Embers From Within (Casa Fuego Series #6)

Chapter 2

Escort

I could not get him off my mind.

He seem to have forgotten about our encounter that night, but I shouldn't have really expected for him to remember... to hold onto the memory so dearly as I did.

It should be easy for our worlds to cross since our families are close friends, but he seem to have a very different life in the city. He's having a blast in college, with the rumors about him, as rare as they already are, are almost always about him in scandalously wild parties. Kasama niya sila Brooklyn Divinagracia, Kuya Eros, at Kuya Conor sa mga balitang naisulat tungkol sa kanila. Lahat sila, nababalitang mga babaero.

The young men of wealthy families are hardcore party goers. 'Yon palagi ang mga balita sa kanila kaya hindi ko magawang basahin ang mga articles tungkol kay Articus! It makes me feel bad! And quite honestly, it kinda hurts.

I may be sheltered but I know things about the city. If they go to parties, that means there are many beautiful and liberated girls. It always makes me wonder if he has a girlfriend?

Napanguso ako nang naisip na naman 'yon. A city boy like Articus probably wants liberated girls. And I am... not.

In fact, I am too innocent for his liking!

Napatingin ako sa sarili ko. Heto ako't punong puno ang floral dress ng mga madidikit na damo dahil galing ako sa backyard. I am going to die of boredom in the mansion so I just decided to roam around in the backyard only to come back home dirty.

"Senyorita, ang dungis niyo! Baka maabutan kayo ni Donya na ganito ang ayos!"

Anna is young, just years older than me. But I feel like she'll age tenfold because of my stubbornness.

"I'm sorry. I got bored. Emy's out again for her gigs," I pouted.

Pinagpagan niya ang bistida ko. Nasa loob kami ng kwarto ngayon at hinanda na rin niya ang aking bath robe at iba pang bathing essentials. Pumasok ako sa banyo at naghubad doon.

"Narito na ang lotion niyo, Senyorita! Pati ang sunscreen! Hinanda ko na r'yan sa loob ang shampoo niyo!" Sigaw niya mula sa labas. "Ang panty at bra, nar'yan na rin po sa rack!"

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang aking shower room. Kumpleto na iyon ng mga kailangan ko, lahat hinanda na ni Anna. Kulang na lang siya na rin ang magpaligo sa akin. At kung pwede lang, siya na rin ang magbihis sa akin pagkatapos.

The water felt refreshing on my skin. Nakapikit ako habang dumadaloy ang tubig sa aking balat.

"Tumawag po ang Senyora kanina. Luluwas daw po sila rito sa susunod na mga buwan para tulungan si Donya magprepara sa eighteenth birthday niyo, Senyorita."

"Hmmm 'kay," I murmurred.

Nang matapos akong maligo ay nagpatuyo ako ng katawan bago sinuot ang undergarments. I went out of the bathroom wearing my robe. Naroon na agad si Anna sa aking vanity table, hinihintay akong maupo.

I sat down on my velvet vanity chair and she started blow drying my hair. Mula sa salamin ay sumulyap ako sa panibagong floral dress na nakalatag sa aking kama.

"Nakakaexcite, Senyorita! Paniguradong bonggang party na naman dito sa mansyon! Marami na namang mayayamang pupunta! Kapag nagpaparty pa naman dito, bigatin talaga ang mga dumadalo!"

I couldn't second her excitement because I was preoccupied looking at my floral dress. I don't remember when exactly I started disliking my dresses. But I do know that I've been obsessed with stalking all his rumoured girlfriends, and I have all the time in the world to even notice how different I am from all of them.