Chapter 19

The woman around him

He pulled me to the back of the TVL building. Some students passed by us, but because Tiden was in disguise, they didn't notice him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Am I not allowed to visit?" he asked and pulled out a VIP ticket from his pocket. My eyes lit up when I saw that. "The concert has been moved to next month. I will be busy next week so I am giving it now."

I accepted the ticket he handed over. "Where is it?"

"In Bohol."

I looked up at him. "Next month?" He nodded and I smiled. "Good! It's semester break next month!"

But Tiden's eyes squinted. "I'll treat you to a full package tour to Bohol if you get good grades this semester."

I grimaced upon hearing his words. "Are you being serious?"

"Is there a problem?" he asked with a smile. I knew that he was teasing me so I rolled my eyes.

"There is!" I said with a frown. "What does my grade have to do with the tour? Don't reason out that you want to know if I'm studying hard. It doesn't define me as a student!"

"In your course, you have to study hard. I wonder if your studies have been neglected because of us?" he said.

I snorted. "It's not that hard though..."

"Really?" he said, not believing my words. "In your Naval Architecture course, you have to persevere."

I heaved a sigh. Did I expect that program to be this hard? I only took it because it's a big help in Papa's business. I didn't know that being a naval architect's so hard. But shipbuilding is interesting, so it's fun even if I failed to read the program description.

I looked down at the VIP ticket and smiled. Another Vine concert. The only problem now is if Mom and Dad will agree. It's okay if it's held in Cebu since I can travel by land, but Bohol?

It's three o'clock in the afternoon. I leaned back and put the earphone in my ear and I put the phone in my jeans pocket. Hugging the shoulder bag, I closed my eyes.

I am currently inside the bus waiting for other passengers because the bus driver won't drive unless the bus' full. I'm planning to travel the city, to the fishing port, and hide Levi's fans' gifts beside Papa'r office. If I put it in my room, Mama might find it and I don't want that.

I was resting my mind and eyes for a few minutes when I felt someone sitting next to me.

When I opened my eyes and glanced sideway, I saw a man sitting on the seat next to the bus aisle. He was wearing a bull cap, a polo shirt, and an expensive watch on his wrist. What a weird passenger. I ignored him and closed my eyes again.

But I was in the middle of being awake and asleep when someone violently grabbed my shoulder bag. I quickly opened my eyes and looked at the man next to me. He grinned at me and stood, walking out of the bus.

I couldn't move for several seconds due to confusion. And when it sunk in to me what had happened, I screamed as loud as I could.

I quickly looked out the window of the bus and saw the man walking away with my shoulder bag in his hand. My lips formed an 'o' and shouted, "Hey! My wallet! I didn't pay my fare yet! Give it back!"

He turned to me. My eyes widened as the bus started to move. Before I could scream again, something hit me in the face. "Ouch!" I hummed in pain.

The thing that hit my face fell on the floor of the bus. I held my forehead for a moment and looked at the fallen thing. I was taken back when I saw my wallet.

I quickly picked it up and opened it. There's still cash. And nothing was lost from my ATM cards, Police, and University ID. When I counted the cash, I only lost two thousand.

I frowned. What happened? I was lost for a second.

The bus operator approached me. "Miss? What happened? Why are you screaming?"

"Uh." I was confused. When the man saw my expression, he shook his head and walked back to where he came from. And I know he's thinking that I was only throwing tantrums which is normal for girls at my age. But hey, I'm not!

I was at lost of words earlier because the thief returned my wallet. Is there a thief better than the one who throw back their victim's wallet?

WHAT THE HECK. When I got off the bus, people were looking at me. Just then, I realized that there was a red patch in my butt. I wanted to change but I remembered that my shoulder bag was stolen.

I didn't have a choice but to buy a tampon at a sari-sari store and a new pair of jeans at a nearby store. Fortunately, the keeper of the store was kind and gentle. She let me dress inside their cubicle intended only for their workers.

I just hired a taxi when I got out of Ukayan. With the paper bags in my hands, I walked my way to the Larica building. When my sight caught a glimpse of the sunset, my eyes widened in surprise. What a scenic view!

The sun has set foot on the sea in the west. It was quite dark in the part that was not reflected by the big lights outside the Larica Building. Because of the slight darkness, the sun shone even more in the horizon.

I heaved a sigh and continued.

In the distance I could clearly see some buckets of fish that the fishermen were laying out from the ships. For usual operation, some porters carry it into the Larica building to inspect and record how many buckets are caught for inventory before being sold at the Pasil Fish Market. But from what I see now, it seems that something has changed in the process.

They put the fish directly into large ice buckets after the officers list the total catch. Then it is loaded onto the truck that will take it to the Pasil Fish Market. I glanced at the big tents where two people were standing in the shade examining the fish.

Oh. This sudden change is not in my expectation.

I then looked at the Larica Building which was just a few steps from the dock. Half of the building has been demolished. And heavy equipments are still destroying the walls. My eyes squinted. Lyndon's grin suddenly came to my mind.

