Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Yup, I'm a brat. The Lazaro's Bratty Princess is what my enemies called me in high school. I admit I am cursed, artistic and straightforward. It was also easy for my head to heat up and get angry. But I was always right. I only resist when I know I have done nothing wrong! I fight people, but I’m not the first. I am not a liar either. So when I say I don’t like you, that’s true. And also when I say that you're ugly, you're ugly.

"She's still your dad Mayumi."

"Whatever." I just said that. I can't help but think. All I want is for him to say he's sorry. But even if he doesn't say that anymore, it's okay with me. All I really want is for him to coax me. Like what he always do when Mom was still here.

Sighing, I lay on the wide, soft bed of one of the guest rooms of the Lazarus mansion. I closed my eyes tightly and let my strength return. I was tired of this whole event. Mommy and Uncle Arnold would hardly let me go. They introduced me to the biggest businessmen in the country. I can keep up, but I'm too exhausted to entertain every person they want me to meet.

A soft knock woke me up. I took a deep breath before getting up. I no longer gave permission to the person outside. It spontaneously entered with a smile on its lips.

"Shut the fucked up, Dustin! You cheated on me, we broke up, now get the fucked out of my life!" I shouted and Dustin suddenly just entered the house. I thought I would give him another chance!

"Ayumi, we can still work this out. I have so many plans for—."

"Well, I don't care. Even though you have a lot of plans for the future of the two of us, I don't! You're disgusting! Take your Cindy with you!"

Dustin begged a few more times. But I'm a fool if I go back to him. It was just the same and the rest of me became boyfriends. They cheated on me, hurt me and do things that were really bad. Then they will know I am Arnold Lazaro's child and like dogs will come back to me as if I would love dog food.

I am not bragging that I am a Lazarus. If I could just use Mommy's last name when she was a girl, I would have done it. But Dad won't let me do it. Dad loved me so much that when someone hurt me and found out I was a Lazarus, they would never do it again. How ironic, because that's what my ex -boyfriends did. And they also want more.

"Ayumi ..."

"Mr. Lim, kick him out of my house." I strongly command one of my two butlers.

"But Ma'am Mayumi, he's the son of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. We can't—."

"I don't care if he's the son of one of Daddy's important clients! Do what I've told you to do! If you don't get that man out of here, you'll be hurt too!" I was annoyed when I said that Mr. Lim. It can do nothing but follow me. Why are they being paid so much? If they just disobey me, they'd better go back to where they belong.

Minutes later, my friend Ava arrived. It brought milk tea and a box of cupcakes. She's also a Filipina. They are based here in Australia because his Mommy and Daddy have set up several businesses here.

"I saw Dustin outside." Ava commented as we shared the food she was carrying.

Annoyed I turned to him. "Stop mentioning his name. My day is getting worse."

I recently received a call from the Philippines. I had no intention of answering that. That's why Mr. insists. Hans — he's also one of my bodyguards.

Daddy called. Asking if I can video call him on his wedding day. I was forced to answer yes even though I really had no intention. I still feel bad. Especially when I hear that Elizabeth’s voice. Her voice was so sweet as if she was laughing. But I still don't like her. Not everyone with a gentle voice is kind.

"Your Daddy is getting married, don't you have any plans to go home to the Philippines?" Ava immediately asked.

I sniffed slightly before sipping my milk tea. "He's the one who wants me to leave. I'll never go home to him, unless he apologizes to me."

Yup, I'm a brat. The Lazaro's Bratty Princess is what my enemies called me in high school. I admit I am cursed, artistic and straightforward. It was also easy for my head to heat up and get angry. But I was always right. I only resist when I know I have done nothing wrong! I fight people, but I’m not the first. I am not a liar either. So when I say I don’t like you, that’s true. And also when I say that you're ugly, you're ugly.

"She's still your dad Mayumi."

"Whatever." I just said that. I can't help but think. All I want is for him to say he's sorry. But even if he doesn't say that anymore, it's okay with me. All I really want is for him to coax me. Like what he always do when Mom was still here.

