Olivia
The exam was finally over.
I could do everything perfectly as usual. Well, I had to or I would receive the scholarship that I wanted after I graduate.
Since the exam was over, it was about time for the students to prepare for the school festival. The headmaster always changed the theme every year. This year, he wanted every class to prepare something special from their class. It could be anything from building a haunted house, a café, anything the students desired.
For my class, we have decided to create a host and hostess café where the customer could choose which waiter or waitress they wanted to serve them. Honestly…the idea was crazy. But I couldn’t say anything once Karen proposed the idea and everyone was fond of it. Hoping they could hit on some girls or boys they wanted.
“Come on, babe. It’s not like I’m forcing you to do this so I can see you wearing the maid outfit, I will be participating as well. I proposed the idea so I could wear it too.”
“And why do you want me to participate as well? You know exactly that I like doing stuff behind the curtain.”
“Look at yourself, girl. Look at how pretty you are. You are the magnet for the customers, Olivia. It won’t be enough by using me only,” Karen countered.
“But you are more pretty than I am.”
“I know I am pretty but you have your own beauty. Don’t compare yourself with me, Liv.” Well, she was right though.
Beauty was more subjective. It was hard to set out the standards.
“Is Blake going to come?”
“Well, he promised me to come.”
“Really? Well, I’m so excited then. I bet all the students will be lining their asses just to see him. And for him to choose one of them. Well, I know he will eventually pick you.”
“How can you be so sure about that?”
“Easy. Because you are his daughter. And you are important to him,” she stated and she went to Nina-our classmate when she called out to her to help.
I did not know why but when Karen told me because I was Blake’s daughter, I felt hurt. Well, maybe it would be safer if Blake was with me. Sometimes I couldn’t predict other students’ behavior especially when Blake was around.
It’d been two weeks since our first outburst to each other. Blake had completely changed and although he was still busy, he would come home at exactly six before dinner was ready. It made me happy because we could return to our situation as before.
Even though I did not want to admit it in front of everyone, I was happy to take Blake around my school.
“Olivia?” Karen called. “Let’s measure your outfit.”
“Sure.” I went with her to the changing room. It was Nina who did the measurement. She was so precise and detail on everything so I was not worried about her. “Karen, are your parents going to come?”
“Yes. My father is going to take leave just to see me. Although it’s just for one day since the festival will be held for three days.”
“Well, at least you have to be grateful because at least they are still coming.”
“I am. And Blake will also be there. You should feel happier about it. I mean, when was the last time he visited the school festival?” Karen was right. When our relationship changed, Blake never bothered to come to visit anymore. Sometimes I could see John here without Blake. He was replacing his Boss to come to see me.
“Well, I am happy, Karen. And I can’t wait.” We laughed together and by the time Nina finished the measurement. “By the way, what’s Josh’s class will be doing?”
“Because he is in Math and Science class, I heard they are going to make some chemical challenges.”
“Oh, I think it’s going to be interesting.”
“I think it’s going to be boring for me. Math and Science never do any good in my brain.” I giggled at her words. “Besides, I do not need this education because I’m going to continue with my modeling career. Whether my mother agreed or not, I wanted to. This is my dream.”
“I know you will, Karen.”
“Well, thanks, Liv. At least, I have someone who supported me fully. Sometimes children should take a risk, right?” Her words made me questioned something about myself.
A risk.
I never did that before. More importantly, I was scared to do it.
I remembered again about the brutality that someone had caused to those boys. Even until now, polices never captured the maniac who did that to them. They even began to drop the case because the victims were at least safe even though they were still at the hospital and they had no lead to the suspect. They couldn’t even predict the potential suspects. Their parents were already begging the polices to find the culprit yet it was too hard and they hadn’t found it until now.
I asked Blake before but he never answered. He questioned me back why I suspected him. That was how he got snapped and maybe…offended because I was suspecting my own father, my family. Since then, I never dared to ask him again. Maybe I should forget about it and focus more on the current Blake. I did not want to ruin anything that we had now.
