Chapter 16 CHAPTER 15
Chapter 16 CHAPTER 15
I woke up at eleven in the morning, my head throbbing from staying up late and drinking too much the night before. I got up and took a quick shower, knowing I had to pack my things before leaving the room. Just to surprise Aeros. He knew we weren’t supposed to head back to Manila until tomorrow, but today I’d decided to go home, and nothing could stop me.
After showering, I neatly packed my belongings and stepped out of the room. As I went down the stairs, I saw Aeros and Bena talking together. I pretended not to notice.
“Damn them,” I muttered under my breath.
Aeros, of course, noticed me and walked over.
“Ma’am Lilith!”
“Cousin, going back to Manila already?” Bena asked.
I nodded. “I need to finish a project for school,” I said, using it as an excuse.
“Just leave your driver behind,” Bena suggested.
“I can drive myself,” I replied. “If he wants to stay, that’s fine with me.”
“I’ll come with you,” Aeros said.
I nodded, then pulled my suitcase toward me.
“Ma’am Lilith, I’ll carry your suitcase,” Aeros offered, taking it from my hands.
I frowned but didn’t protest, getting into the car.
“Ma’am Lilith, I’ll just grab my things first,” he added.
I didn’t respond, only glared at him. Then Bena knocked on the car window.
“Why?” I asked, opening the door.
“Say goodbye to Lola and Auntie before you leave,” she reminded me.
“Okay.”
I stepped out and went to my Lola and Tita, hugging them both tightly.
“Lilith, I thought you were leaving tomorrow?” Auntie asked.
“I have something important to do tomorrow,” I explained.
She sighed. “Take care.”
“Thanks, Auntie!” I whispered, lingering a moment before leaving her room.
Back in the car, I noticed Aeros and Bena talking again. My blood boiled seeing them together, but I stayed quiet, climbed in, and waited for Aeros to finish.
“Ma’am Lilith, sorry to keep you waiting. Ma’am Bena asked me something,” he said.
“Let’s go,” I snapped.
“Okay, Ma’am Lilith.”
The drive was silent. Then, without warning, Aeros pulled into a drive-thru.
“Why are we stopping?” I asked.
“Let’s get something to eat first,” he said.
I nodded, placing our order, but then I was surprised when Aeros paid.
I handed him a thousand pesos. “Here, I’ll pay you back.”
He shook his head. “It’s on me.”
“Take it. I don’t accept freebies, especially from someone as—”
“Poor,” he finished for me.
“Don’t let your pride get in the way. You won’t get rich if you keep buying me things.” I slipped the money into his pocket.
“Are you mad at me?” he asked.
“Why would I be?”
“Because you didn’t agree last night,” he said softly.
I felt my cheeks heat up. “Thank goodness you didn’t. I would have regretted it. I was drunk and didn’t know what I was doing,” I admitted.
“If you’re not mad, why are you so quiet?”
“Can you just… not talk to me? I’m not in the mood,” I muttered.
“Sorry,” he said quietly.
I started eating quickly to avoid talking to Aeros. The trip to the mansion was quiet, and we barely spoke. Daddy looked surprised to see me at home.
“Lilith, why are you here so early?”
“Dad, I forgot I still had a project to finish,” I lied.
I stood by my lie so that if anyone asked, my story would be consistent.
“What did your grandmother say?”
“They didn’t really do anything since I had to come home. Next time, it’ll be your turn to visit the province. They want to see you, not me.”
“I’ve got too much work at the company.”
“Okay.”
“Have dinner with me,” Daddy said.
I nodded. “Okay.”
We left the room together and went straight to the kitchen.
“Dad, can I drive the car?” I asked.
He stopped eating and looked at me. “Why do you want to drive?”
“Dad, I’m not a child anymore to need a driver.”
His brow furrowed. “Did Aeros do something you didn’t like?”
“Dad, I’ve wanted to drive my own car for a long time. When Mom was alive, you let me drive. Why not now?”
“I just want you to focus on your studies.”
“Dad, what does my education have to do with me driving?”
“If I let you drive, you’ll go wherever you want. You might neglect your studies like before.”
“Dad, I’ve changed.”
“I won’t agree to it.”
“Dad…”
“You’ll still have your driver until you finish college.”
I sighed. “I understand.”
I wanted to argue, but I knew he might refuse to return my ATM and credit cards entirely.
After our conversation, I called Elsie to come to the mansion. I couldn’t go out tonight anyway.
“Congrats! You won the bet!” Elsie said.
We settled in my room, watching a movie and munching on popcorn.
“Thanks!” I said.
“You’re really good at seducing. You got Aeros to fall for you so fast.”
I smiled. “Well, that’s what happens when you’re born beautiful and sexy.”
“What will you do with the million?”
“Of course, I’ll treat myself. I deserve it.”
“You won’t treat me?”
“Sorry, girl. Not you.”
“You’re so mean!” She rolled her eyes.
“Ugh! Three months is too long,” I groaned.
I didn’t tell Elsie what really happened with Aeros. I didn’t want her thinking I was the first one to fall for him.
“Three months will fly by, and then you’ll be free,” she said.
“Am I not allowed to flirt with other guys until then?”
“Calm down. No flirting with anyone else.”
“Ugh! Three months is forever.”
“By the way, how was your vacation in the province? Any cute moments with Aeros?”
I frowned. “He was such a hit with my cousins. Bena made him the center of attention even more.”
Elsie laughed. “Aeros is handsome. Of course, everyone would flock to him. If he liked me, I probably wouldn’t have let him go.”
“Aeros is a player.”
“Really? How do you know?”
“He talks to all kinds of girls. He even danced with someone else.”
“Girl, why weren’t you mad?”
“Why would I be? I wanted that, so when I break up with him, he won’t get hurt.”
“But he’s your boyfriend. You should be jealous.”
“I can’t tell our relatives he’s my boyfriend. I don’t want them knowing they’d just laugh at me.”
“Maybe if your cousins knew, they wouldn’t meddle with Aeros anyway.”
I shrugged. “I don’t care what he does. I just want to be free after three months.”
“Things might change. You might fall for him.”
“No way! I’d rather die than fall for Aeros!”
She shrugged. “Your choice.” She popped another piece of popcorn into her mouth.