Chapter 43

"Have a seat, Mr. Alonzo. I guess you were starstrucked by Ms. Clifton's beauty. She's a model." The Dean said.

"Yeah . . ." He nodded and gulped.

My eyes remained on the girl. She looked at me innocently with her teary eyes and as much as I don't want to confirm it, her features remind me so much of Aiden's child features when he was 8 years old.

No doubt. Aiden's daughter with Rhiana.

"So what did Ayah do?" I managed to act composed when he sat on the chair and made his daughter sit on his lap.

I could sense his stare at Ayah but Ayah was looking at my eyes, probably confused why my heart's beating rapidly.

"Your . . . daughter?" Aiden asked me skeptically.

"Oh she's not, Ayah's mother is Ms. Pixie Tinker Bercede while Ms. Clifton is her Aunt." Ms. Ignilan said with a smile.

"Oh! I thought for a while." He smiled at Ms. Ignilan and played his daughter's hands that was seating on his lap while tearing up.

It was a moment of silence.

"So what did they do?" Aiden and I asked in synchronize.

The Dean cleared her throat.

"They were both caught cutting their classes." 

Ayah buried her face on my chest and hugged me tight while Aiden's daughter sniffed and leaned her head against his chest.

"Ayah." I called a warn.

"Her fault! Eydan was weak when running!" She shouted and hugged me tighter.

Aiden's daughter cried.

"You dead to Daddy!" She shouted at Ayah and looked up to Aiden.

"Shh . . . it's okay, baby." He calmed her down.

"The guard saw the two cutting their classes, Ms. Clifton and Mr. Alonzo." Ms. Ignilan said with her brows arched at me.

I massaged my temple while Ayah squeezed in more to me, she knew I'm about to get mad at her.

"If only Eydan is not weak! We not get caught!" Ayah shouted a muffle in between my chest.

"You! You told me to cut class!" She shook Aiden's arms, wanting some help.

"Why did you cut class, Ayah?" I asked seriously and looked to her.

She didn't answer. I grabbed her face and made her face me. Her bluw eyes was saying sorry to me.

"The teacher made fun of you!" She pointed Ms. Ignilan.

Ms. Ignilan's eyes widened when she looked at the the Dean as she shook her head, denying.

"She said I have a relative with mental illness!" 

I looked at Ms. Ignilan coldly.

"That's certainly not true! She's creating a lie just to justify her wrongful acts!" Ms. Ignilan shook her head consecutive times.

"She said I have crazy blood line because of this mask." Ayah bowed her head.

"Ms. Ignilan, is it true?" The Dean asked her.

"My classmates laugh at me and you because of her! They bully me so I cut class because I will beat them for you but you will get mad if I do!" Ayah shouted while talking to me.

"It's so wrong to tolerate this kind of act, Ms. Ignilan. It seemed to me that you're teaching  kids to laugh at others just because of their differences." I said coldly to her.

Ms. Ignilan paled.

"She's lying! And I'm not teaching them to laugh at others! I was just stating facts! Many articles are talking about your mental illness! I did not told them to laugh! They laugh at their own!" This bitch even defended her side.

"Ms. Ignilan!" The Dean shouted. 

"You bad teacher!" Ayah shouted and hugged me tight again.

"Teachers play one of the role in molding a child. She should be fired if that's the case." Aiden chimed in.

I looked at him but he was looking at Ayah even when he uttered those words. There's a hint of doubt on his eyes that I sprayed alcohol on Ayah's hair and pushed it towards me to hide her face.

"Smell alcohol! Pwe!" She complained and removed her mask off her face just to sniff a fresh air.

I stood while carrying her. Ayah wrapped her little arms and legs on my body when I looked at the Dean.

"Teachers should be teaching kids good morality instead of metaphorically coaxing them to feel the superiority by downgrading others. I'm disappointment by how low-grade this school requires." I looked at her with full of disappointment.

The Dean stood and immediately ran towards me. She was about to hold my hand but I dodged it off and sprayed an alcohol to her hands.

"Excuse me! I graduated magma cum laude in bachelor's of education unlike you who's a mere actress who didn't even got a high school diploma!" Ms. Ignilan shouted.

I scoffed and looked at her with a smirk.

"A degree can be earned by human endeavor but a sense of morality is an underrated phase only ignorant people neglect the importance of its root— the heart and soul."

Her lips parted, she was out of words for a minute so I turned my back on her and started walking.

"Did she just said I'm ignorant?!" She shouted when she realized what I mean.

"Cool!" Ayah commented and gave me a thumbs-up.

I frowned at her.

"You should've told me sooner instead of cutting class, you stubborn kid."

She giggled and turned to her back. My heart started thumping once again when I remembered his presence behind me. I hastened my steps and sprayed an alcohol to the doorknob first before touching it.

"Eyda! See you tom!" Ayah shouted happily.

"No cutting class again!" I heard her sniffing back his mucus and gulping it.