Sighing, I lay on the wide, soft bed of one of the guest rooms of the Lazarus mansion. I closed my eyes tightly and let my strength return. I was tired of this whole event. Mommy and Tito Arnold would hardly let me go. They introduced me to the biggest businessmen in the country. I can keep up, but I'm too exhausted to entertain every person they want me to meet.

A soft knock woke me up. I took a deep breath before getting up. I no longer gave permission to the person outside. It spontaneously entered with a smile on its lips.

"Uncle Arnold?

"How are you Hiro?" He smiled at the question before approaching me.

"Great ..." was my short answer. "Again, congratulations Uncle for—."

"I know, I know."

I sneeze slowly. Reason for Uncle Arnold to tap my shoulder. "Do you have any problems, Uncle?"

"Well, your Mommy told me about your good management of The Eliza Company. I'm thinking of giving you my position in—."

"I'm sorry, but I think your daughter is—."

"She's still studying. She still doesn't know much about running a business. You're the only one I think can help me.

"But Titus—."

"I know you're a busy person. But I am still waiting for Mayumi to finish her studies. After that she will still be in charge of everything. Right now, I need a temporary filler in the position I will leave. Because your Mom and I are planning to have our honeymoon in Paradise. "

Paradise? Is it the private island he bought as a gift for my Mom? I heard that earlier while we were at the table eating.

I sighed again. "Alright, just give me a month uncle. I'll just finish this school year."

"Alright, thank you, son." Smiling she said before tapping me again.

"But, ah ... won't Mayumi be angry when she finds out—."

"Mayumi is a kind child. Spoiled, straightforward and always justified. But she is a tender child." This answer is ridiculous. "I can't wait to introduce you to him."

"What?"

"Anyway, Hiro. I remembered that he had a teacher Santibañez last year. At the school you teach he went to school then. It looks like it's you, Hiro."

When Uncle Arnold said that, the faces of my female students last year seemed to flash through my mind. In fact, I only teach college students. But suddenly I was given a subject for Senior High. So, I'm thinking that his daughter Mayumi was my bratty student in highschool.

After we had breakfast Uncle Arnold invited me to look at Mayumi's old photos. I just recently proved Mayumi to be my spoiled brat student. I also just noticed this huge picture on the big wall near the living room. Uncle Arnold told me it was taken last year after she graduated highschool. And, I think Cace was right. Mayumi's hot like hell.

Smiling, I opened a photo album. Everything there is pure photos of Mayumi. From the day she was born until she graduated. Some were taken in Australia, Japan, US and elsewhere.

I was stuck on the proper page turn when a photo caught my attention. Mayumi was playing in the rain, wearing a white night gown. Wearing it holds the perfect body shape. Now I understand why almost all of her female classmates doesn't like her. She's way too hot than them. Perhaps that’s also one of the reasons why it’s dubbed Lazaro’s Bratty Princess.

"She's pretty, right?" Uncle said with a smile when he noticed my stupidity. I quickly closed the photo album. I sneezed for a moment before looking around.

"Why did you force him to go abroad, Tito?"

Tito Arnold paused for a moment. Gently turned to me before smiling affectionately. "I thought she would get angry when I told her Elizabeth and I would get married. But, it's the other way around. The idea of ​​sending her back to Australia makes her so mad. It's okay if she has a step- "She was just angry because I chose to send her back to Australia rather than introduce your Mommy properly."

My mouth fell open for a moment. This means that there is no case against Mayumi if her Daddy marries. Just really went abroad because of the father's sulk.

"Why don't you coax her, Uncle? Maybe that's the only thing she wants."

"I already did, son. I called her yesterday before the wedding started. She congratulated me. She said she will send her gift tomorrow." There was joy in Uncle Arnold's eyes. It looks like her only child really cares. I can't blame Mayumi either. I might even be upset if Mommy does what Uncle Arnold did.

"Does that mean he's coming back here?" I suddenly looked away. Why did I ask that? And why does it seem stupid to me to think that Arnold Lazaro's only Princess might return to the Philippines?

