Under Stormy Skies

Chapter 2: Opportunity in Crisis

The Aguinaldo’s estate sprawled across two hectares of neatly manicured lawns and cold marble floors. Rowan could not believe her eyes, although she’s trying her best not to look like an i***t.

The place was like out of a fiction story. She never thought that such a place would actually exist in real life.

A maid escorted her inside the Aguinaldo’s mansion. “Wait here,” the maid said. Rowan stood alone in the living room along with a worn-out hand-carry bag full of her stuff.

Before she could ever decide to sit on the pristine couch in front of her, a man in a sharp suit came down the stairs with the maid.

“Rowan Sierra?” he asked, his voice rang around the room with authority.

Rowan felt intimidated. But instead of making it obvious, she complimented his authority with confidence and pride.

“That’s me.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Sierra. I am Knox—Doc Sandra’s secretary,” he said, shaking Rowan’s hand briefly.

“Just call me Rowan, sir.”

The moment she got the job, Rowan did a background check on her employer or employers. The Aguinaldo estate is owned by Damian Aguinaldo. He inherited the estate from his father. Their ancestry traces back from the Spanish era.

So, technically, they are “old money” rich people.

The mainstream press makes them look like college sweethearts, but Damian Aguinaldo was allegedly married by convenience to Lysandra Malear, the daughter of the one of the largest pharma companies in the Philippines. Lysandra Malear, or Doc Sandra, is a well-known chemist, finished her PhD program from an Ivy League school with distinction.

The information might be scarce, but it sufficed Rowan’s curiosity for now.

“Alright. So, Rowan. Doc Sandra is out of the country for a business travel. She’ll be back at the end of the month. So, I guess, that would only be the time you can meet her personally. Anyways, she wants me to welcome you here, and tell you to make yourself comfortable. You can start your lessons with Elara tomorrow. For now, our maid here will help you get settled to your room. After that, spend time with your student. She’s probably waiting in her room upstairs.”

Elara Aguinaldo, the youngest daughter of the Aguinaldo estate. The sheltered one.

After the short meet-and-greet in the living room, the secretary left and the maid showed Rowan her room for the entire month as the in-house tutor of Elara Aguinaldo. Seeing how much larger her room was than her old rental, Rowan tried to remain composed.

“I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything,” the maid said, as they stood outside Elara’s bedroom.

When the maid was out of sight, Rowan took a deep breath before she knocks on the tall oak door.

“Come in.” A soft voice said from the inside.

Rowan did not hesitate. She twisted the golden knob and entered Elara’s room. It’s ten times bigger than the guest room downstairs. The room is so pink, makes you think the owner is cheerful, yet innocent.

How much does this room costs? This could probably cover a year-worth of chemo sessions.

But the owner herself stood in the middle of the room wearing a short satin dress. Her wavy dark brown hair is flowing down her shoulders. The neck was too ‘v’ that Rowan could already see her small breasts.

She’s pretty. Rowan was expecting a cliché seventeen-year-old girl who has glasses on, wearing a sweatshirt and pants, obsessed only in getting good grades.

Elara’s face fell, now all irritated upon seeing Rowan. “I thought you were a boy.”

“What made you think I am?”

“Your name. Rowan. It’s a boy’s name.”

Realization flashed across Rowan’s face. The satin dress made sense now.

“Not anymore.”

Elara scoffed and rolled her eyes. She is not as innocent and cheerful as her room. Elara flopped herself down to the edge of her queen-sized bed and pouted like a typical spoiled brat.

“Why are you just standing there? Sit.” Elara said, like she’s talking to a dog.

In the back of Rowan’s mind, she can think of many ways to manipulate this feeble-minded kid. But no. She’s just a minor. That’s just how her brain works.

Rowan walked across the room. She took the white satin robe lying on the vanity, turns to Elara who was now staring at her with one eyebrow raised.

“Do you mind?” Rowan said.

Elara smirked. “Am I distracting you?” she asked with full menace as she tries to catch Rowan’s eyes.

“You’re not distracting. I’m just bothered to see my student wearing such revealing dress," She puts on the robe of Elara, slipping in her arms on the sleeves. “If you want people to value you, act like you deserve it. People earn respect. Not given.”

“You’re overreacting just like any adult I know in my life. You’re a girl. This shouldn’t bother you anymore.”

“I know. But there’s a more appropriate time to wear that. At bedtime, maybe? Or an informal party?”

Rowan securely tied the lace to her waist. “But I appreciate the effort though. You dressed up for me.” she smirked.

“Well, technically, I did not dress up for you. It’s for the Rowan who I thought was a boy.”

