Chapter 4 : El Sangre
1568 Words
Nicholas’ POV.
I saw her walk away.
And for some reason, I couldn't take my eyes off her back that her dress didn't want to cover.
Get a grip, Nicholas.
"May I have your attention, please?" A raspy, male voice broke me from my thoughts and I looked towards the owner, a sour look already pouring down my face.
We all gathered around the man on the platform like shreds of iron getting attracted to a magnet.
"As you're all aware the reason we've gathered here on this special occasion." his dark eyes twinkled under the ostentatious place as he joyfully glanced at everyone, "And it wouldn't have been possible without the people standing right in front of me." He spread his arms wide, as he gestured at us, and I refrained myself from rolling my eyes.
I felt someone tugging my blazer end and looked down to see Amber motioning me towards the stage.
"No way." I shook my head and gave her the cut throat gesture to refuse when my eyes landed on another set of amber eyes.
And they looked angry.
"Don't you know we're supposed to be up there?" I avoided my moms stern gaze as I pointed at the stage and feigned to be fed up with Amber, "Come on now, onwards and forwards." I nudged her, shrugged at my mom and gave her the Kids these days look.
But she didn't seem to buy it, as her response was an eyebrow raise.
Okay, then.
It seemed like my sister didn't listen to anything at all as her main focus was to get on stage, so that she could brag about it in front of her friends later.
"Stand here both of you." Mom motioned us towards the edge of the stage, so that Mr. Smith could thank us easily.
"My family," as if on cue his arm animatedly pointed at us, "They have been with me through thick and thin, and I wouldn't be standing here if they hadn't supported me....."
He then gave an elaborated speech as to how many difficulties he faced and the VIPS, Mr. McGuire, and Mr. Whatever helped him solve the complication of politics.
"I would now like to call up my lovely wife, Lillian." his black hollow eyes glistened under the lights as he looked at mom; his sleek navy blue suit making his pale skin prominent.
As soon as she heard her name, mom smiled warmly at the audience and her husband. Her formal evening gown, the colour of wine, winking back at the crowd as she made her way on the stage.
I was standing with hands behind my back and legs apart. And all I did was pretend to be attentive but actually I kept scanning the crowd and looked back at the two and then scanned the crowd and looked back at the two.
What I wouldn't do to go back to my basketball court and play throughout the night.
Amber, on the other hand, looked at her parents in deep admiration. Her eyes were transfixed on both of them and held onto every word spoken by the Mayor and his wife.
I began scanning the crowd again, and mistakenly locked eyes with Amelia. She was already looking at me with a smile etched on her face, and I wanted to look away, but that one reason that justified my behaviour towards her, made me hold onto her gaze long enough.
It's not her fault.
I looked back at Daniel, who had his arm around mother's waist. His eyes were creased with the grin he had on his face; pride and power screaming in his stance as he went on with his 'thank you' speech.
All I could feel was anger and frustration when I looked at the man who changed everything in my life and decided to regulate it.
I wanted to leave the stage because right at that moment, all I thought was to punch the s**t out of Mayor Daniel Smith.
I looked back at my girlfriend, but sighed when I wasn't able to find her.
Amelia deserved someone much better.
At least she or anyone didn't deserve someone who was forced to be with them.
"Enjoy the evening," Finally, I thought when Daniel finished his speech, and was about to get down, when his secretary, Tristan beckoned him to a side and whispered something in his ear.
He gave a tiny smile to the now distracted audience and excused himself from mom before walking towards the exit.
"Come on Amber." I held her hand tight as she looked up at me, "Time to eat."
******
Spanish.
How much I hated this class.
I looked around and raised my eyebrows when I noticed everyone holding onto every word that came out of Ms. Carinas mouth.
Why was I in this class again?
Let's just say it was an impulsive decision. I thought, it's just a language. How hard could it be?
But now all I know is that I'm officially screwed.
I couldn't understand a single word that our teacher was speaking and my eyes widened when the students started to have Spanish conversations.
I felt like banging my head on the table, but then an idea struck my mind.
Of course I could go back and live the lesson again.
In fact, I could live all the classes again and all I had to do was close my eyes and concentrate on the particular time, place and location I wished to be at.
"Lo siento mal decirle al conserje para limpiar el desorden!" Before I could close my eyes and get myself away from the present, my Spanish teacher drew all attention towards her, when she accidentally dropped the loosely capped red ink bottle on the floor.
The liquid was spreading all around the white pristine tiles and the front benchers animatedly lifted their feet as it flowed towards them .
"Lo siento niños!" Our Spanish teacher gave a helpless laugh, her spectacles moving as she scrunched her nose. She mustered an apology (I guess) before she rushed out of the class to get a janitor for cleaning up the mess.
The red liquid was bright and flowed freely around the front of the class. Jessica, sitting in front of me snapped a picture of the scene and lowered the brightness to give it the spewed ink a darker shade. She then wrote a caption, "Crime scene!!!" for good measure and posted it on social media.
"You're so extra." I leaned forward and told her and she looked back and smiled sheepishly.
"When you gotta post, you gotta post." She shrugged and turned away.
I gave a look of distaste at her back, but soon the fun, teasing part of me died down when something else hit my mind.
The party.
The previous night at the party, after Daniel gave his 'Great-Mayor' speech, I couldn't help but notice him escaping from the hall. He had received a phone call, and ran straight for the exit.
He returned after a whole thirty minutes with his right navy sleeve soaked in some liquid. My eyebrows creased in confusion and as I got closer to him, my nose was hit with a faint odour of iron.
I went to approach him, but he took a turn away from me to acknowledge his other guests, and skillfully kept that hand behind his back, to not draw any attention to it.
My eyes widened in shock when I realised that liquid was nothing but blood.
My boggled head thought of the worst case scenario possible: Had Daniel murdered someone?
No, he wouldn't. He couldn't.
I approached him again, because I had to be certain. I didn't care about him much, but I did care about him being a murderer.
As I got near, I realised that it wasn't anyone's blood that he was trying to conceal.
It was his own blood, and when he realised that the liquid will soon start dripping on the golden floor, he excused himself again and called someone on his cell phone, and leapt up the stairs, without once acknowledging my presence.
The most surprising thing was that no one noticed, maybe because of the navy colour that was dark enough to cover any stains.
This morning when I woke up, and for some odd reason, the scenario from the previous night, seemed like a dream. Even if it weren't a dream, I couldn't be sure if it was an illusion or not.
Did I really see blood on Daniel's hand?
"...when you ask questions like: ¿Cuándo terminará esto?" My thoughts got interrupted by a strong accent. I jerked my head up to see Ms. Carina teaching again, with the janitor shooting daggers at her as he cleaned up the red liquid, while she dodged his gaze. I didn't realise neither presence as my head was cast downwards and my thoughts were like an endless spiral which made me forget where I was.
The silvery voice had been the background music throughout my analysis from afar, but now the owner stood right in front of me.
"Isn't that right, señor Smith?" The skinny, tanned lady who looked like she was in her mid twenties raised an eyebrow at me.
"Miss Carina, I-"
"Oh cut it, señor Smith, I want this to end as much as you do." She sighed as she took an about turn and walked towards the board, being extra careful to not step on the wet part of the floor.
The bell cut her off, and suddenly her words weren't important anymore as everyone grabbed their already packed bags and made a dash towards the exit.
And so did I, but I got up with one decision in my mind.
To confront Daniel about last night.
- Writer
