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Episode 18

~Playlist for this chapter is 'Just a Girl- Kiddo' 🎶🎶 do enjoy

Fernando's POV

Accepting to have breakfast with Micaela was all because I didn't want her maid Ji-hye to feel upset over my refusal of her meal for the second time. I understand I'm not a fan of being around the female gender and doing their wishes but at least I had to be a gentleman.

After I'd accepted to have breakfast with her, then Micaela had to make me wait again for a reason best known to her. I had to request her presence from her maid after a short wait. I was expecting to see her alone but she was accompanied by her friend Sabrina.

Damnit! I forgot to let Sabrina know yesterday that I'd found her friend, I guess that's why she is here. I can give her the excuse of not having her contact which was why I didn't inform her sooner that I found her friend.

Both ladies stood there whispering and stealing glances at me every few seconds. I waited for them to speak up but it was as if both of them were arguing over something. The next minute, her second friend, Kim, and the maid joined us in the dining room. The four of them looked like something was up with them. My patience was running out already and it's something I don't like.

"What is it with you ladies? Why are you all standing there as something bad happened?" I ask Sabrina glance at Micaela and she shook her head like she was pleading over something.

"I see you later found my friend yesterday. Tell us where you found her and what exactly she was doing when you found her because yesterday wasn't the first time she has disappeared from us" Sabrina announced and the whole room went silent.

Oh no, this is about Micaela. Wait, did she just say Micaela has gone missing before? "The last time she was gone like this I was so scared that something bad had happened to her. But I was so relieved when she came back unhurt. The only thing was that she was so drunk that night and she wasn't even with her friends, she drove all alone home in a drunken state of mind. Can you imagine how lucky she was not to have run over someone or something?" A flashback of the maid's conversation with me last night came to mind.

So, yesterday wasn't the first time she tried something silly like that? I bet it would have been a success if I hadn't arrived on time. None of them knows what she was up to whenever she disappeared from them except me. Should I tell them the truth about the whole story?

"Fernando! We're waiting for you!" Sabrina's voice startles me from my deep thoughts.

I gaze up at the four of them and then my gaze is fixed on the guilty woman who was looking so scared to have her secrets revealed. Her eyes were begging me not to betray her but my mind was saying differently. I blinked away and cleared my throat. I stood up from my seated position and adjusted the chair back.

My hands were shoved in my pocket and my gaze narrowed to Sabrina. "You know, you ladies generally are full of dramas which is why I don't like spending time with you all. I beg to take my leave, I have important matters to attend to, not getting involved with you ladies' drama" I gave a slight bow and began walking to the door.

"What do you even mean we ladies are full of dramas? I just asked you a question and you're walking out on me?!" Sabrina barks at me and I rolled my eyes with irritation.

"Young lady, I don't have time for long conversations. If you want to know where I found her, you should ask her yourself, I have business matters to attend to which gives me more money than a conversation like this. If you'd excuse me, I'm leaving" I let out and walked out of the room.

I heard gasps escape from their mouth but I wouldn't care less about that. I halted and came back to the door, "Ji-hye, I'm sorry but you have to help me with my breakfast again. Don't worry, I'll make it up to you" I winked at her and I left the house for good.

Wondering why I didn't tell them the truth. Well, I feel is not necessary to give in all that information. And I also don't want Micaela to feel I betrayed her because if it was me, I'll feel that way too. Besides, it's all up to her to tell them the truth, not me. That's by the way, I'm famished! I've not eaten anything for the past 24 hours, this is crazy. I need to fill my stomach right this minute.

"Hey, do you know any good restaurant I can eat at?" I ask the cab driver who is driving me to my lodge.

"I.. don't... understand... Sir" he tried to speak in English. I rolled my eyes and gave a sigh, why is he driving a cab when he doesn't understand English so well?

"Res...restaurant... English food... good food" I break down the words to help him understand better. Yeah, I have to be precise about the kind of restaurant to avoid him taking me to a Korean restaurant where it's only a Korean dish I'll be seeing there which definitely wouldn't be to my taste.

"Oh!" He exclaims and laughs. "Okay, well...go there," he responded and glance at me from the rearview mirror, and smiled.

"Okay, thanks" I heave a sigh of relief. In ten minutes, we got to a very classic restaurant and I alighted from the cab and showed my gratitude to the cab driver before he zooms out of sight.

I was able to see something good to eat, I settled for Albondigas, it's one of my favorite dishes in my country. After I had that delicious meal, I returned to my lodge. Honestly speaking, I've wasted money on this hotel. Was it their prayers for me to not stay in the lodge I paid for? My money has gone wasted twice without me enjoying it, something I paid $1000 per night. This is quite unbelievable.