Uncle Arnold shook his head softly as I breathed a sigh of relief. "He said he would just finish his studies there. He said he would only come back when I needed him in the company or when there was a problem with his Mommy's business."

I couldn't help but nod. But I don't know, I feel frustrated at the thought that I can't see Mayumi personally as my step-sister.

Damn! Step-sister? Is that really my reason? Then what the fucked is wrong with me? In a simple photo, I feel like I'm on fire. And I'm imagining nasty things! Like some scenes of me going back home from the office. And Mayumi's waiting for me in our own room, laying on our bed, naked

Damn it!

"Anyway Hiro, I hope you don't change your mind. I changed my last will and testament, in case something bad happens."

"Uncle..."

With a big smile, Uncle Arnold tapped me on the shoulder. "We're leaving tonight. You might want to stay here for-."

"I'm okay, Uncle. I also have a lot left to do in Manila. I think, I'll leave first."

"Oh, okay ..."

"You're spacing out Hiro." Cace said in a low voice to me. He invited me to drink because he felt bad. His father died from drowning because he tried to save Dalha. Now, pictures have spread in their school. It was Cace and Dalha kissing. But Cace told me it was an accident. Many also saw but no one stepped out to side with them.

"Have you talked to Dalha yet?"

"She's in a coma. I'm running out of time. Tomorrow I'm going to the U.S.. There's an emergency at a Daddy's business. I need to fix it. That's one of my problems." Cace's long answer made me sigh.

I sipped the wine from my glass before looking at the cellphone again. Mommy hasn't called before. They told me they would call right away when the chopper they were carrying landed in Paradise. To this day I still receive nothing.

"You keep on checking your phone. Are you waiting for a call?"

"Yeah, Mommy should have called me earlier. But so far I haven't received anything. It's making me nervous."

"Oh c'mon Hiro, you're just-."

Cace couldn't finish what he was going to say when my cellphone suddenly flashed. A call from Hacienda Lazaro. I answered you immediately.

"Miss Akihiro?"

"What is it?" I asked the maid who started screaming. Damn it! What the fucked is happening ?!

"Señorito, you need to come back here to San Mateo right now." The maid is crying again.

"Why?" I asked, almost clenching my fists.

"The chopper that Don Arnold and Donya Elizabeth were riding in exploded. The couple is in the hospital now. But ..."

"What ?!"

"Don Arnold is dying and w-your M-Mommy is gone."

It looks like cold water has been poured on me. What's wrong with Mommy? Just this morning they happily took me to the airport.

None of my own left the bar. I didn’t even pay attention to Cace calling I got in my car, you immediately kicked me. I never went through the house. I immediately made my way to San Mateo. I don't care if the car is far away. I will be more tolerant when I choose to take a plane.

After eight hours of driving I arrived in San Mateo. It's early but I have no plans to rest. I stayed at the private hospital owned by uncle Arnold. I was immediately allowed to talk to Uncle Arnold. It also ordered me to talk when I arrived at the hospital.

"Hiro, I'm s-sorry ..."

"No, Tito, it was an accident. You don't need to say your sorry." I said trying not to fall. I am fainting from driving fatigue. The news that Mommy is gone is accompanied by heartache. "Where's Mom?"

Uncle Arnold cried slowly. It was only then that I noticed that it had major damage to the head and some parts of the body. "Hiro son, take care of my Princess. You're the only one she has. Please, don't tell her what happened. When she can, when she's strong then tell her everything."

"What are you talking about ?! You're not going to-."

"P-Please ... I love your Mom, I really do. I'm your child too, now, I want you to take care of Mayumi."

"Uncle..."

Uncle Arnold let out a warm smile before holding my hand tightly. After that, his grip on it gradually loosened. Until it finally loses its life.

I could do nothing but close my eyes tightly. Now what should I do?

"Mr. Akihiro Santibañez?" A man asked from behind me. I remember talking to him the other day.

"Atty. Dela Vega ..."

It nodded softly. "I will read Don Lazaro's last will after their funeral."

To Be Continued.....