Giovanni leaned towards Jana, hugging her waist before hoisting her up. The man's muscles are rippling because of her weight. Jana caught a whiff of Gio's perfume, taking in a discreet intake of breath, she lay pliant against the man's chest. Gio wore a simple grey sweater and black fitted pants. A match to her black dress and silver purse. All for the monthly check up of her physical state.
Her check up has finished just a moment ago and it drained Jana so much. She felt very weak when it all came to an end. All those tests done to Queenie's body had her terrified. Vivien soothed her by telepathy but the Ai's voice in her consciousness only sent her to overdrive.
Gio helped her through it by patting her shoulder for a few times. When the deed was done, Jana ranted about why wasn't she rewarded—she managed to go through those tests without fainting! It was as though it is the most remarkable thing she'd ever done in her life except not twisting her foot in every P.E. class.
"There," Gio mumbled. Placing Queenie gently inside the backseat, he hovered for a second before asking, "Would you like to eat something? Brownies?"
"Brownies…" Queenie's voice faltered. Was he hinting he wanted to go back to Hailey's place in a chance to meet the woman? Jana couldn't help but feel nervous. "Do you recommend a shop?"
Gio flashed his pearly white set of teeth before nodding. "Remember that chocolate roll I bought for you last Saturday? The shop was quite famous in the area. There's no harm trying their brownies…unless you didn't like it?"
'Didn't like it?' Jana closed her eyes for a moment. She would like to say that she's feigning her fatigue but she is indeed stressed with the tests earlier. 'I liked it, alright. It's delicious. But that doesn't necessarily mean I have to like the woman who made it.' Hailey will be the harbinger of death for Queenie!
"It's good." Jana sniffed. "Okay, let's visit the place. Get us some snacks, please."
Giovanni's face lits up like Christmas. She wondered if the guy even knew that he's being so obvious. His hero worship for Queenie has gotten her attention these days and the most embarrassing truth of it all is that—she liked it. She liked Gio's attention.
'Oh, come on.' Jana shrugged. 'The guy is a walking 24k gold, you'd be blinded when he's under the sun because he shines so bright.' After all, who could hate a perfect male lead? They're basically the reason why all the readers are so hooked into a story.
"You will love it, I promise."
A face off with the female protagonist is a note to be marked checked in her list. The Ai has always reminded her to not neglect the vital points of every instances.
She had to admit it, this game got her interested. Jana was able to experience things first hand. Be a billionaire even just for a game and be a villainess everyone would hate—if only hitting the protagonists' face is easy as one-two-three.
Does this means she needs to rival the female lead for a man's attention? Quite idealistic for Jana. She blackened that thought as early as it came because it is impossible for her to seduce a man. She's not up for it. She will never be.
She can't even have a fling at school without messing it up!
The ride has gone smoother than she had expected. It was a sunny day, contradicting her cold expression as they stopped outside Haley's Sweets.
"It's too pink," she remarked, "and too small."
Jana didn't worry even for a second. Gio's perception of her had gone a 180 degree turn and every time she became condescending, he'd laugh as if being tickled for no apparent reason.
'And you've been staring at it with sparkling eyes,' Gio mused, 'you just wanted to hate everything you've liked before. It's time to change that.'
"You're grinning." Jana raised her eyebrow. Inquiring in a small voice, "You're planning something?"
'Is he going to confess to the female protagonist right now?' Jana blanched at the mere thought of it. 'It's been only four days since they've met—are all protagonists this crazy in love?'
She thought the instant attraction and attachment was just a joke! Who wants to commit just because of a winner's smile. 'Okay, that smile might be worth a hundred dollar but still—'
"Yes, I did plan something." Gio scratched his nape, wincing. "I called Nissa to join us today. Well, I thought you'd like to meet her. She's been busy with modelling these days but when she heard that you're personally inviting her, she's so excited."
'Wrong move, pretty guy.' Jana, wearing Queenie's frostbitten face, fought to hide her grimace. 'You should've invited Silvia instead of her.'
