This is for you glittergold_17 for giving me two amazing covers you made for this book. You are awesome, girl. They are just so beautiful. Thank you so much!!!

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~~~ CHAPTER 3 - CHILDISH ~~~

        "What was that? An afternoon visit from your boyfriend?" Nigel asked coldly when our eyes met.

        "Huh?" How long was he standing there? Did he see Diego and me sitting side by side?

        He walked towards me on the swing in slow, boring paces. When he stood in front of me, his dominating height made me very uneasy. Just when you thought you could feel relief in seeing him, why did you feel the opposite thing?

        You hoped to see him, Althea, so why tense? Calm yourself down. I told myself silently.

        When I was already on the verge of calming myself, Nigel precipitously dropped his bomb right in front of me. "I can't figure out why you still seem to give in to mom's whims about us getting married when you already have a boyfriend," he stated those words as if he was really certain that Diego was my boyfriend, like there was no need for any discussion on this.

        Looking up at him, I quickly processed all his words in my brain. And that was when I started to feel tears glowing in my eyes.

        "No, you're wrong... Diego isn't my boyfriend," I said with my cracking voice.

        He's the gardener's boy! I wanted to add. It was not that I had something against servants or gardeners, it was just I meant to speak only the truth. Diego was the gardener's son and, sometimes, mommy's errand boy so it was but natural to see him goofing off the vicinity.

        "So, Diego is his name..."

        "He is not my boyfriend," I said forcibly, trying to defend myself.

        "You expect me to believe that?" he demanded. "How would I ever believe you when every time I see you, he's there too?"

        I didn't know what he was talking about. Seeing me with Diego... When was the other time that he saw me with Diego?

        Oh, no! Last night, perhaps, when he arrived? Yes, I was with Diego when his car passed by last night but it was nothing... My heart wanted to clarify things with him but, somehow, it just couldn't figure out how!

        Finally, my tears rolled down my cheeks that I had to hide my face from him by stooping it down. To control myself from sobbing, I had to grip my hands hard to the cord of the swing I was holding.

        "Althea, why not tell mom the truth?" This time, his voice sounded pleading. "Just tell her the truth so we'll be done and over with this."

        Brushing my tears aside, I looked at him again. "Whether you believe it or not, Diego is not my boyfriend. I am engaged to you and I will marry nobody else but you! That's the truth!"

        He stared at my eyes, really stared at my eyes, which made me conscious about myself. His eyes were blazing a flamy, dangerous gaze. Then, all of a sudden, just as I was about to stop breathing from his earnest gaze, he beamed a broad sarcastic grin.

        "Do you really love mom that much that you're willing to sacrifice your love for Diego because of her?"

        No, I can't take this anymore. I don't love that Diego!

        I struggled rising up from the swing to face him but, when I straightened myself up, his muscular chest met my face. Gosh, what a distracting obstruction! Even so, I tried my very best to blot his masculinity out of my mind, breathed hard, and stated emphatically what I planned to say as I looked up meeting his gaze once more, "I don't love Diego and I'll marry you not because of mom."

        "Really, huh?" he asked clasping my chin with his fingers. My eyes opened widely in absolute surprise as his fingers made contact with my chin. Gripping it hard that I felt the sting it brought me, Nigel leaned his face close to mine. "So, tell me, why do you want to marry me?"

        If I'll tell you the real reason, will you not insult me like what you always do to me?

        The beating of my heart suddenly ceased. Should I tell him? Should I?

        Just tell him, my heart replied quickly as it began to beat again.

        I breathed hard.

        Okay, Nigel, hope you're prepared for this.

        Looking straight at his eyes, I divulged to him, finally, the feelings I had for him since a long time ago.

        "Because I love you."

        Wow, I made it! What else was there to say? That was the sole reason why I rejected mom's plan of adopting me.

        I knew he was dumb-struck while still clasping my chin; he neither moved nor said anything. He was just gazing at my eyes completely.

        We stood facing each other for minutes.

        We stood there for like an eternity.

        Damn, I couln't read what was on his mind.

        Come on, Nigel, tell me what you're thinking! I challenged him with my eyes. This time, I felt like it was my stare that was burning.

        His eyes, out of the blue, illuminated a blank expression. Then, he let go of my chin... and he turned around to not face me anymore.

        "Don't be a fool," he said in a slightly hoarsed pitch... and walked into the mansion without even bothering to look at me again.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

        People couldn't just imagine how embarrassing it was for a teenager to finally confess her feelings to the man she loved and only to be rejected afterwards!

