Chapter 2

"THIS is all your fault," for the second time, Alfonso was furious at his youngest daughter. The project that they should be in charge of was given to other company. "Do something or else, I will remove you from your position!"

Nica kicked the foot of the table even though her father was still in front. She knows it is too late to regret everything, and she wants to fly into a rage. She did not know that the proposal he had previously rejected was from a larger company. Everything was turned upside down, now, she was the one who got rejected. There was a new product that their company will be releasing, she herself designed it. But it was not a pass for the buyer of their imported clothes products.

Their company's line is in the clothing industries and they are exporting their products in various countries. Nica's eyes laid upon the drawing of clothes she was so fond of drawing. She is relieved that nobody knows that it was her work. She does not want receiving negative feedbacks nor her work to be rejected and it was exactly what happened. Who would ever guess that someone like her can draw? Even their father had no idea because he believes all she wants was to go to parties.

"Dad," Janice called their father. She immediately followed him into Nica's office when she heard the news. "Please don't be so mad, your blood pressure might get high again." This time, she glared at her half-sister. Don Alfonso's health condition have gotten worse because of her and her shits.

"I will try to fix it." Nica said in a low voice, she is not in the mood to sneer. Apart from not wanting herself to be the cause of his father's attack due to anger, she is also on the stage of self-pity. She always felt this but now's on a higher level. It was for the first time that she tested her passion and no one knows it.

Her father left her office without a word. She did not bother watching him go out with the help of her venomous sister.

"Chrismith Yuchan," she read the name of the man who is the cause of everything that made her self-confidence become low again. "Why it has to be my half-sister?" She smiled bitterly while talking to the man's picture. If only he did not like Janice, she could have not thought of rejecting his father one month ago.

She has not met him personally yet, but based on his bio, he is someone who is hard to reach. He has a high standard for women. She sniggered when she remembered that Janice is his type. There are rumors that they often go out but she is not sure if the two are already in a relationship.

Even though there are still work to do, Nica decided to leave her office. She went to a place where her heart and mind can relax. Whenever she feels down, she would go idling somewhere where she can hear noises. She was automatically cheered up when she heard the noises of the drums of a band singing. The bar and resto were newly built and she immediately liked the ambiance there.

"Good evening, Ma'am. Welcome back," the guard gladly greeted her when he recognized it was her. She is treated like a V.I.P. here and she is already known by the members of the band who regularly performs there.

"Thank you." She smiled simply at Mr. Guard before proceeding inside. Everyone's attention was given to her when she got in, but she ignored them all. She is here to relax and not to look for a partner nor flirt.

"CONGRATULATION, dude!" A loud greetings from Chrismith's friends as he entered the backstage. He is here today to celebrate the success of the first project he has handled since his father left. Aside from that, the number of customers of the resto which he built is increasing, so the celebration will be doubled. He felt bad for the talent of his friends who have got a hard life, and so he thought of building this for them to manage.

"Thanks, and I would like to congratulate the four of you, as well!" He gave each of them a handshake. The music is really loud that he had to maximize the sound of his voice in order to be heard.

"Jake, it's your crush!" Larry teased a friend when he noticed their V.I.P. customer.

Chrismith's gaze followed where Larry was looking.

"That girl's nice, dude." Larry points Chris to a woman who enjoys eating alone. He ships Jake with her because he admitted that she is his type.

"It's just that our friend is embarrassed to take the initiative 'cause she seems rich." Larry continued to tell to Chris.

Chrismith stared at the woman, her head is bent down, making her face barely visible. She ordered a lot of food, but she is eating alone.

"I bet she's gonna wrap up the uneaten foods."

He turned his gaze back to his talkative friend and raised an eyebrow. "Was it really Jake who like her or you?" he asked Larry teasingly.

"Where did you get that idea?" Scratching his head, Larry replied to Chris.

"She is a regular customer of ours here, Bro. She always leaves big tips." Leo joined their conversation, even him, admired the beauty of that woman.

"Does she always go alone here?" Chris asked interestedly. The light in her seat was dim, thus her face could not be clearly seen.

"Yes, dude. She just sits there until we finish performing. I just don't know which of the four of us would she like to take home."

Chris laughed at Larry's last joke. His friends indeed have good looks, plus that they are amazing at singing and holding musical instruments. He looked at the woman again when she called a waiter and asked a question.

Nica suddenly became bored and lost her appetite to eat, it is because her favorite group has not yet start to perform.

"The owner came, so their performance is postponed for a little while, Ma'am." The waiter politely answered the young lady's question.

"I see. Please bring me a glass of red wine." She requested to the waiter. She also asked them to wrap up the remaining foods. She wants to spoil herself with liquors tonight.

"Maybe you'd like to hold a mic tonight?" Jake offered to Chrismith before gulping down the wine in the goblet.

Chrismith did not hesitate to stand up and go with his friends. He is the original singer in their group and Jake is just a substitute. Before reaching the stage, they pass by that certain woman. Her head was bent down and she seems to be lost in her own world, so he did not see her face clearly.

"This song is for the one who is always sitting alone there." Chrismith declared, looking at the table of the woman who caught his attention.

Everyone applauded. Nica raised her head when she heard the man's melodious and resonant voice. It was new to her hearing so she thought a new group would be playing again. She knew she was who the man was referring to as always alone.

"He is the owner of this place, Ma'am

" Said the waiter when he figured she was curious about the identity of that man. He carefully put down the glass of wine she ordered and immediately leave.

Nica was unable to even hold the glass of wine when the group started playing the musical instruments. Her consciousness flew to a colorful life and her gaze would not leave the mini stage. He stared at the tall man, wearing a polo tight-fitted to his arms and chest. This is what she likes in this group, the cool look and the hats they wear. They look like cowboys. She can only see the moving lips of the singer.

Her heart is beating rapidly, she liked the song he said to be dedicated to her. Even though she could not see his full face, she knew he was a bit beyond those four. Her eyes missed nothing, she really watched him intently. She smiles every time she sees a beautiful smile form on the man's lips as he sings. The message of the song is sad and it really suits someone like her.

"I like him." Nica mumbled to herself. Her head danced with the rhythm and she closed her eyes tightly to feel the music and his voice better. His hoarse voice is really like Lewis Capaldi's, who is the original singer of the song Someone You Love.

She only opened her eyes when the song finished. She tried to find that man, but he already left the stage. She stands up and decided to leave with dismay.

On her way home, she passed by children playing in the street. Even if they do not have a proper shelter or a home of their own, they are happy with their parents. She let out a sigh before opening the window of her car and handing the food to the woman and her daughter with a smile on her face. A smile that is seldomly seen.

"Thank you, my child!" The old woman tearfully took the food that Nica handed her. It also comes with money. It is worth it even though she rarely pass this street. She feels sad every time she sees her eyes that hides a thousand of story. She can see sadness, loneliness and joy in those eyes whenever she is looking at them.

"Good night, Madame!" Nica waved her hand at them before driving her car again.