Karella

"Is this really necessary?"

My eyes furrowed as I looked at Pia. We were now sitting in a long chair just beside the eating station. I was tired of roaming around this mall just to buy different school materials that were not important. I had left with no choice but to let Pia do what would make her happy since it was her money we were using.

"Do you know the word 'classmates'?" she asked knowingly. "Tell me if you don't. I will not mind."

Reading lots of novels before gave me an idea of what school life looked like.

"I do. Blockmates, classmates, seatmates. I know those words."

She sighed in relief. "That's a good thing to know. Then, you know about bullies?"

Bullies were the people who hurt their co-students just to satisfy themselves. They were all the antagonists of all the stories I had read.

"For your information, you are going to study alone. I mean, without me. Some might bully you; that's why let's talk about that thing first."

Knowing how weak I was, I was indeed capable of being bullied. "Are you going to send me some tips not to be bullied at school?"

"Yes, In case you do not know, your name explodes in different platforms. You are all over the YouTube--"

"What is that thing?"

"It is a social media platform where blogs live. Are you familiar with blogs?" I nodded at her question. "You are a soon-to-be Brooks. Many are jealous of you. Bitches might set moves in hurting you."

"I plan not to just mind them." I shrugged my shoulders. From some novels I had read, bullied protagonists just let bad people hurt them until they got tired. In my case, maybe I could do what they did for everyone's sake.

"Oh, God." She rolled her eyes. What had I said wrong, though? "You sound so kind when you told me you are not gonna fight back if ever bitches attack you."

Silence fell. Did we need to talk about this?

"Tip number one, stand straight. Your posture right now looks so ridiculous." She helped me straighten my back. "If you carry yourself so ugly, everyone will think that you are a helpless cat lost in the middle of the forest."

"Should I slap them back if ever they slap me first?"

"Yes, that sounds so cool." What if they were too many while I was the only one fighting? Pia answered my thoughts, "that's why you need bodyguards, too, you know, protection from jealous bitches or some business enemies."

I asked her if we could visit Xlyde in that restaurant again, but my phone rang before I could do so.

"Madam..." Sweats formed in my head. Pia held my shoulders to calm me down. Madam told me that she could not get going home, but she called Pia and me to leave this place. "Okay, Madam. Should I also tell Xlyde? Should we go back home together?"

Pia laughed, and I widened my eyes because of her teases.

"Is he there still? Okay, you can try to convince him. But if he doesn't like to come with you, don't force him."

I sighed. Never would I going to do that. I meant forcing Xlyde to do something because he's him. I knew him.

I excused myself, and Pia got her phone from her bag. "Can you still remember the direction of that restaurant, though?"

I answered, "Yes, do not worry."

I put my paper bags beside her and marched away, with, of course securing my hood still in place.

I was confident of seeing Xlyde, and I noticed him still at a specific table. He did not look shocked anymore as I stood right in his front.

"I am going to leave. Do you want to come with us?"

His beautiful eyes met mine. His cold expression urged me to feel the butterflies in my tummies. I wanted to run even though my legs were shaking, but my desire to be back home with him won.

"I am busy."

His answer gave me seconds before I could realize what it meant.

"U-uhh," I bit the left side of my bottom lip. "I understand. I just want you to know that Pia and I are leaving."

He nodded, bored.

I left him with a broken heart, and I did not let Pia know that. I just told her that Xlyde was not at his table. That sounded better than to say I was being rejected.

"You learned so many things about school because of me, didn't you?"

I chuckled and looked around ... The car felt so small as my heart was clenching.

"Pia..." I called him, an idea in my mind.

"I am curious about Xlyde's girls."

She laughed. "You mean, flings? Why, though?"

"Nothing, I am just curious." I wanted to investigate. "Are they still students?"

"Not anymore. That man fonds to be with someone older than him."

"Maybe, that's the reason why he does not like me? Because I am younger than him? What are your thoughts?"

"Well, maybe that's another factor."

All my worries just worsened.

"You are worrying too much about him. I wonder if you love him already." If only her hands were not driving, I would strike them.

"Being romantically in love is not part of my vocabulary," I stated the truth.

"As if I am going to believe that, girl. You even sound like you can't believe in yourself. Anyway, okay, I will help you; let's stalk his bitches once we get home."

"Are we going to stalk them personally? Like following them everywhere they go?"

"That's not it. That was too cheap. What I meant was that we can use social media. I will let you see their ugly faces."

Deep inside, I knew all of them were good-looking. A man like Xlyde would not ever settle for less.

