Masked Beauty

Chapter 4

"Ethel ija, I've heard that you and Darkin go to in the market together yesterday."

Papa Fernando gave a small kiss

I don't want to disappoint him and make him feel bad. But still, it is true that I enjoyed it even if It is annoying to be with Darkin.

"Well, Darkin told me that they supposed to visit the river with his friends from Nelay City but he run out of time so they decided to postponed it and come tomorrow." Papa explain and even if I am not interested about Darkin's activities in life I still need to listen coz it is Papa and I respect him.

"Well, hope they can visit already. Hope they enjoy." I said casually while giving a smile.

"Aren't you coming with them?" Papa ask but I immediately shake my head.

"Tommorow is Mama's free time. I want to bake with her again." I explained when I remembered that tommorow is Friday.

"Your mom is so busy and there are a lot of stubborn investors. She will be home soon but I am not sure if she is free for tommorow." Papa saud that made me so curious.

"Is she okay, she's always busy these days. She still need to rest, you too Pa." I said while staring at Papa Fernando.

I am concerned. They are already old to do their works, I bet they are already tired but they need to do it. If I am the real Ethel, I won't ask too much. They can rest a long as they want and I will work for them instead. They don't need to be so rich and buy all the expensive things for me.

But I know I don't have the right to stop them because I am not their real daughter.

"Well, don't worry too much, ija. Every year we are having a two months vacation. We also have time to relax."

I heaved a sigh.

Don't worry, once I receive the payment I need. I will find the real Ethel and bring her back to her real family.

I can't believe Mother Isabela did that to an innocent child. How can she took a baby away from her parents and how cruel the world is to allow it to happen.

On that day I am so pre-occupied thinking if what can I do to make Mr. and Mrs. Lauchengco feel better. I am thinking if I will buy something for them. But what am I going to buy? They already have a lot of things in life. But I am sure they will going to appreciate it anyway since it was from me. But still it is not a good idea.

When Mama Carmelita came home she looks so tired and weary.

We ate dinner together also with Papa Fernando.

"I don't think it is a good idea for you two to wait for your vacation Ma and Pa because you two look so tired already." I said with a calm and concerned tone.

But I immediately raised my brows in confusion when Mama Carmelita just smiled widely and stared at me.

"This is the first time that someone always care for us, Ethel. It is making me relax in some ways. Your concern is already enough." She said while smiling.

"Oh my God, Honey. Your mother is being dramatic again, ija. But she is right actually. Your concern is taking our tiredness." Papa added as he also c***k a smile for me.

The dinner ended and it made me finalize my plan to cook something for them.

I am so excited for the coming days.

In the next day I do not have any plans what to do yet. Mama and Papa left the mansion so early.

He also explained that he will go home late later because he will go together with the trucking because they also have a lot of whole sellers.

It was already eleven o'clock in the morning when I heard some noise outside.

I can hear some laughters and shouts with happy voices.

"Señorito Darkin's squad is already here." Manang announced.

After a few minutes I can already heard Darkin's voice in the sala.

"Where's Ethel?" He ask reason why I immediately showed up.

"What is it?" I ask with a curious voice.

"Uh, I am with my friends. Do you mind if I will introduce you with them?" He ask with a very careful tone on his voice and seems like trying to be very attentive about what he is going to say so that I will not get mad to him, I don't know but that is the vibe he is giving right now.

I bite my lip before slowly nodding.

"Uh, of course. Why not?" I answered awkwardly because I can see how he tried to be nicer to me.

He then slowly c***k a smile when I answered like he did something successfully.

"Can I change first?" I ask before he can finally call his friends.

"Uh-! Yeah! Of course, take your time." He said like he is so nervous.

What is happening to him? Is he scared of me now? Or I am just being too mean to him last day.

I immediately go upstairs to change and go back to the sala quickly.

I scanned the whole living area and I immediately saw Darkin's circle of friends.

In my calculations they are five or six not including with Darkin.

"She is already here." Darkin said in a low voice.

"Oh my God, she is so pretty."

I heard someone whispered that made my cheek blush for a second.

"Yeah, I hope Tito Fernando will allow courtships here."