        Oh, I was so humiliated by his reaction.

        Perhaps, I was expecting something sweet like what I usually saw in my favorite romantic movies that after the girl confessed to the boy, the latter would just kiss or hug her because of her revelation.

        But Nigel didn't. Instead, he called me a fool.

        Fool. Fool. Fool. The stupid word just kept on bugging my head.

        Could you imagine how embarrassing was that?

        During dinner, I defiantly managed myself to never look at him. I believed he was neither looking at me. It was Mommy Carol who did all the talking. She, perhaps, felt the unpleasant atmosphere between Nigel and me. She seemed disappointed herself.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

        The next day, I planned not to be visible in the mansion. Aside from the humiliation I felt from yesterday's confrontation with Nigel, I was at the same time hurt. People might not exactly understand why a girl of seventeen would feel this way and take everything so seriously. But I really felt this way. What could I do? I had waited for him for four years and now that he was finally home, now that I finally told him what I truly felt for him, he would insult me just like that. It would be much better if he had told me that he didn't feel the same way. At least, it was an honest act. Yet, to tell me that I was a fool to feel that way only shattered my heart pathetically.

        He regarded me a fool.

        That really hurt me much.

        To forget him for a while... as if I could, I spent my whole morning with Elena in La Carlota. Together with the mansion driver, we went to the marketplace to shop for groceries. However, amid the yelling street vendors and busy shoppers, I could not help to erase Nigel in my mind even a single minute. As if I could.

        We took our lunch at Elena's place in La Carlota. Her mama and papa were very accommodating just like Elena who was truly a sincere and affectionate soul. Among all the servants, she was closest and dearest to me.

        It was a wonderful lunch. I ate those I didn't normally eat at the palacio. Not abundant though, still they were mouth-watering and enjoyably satisfying. I was glad I didn't have to face Nigel's cold and indifferent treatment at the comedor.

        I bet mom was already pissed at me for not making it to lunch. She couldn't stand not having me around during meals. But I thought I would just explain everything to her. This was my way of telling Nigel indirectly that I didn't like what he did to me. You could say I was a rebellious brat!

        In the afternoon, when we arrived at The Fields from La Carlota, I went straight to the lagoon. As usual, I was there alone. There was never a time that I had stayed in the lagoon with someone... well, except during my thirteenth birthday when Nigel secretly stalked me to tell me he didn't like me to become his sister. Who would like that one anyway? Only Mommy Carol perhaps.

        You might be curious why nobody dared to go there except Nigel. Well, it was because Mommy Carol made it sure to make it a restricted area only for her dear darling... and who else would that be? Of course, me. The farmers, the peasants, the servants, even the villagers --- they were all notified of this restriction. So, you see, Mommy Carol would really do anything for me. As I said, the lagoon was my private space, exclusively mine.

        That was why, there on the bank of the lagoon filled with dried mahogany leaves, I could lie down, sleep, read, do everything I wanted... alone.

        Like... crying...

        Like what I was doing now...

        Every time I missed Nigel, I'd cry there.

        Every time I wanted to be with him but I couldn't, I'd cry there.

        And, just like today, because I was badly hurt, I cried there.

        And, like what I always did, after crying my heart out, I fell into a nap... to forget the pain infiltrating my heart. I wondered why it was always good to sleep after crying a river of tears.

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        Then, I opened my eyes, for out of the blue, a huge figure suddenly pulled me up from the ground and carried me by his sturdy arms. With so much fear, I shouted for help and tried to kick my feet so he would put me down. I couldn't see his face because it was completely dark.

        Dark? Did it mean I stayed there this late already? Oh, no!

        "Who are you? Please put me down!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

        Why was he seemed mute and deaf? How could he not talk even a single word? The giant figure was just carrying me as he strode fast. I could hear him panting like he was grasping for air to breath every now and then.

        "Please, let me go!" I shouted again.

        No, you wouldn't imagine how afraid I was! I thought all my hair strands were standing. It made me remember Elena's stories about fairies, aparicion, and other night creatures.

        "Help! Help! Please, somebody help me!" I shouted and kicked as much as I could. "Let me go, freak!"

        Where was he taking me? What was he going to do with me?

        "Mommy! Mommy! Help!" I cried aloud but I doubted if mom heard me at this moment.

        I needed somebody's help. I needed Nigel to save me from this terrifying creature.

        "Nigel, help! Nigel!"

        "Shut up, will you?" the creature finally talked and, what, even demanded me to shut up!