And since I'm not leaving by noon when my payment will expire, I'm requesting to make another payment for the room. You can imagine! I paid begrudgingly knowing I don't have a choice right now.

Well, is my last day here anyway, I'm leaving this evening, and my mission here is over. Despite the fact I didn't get what I wanted, at least I saved someone's life. Sometimes in life, you get to keep aside your problems and help someone whose problem is bigger than yours. That's what is called a self-sacrificing spirit.

My buddy will be proud of me for what I did but I'm sure he's going to ask a hell lot of questions, I can't wait to get back home. I've missed out on work both in the hotel and the mining site. Tomorrow, work begins. I need to rest my head for a little while before I leave for the airport.

As for Micaela, I don't think I have anything else to say to her, but I'll tell her I'm leaving so she won't repeat the same thing. Even if she should commit suicide after I'm gone, I won't be held responsible for that, I'll have a clean conscience.

I rebooked my flight for 3 pm which was the only available flight to Madrid for today, this time around nothing was going to prevent me from leaving not even rainfall would stop me. I should take a nap before then because it's going to be a long trip and I'm not the type that sleeps during a trip, I prefer to see a movie on my phone while traveling.

**

A few hours later, I was getting ready to leave. Before now, I'd already texted Micaela I was leaving so she wouldn't bother waiting up for me or something. I might have told her earlier this morning that we'll talk more later on today but plans changed and I don't wish to have that conversation anymore, I just want to go back to where I came from.

I wanted to know why she pulled such a scary stunt, but I couldn't schedule a meeting with her again because time wasn't on my side.  I dressed up in my black jeans and the new jacket I bought yesterday and then I packed up my bags. I have less than two hours to get to the airport so I hurried up with my packing.

While I was still packing up, a knock came on my room door. That should be the concierge or waiter. But I didn't remember requesting anything, so why were they here?

I picked up my card and walked up to the door. When I unlocked it, a mild and familiar fragrance hits my nose. I gaze up to see someone I wasn't expecting. My gaze on her was like a blazing blue sky that poured down torrents of light.

My eyes studied them with piercing scrutiny from her long brown straight hair down to her gracious face. Her beautiful eyes penetrated my soul and her shiny pink lips had a slight smile that made her face bright like the sun after a rainfall. I couldn't take my eyes off her. My gaze travels down to her black armless knee-length gown with a gold design on the front of her chest. Her long stunning legs flaunt the pair of gold stilettos she was wearing. Dear me!

My throat has gone dry by the time I realized it, I need some water. Or maybe let me help myself by gulping some saliva down my dried throat, perhaps that will help. "Micaela?" Her name rolled throatily on my tongue and she nods in acknowledgment. What is she doing here dressed up this perfectly?

"Can I come in?" Was the question she asks while I was still wondering what she was doing there. I can't say no to her, and besides, I was still trying to get my voice after this surprise visit. I nodded and ushered her into my room and shut the door closed.

"What are you doing here?" I ask as we both stood halfway in the room.

"I just came to confirm if you were truly leaving," she said in a delicate tone and I also sensed grief in it. If she was looking into my eyes now, I'll know better if my intuition was right but she was glancing around the room.

"Yes, I'm leaving, I have some business to attend to" I answered back staring at her even though she wasn't staring at me.

"I'll stay with you, you'll never be alone again as from this moment. Did you only say those words just to make me not murder myself last night?" she asks staring up at me and that made me glance away in guilt.

Damnit! She's bringing up the promise I made in the river when I wanted to save her life. How do I tell her it's just some words I said to get her not to commit suicide? I didn't mean those words that I said but how can I even have the nerve to tell her that?

"I see, it was just some meaningless words" she continues and I felt bad that instant.

I glance up at her and my eyes betrayed me more because I couldn't even lock gaze with her for long. "Micaela I...." My words went hanging in the air as I felt something smack my lips.

My eyes grew bigger as it'll pop out of my socket. Did it take me one, two, or three minutes to realize what was going on? No...I don't think so, all I do know is that it took me forever to realize it was her lips that were lingering on mine. Isn't this what they call a kiss?

I think my heart ceased beating for a moment and even time stood still. I couldn't tell what was going on, I'd never kissed a woman in my entire life but now a woman is kissing me. Before I could push her away from me, she withdrew from me in such a manner that made me wonder if she was in the right state of mind when she kissed me.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry I kissed you. Thank you for everything, Fernando. Goodbye," she rushed out of the room after saying that leaving me in despair.

I couldn't blink or move from where I stood for a couple of minutes. I wanted to ask her why she kissed me but she was already gone and I can't chase after her because the timing was wrong.

I gave myself a few more minutes to get over what just happened before I picked up my bags and left not just the hotel but South Korea.