slap me in front of everyone. "Shu—shut up! Not me! Maybe you have a crush on him, stupid! I told you so many times that I don't like men, now let's go!" Anne grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the said park where people would usually freak during the night.
Which is why used condoms can be seen hidden under the roots of the tree, calling it the fertility tree.
We were a few steps away from the park when I felt my phone vibrating. Who is it this time, I asked myself.
I stopped walking and called for Anne's attention. "Wait, Anne."
"What?" She said, sounding a bit concerned. "What is it?"
"Someone texted me, I just want to check it out."
I grabbed the phone from my pocket and checked the message. I frowned when I saw that the message was from my brother, Bella.
'We have a guest coming to our house. The maid left early, can you cook for me?'
-Bella
I took a deep breath and started typing on my phone. Well, there goes our afternoon hang-out.
'Fine, I'll help you out. Just as long as I can leave Saturday night.
-Vince.
=======================
I came home as soon as I could but it was rush hour. Traffic was so bad, and I arrived home at about 7 o'clock. Fuck me, my sister is going to kill me. I never liked her when she's angry, and because of this, she might hate me for all eternity.
She was so excited to have this job, and her boss is visiting yet food is not yet served. Heck, nothing is even prepared yet.
The only thing I can do now is pray and hope that they're late as well. Maybe they've been victimized by the endless flow of traffic as well.
I took the key from my bag and quickly opened the door.
"Vincent! My handsome grandson!"
I could feel my spirit jumping out of my body when I saw my grandmother standing in front of the door. "Grandma?!" I almost sounded a bit too fidgety. "You–you're here?"
She smiled at me, her wrinkles showing. "Well, yes. Bella asked me to come visit to cook for her boss."
Oh, thank goodness I'm not Bella's first choice. I smiled back at her, then gave her a hug. I kissed her on the cheek as well,liking how she smelled like coconuts and jasmine flowers.
"My grandson is so handsome! Look how you've grown, do you already have a girlfriend?" She asked me while smiling, her hands holding both of my cheeks, almost squeezing.
"Grandma, enough about me. Is Bella here?" I asked her and she told me that Bella is upstairs with her boss.
It's a good thing that they had prepared. Food is already cooked and my ass is no longer on the line. It's a good thing my grandmother arrived and rescued everyone from Bella's rage. After taking off my shoes, I quickly went up to meet my sister and ask her how everything has been holding up.
Just a few steps towards my room, I saw someone standing behind — her back facing me. I touched her shoulder, thinking it was my sister. "Bell?" I greeted her with a smile and she slowly turned her head to look at me.
"Excuse me?" An unfamiliar voice greeted me.
I froze right on the spot and could only smile at her stupidly. Shit. So this is my sister's boss. I assume, since she mentioned she'll be working as a business woman's personal assistant.
God, I'm so stupid. Why the heck did I assume that it was Bella. She was never this tall or had this hair or figure. Maybe hunger overruled my senses.
She looked at me and I noticed how beautiful she was. Then I noticed there was a small tattoo on the left side of her forehead.
"Hi." She said to me and she gave me a smile. Her almond shaped eyes formed a crescent shape. She must be of Asian descent for she doesn't look Caucasian. Even her smile was beautiful, her perfect rows of teeth showing.
"I'm Chiyo. Your sister's friend." She reached out her hand and I took it. We shook hands and I smiled at her too.
"You must be Vincent. Sometimes, they call you, Vice.. is it true?" She asked me, the smile on her lips not disappearing.
I laughed while still staring at her, examining her features. "Ah, they told you that? Was it my Grandmother? Only she and my Mom use that nickname."
Again, she laughed at my words. I never knew I was this funny as she had been laughing so much the moment we crossed paths. Or maybe something's on my face, making me look like a clown.
I would have wiped my face as I was starting to feel conscious of myself — my sister's boss keeps on staring and I'm starting to feel uncomfortable, but then…
"Vince… so you've met my boss."
Bella's voice made me jump off the ground, making me feel a bit more fidgety than I already was. "Shit." I cursed under my breath, and again I saw Chiyo smile because of it.
Bella merely shook her head as she smiled at me. Good thing she's in a good mood, or else she'll smack me with a slipper in the back of the head for cursing inappropriately.
My sister gestured at Chiyo's direction then acted a bit more formal. "Vince, this is Ahma Chiyo, my bo—"
"Her friend." Chiyo interrupted before Bella could finish speaking. "Before working for me, she was one of my college friends.."
I nodded and looked at my sister and she jokingly said that her boss was very particular when it comes to introductions. And coming from my sister, Chiyo liked to be addressed as Miss Chiyo.
"Well, the house is starting to smell like a restaurant, how about we go down and eat?" Bella said, looking at both Chiyo and I.
======================
As we sat on the round table, all of us exchanged topics and began to converse. Benjamin, Bella, my grandmother and myself were enjoying the food. And of course, sitting with us is Chiyo..
