Something between him and I

“Nothing, I just read articles about you. Most of it is rumors.”

“Well, I’m used to it.” He answered, chuckling. “I’m mostly the womanizer bad boy type according to the rumors. Reading them just entertains me now.” He assured me, then he paused, turning serious now.  “If it's happiness you’re asking me, I love it here. I can be myself here with no care in the world.”

I nodded, wanting to change the topic now as the mood in the air turned sullen. "Hmm ... Are we going to the farm again tomorrow?" I asked.

"Nope. I’m afraid I have to attend a business meeting about the farm’s affairs. If you want to visit there again, then go.”

Oh. A meeting? I pouted. "I don't want to. I don't know anyone here."

"Don’t know anyone? What do you mean? I can see you adjusting here just fine. How about Maria?”

He raised his eyebrows at me and continued, “Aren’t you here to prove yourself? Then I think you can manage alone now.”

Sighing, I rolled my eyes, "Fine. I'll go with her."

He clapped at that, now laughing happily. "Great. I'll call her later."

Call? So they really are that close?

Right. Of course, they would be. They are childhood friends. I shook my head at my stupidity.

"So now that you asked me a question, I think it’s time that I should be the one to interrogate you.” He spoke up after a while. “Why do you want to take my land?"

My breath hitched at that. Should I…tell him? I pressed my lips together, biting on my bottom lip, "Because this is where my older brother died."

He gasped at that, studying my expressions to check if I was really telling the truth. When I met his gaze with a dead emotion, he looked at the ground, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked this.” He turned silent and I continued.

"He likes them. Fresh air, the carabaos and goats, the people.” I started to tell him my story, feeling like the air was sucked out of me but he cut me off.

“You don’t have to tell me.”

I shook my head, “No, I want to. It’s best that you know my reason why I’m desperate to regain this mansion and the land. Maybe your mind will change after hearing this.” I said, pushing further and continued.

“I was only six years old when it happened, but I still clearly remember it like it was just yesterday. One afternoon when it was raining hard, he said he would just play outside so my parents let him out. He was ten years old at that time. But then night came, and it rained hard.” I paused, holding the railings for support.

“He still has not returned to our house after dinner, and that made my parents worry. They asked for help from our neighbors until one person saw him lying on the ground, his blood splattered everywhere.”

“They immediately sent him to the community hospital but it was too late. He lost a lot of blood. We later found out that he fell into the ravine as the road was very steep and slippery and his head hit a rock.”

I turned to Phoenix, who was grimacing as he listened to my story.

“I can’t imagine what he just went through… helpless and alone on a rainy night. Until now, I feel guilty. I should have played with him or maybe accompanied him that time.”

Phoenix put his hands on my shoulders, making me face him. He stroked my hair and held my chin up to meet his gaze. “No, it's not your fault. You were too young at that time.”

I blinked at him, feeling the tears slowly falling on my eyes. And I let it fall.

Now that he knows my real reason, there’s a tiny voice in me that hopes he would give up and just sell this land for me.

But Phoenix wiped the tears on my eyes, still comforting me.

“Enough, I think we should stop talking about things that we don’t have control of. Stop thinking about the past, Sereia.” He advised. “Everything is now fine. You’re safe.”

Releasing that burden in me, it feels nice that I did that.

“Let’s end the night here. It’s best to return to our rooms now.” He said, patting me on the back.

I nodded, “Goodnight, Phoenix. And thank you for listening to my story.”

His lips curved into a smile, “You’re welcome. Sweet dreams and Goodnight, Sereia.”

“And Sereia, do you mind if I put you on my wallpaper?”

My eyes widened at that. Wait what?”

Instantly, I snatched his phone from him and saw my picture on his wallpaper. It was the one that he took earlier at the farm and sent to me. I looked at him like he was insane and he grinned.

"What’s wrong? Isn't it beautiful?" He teased me.

I cursed under my breath. I should have known that he was planning some tricks up his sleeves. I underestimated him, thinking he was nice at taking my pictures for me.

He then grabbed my phone from my hands and said, "You know, now that we are talking about this, I think we should do a couple of wallpapers. Put my picture on your phone."

I stole my phone back from him, "I don't want that, Phoenix. It would be ugly.”

He pouted at me, “Oh c’mon. Girls like me. Even guys. Why does my charm not work on you?”

“Because I don’t feel your charms.” I retorted.

"Then why are you blushing?” He pointed out.

"Nope." I looked away, feeling my cheeks reddened even more. "I’m not."

"Awe, you know you’re cute sometimes, Sereia." He commented. Sighing, he just opened his phone and typed something. My phone instantly beeped from notifications and he looked at me expectantly.

I rolled my eyes and opened it, seeing that he sent another picture on Instagram but this time, it’s a picture of him.

I raised my eyebrows at him, "What is this?"

He shrugged, "Your wallpaper. Save it and put it as your wallpaper so we would be matching."

Seriously, this idiot is fooling me. "You know what? I had enough of your tricks. I’m going to bed now.”

I was about to turn around when he called me out. “Wait, Sereia."

I halted in my tracks and answered him without turning to him, "Yes?"

"You're not as bad as I thought you'd be." I heard him saying and a corner of my mouth lifted.

“Same to you, Phoenix. Same to you.” I muttered low enough for him to hear.

I returned to my room now and opened the app again. Staring at his face on the picture, I saved it and set it as wallpaper.

I feel like we’ve gotten really close now.

"******

"Sereia, Maria is looking for you."

Phoenix wasn’t really joking last night. When the clock struck 1, Maria really came to the mansion to see me. I turned to Grandma Nanding at the door. "All right, please just tell her that I'll just get ready."

I immediately changed into some of my simple denim shorts and a white t-shirt. I already washed the clothes I borrowed from her so I put them in a paper bag to return them to her now.

When I came down, I saw Maria and Lola Nanding chatting happily at the dining table. They turned their heads in my direction, now noticing me.

"Eat with Maria first before the both of you leave." Lola Nanding said to me.

And I nodded.

"Hello, Sereia," Maria said with a wide smile at me.

There was something in her smile that irks me and I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Returning her smile, I sat beside Lola Nanding.

“Hello, Maria.” I greeted Maria back and handed her the paper bag in my hands. “Here are the clothes I borrowed from you. Thank you again.”

She chuckled, “Oh, don’t mention it.”

As we eat, I couldn’t help but think. I’m not sure if we even get together nicely but I’ll try to be as nice as possible. She made an effort to come here to get me after all.

“Where is Phoenix, Lola Nanding?" I asked.

“Oh, you know him. He’s still at the meeting." She replied. “I think he’ll return late today.”

I nodded at that and continued munching the food. I stayed silent as Maria and Lola Nanding continued to talk.

I suddenly felt out of place. I can't relate to them.

Fortunately, when we finished eating, Lola Nanding decided to wash the dishes and she urged us to go now. “Have fun!”

"Let's go." Said Maria as she guided me outside.

"So, where are we going?" I asked her, following behind her and catching up on her fast pace.

She smiled again. It really looks sweet, yes, but I can sense something in her eyes. I find it alarming. I have to be careful of her.

"Starting today, I’ll be your guide! I want you to explore the beauty of the province. But I won’t tell you our destination yet." She said, winking. “It’s a surprise.”

I released a nervous laugh at that, “Okay, I’ll just trust you then. I’m sure it will be fun.”

"So, is there something going on between you and Phoenix?" She instantly started to question me as soon as we walked.

I stopped at that. Why is she asking me this?