“I can be a gentleman. A girl can treat girls like any other boys in the world.”

Elara met Rowan’s eyes. She could sense the sudden shift in the room’s atmosphere.

It started with Elara’s sudden silence. Her face was pink when Rowan sat back down on the vanity chair. Suddenly, all her smugness a while ago vanished. Elara was all shy now and timid. She can’t seem to look straight into Rowan’s eyes.

A corner of Rowan’s lips twitched up a little as she realized how easy was that. Rowan wonders how long will it take for Elara to become her marionette.

Two? Three weeks?

Elara tried to pull herself together, clearing her throat. “I’ll have you know, you’re working for me. Be careful with what you say, and what you do around me and in this house. Understood?”

There’s her ego speaking.

“Of course. I understand.”

“Very well. Also. I don’t really need a tutor. I don’t need you. But I’m grounded for a month for getting caught smoking, so I can’t leave the house. You’re here to keep me company.”

Smoking, huh? Rowan thought. “If you don’t mind me asking, who caught you smoking?”

It doesn’t really matter whether Rowan is here to tutor her or simply keep her company. She’s gonna get paid all the same.

But she wants to connect with her just a little. It might come useful to her later.

“My teacher. In school. Whatever. You don’t have to know.”

Elara is still upset about it. Rowan did not push further more.

“Alright.”

“Whatever. I’m gonna go swimming.” She pushed herself up from the bed and walked across the room to what seems like a walk-in closet. “You can go now. Wait for me by the pool.”

Before going to the pool, which Rowan doesn’t know where the hell it is, made a wise decision to inform the maid. As she steps outside the glass doors, with the pool dancing and glistening in the sunlight, her phone rings.

It was her sister, Rein.

“Hello?” Rowan greeted, and walks away from the door. She went to the far end corner of the pool, just by the gazebo.

“Hey. How are you? Mom wants to talk to you. She wants to know why you’re not coming home this time.”

“Alright. Give her the phone. Let me talk to her.”

There was a brief silence, and a cracking sound as Rein passes the phone to their mother.

“Hello, Rowan?” a weak voice said.

Rowan composed herself. “Hey, mom. How are you?”

“I’m fine. I’m fine. We’re all good here. Why won’t you be coming home this summer?”

“I’m sorry, you must be so worried. Well, I got a part-time job. It pays well also. It’s hard to turn down. I gotta earn money for your next chemo session.”

“Are you gonna be okay there alone? You must be having a hard time, are you?”

“Nothing’s really easy in life, mom. Right? You’re the one who told me that. But I’m doing the best that I can. I’m taking care of myself, I promise you that. I will call home as much as I can.”

“I’m so sorry you have to go through this, Rowan.”

Her chest clenched. “No. Don’t say that. Don’t be sorry. I want to do this. I’m doing this because you’re my mother and I love you. Okay?”

“Okay. I love you too, Rowan. Take care.”

“Take care. Love you.”

Rowan ended the call. She took a deep breath. It feels so heavy just by talking to her mom on the phone. What more if they talk face to face? It’ll be difficult to contain her emotions.

“Was that your boyfriend?”

Rowan shot a glance at Elara. She stood by the pool wearing a cotton robe and a flip-flop. Her hair is now tied up in a bun.

“The one you were just talking to on the phone. Was that your boyfriend?”

Rowan could sense the curiosity in her voice, but she was certain there was more to it than curiosity.

Rowan flashed a smile. Cheeky. “What makes you ask?” she walks towards Elara.

“Nothing. Just asking. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” She untied the ribbons, and the robe slipped down her body to the tiled floor of the pool area. Elara remained in her blue two-piece bikini.

Before Rowan could ever say a thing, Elara dived into the pool, splashing water all over the tiles. Rowan took the robe off the floor and placed it on the nearest reclining chair by the swimming pool deck.

After a little while, Elara resurfaced, running her palms over her face and into her hair. Rowan took this opportunity to tell her the truth.

“It was my mother. On the phone. She called to say hi to me.”

Rowan’s attention to detail was so intense she notices Elara’s face soften, and a sense of relief sweep past her face. Before she acted like she didn’t give a f**k and dived into the water again.

When she got sick of the pool, Rowan volunteered to help her wear the robe. She noticed Elara took a gulp.

“I can do this on my own, you know? I’m not a kid anymore.”

“You’re not even eighteen.” Rowan lightly chuckled, finished up by knotting the laces.

It was already late when Rowan realized the mistake she made. Elara nudges her hands away like a fly and walked away.

Girls her age don’t like being called a kid.