Olivia
“Hey, Liv?” Karen called and I turned to her while pushing my stuff into my bag. “Do you have any plan for the weekend?”
“No. Why?”
“Great. How about you sleepover at my house? You can come to the studio tomorrow.”
“I would love to.” It’d been a few weeks since the last time I visited the studio.
“Cool. I’ll pick you up around eight so you can ask permission from your parents first.”
“Sure.” We walked out of the class and headed out of the building.
“God, I wish my high school life will be over soon,” Karen whined.
“Do I want to know why?”
“I wanted to pursue my dream to be a supermodel soon. And once I graduated, I will be free and I can do anything I want. Getting a boyfriend but maybe after I reached my dream.”
“Well, I’m sure you will get one soon.”
“I hope so. Have you start looking as well?”
“I guess I’ll do it after graduation.”
“Well, I want to say Josh but that will be impossible remembering you rejected him before,” Karen stated. It reminded me as well. A year ago, Josh confessed that he loved me but although I knew Josh was a great guy, I couldn’t see him as my boyfriend. I didn’t want to hurt him even more so I rejected him. I was thankful Josh could accept the rejection pretty well although our friendship was rather awkward the next day. But we overcame it and we remained friends until now.
“I wanted to focus on getting the scholarship I wanted first. After that, well, we’ll see,” I said.
“I agree. Oh.” Her eyes fixed on whatever was in front of her. My eyes followed and widened a bit.
“John?” He was leaning his back on his Volvo while crossing his arms. Even from afar, he looked intimidated. Like he was giving the silent code stay the hell away from me. Even his face was passive. An expressionless handsome face. That guy never changed. I never saw him again after I was separated from Blake.
We went to him together. “Hey.”
“Olivia. Karen. Long time no see. How are you doing?” he asked.
“Doing great. And you?”
“Same as always. I’m glad you’re doing okay. I see you’ve changed your hairstyle,” he said while slightly touching my hair. I smiled shyly.
“What are you doing here, John?”
“I was around the neighborhood and when I see your school, I just wanted to stop by and say hello if I caught up with you. Can I take both of you home?”
“Um, that’s—”
“That’s lovely. Maybe we should. Right, Olivia?” Karen cut me first and she looked at me. Well, it won’t hurt with John taking us home. It was not like he would do anything bad to us. John led us to his car. I was sitting in front while Karen in the back. Once we had settled in, John went behind the wheels and drove away.
“So, who should I drop first?” he asked.
“Me first. Olivia’s house is quite far from the old one,” Karen answered. I was quite grateful Karen replied to him. I didn’t know why but I felt awkward with him around. This was so not me. We were so different than before. “So, John? You’re not seen in the festival anymore.”
“Well, I was not ordered to go.” That was obvious I would never see John anymore. I was not Blake’s daughter anymore and he didn’t care what would happen to me. There was no reason for him sending John to guard me.
“That’s too bad because this year is better than two years ago, the one you came before.”
“Oh, yeah? And what did you girls do?”
“We did the real hostess club where we entertain our customers. And I mean the real entertain,” she explained by emphasizing the word real. Karen didn’t need to do that, but, oh well.
“I see. Such a pity that I didn’t go. I’m guessing that was your idea,” he stated while looking at Karen through his rear mirror.
“Of course! And thanks to my brilliant idea, we gained a lot of popularity. By the way, does Olivia look even more beautiful than before?”
“I have to agree with that.”
“Well, she did it because a certain someone dumped her.”
“Karen!” I scolded while turning to her. I couldn’t believe she just said that. To John. I appreciated how she loved me but that was rather rude. She just deliberately accused John’s boss as the evil one. Well, he was to me but that didn’t mean she could say that to him.
“If that’s the case,” he started. “That certain someone is a dumbass because he dumped a pretty girl like Olivia.” I turned to look at him. His eyes were still fixed on the road but the side of his lips curved a bit. He was enjoying this. I had no idea if John did that because he knew it was Blake or he was just following Karen and made it as a joke. Whatever that was, I just didn’t want to remember it. I didn’t know what Blake had told him but obviously…he told him the part of Blake reversed my adoption.
