Chapter 9

Aviena's POV

I just raised an eyebrow at River when his eyes landed on me. I just looked back at the fiance as well. Why am I even glancing at River? Why? Do I expect him to propose to me like that when the thing is we're just both playing?

Before Sert's father could kiss his mother, Sert's loud cries were heard. He was crying so much that his parents were immediately confused. His mother picked him up immediately.

“Why are you crying, Sert? Don’t you want Mommy and Daddy to marry each other?” his mother asked him.

"I thought we already talked about this, Sertio?" his Daddy asked looking nervous now. Based on his face, he was anxious about what his son would say.

"You don't want us to live together, Baby?" the woman calmly asked him as if he wanted to understand the child. Sert shook his head. The woman turned to her fiance before slowly smiling sadly and was about to remove the ring when Sert shook his head again.

“It’s not like that, Mommy! It's just Tito River married the girl I wanted to marry someday! ” Sert shouted as River pointed at the two of us. My lips parted slightly as I looked at him. It seems that what River said just sinks into his brain now. I can't stop laughing because of that.

"He's a traitor, Mommy!" Sert shouted. The discolored face of her Mommy and Daddy gradually returned. Laughter filled the area and almost everyone wanted to pinch Sert's cheek. I couldn’t help but laugh as I looked at him.

“You’re stupid, River. I was almost nervous that she won't marry me! You know how much of a fanboy my son is! What bad timing you have. ” Sert's Daddy glared at River while River just laugh. Sert calmed down as well but look at River and me while being upset. His Auntie took him too.

His Daddy and Mommy were left in front of us.

"Hi, I'm Tashi." His Mommy smilingly held out her hand to me. I smiled and accepted it before introducing myself.

"Spring."

“Oh! The one who makes his own company? ” I can't help but look at him. I was just familiar with the name but don't know about him. Spring was the one who build his own company from the scratch. Of all the Savellano, he was the only one who did not ask for even a penny from his family. I just don't know the reason why.

But all of those Savellano have their own companies. Four names are well-known throughout the Philippines.

Spring and Tashi are nice to talk with. They are kind. I wasn't bored either because of Spring's noise. Just the opposite of his brother, River. This one doesn't even speak that much.

When they were talking about business, I said goodbye to go to the comfort room.

"I'll go with you," River said. I smiled at him so he gave me a bad look.

"Nevermind. They might even think you're dead to me. Ask me what I charmed you with. ” I was still laughing so he just turned around.

Before I could get to the comfort room, I immediately heard the murmur of the people. Why is it that bad things always happen in this kind of place?

“River’s probably just having fun with her. Everyone knows that Marissa is still the one. ”

“That’s true. I think Marissa's just having her vacation right now but I'm sure when she's back, River will come back to her too. ”

Marissa. I don't know who she is but she's always one of those people who's linked with River. As far as I know, she was also one of River's previously reported girlfriends.

If River wanted her, why did he have to marry someone else? Is she clingy? River said back then that he didn’t like clingy people.

I just shrugged. Why am I even interfering?

But I just can't help but be curious about Marissa. Is she River's lover? Why do I always just hear something about her in some places?

Fortunately, I peacefully headed to the comfort room. Not everyone is talking about that. Their conversation also shifted to Strait and Tashi's proposal. Many are rooting for them while some are not. Well, that's life too. But sometimes it's annoying to just cry when other people talk about you.

Somehow I was also able to relax that night but of course, it was also a bit stressful with his relatives who were looking for time to insult him.

After that day, I also see River here at home from time to time but he is often in his study room.

I was stretching when I stood up on the bed. I'm going to go out. I'm already bored here at home. I think I'll go to my condo so that I can somehow be comfortable moving. In River's house, people are always on the lookout for what I do.

I wore my hat and of course my hoodie. I was walking slowly and at the other gate to pass because I could see the group of maids who were already marching to the other side.

I was about to leave when I jumped in shock because of Veron, the maid I always talked to.

"Where are you going, Ma'am?" she asked.

“Veron, I told you to just call me Vena. And I'm going out. Do not be noisy."

