_13_ (Lavalee Flamelinne Hanazono's Point of View)
The next day, we arrived at the mansion and the guys welcomed us with open arms. Just kidding, why would they do that?
Anyway, it's Friday and we still need to attend our afternoon classes at 1 PM.
I took a bath and then dressed up in our uniform. I allowed my hair to flow freely up to my waist. I'm thinking of getting my hair cut but I don't like it to get short.
I was fixing my bag when Snow-sama called so I immediately answered it.
"Kon'nichiwa, Yuki–sama." I greeted him seriously when his face appeared on the screen
"Okaerinasai, Furamerin hime." Snow–sama greeted back coldly
"When will you tell me?" I asked him seriously
At first, Nii-sama has his calm and composed face but it suddenly became cold when he realized what I was referring to.
He looked at me coldly and I glared at him in return.
This is how close we are.
How close we are to hurting each other just to get what we want. I want to get answers while he wants to keep those answers from me.
"Not planning to." He replied and I raised my brow at him
He's not planning to tell me?
"Nani? Jōdandesho, Yukisama?" I asked him unbelievingly
"Lav," He warned me
"Nani? Naze?" I asked him
"It's none of your concerns, I ca –" I cut off what he's supposed to say
This is what I sometimes dislike about him.
"Tondemonai! Mae ni itta, yuki, watashi wa tasukeru koto ga dekiru." I said while glaring at him
"Watashi ni koe o agenaide kudasai, Flamelinne." He said calmly but with an underlying warning so I rolled my eyes in front of him.
"Or what, Snow? What will you do? Give me a warning?" I asked icily as if I were spitting poison
"Kore de jubundesu, Furamerin." He replied coldly
"No, it isn't." I retorted and he glared at me coldly
This is why I dislike having him as my older brother sometimes.
He's too manipulative and controlling.
Such a control freak he is.
"Your glare doesn't work on me, Snow," I said while glaring daggers at him too
"Yamete, Furamerin. Don't be stubborn." He chastised icily
"Moshiwakearimasenga, gankodenakereba watashinihanarimasen," I said
"Furamerin!" he's raising his voice so I rolled my eyes and matched his icy cold eyes that are throwing cold glares at me
This kind of look never scared me because I knew he can't hurt us so much.
"Gomeiwaku o okake shite moshiwakearimasen, kotei," I said mockingly and turned off the call and then went to the bathroom and took a bath again.
The cold water splashed and I felt free. I felt refreshed. I washed my hair with shampoo and did my beauty essentials.
This is the second time I talked back to Snow–sama. The first time I talked back at him was when I found out he was the one handling our family empire after Appa and Eomma died. That was the first and last and I never thought I'd do it again.
Appa and Eomma told us that whatever happens, we must learn to stand on our feet but we must learn how to respect the older ones no matter what.
They used to tell us that Snow should always be the one to protect us because he's the oldest and in return, we must respect him but Snow also needs to respect our decisions and guide us, so usually our misunderstandings are shallow unlike this.
I was wearing my uniform when I went downstairs. I saw them in the living room chatting, they looked at me when they saw me arrive.
"Let's go," I said coldly and walked passed them
I rode my car and sat in the passenger seat. I wore my earphones and closed my eyes.
I felt the car move meaning Jace is already driving to school. When we arrived, the girls lined up beside me while the boys are behind us, on guard.
Our building's unusually quiet but there are still some who dared to make small noises.
Not even Jess and Irene made a noise, and it seems as if the guys felt the tension lingering as we pass the hallway.
Obviously, they're terrified of us.
We don't have many classmates because most of them we're eliminated so the faculty may then allow some willing students to get accelerated to the third year to be our batchmates.
It's not an issue to the academy because another camping would be held in our fourth year in college so they'd still experience the danger.
I'm walking mindlessly that I almost walked past our classroom.
When we went into the classroom suddenly became silent and everyone averted their gaze from me.
Looks like they haven't gotten over the events that happened during the camping and the callous exam.
I admit it was my mistake to not control the dangerous aura I emitted. I was just too mad and full of rage. Good thing Jess and Irene didn't dare ask anything on our way to the mansion because I probably won't answer it either.
"Afternoon, class." Our teacher greeted us and placed her thick books on the table.
She continued teaching us as if nothing happened, like none of her students got their hands drenched in blood and took many lives.
That's how things go in this place, all the professors and faculty members are safe as long as they keep their mouths shut and as long as they don't get scared because in a place like this where monsters like us are the students, being weak and afraid will cause your death.
After class, we went out of the classroom to our next class.
I shook my head when I saw a group of assholes confronting a woman.
I walked towards there and I saw a guy aiming a kunai at me so when it was about to hit me, I deflected it and made sure the trajectory would be towards the group who's confronting the teacher, when they saw it they attacked the guy who threw the kunai at me.
Stupid fools.
"Can we accompany you?" I asked the woman and helped her pick up her things.
This is one of the things Eomma taught us.
No matter what kind of world you grew up in being kind and helpful is a must but know who and when to help. Help others without endangering yourself and the people you treasure.
"Thank you, dear." I halted when I heard that voice.
That voice...
"I-imo," I stuttered and raised my head.
My eyes widened when I realized who's in front of me. It seems as if the foul and gloomy mood I had earlier was replaced with shock.
That face...
It's the same face of the woman who took us in during our devastation, and the woman who has the same face as my deceased mother.
The one and only Abbigail Kirsteen Ayazaki Funtabella, my aunt.
"W-what are you doing here?" I asked her surprised
I never stuttered when talking to anyone except her.
She resembles Eomma a lot and it sends me shivers to the bones.
She smiled in amusement because of my stuttering.
