Chapter 16: Chapter 16

Isabella's pov;

"Hahaha. I got high scores on the test, mom!"

"It looks like you studied hard for the test. I think it's a good decision to allow you to work in the library. Not only do we get money through it, but also you use the time to study. That's why I always say, 'the atmosphere is so important' Did you understand?"

"Yeah, mom."

Did she think I studied while working in the library? Okay, let it be like this for a while and I'll explain it to her later.

"Since you scored high marks, I'm going to cook your favourite seafood today." She took the bag full of shrimps and continued, "I knew you'd get high scores, so I bought it in advance."

I gave a thumbs up while making a big smile on my face while saying, "My mom is the best!"

She laughed and walked to the area where we cooked food. Since we're living in a one-bedroom house, there's a space where we cook the food. It has an induction stove and some kitchen appliances for cooking the food.

"Aren't you going to help me?"

"Coming, mom."

We cleaned the shrimp together and mom started peeling the outer shell of the shrimp.

"How do you want the shrimps to be?"

"I want fried shrimp with the hot sauce you prepare for the chicken wings."

"Okay. Let's do it that way."

While mom was cooking the food, I don't know why but I remembered Mr Martinez all of a sudden.

"Mom, can I take some to my friend tomorrow?"

She nodded with a smile.

Mom finished cooking the shrimp with hot sauce and kept the pot in front of me. I leaned forward and sniffed the aroma of the hot sauce coming from the shrimps and exclaimed, "Wow! Smells delicious."

"Stop sniffing and start eating the food. What if it gets cold when you finish sniffing?"

I took the first bite of the shrimp and the taste of hot sauce melted in my mouth. The spiciness was so good.

"Mom, I love you."

She laughed and continued eating the shrimp along with me.

"Get marks like this in the future and I'll make more of your favourite dishes every day."

After finishing dinner, mom pointed to a box saying, "Here's the box in which I put some shrimps inside. Don't forget to take this along with you tomorrow when you leave for school."

"Okay, mom."

On the next day,

In school, I let out a yawn while listening to a boring lecture by Mr Brett. Sophia poked me and signalled to check the phone.

I took my phone and checked it. There was a message notification from Sophia. I opened Sophia's chat box to see what it is about.

Sophia - I'm going to a friend's house party tonight. Wanna join?

House party? But today I have to go to Mr Martinez's house after school. I replied to her that I have work to do and put my phone back into my bag and continued listening to the boring lecture of Mr Brett.

The class ended.

Noah came to my place and said, "I heard that they're going to hold a music and basketball match on the same day. Is that for real?"

I gave a nod and said, "It's better than fighting for which event should come first. In this way, there is no harm to both events."

Evelyn, "I heard that you're the one who suggested this to the music department secretary."

Noah asked, "What? Are you the one who recommended that?"

I let out a nervous laugh and said, "Yeah. I thought it'll solve the chaos between us with the music department."

"It's not going to solve, you just made it bigger."

"How?"

"Both events on the same day? It's going to be chaotic."

"No. If we planned it well, I'm sure both events will be held adequately." I leaned back and asked Liam, "Aren't you saying anything? Why are you being silent?"

Liam said, "I'm not on the basketball team nor in music. Why do I have to care?" continued writing something in his notebook.

Noah asked Liam, "Dude! What happened to you? You're talking like your soul is out of the body."

Noah went to Liam's place and started talking with him.

Sophia sat silent.

I pushed lightly on Sophia's shoulder saying, "What's with you? Why are you silent? Is it because I rejected the offer?"

"It's not the first time you're rejecting me because of work so it's fine. But I'm worried about the assignment given by Mr Brown."

"If it's about an assignment, then I'm the one who has to get worried. Not you. Why are you worried? You're a genius, girl!"

Sophia smiled at what I said.

Miss Devlin entered the class so everyone went back to their places.

When I looked at Harry accidentally, I caught him looking at me. After he saw me, he turned his head quickly away from me. What's with him?

I called him. His phone rang. Ms Devlin made him go out of the class since he didn't put the phone on silent during the class.

The class ended.

Sophia, "Where are you rushing to?" Asked while seeing me packing things into my bag.

"I was the reason for Harry going out of the class. I have to run away before he sees me."

"When will you stop teasing him?"

I put my things quickly into my bag and rushed out of the class to escape from Harry. But when I came out of the class, he wasn't there. I let out a sigh of relief and walked peacefully in the hallway.

I saw Harry standing along with his friends on the stairs. I hid from him by standing behind the wall and waiting for him to move away from the stairs so that I could run from there.

Argh! Why is he taking so long?

Someone tapped on my shoulder which made me jump a little in my place. When I turned around, it was Ms Devlin.

"Ms Devlin?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I... I..."

She looked at where I was looking before and asked, "Are you hiding from Harry?"

I gave a nod.

