Heiress (Hanazono Series #2)

Heiress 14: Mnemosyne

Chelsea’s POV

I followed Jess and I saw her dancing seductively in the middle of the dance floor. She’s dringking from the bottle of Black Label as she dance. I am on the counter watching her closely.

“Miss, sino po bang tinititigan mo?” the bartender asked

“Binabantayan ko yung cousin ko. She might end up somewhere.” I replied and looked at Jess again.

She’s still dancing and drinking, I can’t imagine her partying this hard because she’s sassy and classy but also a little badass. Suddenly, a guy pulled her near him and my drunk cousin grinded her body against the man. I don’t have a good feeling about the next turn of events so I walke towards them.

When I saw the guy pulling her away I immediately blocked him.

“Where are you going?” I asked him and held Jess

“I’m sorry miss but as you can see may napili na ako eh.” Sabi nung lalaki at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa

“Pero pwede namang dalawa kayo.” He smiled like a maniac while staring at my chest. I crossed my arms at him and raised my brow.

“Sorry, I have no time for you.” I said and pulled Jess

“Miss ano ba? Tomboy ka ba?” He asked with his grip on Jess tightening

“Hindi. I just know how to have class in choosing a man.” I said

“Bakit ka ba nangingialam?” he asked

“That’s my cousin you’re taking advantage of, asshole!” I said and punched his face then dragged Jess to our couch

“What is wrong with you, Andrea Jess?” I asked the moment she sat down the couch

“What if hindi ako dumating doon? Are you going with that stranger?” tanong ko sa kanya pero hindi niya ako pinapansin dahil umiinom na naman siya ng Black Label.

“Why not? He’s gwapo kaya...” Jess said after drinking and she’s now very drunk.

Napatampal ako sa noo nang marinig ang sagot niya. She’s not like this

“Boy hunting lang and sinabi mo diba?” pagpapaalala ko kay Jess ng ipinagpaalam niya samin kanina.

Ano ba kasing nangyayari sa kanya?

“Yeah. He’s so gwapo and a good kisser.” Jess said and chuckled

Oh my goodness! Paanong hindi nakakarating kayna Tita Janine ang mga nangyayaring pagbabago kay Jess?

“Boy hunting diba? Hindi One night stand ang sinabi mo!” Panenermon ko sa kanya

Jess looked at me confused then drank again from the bottle of Black Label. She’s just there, drinking while I’m scolding her and knocking some senses back at her.

“You are not a s**t, Andrea, so don’t act like one.” I scolded massaging my temple

“s**t? Ha! How did you know? Who are you ba?” She asked me and looked at us one by one.

“Jess.” Lavalee called her and she smiled painfully

“Are you related to that gagong Bryle?” she asked which made us silent

What? Does her behavior have any connection with Bryle?

“Ah no? Then you won’t tell him even if I say that he’s so bobo!” Jess bursted out

Nagkatinginan kami ni Lavalee. Pareho kaming walang ideya kung anong nangyayari.

“Anong nangyayari?” tanong ni Irene at tiningnan siya ni Jess bago tumawa

Maya-maya all of our questions we’re answered. She started telling us what happened a year ago. I can’t believe Bryle had the audacity to even pretend that everything’s okay when it isn’t. I can’t believe Bryle’s still telling us he loves Jess after all those things that what happened.

May dalawang bote ng Henessy sa lamesa kaya napatingin ako kay Lavalee.

“Lavalee.” Napatingin sakin si Lavalee na patuloy sa pag-inom.

Jess and Irene are both drunk already. They both have a high alcohol tolerance alright but Jess drank a bucket of San Mig Light, 2 bottles of cuervo, one bottle of margarita, 1 and half bottle of Black Label, while Irene drank 1 bottle of cuervo, a bottle and half of Black Label and according to Lavalee, Irene ordered a couple bottles of margarita after finishing one margarita.

 “What? I’m not drunk yet.” Sabi niya at uminom ulit.

I watched over them while sipping margarita from my shot glass.

“What’s wrong?” tanong ko nang may tumulong luha sa mata ni Lavalee

“Nothing.” Sagot niya pero patuloy sa pagbagsak ang mga luha sa mata niya.

Kinuha niya na yung bote ng Henessy at uminom mula sa bote habang nakasandal.

Oh my goodness. I think may pinagdadaanan silang tatlo.

