The CEO's Royal Princess

Chapter 4

ATE CHARISSA'S BEDROOM is very spacious. The floor is made up of shiny woods. There is a closet and a wooden dresser on the far left. And then there’s a double-sized bed on the right. It’s a bit on the old style, Hispanic.

I sighed in relief upon realizing that she has her own bathroom. That’s awesome because that means I won't have to leave the room to take a shower and do my business. I briefly wondered if this was the master's bedroom before. I mean, it had exceeded a couple of my expectations. There's an air conditioner attached to the wall but I'd rather not use it. The air is cool and fresh, and the windows are big enough, although they have grills. One thing for sure, I won't have to worry about getting too warm in here.

"Ate, do you want me to open the windows, or would you prefer the air conditioner?" Abigail asked me with a smile. 

"You can just open the windows."

Oh, crap. I accidentally spoke in English. I wonder if Ate Charissa is probably the same at home. It just slipped my mind. I am so tired from the trip that I basically forgot everything else. Am I already digging my own grave at this point? I looked up at Abigail and saw her wide grin.

"You're so sosyal!" she teases me, exaggeratedly waving her hands in all possible directions. By the way, Sosyal is slang for the upper class.

"Huh?"

"Because you spoke English," she distractedly explains as she steps towards one of the windows. Pushing the glass open, she continued, "But then again, you've always preferred to speak English even before. You've always dreamed of going abroad." After opening the side windows, she makes her way over to the front ones.

I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding. I thought I had messed up big time! I was still trying to figure out how to act after my minor slip when Abigail's shrill voice suddenly pierced through the air. She was shrieking and gesturing for me to come over. "Ate! It's your crush! Hurry!"

That piqued my interest. And before I knew it, I was already starting for the window where she was. Did she really just say crush? Is it Jacob the spirit boy?

"What crush?" I confusedly asked while frowning my eyebrows.

As a reply, Abigail rolled her eyes at me and shook her head. "You're not fooling anyone, Ate. Look there!"

She pointed at a man wearing long white sleeves and a printed grey tie. I couldn't quite see him clearly, but then based on how he was moving around, he seemed irritated by something. 

I frowned. That guy doesn't look like Jacob at all. Was Ate Charissa blind or something? Or is it just because he's too far away that I can’t see what Ate Charissa was talking about before? If only I have a telescope on hand, I would see him more closely without being too obvious about it. I should buy one tomorrow.

"Careful, Ate," she teases. "You are staring too much. If you keep on staring at him that way, he might melt like ice cream. So hot—Ah, alas! The higad made its appearance because, of course, she would," she drawls with a grimace.

Higad? Isn't higad some sort of an insect? Oh my gosh! I wouldn't say I like caterpillars. In fact, I'm terrified of them. I see them in photos, and they are ugly. I even avoid going under trees for fear that caterpillars might fall on me.

"What higad?" I asked in a panic, looking left and right to check if there are any caterpillars around. Unconvinced that I didn’t see anything, I shuddered and started patting myself all over as if something is crawling up my skin even though there's nothing there. "I don't see anything! But if you can, Abby, take it off me—“

"You don't know what higad is? Are you serious?"Abigail cut me off while staring at me blankly. 

Am I supposed to know what it is other than it is an insect?

"Ate, there's the higad," she says, pointing an adamant finger at the woman who magically appeared next to the guy. "Do you see how that hussy practically drapes all over him? She looks like a monkey clinging on his tie! There's no reason for people to talk that close. They might as well exchange faces," she grumbles.

When I looked at the pair, I realized what she was saying was true. I'm pretty sure I even saw the woman, Abby’s calling as higad, touched Ate Charissa's crush's… err, backside. 

I know it's wrong for me to judge him right away, but seriously? Letting that woman touch his butt like that in public? Ew! 

First of all, he is no longer in his teens. I can understand teenagers being impulsive. But for a full-grown man to act like that? I don't know why I’m getting more and more annoyed while watching them together. Maybe it's a natural reaction since I know how much Ate Charissa's likes that guy. Well, if this is what he is, then Ate Charissa obviously deserves better. 

