CHAPTER 27: LEAVING THE MANSION

A kiss made Chelsea stop. It was as if her body was frozen and didn't know what to do. At the same time, her breathing stopped. When she felt that he was moving his lips away, Chelsea slowly opened her eyes. They caught their breath together.

CHELSEA

I was catching my breath when I felt Redemon move his lips away from me. I don't know what to do next. It was as if I suddenly felt stupid when his lips touched mine. Debilitating and confusing, what are you doing to me, Redemon?

"Ehem," he said, and it ended in deafening silence. I immediately looked at him, and our eyes met. I looked away again and composed myself.

"If you have nothing more to say, you can go out," I said boldly. Luckily, I didn't stutter.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kiss you." He said it calmly.

I ignored him and went to the clothes he had spread out. I picked them up one by one and put them on my bed. When I got everything, I started to fold it. I fold as if there is no Redemon in front of me right now. I didn't look at him but I saw that he was still standing and seemed to be looking at me.

"I said I'm sorry. Can't you hear me?" he asked as if he were annoyed because I was ignoring him.

"You just kissed me..."

"Because you—you talk a lot. I don't know how to silence you, so that's the only way I thought of doing it. Look, I'm sorry if I offended you in any way; I never meant to."

I raised my eyes at him and stopped what I was doing, "Why? Why are you like that? What am I really to you? You were making me a fool! Is this still right? Is this still part of the contract?!" I shouted at him when I couldn't hold back the rush of my feelings. They are mixed together in my mind.

What am I really to you Redemon?

He looked at me seriously and seemed to be studying my reaction. "Just don't make me mad again." He said this before quickly leaving my room.

He left me a mess. He didn't even answer one of my questions. Maybe I'm the only one who thinks that everything he does to me has meaning. Am I just assuming? You're funny Chelsea Leigh... Why did I think a Buenavista would like me? He's just playing with me... It's all a game and I'm so stupid that I believed him.

I immediately shook my thoughts and immediately dismissed all that from my brain. I don't want to rely on someone who is not sure. I don't want to rely on someone who can't stand his true feelings. I continued to fold my clothes. When finished I put them back in my closet.

I grabbed my bag and looked for my phone. I opened it and the time unfolded before my eyes. It's 8:37 pm. I forgot to eat because of what happened earlier. I didn't feel hungry either. I went back to my bed and lay down looking at the ceiling. What happened earlier came back to my mind. The touch of his lips on mine. Does he really have no feelings for me? Is he really just in the habit of kissing other people? It turns out that he was just playing with me… He didn’t mean anything from the start… I just hurt his pride that I went out with another man… I thought he was jealous of Kent.

He just played me while I didn't know what I was feeling anymore. Why do I feel hurt that he can't answer my questions? Why am I hurt that he can't explain his feelings to me? Why am I hurt that everything is just a contract? Why did everything become a contract? I can not understand myself. Am I falling? Do I have feelings for him?

It's not right. It's not right that I feel something... If I continue this, I will definitely end up hurting myself. I'm the only one who will have a hard time. I need to distance myself from the contract I entered into. If I don't do this I will only get more confused by what is happening. I can't rely on Redemon for everything. I am the one who feels this way and it is my responsibility to stop it.

I got up from my bed and looked for my suitcase. I put my clothes and things inside the suitcase one by one. When I finished, I went to my desk and got paper and a pen to write. I can't leave without saying anything. I can't face him right now so I'll just go through the letter.

I don't know how to start this letter. I don't know how to say goodbye to you. I don't even know if what I'm doing is right but I only know one thing, it's not right for me to let myself be like this. I know you know what I'm talking about. I'm sorry for making me feel this way. I don't really know why either... It's just that it was there one day. One day I just felt different. Maybe it's because of what you show that I give a different meaning. I'm a fool... I'm sorry if I gave meanings to everything you do. I thought I was important too. I am wrong. I'm the only one who thinks a miracle might fall to the ground and make my thoughts come true. That you also love me is not based on our contract. Yes... I know it's written in our contract that it's not allowed to fall for each other and yes, I understand but it's my heart that doesn't want to understand. I think my heart has its own decision no matter how many times I say it's not possible, I still feel the same way. I know it's not all your fault so I'll find a way to make it go away.