"Good afternoon, Miss Rishell. Why did you come here? Half of the building is currently being demolished. You might get hurt if you go inside."

I looked at the man who approached me. The light reflected half of his face. He has an inventory list with him. I think he is one of the listers. "Where's my father?" I asked.

"Ah, Mr. Larica is in the office. But he strictly forbids going inside. So we are outside listing the catch."

I raised my eyebrows at what he said. Inside the office? It's not safe, right?

"Is the back door open?" I asked with a frown.

"Miss..." He hesitated.

"Is the back door open?" I asked again.

He sighed. "Yes. That's where Mr. Larica, the Architect and the Engineer use to enter the building."

My eyes squinted. That damned Lyndon let my father work inside that building? My face darkened and quickly followed the back door.

It's dark. But because of the big lights above I can see the way ahead. There were some construction workers wearing hard hats who looked at me. They're mixing cement. I just looked away and focused on the road. Several sacks of cement were stored under the tent beside the pile of hollow blocks and bricks.

"Miss."

I turned to the one who called me. It was a woman carrying a bucket of water. She frowned at me, maybe wondering why I'm making my way to the back door.

"Where are you going, Miss? You are not allowed to enter the building."

I sneered. "It's not allowed but Papa is inside? What on earth are you thinking?" I said and hurriedly entered the open back door, walking straight up to the stairs. I went up to the second floor where Papa's office is. A few improvised bulbs around have been turned on.

When I reached the second floor, I halted in my steps. I saw Lyndon. He's wearing a hard hat and eye protector. There were gloves wrapped around his hands and he was wearing a dirty T-shirt and pants.

He was seriously talking to a woman who was also wearing a hard hat. Maybe he felt my gaze because he looked my way and our gazes met. "Rishel?" he said, frowning.

The woman he was talking to turned to me. She had no reaction on her face, but I saw her disdain and vigilance. I raised my eyebrows. Another version of Nicole?

I stepped closer to them. "Where's my father?" I asked.

Lyndon frowned. He removed the hard hat from his head and put it on my head. "In his office. Why did you come here? It's too dangerous."

I sneered. "You're joking. Papa is inside. Why should I be afraid?"

He clearly heard my sarcasm and his forehead creased. He took me by the hand and pulled me to Papa's office. I pursed my lips and tried to free my hand but his grip was tight.

I felt a chill when a sharp gaze shot towards my back. I looked over my shoulder and saw the woman from before. And I knew she was thinking badly of me. I raised an eyebrow at her. I hate it when others glare at me so instead of being angry, I smiled at her and purposely pointed a finger on Lyndon's hand that's holding mine.

I mouthed, 'Your man is mine' before winking at her.

Her face turned red in annoyance. I chuckled before returning my gaze in front, hiding my darken face.

First Nicole, now it's that woman. Both Levi and Lyndon were like flowers in the field, attracting bees and I was the one who would suffer from their stings. Tsk.

When we arrived at the office, I saw Papa busy reading something. He is wearing a hard hat. Even though he was wearing protective gear, I was still not reassured.

"Pa," I called.

He looked up. "What are you doing here, Rishel?" He lowered the paper he was holding and looked at Lyndon. He smiled. "Mr. Davies," he greeted.

I sighed. "You should move your office outside," I complained and sat across from his table. I saw some cookies lying there so I reached for one and took a bite.

Dad smiled. "I am moving out. Didn't you see?" he asked, pointing on the paperworks around.

I looked at the piled things on the side. Suddenly the office door opened and a man entered. He greeted Papa and Lyndon and me before picking up the things on the floor.

Uh. I clearly misunderstood. But Papa had a big smile. I knew that he was happy to know I'm worrying his safety. I stopped arguing and quietly ate the cookies on the plate. Papa and Lyndon talked for a while before the latter said goodbye, leaving me in the office with my father.

Papa looked at me. "Follow Mr. Davies, Rishel. Aren't you going to get your things?"

It was only at that moment I remembered the things beside this office. I bid goodbye before running out of the office and entered the open side door. I saw all my books and merchandise being put into huge boxes by two people working together. I saw Lyndon staring at the big Vine poster on the wall.

Both my cheeks turned red. I hastily walked to him and cleared a throat. "Hey," I called.

He tore his gaze down on me. "This is him," he said. I nodded. I knew he's referring to Levi whom I met at the congressman's birthday party.

Lyndon didn't speak after that and I noticed that he's in deep thought. I shrugged my shoulders and just focused helping the staff putting my things away.

After that, Lyndon ordered the staff to put the boxes in the back of his big pick-up. I smiled at him, grateful for his consideration, but it disappeared when the woman he was talking to earlier entered.

When she saw me, her eyes squinted and her lips twitched before facing Lyndon. "Engineer, the company's second heavy equipments are ready. If you're free, can we talk about it?"

Lyndon looked at the woman before turning to me. "You go first. Wait for me in the car," he said and led the woman away.

I frowned. Suddenly, the woman looked over her shoulder and smirked at me, clearly declaring that she won this time. I didn't know why but I felt stuffed and my heavy in my heart.