Under Stormy Skies

Chapter 4: Take Advantage

In the early evening, from the window in Elara’s room, the sun melted gold across the garden and the house exhaled — the staff retreating, the air humming with a strange loneliness.

Rowan was reviewing a lesson plan on Elara’s bed, a cold glass of lemonade sweating beside her on the bedside table, when a shadow fell across the page.

“I’m done.”

She looked up. Elara handed her a paper filled with scribbles. Rowan made her answer 10 essay questions within 30 minutes.

Rowan placed the lesson plan by her side on the bed and took Elara’s paper. Elara sat down by the edge of the bed, waiting for feedbacks about her answers.

“It’s great that you reference Article 11 of the 1987 Constitution. You emphasized how the government still lacks public accountability despite being stated in the constitution.” Rowan complimented Elara upon reading her essay answers.

She’s really smart.

Fast learner.

But upon reaching the question number ten, Rowan furrowed her eyebrows.

“Number ten is out of structure. Do it again.” She gave the paper back to Elara, who was now glaring at her.

“What? You’re not satisfied with the structure? But I totally got the point.”

“Yes. But without structure, it won’t make sense. Do it again.”

Elara huffed and rolled her eyes before standing up and going back to her study desk. Rowan shakes her head to her before her phone caught her attention.

Unknown Number: Need 2 boxes of fenta and Concert.

Rowan immediately snatched her phone from the bedside table and went to the farthest window of Elara’s room.

She replied: No supply. Contact me next month.

Rowan deleted the number from her inbox, leaving only the conversations from her family and classmates. She shoves her phone to the back pocket of her pants and walks towards the study desk.

She glances at her watch after reading Elara’s revised answer. “Well done. Much better. We’ll resume later 6 pm. Would you like me to get you something downstairs?”

“No. Stay here. You can just ring that bell, and the maid will come upstairs to get something for us.”

Rowan stares at the wall by the door. She finally realized the purpose of it. At first, Rowan thought it’s just a light switch.

Filthy rich people. With disgust, Rowan rings the bell.

“I want to ask you something.” Elara said when Rowan sat down next to her on the bed.

“Sure. Fire away.”

“What you said on your first day here…do you really mean it?”

Rowan furrowed her eyebrows. “I believe I’ve said a lot on our first meeting. Can you narrow it down?”

“That thing you said,” Elara fumbled with her fingers. She could not look straight at Rowan. “The thing you said about you can be a gentleman for me.”

Eyes low underneath her lashes. Blinking slow but steady, maintaining an eye contact with Rowan.

It almost felt like Elara’s trying to seduce her—is she?

“Of course. I meant it. I will treat you with the respect all women deserve. Why you ask?” Rowan tilted her head to the side.

“Nothing. It’s just that—never mind. Are you in relationship right now? If not, have you been to one before?”

Rowan smiled and leans closer to Elara. “If I tell you the truth, would you tell me some truths about yourself too? I wanna know you better.”

Elara thought in silence before she nodded.

“Okay. My first relationship was with a boy in high school. We were 15.”

“So, he was your first kiss?”

“You can say that.” Rowan shrugged.

“You guys are still together?”

Rowan chuckled. “Not anymore. We broke up a year after. My turn.”

Elara sighed. “Fine.”

“That person you had your first kiss. Is that person older than you?”

Elara’s shoulder stiffened before it lumps down. “Yes.”

“Did you meet in school?”

Elara just nodded in response. “I started the kiss.” She said.

“Your brave. But why it did not turn well? What happened?”

“She told me I’m a terrible kisser.” Elara froze. She looks alarmed when she met Rowan’s eyes.

Rowan was silent.

It was a girl.

“Is she your teacher? The one who caught you smoking?”

Elara’s eyes widen in panic and shock. “How did you know?” she push herself away.

“Calm down. I just figured it out, okay? Besides, she did you awful things. I am one of her enemies now. She must have hurt you that much.”

Her eyes sharpened, blazing with anger. “I learned to smoke because of her. She got a video of me smoking, sent it to my father through an anonymous email address, and blackmailed him she’d release it to the press. My father settled it with money, and as punishment, he grounded me.”

“Sometimes the people that hurt us are the people we once loved. It must have been hard for you.”

“It was hard enough she sold me to my father, and more insulting that she said I was a terrible kisser!”

It should be the least of her concern. But knowing her naivety, it must have been insulting for her.

“I’m sure you’re a good kisser. She just said that because she wants to intentionally hurt you.” Rowan tried to comfort her.

“If only I had given her satisfaction. I know she wouldn’t do it to me. Right?” Elara’s eyes were glassy from the tears. She was desperate for validation.

