Meanwhile Ethan and Maria had their day of love and butterflies, Charissa and the gang sold juicy info for Charles.
At the breezy rooftop of some fancy-old building and amongst the dust and large tanks and rocks, they stood like some detectives with black sunglasses and black jeans instead of black shirts.
As Janet sent the morning announcement to Ethan about their date, Charissa at home, drooled like a pig, her legs and arms far apart and her bedsheet on the ground. The morning was warm and soft. A reason for Charissa to sleep comfortably without sheets. However, that dream (breezy rooftop) wasn't Charissa's. It was Elissa's. -A cute and chubby girl is into psychopathic, detective, horror,.. genres-
Meeting at Elissa's home once more, they invited Charles to a cafe close by her home using GPS. Since Elissa wanted to make at least a part of her dream come true, she suggested the trio dressing up as detectives in black.
"I highly oppose!" Janet instantly rejected Elissa's idea.
"Come on~ At least matching jeans and sunglasses~" Elissa whined, her hands clasped together kneeling in front of Janet with puppy eyes.
"Alright." Charissa accepted.
"But-" Janet was cut short by Charissa.
As they had to change, they rushed back home and got dressed into black jeans and black sunglasses. Janet and Elissa wore plain grey shirts while Charissa wore a blue shirt and the trio met up with Charles at the cafe.
Today, the shop was crowded. Barely a finger could sneak in. Elissa, Janet, Charissa and Charles stood near the glass doors, looking inside.
"Shall we head somewhere else?" Charles asked.
Charissa and Janet nodded.
"Why don't we go to 'that' park?" Elissa chimed in.
"What park?" Charles raised his brow.
"Not a bad idea." Charissa agreed.
"What park?" Charles asked again.
"Lets go." Janet said, pulling Elissa and Charissa by their wrists among the crowd.
Charles watched them leave. Suddenly, Charissa stopped and turned her head around, "What are you waiting for? Come, you airhead!" She yelled. Some of the people froze because of the intensity of her voice.
'That' park was the XX park where Maria invited Charissa. There were only a couple of families and a Labrador with its owner roaming around the park. The swings were occupied by a little black girl and her brother. They had brown curly hair and blue eyes.
The trio and Charles went to a vacant bench at the left corner of the park, behind the swings. Janet and Elissa sat while Charissa and Charles stood.
"So what's the deal, so early in the morning?" Charles questioned yawning.
"This is early in the morning for you? Look at the time!" Janet exclaimed.
"To tell you the truth..." Charissa took a deep breath before commencing her speech, "I learned a lot from Maria after last week's date. I don't know what message you got from her that turned you face pale and sour that day, but I know that its a lot more different from what she told me..."
Charles kept quiet, folding his hands.
Charissa sighed, "After we parted ways that day, she sent me an anonymous message and called me out here to this park. I took bets and came here without going home. When it was time, I saw that it was her who called. She then told me about your marriage and how she liked you at first, but doesn't anymore because she's in love with Ethan and wants my help. And that marriage is way to reduce debts between your families, as for the rest of the payment you'll be working in their company as her secretary next year when you guys graduate."
Charles stood dumbfounded. After five minutes of silence, her let out a deep breath and said, "So, she doesn't like me and we don't have any other way of breaking the engagement till we fulfill the conditions in the contract which I didn't know and didn't signed?!"
"Yep. That's the summary of your marriage." Janet replied.
Charles took out his phone from his pockets and searched for something in his messages. His thumb stopped moving and pointed the phone screen toward Charissa.
"This is the message they sent me." He said.
Charissa took it and read aloud, "If you don't want your parents and her parents to know about your relationship, then stop."
Her mouth fell agape, "How much do they know?"
"Part of the marriage customs they said." Charles answered.
"What kind of a custom is that?" Janet grossed.
"Now, tell me your main goal." Charles bluntly added snatching his phone from Charissa.
"Help me get Ethan and Maria together. Once that happens, my conditions will be fulfilled and I will be freed." She overjoyed.
"Besides~ You can rest easy, now that you know Maria doesn't like you." Elissa added.
"How so?" He asked.
"I mean-"
"Nothing will end for me util this marriage is cut off." Charles interrupted Maria.
"Just think about it. She'll be too busy to trouble you when she sneaks out with Ethan." Janet continued Elissa's interrupted sentence.
"Doesn't mean I can live alone."
"Why not? Find yourself a woman and sneak out the way she does." Charissa snickered.
Charles frowned, "Who knows how long it will take me to pay back the rest of the debt?"
"Enough with your negativities! You can fall in love and keep her for yourself if it takes too long. Why such a worry wart all of a sudden?" Janet slammed the bench seat as she stood up.
Charles's face soured. He slowly walked to Janet and looked below at her. Even though she is tall, he is taller than her.
He pushed her forehead with his index finger, "Fine. I'll tell you when its decided."
"By the way," Charissa pulled Charles by his shirt, "Just so you know, today, we set her up on a secret date with Ethan."
"Kay."
Charles left the scene waving back at Charissa.
In the evening, Charles sent a message to Charissa, 'Add me in the game. At least some things are sooting news.'
Charissa sighed. She wondered what kind of trouble she could get into after revealing the secret that was hidden from Charles.
She walked up to her window and opened it wide. A gush of wind blew on her face, cooling her warm cheeks. She knew that everything would be settled after this and her life would go back to normal, but something was off. The road ahead seemed bumpier than before. The sky was getting darker and a storm was on its way.
'Tonight it'll rain.' she muttered, observing the red sky slowly wrapping itself in the dark blue sky. Little white stars trying find way among the busy clouds. She could hear her mom's thundering voice shooting at her brother. Abruptly it shot at Charissa, calling her to come help with dinner.
She hops downstairs and head to the fridge to check, what to cook.
"Useless to look. Go bring some meat from the grocery." Her mom said.
Charissa grabbed her brother's jacket which was on his hands and the money and went out in her PJs.
The grocery was only a few yards away to her left. She claimed the meat, paid cash and returned home.
When she opened the door, there was a swift silence. She rushed in to see what happened and saw her family waiting for her impatiently: Her mom and dad standing near the sofa, her brother outside his room door.
"What's the deal?" She asked placing the meat on the sink.
"Why don't you explain?" Her mom asked.
Charissa's heart stopped for a moment. She thought that her secret about meeting Charles had been found out. She scanned the room for evidence or such revelation.
She gulped, "Explain what?" she asked, trying not to flinch.
Mom and Dad looked at each other, "Did you find a job?" Her dad asked.
Charissa sighed. 'Thank goodness' she thought to herself.
"What job?" She asked.
"We just got a call from someone, naming themselves from the Fenwick Company." Her brother answered.
When Charissa heard 'Fenwick' her heart stopped again.
"F-fenwick? Wh-what did they say?" she stuttered.
"They asked for you, but we said you weren't here at the moment, then they congratulated us... Something about you getting the position of CEO assistant in their company. Recommended by their next heir." Her brother explained.
"Huh?!"
"You'll start working next year, once she gets married..." He explained further.
"Huh?!"
"Why didn't you tell us!?" Her mother overjoyed, running toward her.
"Ahh..ha...right.. I-I just got lucky..." Charissa admitted awkwardly, rubbing her head. She is flabbergasted on what to say. She had no idea what kind of bomb Maria just landed on her.