Queenie's life is complicated. Jana spent four days trying to comprehend her character's background. It was shady.
Queenie is an outright and straightforward person. The two women mentioned were both Queenie's distant cousins. Nissa is a backstabbing fool who hides dirt tighter than her bra straps. A very cunning woman.
Silvia was known to be Queenie's least favorite cousin, but in the end it was all an act. When Queenie almost lost her life, the Servantes found out that Queenie's hard-earned money is to be left with Silvia.
Why did it happen? Was it all a move to mock Silvia?
If Jana is to mock someone by giving her millions of dollars then she'd be the biggest nutcase that ever existed.
"Ah, thank you," Jana said amiably, "I've been wondering when will she visit me."
Giovanni, ever the innocent one, smiled and even nodded his head. It seems as though the guy was so proud of what he has done. "No problem. I'm glad you liked it. Let's get you out."
Jana pursed her lips, steadying herself despite of the numb feeling in her lap. "You smell like warm chocolate, big guy." Jana patted his arms. She was amused when there's no warning signal coming from Vivien. She had mastered Queenie's personality. A tap on the shoulder means appreciation of a job well done.
Giovanni laughed, cheeks tinged with pink. Jana shook her head and promised to take note of bringing an extra coat for the guy when going out next time. The colors on his face suggested he's feeling cold.
He looked so lively.
It wasn't as nice as Giovanni imagined it to be like. Jana could practically see that thought running inside the guy's head. If it happens that his worries would turn into smoke and start blowing out of his ears, Jana thought, 'I wouldn't be surprised.' The shop felt homey, much to her dismay. Jana liked the design even more the first time she stepped inside. Her resolve to show contempt and disgust was completely blown away by the wind. 'It's hard to hate someone who didn't really do anything wrong.' "I'm...really glad to see you again, cous." Nissa smiled bashfully, taking a quick look in Giovanni's direction before saying, "You even brought your assistant here. Please order everything you like, Gio. It's my treat today." 'I brought him?' Jana threw a questioning glance towards Giovanni. 'Wasn't it you who brought me here?' The guy avoided her glare with great stealth. Jana's mouth twitched. She can't wait to be home and finally knock the insides of this man's head! 'Did he i
Nissa was aghast at the very least. The first thing that registered her brain was the blatant accusation of Queenie. It hurt. She had expected this reaction from her beloved cousin since the surgery but she underestimated Queenie's outright raging. Queenie had changed, and it scared her somehow. On Jana's defense, she's very annoyed with the points she lost. If she could swallow Nissa alive for 50 v+, she won't think twice and just dive to it! Jana was conscious that some parts of Queenie's awareness were gone. Some memories are colluded with blacks and grey. Even Vivien, the Ai, instructed her to rely on the pitiful recounts she could think. Now that Nissa had mentioned the threat of an another assassination, Jana took a relaxed pose on the chair and start thinking steps thoroughly. No one harmed Queenie since Jana took over her body. In the original plot of the story, Queenie never encountered any dangerous situation. Her death was her own decision too. 'So, Nissa must be l
Jana sat with her facial expression stern and unfriendly. One glance in her direction will scare people away. Although inside she's screaming like a crazy fan girl. Hailey Greystone is a warrior princess! Moves like one and does look like it. The female protagonist presented herself tall and gorgeous in all leather glory. Jana now had a full description of her in person. She's a fierce woman who loves bright colors with unnerving passion. Hailey had both arched brow, deep set, jet black eyes and a proud nose. All accentuated by her full, red as a cherry bow-shaped lips. Jana can now understand that Queenie's “cold monarch” temperament is no match to Hailey's “aggressive and straightforward” bearing. Giovanni's humble and bright personality suits Hailey's complicated, strict self. If their happy ending doesn't mean her unfortunate demise, Jana would congratulate them right on the spot. She would even host the wedding for them. Jana will spend Queenie's money with relish. 'I'd ev
