The Hired Daughter

Chapter 7

Dad was furious while I was in hospital bed, not to me but to.. Cast. While Cast remained silent the whole time and Mom just calming Dad.

"What were you trying to prove, Cast? Killing your sister because you don’t like her?" Dad hissed. "If you don't like her as your sister then that's fine with us! But please.. don't be a childish!"

"Da-daddy, he was not at fault. I-I haven’t tell him about my allergies." I whispered.

"Even so! He didn’t bother to ask you?" Dad raised his voice.

"I said, I didn't know she has allergies of seafood." Cast sighed.

"Save it, Cast, what irresponsible brother you are. I am so disappointed of you." Dad shook his head. "You're grounded and you are not gonna join any basketball game." Dad said with finality.

"No way! Mom! Dad, I explained my side already. And that game is so important to me." he glanced at me before he stormed out the room.

"Daddy, Mommy.. Cast did not do anything wrong." my eyes heated.

"Hush, dear.. we’re going home later. Just rest, okay?" Dad kissed me on my forehead and excused himself to have a word to my doctor.

My gaze went up to Mom when I felt his warm caress. "Mommy.. please, talk to Dad and tell him that Cast was innocent.. it was not his fault.." my tears started to fall.

"Hush, hija.. I know that Cast did not intend any harm.. Don't worry, I will talk about this with your Dad." she smiled warmly and wiped off my tears.

I was discharged that day, my allergies attacked was not that bad coz I was rushed immediately to the hospital. But the saddest part, all the blame was to him. Why I slept with this heavy heart that night, more when Cast skipped having dinner with us.

It has been a week after that incident happened and yet Cast never dared to talk with me again. He was avoiding me at all cost and he never joined us every meal. I felt guilty, whenever I saw Mommy being sad about it. And Dad remained stone and firm at his decision towards Cast.

It was gloomy Saturday now and I know his game would start any minute but Dad remained unreachable about it. Why I think of a way on helping Cast.

I knocked on the door. Dad let me in when he heard my voice. "Yes dear? You need anything?" Dad was all smiles at me.

My gaze dropped to Mom, she’s here also. We resorted to this one to help Cast today.

"Uhm, Daddy.. I was thinking if I can go out to watch Cast’s game today.. You know what Dad, Cast played very well, he did, I saw him on his practice one time and he really a genius on playing basketball.." beaming him a smile.

"Yeah, I know.. and that was also the same time when he risked your life and we almost lost you again for the second time. You got yourself in danger because of his negligence." Dad’s face became dark.

"But Daddy-"

"I know that you want to help him out.. but sorry to tell you, dear, this is a serious matter. So my answer is no." I knew that tone, yeah, his words were firm as law.

"I just.. I have to go, Daddy, Mommy. Thanks anyway." I kissed them both on their cheek before I strode out of his study room.

I was walking here in the hallway when I saw Cast just left his room. My steps halted and was about to turn around but then his eyes caught me already, reluctantly I continued on my steps.

"Cast.. I'm sorry.." I looked down when we were inches away.

He ignored my apology and walked past me. I know that he was still grounded and could not get out of the house, as what Dad’s order. I heaved a deep sigh and just watched his back as he was gone in my sight, I continued to Venus Dela Francia’s room again.

Cast missed the game but his punishment was lifted. I rarely saw him after that, either he was ignoring me at all or he was out everyday and came home late at nights.

Today is Cast’s birthday, he ignored to have a grand party but he has a celebration in some bar as what Mom had told me.

"Mommy, do you think, Cast will like this?" I felt a bit nervous.

We were here now in the living and just waiting for Cast to arrive, it was past ten in the evening and Cast has called his Mom that he’s coming home late.

"Of course, Sheina.. he loves basketball why he will like your present." Mom assured me.

I was holding this basket ball, as my present for his birthday. I first thought of buying him a basketball shoes but then Mom already bought a pair for him. And I was not sure about Dad’s present to Cast, but I heard he made Cast picked over a new sports car or a condo unit.

Mom cleared her throat. "Sheina, hija, I think you better get to bed now and give your present tomorrow. He seemed late.." Mom hesitantly smiled at me.

I just nodded and kissed her on the cheek. "Good night, Mommy, you too.” as I looked at my wrist watch.

"Thank you, hija, just a moment." and then her attention back to her phone.

I headed upstairs with still my present for Cast in my hand. I just changed into my pajama and laid on bed, I had been here for three weeks now.. and all things went well, aside my failed relationship with Cast coz he didn’t like me.

I was startled by the knock on my door, I rubbed my eyes. "Yes?" but no answered. Lazily I left bed and walked to the door. My sleepy eyes went wide looking at him.

"Can I come in?" he asked in his baritone voice.

"Ye-yes.. sure." I opened my door wider to accommodate him. When he passed me, I smelled his perfume along with this faint smell of.. alcohol.

His eyes wandered the room before he sat down on my bed. "Mom said.. you have a present for me?" he was caressing the bed cover before his gaze up to me.

