Bea here. Author of:
Sander's Academy
Taking Care of Kina - on hold
And I'm back with a new story!
---
Ever since
Clair Bermudez moved in with the Montenegros, her life changed from normal to fairytale-ish.
She met two prince charmings - what more can she ask for?
There's
Daniel Montenegro: her knight in shining armor.
And there's
Sam Montenegro, as well: her evil witch in a handsome disguise.
And the sad - or not, you choose - part is, she has to leave the Montenegros in a few months.
Who will make her stay?
CHAPTER 1
Unpleasant Meetings
My life is pretty much simple, if you ask me. I go to school, talk to friends, go home, and have small talk with my parents. I'm not ultra smart, ultra pretty or ultra rich. I'm practically a normal girl.
I liked the normalcy of it all. I didn't complain. I was to finish High School, get into a good college, finish college, get a job and get married. That was all.
But then, my life went topsy-turvy one Thursday afternoon, after school. I clearly remember texting my best friend Mariol, going inside our house, kissing my mom on her cheeks and going up my room where my dad was waiting for me.
"We're going to America, Clair."I looked up from my cell phone and stared at him in shock.
"WHAT?!" My parents have been talking about this for years, and I never though it was possible because they both kept on putting it off. I dropped my bag somewhere and walked towards him.
"Are you serious this time? If this is your idea of a joke, dad, it's not funny.""I'm not joking, hija."I stared at him.
"But what about me? Ga-graduate na ako, dad! How about college? My friends!" I had a longer list of what I would leave behind if we go to America, but he cut me off.
"Oh no, Clair, YOU are NOT going to America.""What?! But you just said --" PAK!
"Ow! Dad, what the?!" My dad, my beloved dad, who loves me more than anything in this whole wide world, just hit my head.
"You're not listening again, Clair. Let me finish." He looked at me sternly.
I rubbed the sore spot on my head and nodded solemnly.
"Go ahead, dad."
"We're leaving you behind. Your mom and I decided we should leave you behind, then you can just follow us after High School. Then we'll--""Where will I live, dad? Ba't nyo ko iiwan? Can you not wait for a few more months until I graduate?!" I can't belive this! Iiwan nila ako, their unica hija, their only daughter, alone here in the Philippines? Does this mean I'm going to live in this big house alone, and I have to work for my meals and...?
No no no, yang imagination mo, Clair.
My dad rolled his eyes exasperatedly.
"Don't interrupt me, Clair. As I was saying, we'll get you after your graduation and you'll do college at the States. We're doing this - leaving you here alone - so that when you start college at the States, your mom and I have a stable job there and everything. Para rin naman matuto kang mamuhay mag-isa, you'll get a bit more independent, okay?"
I stared at him. Am I not independent enough?!
"But Dad--""That decision is final." Okay, I love my dad and all, but sometimes he can really be unreasonable.
"DAD!""Fi-nal, Clair, final."I watched him stomp away from me, go out through my door and ruin my life forever.
---
"But Mom, this is so unfair! How am I going to live in a house full of strangers?" I whined once more, acting as if that would change anything. She ignored me, just as how she did this past week. We're at the airport now, waiting for their flight. With us are their baggage, along with mine.
Apparently, they're sending me to a friend's place. She's supposedly "very rich" and she said I will "love her kids very much" for they are "very charming".
I doubt!!!!!! Oh, I hate this; I hate this, I JUST HATE THIS!
I thought they'd be leaving me to live alone, and just send me money through mail. But NO! They decided to worsen the situation by sending me off to some weird family's place.
"They're not strangers, Clair. They're practically family. They're very nice, so you take good care not to offend them with that mouth of yours, okay?" My dad proceeded to embarrass me more by tousling my hair like I'm some little kid.
I put my hand over my mouth. What's wrong with my mouth?!?
"Speaking of them, they're quite late, aren't they?" My mom checked her watch and then looked over the entrance of the airport. This family I'm going to spend seven months with until I can go to the States is picking up so we can go directly to where they live. My mom says "I have nothing to worry about" because they will provide me with what I need, since her friend has always wanted a daughter.
Another thirty minutes later and my mom suddenly shrieked,
"They're here!"I followed where she was pointing at and I saw a very beautiful lady walking towards us. She kissed my mom on her cheeks and smiled pleasantly at my dad. With her beautiful face came a very beautiful voice.
"And this must be Clair!"She spread her arms wide open and my eyes widened with horror. Am I supposed to hug her, or something? My mom pushed me towards her and I found myself within her arms, smelling her very expensive perfume and feeling her soft, long hair.
"I'm sorry we were so late, Delia (my mom), this kid here just had to be dragged from bed. Nonetheless he is so excited to meet you Clair. Sam, come over here."My family and I waited for this "Sam" to approach us, and her mom smiled at us as she waited as well. But a minute later, no Sam has appeared.
"Sam?" The beautiful lady (I didn't catch her name) whirled around her, looking for her son. She talked to one of their bodyguards (medyo madami silang bodyguards, ha).
"Where is Sam?" she asked.
Then out of nowhere was a very handsome boy, who was probably about my age, being dragged by another one of those men in black coats. Once they were beside this strange woman, the man dragging this Sam person bowed.
"I'm so sorry Mrs. Montenegro."Mrs. Montenegro smiled pleasantly and told him,
"it’s okay Albert." Then she looked at her son,
"What are you doing?" she asked with clenched teeth.
The boy rolled his eyes and started to walk away, but her mom caught her by his sleeve and dragged him beside her again.
"This is Clair, Sam. She's the girl I've been talking to you about. And this is Sam, one of my sons." I smiled awkwardly at this Sam person. Wow, isn't he too gorgeous to be dragged around? O_O
I held out my hand to Sam, for a handshake. I'm going to try to be pleasant, but only because this boy looked so good.
"Hi, I'm Clair Bermudez. Nice to meet you, Sam." I smiled again, wishing that I took more effort dressing up. I didn't make an effort because I was expecting this family to be unpleasant and annoying.
Nangangalay na ako and everything, yet this Sam was still staring at my face, then at my outstretched hand. I felt myself blush as I realized that he doesn't have any plans of accepting my handshake.
A few more awkward moments of silence passed by and I dropped my hand. Clearly, he didn't want to be friendly. I met his piercing stare, feeling myself blush more than ever, and felt my smile slowly disappear.
He didn't look friendly at all. In fact, he looked murderous.
"Now Sam," Mrs. Montenegro embarrassedly said.
"Is that how you should act around a beautiful girl? Go introduce yourself."My parents nervously laughed behind me. Anong nakakatawa?!?
Sam still remained silent and continued to stare at me with that murderous look on his face. I had to look away or I just know I'll start tearing up and cry. He's rude, this Sam.
"Josemaria Antonio Montenegro, introduce yourself or else I'm taking your car. Again.""Sam Montenegro. Pleased to meet you." His voice was deep. It made my stomach churn. Damn, this guy is giving me butterflies and I don't even like him.
He suddenly grabbed my hand from my sides, shook it hard, and then walked away. It felt like my hand was crushed. Ouch. O_O
Yeah, right. You look
anything but pleased, Sam Montenegro.
Err, what do you guys think?
