CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ALEXANDER looked at her in disbelief. Perhaps he was not expecting her to be like that. He shook his head and sighed afterwards.

“You are Don Ignacio’s family, Miss Sapphire. And as a member of his family, you have social obligations,” he explained.

“He’s right,” Hapi butt in. “You are his granddaughter. You wouldn’t like it if he gets mad at you for turning down Ruby’s invitation.”

“I don’t like parties.”

Sapphire had lived a low-key life for two decades. The only birthday parties that she had been to were the parties with funny clowns, non-stop karaoke, and the best-selling Lumpiang Shanghai on the table. But her life was different now. She was no longer living a simple life. Ah, she still has a lot to learn.

“If you are worried about getting out of place at the party, you don’t have to. I will be there with you and keep you company,” Hapi assured her.

“You’re invited, too?” she asked as she turned her gaze on him.

“Of course, I am friends with Ruby, remember? Actually, I am one of his eighteen roses.”

“Ah,” Sapphire said lazily.

But she could not help but feel envious of her cousin. Imagine she has the privilege to celebrate her eighteenth birthday extravagantly while she, on the other hand, just let that day passed like an ordinary one. And most of all, Hapi will dance with Ruby on that special day. That thought only added fuel to the fire.

Alexander bowed at her. “I am leaving now, Miss Sapphire.”

She just watched him hop inside the car and sped away.

“How old are you, Sapphire?”

“Why are you asking?” She turned her gaze on him.

“Just answer my question.”

“I’m twenty. Why?”

“You missed that time in your life. If only you came a little early, Don Ignacio would have thrown you a party—”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Cut that crap, Hapi. With or without a party, every girl in the world turned eighteen once in their lives.”

“I know that. What I mean is that…you didn’t get to experience what Ruby is about to experience now,” he said somberly.

Sapphire’s lips protruded. One could hang their clothes to dry. She knew she would never get to experience that. Was it her fault? No. And it was not anybody’s fault. But one thing is for sure, she would never regret sacrificing everything in exchange for her mother’s life.

I was once happy and contented with my life until I came to this house…

She was not sure if it’s bad to feel that way.

“Sapphire.” Hapi suddenly stretched out his hand to her.

She stared at it and then on his face. “What now?”

“Let me dance with you.” He was smiling so bright at her.

Where did she see that kind of smile?

Ah, those toothpaste commercials…

Darn, what kind of sorcery was that? Was he that good at reading someone’s mind? How come he was able to think of that?

Sapphire’s mind was still trying to process everything when Hapi suddenly grabbed her by the hand and pulled her into the middle of the garden. Her heart started beating erratically. She could feel her blood rushing through her veins. Ah, she never felt so alive…

Hapi put her hands on his shoulders while his hands went to her sides. The moment he touched her there, butterflies started circling her belly.

Sapphire was torn between her imagination and reality. The cause? Those sparkling little things that seemed to fly around them. And when Hapi pulled her closer to his body, her heart wanted to jump out of her chest. She closed her eyes to calm herself.

What is happening to me? Why is he doing this to me?

He started humming, and their bodies began to move. Sapphire was not familiar with the song, but it sounds good to her ears. It calmed her heart, as well as her soul. Suddenly, all her negative thoughts vanished. It was just her and Hapi, dancing in the middle of a garden, in their own universe. She likes it—ah, no—she loves it! Way better than dancing with eighteen men.

Yeah, she has a loyal heart.

Sapphire was starting to feel the moment when she felt something wet on her skin. She looked up in the sky and found grey grounds above them. Her nose crinkled when the rain began to drizzle. The rain must be an anti-Hapi-Sapphire loveteam.

“It’s raining. We should go inside,” she told Hapi.

She flinched when she felt his cheek against hers. Gosh, why did he do that? Was he even aware what kind of effect he had on her? Ah, Hapi would be responsible for her sanity and compensate her so that she could pay for her bills once she was admitted to a mental institution.

“It’s just a drizzle,” he said afterwards. “You look healthy, though. You’re not the type to catch a cold from a mere drizzle.”

Fine! Drizzle it is! But my heart is at stake!

“My mother will scold us if she sees us like this, you know…”

Hapi distanced himself from her. She wanted to complain but decided not to do so.

How ironic…

“Really? Oh, that’s bad. I don’t want to earn demerits from your mother.”

And just like that, he tugged her to their front porch.

Sapphire’s lips curved into a smile as she watched Hapi run his fingers through his hair. Their moment may have lasted shortly, but it made her heart happy.

Ah, this is not a mere infatuation anymore…This must be love…

He checked his wristwatch and looked at her. “I have to go home, Sapphire. It’s about to get dark.”

She lightly punched his forearm.

“Why worry about that when we live in the same village?”

“Well…” Hapi cleared his throat and straightened his back. “I am a decent man, you know. I believe that staying in a girl’s house late at night is a bit too much.”

Sapphire burst into laughter.

“That is so medieval, Hapi!” He just stared at her with his mouth open. “What now? I thought you’re leaving.”

“Y-yeah.” He stepped out of the porch and looked back at her. “`Bye.” Hapi waved his hand.

“`Bye,” she said and waved back.

“See you tomorrow.” Hapi was still waving his hand.

“Hmm…”

She stood at the porch for quite some time to watch him leave. But when he was about to reach the gate, he turned around and ran back to her.

“Why?” she asked with furrowed brows.

“Something is missing…” Hapi slowly lowered his head and kissed her cheek. “Good night, Sapphire. I hope you dream of me tonight.”

And just like that, he sprints away.

Sapphire cupped her cheeks when she felt them burning. Her hand caressed the part where his lips landed. Darn, her face was as greasy as a pan, and he kissed her! That was so embarrassing!

“Maybe I should really start investing in skincare.”

Sapphire turned around to get inside the house, but she halted upon seeing her mother by the doorway. Oh, no! When did she get there? Her heart panicked. Did her mama saw Hapi kissing her?

“I heard from Danna that Alexander came,” her mother said.

She felt relieved that her mother did not see anything.

“Ah, yes.” She picked up Ruby’s invitation that she dropped on the porch’s floor.

“What is that?” her mother asked curiously.

“This?” She wagged her hand holding the envelope. “An invitation for Ruby’s debut party.”

“Oh, it’s a good opportunity for you. You’ll get to meet—”

“I am not attending the party,” Sapphire cut her.

“What?”

“I am not fond of being a wallflower.”

She went inside the house. Her mother maneuvered her wheelchair and followed her.

“Sapphire, what kind of mindset is that? Ruby’s your cousin. The whole clan would be there and—”

“Should we really argue about this, Mama? I am not even the debutant. With or without me, the party will—”

“Have you forgotten that you made a deal with Papa?” her mother snapped. Sapphire was taken aback by the sudden loudness of her mother’s voice. Was she mad at her now? “How can you prove to him and to everyone in our family that you deserve to be a Laurel when you can’t even attend your cousin’s party?” There was a hint of disappointment in her mother’s voice.

Sapphire would have happily mingled with that so-called family if only it was the other way around. Ruby already warned her what kind of family they have. It made her feel like she was caught up in a royal family feud.

“Sapphire…could you please do it for me?”

She drew a breath. Of course, her mother knew which card to use on her. “I won’t make a promise…”