4.1

SNOW was yawning getting out of the room. She was still drowsy but her body spontaneously got up. Her body was used to getting up early. Eight o'clock was already late to her.

Maybe she should look for a part-time job because she felt she was wasting time hanging out in that house. Or she will just apply for a part-time maid to Tatay Eli. She doubted that the old man would agree.

When she opened the door, she lost her sleepiness because a bouquet of flowers greeted her. She picked it up from the floor. It was from Jason. He was asking for forgiveness.

She was hesitant to return the flower or just accept it. She didn't want to waste the bouquet. That was the first time someone gave her flowers, would she still reject it? Also, they were very beautiful and seem to be begging her to accept them.

"Good morning, Snow," said a voice.

She saw Sebastian yesterday but she still seemed to be starstrucked. Only then did she see an actor and she never thought she would be able to be with him in the same roof. Snow smiled immediately. "Good morning."

“How is your stay in our house? No one is bothering you? ”

"No one," she lied.

“Really? My brother's not pestering you? ” Sebastian asked amused.

“Brother? Dylan?”

"Yes."

"He's nice."

"He was kind to women in the beginning," he said then smiled foolishly. He was really cute. "I thought that flower came from him."

“Ah, this? Ahm… ”

"Looks like you capture a San Gabriel already," he teased.

"Oh, no!"

Sebastian just smiled and said goodbye. She thought he was just leaving but he went straight to the bedroom. He just came home. It was also difficult to be an actor, she thought being a call center agent was even better.

She turned her attention back to the flower when Sebastian was gone. "Accepted or not?" she asked the poor flowers.

"Accept it," said a voice. Snow's blood boiled immediately when she saw Jason. He went up the stairs, coincidentally her room was the closest to the stairs.

“Do you think you can fool me, huh? You will not be kind overnight. ”

"I'm really sorry, okay?" he said, not looking sincere. He even looked irritated. She further proved that he had a different agenda in that mock apology.

"What's your trip again?"

“I'm just sorry, you have a lot to say. Is it wrong to apologize? I realized I'm at fault. I offended you.”

"You're not sincere."

"But still, I know how to apologize ."

"Then I will not accept your apology for now," she said then handed him the flowers. "I will when you are already sincere."

Snow returned to the room and closed the door. Snow snorted as she sat on the bed. What a waste of flowers. If Jason hadn't come, she would have accepted them.

"That's okay, Snow," she said to herself. "Many more guys will give you flowers someday."

Snow spent a few minutes inside before leaving the room. Thanks and she didn't even see Jason's shadow. She went straight to Tasha's room and woke up the latter. Tasha gave her a go signal that she can wake her up at any time.

In fact, they had plans for that day. Tasha will go shopping. "Good morning!" she greeted Tasha warmly when she opened the door for her.

"Wait for me at the dining area," she said, her voice still hoarse. Smiling, Snow just nodded.

She caught Cindy preparing food at the dining table. "Good morning, Cindy," she greeted the woman.

“Good morning, Snow. Do you want to eat? I'll get you some coffee.”

"Anastasia and I will have breakfast together."

"She's still asleep."

"I woke her up."

"Did you wake her up?" Cindy asked in shock.

And she told Cindy about her conversation with Tasha. Cindy was surprised but smiled. “It was good that you convinced Ma'am Anastasia to leave her room. That one is pale because she is not seeing the sun."

Tasha and Snow had breakfast together then swim first while passing the time. The malls were still closed. "It's nice to wake up early," Tasha said when they were just by the pool.

“Of course, it seems like you can do a lot. By the way, do you think Adam will accept me at his restaurant if I apply as a part-timer?”

“Of course. But do you really need to work? ”

"Of course. Just a few months, it is enrollment again. My savings is just enough for tuition for a semester.”

"I can pay for your tuition."

"I do not want that. I already live here, how can I even ask for tuition from you? I want to spend what I worked for. ”

"The height of your pride," she said but smiling.

"I'm not rich but I still have principles."

"Yes, ma'am. All right, I will help you find a part-time job. But what about me? I will be alone in this huge house again. ”

“I will not leave, I will just work. Besides, your cousins ​​are here, you can get close to them.”

"How can I do that when they seem to be moving away voluntarily?"

“Start with Cole. Both of you feel alone. You have a chance to be close. ”

“You’re always talking about Cole. Do you like him? ” teased Tasha.

"I do not know. Maybe? ”

"You never liked anyone before?" Tasha asked amused.

“I am too busy to have a crush with anybody. It is only now that I have free time so I can roll my eyes around,” she said then laughed.

“If you like Cole, go ahead, I will try to get close to him. I will be your bridge. ”

"Hey, I don't mean that," she said, embarrassed.