I heard another whispers again and now it is making me uncomfortable.

"Uh, Ethel, these are my friends." Darkin started talking so I need to be attentive and so that I can remember their names.

They look nice, I hope they are friendly.

"Hi Ethel, I am Merriam. As you can see I am the prettiest among us." A girl immediately introduce her self to me that made me laugh because of her humor.

"Yeah, you are right. You all are pretty." I answered as I also give a glance to the two remaining girls behind her.

"See?" Merriam said proudly while bragging to her friends behind her.

Merriam is so tall. She also have a tan skin that suits her perfectly. She have a pouty lips and a very interesting eyes. She looks sexy and hella attractive.

"Well, don't mind her, Ethel. Sometimes she spit nonsense." I immediately give my attention to the petite girl behind Merriam.

"I am Deborah, nice to meet you." She added before winking with a wide smirk on her face.

She is cute and intimidating at the same time but she still looks friendly tho.

"Okay, by the way I am Zyra." The shy girl said behind them while just waving her hands with a simple smile on her face.

"Oh, my turn. I am Aki." Said the tall guy beside Darkin. He looks hot and friendly.

"This is Marco, and Justin."

The other two men doesn't get a chance to introduce their selves because of Aki. They all look so friendly for their age. Most of men I've met before with the same age with them are already problematic and tough.

Well, except Darkin coz he always have different aura among them. He is just staring at me while entertaining his friends. Seems like watching for something.

I wonder if he have flings from these three girls who is already talking to me with my favorite brand of bags. This sucks.

"Nah, I am not into bags. Most of my bags are handmade. I don't buy branded bags that much."

Merriam gave me unbelievable look before grabbing my hands..

"Is that for real? How? I mean, your parents are so rich." Merriam said with curiosity.

"Merriam, stop it." Darkin said while giving their foods to our maid to put it in a basket so that they can bring it in the river already. They will have a rock day later.

"Uh, Yeah. I don't like branded bags because aside from being so expensive, they are not worth it. I know how to do a hand made bags and I use it everyday." I explained because it is true.

I have a branded bag before and it was gift from a suitor but I don't like it that much because I can not put a lot of things inside.

"Merriam, that is the thing you should imitate, not your K-pop idols who only teaches you to spend money everyday." Justin said while laughing.

"Shut it, Justin. You have a lot of secrets remember? Do not make me spill it to your brother. You always forgot that he is my boyfriend." Merriam said sarcastically that made Deborah and Zyra laugh.

"But how did you do your handmade bags, Ethel?" Zyra ask with curiosity.

"I know how to sew. I also have a lot of handmade dresses with laces. They are fabulous, actually. I wanna brag coz it is true." I answered.

They continued talking and sometimes they will ask me about random things and I will answer immediately.

After a few minutes Darkin was already calling his friends.

"Ethel, aren't you going with us?" Aki ask while dragging Marco's shoulder. They look so happy and childish yet cute.

"Right, Ethel. Aren't you going with us?" Darkin ask with a hopeful expression on his face.

I want to go with them but I am planning to buy something in the market and ask some workers or maids to go with me.

"But I have something to do." I answered as I watched Darkin's friends already positioning their selves inside the pick up that they will use in the forest. Well, I don't know if they can drive there straight. There is no fine roads there.

I am so determined to say no to them because I have plans already. I am planning to cook later for Mama and Papa. But my brows furrowed when Darkin walk towards my direction in the main door of the mansion where I am standing while watching them.

"Aren't you really going with us?" He ask again in a lower voice.

His eyes are giving me something-

Maybe I should go with them already and postponed my plans.

"But-" I am about to say something when Aki cut me off.

"Ethel, C'mon. I am sure Tito Fernando will going to allow you. Your father is the best do not worry. We will take care of you." Aki said while grabbing my hands while pulling me towards the pick up they are bringing.

I glance towards Darkin who is standing behind of me. He looks so disappointed, and for what?

"See, I am really good at convincing people."

Aki is bragging the whole time while Justin is driving the pick up. We are all behind and just sitting.

Actually it is not because of you Aki. Tsk.

I wanted to say it but I don't want to be rude.