He had been sitting there with a look that didn't recognize me at all. His eyes gleamed as the corner of his mouth quirked up.
"You keep watching me. Don't tell me you're after my chicken, huh?" I asked in between eating chicken meat.
"What? No." He shook his head swiftly, "It's been a long time since I've seen you eating that much." He smiled broadly.
Oh.
"I don't want to waste any more food. Accept what I've got and stop torturing myself too much by not enjoying life." I couldn't explain what was on his mind but his alluring eyes had spoken without direct words, they were gazing at me full of admiration and meaning.
I shrugged, broke off eye contact, "It's not a big deal."
"It's a big deal for me." He smiled.
Looking into his eyes, a memory flashed through my mind.
Jazzlin and Barra had been friends for a long time and this was the first time he saw Jazzlin eating much, usually she ordered salads and the hassle of counting food calories.
Trust me when I said there was nothing wrong with Jazzlin's body. She looked so freaking proportional like a model, then what was the definition of proportionality in her head?
After Barra continued his studies out of city something happened that affect Jazzlin's mental health. She was tightening her diet which of course I didn't get the memory pieces what caused it.
I literally needed to know more about their relationship.
He waved his hands, "Principessa?" I realized from my daydreaming, "Are you okay?" He asked.
"God, sorry." I snapped to reality.
"Do you wanna have some more?" He asked as he wiped his mouth with tissue.
I shook my head, "Nah, I'm full." I said then stroking my stomach.
After finished eating, I went back into confusion. It was completely dark outside and it was really bad when not a single vehicle had passed.
I looked at the man next to me who had been leaning against the glass door. He looked so relax without the slightest fear on his face.
"Hey, I have an idea. How about we borrow the waiter's phone here?" He swung his restless gaze and chuckled at my question.
I shook my head, reminded myself how annoying he could become.
"I already did it. But, I don't remember anyone's number." The answer was simple. He was leaning his head again and rubbed his eye, twice.
All that flashed in my mind was my own phone number. There was no point in calling my phone when the battery was low and I hadn't charged it yet.
"I didn't see it." My eyes searched for his expression because he put on an expressionless face.
"It's because you never care with what I did." The statement was a little startled me. I caught a glimpse of an emotion in those eyes, but it quickly disappeared as if swallowed by the darkness of the night.
"Sorry." I apologized, knowing his mood had suddenly changed.
I was so stumped that I didn't know what else to do other than waiting for him to come up with his ideas, but he just stayed there busy with his own thoughts.
The night was getting darker, it was impossible for us all night at the front door like this.
Just as my mouth wanted to say something, "Sorry to keep you waiting." A waiter had finished his work then locked the door.
Barra smirked at me. No wonder he looked so calm, it turned out he had been preparing everything, "Let's go."
I was speechless, "How about your car? You want to just leave it there?" I bet his car was so expensive.
"I'll tell my man to take it later, but for now the most important thing is we go home. It's getting darker and cold."
I sat in the backseat, when Barra sat in front with the waiter, "It's an honor to be able to drive the Ainsley and also meet a woman as beautiful as you." His compliment made me blush, "I'm Zohran by the way."
I saw from the side, Barra's eyes rolled skyward seeing my blush cheeks.
"Thank you for giving us the lift and glad to meet you, Zohran." Barra replied politely.
My naughty idea came up, this one would disturb Barra's mind, "Aww, you're such a babe-magnet too." My words were half true, Zohran couldn't be underestimated. His face was cute with his jet black eyes that gave peace to anyone who saw them.
Through the rear-view mirror I could see he was smiling shyly while Barra wrenched his gaze at me like I was his prey, "What?" I shot him a challenged glance.
"Women." He muttered then took his eyes off my sight.
"You guys literally made for each other." Zohran's comment immediately caught our attention.
"No!" We yelped at the same time.
"That's what I meant by made for each other." Zohran chuckled.
"We're not!" We said at the same time again.