"Why? Are you still scared of him? Did he bully you again?"

I shook my head and said, "It's not something he did, it's something I did."

"Interesting. What did you do this time?"

"Ms Devlin, during your class, I made a call to Harry and his phone rang. I didn't know that his phone was not silenced. Because of me, he was thrown out of the class today so I'm scared of what he will do back at me."

"You're not the reason he went out of the class today. He didn't silence his phone so it was his mistake. But still, what you did is a mistake too."

"I'm sorry, Ms Devlin."

"Are you sure that I'm the one who needs your apology?"

"Ms Devlin? What are you trying to say?"

Ms Devlin pointed at Harry and said, "Go and apologise to him."

"B-But... Okay."

I came out of the wall where I was hiding and climbed down the stairs and stood in front of him. Harry looked at me suspiciously while his friends gave me a disgusted look.

"I'm sorry for my behaviour. I promise I won't do that again in class hereafter." I apologised to Harry.

One of his friends put his hands around my shoulder saying, "Did the fox finally repent?"

Who is he calling fox?

Another guy asked, "If you're planning to apologise properly, do it in front of the school."

"What?"

Harry, "I'm tired of her, come on, let's go find another Lackey." Said his friends.

Harry took his friends and walked away from me. What just happened here?

While I was blank, Ms Devlin asked me, "Did it work?"

"I-I think so, Ms Devlin."

She patted my head saying, "There you go. It worked, right?"

I smiled and said, "Yeah, I think it worked. Thank you, Ms Devlin."

She gave a thumbs up and left.

Bored of me? Why did Harry say that? That was the thing in my mind while Ms Garcia was talking to me.

I came to Mr Martinez's house.

"Rose, is Mr Martinez home?"

She said, "No, mam. It looks like he's still in the company."

I gave the box of shrimps that mom made yesterday to the cook and said, "I brought this to Mr Martinez, can you heat it and serve it to him tonight?"

"Yes, mam."

"Thank you."

I turned to Rose and said, "Okay, then I'll be in my room. What about Big brother? Is he here?"

"No, mam."

"Okay then, I'll go to my room."

"Yes, mam."

I came to the room which was given to me. I dropped the bag on the table and dropped myself on the bed. Because of the comfortable feeling I get from the soft bed, I slept without my awareness.

Someone knocked on the door which woke me up from sleep. Did Mr Martinez arrive?

I got out of the bed and opened the door, Big brother was standing in front of me.

"Big brother, Did Mr Martinez come?"

"He slept already."

"What? How?"

"Like how he slept all these years."

"Why didn't you wake me up when he arrived?"

"He said not to. Are you able to go home like this or would you like to sleep here?"

"Sleep here? Are you kidding me? My mom would get mad if I didn't go home. I should go home."

Big brother gave me money but I refused to take it by saying, "I don't want money today. I didn't do what I signed for so it's fine. I don't need the money."

I walked into the room and took my bag and came out of the room saying, "Good night, Big brother." And started walking to the stairs.

I came out of the house and got into the car which will pick up and drop me off every day.

"Let's go, Mateo."

"Yes, mam."

While I was on the way, I thought about what Big Brother said. 'like how he slept these years' What did he mean by that? How did he sleep all these years? I never gave a thought to how Mr Martinez slept before meeting me.

Mr Martinez's pov;

While I was entering the house, it was already 7. p.m. it's past the time of sleeping time. I bet she would have left by this time.

The Head of the maid said, "Sir, Ms Garcia was waiting for you in her room, Sir."

Waiting? She's still here waiting for me? But why?

I walked to her room and opened the door and found her sleeping on the bed like a child. I closed it slowly and headed to my room. I took a shower and came out of the bathroom while drying my wet hair with a towel.

Mr Johnson came to my room and asked, "Shall I wake up Ms Garcia, Sir?"

"No need. Let her sleep. Bring me my medicine."

"Yes, Sir."

After some time, Mr Johnson brought me the medicines which will put me to sleep and left my room.

I looked at the medicines in my hand. The view wasn't new to me because I've grown up with these medicines. Since I couldn't fall asleep, I took these medicines and slept till the sun showed up. After Isabella showed up, she made her forget about the medicines I've been taking all these years.

Someone knocked on the door, I told them to come inside.

The cook. He was carrying my dinner.

I kept the medicines on the table and got ready to eat the food.

He placed the plate on the table, pointed to a dish and said, "Ms Garcia brought this for you, Sir."

"Okay. You may leave now."

I opened the lid and found shrimp with some sauce. I took the first bite of the shrimp and felt good. The sauce tastes spicy but still tastes good. Who prepared this? Is it Isabella? But she said she doesn't know how to cook. I think it's her mother who made this food. It tastes delicious. Isabella was lucky to eat her mother's food.

I finished eating my dinner and took the medicines to sleep.