Chapter Twenty Four

I was applying make-up in front of the mirror when I noticed the digital clock had already reached 6:00 p.m. We'll go to the party later, but Uno hasn't returned home yet.

What happened last night is still bothering me. After I told Uno the truth about why Kathy was following my every move, he told me to go to bed. I expected him to question me about why and when Kathy began harassing me, but he never did. I suppose it doesn’t matter to him.

I just sighed and put on red lipstick. This is probably the first time I’ve done something like this; I mean, I didn’t even put on much make-up for Dos’ engagement party, but now, here I am making an effort. I even watched YouTube just to make sure I looked at least a little mature.

“Hmm, not bad,” I said to myself as I finished putting on make-up. Following that, I styled my hair into a high ponytail.

I picked up my phone and dialed Uno’s number after I finished primping myself. I understand he’s a busy man, but I’m hoping he’ll at least tell me what time he’s going home and what he’s up to. I mean, is he still going home, or are we just going to meet at the venue?

“Hello, nasaan ka na?” tanong ko nang sagutin niya ang tawag. Kinuha ko ang mask ko at pouch para sa living room na maghintay sa kanya.

“I’m home,” he answered and as I approached the stairs, I saw him below. I hung up the phone and went downstairs to approach him. He’s already dressed, and somehow, the aura he radiates is quite different. I’ve seen him wearing a suit a few times, but he looks especially hot right now. Or maybe it’s because his hair is freshly trimmed and he has a medium fade with a long pointy fringe hairstyle.

It’s different from his usual pushback hairstyle.

“Are we leaving?” I asked when I was finally in front of him. I hid my phone in my pouch and looked up at him when he didn’t answer, my brows met slightly, and realized he was just staring at me.

“Hey,” I said right in front of his face, which made him clear his throat before avoiding my gaze. He even adjusted his necktie, causing me to crack a smile.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re flabbergasted by my beauty.” I questioned, smiling.

“Don’t flatter yourself, you who looks like a woman are just new in my eyes,” he said, and I’m not sure if he meant it as a compliment or an insult. I just rolled my eyes because it was really difficult for him to admit that I was lovely. It irritates me in some way.

“Hmp! This is why you’re still single. You have no idea how to flirt.”

“I don’t want to hear that from someone who has been rejected even before they have had the opportunity to confess,” he sneers, triggering me to hit him with the pouch I was holding.

“Why are you making it personal, asshole? You’re hurting my feelings.” He just shook his head and grinned at what I said. Ugh, he’s really annoying but I’m relieved that we’re all right and that the tension from last night has subsided. I completely lost my cool, and I probably look ridiculously emotional. Although I’m annoyed with Uno, I don’t want us to get too upset with each other. He’s still my friend in some ways, and I treasure him as much as I treasure his twin Dos.

“Let’s go, we might get stuck in traffic,” he said, and I agreed. When we got in his car, Siegren was already in the driver’s seat.

“Are you coming to the party as well?” I asked.

“Yes,” Siegren replied, “But I’ll just watch from the entrance.”

I nodded and somehow, that doesn’t sit well with me. I understand he’s Uno’s right-hand man, but he should be able to enjoy the party if he’s going to attend. Well, who am I to interfere with what they do? It’s his job, and perhaps Uno told him so.

“Why bother watching when it’s just a party?”

“Better safe than sorry,” Uno said, prompting me to return my gaze to him.

I’m not sure, but what he said makes me nervous. I suddenly remember Dos warned me when we talked on the phone. Yes, it’s just a party, but I’m I still don’t know what might happen. I don’t have any idea how the world of mafias actually works, but based on the movies I’ve seen, they’re unpredictable; you never know when they’ll attack or what action they’ll take against the enemy.

“Are you scared?” Uno asked, and I quickly shook my head in response. Uno will not take me to the party if he knows it will harm me, so I’m just overthinking things. He’s not that dumb.

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen, but just in case, some of my men will be secretly observing the party.” He assured me, and I nodded before noticing his necktie was crooked, most likely because he tried to fix it earlier even though it wasn’t really crooked.

“Hey, face me of me for a moment,” I said, but he just looked at me, clearly perplexed. I sighed and moved in closer before touching his necktie and gently adjusting it.

“Oh right, why did you tell Dos that I was your date at the party? Was that necessary?” I wondered as I noticed Uno staring at me. I swallowed hard because the look he was giving me was different. I was worried he would attack me at any moment, so I moved away.

Although it's fine with me if we make out, I don’t want to do it because it will ruin my make-up and we aren’t the only people in the car.

Before answering my question, Uno cleared his throat.

“He knew there was going to be a party because he was also invited, and when he asked who my date was, I simply replied.”

“I see,” I nodded, pulling my phone from my pouch as it rang. When I saw the caller ID, I looked at Uno for a moment.

“What?” he asked.

“Speak of the devil,” I said, before answering the phone. “What’s up?”

**“Are you going to the party already?”** he asked, pausing to make a video call instead so, I put the phone away from my ear and turned it towards me. When I saw him on the screen, I immediately waved.

**“Wait, is that really you, Kharris? You look gorgeous.”** I couldn’t help but smile when Dos complimented me; I felt my cheek heat up, but it vanished when Uno suddenly stuck to me like glue. Our cheeks almost touched just so he could fit himself into the screen.

“Ugh, you’re too close,” I grumbled to Uno, but he just stuck out his tongue and stared at the screen.

**“Hey Uno, look after Kharris and make sure no creeps approach him at the party,”** Dos instructed.

“Are you her father?” Uno questioned, and I couldn’t help but laugh but it didn’t take long because Shia appeared and take a seat next to Dos.

**“You two are stunning,”** she said, and I smiled.

“Thank you,” I said shyly before looking at Uno on the screen; his expression changed and he suddenly moved away from me, making him disappear from the screen.

“I’m sorry. I need to hang up, I have another call.” I explained, and Dos just nodded.

**“All right, be careful at the party,”** he reminded me, and I smiled before hanging up the phone and answering Reo’s.

**“Kharris, your parents will attend the party you are attending tonight,”** he said as soon as I answered the phone. I couldn’t help but gasp.

“What? How did you find out?” I asked, turning to Uno, who raised two eyebrows at me. I bit my lower lip and averted my gaze from him.

**“He’s with dad and mom, that’s a party is for businessmen so it’s no surprise if your dad is also invited, and of course your stepmother who’s going to be his date...”** I held my head because I was afraid my head would hurt again from what was going on.

“I see, you have a point. Well, thank you for informing me; we’re on our way there. I just hope we don’t run into them.”

**“Are you going to be okay?”** he worriedly asked, and I nodded even though he couldn’t see it.

“Yeah, I’m going to wear a mask, so there’s a good chance they won’t recognize me just in case we run into them,” I assured him.

**“All right, call me if anything happens,”** Reo said, and I smiled. When I hung up the call, I sighed deeply and hid the phone in my pouch. I can’t seem to catch a break, can I?

“What’s wrong?” Uno inquired, and I turned to face him, bitterly smiling; I’d already told him about Kathy, and I’m sure he already suspects that my situation at home is dire. I also don’t want to lie or make excuses right now because I’m the only one who’s having a hard time.

“My father and stepmother will also be attending the party,” I sighed again. "You see, I don’t have a good relationship with them, that is one of the reasons why I cried yesterday.”

“How long have you had a bad relationship with them?” he wondered aloud, and I smiled bitterly yet again. I didn’t expect to open up to Uno when it came to my family problems. I mean, all this time, the twin knew was that I was happy with my new family.

“Since the beginning,” I answered without hesitation, “I don’t really belong to the family since mom died.”

“What?”