"Ahh, ye-yeah, Cast." I swiftly turned to the nearest table and took it. "Here." handing him my present, my smile was as big as the box.

His stare lingered on me before it went down to my present. "Thanks." as he accepted and placed it down to my bed. "Can I sleep here?" his eyes travelled on the bed and lifted on me.

"Huh? Uhm.. I, I-Cast.." I paused and think, of course he could not sleep here coz he seemed under the influence of alcohol. If he was sober perhaps, after all.. we were ‘siblings’ that what all people think and knew aside Mom.

"I guess, no." he then stood up and took the huge box. "Thanks for this." he neared me and leaned for a kiss.. on my lips. "Good night, Sheina." and then he left my room.

My eyes went saucer as I clutched on my chest, did he just kiss me? Argh! It was my first kiss. Minutes had passed and yet I was remained immobile here. I swallowed hard and held on my chest, it was pumping hard. I could not remember of eating any seafood a while ago but why am I palpitating now? I inhaled and exhaled for a few times, calming myself down. He might too drunk, coz the normal Cast would never acted like that more kissing me like what he just did.

"Good morning, Mommy, Daddy." I kissed them both on the cheek before I took my chair.

"By the way, hija, expect your lavished Debut Party this Saturday. We just need to omit the cotillion part, then everything is good." Dad started.

"Thanks Daddy, Mommy."

"Good morning, everyone." it was Cast.

"Good thing you're here, Cast, we're discussing about Sheina's debut this coming Saturday." Dad looked at the new arrived.

"Cast, you're still Sheina's escort for that night, but then she will not have her cotillion." Mom paused. "Your Dad hates the idea about his unica hija dancing with the boys, especially Sheina did not know them. He's being possessive." Mom chuckled.

"Yeah, Dad was right. She can still have her dream debut party even without the dancing part." Cast added.

"I don’t like her to find any boys that night. Sheina just came back to us, I want her to spend more time with us. And Cast make sure you were looked after your sister, she's not allowed to have a boyfriend. Not yet." Dad said in his serious tone and then faced me. "Is that all right, Sheina?"

"O-of course, Daddy. I won’t entertain boys." I stammered and even felt the warmness covering my whole face down to my neck.

"Good." Dad smiled and continued his food.

"And I'll make it sure of it." Cast added while staring at me.

"Oh stop it, you two! Don’t be so hard on Sheina!” Mom looked at me ”Don’t take their words seriously, honey. But you know, we’re just two girls in their life." Mom chuckled and winked at me.

"It’s all right Mom, I understand." I looked down on my plate.

"Anyway, have you given him your present?"

"Ye-yes Mom, last night.." I looked at her for a moment but it dropped then to my plate.

"Ohh, okay, what about you, Cast, did you like it?" Mommy clapped her hands.

"Yeah, I liked it, Mom." my gaze went up to Cast. He was looking at me why I averted my gaze.

"That's great! Hope for the betterment of your relationship with each other before her birthday’s come, please Cast.. be nice to your sister." Mom in her pleading voice.

"Yeah, you should be, Cast.. I already fixed your school and enrolled you both in the same course. Business Ad., and same schedule also, so you can look after her and same hers to you." Dad said cooly.

"Same schedule, Daddy? Really?" Cast seemed not liking it.

"Same schedule? I thought Cast will be on his second year?" a bit confused.

"Supposed to be, anyway a shifted course from Engineering will not cause any problem. We told him to enrol to Business Ad but he chose to disobey us." Dad said in a flat tone.

"Here we go again.. can we drop the topic, Dad?" Cast uttered in a bored tone.

Dad stopped shading at Cast, and we all remained silent after. Much better to play safe sometimes, I sighed.

"By the way, Cast, drive Sheina to get her gown, so we can see if it is fit or need some adjustment." Mom suddenly uttered.

"Why not you, Mom? That's a girl’s thing." Cast snorted.

"I’m going to be very busy today, feeding program for my foundation and such. Please, son?"

"Accompany your sister, Cast." Dad looked at him and Cast just nodded boringly.

I went to my room so I could prepare, I just took shower and changed to my dress, but not without day dreaming about my upcoming party. For sure a lot of people were invited, and honestly I was nervous now. I never been in school parties during high school coz I could not afford to spend some penny.

I sighed while looking at my reflection in the mirror, as a good hired daughter I had to wear some girly dress and stuff like this to please Mom.

I left my room and went downstairs, much better to wait for him than to annoy him waiting for me. I watched this catchy film to kill time in the living room.

"Let's go?" his baritone voice boomed in the living room and my eyes lifted to his.

And good grace! He was beyond handsome to describe, Cast was jaw dropper and striking. White shirt and faded jeans and yet he looked like he was about to grace a runway.

"Ye-yeah, le-let's go.." I stuttered. Damn heart, stop palpitating! The last thing I wanted was to get a heart attacked coz of his mere presence.

He walked past me and I sighed following him. Even the way he walked, he seemed like he owned the entire country.