I was about to close the door when a hand made it stop. I didn't bother turning to it, by the smell of its presence I already know who it was, instead, I immediately ran fast away from his stance before he could even utter a word.

"Wooh!" Ayah giggled because of my fast ran.

"Wait! Ayah! Your mask!" Her little friend shouted.

I panted and put her down when I reached the car. I sprayed an alcohol to the surrounding first and to the car's handle before turning to Ayah—

"Ayah!" I shouted frustratingly when I saw her running towards her friend with her little footsteps.

I let out an internal infuriating sigh before running towards Ayah but it was too late since Aiden's already holding her arms while kneeling in front of her.

"What happen to your face?" He asked her gently.

I pulled Ayah's arms behind me to hide her from him. His daughter pouted while taking a peek at Ayah.

Aiden sighed and stood, looking at me. I managed to look composed and cold at him.

"Her face—"

"She's been in an accident." I cut him off.

His lips parted and looked to Ayah once again but I hid her even more.

"She's still pretty! She has blue eyes like me!" His daughter said with a smile as she looked at Ayah.

Ayah gripped on my skirt. I know she's uncomfortable when someone's talking about her half-burned face.

"Is she Pixie's daugh—"

"You saw her surname, right? It's Bercede not Clifton."

He bit his lower lip and nodded.

"But why—"

"If you're talking about the blue eyes, Pixie's ex has a blue eyes."

He sighed and tried to peek at Ayah once again but my eyes shifted to Aiden's back when I saw a familiar figurine watching us. My hands trembled at the sight of my mom looking at us, like always, I was petrified I couldn't even avoid my eyes away from those vicious eyes.

"You look pale. Are you okay?" He asked with worry.

I shook my head and let out a deep breath. I grasped my Ayah's hands and immediately ran towards the car out of fear.

"Wait! Are—"

I flinched when he touched me. My breathing hitched when she didn't disappeared yet. She was still watching my every move.

Aiden's brows furrowed and followed my gaze. He looked back to me with his confused eyes.

"What—"

"Don't follow me!" I shouted at her.

"Aunt . . ." Ayah pulled my skirt, now becoming scared.

"Miracle?" Aiden called.

I closed my eyes and shook my head consecutive times once again.

With my trembling hands, I sprayed alcohol on my arms where he touched me and in the air in front of him.

Aiden sneezed at that.

"Bacteria!" I glared at him and sprayed an alcohol once again in the air.

"What happen to you?"

"Distance! You're spitting saliva!" I motioned him to step back.

"I did not!" He stepped back.

I turned my back on him and sprayed an alcohol on the car's handle before opening it.

"Go in—" My words left hanging when I did not see Aya beside me.

"Fast!" Ayah pushed Eyda as they ran away from us.

"Ayah!"

"Eyda!"

This stubborn kids!

I ran towards them and chased after her. Ayah saw me and immediately dragged Eyda faster who seemed weaker than her that—

"Eyda!" Aiden shouted when his daughter stumbled on the grass.

"Why you fall!" Ayah shouted at her.

I helped Eyda stand. She has her teary eyes once again and I saw blood coming out from her nose as she tried her best to hold her tears.

"You weak!" Ayah crossed her arms and pouted.

"Ayah." I warned her.

"Are you okay?" Aiden immediately kneeled in front of her and wiped her tears off.

Because of that question, Eyda broke down to her sobs and immediately hugged him tight.

"It's okay, baby." He rubbed her back.

"It hurt!" She cried.

Aiden looked at Ayah.

"Next time don't push my daughter like that." He said to her.

I looked at Ayah who was staring at them with her stoic look but then a glint of jealousy was what I saw on her eyes when she turned to me.

I immediately scooped her up and she hugged me tight without words.

Aiden scooped her up too. Eyda wiped her tears off and looked at Ayah who's back is on them while hugging me tight.

"Say sorry to my baby." He said to Ayah.

Ayah didn't talk.

"Ayah." I called because what she did was wrong.

"I didn't mean it!" She defended, not looking to him.

"You pushed her." He said, looking at Ayah.

Ayah hugged me tight and continued to be stubborn, she didn't talk.

"She's your friend. Why did you do it?" He continued.

"I-I didn't mean it!" Her voice trembled now.

"Stop it now." I said coldly to him.

"But she needs to say sorry or else she'll grow up with that kind of bad attitude."

"Aiden!" I warned.

"So-Sorry . . ." Heard Ayah whispered on my ears but pretty sure Aiden didn't hear her.

"Tell Pixie to raise her well." He said and turned his back on us as he wiped his daughter's tears off.

I let out a sigh and turned to Ayah who was looking at them with her observing eyes.

"I'll treat you ice cream. If you want?" I tried to change the mood.

Her eyes lit up.

"Chocolate ice cream!" She said happily and nodded consecutive times.

I smiled at that and head towards my car. I put her down and belted her to her seat while she's humming a song happily, excited for the ice cream.

I sprayed alcohol on the seat first before sitting on the driver's seat.

