"Today I close the door to the past, Open the door to future, take a deep breath, step on through and start a new chapter in my life." - Unknown

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Nikki's POV

Barcelona, Spain

The day I dreaded to come, had arrived ...

It's 12th of September and It's going to be summer in Barcelona, Spain.

I was supposed to fly on the 28th of August, but I kept on extending it because I wanted to do the racing for the last time, of course, without the knowledge of my overprotective mother. I lied to her, telling her I wanted to hang out with my friends for the last time.

I won the race, but I almost got crashed.

The memories of that race flooded my brain once more. It was the most memorable out of the race I've had since it was almost the end of me.

I tried to overtake the Ferarri Spider through his right side, but he realized my plan right away. He swerved to the right locking me in the middle of his car and the concrete curb, making the tires screeched loudly, losing my grip for a few minuscule, but then my reflex with the adrenaline pumping, I managed to control the steering again. I let go of the gas, and as soon as I'm free, and he thought I lost it, he swerved to his left and that's when I shifted the gear and slammed on the gas hard zooming past him like a lightning on his right, and in a nanosecond, I was in front of him, blocking him.

Watching the rear mirror closely as I pressed more on the gas trying to hit the finished line before he could reach me. A cloud of smoke coming from my tires fogging my rearview as I zoomed past him.

I was panting as I saw from him from my side view mirror, tailing me furiously. He speeds up and smashed his hood against the back of my car which causes me to lost control again for a second, swerving slightly, then skid, but I corrected it swiftly, without panicking.

I focused on the corner and grinned. This is my favorite part.

I drifted passed him in mere seconds, watching him in my rear mirror. The adrenaline rush was kicking furiously. This is what's exciting here. Loving the freedom, the adrenaline rush. And the fact of winning over death is a feeling of great satisfaction and victory.

I was too furious and too fixed on not letting him come close to my car that I didn't notice I passed the finished line before he did!.

The crowd started to make loud noises, hooting and cheering as they rose to their feet.

When he found out he was racing with a girl and 5 years older than her, he was more furious.

He's Michael James Guttierez, the only son of the Billionaire Robin Guttierez, CEO of the Guttierez Holdings, which plays a major role in the public service and utilities sector in the Philippines and to serve as the holding company for investments in major development sectors such as broadcasting and cable, telecommunications, power generation and distribution, manufacturing and property development.

And added to their portfolio, investments in other basic service sectors but has since sold its interest in banking, toll roads, information technology, and healthcare delivery.

He's one of the most elusive bachelors in the Philippines. The face of every magazine because of his reputation of being the billionaire's happy-go-lucky son. He changes his woman as often as he changes his clothes.

Then the plane speaker, went on, interrupting me with my short reverie.

The Captain just announced the time it's 7 AM and we just arrived in Barcelona and preparing for landing.

I closed my eyes as I prepared myself for the feeling of uneasiness. Whenever a plane takes off or landed it always give me butterflies in my stomach.

After like a decade, the plane landed smoothly and soon the passengers are disembarking from the plane.

After getting through the immigration for passport check-up, I went straight to the baggage claim and stand beside the conveyors belt and waited for my luggage to be delivered.

Shortly, I saw my one big orange luggage, it was easy to spot on due to the color. There's seems to be no one using the color orange for a luggage.

I quickly pulled my luggage out of the conveyor belt as soon as it reach my spot and pulled the luggage handle and dragged it and soon, I'm walking out the exit with other passengers.

I saw my Dad, waiting at the exit door. I walked briskly to him as I dragged my luggage.

"Welcome home, mi prinsesa!" my dad exclaimed and swept me off my feet and spun me around. I squealed in surprised as I hug him tight. Then, he put me back down on my feet.

Paulo, his driver took my luggage and put it in the back compartment of the car.

"I miss you, papa!" I murmured.

Mixed of emotions suddenly rushed through me. I felt the tears that prickled under my eyelids, but I held it back.

"I always missed you, mi prinsesa!" he replied as he pushed me a foot away from him to look at me from head to toe. "Look how much you have grown?" he stated sadly. "You look so beautiful just like your Mom," he smiles, but it never reaches his eyes.

"It has been five years since, papa," I said bitterly.

"Si," He murmured. "I'm sorry, I wasn't able to be there as you grow up! But your Mom obviously raises you remarkably.." He declared admiringly.

"She did!" I mused. I missed her.

"Come on, let's go home. Lilian and Mara are waiting for you excitedly."

They are both daughters of my father's servants and they are my friends too.