“I know but I want you to end up with him if you like him. That way, you don't really have to leave here. ” Tasha and Snow just laughed.

"ANDREW SAID that you are looking for a part-time job," Tatay Eli asked Snow when they met that night. The old man just returned from Cavite.

"Yes."

"I can help you."

"Tasha also offered me help but you know what I will answer, right?"

Tatay Eli smiled and nodded. “So I thought of another way. Andrew will talk to you about that. I feel a little bad so I will rest first. See you tomorrow, hija. ”

She took Tatay Eli to his room, his room was only on the ground floor of the house so that it would not be difficult to climb the stairs. "Let's just talk tomorrow, huh?" said the old man before finally entering his room.

"All right."

At the library, Snow met Andrew. She received a call from the latter to go there.

"I got you a scholarship grant," he told her.

"Huh?" Snow did not know if she had just heard wrong. She has a scholarship allowance received from a city congressman but she felt different from the scholarship Andrew said.

“SGC Foundation will cover your tuition fee for the whole year. There is also a weekly allowance of two thousand pesos… ”

"Two thousand weekly?" his eyes widened. That was her one-month allowance on the scholarship from the congressman. "Wait, Andrew, I did not request a scholarship—"

“I did that for you. Why haven't you done it before? Your grades have passed the scholarship grant requirement of the San Gabriel foundation. ”

"I had a grade of two last year," she replied reluctantly.

“It's fine. I have fixed it. ”

"Did you change it?"

“No. I just asked them to accept you because there is only one subject with that grade. Also, your backer is strong.”

"It's embarrassing to Tatay Eli."

"Sir Elissus will not be relieved without helping you out, Snow."

“How can I thank him? You too."

“Don't mind me. I'm just doing my job. As for Sir Elissus, just continue being nice to Anastasia. I know that's all he wants. ”

Snow nodded and then smiled. "Good and you are smiling now," she commented to the man.

He looked embarrassed so his face became serious. "Hey," she said.

"I am smiling because your smile is contagious," he said then smiled again.

“You should always be like that. Not like you are carrying the world all the time. ”

"I looked like that?"

"Sometimes," she said then winked at him. She also said goodbye to Andrew immediately. She wanted to tell Anastasia the good news but something stopped her on the stairs.

"Wanna hang out with me?" Jason asked her.

She narrowed her eyes. "No," she sneered.

"Please…" he insisted.

"If it were just you, I'd rather be alone."

"You're mean."

"You're meaner."

"At least I apologized."

“Why? Should I apologize to you, huh? What have I done wrong to you?”

“You're making me crazy, can't you see? I didn't sleep last night just to buy the flowers early in the morning to apologize. ”

Snow was stunned because for the first time, she saw the sincerity in Jason's eyes. "You can't fool me," she said, but she herself was not convinced by her own voice. She was affected by what he said, she would admit that.

Instead of getting confused, she passed the man and ran up the stairs. "Hey, are you with me?" Tasha whispered to Snow.

"Of course."

She told her the good news and Tasha was very happy. After that they were talking about something else but her mind jumped again towards the scene with Jason on the stairs. The man's eyes were like a broken plaque flashbacking to her mind. Those sincere deep-set eyes…

“Something's bothering you. Is it Cole? ”

“Huh? No. We haven't even met yet. ”

"Then, who?"

"My stepmother," she lied. And because she thought about it, she also became curious how her stepmother was.

She called her Mama Evian when she got back to her room but she just got shouted. She did not even asked where she was on the continent or if she was eating well.

But what did she expect? She was the only fool who was expecting her stepmother to change. With sadness filling her chest, she decided to go to the kitchen to get a can of beer. She wanted to fall asleep.

"I didn't know that you're drinking." That was Caleb.

"Just a little," she replied with a smile.

The man also took a can of beer and then sat down next to her at the kitchen counter. "You can't sleep either?" he asked. Snow nodded. The two of them were just quiet, they were together there but they seem to have their own world.

When Caleb ran out of beer, he stood up and left. Caleb's successor was her mortal enemy in that house. "Why am I seeing different men with you here every night?"

"Don't start now, Jason," she threatened the man. Snow was not in a good mood and she might beat him. She was already full of criticisms from him.

"It's true," whispered the idiot.

She would just go to her room rather than having a heated conversation with Jason but he stopped her. He grabbed her hand and forced her to sit next to him. She withdrew her hand but did not leave. Jason was also quiet, he finally rested on accusing her of something.

And honestly, she felt at ease with him by her side. Somehow the sadness caused by her stepmother was reduced. She no longer wanted to explain the universe her feelings. She can only fit in the temporary peace, which was ironic, from Jason.