We arrived at the mansion safely. Pia immediately got her laptop, and we both settled on the sofa. I gulped as I readied myself. I have never been so insecure about myself ... This was the first time I felt so ugly compared to somebody's beauty.

"Here we go," she sighed and clicked something in her mouse. "So, the first woman I introduce to you is named Karella Scott, one of the daughters of the Scott Family, a one known for owning hotels around the country. But don't worry, we are richer." I could not laugh back at her. Karella's family background could make someone's jaw drop. "Hey, are you okay?" Pia tapped my shoulders while giggling.

"She's pretty," I stated the obvious. She's rich and gorgeous. I meant well-packaged. If I were a man, I would really court this girl. I would be the happiest man if ever. "I look like a shit compared to her."

"Well, you're right," I pouted at her response. "She's prettier than you, but you are richer."

"I don't have any money." I sighed at nothingness.

"You have."

"I don't have anything. This girl is perfect. Why would Xlyde let this girl go?"

She just plastered a smirk as if I was giving her a good time. "We still have more girls to stalk. Girl, stop being a sad human." She scrolled for more, and a brunette woman with tantalizing eyes caught my attention. "Her name is Gionna," she said again. Jesus, her name sounded like she's the epitome of perfection. "I like her beauty. But too bad Xlyde broke up with her for no reason."

"That's bad to know. She looks like a queen!" Me being the ugliest woman living was too stunned.

"So, she's a famous bitch. She was born in a family of lawyers. So it no denies that she's a genius."

I closed my eyes, comparing my IQ to hers.

"Okay... Let's move on. Let me present you another woman... Her name is Rexie Scott." Oh, the surname is familiar, my mind spoke up. "Remember the girl I mentioned first? They are sisters. And imagine how they keep fighting because of your soon-to-be husband."

A long, loud silence fell.

"So, they are still in love with him?" Well, it's hard to move on from a Brooks.

"Exactly. But don't worry, we are way richer than these girls."

But that didn't lift my worries. Before I could react, our main topic joined the scene. Xlyde using his I-am-cold-so-back-off aura, walked past us. Pia closed her laptop, and I stood up, welcoming him.

"Hi, I thought you were not coming. I am glad that--" my mouth hung open as he did not stop to acknowledge my presence. I just understood him since he's just probably stressed out because of work. "Can we talk later?"

He stopped walking.

"... I mean, I have something to tell you."

He nodded without uttering any words. Even a simple 'yes' was too hard for him to talk.

"News, what's that? Are you planning to ask him about his exes?"

"That's not going to happen. I have no right to ask about his past. Besides, those girls are now only part of his past. I think I should not make this thing a big deal."

"But you look like you are about to explode because of jealousy."

"I will say to him that I plan to study. What do you think? Will he agree?'

"Knowing him, he always cares less about everything. He will let you do what you want, for you."

For how many times, I let out a heavy sigh. "I am just hoping he will say a word. Even a simple 'yes' already is enough for me."

We laughed.

Hours later, Pia was not around again, probably catching up with her friends. A security guard came to me, as I told him to. It was because I was planning to go out now, to buy food from the supermarket. I wanted to present something special to Xlyde before I said my intention to him later.

"It's okay if you will look for me. No need to bring another guard," I said to a guard.

But he did not nod.

"Okay, then how many guards will come along with me?" I was hoping it would be just two or three for people not to stare at me too.

"Five." The guard's expression was too cold.

"That's unbelievable! I am not a child." But I still agreed for peace. I was sure there was no use if I would shout again and again; Better to shut up.

I felt so outcast as I searched for food. Some buyers looked at me because it took me many times before I finished scanning the product. I heard murmurs about me being an ignorant buyer.

"Hey, do you have a problem?" a concerned person approached me. She's looking at my cart that only contained two products even though it's been hours that I had been here.

"No, thank you. It's just that ... I am wondering which product is cheaper."

People around me laughed sarcastically. Their eyes showed that I looked like a comedian trying hard to impress the audience.

"Miss, this is an expensive store. It would be best if you had gone to a cheap one to find cheaper foods. God, you look so dumb," said an old woman.

"Okay, that's enough," the younger lady said. "What's your name? You look new here. Is this your first time shopping here? Who's your guardian?"

I smiled at nothingness before mentioning Madam's name. Everyone gasped. And the lady in front of me, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, the face that Pia introduced to me hours ago as my soon-to-be husband's third ex, was speechless.

"So, it's you that Xlyde Brooks to be married to?!" the old woman who insulted me.

"Have Madam lost her class that she would let someone ignorant like her marry her son?" someone.

"Stop it," said the lady and softly looked at me. "Don't mind them."