"Stuttering, eh? Don't worry, dear, I'm only here to inform you about the annual foundation week of FA." She said which made me confused
"Foundation Day? Ni-sama didn't inform me about that." I told her still confused
Earlier, I asked Nii-sama why he didn't tell me that the council is hot on our trails, more like my trails and it didn't end up good.
"Of course, he's Snow. Have you forgotten? He doesn't ask help from anyone." She said and tapped my shoulder
"See you again soon, dear." She said and kissed my cheeks then walked away
"Am I being haunted right now?" Irene kept on blinking rapidly while watching imo's silhouette disappear from our sight.
"No, you aren't," Jess replied and we went to the classroom
"But that woman..." Irene's voice trailed off until she realized who the woman earlier is.
She looked at me confused.
"Is that Aunt Abby?" she asked unbelievingly which I nodded
It made her silent.
"Why do you look like as if you've just seen a ghost, Blare?" Elijah asked while we're on our way to the classroom
I looked at Irene who is still silent. I almost forgot.
Irene treated Eomma like her second mother because eomma treated Irene like she was her own. That's how kind eomma is.
She treats all of our friends as hers, though I don't think Snow–sama has other friends apart from Ares.
We went inside our classroom and my mood isn't the same as earlier anymore.
When all of our classes are over, we girls decided to go bar hopping tonight, but of course, we didn't tell the guys.
It's already 10 PM, all the lights are off.
I'm wearing an off-shoulder denim dress that reaches 3 inches above my knee and blue 2-inch wedges. I took my purse and car keys.
When I went out of my room, I saw the girls are ready to leave.
Since the guys are using the guest rooms on the first floor we decided to use the veranda here on the second floor.
Jess was the first to jump, then I was next, then Irene and Chelsea. Of course, for safety precautions, we removed our wedges first.
When we successfully snuck out of the mansion, I ordered a butler to open the gates.
Although the opening of the gates made a sound, I trust that the guys didn't hear it because all the rooms are soundproof.
Jess drove to the nearest bar here in Lagresch.
It's a high-class bar but it's still kind of messy. The colored spotlights are circling and loud music is blasting from the speakers.
We went to one of the couches and sat. We chose to sit on one of the couches beside the dancefloor because Jess wanted to go boy hunting.
"Wait a minute, Andrea, did you and Bryle got into an argument or something?" Irene asked when Jess placed two bottles of margarita, two bottles of black label, two bottles of Cuervo, and a bucket of a local brand, which I think is San Mig according to the label.
"Are you stupid? Why would I get myself drunk because of that jerk, huh?" Jess asked irritated
She took a bottle of the San Mig and drank it. She didn't bother taking a chaser.
Each of us took a shot glass and Chelsea poured us the margarita.
This is one thing we admire about Chelsea, she's like the moderator amongst us.
She allows us and joins us in what we want but if she knows it would hurt or endanger us, she'd stop us.
She's drinking lightly, well the last time we went drinking really hard, Jess and Irene caused a lot of trouble.
I think we were in Italy at that time, good thing I have connections with the strongest and most influential family there.
Irene and Jess are drinking hard. Jess is already on her third bottle of San Mig. She suddenly reached for a bottle of Cuervo and poured herself a glass.
After drinking it bottom's up, she poured herself another one, and another one, followed by another one.
"Jess, I think that's enough," Chelsea said and held the bottle away from Jess when the latter tried to pour another one.
"You should let her, Chels. She can handle that much." Irene said and took the bottle from Chelsea
I continued drinking then I saw Chelsea looking at me too.
"What? Chill, Chels," I said and poured myself another glass of black label.
She sighed and placed her glass on the table. She probably knew how this is going to end.
After finishing the whole bucket of San Mig and a bottle of Cuervo, margarita, and black label, Jess stood up still in her right state of mind but a little tipsy.
"Let's go boy hunting!" Jess said and went to the dance floor.
I was a bit confused when I saw her holding a bottle of Cuervo in one hand.
Wait. She's going to dance holding that?
"Are you going to follow her?" Irene asked Chelsea when the latter stood up
"Yeah, and Lav, you can take care of her," she said referring to Irene, and went to the dance floor to look for Jess
"Having a lot of restrictions feels suffocating, huh?" Irene said out of the blue making me look at her
"Everyone thinks that just because we belong to that goddamn side of the world we are free, but for fuck's sake, those who don't are way freer. You can't do this, you can't do that. They're making me feel dang stupid and chained with those damned rules of theirs." She said and drank from a bottle of black label
"It's hard, Lavalee." She said and drank again
"This is so fucking tiring. I chose this fucked up life not because I want to but because I have no fucking choice but to choose it. If it wasn't for that good-for-nothing fucking obligation I wouldn't choose this, and then what? I'm the fucking villain? I'm the damn hindrance? I fucking hate this life." Her voice is already breaking and basing on her words it involves her family.
It had always been the sole reason for her to break down.
A little later, Chelsea and Jess came back. Actually, Chelsea was dragging Jess back to our table.
***
Nani? Jōdandesho, Yukisama? - What? Are you kidding me, (older brother) Snow?
"Nani? Naze? - What? Why?
Tondemonai! Mae ni itta, yuki, watashi wa tasukeru koto ga dekiru. - No way! I told you before, Snow, I can help.
Watashi ni koe o agenaide kudasai, Flamelinne. - Don't raise your voice on me, Flamelinne.
Kore de jubundesu, Furamerin. This is enough, Flamelinne.
Moshiwakearimasenga, gankodenakereba watashinihanarimasen, - Sorry not sorry, I'm won't be me if I ain't stubborn.
Gomeiwaku o okake shite moshiwakearimasen, kotei, - Sorry for disturbing you, Emperor.