“What is it?” I asked her but she shook her head and smiled.

I sighed and looked at the dance floor because when Lavalee said it’s nothing and she shakes her hade at our questions we can’t query anymore. My forehead knotted when I noticed a red line out of the neon lights.

I frozed when the red line I saw is pointing at Lavalee.

A sniper?  s**t!

“Lavalee!” I shouted and she suddenly sat up kaya yung sinasandalan niya ang tinamaan

“We need to get out of here.” Sabi ko at tumango siya.

Pinagtulungan naming alalayan yung dalawa patayo.

We went out of the bar to the parking lot, natigilan kami nang may humarang samin.

“Akalain mo nga naman oh. Ang lapit lapit lang pala ng mga pinapaligpit satin.” Sabi nung lalaki habang nakatingin samin

“Get out of the way.” Sabi ni Lavalee

“Ano? Inuutusan mo ba kami?” tanong nung lalaki

“I said Get. Out. Of. My. Way.” Sabi ni Lavalee at tiningnan ng masama isa-isa yung lalaki.

“Hah! Akala mo ba matatakot kami sa’yo? Babae ka lang.” Sabi nung isa.

Babae lang? I think that isn’t the right words because we’re not JUST girls. We never were and never will be. I got a little pissed because of what he said, all my life we’ve been feared and admired for our characteristics or for our skills and no one dared to JUST us. This is the first time someone just us because we’re girls and I’m not letting this guy get away with that. I’m pretty sure Lavalee won’t too.

Nagulat ako nung isa-isang natumba yung mga humarang samin kaya agad namin isinakay yung dalawa sa backseat at sumakay sa front seat. Paalis na sana kami pero may humarang na dalawang pigura sa harap namin.

No way. This can’t be.

They are both familiar and when the headlights gave us a clear image of who they are my heart began thumping loudly.

Agad kaming bumaba ng sasakyan. They looked at us, no the other one is staring intently at Lavalee.

“You brat.” He said icily while staring intently at Lavalee

“Konbanwa, Nii-sama.” Lavalee greeted so casually

Oh, I really admire that characteristic and never intimidated attitude of hers. She’s the only one who doesn’t get intimidated with Frost.

“Clubbing again?” he asked coldly which made me gulp.

How I wish Jess is awake right now so that she’d know what happens when Frost found out Lavalee went clubbing even though the council’s hot on her trail.

“Yeah! If my life’s gonna end, why not – Flamelinne!” I froze and I felt as if my heart almost jumped out of my chest when he coldly cut what Lavalee was saying.

“Doshite, Nii-sama? Am I wrong? That council wants me dead, doesn’t they?” Lavalee said like it’s nothing

Damn! How could she talk about the plan of her getting killed so casually. She’s freaking mad.

“Chelsea.” Ares called me. I didn’t notice he’s already beside me

“Why?” I asked and turned to him

“You should bring Jess and Irene home. Lavalee’s not joining you.” He said and looked at the two who’s currently glaring and contradicting each other.

“Bro!” Ares called Frost and I almost smack the back of his head because Frost looked at us coldly

“Yung car keys, nakay Lavalee, di sila makakauwi.” Ares explained

“Flamelinne. Keys.” Frost coldly told Lavalee

“I’m driving the car.” Lavalee turned to me when she said that

“You’re coming with me.” Frost said while holding Lavalee’s jaw to make her face him. If we’re in a comic there would be lightning coming from their eyes.

“I’m not coming with you, Snow.” Lavalee said with finality and removed Frost’s hand from holding her jaw

“Flamelinne.” I felt goosebumps all over because Frost warned Lavalee using his cold voice.

“Lavalee, I think it’s better kung sumama ka muna kay Frost.” Sabi ko

Lavalee looked at me worriedly so I smiled. She threw the car keys at me so I immediately went to the driver’s seat and started the engine.

When we arrived at the Mansion, I asked a butler to help me bring Jess and Irene to their rooms.

I helped Jess clean up after the butler left. I changed her clothes and removed her heels, I wipd her make up off with a soft cotton I did the same with Irene.

It’s already 3AM. Good thing it’s Saturday today.

Pumunta nako sa kwarto ko at may nabasa akong text mula kay Lavalee.

From: Lav

I’d be gone for the whole day. I’d be with Nii-sama.

