(Caden)
I’m currently and the university’s food court, having some snack with my friend, Jackson. He’s my close friend since high school. Chester’s actions towards Roma keeps me thinking these days.
“Hey, bro.”
I looked at Jackson when he called me.
“I’ve been calling your attention for a while. These pretty ladies are asking if they can sit with us?”
And I really saw three girls standing right beside him then they smiled and waved at me. But I just made a cold, straight face and shook my head as a response.
“Sorry, girls. Better luck next time,” Jackson told the girls before they left.
You can see a huge disappointment on those girls’ faces. I also heard them whispering something as they walk away. Then Jackson gave his attention to me.
“Hey, Rendel my bro. Why did you refuse? Those girls are gorgeous and it’s a waste of chance! I thought I can now pull some girls by hanging out with you,” Jackson complained.
“Did you hear what they said? You’re a waste of good-looks because of your being snobbish,” he added.
I’m just ignoring his nonsense tantrums because I don’t care about them anyway. Besides, I’m too busy thinking about something right now.
Or should I say someone?
“Hey, your burger steak was already smashed into pieces. You’ve been smashing it with your fork for a while. You know, if you don’t want it anymore, just give it to me. You’re wasting food.”
I just shook my head while my attention was still on my food.
“Ah, I know. You’re thinking about something again, am I right? Tell me, bro. Is it Kiara the goddess?”
I shook my head. “No. I’m thinking about Chester.”
“Why? What did he do?”
I let out a sigh before I spoke, “Well, it seems like. . .”
I shifted my gaze to Jackson and he gestured his hand telling me to continue talking.
“He likes my fiancée.”
His eyes widened, “What? Really? That stubborn fiancée of yours? What’s her name again?”
Jackson knew everything about Roma—her living in our house and even our treaty, and asked him to keep it a secret between us.
“Roma Cassandra.”
“Oh, yeah. That girl who helped you fight Marco’s group. She’s so cool for that. I still don’t know what she looks like so I’m curious.”
I grabbed my phone inside my pocket. I went to my phone’s gallery and clicked Roma’s photo. This photo of her that I have was just a stolen shot. Then I showed it to Jackson.
“Wow, bro. Not bad. She’s cute. She can be my crush,” he chuckled.
Then I looked at him.
“Woah, bro. You know that I’m joking, right? It seems like you’re going to kill me with your stares. Meanwhile, when I told you that I have a crush on Kiara, you just laughed it off. Like, for real?” he stated while his hands were raising on his shoulder level.
Jackson narrowed his eyes. “Wait, she kinda looks familiar. I think I’ve seen her before.”
We paused for a while, while I’m looking at him and waiting for him to continue talking.
Jackson widened his eyes and gasped.
“Wait, don’t tell me she’s that girl who accused me of being a pervert the last time at the convenience store?”
I chuckled a bit and nodded. “She is.”
“Woah. What a coincidence.”
He leaned on the table. “Wait, why do you have a picture of her? I thought you don’t like her?”
I don’t know how would I response so I just ignored his question. Yes, I told him before that I don’t like Roma because her rudeness and rough attitude was getting into my nerves.
Regarding this photo, it was taken that night after we rescued Kiara from being abducted by that Yakuza boss’ son, Resty.
That moment when we’re leaning at my car while staring at the night sky. I laid my eyes on her after she removed her fake moustache and wig. Her long and straight hair was dancing with the cold wind that night.
Then I just suddenly realized that I was staring at her. And you know what’s strange? I experienced that slow motion thingy while I can’t take my eyes off of her.
And I realized that she’s indeed beautiful. To be honest, I really found her cute from the start. But you won’t notice it from the first glance because she’s always wearing her resting-bitch face.
While she’s staring up the sky and looking at the stars above, I don’t know what happened to me but I suddenly thought about getting my phone and secretly stole a shot of her.
And that timing seems perfect because she’s smiling.
From that moment, I felt my heart skipped a beat.
“But, bro. Seriously, think about this. If Chester pursued Roma and they became a couple, you will be free. And Chester will be the one who will marry Roma, right? After you become free, you can now pursue Kiara. It makes sense, right?” Jackson stated.
I already thought about it but why am I feeling that it wasn’t right?
--
I still have thirty minutes before my next class. I am sitting at a bench right now here on Freedom Park. I noticed that Jackson disappeared all of a sudden. I’m sure he’s just messing around with girls somewhere.