'Bringing another person in this dilemma is not foul, right?' Jana looked from left to right before sighing faintly. 'I would really like to pace back and forth right now.' "So, you want me to…just 'talk' to him, right?" Denise, the woman whom Jana met in the internet, said as she flip the magazine in her hand. "I mean, yeah, I could do that. Why not, right?" "What?" Jana opened her mouth only to close it again. This woman reminds her so much of her goofy classmates. Denise even wore a cap backwards. When Jana saw her the first time, she really wanted to befriend her. Now that they have been talking for an hour, she regretted it. "Yes, just talk to him. I'll send you a signal once you need to be close to Gio." Jana needs a perfect timing. Denise can't be all around Gio's personal space every time. It doesn't need to be like that. A simple distraction is all it would take so the two protagonist won't have the time to talk and water their budding love. This is not a villain's beh
Jana envied those person who managed to look beautiful without so much effort. Queenie Servantes is one of those she's jealous the most. Jana is familiar with wearing dresses. It's because she often visited the church with her Aunt Sera. Oftentimes, she found these dainty clothes annoying. Especially when she's not accustomed to feel airy down there whenever she opens her leg a little. Jana preferred jumpers. Those with straps and steel clips that stops men from peeing anywhere because of its not-so-handy design. She haven't pictured herself wearing a gown though. The reason is, Jana couldn't afford it. Jana was known to wear cheap dresses during promenade. And although it didn't hurt her pride when she loses reputation (she hates most people), the incredulous look of her own classmates do stung a little. She had hoped they would understand her and her short financial capabilities. Jana remembered running all over the places just to avoid his crush’s eyes those handful of times.
Jana couldn't escape the way she wanted to. It was as though the people surrounding her suddenly became her long-lost friends. She tried to excuse herself from them after shaking hands with a few handful of person but to no avail, Queenie's family kept sending men in her way. Jana doesn't know how to decline that. Facing a sweat-inducing situation like this cogs her introverted side. She had never met this many people at St. Clemente nor did her school miraculously had been this crowded. She was instantly nerve-wracked. Different perfumes filled her nostrils. Some even forgot to brush their mouth— or that they went to the appetizers first before greeting her, explaining the assaulting smell of garlic and peppers. Jana found both nauseating. She couldn't almost believe it. Girls in the movies always looked flattered and pretty whenever they were being fawned at! She even heard dumb questions trying to sound polite. “Uh, how does it feel to lose it both? I mean, which one hur
Jana didn't get the chance to know what Gio's reaction would be like once those words entered his ears. The simple sentence didn't reach the man, courtesy of her trusted companion in this crime, Denise. It was one of those days she decided to be smart and do it her own way. Denise became deaf to her every orders and chose to act according to whim. At first, Jana almost went nuts in worry. One awful mistake and it will crush Gio's fragile opinion of her and their thin thread of friendship will go flushed down the pipes. The stakes were high and she can't afford to lose. Before she could track down the woman and personally drag her out of the hall, Denise halted all of her complaints with just two words. "Howdy, Gio!" Denise shamelessly took the seat beside Giovanni. Jana can see the man's expression through the spy cam. "I see you're enjoying your time here. Oh, you look more handsome than before. Can I hold your cheeks for a moment? You nailed that look! So adorbs." It's clea
Jana woke up with an intense pain in her stomach. The residual ache on her guts made her squirm while whimpering on the side. It was cold. When the temperature registered her mind, it sent an awkward tingle on her spine. Jana struggled to push down the need to vomit. Right now she needed the presence of her Auntie Sera. “Host, there's a pill than can help you stabilize in no time. I can find the most affordable tablet in the system. Would you like one?” 'How much? Bring me one.' Jana gritted her teeth. She can't even sit because of her legs. She could only roll on the smelly asphalt. "Vivien… please." “Host, it's 150 per tablet.” Jana made a brief calculation in her mind before sputtering, 'You think I can afford that? I can't have zero points again! Your game will delete me! Vivien, just choke on your spit!' Her system became quiet. Jana reckoned she might be sulking right now. 'I don't care. She can't even help me? What AI!' "Queenie, are you awake now? Tsk. Stop rolling.