Chapter 24| Status

Angela's POV

"Yey! Let's go swimming!" Maymay shouted excitedly here inside the car.

I just smiled at the thought that my siblings are happy right now. I turned my gaze to the backseat just to see my sister who was now cuddling with his older brother Kokoy and her Auntie Bel.

Maymay took a glance in my direction after she felt I was watching them. She gave me a sweet smile. You could see her innocence and the joy she felt through her eyes.

I just nodded at her and smiled back as a response then I shifted my gaze to the man next to me who was just silently driving.

I was happy today because he did it to us. I thought he had forgotten what he promised to the children because he hadn't visited us for a few days in our house. But here he is. He picked us up at home together with Bel to fulfill what he promised to my siblings.

'When he promises something, it will come true.'

The trip also took more than half an hour before reaching Clark's house which was really big and indeed beautiful. Even Kokoy and Maymay couldn't help but express their amazement at what they had seen while my eyes wandered around.

Seriously, his house is superb. It is a mansion. The floor looked scary to step on due to too much shine. The feeling you will regret stepping on it and giving it a speck of dust. The color of the lights was golden white and giant red curtains were blocking the windows.

During these times, I couldn't help but feel diminished.

Their housemaids immediately approached Clark when they saw him coming.

He is very rich. A billionaire. As if he is a prince on how his housemaids took care of him.

I silently watched him.

From what I am seeing, I couldn't help myself but think if what I felt for him was right to fight for. Should it be voiced out? Is it worth sharing it with him? Because of what my eyes are seeing right now, I can say we live in a different kind of world. As if a woman like me can't afford a person named Clark who is living in luxury. As if we were water and oil that will never be mixed together.

"Angela?" I was getting back to my senses and looked up at the speaker.

"Are you okay?" he asked with a trace of concern drawn on his face.

"Y-yes," I replied and averted my gaze.

When I saw how rich he is, I couldn't help but feel belittled.

"Are you sure?" he asked in assurance and sat down next to me on their soft sofa.

I looked at his hand as he took mine gently and squeezed it.

"If you have a problem, don't hesitate to tell me. I am here, Angela. I am always here, willing to listen." You could feel its sincerity as he said it. In his eyes, you could see that his intention is pure.

He smiled at me and raised his other hand to place behind my ear some of the strands of my hair that were blocking my face. Because of what he did, I stared at him.

I smiled a little.

"Let's go to the pool. The kids have been there right now, having fun," he suggested and asked me to stand up.

He even held out his right hand to me which I gladly accepted. He placed one of his hands behind my back as if to guide me to walk outside of the house.

"Big sister!!!" Maymay shouted when he saw us approaching their direction.

Kokoy and Maymay were already in the pool, paddling while Bel was sitting on the side. Dipping her feet in the water.

"When you feel cold, get out of the pool, huh? You might catch a cold," I said in a worried voice.

Clark addressed me to the table near their pool. He pulled me out of a chair and let me sit before he sat down opposite my direction.

"Those kids are just starting to stretch right away in the water then your entry is...." he didn't finish his sentence. He just laughed at me while shaking his head. He lifted his right hand as a gesture to the housemaid behind him.

The housemaid immediately approached him and gave us juice and bread.

"Manang, please cook nuggets for the kids," he commanded his maid. The housemaid nodded and bowed before leaving in front of him.

"I'm sure they will love it," he said excitedly while sipping the juice.

"Uhmm..." I muttered while he sipped his juice. He immediately looked at me.

"What is it?" he asked and put down the glass on the glass table. He gently wiped his lips with the tissue and placed it on the table right after. He stared at me and patiently waited for me to say something.

"Clark, please don't mind me saying this."

He sat up straight when he heard that. Maybe he found it serious. He looked at me intently.

"Go ahead, Angela. I'm all ears," he said and smiled at me.

"I thank you for everything you do for me, for us, especially for my little brother and sister," I looked in Maymay's direction.

Kokoy and Maymay were still swimming in the pool while playing tag. Bel, who was now standing on the pool steps watching the two kids.

"Thank you very much, Clark. Thank you very much but—" I faced him again.

I gasped for breath first and bit my lower lip.

"Please don't let them get used to this thing. Maybe later, the children will look for it someday. You know, I can't give luxury things to them," I whispered in the last word. I bowed my head and pinched the hem of my tee shirt.

I felt like I couldn't make my siblings happy the way Clark made them. I admitted I couldn't give them something luxurious like this.

I also realized that my siblings and I might be abusing Clark's kindness. He shouldn't be doing this to us because we weren't blood-related.

I heard him sigh but I still didn't look at him.

I was scared. I was afraid he might read what was in my eyes.

"Angela..." he called me gently. He held one of my hands resting on the table. I felt him play with my finger.

"Angela, if you can't... I am here."

"I don't intend you to think differently about things and gifts I gave to you and your siblings. I understand what you want to convey. But—I'm just happy every time I see your siblings smiling and laughing at all my simple gifts and surprises. There is a warm embrace in my heart. And I know... you are also happy to see them happy," he gently said.

I looked into his eyes after hearing it. He was now watching my siblings happily paddle in the water.

Clark turned his gaze to me with a smile on his lips.

"Just let me, Angela. Please let me make them happy even with just small things like this," he spoke kindly.

I just smiled at him and nodded softly as I agreed with him.

"It settled then," he smiled and pulled me to the pool.