I was so excited to see them. The last time I came here for a vacation was when I was ten.

I'm wondering how do they look right now.

I grew taller for the past years, which my family in the Philippines thought I wouldn't be this tall now.

I stand 5'6 at 15, which I think is normal since my Mom is 5'9 and my Dad is about 6'2. Lillian and Mara were taller than me the last time I saw them.

"How's your Mom?" Dad suddenly asked as he stared at me intently.

"She's fine, papa." I lied. I know mom is not.

She misses dad obviously but was too proud to admit it.

I don't know what's going on between them and for the past years, I never pressed the matter with them. Thinking they will tell me when they're ready, but it seems none of them had the intentions of telling me.

"Why did you let us be separated with you, papa?" I can't contain my eagerness to know why.

"Your Mom chose to live in the Philippines so she can continue her career and I don't wanna be a hindrance to her happiness." with his noncommittal tone, giving nothing away.

The same response every time, and I know it wasn't the reason.

I heaved a frustrated sighed as I looked out the window.

"I already enrolled you at the Morrison International High School, which is just 10 minutes away from our house," he stated casually. "Since you can't speak Spanish. Their language is mainly English so you won't be troubled," he added.

I can understand Spanish, but I can't speak it. Just some common words, like yes, no.

"When is the first day?" I asked nonchalantly.

"September 15 and that's in three days," he remarked as he looked at me.

I stared at him and I noticed he looks older in his 40s. His eyed was filled with longings, sadness, and random emotions.

But, still I don't understand. If they both love each other, why would they let them be apart?

Dad married mom when she was just 20, dad was just 24. He met her at a charity event after mom was crowned as Miss Earth which was held in Madrid, Spain. Dad was there too.

Then, they started dating. Not long after their meeting, they got married. Dad was too in a hurry to marry her, according to Mom.

Then, after a year of their blissful marriage, I was born in Spain. And then, my mom got bored since she doesn't have many friends in Barcelona and dad was always away on business so my Mom decided to take me with her back to her country where she resumed her career as an actress and where I grew up and gained more friends.

My Dad comes to visit us once in a year but after seven years it became rare.

I remember I once asked mom and she said he had to manage another new investment which I didn't believe. I know there's something amiss in her story.

As I grow up, I knew there's something wrong in our family but I tried to forget it by engaging in dangerous habits. Like car racing, taekwondo, sky diving, bungee jumping.

Anything that is life risk.

Sometimes, I wished I'm dead. But there are times I feared death. That's when I felt so helpless, where nobody really cares about my existence.

I had wished million times to have parents that were poor, at least, we are all living together not separately.

I envied my friends. They are whole and happy even though they are not as rich as my family.

They seem so contented in their life. They don't seem to lack in anything. Not like my family. We may be rich but inside the big house was empty. It lacks in everything.

I heaved a loud sighed as I looked away.

"I hope you will have a good time and gain friends at the school!" My dad exclaimed.

"I hope so too, papa!" I replied shrugging my shoulder.

After like centuries, the car finally reached our house.

The big iron gate opened and Paulo pulled into a concrete driveway and around a big fountain then he parked closed to the porch where the front door is.

Our house is a two story with 10 bedrooms, which I thought was absurd for only dad living in it. The maid has their own quarters and it's in another building just a few meters to our house. The maid's quarter was the size of a 5 door garage. Consist of 2 decent size room with kitchen and living room. Two washrooms and a small deck in the back of the building.

So basically the only people sleep in our house were my father and his two personal bodyguards who occupied two rooms on the main floor which was close to the big garage.

The two security guards have their own quarters build close to where the gate is. It is as big as a three door garage with its own washroom and kitchen and tiny living room and their bedroom.

Paulo took my luggage out of the compartment and walked straight to the front door as we both followed him.

"I had your room repainted. Your mom told me, that you hated pink. So, I had it painted with cream. If you don't like it I can ask someone to repaint it." Dad smiled and this time, I knew it's genuine.

I just nod my head in nonchalance.

And, he led me to the door. But, before we could reach the door, Mara and Lilian emerged from the other side of our house and squealed in excitement as they are approaching me, with wide smiles plastered on their faces.

"Nicki!..." They both squealed out loud, excitedly. I ran to them happily.

"Oh my god! You're taller than us now?" Mara exclaimed as her eyes skimming down on me from toe to head.

"How could it be?" Lilian pouted playfully.

I rolled my eyes at them. They both look beautiful.

I stood a bit taller compared to them, maybe an inch or two.

