Two faces behind the mask

CHAPTER 2 - The New Determination

Alexia was taken back by his daughter's sudden tears, and just then he realised that he had been yelling at the small girl.

"I'm sorry, I was just carrying away." Alexia said, hugging the girl.

"I was worried about you, Daddy. I don't want you to give up the project because of me," Claire said after she disengaged from the hug.

"Huh," her father was totally dumbfounded by what his daughter said.

"You need to make money in order to take care of me, so don't give up on your project because of my safety," Claire said with seriousness on her face.

"But I don't want to lose you, my princess." Mr. Alexia said with tears welling up in her eyes as he held his daughter's hands.

"You won't lose me, Dad. Don't give up on the project because of me, as I said earlier, because from now on I will protect myself and you from any harm." Claire said it with determination.

Alexia chuckled at his daughter's response, but he could see the seriousness on the little girl's face.

"How will you protect yourself, damsel?"

I will disguise myself by making use of a mask, and no one will be able to recognise me or use me to threaten you. Then we are good to go.

Alexia was happy with what the little girl said, and she pulled her into a hug.

~END OF THE FLASH BACK ~

Alexia was in pain for the fact that his daughter was in disguise because of him. This is one of the things that always nails his heart with pain. Although the little girl is used to it, he always blames himself for not being able to protect his daughter. He went to bed with a heavy heart.

* * * * *

The next morning

Claire has finished dressing before her father; she was dressed neatly in her school uniform with a pure white snickers shoe and her hair in a ponytail. After dressing beautifully, she put on her mask and left for her father's room, who had just gotten off the bed.

"Good morning, daddy." Claire greeted her father.

"Morning, my princess," he responds.

"How was your night, father?"

"It was fine, little princess, and how was your night too?"

"I don't lie; my night was good, unlike someone who lied to me," Claire said, turning her back to her father.

"Who lied to you, my princess?" Mr. Alexia said, sitting beside Claire.

"Of course you, Dad,you lied to me about your night being good when your night isn't good." Claire said, folding her two hands across her chest.

"I'm sorry, princess, but I don't want to trouble your small head; that's why." Alexia holds his daughter's hands.

"I knew you didn't sleep well last night all because you were worried about me, but I promise you that when I grow up, I will take care of you and the Mirae group, and no one will threaten me because I will grow up stronger than you," Claire said, smiling.

Alexia was happy when Claire promised him to take care of the Mirae group. He somehow felt relief with his daughter's promise, and he was really happy.

"Thank you, princess," Alexia said, kissing her forehead.

Claire's driver walks in.

"Mrs. Alexia, it's time for you to go to school." Mr. Leo, bow down.

"Dad, please, can you help me to tell Leo to stop calling me Mrs. Alexia and he should stop bowing down for me after I'm still young and I'm not a Mrs. but Miss?"

"Sorry princess, he was actually calling that because you are the one after your mother, which means you are also my wife," Alexia explained.

"But I don't like it."

"You have to go now or else you will be punished for lateness," Alexia said.

"Bye, Dad," Claire said after taking her lunch box and bid her father goodbye before entering her car, which zoomed off almost immediately.

"She was just exactly like her mother, bold and brave," Alexia said to himself when walking back inside the house with a smile plastered over his face.

Claire walked into her classroom after Mr. Leo dropped her in front of the school gate. As usual, people were avoiding her because of her mask. At first,she thought it was because of her young age because she started her secondary school journey at the age of nine years and she is now in junior secondary school two. Since her first day in school, people have avoided her because no one could see her face and no one dares to bully her because of her father's status. Even though they talk about her behind her back, she cares less.

But everything changes when a new girl arrives in her class.

The class teacher walked into the class along with a little girl who was following her as she led the way ahead.

"Good morning, class." Mrs. Sharon greets

"Good morning, ma," the student chorused.

"We are going to have a new face joining us today, and I want you guys to welcome her wholeheartedly. Can you please introduce yourself, little girl?" Miss Sharon said

"My name is Browns, Alina," Alina said, bowing down to show her greeting gesture.

"You are welcome to junior secondary school two of Sunshine High School. I hope you can now get along after the introduction is done. So who has any vacancy? Sit in the class." Miss Sharon said

"I do, ma'am," Claire said, raising up her hands.

Miss Sharon pretended not to see Claire because she did not dare pair up with the one and only Alexia daughter.

"Is there anyone with a spare seat?" Miss Sharon asks again.

"I think there's one sitting there; I will go sit down with her," Alina said, walking towards where Claire was sitting.

"Nice to meet you, Alina; my name is Alexia Claire." Claire pulled out her hand for a handshake

Miss Sharon was stunned, including everyone in the class, but no one dared to talk since Claire seemed to like Alina.

She had no choice but to move on to business.

"So class, that's all on the new class member; let's move on to the main business, which is the competition between you guys and your senior. Everyone in the class will partake in the test, and anyone who becomes the overall best will be chosen for the competition with the junior secondary school three " Miss Sharon explains

"Is that clear to everyone?"

"Yes, ma," they all chorused.

"So you guys should prepare ahead and listen to your teachers, OK? Don't forget to be a good boy and girl." With this, Miss Sharon leaves the class.

"Thank you, ma," they all chorused.

"Claire, right?" Alina said, facing Claire, who was sitting next to her.

"Yes, you are right, Alina Browns," Claire responded, smiling.

"Actually, you can call me Alina only because Browns was my mom's surname," Alina said.

"Then why are you using your mom's name instead of your dad's name?" Claire said, facing her totally.

"Don't worry, you will know the reason why very soon, and you will even know my dad's name," Alina replied with a little smirk on her face.

"Oh, OK" Claire was confused about the reaction on her face, but she shrugged it off in order not to spoil the mood because this is her first time having a friend in her entire life who can talk to her as friends because everyone always runs away from her due to the fact that she is putting on a mask and in order to avoid her father's wrath. She is happy that Alina chose to talk to her despite the fact that she is a mask.