"So Miss Chiyo, how old are you?" Grandma asked as she cut the chicken on her plate.
Miss Chiyo smiled again, she looked at me and smiled, showing her rows of teeth. What's with this woman? Ever since we sat on the table, she had been looking at me, almost a bit too intently. Was there something on my face?
"I'm 29 years old, Mrs. Reed."
"That's amazing. And you own a number of hotels and resto-bar's? How impressive." Was Benjamin's words filled with compliments. "And here I am, 32 years old yet jobless, loveless and still hopeless."
Everyone laughed at my older brother's realistic joke. And then everyone fell silent again when Benjamin asked if Miss Chiyo had a boyfriend. Ah, Benjamin. Always desperate for a chance to be with a rich, beautiful woman.
He's so full of himself that Bella practically face-palms herself after hearing the question. Benjamin sure is shameless.
"Well, actually. I don't have a boyfriend, but I already have someone to marry. You can say I'm up for an arranged marriage."
Everyone nodded and hummed and was satisfied with what they had heard. Well, all except for Benjamin, who looked like he missed the chance to have a better life. Hah! That's karma, I guess.
"How long have you been arranged to be married?" Was my grandmother's intrigue filled question. "Don't you want to get married yet?"
"Ah grandma, always with the probing questions. You're such a boomer." I joked and they suddenly laughed. Miss Chiyo smiled at me again before she spoke.
"Well, I've been thinking about it as well. And my parents had been popping baby questions and jokes that my uterus might dry out if I waited out for too long."
"And you'll live happily ever after." I chimed in a joke again, making everyone smile. Everyone except for Chiyo.
Humor and jokes surrounded our dining table. But what I don't understand is the feeling I have here with my sister's so-called friend.
There's something about her smile, something about her laugh and answers that seem so fake to me. But of course I just didn't pay attention to it, maybe it's just like this when I come across a stranger. I just have my doubts.
A few minutes passed and all of us finished eating. My grandmother went to the guest room to rest, and my brother went up to his room as well. Bella and Miss Chiyo, well, my sister asked her boss to go outside for a while.
Chiyo said she wanted to see the rest of the neighborhood or something. In short, I was assigned to clean up the mess in the kitchen. Which is always fine with me. I did not mind.
I let different kinds of things run through my mind while cleaning the table. I never noticed that someone was behind me.
"Mother fucker —- fuck!" I shouted loudly, placing my left hand on my chest right after. "Miss Chiyo! What — what are you doing here? I did not even hear you entering the house?" I told her as I looked at her with a funny look on my face.
She was fanning herself with her right hand as she laughed. Maybe she's laughing at me for being such a mess.
Well, I do scare easily.
I'm easily frightened and spooked, really.
"Is there something you're looking for? I thought Bella was with you? Why are you here?" I didn't mean to sound rude, but there are times when I can't control myself. But she didn't seem to mind my ill-mannered questions and just shook her head a little.
"Nothing, you look like you need help. And I asked Bella if I could, and she let me." She asked modestly as she stared at me. As if she's asking for permission to help out in the kitchen.
"Well, sure. If you want to." I told her but I was actually embarrassed. What was my sister thinking anyway? Letting a guest clean after her mess?!
Petty.
Truthfully, I was fine by myself. But she's already here and she keeps on insisting — which is why I let her wash the dishes. I grabbed the cloth to clean the table, watching her from time to time as she cleaned off the stain from the plate.
We were both silent as we cleaned. And every now and then our eyes meet, she smiles and stares at me. Weird.
After I finished wiping the table, I looked behind me when I suddenly saw that she was only a few steps away from me. "Oh shit!"
I seemed to scare the shit out of her, and noticed the plates were about to slip away from her fingers. I managed to catch the porcelain plates, my fingers brushing against hers.
"Careful." I spoke out, grabbing the rest of the plates from her. And as I moved, I could still feel her eyes on me.
"Vince, how old are you?"
My brow raised at her sudden question and thought why she needed to know. Nevertheless I still answered it. "I'm 20 years old, why?"
She smiled again. If anyone could count how many times she smiled at me, it would exceed the number of fingers I have on both my hands.
"Good." She whispered before she took a step, inching close to me. "Because I don't want to be labeled as a pedophile for what I'm about to do to you."
Was what she said to me and I suddenly laughed. "Well, who knew you're also good at making jo ---"
I couldn't continue what I was about to say when she suddenly came and kissed me. She held me by the shoulder and her other hand went straight to my hair. I moaned when she bit my lip, her fingers letting go of my shoulder --- only for it to thread lightly on my neck. I wanted to push her away but I couldn't.
My whole body felt weak, and I was losing myself through the heated kiss..
And then I remembered we were not the only ones inside the house. What if someone saw what we were doing?
What if my grandmother saw us?
What if Bella saw?
What if brother and sister suddenly peeked out. How did this happen and why? But the thing I can't get rid of in my mind is how I agreed to suddenly kiss this strange woman. Who is not only friends with my sister. But was also her boss.