Poor girl. She hasn’t realized it yet that her teacher has used her. She was with her in the first place because it was her plan all along; to use her.

“She made me insecure of myself. I’m afraid that when I kiss someone, I’d turn them off and they would walk away from me.”

“Don’t say that. You will find someone better, someone that will appreciate all of you. Besides, being a ‘terrible kisser’ is not a curse. It’s something you can learn. You got to practice, so that when that time comes, it will be perfect.”

Rowan can’t believe to herself she’s said these petty things. It’s not even part of the job description.

Elara frowned. She seems lost. “How am I supposed to practice kissing? Without having someone to kiss?”

“Well, you can always try the back of your hand.”

“The back of my hand?”

“Yeah. Try it.”

Elara’s face showed hesitation, yet she also radiated curiosity. She lifted her fist to her mouth. She opened it and started kissing it first, awkwardly. Rowan could see that Elara feels stupid doing it.

“This is stupid. I don’t feel it.” She gave up.

Rowan smiled at Elara’s stupid innocence. “You’re not supposed to feel it. The point of practicing it at the back of your hand is to practice movement and the right position.”

Elara lifted her lashes and glances to Rowan’s lips. Her eyes went up, and they met eye to eye. Silence engulfed them, but the thickness of it was enough to understand the situation.

Elara may not be familiar with what she’s feeling right now, but Rowan could sense the lust on her face.

“Teach me.”

It wasn’t even a plea. It was a command.

This kid.

“I don’t think that would be a good idea, Elara.” Rowan dismisses her. She could already feel the fire. Better to put it out before it spreads.

She’s a seventeen-year-old that’s just wild and horny.

“Just once. I'll pay you now. I'm already broken--just give me this one thing. You can go back to being a good person after." ” Elara insisted. “I’m a fast learner. Besides, it’s part of your job as my tutor.”

Rowan raised an eyebrow at her proposition. “How so?”

Elara bounces on the bed, and folded her legs underneath her. “You are to teach me things I don’t know.”

Rowan crosses her arms over her chest. “And that includes teaching you to kiss?”

“Exactly.”

Rowan chuckled, gets off the bed, and walks to the study desk. “Well, that’s not part of the lesson plan. I’m paid to teach you academic lessons.” She said as she fixes the books and papers on the desk.

“So, you’ll teach me if I pay you?” Elara said.

Rowan froze. She did not answer Elara.

“Answer me. You’ll do it if I pay you, right?” Elara approaches her, clasps her arm with her small hand.

Rowan stood up straight. She glances at Elara with sharp eyes. “It’s true I’m here because of the money. But the thing you wanted me to do is against my principle. You’re a minor, Elara. I could go to jail.”

“I want this. Isn't that enough?”

“You're 17, Elara. I don't care what you say—I'd be the one behind bars.”

“But I’m turning 18 in a few weeks! Besides, this will be a secret. Our secret. I’ll pay you upfront. I’ll pay you cash right this moment.”

Rowan held Elara by the shoulder and made her sit down. Rowan lowered herself so they were on the same level.

“Listen, Elara. Let’s be honest here. You don’t need me to teach you. You only need me to satisfy yourself.”

“Isn’t that the whole point you’re here? You’re here to company me. To keep me entertained. I’m already broken inside. I’m insecure as f**k. Be a good adult to me. Just give this to me.” Elara reaches her face and caresses it gently.

Rowan stared into her eyes without faltering at the sensation of her soft palm. If Rowan only has no conscience, she’d sell her drugs right now.

But she knows Elara is looking for another type of drug.

Lust. s*x.

But is this worth the risk? This could go awry, and everything will fall unto her. But given her financial situation right now, with her mother’s chemotherapy.

Rowan held the wrist of Elara’s arm, and they stood up together. She made Elara sit on the table, with her standing between her legs. Rowan leans closer, her arms caging both sides of Elara.

“Listen.” Rowan bit her lip. “It’s not a simple thing you are asking from me.”

“Ten thousand. Right now."

Fuck. Is she serious?

“You don’t have the money, Elara.”

“Step aside.”

Rowan steps aside. Elara got off the table. She went inside her walk-in closet. When she got out, she handed Rowan a bundle of money.

“Ten thousand. I spare aside money from my allowance as savings. Don’t tell me I don’t have the money to pay you, Rowan. Because I do.”

They were fresh bills from the bank. Crispy. No crease at all. Those bills appear to be for her.

It was the first time a minor took advantage of her in the glory of money.

Rowan’s eyes traveled from the money up to Elara’s eyes—clouded with arrogance and naivety. She clenches her fists, snatches her stuffs, and walks out of Elara's room.