Meet and Greet

CINDY

I have not forgotten that jerk. What he did last Friday is still fresh inside my mind. I hate him to the core!

“Cem, get ready. Your father will arrive very soon,” Marina said to me.

And I also hate the time because it's running too fast. I can't still believe that it's already Monday.

Because it already 8 AM, I think I should really prepare myself now. Happy has already gone to school. Normally, I should have gone to school, too but because my situation changed, it's no longer important. Just thinking that I'm going to that hellish mansion again made my stomach turn upside down. Anyway, the twins will come with me because they also want to meet my future husband.

I'm already done preparing when the twins intruded my room. They both look at me horrified, eyeing me from head to toe. Unconsciously, I followed their line of sight and looked at what I am wearing. I only wore a T-shirt and jeans. Plus, a rubber shoes. Meanwhile, Marina and Mariana are both wearing floral dresses and high heels.

“Gosh! What are you wearing? You look like someone who is just going for a walk in the park!” Mariana immediately scolded.

“Maybe,” I said with a shrugged.

“No, no, no!” Marina said and pulled me into their room. “That might disappoint Uncle.”

“Well, that's exactly my plan.” Then I sat on their bed and crossed arms. Not very least interested in the dilemmas they are facing.

“They are not the one who'll get shamed, but it will be you!” Mariana said, and she even pointed a finger at me. Then later on, she opened your closet and took a dress, the dress she tried to give me last Friday. I didn't know she bought it. And I knew what she is planning to do.

“Hell no!” I said, I got up and about to go out but Mariana blocked me.

“Just now, please cousin,” Mariana said. She's almost begging.

I just stared at her but later on answered... “No !!!”

“You're beautiful, I wouldn't say that you're ugly ever again, Marina intruded.

“No.” Again, I said, as if that would encourage me.

“We'll partner it with just doll shoes and not high heels.”

What Mariana said, made me stopped and think hard. Well, if it's just flat sandals and a dress, I think it will be okay. I got nothing to lose and there will be no sore feet.

“Okay,” I answered and the two jumped for joy.

I changed my cloths and replace it with the dress. Then I look in a mirror. Well, it's better.

“Oh,” Marina said while looking in my reflection at the mirror. “Still ugly.”

“Oh, yeah?” I mockingly look at here. I thought we have a deal? Marina immediately went silent. Realizing what I meant.

“Well, honestly it compliments you very well,” Mariana said and that made me smiled.

Right on time, we heard a horn outside the house. I think, my nightmare is already there.

Since we all are already prepared, we went out. We saw that there are two black cars which are already parked in front of our house. A minute later, the Men in Black also came out and said ...

“Good morning, young lady.” Then all of them bowed in the sight of us.

People looked at us. I heard some of them murmured and others even whispered loudly enough to be heard.

They said it like this:

“That girl is rich?”

“Seriously, we have a rich neighbor. If I only knew, I would have made friends with her.”

“Seriously, the child is wealthy. I should have known.”

Tss... gossiper. When will their race in the Philippines be reduced?

I approached the Men in Black.

“Cut the 'young'. I'm not young, anymore,” I commanded.

“Yes, my lady,” they all answered.

Someone opened the door for me and someone did the same thing to the other car which is for the twins. Yes, we are separated. I think that's the real intention why there are two cars, to separate the noisy twins while I'm with Dad.

Oh, right! I almost forgot.

Before entering, I asked the Men in Black who opened the door for me.

“Where's Dad?”

I asked that because he's not inside. Not that I was looking for him, but he said that he would come personally to fetch me.

“They're already in the venue waiting for us, my lady,” he answered.

Well, that's better. At least I'll experience peace in my journey before reaching hell.

*****

The car stopped at an expensive restaurant. I know then that this will be the venue.

The door opened for me again. I wish I they should stop treating me like a princess.

I went out. Then I suddenly felt my heart beats became faster. My hands also began to tremble. What am I nervous for? It will just be a meet and greet.

I was about to walk when someone suddenly bumped at me. The clash was a bit strong that's why we both fell on the cement. The Men in Black immediately supported me and helped me to stand up again. I stood up and at the same time straightens my dress.

“Are you okay, madame?” One of them asked. I just nodded. Then I looked at the person who bumped at me. The person is a guy, and he is also straightened his cloths and later on, looked at me.

The ... hell ?!

Him, again ?! Is this man following me?!

*****

EIJUN

“You again?!” we shouted at each other.

Why did this girl keep appearing where ever I go?! And weird. What's with the men in black? Are these her five personal bodyguards? Hahaha, no way. How can a public student like her get bodyguards? Maybe props. Maybe her older brothers, or maybe she planned to get revenge on me and hired these men in black but since she doesn't have the money, she offered her body as a payment instead.

Ah, is that a bit judgmental?

Anyway, speaking of body. Woah! She looks beautiful right now. With her plain sky blue dress that is partnered with black doll shoes and her usual ponytail hair, she looks so tame now.

The girl suddenly stretched out her left hand in front of me, so I can't help but raised an eyebrow.

“Where's the book?” she asked so seriously.

“Huh?!” I don't understand what she is referring to. It's still processing in my brain.

“Give it to me or …” She withdrew her hand and smiled at me scarily. “... I'll kill you.”

Maybe because of her deadly threat I realized what she was referring to.

“I didn't bring it,” I answered with a smile.

“Then we'll go to your house.”

I gave her a stunned expression. Seriously?!

“But, My Lady, you still have a meet and greet,” said one of the men in black.

“Then?” she boringly mocked.

“We will be scolded,” the man in black answered again.

“So?” and again, she asked.

“We might lose our jobs,” Another man in black intruded. The girl is already annoyed in her disciples.