We arrived at Karen’s house. “Thanks for the ride, John. I’ll see you tonight, babe.”
“Sure.”
“Are you two going somewhere?” John asked.
“I’m staying at Karen’s tonight,” I replied.
“It’s Friday and I want to take her to the studio tomorrow,” Karen said.
“I see. Well, if I was not summoned to the office, I can take you to Karen’s house,” John suggested.
“Well, that will be great. Let me know then.” Karen jumped out of John’s car as she waved her hand at me and I waved back. John began kicking the acceleration again. Now that Karen has gone, I could do the talking.
“You’re lying, aren’t you?”
“May I ask, why do you think so?” John asked back but even though his eyes were on the road, I could see his smirk on his lips. Cheeky.
“You’re not around the area when you were waiting in front of the school,” I explained but he only smirked. “Blake asked you to, didn’t he?”
“He’s just worried about you, Olivia.” I scoffed at his statement. Mentally laugh because Blake had no place in my life anymore. And why the hell he had to be worrying about me? He should take care of his own ass and running his normal life.
“Why he should be worrying?” I asked but I couldn’t hide the mocking tone.
“Olivia, that man is broken enough. You have no idea what he had been through after he dropped his adoption on you.”
“He looked fine at my father’s wedding and thanksgiving as well,” I said.
“That’s because he hid it very well. Don’t tell me that you have forgotten how that man is a genius for hiding his emotion? He’s hiding his pain and his anger.”
“Pain and anger? Why he has to be in pain and anger? That should be the other way around.”
John chuckled lightly before he answered, “I’m not in the position to tell you but maybe you already know the answer.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. You’re just the same as him. So fucking stubborn. Blake is a complicated and confused man but I’m sure you already know that. He did everything for a reason and I’m sure he had his own reason when he dropped his adoption on you.”
“That’s because he doesn’t want me anymore. He said that right on my face that he doesn’t want me and he wanted to go back to his normal which is way before he had me and maybe way before he married my mother,” I said, sarcastically.
“Don’t say that.”
“That’s the truth. Hurts, doesn’t it? You were not there, John. You didn’t witness everything what he said to me. I have no idea what Blake has poisoned you so he will make as the bad man but I know what I have listened to.” John was silent when he listened to me. I didn’t want to talk about this. I missed John but this was not what I expected to talk about. Not after we reunited after two years. “Sorry for saying all that to you.”
“It’s okay, girl.”
“Is he…okay? I mean, physically?”
“Yes. Minus the heart.” Okay, that was it. I refused to listen to that. Maybe John was defending Blake because he was his boss. That boss of his had broken my heart. He broke my trust in him. He will protect me, my ass.
I could feel the sting behind my eyes, ready to cry. I didn’t want to cry over the loss of the man I couldn’t have. The man who had thrown me away. The man who put me a thousand feet on top and kicked me down brutally.
By the time I saw my house, I was relieved because I could finally get out of here. But one thing crossed my mind. I turned to John. “How did you know my address?”
John turned to me, still wearing that charming smile. “How did I know?” he asked back and I rolled my eyes. Of course, he knew. Obviously because of Blake. He was just playing with me when he asked who should he dropped first when Karen was around.
John stopped the car in front of the gate. “Thank you for the ride.” I took off the seatbelt and ready to go out.
“Are you happy with them?” he asked.
“Yes. It was a tough first year before but we’re fine now. Did Blake told you that I have a brother now?”
“He did. He said you’re really good with the baby.”
“Well, that’s obvious because Eric is my brother,” I said but he didn’t say anything. “Anyway, thanks for the ride.” I jumped out of his car and turned to my house.
“What time should I pick you up?” John yelled a bit. I turned back to him. Picked me up? Oh, to Karen’s house.
“If you’re free. You said if you’re needed in the office, you’ll return.”
“If the time fits, I’ll come.”
“Eight.”
“I’ll pick you up then. See you at eight, Liv,” he parted as I saw him driving away. Once he was not visible anymore, I turned back and entered my house.
Damn you, Blake for making me remember you.