Something must have shown on my face because Abigail stopped rumbling. One moment she looks as irritated as I am, and the other, she is staring at me. 

"Don't be jealous, Ate! That woman is pretty famous because she's starting on television. She's a soap opera actress, so she probably wants to do something that would cause some controversy. Publicity is publicity," she shrugs. "I won't be surprised if we see them in the newspapers and magazines by tomorrow. They might even make the headline on the internet."

"Nah, it's fine. Jacob can do what he wants. I'm too old for crushes now. I'm twenty—" I caught myself. I almost said I'm twenty-nine. No question now, I really need to sleep.

"Twenty?" she suddenly burst out laughing. "You mean twenty-nine!" She kept on while laughing. I find her reaction endearingly amusing as I did the mental math. Bente nueve mil is a hoot. (Twenty-nine million is a hoot.) 

The next second, we were already both laughing out loud, and that's how Nanay Maria found us when she entered my room with a tray of food.

"You two, what are you laughing at?” she huffs, shaking her head. “Charissa, you eat first as you might fall asleep with an empty stomach. Look at yourself. You're too skinny,"

"Oh, Mom, 'skinny' isn't what you can call Ate. She's slim! That higad outside can't hold a candle to her beauty. The higad looks malnourished!"

"Higad? Who's the 'caterpillar'?" Nanay Maria asked.

"Who else is often there across the street, itching all over Jacob?" Abigail says with a sneer. Stepping closer to the bed where Nanay Maria placed a plate of watermelon, she picked up a slice and gave her mother a knowing glare. 

"Oh, you mean Ramona Del Prado?" Nanay Maria sat down on the bed.

Ramona Del Prado? So that's her name. I couldn't really see her face that well earlier. Not that she matters. I have no interest in showbiz unless it's about Jacob. But, of course, the princess also has a hidden 'debauchery.' Did you think I'm all about poise? Always prim and proper? I'm only human, after all.

I walked toward the bed too and took a watermelon. I was playing innocent when I started eating. "You have some as well, 'Nay," I offered and handed her a slice.

I was surprised when Nanay Maria didn’t move an inch other than simply stare at me. Doesn't she like watermelons?

"I don't eat watermelon, Charissa," she says carefully. "But I'll have some of that melon," she smiled at me.

I momentarily forgot how to breathe. How many strikes have I had with her since I came? Oh my goodness! The saying about mothers really is true. A mother's instinct never fails. 

I was stiff when I handed her the plate of watermelon. I couldn't help but down a glass of water as I'm a little nervous. What if Julian and Tatay Julio also wonder about me. Will they drive me away? And I don't know anyone here, except for one person, James. I don't even know him that well—or at all for that matter.

"Oh! My child, a party, will be held in that big house three days from now. You know your mother is famous for cooking, so Mrs. Ausejo invited me to cook for them. I'm surprised she didn't just hire catering services. She said she liked my cooking. I really didn't want to, since you know how meticulous that old lady is. Why, I'm pretty sure she's insulted every person in Dumaguete," Nanay Maria rants. Is that her way to break the ice and somehow relaxed me? 

I perked up as she talks about the other's lady's terrible personality, how she's constantly insulting people.

"Just refuse, 'Nay. We don't need money right now. I've saved up something somehow."

"Money is money, and it's a pity to let this opportunity go to waste," she sighs regretfully. "Besides, I'm getting bored here at home. So let it go. It's just this once."

I shrugged. "Your call."

"And since you don't have anything to do here at home, just accompany me there. I have a meeting with the lady tomorrow so we can talk about what she wants to cook. It's just a private party, and there are about twenty guests. I can handle it," she said excitedly.

I just remembered that Ate Charissa wants a picture of her crush. So, this was my chance to get a close-up shot.

"All right, 'Nay. Just tell me when so I can get ready."