Chapter 14: Chapter 14

I'm quite the whole time I've been traveling back to our villa. I'm also trying not to smile whenever Kendric will just flash in my mind about what happened earlier.

I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Kendric said yes to me, but I admit I got scared about what might happen to us. It's only a matter of time before my father knows that I'm about to go out with another man except for the one he wanted me to date.

It's crucial, but I think it's worth it.

"You seemed happy," Reagan finally spoke to me.

Ever since he interrupted my talk with Kendric earlier, he hasn't said anything about it. Reagan was quite serious about it. He's also like a father figure to me, only closer to me than my father but even more strict. He's in his 40s, so I can assume he's just being cautious about everything.

"Have you ever been in love?" I suddenly asked.

He's been serving our family since he was 24, and I've never seen him take a leave for work or out of his duty. He's quite loyal to my father and to his job, so I didn't get to see if he did have something settled in his life just for once. Reagan's also an attractive guy for his age, so I can't see any problem that he'll have if he asks out women of his age too.

"Reagan, have you been in love?" I asked again, only much eager.

"I have no time for love, miss," he answered without any emotion in his voice. I bit my lip for an instant regret about what I asked.

It's sad to think of a life without any love at all. There's no excitement that will make you wake up every morning feeling much more alive and the thought that you have someone who's waiting for you. That sounds dull and lifeless; it's like you're waking up feeling like a robot getting ready to be operated for work. That's unfair.

"But there's a girl from your past, right?" I asked again just to keep the conversation from being so awkward.

I saw how Reagan's jaw clenched, and I smiled.

"So there is one," I said between my smiles.

"My personal information is not to be discussed with you, miss," he said with no emotion at all.

I smiled at his reaction. At least his life had some color before, rather than none at all. His life is quite interesting, but I guess I'm not the right person to talk about it.

I stopped pestering Reagan when my phone vibrated and I received a message from Kendric.

From: Kendric

Tell me if you have arrived already. take care.

I couldn't help but smile. I like him.

That's the best label I can give my feelings now. It's not shallow, and I feel encouraged when I have thoughts about him.

I replied to him.

To: Kendric

gotcha, boss.

He's good at teasing me, so maybe I could tease him too. Besides, we're just getting started on getting close with each other anyway.

I'm startled when my phone suddenly rings. It's him.

I looked at Reagan, and he was busy doing some reports on his laptop, so I moved to the backseat of the van to give myself some privacy. When I answered the call, Kendric spoke right away.

"Gotcha boss?"

I chuckled when I heard his little complaint.

"Then what do you want me to call you?" I teasingly asked. I'm also looking at Reagan in case he looks in my direction.

"I don't know. Honey? Darling? Baby? Not just boss," he said.

I raised an eyebrow with what I just heard. Seriously? He's that kind of guy? Just so charming.

"We're just dating," I said to calm his expectations about call signs. It's not that I don't want to have call signs with him, but I just want to be comfortable with him by saying his name out loud. I didn't even get to say his name often or even once, so I want to start there.

"Then what do you want me to call you?" He asked me back my own question.

I paused for a second when a sudden thought came out of my mind upon his question. I'm certain that there's only one thing I want to hear from him.

"I want you to say my name."

I bit my lip after saying that.

I got nervous when he went silent, and all I can hear is him breathing. My timing was just awful when I saw our huge gate meters away from the van. But as I'm about to tell him goodbye, he said one word that blew up my mind.

"Monique"

I softly gasped as I realized what he said. That's my second name! How does he know that information about me?

I feel like I'm floating in the air, and the inside of my stomach is suddenly swirling around like crazy. His voice is soothing, and it sent shivers down my spine as he said that one word. I didn't even get to experience this kind of feeling with Gil, but with him, it only took a month to make me go crazy like this. God! I must be bewitched.

"Are you still there?"

I snapped out of my thoughts when I heard him speak again. I know I seem flustered right now, but it's pretty okay. At least I'm not with him, and he will never know my reaction to this.

"Yes, still here," I said as I saw that we were already entering the villa.

"Monique," he called again. God, this is music to my ears.

"Yes?" I answered.

He chuckled softly. "You're liking this too much, aren't you?"

I closed my eyes and massaged the side of my forehead while trying to hide my smile. This is so embarrassing. I need a time off.

Our van stopped, and the car door opened. Reagan got out immediately and looked at me. As he saw me holding my phone, he pointed at his watch, and I nodded at him afterwards. He moved away from the van, inches away, to give me privacy.

I sighed when I realized it was time to face my father.

"Gotta go, sorry," I said sadly.

