First encounter

Chapter 2

That's why my course is the same because Aunt Mommy chose it for me. He said he expected me to help my cousin in running his own hotel but I only reached 27 years old and I was never able to manage the hotel because of my passion as a tennis player. I think I'd rather throw a ball and soak in the sun.

I got up when I heard a rustle and saw that Devillaine was already pulling my suitcase and showing me some clothes to wear.

"Devi!"

"New!" his imitation. "Mommy! Novy doesn't want to come! He's just lying on the bed and he's not ready yet!" he reported and in less than a minute the door to my room opened.

He is fully dressed and I am the only one they are waiting for. I pouted when I saw her.

"Auntie, pass..."

"It's impossible, sweetheart. Get up now. We're going to be late for our flight," he said and he walked over to me-to my bed.

He pulled my thick comforter while hitting my hip. He knows that I hate being spanked on my butt because it makes it bounce, eh!

I just heard Devillaine's annoying laugh then she came out carrying my suitcase.

Aunty pulled my arm so that I could get up completely. At the same time, he gave me my clothes that my cousin had prepared.

"Mommy, do I still need to come with you? Daddy can celebrate his birthday together with his family! Why do I still feel sorry for you?" I asked only for him to pinch my butt. "Auntie, well..." I was confused.

"Let's go, son. Get dressed, okay? Besides, you're still part of their family even if your Mommy and Daddy left you." He also left me after that.

Am I still part of their family? What?

My frown lasted until we got to Canada. Coach-Ninang Avemn is with us. She's also with her youngest daughter, Avian, who is 7 years old. Yeah, right they can even have a new child with Ninong. Because she is too young to get pregnant again.

"Do you have a plan for your nephew's future, Novyann?" mother asked my aunt.

We are at the hotel which is close to the airport and we are currently checking in. My cousin and Avian were sitting next to me. Devi is busy on her phone and chats with anyone on her Facebook account. Once again, I caught him smiling as if he was also happy with the people he talked to.

Even the boy next to me is doing the same. I also have my own account but I don't like to soak my phone. I prefer to just practice tennis all day or watch that kind of movie.

"I have a man in my heart for her. Guess who?" I heard Tita ask more. I already know that thing but I just don't pay much attention because she told me that in the last two years but she never introduced me to a man.

He will direct me to the man he likes. He thinks that he is not like Daddy. I don't know if there are still men who stick to one with a woman. From those I see around me, from my co-players, they are all brokenhearted. So I can say that there is no sensible man in the world. Daddy is really with him, who knows only good things about his life.

"I'm not a fortune teller, Novyann. Just tell me already," said the godmother.

"Do you know the Brilliantes clan?" Aunt Mommy asked her. I chose to listen to what they were talking about even though I was their topic.

"Oh, my! I know that. They are one of the biggest firms in the country! And they have beautiful breeds. Don Brill has many grandchildren. So who is the man you chose for Novy?" Why is he so excited in Ninan Avemn's voice?

What's up with that Brilliantes clan?

"Hmm... The eldest and second grandsons can't be. But Don Brill's eldest grandson has two younger brothers. I'm sure your child will get along well with that engineer. They are also here in Canada so I really meant it take Novy with you."

"Auntie, I guess you're just pimping me out with the man you're talking about, ah. You don't have a husband with me anymore?" I am satisfied with them. He just gave a peace sign and I turned to Devillaine who just shrugged. "You know that, coz?" I asked her.

"No one living in our country knows anyone from that clan, coz," he answered while not looking at me. It's just on his phone.

"Wrong. There are still people they don't recognize," I promised and that's when I got his full attention.

"What do you mean by that, Novy?" he asked interestedly.

"Of course, I'm another one there, no!" I said and then I stood up carrying my luggage.

I approached Aunt Mommy and Godmother. At the same time, aunt gave me my keycard. My cousin and I share a room because that's what we often do when we're abroad.

It's not because we're both stingy, but we'd rather you have one room. We won't last long either.

"Your daddy said that we should go straight to their mansion. But I'm just thinking about you, Novy. I know you hate staying at your daddy's house the most."

That's true. I don't want to stay there with daddy's family. I'm not comfortable. I just can't sleep well either. I feel like someone is strangling my neck when I sleep.

"Behave, Novy. You are the eldest and only daughter of your daddy. You should be proud because you are the only girl in their family," my godmother encouraged me.

"I really don't know, Godmother, eh. I'm just annoyed by Dad's face-"

"Novy," aunt said my name seriously. Mother Avemn burst out laughing because of my immediate silence.

"You're the only one who can silence this beautiful child of mine, Novyann."

"So can you, Ninang Avemn."

"Novy, you know why I didn't give you one either, hmm?" I turned to Mother Avemn when she spoke.

We are currently walking because we are going to our hotel room. They were just walking ahead and Devi and I were behind the three of them.

We still pass a lot of foreigners who look at our behavior. It took me a while so I raised an eyebrow at them. What are they looking at?

"Novy, if someone smiles at you, they should smile back," Devi softly whispered to me. I just elbowed him.

"I don't care about them," I said rudely.

I turned to Ninan Avemn again. "What is it then, Godmother?" I asked her.

"Because...someone invited you to coach a new tennis player," he replied with a smile. That's not a good idea.

"Mom, you know that my patience is short when it comes to that," I said.

Because that was true. I'm also not a good coach if ever. I get annoyed very quickly when a tennis player misses. I don't want it to get to the point where they hate me and say that I'm just a hero.

It's because I'm the more successful because I'm always the champion in the olympics game. As long as I can, I really want to be a good player, the type that will make me their role model and also give them motivation.

"I have agreed, Novy. Your daddy's birthday is still on Sunday so we can go there anytime. But of course, we will rest tomorrow," he said.

