Episode 2
1216 Words
Leaving the boarding school was bittersweet for Esmeralda. On one hand, she no longer had to deal with annoying Karen and her group of mindless followers, but on the other hand, she would deeply miss her dear friend Helen. Throughout her time at school, Esmeralda had managed to keep her secret hidden, evading discovery in a community filled with nosy students who seemed to know everyone's business.
As Esmeralda opened her room door, she was taken aback to find Helen sitting on her bed with her boyfriend, Adam.
"We heard you were leaving and came to say goodbye," Helen said.
"How did you know?" Esmeralda asked.
"I overheard big mouth Karen telling everyone during breakfast. Were you really going to leave without telling me, Esmeralda? I thought we were friends," Helen asked, her heart broken.
"I... I was going to tell you, but I couldn't figure out how. And I knew it would upset you," Esmeralda replied, remorseful.
"So you thought you'd just disappear without saying goodbye?" Helen questioned.
"I'm sorry. I'm feeling overwhelmed and shocked too. My father called the principal this morning and asked that I return home," Esmeralda explained.
"It's okay, and I forgive you. Just promise me you'll call often," Helen said, getting up to hug Esmeralda. Adam smiled at the girls as they embraced, their emotions pouring out in tears.
"Come on, let's help you pack," Helen offered as they began gathering Esmeralda's belongings and placing them into her luggage.
Once they finished packing, Adam and Helen assisted in carrying her bags to the school gates. However, they had to return to class to avoid trouble with the principal.
Under the scorching heat of the sun, Esmeralda stood, shielding her eyes with her hand. Her dark brown skin glistened, radiating an unusual shine that caught the attention of all the students. She was the envy of the entire school, her beauty as extraordinary as her eyes. A car pulled up, and her stomach churned with nervous anticipation. She dreaded seeing her father, knowing how consumed he was with running his wolf empire. To her surprise, when the car door opened, it was not her father who stepped out.
"Hello, Esmeralda. Your father sent me to get you," the man said.
"I see... Where is he?" Esmeralda inquired.
"He's busy, ruling over wolves is no easy task. So, your father sent me in his place," he explained.
"Uh-huh, whatever," Esmeralda responded, disappointed.
Despite feeling nervous about her father's presence, she still longed to see him. But as usual, he was too preoccupied to pay attention to her. The man loaded her luggage into the car's trunk and opened the door for her. They embarked on a long drive back home, with him occasionally glancing at her through the rear-view mirror. Esmeralda noticed his gaze and attempted to avoid it by looking out the window. However, his hazel eyes were too captivating to ignore.
"Why do you keep staring at me? Do you have something to say?" Esmeralda asked, growing curious.
"I mean, I know it's been a long time, but don't you recognize me?" he replied, smiling.
He looked at her, and memories were triggered as she tried to recall. His eyes drew her in, and his charming smile sparked familiarity.
"Oh my God, Ezra?" Esmeralda exclaimed.
"Yes," Ezra laughed. "I'm glad you remembered."
"I'm so sorry; I was so wrapped up in my thoughts
"I'm so sorry; I was so wrapped up in my mind that I didn't notice it was you. I knew those eyes of yours were familiar," Esmeralda apologized.
"It's okay, boarding school, huh? You must miss your friends already," Ezra remarked.
"Friends? No, I had just one, Helen, and I will miss her dearly. But look at you, all grown up. How have you been? What have you been up to all these years?" Esmeralda inquired.
"Nothing much. I work for your father now. Ever since my parents died, he has been looking out for me," Ezra shared.
"I'm so sorry, Ezra; I did not know. All this time locked away in a boarding school, I couldn't keep in contact," Esmeralda expressed her regret.
"It's okay, and you're here now," Ezra reassured her with a smile.
They arrived outside the massive gate of her childhood home. Memories flooded back as Esmeralda recalled her mother's beautiful garden and the enchanting flowers she cultivated. The maids used to keep fresh lilies in Esmeralda's room, and she reminisced about playing in the fallen leaves during autumn. The grand mansion with its countless rooms where she used to play hide and seek with Ezra and her childhood friends. She remembered the joyful times with her father near the water fountain and the pond. Her childhood had been blissful until her mother's unfortunate death at the hands of the Sangre order, vicious blood-sucking monsters who had been enemies of the Effiong wolf clan for over five thousand years. As the gates opened, Ezra drove in, and waiting outside for her was Bruce, the family's butler.
She stepped out of the car and embraced him. "Welcome home, Mistress Esmeralda."
"Thank you, Bruce. It's nice to see you again. Where is my father?" Esmeralda inquired, scanning her surroundings.
"He's in his office, having a meeting with the Elders of the pack. Important business," Bruce informed her.
"Too important to see his daughter?" Esmeralda questioned.
"You know His Highness loves you. The burden of the throne weighs heavily on him, given all that has happened," Bruce replied, alluding to her mother's tragic death.
Esmeralda scoffed and entered the house, heading straight for her father's office. Bruce exchanged a troubled look with Ezra, who followed her down the long hallway.
"I don't think you should go in now, Esmeralda," Ezra advised, trailing behind her.
"My father sent me off to a God-forsaken school for so many years and didn't even bother to come and pick me up. I haven't seen him in ten long years, and now he can't even welcome me home," Esmeralda vented her frustration.
She pushed open the doors to her father's office, capturing everyone's attention, with Ezra close behind her, feeling embarrassed.
"What's the meaning of this?" Aaron, her father, questioned, looking at an enraged Esmeralda and a self-conscious Ezra.
Disregarding the other twelve elders in the room, she spoke directly to her father, "Father, I am home, but you already knew that."
"We are in the middle of something. I will talk to you later," Aaron waved his hand dismissively and turned his attention back to the elders, resuming their discussion.
"Excuse us, my lords," Ezra said, leading Esmeralda out of the room and closing the door.
She felt her heart drop. Her father's demeanor was cold and detached. Ever since her mother's death, he had become a different person—a far cry from the loving father she remembered, the one who doted on her every second.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Be patient with him; he's under a lot of pressure," Ezra comforted her.
"She was my mother, and I loved her too," Esmeralda whispered, her voice filled with pain.
Ezra held her tightly in his arms as she silently cried.
"Come on, let's get you settled in," he suggested, wanting to provide her with some comfort and distraction.
- Writer