I heard his deep sigh. "Message me if you're free."

I immediately said okay, and he said his goodbyes. When he ended the call, I had already texted him.

To: Kendric

not enough time. I'll make it up to you some time.

As soon as I got out of the van, Reagan handed me my bag. I even forgot about it just by talking with Kendric. Too many embarrassing moments are happening to me lately.

Kendric didn't reply at once, and I checked my phone from time to time while walking towards our mansion inside the villa. It's a long pathway to our huge front door, and the van is not fit to park somewhere near the entrance of the mansion, so we have to walk for minutes.

The pathway didn't change at all. It's still full of flowers from both sides, and the vines seem to be growing healthier than before, as they almost reach the tops of every light post here. The fresh air is so new to me since there's only pollution around the city, and the sunlight here does not intend to burn my skin. It's clearly much better than the big city, but I can't live here; there's only problem along with this house whenever we go back here.

I gasped for air when I realized I never got to talk with Reagan about what happened earlier. I should tell him to remain silent, or else my father will try to interfere with me again. We must keep this secret for a while.

I rushed to walk beside Reagan, and I talked to every guard that I passed through, asking them to move meters away from us so that they couldn't hear what I was about to say.

"Reagan," I called him first.

He turned to face me for a second and looked straight ahead again. I closed my eyes and bit my lip.

"Can I ask you a favor?" I slowly asked as I lowered my voice.

He looked at me again, and I could see his frown.

"Did you hear anything earlier?" I asked again.

"You mean the call you made inside the van, miss?" he asked back.

I nodded. "Can we not discuss this with my dad?"

He stopped walking, and I stood up straight when he turned in my direction. Jeez, this is scary.

"You know I can't do that, miss," he said with such authority in his voice.

I pouted as he walked again. I followed him immediately.

"Please?" I held his arm, and when he looked in my direction, I pouted again.

"Angela," he said my name as a signal that I'm about to get in trouble, but I just smiled at him.

"You're like an uncle to me, Reagan, so please don't tell Dad yet."

He sighed and moved his arm away. "Just this once, okay?"

I smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

We continue walking until we reach the front door, and I can already see one of our caretakers sweeping some dust on the floor. It's Bertha! She's one of my childhood friends here. She and her family are the only ones that my dad trusts since he bought this big piece of land and built a villa on it. I ran to her as I shouted her name. When she looked at me, she smiled back and waved at me.

"Angela, you've grown!"

She hugged me as soon as I got near her. Her face didn't change a bit; there are still her chubby cheeks and her cute little bangs. It felt nostalgic when I saw her.

"I thought you were also studying in the city?" I asked. I heard from my father years ago that she got accepted into a university around the city, but we never had the chance to see each other there. She's two years older than me, so I guess her schedule might be much busier than mine.

"I got back months ago when I got pregnant," she said in the most casual way she could ever tell me. I just smiled at her, even though I'm shocked from the inside.

"You'll be fine, and I'll be here for a while, so I'll have a bonding session with your child some time," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

She just smiled and told me that she'd be back after she finished her chores.

The front door suddenly opened after Bertha walked away. I saw her mother, Aunt Lucille, from inside. I hugged her immediately to express my gratitude toward her. I'm trying to ask her about Bertha, but she asked me something about which I got confused.

"You must be very worried about your father. I just changed his sheets."

My lips parted as she said something I didn't even know. When Reagan held my arms to let me enter the house, I got even more confused.

"What is she talking about?" I abruptly asked. This is suddenly making me uncomfortable.

Reagan just looked at me as if I were still a child.

"Tell me!" My voice echoed around the house.

As I looked around, I noticed how this house was almost empty. The furniture is still covered with blankets, and it seems like it is not available to use.

My emotions piled up, and I closed my eyes to contain my sudden outburst, while I'm still confused about why my father even told me to come here.

"Where's my dad?" I asked. I'm expecting to hear that he's either on the balcony reading some report or in the study room trying to make another proposal, but what I heard was not what I was expecting.

"He's in his room."

Even though I'm confused, worried, and tired from the travel back here, I got upstairs and ran as quick as I could to his room. When I'm finally in front of his door, I hide my emotions and take a deep breath.

But as soon as I opened the door, I covered my mouth in shock when I saw my dad lying in bed with lots of tubes attached to his body. He seems to be sleeping peacefully while the nurse beside him is busy changing his IV drip.

A tear fell from my eye. Seconds later, I found myself crying while I was still standing at the doorway.

My mind is bombarded with lots of thoughts about what's happening, but then he suddenly spoke.

"My dearest daughter."

I guess my world just crashed all over again.