CHAPTER SIXTEEN

“LOOK who’s here,” said Amethyst, who sauntered towards them when they entered the guesthouse lobby. She gave her a once-over before turning to Hapi.

If truth be told, Sapphire was not in a good mood because she suffered from motion sickness. She did not sleep along the way and ended up feeling dizzy. And now that her cousin welcomed her that way, her bad mood worsened. She stared at Amethyst. If only looks could kill, her cousin would be dead by now.

“So. You chose Sapphire over me? Seriously, Hapi?” Amethyst sounded jealous rather than disappointed.

But why would she feel jealous of her? Sapphire’s eyes grew wider. Could it be that Amethyst really likes Hapi?

But Hapi mentioned his friend Koby last time…

Maybe Amethyst was really interested in Koby, and she was just using Hapi as a bridge. Ah, yes…Sapphire likes that theory.

“I can’t see anything wrong about it,” Sapphire said confidently.

“Why bother to come here, anyway?” Amethyst rolled her eyes.

Ruby and Amethyst were the same kinds of species. But the latter made her blood boil easily. Good thing Ruby already warned her. She was a little grateful for that.

“Why not?” She raised a brow. “Ruby’s my cousin, too. We’re family.”

“Yeah, biologically speaking you’re a Laurel.” Her cousin’s lip twitched. “But for me, you don’t look like one.” Amethyst laughed.

It caught everyone’s attention, now all eyes were looking at them. Some even took videos and pictures of them.

Sapphire’s fists clenched. So, this was Amethyst game, to humiliate her in front of people.

“Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror? Why don’t you just go back to the slumps where you really belong? You don’t belong in our world, Sapphire.” Amethyst glanced at Hapi. And how dare you throw yourself at Hapi.”

“Amethyst, stop,” Hapi said in a stern tone.

But it seemed that no one could stop her cousin.

“You should stop dreaming that Hapi would like you. He was acting good towards you because he’s such an emphatic person,” Amethyst continued.

“Stop it, Amethyst!” You’re—”

“You stop defending her, Hapi! Who is she to you anyway? You don’t even know her.” Amethyst crossed their distanced and whispered to her ear, “You better wake up from your fantasies, Sapphire. Your life isn’t a fairytale, where a handsome prince would come to save you. Princes don’t end up with someone who’s ugly and…fat.”

Sapphire had enough humiliation from her cousin. She could no longer hold her temper. If Amethyst wanted war, then she would give it to her. Because Sapphire was not the underdog of her story, she will always be the female lead. And no matter how many times people bring her down, she would rise.

“Yes, I’m fat, but I can diet. And I’m not ugly; you and this society’s standards are what makes someone ugly.” Sapphire flipped her hair. “Is that how the Laurel’s raise their new generation? What a shame. You look classy and rich, but your character stinks. Eww!” Sapphire felt a little lighter now.

She walked past her cousin and headed to the reception desk.

“Sapphire, wait!” Hapi followed her.

SAPPHIRE headed to the elevator after getting the key to her room. And then, there was Hapi, who kept on following her like a kid.

“Why do you keep on following me?”

He was now standing beside her while waiting for the elevator.

“Our rooms are on the same floor.” Hapi showed her the number on his key.

“Ah…” Okay, she was a little assuming.

Sapphire stepped inside the elevator when its doors opened. She leaned her back against its cold stainless wall and sighed. Hapi moved closer and nudged her arm.

“What’s the matter?” he asked.

If it were not Hapi, she would have snarled at him. She doesn’t like to be bothered when she was feeling pissed.

“It’s just that…” She heaved a sigh again. “I lost a lot of energy because of Amethyst.”

“Why don’t you recharge yourself?”

Her forehead creased. “How?”

She could not think of a way to do that. If only humans were like gadgets that you can plug in once it runs out of battery, her life would be easy.

Hapi dropped their bags and spread his arms. She got what he meant by that.

“Are you inviting me for a hug?”

“Yes.” He flashed his most beautiful smile.

I don’t know if he’s flirting with me or he simply wants to make me feel better.

Sapphire did not move an inch. She was confused if she would throw herself at him just like what she did yesterday. However, Hapi was sure of what he wanted. He crossed that little distance between them and took her to his arms.

Ah…it feels so good!

His body was warm, and the masculine scent of his cologne calmed her. From now on, it was her favorite scent. Maybe she should buy that cologne and spray it on her pillows for a good night’s sleep.

“Are you feeling good now?” Hapi asked after a short while.

“Yeah…”

And just when she was enjoying that precious moment with Hapi, the elevator pinged. They already reached their room’s floor.

Gah! This is frustrating…

“Should we step out?” he asked without letting go of her.

“Can we stay like this a little longer?”

Hapi’s hand reached for the panel to press the buttons. The doors closed, and the elevator went up again.

Sapphire smiled as she hugged him tighter.

HAPI’S room was just across hers.

“I’ll just drop my bag. See you later,” he told her before entering his room.

“`Kay.” Sapphire tapped the card to unlock the door.

She pushed the door, and to her astonishment, she found Hapi’s ogre friend Mobi inside the room with her cousin Acqua. Sapphire was aware that she would be sharing a room with one of her cousins, but she did not expect her cousin to be with someone.

“Why are you here?” Acqua asked in a high-pitched tone.

“Ah, you and I will be sharing—”

“What?” Her cousin sighed exasperatedly, with matching eye roll. “Of all people, why is it you?”

“Okay, her cousins did not like her. 

Well, the feeling is mutual. 

She would never get fond of them.

“Well, sorry to disappoint you, but it’s me whom you’re going to share this room with,” she said calmly.

Good thing Hapi made him calm down a while ago because if not, well, there would be chaos.

“You don’t have to quarrel over this,” Mobi chimed in.

Sapphire gaped at him in shock. Mobi spoke so softly. He was far from the snarling boy she met on her first day in school. She turned her gaze on Acqua. Her cousin must be the reason why. She could not help but think that something is going on between them. And it did not take long before Mobi confirmed her assumption. He grabbed Acqua’s bag and tugged her out of the room.

She heard them argue outside after the door closed. Sapphire just shrugged and sauntered towards the bed. But when she was about to lie down, someone rang the doorbell.

Sapphire marched to the door, annoyed. What if Acqua decided to come back to kick her out?

“Hi!” Hapi greeted her as soon as the door opened.

Her gaze went down on his bag.

“W-what is the meaning of this?”

“Well…Mobi and I were supposed to share the room, but he brought Acqua there and kicked me out. so, I’ll stay here with you.” Hapi walked past her and went inside the room without her approval.

She closed the door and strode towards the sofa where he dropped his bag.

“No, Hapi. We can’t stay here together.” She tugged his sleeve. “I thought you have an old-fashioned point of view. Why would you stay here with me?”

He turned to her with his palm on his chest. Hapi was acting as if he was in pain.

Sapphire scowled at him. “Stop acting like that.”

“You’ve hurt me, Sapphire,” he said somberly. “Do you really think I will take advantage of you?”

Hapi did not have to take advantage of her because she would give in willingly—wait! Why was she thinking that way? Sapphire shook her head. She then looked at the king-sized bed. It was spacious enough for two persons, right? But it would be better if only one of them get to sleep there.

“I’ll take the bed. You sleep on the sofa, okay?” she told Hapi.

His mouth dropped open.

“I won’t fit on the sofa,” he complained. “Let me sleep beside you, hmm? Promise, I’ll be good—oh, why are you blushing, Sapphire?”