Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Isabella's pov;

Sonoma County Museum.

Museum?

I'm standing in front of a building carved with an ancient design with a name ... Museum. Why did Mr Martinez bring me here? Is this place he wanted me to take me? The most boring place in the world after my mom's workplace.

"What are you waiting for? Come on." Signalled me to follow him inside.

When I entered the museum, I felt like I should have gone to school today by lying that I had an important thing to do. Why am I here? Why did I agree when he asked me? I don't like it here. It's so silent. I could hear people footsteps since the place was so silent.

Mr Martinez was looking at a painting near the entrance and stood in front of it for a long time. I'm already feeling sleepy here. When I let out a yawn while waiting for him to move from that place, a guy in late 50s stared at me. Am I not allowed to yawn too? Uff!

People who were passing stared at my outfit and left. I know it wasn't up to the theme of the museum because some were in suits, some were casual who were tourists, some were in outfits for business meetings whereas I was in a flashy pink crop top with torn knee length denim jeans.

Finally, Mr Martinez moved away from that painting and walked in to explore the other things in the museum and I followed him. He stood in front of every painting, sculptures for a long time and looked at it. And I yawned secretly beside him. He didn't even say a word after entering the museum. It felt like I came alone here. If he's not going to talk with me then why did he bring me here? Why not come alone to stare at these boring pictures and sculptures?

Mr Martinez moved from one place to another with intervals of time.

I saw some tourists talking about some paintings in the museums and taking pictures. One of them walked to me and asked, "Can you please take a picture of us?"

"Yeah."

They looked like newlyweds. I bet they're on their honeymoon.

I asked them to stand in front of the painting they wanted and took pictures of them. They looked so cute, posing in a cute way.

I gave their camera back to them and said, "I hope it came out well."

They checked the pictures and thanked me and walked further into the museum. I never knew the museum was a fun spot for newlyweds.

"Do you know how to take a picture?" Mr Martinez asked me.

"Yup! I worked in studios too. I worked along with my friend, Sophia, so I had so much fun while I was working along with her. I didn't become a pro at taking pictures but I know a little about landscape and the lighting while taking a picture."

He gave a nod and returned to starting the paintings and I continued walking along with him.

When i looked from outside, it looked like some small house but inside, it's a never ending space. Moreover, I couldn't understand the meaning of the paintings. On one hand, every painting was in black and white and on the other side, there were paintings of colourful mountains and sceneries. I couldn't come to the conclusion about the theme of the museum. The sculptures were also different in their structures. There was one sculpture which caught my eye, a skeletal sculpture having a live dragon emerging out of its skull. What do they mean by this? What are they trying to portray to the visitors? While I was wondering about the museum, I saw a guide nearby explaining the museum to his guest so I eavesdropped on them a bit.

"One can walk through the time, from past to the present in the Exhibits in the Sonoma County Museum. Paintings reflect the beauty of nature in different histories. Every year..."

"What are you doing?" Mr Martinez called out to me so I stopped listening to the guide and walked after him.

After coming out of the museum, I felt alive. I took a deep breath of the air and let out a sigh of relief. If I was inside the museum for another hour, I bet I would have become one of the sculptures there.

Mr Martinez walked to the car and I followed him. He said to the driver to take us home. What!? What about lunch? I feel so hungry! He took me to a boring place and didn't talk to me and now he's taking me to the house without even a little food to taste. Is this what you call going out? I let out a sigh and leaned back in the car.

I should have gone to school today.

"Ms Garcia..."

I woke up and realised that I fell asleep in the car. When I turned to my side, Mr Martinez wasn't there. Later, I found that we're in front of Mr Martinez's house.

I got out of the car and walked on the pathway to the house. I didn't think my day would be like this. So boring! So hungry!

My phone rang. I took my phone to check who it was. Sophia? Why is she calling me now? Doesn't she have classes?

I answered it.

"Bella! Come to school right away!"

"Why? What happened?"

She ended the call. What's with this girl? Ending the call as soon as saying something serious. I looked at the time. It's 1 pm. It's break time after three classes.

I ran into the house and ran to my room and changed into my school uniform and came downstairs.

"Why are you wearing your school uniform?"

"I'm leaving for school, Mr Martinez."

"Now?"

"Yeah, something came up. See ya later, Mr Martinez." And left the house.

I came to the school. While I was walking to my classroom, I saw Ms Devlin in the hallway.

"Where didn't you attend the morning classes?"

"I slept in, Ms Devlin."

"Okay. Go to your classroom." And left.

I rushed to the classroom and when I stepped in, I saw Sophia laughing with our friends. Was it another prank that she played on me?

I walked to her and smacked her head and asked, "What are you playing with?"

She laughed and said that she was playing truth or dare and she got a dare to call me and ask me to come to school and said, "I didn't know you'd show up in real life."

"You sounded like you were in trouble. How could I stay in the house after hearing that from you?"

Noah teased us by mimicking music in the background which is played at the wedding.

I pinched Noah's ears and asked, "How can you play without me?" And smiled.

Sophia pulled my hands and made me sit beside her and said, "Were you busy when I called you?"

"Nah! Actually, I'm glad now. Ouch!"

"What is it?"

"I forgot!"

"What did you forget?"

"To eat! I was so hungry when you called me. I rushed here as soon as you called me and forgot to eat."

My friends laughed and teased me.

I stood from the place and said, "I'm going to the cafeteria. Who's coming with me?"

No one answered and looked at each other.

"What?"

"We just ate and came to class and started playing."

"So no one's coming with me? Liam, what about you?"

"I'm full."

Evelyn asked me, "Why didn't you ask me?"

