Wish on a Star

Two

Justin’s phone blasted with message notifications from his friends losing their minds, asking and freaking out after he sent them a picture of the Park’s mansion from the outside.

The picture captures the big water fountain. Behind it is the front of the white, elegant mansion. And of course, his friends recognized it easily.

The Park Mansion, although can be covered from the outside only, has been all over magazines. His friends also saw it from his room window, so they know.

Amidst all the chaos going on in their group message, Justin ignored them all as he went inside the mansion with fluttering eyes and drumming heart, beating faster than the notifications from his friends' texts.

Everything is white with a touch of gold and some good quality of a wooden furniture; elegant and expensive looking that Justin could not help but wander around the living room with sparkling eyes and a gaping mouth.

He noticed the big empty jars with an exquisite art on it, even the indoor plants in every corner. Any where his eyes land seems expensive that he cannot even make so much movement cautious that he might break something and would not have enough money to pay for them.

Justin’s movements were shy and timid as he stood in the middle of the living room.

“Please sit,” a maid showed up, gesturing for him to take a seat.

“O-okay. Thanks.” He said shyly and dust off invisible dust on his behind before sitting down, making slow movements as he did.

As much as possible, Justin’s movements are careful, cautious, and calculated. Everything here seems so expensive and one wrong move he will mess up and break something. He feels alienated. He has never been into this kind of house—mansion before, and it feels like he is in a different country.

He had always dreamed, if not having one, perhaps bring able to go into one or get inside here. But he did not expect it to happen this sudden, and it feels somewhat amazing and exciting, yet scary. The mansion is so big he feels like if he walks and tour around, he will get lost. You can play hide-and-seek here and never see each other for again after 24 hours.

A cup of hot tea is served for him by another maid, placing it on the coffee table in front of him. He smiled with gratitude to the maid before she walks away. Even the way they move, and walk is so fine and light.

He took the cup to his lips and have the taste of the tea. He is no expert in tea’s, usually he’d take his regular coffee from the regular café he and hi friends always go to, but this one… this one taste amazing! He took one more sip before placing it down back to the saucer.

Once more, he let his eyes wander around the whole mansion. It is only the living room, yet his eyes are restless from looking around and finding awe in everything he sees. Even earlier when a car picked him up from his house and make their way to Park’s property.

There was a big fountain sitting right in front of the mansion and he did not expect there will be another one inside. A much more modern fountain was built in the lobby of the mansion. They had built a small wall made of marble, and bricks on both sides and huge pot of plants. They had also placed three lights below, illuminating the water that falls on it.

The hallway walls entering the living room are made up of a floor-to-ceiling glass, where you can see the bed flower outside the mansion. And yet again, his jaw dropped to the view.

In the living room, there is a grand staircase in the middle, you can see above it on the second floor the big family picture. There are three people in the family; a man he recognized as Mr. Mateo Park and a woman, Mrs. Nina Park, and in the middle sits another younger woman whom he has never seen before, but he thinks it is the daughter.

The daughter who has not been seen by the public even once. Although he heard rumors about the wealthy family and their daughter, being her imprisoned in their own house to keep from the public, for Justin those are just baseless rumors people created.

They all look so beautiful. Even from the picture, it radiates power and elegancy. The way they bring themselves through that single picture, the way they smile and look at the camera. Especially the young woman sitting in front.

The elder woman, who looked so radiant from the picture, showed up with the much brighter smile on her face. “You’re here.” She pointed out, voice soft and welcoming, yet Justin feels a little more intimidated.

Mrs. Park stand at the top of staircase with a smile that made her look a little younger.

“Good evening, ma’am.” Justin greeted politely, bowing down a little.

She walked down the grand staircase gracefully, still holding a smile on her face. And Justin felt his heart beat a little louder and faster than before. It is like meeting an artist for the first time, someone important that he did not want to make a bad impression of—well they really are important, and yes, he does not want to make a bad impression on their first meeting.

“Good evening, Mr. Justin Simons! Please take your seat.” She sits in front of the intimidated boy as she gestured for him to do so.

Justin followed carefully, trying so hard to make an eye contact with the woman but he found himself failing.

“I suppose, my assistant had already discussed to you the job request, and I assume that is the reason of you being here.” The woman’s voice is soft yet intimidating as it hit Justin’s ears.

“Yes.”

“Is there anything you want to change? Objection? Questions or something you needed to be clarified? I understand you signed it with the presence of your father, but just in case you would want to fix something, please let me know.” The lady has both of her hands on her lap, sitting comfortably as she explains, waiting for the younger to answer.