I checked my wristwatch and I remembered that during this time, it’s break time on Roma’s school. I wonder what she’s doing right now? Has she eaten already?
Maybe I should give her a call so I got my phone in my pocket and searched her number in my contacts. Her contact name on my phone was Cassandra and it rang after I dialed it. Then after just a few seconds, she answered.
“Hello.”
I paused all of a sudden to breathe some air before I speak. “Hello, Roma.”
What the actual heck is this? Why am I feeling nervous right now?
“Hello? Caden?”
Hearing her say my name made my heartbeat crazy like it’s going to explode. I placed my hand on my chest to feel my heart. This is weird.
“Why did you call? What’s your business?”
I smirked when I heard her feisty voice.
“Nothing. I’m just bored.”
“Dumb. That’s it?”
I chuckled silently after that.
“Who’s that, Roma?”
I wrinkled my forehead when I heard a familiar voice spoke on the background.
“Who are you with?” I asked.
“Ah, Chester is here with me.”
I’m stunned. My chest felt heavy so I breathed deeply. I clenched my jaw and formed a fist, then ended the call.
Seriously? What’s with Chester? Is he really interested with my fiancée?”
--
After my classes ended at four in the afternoon, I rushed to the parking lot beside Comm. Arts building where my car was. After hopping inside, I quickly started its engine and drove as fast as I can. I need to go home quick and talk to that girl.
She’s so stubborn.
Our campus was only fifteen-minute drive away from our house. Our computer-automated gate quickly opened when I honked my car. After parking it inside, I quickly get off my car and rushed inside the mansion.
I head straight to where her room is. But when I turned the knob, it was locked. So, I just knocked on her door many times until she opened it.
Her annoyed and irritated face flashed on me as she opened the door. She heaved a sigh before she speaks.
“What’s going on with you? Why are you knocking on my door that way?” she complained. She didn’t even bother to hide how annoyed and irritated she was to me.
I went inside her room and closed the door. “Roma, let’s talk.”
She wrinkled her forehead. “And what is this about?”
“Since when Chester started to visit you on your school?”
She moved her gaze away from me and thought for a moment.
“It’s been a week, I guess?”
“And you’re just letting him do it?”
“Wait, why are you asking about it all of a sudden?”
“Are you okay, Roma? You’re entertaining my brother while you’re still engaged with me?”
She widened her eyes at me and raised her brows.
“Entertaining? What are you talking about? Wait, how about you? You’re pursuing Kiara while we’re still engaged. Because that’s our agreement, right?” she explained.
I’m just looking at her while she’s raising her brows at me, then she rolled her eyes.
“You still have something to say?” she asked.
I was completely stunned while staring at her cold eyes.
“Hey, Caden. Did you hear me?”
I came back to my senses when she raised her voice a bit and snapped her finger in front of my eyes.
“You’re just going to stare at me?” she grunted.
I can’t speak like I swallowed my own tongue. I don’t understand what’s happening to me.
“N-No. I-I’m sorry,” I muttered.
--
“Young master.”
Earl, my personal butler, called me. I am at my bedroom’s receiving area right now.
“You seemed so bothered and uneasy right now. What’s the problem?” he asked.
I’ve been walking back and forth here for a while now. I think he’s getting dizzy by just looking at me.
“Chester seems showing interest to my fiancée. What should I do?”
Earl looked surprised from my question. “Young master, as far as I know, you have an agreement with Miss Roma to break your engagement before you even get married.”
Aside from Jackson, of course I also told Earl about that treaty.
“But we’re still engaged and yet. . .she’s letting Chester?” I replied.
“But thinking about it, you can benefit from it, right? In that way, you can break your engagement in a faster way so you can pursue Miss Kiara.”
I stopped walking then sat on the sofa. “But. . .why do I feel that it was wrong?”
“I have a question, Young master. Do you really like Miss Kiara? Or you have a change of heart and the one that you like now is Miss Roma?”
My eyes widened, “Y-You think so? I mean, you think that I already like Roma now?”
“Uhm, I think so. Because to be honest, Young master. The way you’re acting right now seems you’re getting jealous with Master Chester.”
It made me stunned and my heart skipped a beat. I slowly moved my gaze away from Earl and placed my hand under my nose.
Am I really acting jealous?
I don’t know what would I say. Because even me, I don’t even know what to think anymore. I don’t even understand what’s going on with me right now. But one thing is for sure—that arrogant girl is driving me crazy.