Aunt Mommy pressed the elevator and she glanced at me. "Do you want to see the man I'm talking about, Novy?" she asked me. Why does aunty love what she always tells me?

"Who wants to see that man? It's just you, Mommy, eh," I said with a sneer. The excitement was evident in his voice. Mr.

Aunt Mommy, sometimes I call her, Aunt or Mommy. I even prefer to be just Mommy, but my real mommy might get jealous if I don't label what I'm going to tell her as an aunt. I don't really care about her really.

"Don't worry, sweetheart. I know him," he said and winked at me.

"Why not just Devi, Aunt?" I asked a curious question only to have my cousin immediately complain. He doesn't want either.

"I know that too, Novy. But I don't bet on the engineer, eh. I prefer that crew of ours at the hotel—oh! It's gone, Mommy!” he suddenly retracted what he said.

Ninan and I looked at each other then Tita just glared at Devi. What crew?

"What is that, Aunt?" I asked impatiently.

"Well, I'm also not sure if Don Brill will like you as his granddaughter." Nina laughed so hard.

As if they already knew that the man that Aunt Mommy chose would not like me just because of my attitude? Well, I admit that I also behave strangely. I've been called a cold-hearted person.

"Mommy! It's only Devi's!" I said.

"No, Mom! Novy's only!" Devi insisted. I frowned.

It was Devillaine who opened the room for the two of us and her mommy even checked it just to make sure that we would both be comfortable. I just shrugged and fell down on the bed. Its softness.

"Let's eat dinner together later, alright?" Aunt uttered. "Novy, don't forget to call your Dad. So that it doesn't sulk you." I rolled my eyes.

"Yes," I just said.

"As if Novy will call that, Mommy. You know your firstborn, Mom."

This is one of the things I liked about my second family. Even Devi didn't treat me like other people. I just felt more like his brother. Hmm, I'm two months older than him. That's our only gap. He is also my roommate when we were young.

"Novy, son..."

"You want me to go see Daddy right away? Maybe his witch wife will be surprised by me," I joked.

"Do whatever you want, Novy. Alright, you two can rest," he said goodbye to us A few minutes ago I felt my cousin standing up and when I looked back at him he was already at the door. What is he planning? Is he going out somewhere?

"I will report you to Mommy," I said and she stopped. She glanced at me.

"Let's go out, Novy?" he begged but I shook my head. See? He is really planning something.

"I do not want. I'm tired from our flight earlier," I said.

"Eh, you're used to it, right?"

"I do not want to. You just go out," I said and just covered my head with a pillow.

I'm lazy and I feel tired. Just a few seconds ago I looked at him again and he was gone. That one really came out. I think he's meeting someone outside, ah.

I got up and reached for my slingbag on the bedside table to take out my phone. Even if it's against my heart to do this, I don't want to disappoint my aunt.

I looked for Dad's name in my phonebook but I was about to call him when Mommy's name suddenly appeared. It only took me a few rings before I answered his call. I always do that. Sometimes they call 3 times, if Daddy calls, then I will answer.

"Hello?" I answered the call.

"Let's meet outside, Novy. I saw you earlier with your aunt and your cousin," she said. No hello-hello at all?

"Where did you see me?" I will ask.

“You're in Canada, Novy. I saw you here at the hotel. I want to tweak your stepmom and she even invited my husband." I frowned. Why is he saying this to me? Shouldn't that belong to my daddy's wife?

"You complain to him. Not mine. What do I care about you?" I said coldly.

"I'm still your mother. Watch your language. Get out, Novy Marie.”

"I'm tired, Mom. We just arrived," I just said and he sighed.

"Me as well," he promised coldly.

"The hell..." I said.

"I fvcking heard that." My mother is not really a sensible woman. I really don't want to inherit from him, eh. It's cheap.

I hung up and looked at myself first. I grinned as something suddenly came to my mind.

I changed my clothes first. Before I go out. I wore my black sleeveless blouse with only two buttons open. White shorts down, the trend worn by women. Just a little bit of my movement will show my panties.

Mommy is not conservative but she doesn't want me to wear this outfit because she says it's not enough for boys to insult me.

Whatever else he was saying to me but he also left me with my aunt, eh. He's just a preacher, he can't take care of me properly.

I chose red lipstick and my hair that just reached my shoulders I purposely messed it up as if someone was pulling it out too. But it's just a messy hair. Not obvious either, psh.

I just put on the heels I used earlier and then I went out. When I saw the elevator that was about to close, I ran closer to it so that I could catch it.

I just closed my palm and smiled when it opened. But I was about to board the elevator when I didn't expect that our eyes would meet with a man with a very serious facial expression and cold eyes I swallowed violently because I felt like I was going to melt the way he stared at me and it hadn't even been a few minutes.

Why can he look at me like that?

His eyebrows are thick and I just fell in love with a man's eyebrows, the tip of his nose and his jaw. Her lips are naturally red. Why is this one super pogi? He is also very tall.

My chest felt tight because of the speed of my heartbeat. I guess this is abnormal, eh. I cleared my throat and got on board but I seem to regret it because when it closed I was even more deafened by the force of the drum in my chest.

What happened?

Maybe he can't hear the speed of my heartbeat, ah? Why is my heartbeat suddenly like this? This is my first time. oh god...

"Maryann... No, behave," I heard him say and I also heard ngeow? What?

Got a cat? I couldn't help but look at him—at his arm. He was holding a cat and it was too small.

I held one of my arms tightly because I was excited to hold it and stroke its fur. I love cats because they are just so cute but I have to hold back.

It was embarrassing for the man next to me, therefore I slowly distanced myself and took a deep breath.

I think I reached the corner of the elevator when it suddenly lost its light. I was immediately filled with fear. I don't see anything!

To Be Continued...