Justin does have. He has a question, or more like a request to make. But he is hesitant. His father has been working in their company for so many years now as a manager until he got ‘fired’ last week. He knew how his dad enjoys his job there, and he wanted to try, just know if there ever is a chance if he could take his work back. “Um…” Justin trails off, feeling unsure of what he will say. But goes for it anyway. “My dad used to work in one of your companies as a manager.”

Mrs. Park’s face brightens, “I heard.” She said with delight. “Mr. Owen Simons, right?”

Justin nods in response, “He lost his job last week, and although I don’t know the reason, I’d like to ask if… If you can take him back in your company? I promise, I would not be taking anymore payment, as long as you hire him again.” He said with hopeful eyes. It felt like he had said a lot that he needed to swallow and gulp when he finished.

The lady, on the other hand, gave him a confused look and smiled warmly. “I do not think I am in the position to tell you this but, he left the company by himself. He resigned. I heard from his superior and subordinates he was a great co-worker, and that they were surprised when he passed a resignation letter one day.”

Confusion washed over the younger as his eyebrows furrowed. “What?” it was small, almost a whisper.

Mrs. Park noticed the change in Justin’s reaction, the mix of worry and confusion in it. She sighed and gave him a tight, warming smile. “I believe your dad would have a good reason for living the company. For now, I want you to think about yourself. I offered the job for you, you will be the one doing the work, so I want to pay you for it.”

Justin recollected himself and nods.

“So, are you ready today? I would like you to start as soon as possible!” Mrs. Park said a lot brighter. Her smile is big and excited.

Feeling overwhelmed by the fact he will really start this today, and it is not some kind of a joke to him by the world, he looked at his guitar he has been carrying since he came here. It is leaning on his side. He hoped the smile on his face is enough to answer her question. Heart beating so fast again suddenly.

“Good-“

“Mom?” a voice interrupted the nervousness Justin is feeling. The voice is soft when it called her mom.

He looked up to where the voice came from. A young woman stands at the top of the grand staircase where her mom was before, looking at them, perhaps wondering whom his mom is talking to. Beside her is a woman wearing an all-white uniform that reminded him of a nurse.

It is the same young lady in the family picture. And Justin could not help but think that she looks prettier in person.

“Jamie!” The mother’s voice sounded a lot softer, but the excitement is evident in her voice upon seeing her daughter. “Come here! Let me introduce to you Mr. Justin Simons!” She excused herself to the young boy before walking at the end of the staircase to wait for her daughter.

The nurse never left her side and followed the young Park down the stairs. Mrs. Park took her daughter’s hand with a genuine smile and meaningful smile and guided her to where Justin is.

Justin studied the young Park who just came. A small frame, pale skin and looks so fragile was standing in front of him. He smiled a little not noticing the lady’s flushed cheeks.

“Justin, this is my daughter, Jamie,” the elder introduced. “Jamie, Justin. Your new guitar instructor and the one you’re t—"

“N-nice to meet you.” Jamie quickly cut off her mom with a panic in her voice. Instead, she flashed a shy smile to Justin who smiled back at him. “I am Jamie.”

“It was nice to finally meet you too,” He extended his arms for a handshake.

However, Jamie only looked at the hand and then to her mom. Unsure if she is going to take it. But when her mom gave her a nod, she looked back at Justin and to the waiting hand. The fragile girl slowly moved her hand to take it. She got Justin’s warm hand; hers is small holding the man’s.

Justin noticed how cold and soft Jamie’s hand was, small and light. It looked so fragile that he holds it lightly and softly like it is something precious.

It was the hidden daughter. The Park’s daughter the public have never seen before. And she is pretty.

“Thank you!” Justin smiled, feeling grateful to the driver before he pushed the car door open. He bowed down a little before the exclusive car drove away back to the mansion.

Mr. & Mrs. Park insisted to take him back home by their driver. He met Mr. Mateo Park, Jamie’s dad, during dinner that he had refused because he was shy having dinner with them on his first day of work, but the family insisted him to join them.

That family is so kind and humble, he thought to himself opening the door to their house. The light was off in the living room, but the one upstairs was on.

He remembered his dad, thinking if he should ask him about his father’s ‘resignation’ from his work, but he mull over it, thinking it would be better if he let his father say when he wanted to.

Feeling exhausted, he let his body fall on the bed and let his eyes stare at the ceiling. His mind went back to what happened earlier. It was still overwhelming to him thinking that the rich family who owns the house he has been envious of asked him, personally, to teach their only daughter.

‘I can’t believe I actually met THE daughter!’

He had posted later that night on his Twitter account. And as he expected, his friends flock under his post leaving replies, asking who and whose daughter is he referring to.

“Can you all slow it down with the interrogations?” He groaned as soon as he answered the group call from his friends.

