His 24K Obsession

Chapter 2- When fate plays with you

I was tapping the heel of my feet on the slab underneath the floating house, with my sun-dried messy hair and clothes, smelling like the ocean itself. I checked the house and it was empty but the place was filled with her stuff, so I guess she had gone somewhere. And I'm waiting over here, watching the twilight drop her curtains down as raging colors burst above the sky.

From far, a midget woman with sunkissed skin is paddling towards me. She was pulling the sleeves of her red jacket and her long green pants, with a rattan hat over her head.

"Aunt Mercy!" I screamed out from my lungs, waving my hand to her with my lips that could reach the sky.

Her eyes squinted, trying to distinguish me from afar. Scrutinizing me, as if there was no sense of familiarity had ever occurred towards her vision.

As soon as she puddles closer to me, her face gleamed with an astounded emotion floating across her face.

" Amara?"

Her voice raised in a huge question mark, with lifted brows and crinkled forehead.

"Hey, Aunt Mercy!" I awkwardly approached.

"What are you doing here, my dear?" she hopped off from her tiny boat and took off the nón là from her head, hanging it on the bamboo tube.

I couldn't tell her what happened. My frustration made me speechless. I stared at her eyes, whilst my vision started to become blurry and some kind of electric shock traveled upon my nerves.

"Oh, my dear!" she cried, understanding what I was trying to reply. She meandered quickly towards me and cupped my face with both of her palms and wiped the tears from my cheeks. Sometimes, understanding someone doesn't really need you to hear the person's mourning voice but to look at their eyes and see what their soul is trying to tell you.

She then pulled me into a warm, sincere embrace. As her hands keep patting my back, giving me nothing else but sympathy.

"That's fine, I am here. Aunt Mercy is here."

Aunt Mercy was, as well, the only woman among the siblings of 5. As per the in executed regulations, tradition and most obeyed belief of the Ortega Clan in being born as a woman in our family is always considered as a curse and hapless towards the family business and wealth.

In order to save the said misfortune, either the child shall be executed as soon as it was born or either shall be disowned when it turns 17.

However, grandma and mom weren't totally heartless at all in killing their own child. They decided to raise us well and disowned us right after 17 years.

Although it would be heart breaking for a mother to actually disown and never see her daughter anymore, they have to be tough enough and act as if they were cruel and don't seem to care at all. For the sake of the family. And us? We have to act that, that 17 years of bringing that family name and being taken care of that household was just an extensive gratitude from our misfortune.

"Thank God you have found me, or else you'd be sleeping on the streets for years. Like I was before." she muttered, as her fingers were fondling my hair and placing it at the back of my ears. I looked at her and beamed relief.

She then invited me into her lovely home. It may not be as luxurious as where I used to live before. At least it was't more uncomfortable than the streets to rest in. Right after showing me my room, she pulled me to the dining area which literally connected to her little kitchen and had me sit down on this cute rattan chair.

She pulled out some freshly baked egg pies from the oven, and some roasted chicken that smelled freakin' good, making my stomach quiver to devour it.

"Eat some, I know you're pretty much hungry from your journey."

She was sitting in front of me smiling widely whilst looking at me eating like a beast, as if I had never been taught enough table etiquette since I was five. Or maybe my mourning stomach was controlling my demeanor towards food in this state. After all, I'm not part of the Ortega family anymore. I'm not wealthy anymore, I'm just a normal person now. So who cares if I eat like a woman born on the streets? Only wealthy people are too nosy about etiquette anyway.

"I called the manager on the island earlier and asked if maybe he could give you some job." she suddenly appeared on my room's door while I was preparing my bed and threw some words at me.

"And he said you can clean the rooms at the resort, he extended that you can start working tomorrow." Aunt Mercy pursed her lips, waiting for my response. I meandered towards her and held her hand, as my lips lifted for a smile.

"I don't know what to do without you, aunty, thank you. I'm lucky enough to have someone like you." her face melted from my sincere words, as her brows bended like a cupid's bow together with her almond eyes whose galaxy was shining brightly within.

"Amara, from now on, I will treat you as my own. I will do everything to give you a good life which I never really had." she reached out and gave me a kiss on the cheek.

" Go to bed now, you're gonna have a long day tomorrow."

I simply nodded and shut the door after she walked away. My body was indeed tingling enough to step a foot on my bed and be more comfortable than ever, unlike last night. It was a total nightmare.