"When two people say the same thing at the same time, it means they're in love—" He refrained from adding when both of us stopped him, "Shut up!" We said at the same time again.
"Again?" Zohran guffawed quiet loudly.
"Stop following me!" I literally peeved.
He swallowed down his frustration, "You're the one who keeps following me." He declined.
"What?" I pressed my lips ready to throw a tantrum, "You're the one who keeps following my words, idiot!" I said through clenched teeth.
"Do you really think I can read minds?" He groaned.
"I can't read minds too! Then, why the heck you telling me that I've been following you?" Rage nearly consumed me.
"Umm— guys, I—"
"Shut it!" Zohran immediately closed his mouth as we snapped at him simultaneously.
I looked away at the window glass, as well as with Barra.
"I promise I—"
"I said shut up, Zohran!" I was so emotional that I was lazy to hear the babble again.
"But, I—" Barra interrupted him as well, "Didn't you hear what woman behind you've said?"
Poor Zohran.
I took a deep breath, trying to remove the debris of exasperation. I tried to restrain my thoughts, throwing away all the anger that was stuck in my chest. My hands were still clenched a little.
If only he wasn't attractive, I would've scratched his face. But, rather than being scratched, honestly his face was more pleasing my eyes.
I leered at him who was now folding his arms as a pillow behind his head. His eyes closed. He took a deep breath like he was letting out his irritation. His face was soothing as his facial muscles relaxed, looking so comfortable in those position.
My expression softened at the sight of his innocent face. But, you wouldn't want to know how annoying he was when those eyes opened.
"Sorry guys, but since earlier I wanted to ask where I'll take you? Whereas I've never know where you live."
Barra's eyes opened one side, peeking. I let out a roar, "What a day!" Luckily my heart was calmer.
"That's what I've been wanting to ask." He smiled groggily.
"So, we were just going round and round?"
He shrugged, "I just take us to wherever my mind takes me. Sorry."
"Never mind, It's Mayler Avenue." Barra told him.
"I know that famous avenue."
About fifteen minutes later we arrived in front of the mansion. I thanked Zohran and walked straight inside, still on my gloomy mood. As for Barra, I didn't know what he was talking about with Zohran before he went inside.
My mother was standing right in the living room. The dinner was over, I saw none of the guests.
Seeing the wrinkles on my mother's forehead, as well as the lips that were already wrinkled made me sure she would pour out her anger for what I had done.
"I'm sorry, mom." I apologized first before she opened her mouth. Her face was radiant, vertical wrinkles appeared between those eyebrows just as she smiled. I was silent observing my mother's face who smiled like sunset. Did I see wrong?
"What are you sorry for? I'm happy because you can express what you feel, what your heart desires." I blinked for a few times seeing my mother showing her peaceful smile in front of me.
Relief brought a smile to my lips. A memory popped into my head. Since childhood, my mother had always justified my actions if it was because of Barra. Huh, that was explaining everything.
"Thank you for accompanying Jazzlin." Her eyes were fixed on someone behind me.
I turned around just to found those hazel eyes burning over my face. His intense gaze was steady and I wondered if he could really read minds, for sure his gaze seemed to know all the thoughts in my brain.
"My pleasure." A smile of joy and satisfication lit up on his face, "I'm sorry I didn't ask your permission directly." He spoke politely.
One thing I liked the most about this man was that he never stopped talking politely when around people except me.
My mother responded with a nods, "You don't need to be sorry, I am lucky enough to have you in my daughter's life."
Lucky? She seemed like took the wrong word. Luckily was far away from me when I was near this devilishly handsome man who could stop my breath and killed me with those deep stare.
I had a lot of bad luck all day, my cookies was spilled, the car broke down in the middle of nowhere, what's else later?
He was just spreading his smile hearing my mother's speech, "Now, both of you better take rest now. It must be tiring." Barra smirked at me before he left the living room.
"Oh yeah, I saw you two being given a lift from someone else, didn't Barra bring his car?"