Mara has a raven hair with a tanned skin, brown eyes and slender. While Lilian was fair, dirty blonde hair which she got from her mom, brown eyes and skinnier among us.

"You're so beautiful!" Lilian exclaimed while she was jumping on her foot, holding my hands.

Their excitements are so contagious. I just soon found myself laughing with them.

"And, what's with the glasses?" Mara noticed after. "I don't remember you wearing one before!" She added.

"Just a little disguise," I grinned cheekily.

"I've been using this for three years now, and I'm kind of used to it. Although the lenses don't have any grade." I explained nonchalantly.

"But why? Your eyes were your best asset!" Mara's eyebrow furrowed in confusion.

"I missed you all guys!" I responded happily trying to drop the subject as I hugged them both and we all giggled.

We used to do that hugging three of us. "We will be hanging out for a while!" I proclaimed after we all pulled away.

"Really?" Mara's eyes widened in excitement.

I nod my head in agreement smiling widely. I'm glad she forgot about the glasses.

"She's going to our school too! I heard from papa." Lilian announced happily.

"That's great! You'll gonna meet those pests whom we always avoided every day..." Mara grimaced.

"Ooh...!" I said softly raising my eyebrow.

"Come, let's go to our favorite place, and you have a lot of stories to tell, señorita," Lilian giggled as she tugged my hand dragging me to the very back of the house where a big tree was and a treehouse.

The last time I remember, it was white, now it was painted with mint green.

Mara quickly climbed up the wooden staircase spiraling around the tree up to the treehouse.

Ten people can fit inside.

As soon as I entered the treehouse, I gasped in awe.

They also painted it with white making it look bigger than its normal size. I remember we used to play here all the time.

The small wooden coffee table was surrounded by five small wooden chairs.

I noticed the chips, candies, pops on the table. "We need that while we listen to your stories!" Mara explained when she noticed me with my eyes glued to the food laying on the table.

"Ok, let's start!" Lilian said excitedly as she pulled one chair and sat.

"Sit in the middle!" Mara ordered happily which I obliged and pulled a chair and I settled myself.

Mara sat beside me.

"I heard you're a commercial model in the Philippines?" Mara beamed.

"Si, I did quite a few," I replied, less ecstatic.

Lilian was beaming at me as she popped a chip in her mouth. I remember it is her dream to be a model and an actress.

"You don't sound enthusiastic about it?" Lilian's confused eyes were staring at me.

Mara nodded her head in agreement with Lilian's remarked.

"Because I never like it!" I sighed exasperatedly. "Mom wants me to follow her footstep and I was young I can't defy her or she will be upset, the last thing I wanted her to feel," I explained bitterly.

"Ohh I'm sorry to hear that!" Mara replied. She's the one that has the softest heart among us.

"So did you date any guys yet?" Lilian was grinning ear to ear, changing the topic.

"Jeez... I have no plans in entangling myself to any man!" I stated firmly. "Nah-ah!" I shook my head.

Mara's eyes widened. "You're a lesbian?" She blurted out. Which made me burst into a fit of laughter. Lilian then joined me laughing.

"How could you think of that, tonto!" Lilian swatted Mara on the head gently.

"Oohhhh...." She sighed in relief, then she grinned apologetically.

"I'm not Mara," I responded as I shook my head.

"I'm sorry, I just thought that's the reason why you don't like a man." She chuckled sheepishly.

"I just don't want to complicate my already complicated life! Besides man is just like a hammer, if you hit it in your head you'll get a massive headache!" I quipped and smiled broadly.

"Hmm .. you have a point! But, have you ever thought that when you grow old, no one would take care of you? You'll live a lonely life." Lilian remarked thoughtfully.

"That's why worked hard and save more money, then pay someone to take care of you!" I laughed.

Mara just shrugged her shoulders and pick the chips and started nibbling.

"Why are you guys so interested in dating?" I asked nonchalantly. "Don't you think 15 is too young to entertain guys yet?" I continued as I grimaced at the thought of dating a guy.

"Lilian is dating a certain guy from the school," Mara stated casually while eating the chips.

"Really?" I looked at her curiously.

Then, I grab some chips and started eating too. I never like vinegar, but the Lays chip with vinegar and salt flavor is delicious.

"Tell us!" I encouraged her, excited to know about her love life.

Mara was grinning ear to ear. Lilian suddenly became anxious. "Come on, tell us! We won't judge you! I promise!" I encouraged and Mara nodded her head in agreement.

