The Hired Daughter

Chapter 9

I lied on my stomach and totally knocked out. My eyes drifted to Mom’s present.. it was a branded bag and also Dad gave me a keys for my brand new car. But even I have my own ride now I could not drive myself without a license, I took some driving lessons and yet Dad not allowed me to get one. He just said, I could still use my car but with the help of a driver.

My eyes darted to the door when I heard this familiar knock, I left the bed. Looking at him now, standing in front of my door felt just normal. We stared to each other before I sighed and opened my door widely. I left him and headed back to my bed, I sat down and waited for him. He then stopped in front of me.

"For you." he handed me his present.

Reluctantly, I took it. "Thank you.."

"Wear my gift." he said afterwards. "Take rest.. goodnight, Sheina and happy birthday." he leaned and kissed me on my forehead, before he turned to his back and walked out of my room.

My mouth fell at what he did and then shook my head, he’s really weird. I find him arrogant but this side of him, this sweetness.. my eyes darted to his present, I thought he did not care at all. Carefully I opened it and again my mouth gaped.. don’t tell me this is a real diamond earrings? A butterfly shaped diamond stud earrings, this one was beautiful indeed.. but too expensive!

Perhaps I should give him back his present. I closed it again and put down on the side table. I lied back on my bed and drifted to dream land.

I got up late the next day. And when my stomach started to growl I decided to eat and only found Mom waiting for me on the long table.

"Good morning, Mommy." I greeted her.

"Good morning, Sheina. How’s your sleep?" her wide smile was as bright as the sun, she called the helper to serve my food.

"Good, uhm yeah, I could not sleep well because of yours and Dad’s present.. Thank you." I remembered last night, I refused their presents for me, Dad got angry why I accepted them.

"You're always welcome, hija."

"Uhm.. Mommy, have you seen, Cast?" I looked at our grand staircase before it went back to her.

"Yes, but he went out. Why, Sheina?" she drank on her coffee.

I watched how the helper placed down some plates of my breakfast before I lifted my eyes back to her. "I wanted to give back his present."

"Those diamond earrings?"

So it was real diamond earrings. I nodded. "Yeah, I could not accept another expensive present more if it was from.. Cast." I started my food.

Mom just sighed. "Just accept it, Sheina, Cast might get mad at you if you going to return those earrings. The last thing we want to happen, is that Cast get angry of you and besides, you got him a gift." Mom said in her casual tone.

"But not as expensive as his present." I drank my juice.

"Just keep his gift, Sheina."

"Fi-fine." though I really wanted to return it but if Mom wanted me to keep it then I obliged, as one of her rules.. be an obedient hired daughter.

"By the way, we’re going to buy some stuff for your school, later. Next Monday will be the start of your class."

"Yes, Mommy."

We did go out for school stuff that late afternoon and now I got all the things I needed and just a bit excited for next Monday. I was too enlivened knowing that I am going to college now, when just a few weeks then I cried a river because I could not send myself to one. Now my dreams little by little unfolding right before my eyes and that's because of Mrs. Dorothy Dela Francia, my Mommy.

"Cast, you’ll drive Sheina to school. And remember, don't let anyone come near her. Understood?" Dad sternly said.

Today is my first day of school at St. Anderson University. Why our parents were somewhat like those bosses giving their words of commands.

"Why do I feel like.. I am more of her bodyguard than her brother? And I’m going to babysit her too like all days of school year?! Tss." Cast just took a deep sigh.

"I was thinking to hire a bodyguard for her. But for now.. it's your duty to protect her as a responsible brother."

"Ohh, boys, that’s enough.. you were all going to be late, so hurry up." Mom butted in.

While I was just being silent here and listening to them, Dad’s already reminded me about his 'Do's and don'ts'. Why I promised of being obedient to not disappointing them both.

"Bye, Mom, Dad." I waved at them before I slid in the car.

I sat properly and played with my hands on my thighs, I felt these butterflies in my stomach for this first day of school.

"Where's my earrings?" Cast asked me not bothering on glancing at my side.

I looked at him. "House.." I murmured. I skipped on wearing it and saved it for special occasions.

"I told you to wear my gift." he irate said.

"I planned on wearing them for some special occasions." I reasoned out.

"Just wear it, okay?! And your hair.. just let it down, your nape is showing.." he was more irritable.

My hand flew to my hair and loosened the tie. I put my hair in a high pony tail because he complimented me about it the last time. I sighed, I sometimes did not know how to please him.

"And.. why you always wearing dresses? Aren’t you have pants?" he side glanced at my black and white dress.

"Mommy wants me to wear dresses." I told him nonchalantly. If I were to ask I would rather in my shorts and pants. I calmed myself down, I could not ruin this day just because of his presence.

"I'll ask Mom to buy pants for you. Or I will buy you some later, obviously we don’t have yet serious classes today."