To: Lav

Okay. I’d tell the two. Stay safe.

I’ve just taken a bath so I decided to just pull an all-nighter. I won’t be able to fall asleep either. Minonitor ko lahat ng security cameras sa pamamagitan ng tablet ko.

Bumaba muna ako sa kitchen habang bitbit ang tablet. Kumuha ako ng fresh milk sa fridge at nagsalin sa baso. I sat on the counter and placed the glass on it while tapping the screen.

Nagtaka ako nung may lumabas na notification mula sa motion sensor ng kwarto ni Lavalee. Binuksan ko yung motion sensor ng kwarto niya dahil wala siya kaya nagtataka ako ngayon kung bakit may nase sense na motion mula sa kwarto niya.

I took out my phone and dialled Lavalee’s number. After a couple of rings she picked it up.

[Moshi, moshi. Lavalee speaking.] she said in a sleepy voice

“O jama shite mōshiwakegozaimasen, Lavalee.” Sabi ko dahil mukhang nagising ko siya

(Japanese: Sorry for disturbing you, Lavalee.)

[A-ni. It’s fine. Naze denwa shita?] sagot niya

(Translation: No. It’s fine. Why did you call?)

“I turned on the motion sensor and I received an alert. There’s a motion sensed in your room.” I said

[Sore ni tsuite tashikadesu ka, Tal?] she asked and I heard some sounds

(Japanese: Are you sure about that, Tal?)

“Yeah. Affirmative.” She said then I heard some chatterings and some voices.

[Go in front of my room.] sabi niya kaya agad akong tumayo habang bitbit ang tablet at phone

[Open my room. Lavalee.] sabi niya kaya nung una naguluhan pa ako pero nung nasa harap na ako ng pinto nakita kong pass pala yung sinabi ni Lavalee.

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Pagbukas ko nang pinto nagulat ako nang may tumalong pusa sa harap ko.

“Lav, there’s a cat.” Sabi ko at narinig kong natawa siya

[I almost forgot to feed her. Feed her food while I’m gone, Chels. Follow her, she’d lead you to it.] sabi niya at ibinaba ang tawag kaya pumasok ako sa kwarto ni Lav at isinara ang pinto.

I turned on the lights and that’s how I clearly saw how the cat looked like. It’s an orange cat with blue eyes, para siyang tiger cub actually but I don’t think Lavalee’s the kind of adventurous who would go to the extent of taking care of a tiger cub.

“Here kitty kitty.” Sabi ko at inilahad ang kamay ko pero di ako nito pinansin and instead it went to an orange small fridge.

I opened the fridge and it purred. Nagtaka ako dahil puro sushi ang laman ng fridge.

Kumuha ako ng isang container at sinundan yung pusa sa isang maliit na parang doll house. May isang bowl dun na ceramic kaya naglagay ako ng dalawang sushi doon.

“Hello, what’s your name?” tanong ko at hinaplos ang balahibo nito may collar siya pero di ko masyadong kita yung pangalang nakasabit kasi  nakatungo siya.

I was taken aback when it suddenly roared. Oh my goodness!

It’s not a cat, it’s a tiger.

“Uh hello.” I said and tried to pet it, it didn’t roar when I touched it and that’s when I finally saw the lace she’s wearing, Mnemosyne.

My phone rang suddenly so I answered it.

[Did I forget to tell you Mnemosyne’s a wolf-tiger? If I did well now you know.] she said

“Uh actually I figured it out already.” I said and I heard her chuckle

[So’ka. Sorede, you fed her sushi, already?] she aked

“I did.” I said

[Actually, Mnemosyne’s way calmer than Ryu, Freia’s pet, same kind.] she told me

“Wait, si Freia? May ganito rin Freia?” I asked surprised

[Yep, Freia was actually the one who conducted the experiment. They’re both under observation.] she said

“Uh so what should I do?” I asked

[Is it too much if I ask you to bring her around today? She arrived last night, I think, while we’re in the camp.] she said

“Ah it’s fine. It would remove my hangover.” I said

[Okay, call you later then.] She said and hanged up.

I looked at Mnemosyne who’s currently strectching her body.

“Come here, Mnemosyne.” I said and opened my palm.

Medyo natigilan ako nung lumapit siya at dinilaan ang kamay ko.

“Good girl.” Sabi ko at mahinang tinapik ang ulo niya