They greeted him with questions after seeing Justin’s Twitter post and the latter not responding to them, and so they called.

“No, ‘cause you better start telling us if that was the rumored hidden daughter of the Park’s in your tweet?” Jay asked.

“Isn’t she imprisoned?” Terrence asked.

“That was just a baseless and stupid rumor! Why would they imprison their own child?”

They continue bantering and Justin was quiet again. Letting the two loudest in the group go over who is right between them, when in all they have are just made-up stories from people who does not know anything.

“Okay. Shut up you two!” Marco intervened. “Can you let Justin talk? I am not interested on that. So, Jus… Why are you there in the first place?”

Justin sighed, Terrence and Jay quiet down as they wait for their friend to start telling them what happened. After a deep breath, Justin started explaining to them from the moment he woke up and open the door to two men already standing at their doorstep until when he had dinner at their place and when their luxurious car took him back home.

“You are one lucky asshole!” Terrence had commented. And the other two also throw him some envious comments.

“So, she’s not imprisoned?” Marco clarified with a curious voice. “I mean, not that I believe the rumors but… it is a possibility too, you know?”

“She’s not.” Justin corrected. “As a matter of fact, she’s nothing near of those rumors. She is pretty, she is nice and soft spoken. She, sometimes, talks in pout and is very beautiful. Her hands were soft but cold, and it’s really small compared to mine.” He continued talking as he recalls on what happened and what he had felt earlier with Jamie. He talks as if he is daydreaming that he does not even realize the small smile on his lips.

-

“This is our music room,” Jamie had said opening the door to the said room and she, her nurse and Justin went inside the room with different instruments: a cello, guitar, and violin inside a glass cabinet. There is also a harp somewhere but the most outstanding there is the grand piano in a circular stage sitting in the middle of the over-looking arc window.

“Do you learn all these?” Justin had asked as he lightly runs his fingers on the piano.

Jamie nodded with a smile on her face. “I don’t have much anything to do here but to learn instruments with some tutors.” She explained truthfully but with sadness that did not left unnoticed to Justin.

The sad smile on her lips looking at all the instruments in the music room tugs something at Justin’s heart. He wanted to ask so many questions, but the boy is afraid to ask something so personal, to touch a sensitive part he should not. So, he stayed quiet and bury the curiosity somewhere at the corner of his brain.

“Why me? I am no professional. I am just a… boy who plays guitar as a hobby.” Justin asked instead. Because it is true, who even is he to teach someone like her? Someone rich and probably knows so much than he does. Who is he compared to other professionals that taught her? Why not someone professional too, instead? Will he even be able to teach her as good as them? Will she even learn something from him?

They had sat on the sofa. Jamie’s guitar is already set on the table, and Justin took it. Look at it carefully and get mesmerized again because he knows this is an expensive one. He looked as he waited for the lady’s answer.

But Jamie’s eyes are wide as if she did not expect the question. Her eyes quivered. “I-I don’t know… Uhm, can we just start?” She took her guitar, maybe even panicking that caught Justin off guard.

“O-okay.” Justin bit his lips and just took his guitar.

They first started familiarizing the chords. But since Jamie was already familiar with it from her previous lessons with the violin, the lesson went well. Justin had prepared some practice chords for beginners.

Honestly, learning the guitar, especially in Jamie’s case since she already has background on different instruments with strings, does not require too much time and attention. And learning the guitar is not as hard as it seems. So, the rest of the day, they just played with different melodies while also being playful.

It ended with, although awkward, laughs and smiles.

-

Finishing his little memory from earlier, he let out a sweet chuckle until he could no longer hear anyone from the other line. He cleared his throat, a sign to let his friends know he is done talking.

“Are you done simping?” Terrence teased something that notes Justin being so whipped already to the young lady in the mansion.

Justin groaned at that.

“No, don’t tell me you like her already?!” Jay asked a little exaggerated.

“For real.” Marco said. “I was so confused like, what does that even mean? How is that even related to her rumors? To her being ‘imprisoned’? You did not even explain anything.”

As if he just realized what he had said, Justin scratched his head trying to reason out while biting his lips. Was he zoning out while he talks about her? If he did, well, he did not realize it.

“Uhm… I feel tired. Let’s talk about this some other time, maybe?”

Justin signed a contract agreement after all. A contract saying that he had to maintain privacy about the family, specifically of the young lady. Although he does not know until what point does he have to be private, he wanted to keep his mouth shut until it is allowed.

It is not new to him that the family, despite being big in the business industry, they still hold a very private life. So, yes, even to his best friends, he cannot just let his tongue slip and say anything he should not.

So, he just let his friends tease him about her. Because maybe, it is also true that he likes her a little only because he finds her pretty.