Once school was over, I went to Walmart to buy some ingredients for dinner. I was thinking to make some Ramen. Blake was fond of Japanese cuisines.
Along with my way home, I could tell someone was following me. Whenever I turned back, no one was there. I tried to think positively that it might be just my imagination and I continued home. But even when I was already near my house, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was definitely being followed. I hurriedly entered the house and locked it. My heart was beating fast and trying to calm myself.
“It’s just your imagination, Liv,” I said to myself. At least I hoped it was just my imagination. I hoped Blake would come home soon. I felt a lot safer when he was around.
***
It was almost six and I just finished making the dinner and arranged it at the table. By the time I could hear the sound of his Aston Martin. He’s here.
I went to the door to welcome him. The door was opened and there he was. “Welcome home.”
“Hey,” he sniffed and smiled. “Let me guess, ramen?”
“Yep. It’s a Ramen with pork.”
“Can’t wait to taste it. I’m going to change first before I dig in,” he said and went to his room. I waited in the dining room, sitting while looking at the dinner I just made. I really hoped he would like it.
Blake then returned and took his seat and we began eating. I was staring at him. The way he used the chopsticks to grab some of the noodles and the way he blew it…he looked sexy. The way he was chewing the noodle and the meat inside his mouth. The way his lips moved. And how he stuck his tongue out to wipe the remaining soup in his lips. I couldn’t believe that I was so fascinated by the way my father was eating. He glanced at me after chewing and swallowed the ramen and the pork.
“It’s delicious, Olivia,” he said which made me smile wide. Oh, right.
“Um, Blake? We already got the date for the festival. It will start in two weeks from Wednesday to Friday before the start of the summer holiday. Will you…come?”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Liv.” Bam! That was hurt. “No, I didn’t mean like I won’t come. I can only come on the last day, on Friday.”
“Oh. Well, it’s okay.”
“I apologize. The thing this my business partner from India is coming to visit and I can’t leave the office. I can’t exactly…let John accompany him.”
“No, Blake. It’s really okay. You can’t help it, right? It’s…work anyway.” To be honest, I was quite disappointed but it was work. I couldn’t be the spoiled little child and forced him to come for three days straight. For Blake still coming on the last day was enough for me. “I’ll be waiting then.”
“I’m really sorry.”
“Don’t feel so guilty, Blake. You don’t mean that you want to come for three days straight, right?”
“Well, I would love to. Anyway, what’s your class will be doing?”
“We’re going to open a café.” When I answered him, Blake immediately stopped eating and was looking at me.
“A café? So, you’re going to be some kind of a waitress there?”
“Yes. Well, Karen said as a hostess though,” I corrected him.
“I see.” And he went on to silent mode. Usually, he was like thinking about something. I didn’t know what was going on in his head, but I hoped it was not something bad. “Well, be careful.”
“We’re going to be okay, Blake. There’s going to be a bouncer-like person there to protect us.”
“You mean, a bouncer with no experience will be there guarding you and the other students.”
“Um, yeah?”
“If something happened to you in the festival on your first and second day, you have to tell me,” he reminded. His words made me remember someone who was following me before I came home. I was lost if I should tell him or not. Maybe I should so I could find out whether it was truly Blake’s doing or not.
This was the risk that I had to take.
“Um, Bla— “And it was cut by the sound of his phone ringing so suddenly.
“Excuse me,” Blake excused himself and walked out of the dining room.
Maybe this was a sign. To not suspect anything bad about him. Maybe it was just my imagination. I should just drop it.
A few minutes later, Blake returned and took his seat again, and continued eating. “Olive?”
“Yeah?”
“You were just about to call me before I picked up the phone, right? What’s wrong?” Okay, what should I do? If I told him and my prediction was right, our relationship was totally going to change again. But if I did not do it now…I might be going to suspect him for the rest of my life.
I was so confused but I had decided.
“I forgot, sorry.”
“I see.”
“Is there some issue back at the office?”
“No, it was just…personal stuff.” Just by his tone, I could tell Blake did not want to continue the conversation anymore. I decided to stay silent. I did not want to ruin his mood.
I hoped it was nothing bad.