"How did you meet her?" I asked in the middle of driving.

"She protected me from the bullies." She pouted.

I glanced at her but she looked nonchalant about the bullies as if she's already used to it. I sighed and pitied how she ended up like this just because of her half-burned face, I'm just thankful she's not blaming me about it nor she's in burden because of that.

"You should've told me about that! I'll beat them for you!" I tried to act jolly.

She giggled and shook her head.

"No! I'll beat them for you!"

I can't help but to smile at how sweet she is. We talked and laughed, did shopping, played games, eat desserts until she drowned in her sleep after the long hours of being with me.

"You forgot you have a shoot!" Pixie welcomed me with her shout inside the mansion.

"Oh! Right!" I laughed.

Pixie looked at Ayah who was sleeping on my shoulder now.

"She's sleeping?" She asked.

I nodded and went upstairs. I want to spray an alcohol to her doorknob but Ayah might fall since she's asleep. With a closed eyes, I held the doorknob and opened it, almost breathless, and went inside her room as I laid her down on her bed.

"I love you." I whispered at her in her deep sleep.

"I love you too." She answered in her slurred tone with her eyes closed.

I chuckled and rolled back my lips as I kissed her forehead, not wanting my lips to touch her sweaty forehead.

She grumbled but didn't talk any longer. I sprayed an alcohol on her whole body before wrapping her up with the comforter.

Immediate, I ran towards my room and showered three times, washed my hands four time and brushed my teeth three times.

"Pixie, when's the PTA meeting?" I asked her when I reached downstairs.

"Saturday. Tomorrow. There's an upcoming school fun day next saturday so parents needs to meet up for the preparation." She said, watching the television.

I nodded and sat on the sofa. I'd go tomorrow and show them how they should never mess with Ayah.

Wearing my black ribbed sleeveless crop top with suit perched on both my shoulder partnered with high waisted leather pants and stiletto as I walked towards the classroom with a black wayfarer on my eyes and few jewelries, showing them how intimidating I am when I entered Ms. Ignilan's classroom.

All the parents turned to me. Some are shock that an actress appeared in front of their eyes while some brows arched at the sight of me, judging me.

"Sorry, I'm late. I was in the photoshoot." I removed my glasses and smiled sweetly at Ms. Ignilan.

She removed her eye glasses and cleared her throat, nodding without looking at me. She looked pissed but I just smirked and sat on the chair in front of me, crossing my legs and arms as I looked at her on the teacher's table.

Since private school is where my daughter is, many parents here came from a wealthy family, some might even be a C.E.O and compared to me, I'm nothing but thanks to my demeanor it says the otherwise.

"Who's your daughter?" A woman's brows arched at me as if she knew every parents of her child's classmate.

"I'm just an aunt of Ayah." I raised my brow.

"Oh. That burned child. I didn't bother knowing what her background is. Just by her looks, I already expected she'd be lesser than my daughter."

I looked at her with my restrained anger, acting like a sweet angel even when in the inside, it's already burning to yank her hair down.

"I don't want to bother knowing who your daughter is. Just by a glimpse of your personality, I already expected she'd be as ignorant as her mother." I smiled devilishly and looked back at the front.

"Wha—"

"And mind you, Ayah would be offended if she discover she's being compared to others. She's beautiful on her own without the needs of anyone's approval and I'm glad she knew that unlike you who bother the needs of downgrading others just to lift your daughter up." I cut her off.

She didn't talk. She seemed pissed at what I said and I didn't bother turning to her once again.

"So who among you would want to show up your talents in the upcoming program for the kids?" Ms. Ignilan asked with a smile.

One familiar hand raised.

"I can sing." Aiden said with a smile.

Moms let out a flattered sigh, gasped, some even giggled, well most of us are around in 30s, some might be single that's why they're like that. Even the woman beside me gasped exasperatedly with a flushed smile.

"Oh. Our prince charming will sing for the upcoming program. That's good! Many moms would certainly attend!" Ms. Ignilan bantered.

They all laughed.

"What about to the moms?" Ms. Ignilan turned to me.

She must've know how so much of a frustrated singer I am!

I bet she stalked me and saw the leaked drunk video of me years ago just by the look that appeared on her face the moment she pointed her fingers towards me.

"What about our muse. Would you like to sing for the upcoming program?" It was full of sarcasm.

"I'd rather donate." I said impassively.

The men laughed. Some moms laughed too but most remained their scornful look.

"Why? You're not a good singer?" She asked with a smile.

"If you're a great fan. You'll know the answer." I smirked.

Her smile disappeared.

"I used to be your fan! And you actually look cute when drunk singing!" One man shouted.

I looked to the guy who shouted and gave him a small forced smile even when I wanted so bad to shut him off about that embarrassing memory. When I met Aiden's stare, his brows both raised up, trying to imply something, I bet he remember something too by the look of his smirk. I avoided my gaze.

Stop giving me false hope, Aiden. You're already happy with your new family.

____________________

Celestial Aurora