I want to finish the contract. I don't want to act like your wife and show other people that I love you so much because it seems like it's already happening. It's true that I love you Redemon. Don't worry because it will go away too, that's why I'm doing it now. The money you pay me, don't worry I will return it to you little by little. Let me get out first and I promise you that I will pay you. That's all. When you read this, I hope you don't look for me anymore. Let me think first. Until then, take care of yourself. Goodbye…

…

After writing I left it folded on the table and stood up to carry my suitcase. I put on my jacket and slowly opened the door. I even peeked at it to make sure no one would see me leaving. Fortunately, there was no one around so I immediately went out with my suitcase in tow. When I passed by Redemon's room, I didn't look at it anymore and just started walking faster. When I got down the stairs, I immediately left the mansion. I saw that Kuya Roy had just arrived, so I immediately hid behind the pole so that he would not see me.

When he entered the mansion, I ran to get out of the gate. Fortunately, the gate hadn't been closed yet and the guard was still busy, it looked like he was talking to someone on the phone so he didn't notice my exit. It wasn't raining so I just walked out of the villa. While walking, I thought about where I would go tonight. I can't go home because my stepmother and Maxine are definitely there. I took my phone and called my friend Angel. She is the only one I can call at this time.

[Hello? Chelsea? What’s up?"] she said when she answered my call.

"Angel... I'm sorry if I disturbed you... Are you doing something now?"

[Nothing. This skin care will make me go to sleep soon. You, why were you calling? Is there a problem?]

"I was going to ask you for help if it's okay..."

[Sure, what is it?]

"If I could stay with you even just tonight? I have nowhere else to go..."

[Huh? Why? Did you and your husband fight? Where are you right now?]

"I'm leaving the villa..."

[You're crazy! Just wait for me there. Wait at the 7/11 outside your villa first. I will go there. I'll just get dressed. It’s late and you are walking by yourself. Take care, okay? Wait for me there don't leave!]

"Thank you, Angel... I have no one else to call, only you."

[What are you talking about, don't even think about that. Go ahead and wait for me on 7/11...]

She said this before hanging up. It's really good that I have a friend like Angel. I can walk easily to get out of the villa. When I got out, 7/11 immediately appeared to me, and as planned, I waited for Angel to arrive. I bought something to drink first and sat down after buying it. 7/11 doesn't have many customers right now. Maybe it's because of the bad weather that people go out often.

A little later, a black car arrived. I was sure it was Angel so I immediately got up and walked out of 7/11. When I got out, I saw her getting out of her car and when she saw me, she seemed surprised that I was carrying a suitcase.

"Hey girl, what are you doing in your life and you have to run away at this time?" she asked, I immediately went towards her. I don't know how to start telling her story.

She helped me carry my suitcase before we got into the car. She was still staring at it as if she was forming a story in her brain. "Later, you can tell me later. Wait, have you eaten yet?" she immediately asked while wearing her seat belt. I shook my head in response and she took a deep sigh and glared at me.

"Oh, hey, let's drive-thru to Jollibee first and when we're done buying, I'll park the car anywhere so you can start telling me everything. Okay?"

I smiled at her before I put on my seatbelt and we started to leave.

As discussed, we went to the drive-thru at Jollibee and after getting food and paying, she looked for a place to park. After parking, she stared at me again as if she was waiting for me to say something. I took the fries and took a bite before I started talking. I told her everything from how Redemon and I met as well as the contract we had to what happened earlier. I told her everything and I didn't leave even a single secret with her.

"What?! So you're telling me right now that you and Red Chandler Buenavista are not really married and this is all just a contract? So you're telling me that he's not being clear about his feelings for you that's why you're confused and now you’re like falling for him?" she asked again and I just stared at her while busy eating. "He kissed you, right? Twice? Maybe he has feelings for you too and he just won't admit it. You know that men these days tend to be cool and look handsome. Being mixed signals gives them extra points." she said while chewing on french fries. "So what are you up to today?" This question made me immediately stop eating.

I looked at her and gasped, "I don't know yet. Maybe I'll go back to my mom’s province or maybe I'll leave the country first and stay in London for a while. Grandma is in London so I'll have someone to live with." I said and she immediately nodded.

"But beshy... Are you sure about your decisions? Don't you intend to clarify your feelings to Red Chandler Buenavista first? You know... maybe when you can talk in person about your feelings, you will be clear and you both might end up together…"

My attention was focused on what she said. "I don't know... I'm afraid of what his answer will be. It's like he avoids us talking about that thing. It's like he's afraid to open up to me. I don't know why but that's how I feel."

"What if he likes you too? What if the feelings are mutual? Isn't that great?"

Is it really possible? If it is… What if we have the same feelings and he's just afraid to tell me his true feelings? What if you love me too Redemon...