I got happy and asked her, "Are you coming? Come on, let's go together."

"I'm full too." And smiled.

"Traitors."

Noah teased me, "Looks like you got to go alone." And laughed at me.

Someone wrapped their hand around my shoulder and said, "I'll go with her."

When I took a look, it's Harry. I removed his hand from my shoulder and said, "But I don't like to."

Liam stood from his place and gave a death stare at Harry. What if they start to fight like in the camp so i left the class by myself.

I got the food and sat at one of the tables in the cafeteria and started eating my food.

Harry sat in front of me with a cup of juice I didn't know. I ignored him and started eating the food.

"Why didn't you come in the morning?"

I ignored it and continued eating the food.

"Did you forget what happened in the camp? But I didn't. I still remember it every second of the moment. When I placed my lips on your cheeks, it felt so good. Your cheeks were so soft that made me want to kiss you more than just giving a peck..."

"What are you trying to do here?"

He smiled and said, "I'm pursuing you."

"And why is that? We've been studying together since middle school. Why didn't you pursue me earlier but now? And did you forget that you bullied me?"

"I said I didn't do any of those things. It's my friends who played pranks on you."

"So you were innocent among your friends. All you did was stand still and watch them playing pranks on others? You call them pranks? Sh*t! Please Leave before I throw this plate on you."

He didn't leave even after I said that to him. Shameless!

I finished my food and dropped the plate in the sink and took my chocolate drink from the counter and started walking to the class. I feel satisfied after I get my stomach full. Foods are the best!

"What should I do to make you fall in love with me?" Harry nagged while walking beside me.

"Speak all you want and I'm going to ignore it anyways."

"Why are you playing hard to get?"

"To get rid of you."

I felt suffocating all of a sudden. Harry was saying something to me but I couldn't hear it properly since I felt discomfort in my stomach too. When I tripped, Harry held me. I snapped at him and fell on the floor and fainted.

When I woke up, I was in the infirmary, lying on the bed where sick students lie. I saw the doctor talking with Ms Devlin, my homeroom teacher.

Seeing me waking up, Ms Devlin said, "Finally, you woke up."

"How did I end up here, Ms Devlin?"

"I have to ask you. What did you eat to be here? Doctor said you ate something you're allergic to. Can't you be more careful while eating?"

"Allergy? Was ginger in the food which I ordered? I was in a hurry because I felt so hungry so I didn't look at the food properly and ate everything. I'm sorry for causing trouble, Ms Devlin."

"It's fine. It's my duty to look after my students so don't be sorry. And be careful while you're eating next time." And left the infirmary.

Doctor said, "You are alright now but be attentive while eating food, Ms Garcia."

"Thank you, doc."

I saw Harry walking in the room.

"What are you doing here?"

Doctor said, "He's the one who took you here. He gets worried when you faint. If you want to thank someone, it's him." And left the infirmary.

I tried to get up from the bed, he rushed to me and tried to hold me but I stopped him and stood by myself.

"Are you feeling better?"

"Thank you." And walked out of the infirmary.

He followed me and said, "Doctor said to take food after sometime since you threw up everything during the treatment."

"Is this your new way to bully me by acting like you care?"

After that, he didn't follow me so I walked to the classroom freely but still felt discomfort in the throat since I threw up everything.

"Bella? How are you? We heard that you ate something allergy to you? Ms Devlin said you're Okay."

"Yeah, I'm fine." And sat in my place.

After some time, Harry came to the class, looked upset. He went straight to his place and sat with his friends.

After school got over, I went straight to Mr Martinez's house.

After I got up, I went to eat. The dining table was filled with many dishes.

I asked the chef, "Was someone important coming today?"

He shook his head and said, "Mr Martinez told me to cook these foods for you, Ms Garcia."

"For me? Are you kidding me? How can he say..."

"He's telling the truth. It's for you." Mr Martinez said while taking a seat in front of me.

I asked the chef, "Did you put ginger in any one of these dishes?"

The chef said, "Mr Martinez asked me not to include ginger in any of the dishes, since you're allergic to that so I didn't cook the food using it, you can eat comfortably, Ms Garcia."

"Thank you, chef and thank you Mr Martinez." And started eating the dishes.

"I heard that you fainted in school."

"How... How did you know that?"

"Mr Johnson got a call from one of your teachers and informed me."

"Y-Yeah."

"Why did you eat it?"

"I was so hungry so ate hurriedly and failed to notice ginger on my plate."

"If you're that hungry, you could have eaten here before leaving for school."

"I didn't know that you asked the chef to cook all these foods for me, and I was in a hurry to school. It's my mistake."

"Well, Eat."

I gave a nod and continued eating the food which was prepared for me. I tried every dish in front of me. It was so delicious.

I said to the cook, "Every dish tastes so good. I have never eaten food like this before. Do you own any restaurant?"

He smiled and said, "No. Why?"

"I bet if you open a restaurant, people start pouring in once they tasted your food. Your restaurant will be popular not only in Santa Rosa but in California. Do you have any idea of opening a restaurant?"

"I've never given a thought about that."

"Then, please give it a thought."

Mr Martinez said, "If you want to eat his dishes, you can come here."

"What about after the contract? Big brother said I won't be allowed in this house after the contract. What if I want to taste his dishes?"

"You can come here anytime even after the contract."

"Really?" I got excited after hearing Mr Martinez.

He gave a nod and stood from his chair after he finished eating. He left after saying, "Your medicines will be in your room."

"Thank you, Mr Martinez."

After seeing Mr Martinez walking out of the dining room, I whispered to the chef, "Don't waste your talent. Give it a thought about opening a restaurant." And continued eating.

He smiled and gave a nod.