I shook my head and replied boredly when the incident came to my mind again, "Barra's car broke down." I gave my mother a forced smile before leaving her to my room.
For some reason I missed my orphanage. My friends and my nannies there. A five-years ago accident completely changed the course of my life, replaced all the life arrangements that I had prepared for my future.
Who knows that my life was that short? In the middle of adolescence I died without at least a little success that I achieved.
After I thought I got a second chance, what I got was living again as another woman. The woman who was given a better chance of living than me but decided to end her life.
I accepted the way of life that was given to me. I believed if something wasn't created for us, then by itself it would go away at any time from our grasp. Life had its own consequences for every step and decision we took. So I'd marked myself from now on that I'd cherish my reborn and being a complete Jazzlin Ozza.
The sun rays was piercing my eyes, made me cover them with my pillow. I grumbled still in a sleepy position."Wake up, dear." Ah, it was my mother's voice, "It's morning, let's have
I didn't know since when I fell asleep, but the announcement from the flight attendant was enough to wake me up. Vaguely, I listened still with my eyes closed and this damn body that didn't want to move an inch.
It was the fifth time I yawned but never get out of bed. I wasn't willing to leave this soft mattress. "What time is it?" I whispered. Enjoying the insanely magnificent scenery was enough to dissolve my mind until an hour had passed.
One of my bad habits. If there was something that bothers me, it would plague on my mind.Questions always popped in my head about them. Are Barra and Niki really dating or is it ju
I wasn't sure that my second life would run smoothly without a hitch. My thoughts branched off to form a conspiracy of its own. I understood why Barra's mood suddenly changed yesterday, it wasn't because of a question about Niki. However, one question that offended the Sanders family.
After troubling of turned off all CCTV, we finally got a bright spot."I ask again, are you sure we won't be caught?" Elsa and I were descending through the back balcony door."Yeah, so sure." I whispered half shouting.After successfully descending, Elsa directed me to immediately go into the bush. Several guards passed by but didn't realize we were there. "Follow me."I never knew that under these bushes there was a secret door that could take us directly off the highway. Elsa told me that way was used in danger time. I was a little confused by what she meant because Barra wasn't one of the criminals, let alone the leader of mafia, right?"You wait here, I'll stop the cab." Elsa walked into the dark street until she managed to get the cab. "Hurry up and get in."We got in the car, "We did it." I shouted happily accompanied by Elsa who was giggling at my behavior.
The struggle was real when I had to run in high heels. My feet almost tripped, but a strong-unknown hands grabbed my waist. Tears spilled down my cheeks as his jaw tightened."I-I—" I stammered, "That guy—" I pointed behind, "He—he tried to—" I couldn't continue my words, knowing how dirty I became. My heart was thrilling and I started to crying.He wiped the tears from my face, "Shushhh, you're safe now." He said, holding me and I didn't let go his warm hug."Listen to me, wait here with my men." His deep voice filled with a sense of demanding.I shook my head, "No, don't leave me." I sobbed, looking up into his eyes, "I'm sorry."Those enticing eyes filled with anger like a burning fire. His expression so emotionless like he was ready to hunt. It was the first time I was terrified looking at him."No, please. Let me coming with you."He did
Worry was one word to describing my current state. My fantastic world crashed down, it happened in a second of turning back my palm. It was four in the afternoon, and I didn't hear a single news about Barra. That man didn't come home last night, made me curse myself who foolishly left him.I was frustrated by all of this. On the one hand, Elsa was severely traumatized after nearly being raped by two bastards. On the other hand, I put the Ainsleys on the brink of battle with the Sanders.The mansion was quiet, overgrown by the dark-heavy feelings of my heart and the coldness of my mood. There was no one beside me, I was alone. Isolated like a bird got lost from the crowd. I had been sitting, staring at the window. Hoping Barra would come home. My eyes were roaming every corner of the gate, waiting for a hint of hope that might happen.However the hope never happened."Can I sit here?" It was Jake's voice. "Are you st