I stared at him again. He's so unbelievable! Why he was imposing what he wants? This guy was really spoiled by his parents. Mom asked me to help Cast to change, how on earth am I going to do that when I was like a puppet in front of him too?

"We're here. I think you know what’s the catch, right?" he unfastened his seatbelt.

I unbuckled my seatbelt before I nodded. He waited me at the side why I was almost tripped just to near him.

We were side by side while we were walking. For first class we have English 1 today. And like what Dad told us, I have the same schedule with Cast. But then I was thinking why he has to take some minor subjects if he already took them before?

When we entered our class room the noise of the crowd was too loud. My lips twitched, so even college folks acted like high school teens. But what caught my attention were their looks, they looked all rich kids in this exclusive school.

"Hey, man!" a guy called us, rather Cast.

"Hey, Speed! Why are you here?" Cast creased his forehead.

I took a seat while my eyes started travelling around. And back to Cast when he called my name.

"Sit here." he tapped the next chair to his. This one was on the back and on the edge, I sighed I really hated sitting at the back.

I followed as what I was told, when I claimed the chair his eyes were still on me before he relaxed and crossed his arms then closing them.

"Eulises, introduce us to your sister." the guy said who called him.

"She's off limits, man." he opened his eyes only to throw him a glare.

"Just her name." the guy insisted.

"Yeah, we haven’t had a chance on knowing her." the two guys who just arrived said.

I looked down my legs, I waited for Cast if he would allow me or not.

"Good morning, class!" an old man greeted in front.

Everyone stopped from chattering and get back to their chairs. Cast’s friends stopped him from pestering also and went to their chairs.

"Next meeting will be the start of our class.. as of now you may begin your research about Introduction to Economics with Land Reform & Tax. And by the way, I'm Mr. Isagani Ambaic. Class dismissed." the professor left the room and the noise resumed.

Cast suddenly stood up why my gaze went up to him. "Let's go out. It was all like that, not regular class yet."

"Can we wait for the next class then?" I did not want to end my first day of school like this.

"Alright, let’s go to the cafeteria first."

I was only following him to where the cafeteria is. His friends were goofing around, with us on the way to the cafeteria.

Just few of the students were here in the cafeteria, but Cast continued on walking in. When we stopped in front of a table he told me to wait as he would get our food. I just took a chair and waited for him. I fished out my phone and searched for some game, I still got this old phone of mine but this one could help me kill the time.

Cast returned with these chocolate cake and coffee. And few of nosy people were throwing glance at us now. He sat next mine and too oblivious of his surroundings.

"Aww, what a sweet brother, Eulises." one of his friends said and joined us.

"Mind to introduce us to your sister, man?" one of them sat beside me.

Cats suddenly sighed. "This is Sheina.." in his bored tone. "Sheina, this is Speed." he pointed at the man beside me. "Clint and Zander." then he pointed at the two other guys in front.

"I'm Speed Angelo Marquez, nice to meet you, Sheina honey." he offered a hand and I accepted it. "You were prettier in a close sight." he smiled.

My lips slowly curved into a smile and pulled out my hand quickly when I heard Cast snorted.

"Back off, Speed." Cast warned him.

"Nice to meet you, Sheina.. Clint Mc Cain." he offered a handshake.

"Zander Valenzuela, please to meet you, Sheina." I was smiling accepting his hand also.

I sat down after the introduction. And when I looked at Cast, he seemed not in good mood again like he was surrounded by this dark aura.

"What an over protected brother." Speed chuckled.

"Yeah, if she’s going to meet a guy like you, Speed, then I’ll do the same." Zander teased him.

"Never serious anything coming from Speed, he’s a womanizer." Clint said seriously.

"Whoa! You’re talking ill not behind my back but really in front of me?” then he faced me with this serious facade. ”Don't believe them, Sheina." he reached for my hand that already on the table.

"Speed! Hands off, man!" Cast voice thundered.

I was the one who pulled away because of the loudness of his voice. Eve Speed jumped a little from his seat, while the two were laughed at that. My eyes drifted around we were actually getting some attention now.

"Okay, alright! I was just being friendly here, man, don't shout, okay?!" Speed held his hands up while chuckling.

"Tss." Cast only glared him.

"Hello there, man!" another two men sat in our table, it was like my eyes lit looking at this Chinese guy.

"What's up, people?" one of them greeted us.

"Well, we’re in the middle of getting to know each other, to this beautiful sister of Eulises.." Speed grinned at them.

"Oh! Hi! Sheina, right?" I nodded and left my chair to accept their handshake. "I'm Simon Roberts, nice to meet you."

"Kleo Lee Anderson.. my pleasure to meet you." he smiled and I could not even tore my gaze away from his cute eyes.

"Sheina Dela Francia.." I trailed off. I get to use of Dela Francia as my surname as my parents’ wanted. I felt my face heated when he smiled at me. Jeez! He’s got dimples. "Anderson? You mean.." my eyes widened.

"Yes, they owned this University." Speed sustained while grinning at me.