But before totally dozing off, I went to the kitchen once again and made myself some lemon-honey tea. It has always been my favorite at all times, and gives me more cozy sleep. After finishing a big cup of it, I went back to my room and slumbered.

****

It was a peaceful morning. The howling of the wind whistle through the sky like an arriving train as the whistle of waves soothes my ears. The ambiance was filled with the sulphury smell of the ocean, which was the one that tickled me to consciousness.

I shifted the curtains of the window sideways and enjoyed the beautiful view outside. It was 5:19 in the morning, just right as the sun had risen. The sea was like a ripping blanket of brochure-blue, as the squabbling dolphins flew overhead through the waves that almost kissed the vivid blue skies. I guess choosing to stay over here wasn't a bad idea at all. There might be no overflowing luxurious things. However, what can be seen by my naked eyes won't be able to compare with luxury at all.

"Good morning aunty", I greeted in between my yawns, as I moved out of my room and meandered towards the dining area.

That sweet, delicate-subtle aroma that sniffs through my nostrills made my stomach quiver in famish. Aunt Mercy was tossing the pan in and out, as the pink little balls-like-stuff moves freely through the pan. Its outer layer seemed to be quite burnt and the meat inside seemed to burst out of it. Just right in time as I moved closer behind her, she placed the little balls on the plate and set them aside, as she cracked three eggs on the same pan and cooked them sunny-side up.

"Put this on the table Amara," she handed out the two plates, and I obediently did what she had asked.

Hereafter, she pulled out a cast iron pot from the bottom cabinet and set a fire on the bottom of it. She put water in and waited for it to boil before she added the dark-chocolatey round tablets inside it, and put both her hands on the wooden stick and rubbed them together. It has this sweet strong aroma that you would want to smell over and over again.

I never had this type of breakfast in my life. It has always been a croissant with potatoes, bacon and green garlic yogurt. With the side of fresh fruits.And yet, this one is something new to my eyes.

It's the simplest and yet the most delicious breakfast I have ever tasted. The sweet balls whose savoriness is left at the tip of your tongue, as their fat juices drop down to your esophagus slowly. Whilst this pure thick chocolate drink, woke my sleeping brain to consciousness.

****

"Amara, let's go. You're gonna get late on your first day." Aunt Mercy called, as she was trying to untie the rope upon the bamboo tube that held the boat down.

I hopped on it and she then began to paddle towards the shore. It was exactly 6:00 am. The sunrays were striking vividly, which blinded me from it's vicious tail. That burns my skin painfully, staying under this would literally make my skin darker than my usual tone. At least, it wasn't that humid this morning and I am still able to feel the cold breeze wrapping around me.

As soon as the boat had reached the sand, the breath-taking view of the island made my mouth drop. Pure white sand shorelines confining the wilderness within, it was encompassed by many atolls of complete clear waters dropping endlessly into the profundities. It was unique, not looking like those ordinary hotels we are used to seeing. With thick concrete walls, hard-tiled floors and a totally modern style. This is totally different, it is instead an overwater bungalow. Each room is separated, there were four bungalows on the shore, whilst there are tens over the water. The ones that were placed in the water were connected to a wooden path. It was spiral shaped. Made me realize it's actual resemblance to the famous Maldives. Except that it was placed way much closer to the shore. The rest of the island is an enormous forest, nothing special at all.

We walked along the spiral wooden bridge. The rooms over here were double the size of the ones on the shore. It also had its own pool and slide. Which is probably my favorite part of it. We then entered the second of the most enormous room, and met a stout old man whose beard is comparable to the one Santa Claus has. He was sitting on a big swivel chair that fitted exactly to his size, as his fingers were playing a beat on top of the table.

"Good day! Archon Antonio," he lifted his eyes without lifting his head, trying to check who owned that voice. And when it was instilled to his senses the familiarity and the identity of the person in front of him. A gentle, subtle smile formed upon his lips with his brows that sunk together with his eyes.

" Merci, what can I do for you?"

" As per our conversation last night. I'm here to introduce to you my niece, Amara." I felt her hot palm against my back as she pushed me forward to the Archon's table.

" Ah! Such a beautiful young lady to be a hotel cleaner. You certainly don't suit the job, honey. But fortunately your aunt is a good friend of mine, I shall... reconsider you." he opened a small cabinet on his left side and handed me some clothes, must be some uniform for the certain position I would be working for.