“I. Don't. Care.” Then he looked at me again. “Will you come voluntarily or do I have to drag you?”

“Wew, scary.” Then I laughed at her. “That would have been great, but I have a meet and ---.” I stopped myself right there. Realizing what I am about to say and the connection to what her disciples were saying. Then, I feel nervous all of a sudden.

Did one of the Men in Black mention 'meet and greet?' Tell me I am damn wrong.

She raised an eyebrow at me.

“Meet and... ?” Her voice was mixed with confusion. She seems to unaware of what is about to happen.

Oh, no ... don't say that ...

“Oh, here you are. Both of you?”

I immediately recognize that voice and how I wish my guess was wrong. I can't help but close my eyes because of so many frustrations.

Why destiny? Why it got to be the woman I despised the most? It would have been okay even if she will turn out ugly or looked ignorant ... just not this woman.

*****

CINDY

Of all the many men in the world, in the Philippines, and in this place, why would it have to be him?

The person I really hate? This person I almost killed? And the most annoying jerk I ever met? Tsk! There are so many guys out there that can be my fiancé, why the hell I ended up with him? Is there no one else? Is this really for real? Just damn it!

I am holding back because of so much anger. I hate this life.

“Hmm, Mrs. Warross, this is my daughter. Her name is Cindy Ella Mae Vasquez, “Mom said to the old woman who was obviously rich because of her earrings, necklace and clothes.

“Nice to meet you,” I pretended that everything is damn alright for me but smile insultingly.

“And this is my grandson, Eijun James Warross,” his Grandmother introduced him.

“Hello.” The jerk also pretended.

“Anyways, I saw them earlier. They are talking about something at the entrance door. So what is it, Eijun and Ella, can you tell us?”

Tsk! Looks like his Grandmother is a bit of a meddler.

He looked at me before answering.

“It's about--” I cut off his answer.

“A book. He borrowed a book from me and I wish I could have it back now, but I did not expect that he is the Eijun Mom is referring to,” I said with the sweetest smile.

“So you're friends.” That's a conclusion not a question. I can't hide my shocked expression.

“No way,” I whispered to myself. Wishing that no one will hear it.

“Impossible,” I also heard him, because I was just in front of him.

“What?” Mom asked. Maybe because we are both murmuring.

We were both surprised so we answered together … “Yes!” But we looked at each other with a glare that only us can recognize.

“So what about the book?” Dad intruded.

“Oh, right, 'Eijun' forgot it ...” I said the jerk's name with an emphasis, but I'm still smiling. “... at their home, so we would have gone to get it, but I remember you and the meeting.”

“Can we go first?” It looks like the jerk got my plan and played along with it.

“Well, it's okay to us, that is also a good opportunity for you two to get to know each other more,” Dad replied.

They all agreed so that, we left earlier than them.

If it weren't for that public school, I would never want this to happen.

*****

Just like I said, we left together to get that book but instead of their house, he took me to a condo.

“Why did you bring me to your condo?” I asked when we entered his unit.

“Because the book is here but if you still want to go to our Mansion, you are free to go but surely, you will go alone.”

Aist! This jerk is really a jerk.

“Then hurry up and give it to me.”

“Take it easy, don't be too cautious. I won't run away from you,” he said, and he walked into a room.

“Just making sure. Last time we met, you ran as if you were in a marathon,” I said but the jerk just laugh? Ugh!

I sat on the sofa and then suddenly, my phone rang. Who is it? Well, I forgot about them.

“Hello, Mariana.”

“Hey! You're such a flirt!” she screamed, so I immediately pulled the phone away from my ear. Tsk! That almost got my eardrums damaged.

“What now, Mariana?”

“Don't use that tone to me now, Cem. After you just saw that handsome guy, you forgot about us, and you didn't even introduce us to him. What kind of cousin are you?” Based on her tone, I think I do offended them.

But I can't help myself. I'm so focus to escape that time. I didn't want to be with my parents, and then I saw that jerk. All my feelings were mixed up, so I totally forgot about them.

“Okay. I'm sorry,” I admitted that it's my mistake.

“Oh? Really? You're truly sorry?”

“Yeah.”

“Woah! Heard that Marina? I'm the one who got her apologized. I won! You'll buy me a new bag.” Then she laughed out loud.

“Ha ... ha ... ha ...” I said sarcastically. It looks like the two have made a deal on me. What an immature minds they have.

“All right! Bye-bye.” Then she's gone.

Tsk! That one is really something.

“Hey, here it is!” I find the jerk in front of me. That made me wonder if he was listening earlier. Anyway, I took the book from him.

“Thank you!” I said sarcastically. “I better go.”

I'm about to go, but he stopped me. He held me on my left arm.

I glared at his hand and said ...

“Now, what do you want?”

“I know you don't want this engagement. What if you help me destroy it?”

As expected he also has a plan but unlike him, I am protecting something. So I have my own way to escape, but he can't be with me.

“That will be a bright idea, but I have my reasons to stay so sorry, I disagree with your proposal.” I removed his grip on my arm.

“Do you like me?” he unexpectedly asked!

I looked at him in shock. I gave him a 'are-you-out-of-your-mind' look.

“You want to be engaged with me and get married so that means you like me, right?” Then the jerk smirked.

“You know what, you are the most conceited person I ever met. It does not mean that I want to stay in this engagement, I already like you. It's just that I have a heavy reason. Besides, think about it. The last times I saw you, I want to rip that arrogant face of yours and now, you'll tell me that I like you? Are you out of your mind? Gosh! You assume too much. “

“Well, we'll never know. There's a possibility that you're just like everyone else, acting so tough but deep inside you are actually madly in love with me. But if what you said is true, be careful not to fall in love with me.” And the jerk even winked.

Chills run through my vain. As if!