"His name is Frederick and he is in our history class. He is a soccer player." She started.

I and Mara were listening intently.

"I met him first at the library when I bumped into him. He was rushing out of the library since he needs to be at the soccer field for his practice." She mused recalling their first encounter. "And, he is a friend of those notorious groups in our school lead by the only son of our school owner," she added.

"And, you allowed him to hang out with them?" I exclaimed shockingly.

"No .. Er.. yes! They were his friends before we met. And, he is a player too. So he can't get away with them. Alexander Morrison is their captain." She explained further.

"That name sounds like it brings a lot of troubles!" I commented tersely.

Mara and Lilian laughed, then, both eyes stared at me with a warning.

"What?" I asked exasperatedly.

"Please hold your lashing tongue when you meet him!" Mara pleaded.

"And why would I meet that guy?" I frowned at Mara.

"You will eventually bump into him if we are hanging out. Frederick was with them always. So for sure, you're going to see him face to face."

I just raise my eyebrow, not adding any remarked.

"Lilian is right!" Mara agreed.

"Why can't I speak my mind?" I frowned in displeasure.

"Unless you wanna get bullied all the time!" Mara quipped.

"And, why is that?" I asked getting really annoyed. I haven't met these people, and it's starting to get on my nerves.

"That's why they are known as the notorious group in our school. Nobody dared to defy them or talked back at them especially Alexander. We call him the Devil." Mara replied with her face turned stony.

If I want to stay low profile I need to stay away from them, from him I mentally note.

"Oh and especially her girlfriend Annabel. She's a bitch!" Lilian warned.

"What does the administration doing? Why can't they control them? Did they just tolerated that attitude?" I exclaimed furiously. This school seemed very unpleasant and not safe to study.

"Obviously. Alexander Morrison's Dad owned the school and Annabel's parents was a good friend of their family and they are one of the biggest sponsors. So yeah, most of the staff just shut their eyes and ears with all the bullying these guys had done. The school was paying them well, so who wouldn't want to work there? Even though you need to watch how these imbecile, self-centered, conceited, morons, act and treated their schoolmates." Mara explained exasperatedly.

"That is nonsense and very unfair!" I declared gruffly as I gritted my teeth.

"So why did you chose to study there?" I asked out of curiosity.

Lilian and Mara looked at each other. "Because it is very well known and when you find a job they usually pick those who graduated in that school. Besides your dad is paying our tuition and our books. He sponsored us." Mara explained.

"Ok, let's change the subject. I don't want to talk about those people. Enough seeing them on weekdays." Lilian suggested.

"Si, let's talked about the oncoming party, Carla throw this weekend." Mara proclaimed enthusiastically.

"You want to come?" Lilian asked hopefully. "You know Carla, right? She comes to play with us twice when you're here." Lilian reminded me.

She's the daughter of one of my dad's partners. She's very down to earth that's why we became close.

"Does she know I'm coming to stay here for a while?" I asked curiously.

"I think she does," Lilian replied.

"She did!" Mara confirmed smiling. "She actually sends you an invitation. Ask your Dad." Mara added.

"Do you know where it will be held?" I asked out of curiosity as I opened a pop and swigged it.

"At their mansion!" Lilian answered. "It will be a grand celebration for her 15th birthday!" She mused.

"So you're coming?" Lilian asked with high hopes.

"I'll see. I'm still exhausted with the flight here," I said flatly.

"Oh come on, please come or Carla will be very upset!" Mara remarked desperately.

She had a point. I knew she's already upset when I left last time without saying goodbye. But, I dreaded to go to a ball or any parties. I guess I have no choice, but to go or I'll upset my only friends here.

The next day, we went to the mall and pick a dress.

I offered to buy them both an expensive dress and shoes because I know they can't afford it, although they furiously declined the offer, but I won at the end.

They were both happy with the dress they picked.

I enjoyed watching them as they tried some more dresses and after a quite number of dresses, finally, Mara picked a hot pink fully sequined taffeta mini strapless sheath peplum dress and white 3 inches open heels while Lilian picked a black embroidered and beaded on tulle with satin trim and a black 3.5 inches pumps.

I decided to wear that green short frock I owned recently. It's Mom's gift for my birthday with 5 inches nude stiletto.

Mostly shoes she gave me, are stilettos. She wants me to get myself used to wearing stilettos and used it professionally. Which I did. As a commercial model, I had to. Although I hate it, but if it pleases my mom I had to.

Tomorrow it's the ball at the Valdepeñas Mansion.

*****

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