" Thank you, my dearest Antonio," Aunt praised as her head bowed with her hands intertwined.

"Anything for you," he winked and smiled afterwards.

Going out of that place literally blows out all the tensed air building inside my lungs that I had been holding for too long. It was nerve-racking to hear when he told me this job doesn't suit me at all. I don't want to be a burden on my aunt, and don't do anything at all. Working is the only option I have, and this is the only opportunity that was left alone knocking at my door for the last seconds of the ticking clock.

" I will be leaving you for now, my dear. The kitchen needs me. Wish you the best!" Aunt cheered before leaving me on my own, clueless to do anything at all.

I was in the midst of the pathway—brain-dead. Not knowing what to do at all. I pulled myself together and took a few deep breaths.

"All right, it's time to do what the oldie had saith." I whispered to thyself before walking towards the biggest bungalow amongst all. It was located at the center part of the spiral. It is the center of everything and yet dissimilar from everyone else, and way much fancier. Instead of having that old-fashioned wooden door, it has this huge glass door. The floor was filled with a white carpet, and the interior was indeed luxurious with an island vibe. The person that would be owning this place must probably be a very special person and must be overly rich.

The Archon said that I had to clean this room as soon as I could, since a very important person would be moving at any moment. The room isn't in mess at all, everything is in place and it's indeed very tidy. I was about to step one foot out of that place when I heard the clinking of glasses in the pool area.

My heart started to pound hard out of my chest. I could have gone away from that moment, but my curiosity is trying to kill my soul inside me. I wrapped my fingers around the steel rod leaning beside the kitchen table, as I was walking like my feet were floating like a feather on the floor.

Slowly...and slowly. As my body passed by the lining of the outer door, I stretched my hand up to the sky as my arms were ready enough, revving my strength to strike the person, as it would relieve all of my anxiety from that moment. However, before the rod was able to land upon the person's skin, his hand stopped the rod as if he had a third eye located at the back of his head. And successfully shoveled it out of my sight, my knees began to melt and tremble, but I stood still to observe his next action.

When he turned around, my eyes widened in astonishment with my palm cupping my dropping jaw. His brows sunk down like a sinking boat in the ocean, as his eyes narrowed down like an eagle, eyeing its prey.

"YOU!" we simultaneously mouthed those words, as our index fingers pointed against each other.

"What are you doing here?" We said to each other, for another time.

He was half-naked, showing his rocky body as the waters were slowly dripping in the hollow spaces of his torso.His hair was air dry as it was messy and yet, looked absolutely gorgeous. the expression portraying upon his face was in between seduction and emotionless. It is the most puzzling face I have ever encountered.

"You... you should get out of here. Why are you sneaking here? You shouldn't be here." I told him as he looked at me, up and down, scrutinizing my way too short skirt and the tightest tshirt uniform the archon had given me earlier. I shouldn't have worn this in the first place, this would just draw excessive unusual attention. Probably some unsavory ideation as well, as per how this person looked at me with so much to covey underneath his gleaming eyes.

I was not able to hear a single word from him, and instead I pulled his sleeves and tried to pull him out of the place. But, he was born with so much strength. I was not able to compete with his capability.

"Please get out. If someone sees you, I will be done. Someone will be owning this place." he was neither listening nor minding what I was saying all along. His eyes were still moving like a laser on me.

"Please, I really need this job. Please listen to me," I grab his hand, trying to pull him out, but I'm just unable to move him for an inch. Suddenly, the echo of footsteps rang in my ears. Someone is about to come this way.

I pushed him to the corner of the door, hiding him from the visibility as the entrance door slid to open.

"Is everything alright here?" It was indeed the Archon, inspecting.

"Yes, Archon. Everything is fine, I'll be wrapping up soon. The pool area just needs to be tidied up for a bit." he then nodded and left.

I put my shoulders down as I sighed a breath of relief, I thought I would suck for my first day at work and disappoint my aunt.

" You can come out now, he's gone." He moved out from the corner and looked at me, voiceless.

"Now you have to come out," I mandated as I pointed at the door.

"Sure, for one condition," he walked towards me, and with every thump of his feet upon the carpet doubled the beat my heart was building up inside me.

"Sit and drink with me. Miss...?"

"You don't have to know my name," I glared at him with sirened eyes and took the glass his left hand was gripping.