        Why did his voice seem familiar?

        Then, at a distance, near a street light, I saw Nigel's parked car. It created a suspicion in my head so I looked at the face of my bearer to discern who he was. For sure, I could now see his face clearly because we were now approaching the street lamp. And when I clearly saw him, I was totally bewildered of my discovery.

        The man carrying me in his arms was Nigel himself!

        I was too astounded to talk. I was tongue-tied. What was he going to do with me?

        Then, he opened the door of the passenger's side and flung me on the seat. Had it not been soft and cottony, I would have hurt my buttocks. The door beside me, then, was violently shut. I was too confused of his actions to even open my mouth to ask.

        Why did he take me away from the lagoon? And why was he seemed so angry with me?

        He took the driver's seat and drove us to the palacio.

        He wasn't speaking a word. He was just clenching his teeth like a terrible dragon ready to blow a fiery breath. He didn't even manage to glance at me. What was wrong with him?

        When we arrived at the mansion, Nigel forcibly pulled me from the passenger's seat. He clasped my wrist very hard as he dragged me to enter the patio. There, Mommy Carol seemed to be waiting for us.

        "Althea, darling, I'm glad you're back!" she uttered happily the moment she laid her eyes on me. Was she teary-eyed?

        Nigel didn't seem to care for what mom had said to me since he kept on dragging me until we reached the living room. I had to keep up with his long, gigantic strides to prevent me from stumbling.

        "You're hurting me," I complained.

        Without giving me a reply, he shoved me to the sofa. Ouch! That one hurt! What was wrong with him?

        Mom came after us.

        "Where were you, darling? We've been looking for you," she asked me fretfully.

        All questions in my head were finally answered. They were looking for me!

        "I-I'm sorry, mommy. I fell asleep in the lagoon... didn't have an idea that you've been so worried about me..." Tears began to glisten in my eyes.

        "In the lagoon? You stayed there this late?" she cried much to her surprise.

        "I'm really sorry, mommy," I cried as I buried my face into my hands. I was so ashamed to her for staying out late.

        She came to sit beside me and hugged me tightly. "I was so worried about you, darling."

        Her words spawned a pang of guilt within me. My conscience dictated me to burst out more with tears. What had I done to Mommy Carol?

        Then, I heard him talk for the first time since he took me away from the lagoon.

        "Will you stop being so childish, Althea? How can you be so damn irresponsible and inconsiderate to people?"

        I knew he was holding himself to scold me... but now, he finally spoke out.

        "Nigel, stop it. She didn't mean this to happen," mom reasoned out for me.

        "No, stop defending her, mom! Can't you see? The more that you tolerate her, the more that you make a brat out of her!" he exploded.

        I was so ashamed to him and to mom that I sobbed harder this time. What should I do? They were now fighting because of me!

        "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean it," I said when I already found the guts to speak up to him. Mom was still hugging me.

        "Shut up! You can't just simply scrape out a fault with a sorry. When are you going to grow up?" he commented before he walked out on us.

        My mind was totally blown off. My heart was shattered --- again.

        When he was gone to his room, mom explained to me what exactly happened. She said it was already dark when she started to look for me. She just thought I was with Elena in the kitchen experimenting again on baking cakes because it was something that I was lately interested with. However, when she learned that I wasn't in the kitchen, mommy became worried. It didn't come across her mind that I was at the lagoon because it was past 7:30 in the evening and she thought I wouldn't be there in such an hour. She sent many people to look for me. It was Nigel who tracked me down.

        I asked mom's forgiveness for my being so irresponsible and inconsiderate indeed. Nigel was right about that.

        She said I didn't have to say sorry because I didn't mean it. She said she was just thankful that I was already home.

        Yet, I still felt so horrible. I was such a dumbass.

        "Don't worry about Nigel if he's mad, my dear. He's just worried about you," mom pronounced.

        l looked at mom's beautiful face disbelievingly.

        Worried about me? Would that even be possible?

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A/N

        When I posted the first part of this story, I was kind of wondering if this would even catch people's attention. After nine days, I was ecstatic to get my first 100 reads. I just recently joined the Wattpad community so getting some guys to read my first two chapters just made me so happy. Thank you very much to all of you. I hope you'll continue to find time reading my first Wattpad novel. Please vote and post a comment, positive or negative. I really, really, really want to hear from you.

        Lovelotz,
        (sapphiregirl22) ~_^

Cover made by glittergold_17. Please check out this girl's works.