“Why are you secretly going out? You're not even locked up here, huh?” she asked me so I turned to her.

"Why do you have so many questions?" I laughed at her.

“I’ll go now. I'll just buy you something,” I said. She nodded at me because of that and just let me go.

I just really don’t want to hear gossip and bad things about me right now. It's my rest day. I don’t want to stress myself with such things.

I was walking in the garden when someone spoke next to me.

"Where are you going?" River asked as he was reading the newspaper here in the garden.

"Why do you look like a rat that's trying to sneak?" he asked with a raised eyebrow at me.

"I'm not!" I stared at him so his eyebrows rose even more.

“So why are you dressed like that and looking like someone who steals something?” He even folded his arms as if interrogating.

“I’m going to go outside. I'll buy something. ” I don't have a car here yet so I will need to commute as well. I will buy some art materials for myself and of course a gift for my niece and nephews. I plan to visit them today because they are stressed about their finals.

"Then why don't you just ask some of our maids to get you what you want?"

“I want to get fresh air! Duh! Don’t you think that it’s suffocating here?” I asked, still puzzled.

"And why is that?" I was contemplating if I'll tell him or not but why would I say that?

"Why? Am I not allowed to leave? ”

I started to walk but he also immediately touched my wrist.

"I'll drop you off," he said, so I looked at him. I just kept my eyes on him for a long time until I decisively agreed. It's not bad either. It's also scary to commute.

“Why are you here?” I asked him.

"It's my house." He frowned so I couldn't stop the pout.

"I know that this is your house but it's just so weird seeing you here," I said so he raised an eyebrow at me.

"You're often away, often busy at work or maybe—" I didn't go on to say because we don't care when it comes to women or their girlfriends unless it's damaging one's reputation.

I also changed the way we talked. We are just casual with each other. We are more acquaintances than lovers.

"Where are we?" he asked me.

"It's just at the nearby mall," I said so he looked at me for a long time.

“Are you sure? Maybe later you will have a hard time, ” he told me. Compared to the mall we went to, it was average so many people would take a picture.

I frowned at River as he came down as well.

"What are you doing?"

“I’ll come with you. I also need fresh air, ” he told me. I just nodded. Why should I stop him?

"So don't you have work, right now?" I asked him so he turned to me.

"I don't have one." I just shrugged my shoulders before continuing to walk.

We went straight to the department store. He just followed me as he watched what I bought. He also amuses himself by looking around at the different things when I stop walking and keeps on looking at things. He carried baskets that were already full in both hands.

"Is this all you want?" he asked me. I nodded because I had already bought them all.

We were walking around the mall for a long time, we were about to eat when a woman noticed him. Well, he has been noticed for a while because of his good looks. Who would not notice such an appearance?

"You're Vena's boyfriend, aren't you?" the woman asked as she watched his face.

"Maybe it's not him, Beh," the woman's companion whispered before she pulled her.

“No. That's him, Beh! I can't be wrong, his face is all over the internet!" That's the reason why we stopped. I'm also leaving slowly just in case they realize it's him.

"Wait, it's Vena, oh!" she said pointing at me. My lips were wide open because of it. People were looking at us already.

“It's Vena! Vena is here! ”

Some shouting was heard so some people gathered just to take a picture of me. I gave in to the others but with the crowd, some guards had to come to help us. My lips quivered when I realized that River was guarding the others there.

I don't know what's wrong with me but I saw myself trying to run with River. I always see this in movies, might as well try it for myself because I'm an actress.

I couldn't help but laugh when even River's guard escaped.

“What the heck is wrong with you, Woman?” River said that he looked bad at me but a smile could also be seen on his lips.

“I just want to try it. You have guards. ” I was still laughing so he couldn't help but grin at me.

He was still carrying the belongings so I am also very grateful.

I treated him somewhere near here where I often eat. He also came with me. When he finished, he also took me home. Where my family was living in.

"Thank you for today," I said smiling at him.

“You won’t even ask me to go inside? And introduce me to your family?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Why would I? We are just married on paper. ”