Olivia
“Olivia.”
No. Freaking. Way.
This couldn’t be happening.
“Blake.” Why is he here? Blake. The gentle version who I loved the most.
“Olivia, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry for everything. I did it for you, sweetie. I wanted to protect you. Please, forgive me,” he pleaded. What was going on with him? I could see from his eyes that he was serious. He was begging me for forgiveness. With that desperate blue eyes of him. The eyes that rarely gave any emotions but now he was showing it; sadness and regret.
He moved closer and touched my cheeks where my heart beat ten times faster. Because of his touches. Because of him. Because of Blake Morgan.
“I love you, Olivia.” He moved closer. I couldn’t move my body. I should be walking away from him. I should push him away. But my body won’t listen. My mind had its own control over my mind. His warm breath was closer and his lips were about to land on me.
I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling. “Goddamn it!” I closed my eyes and sighed. I put my hand on top of my closed lids. Thanked God it was just a dream. I sat on the mattress, recalling the dream.
It’s been two years since the last time I dreamt of the gentle version of Blake. I wondered why. A sign, an omen, whatever that was I hoped he won’t disturb my life. He was the one who tossed me away from his so-called perfect life. I won’t let him bothered mine.
I jumped down from the bed and took a shower. I went downstairs to the dining room where I saw my parents and Eric were there already. Dad was flirting with Cindy. They were so in love with each other. Sometimes they could forget that I was here as well. Oh, well.
“Oh, Olivia. Morning,” Cindy greeted.
“Morning, sunshine,” followed by dad.
“Morning, you two. Am I disturbing you?” I teased while walking towards them.
“Oh, please, Olivia. You are not,” Cindy said and when I sat on the stool, she handed me a plate with a pancake with maple syrup. I started to eat it. Cindy’s pancake was my all-time favorite. It was so fluffy and delicious.
“You got something in your mind, kiddo?” dad asked and I turned my head to him. “You look…stressed out. You’re okay?” Well, it was not like I was stressed out. Shocked, I guessed. I woke up with Blake as the guest star in my dream. An uninvited guest.
“Just a bad dream,” I said.
“What was it about?” he asked while taking a sip of his espresso.
“I…don’t remember. I could only recall it was bad.” I couldn’t tell him about Blake. He already tried their best so I would not be thinking about him. I didn’t want to worry him and Cindy as well. And I couldn’t tell them the detail so I better keep it for myself.
Dad then reached out his hand and patted my shoulder. “Forget about it, Liv. It’s just a dream anyway. You should focus on your real life,” he advised and I nodded my head. I was thankful he didn’t push me to say it.
“By the way, Liv? Have you made any plan with Karen and Josh for the Christmas holiday?” Cindy asked.
“No. They already had their own plan. Um, you two don’t need to push yourselves so we could have a family holiday. Think about Eric first.”
“Are you sure?” dad asked and I gave him a nod. He smiled and leaned forward as he kissed my forehead. “You’re such a good daughter and big sister.”
“I agree,” Cindy said. “Hey, how about if we spend time together? Maybe by having Christmas dinner at home? I’ll cook a turkey and Olivia could make the cake.”
“And I’ll be making that signature pasta of mine,” dad added.
“That’s wonderful! It’s settled, then,” I said.
“Oh, my God! I’m so excited about it!” Cindy exclaimed happily. I continued eating my pancake until the very last bite.
Until dad blurted something I didn’t want to hear.
“Should we invite Blake for Christmas dinner?” I coughed, badly. I immediately grabbed my water and drank it. I inhaled and exhaled slowly and turned to dad. He could see that I was uncomfortable with his idea. “If you mind, I wouldn’t do it.”
I understood they did it not because they were still trying to set me up with Blake. Something that Karen usually did before. Dad and Cindy just didn’t want to see me sad because Blake was around. When he came to the last two thanksgivings, he acted normally while I was not. Once I was done with my dishes, I walked away. Hiding in my room. I thought I was doing a good job by pretending that he didn’t break my heart but it was tough than I thought it would be.
But I couldn’t run away anymore. Maybe that dream of mine was a sign. I had to show him that I was perfectly okay.
I shook my head. “Blake is still family. You can invite him.”
“You’re sure? I’ve witnessed your reaction when Blake is around and it’s not…” he paused but I kept my smile.
“I’m fine.” I had to do this. I had to keep my head up high and showed him that I was alright. Blake had to see me.
“Alright then. I’ll contact him later. We should visit Chloe as well,” dad said and drank my water again. I heard a car horn. Definitely Karen. I grabbed my bag and jumped down the stool.
I kissed his cheek. “Bye, dad!” And I went to Cindy and did the same. “Bye, Cindy!” And lastly, I parted ways with Eric by kissing him on his forehead and walked out of the house. I hopped in her BMW. “Morning, babe!”
“Morning!” Once I was settled inside, Karen started to drive to our school.
***
After school was over, I was waiting for Karen at the school’s park. She had to meet her teacher to talk about something. Probably about her career again. While I was waiting, my phone rang and when I pulled it out of the bag, I saw an unknown number. Who is it?
“Hello?” I ended picked it up.
“Olivia?” Hold on, I knew that voice.
“Um, Javier?”
“Hi, how are you doing?”
“I’m good. You?”
“I’m doing good as well. I’m sorry for not calling you sooner.” Why he had to apologize?
“It’s fine.” I was not really expecting him to call me.
“Say, have you thought about my offer for joining my fitness club?” Oh, boy. I definitely let that slipped out of my mind.
“Um, sorry. I haven’t. I have to ask my parents’ permission first.”
“No problem. How about if you join the seven days of free trial for a start? You know, to see if you’re interested,” he advised.
“I can? Wow, that’s a great idea. I would love to try it.”
“Great! You can come anytime you like. Just let me know when and I will be ready to train you.”
“You’re going to train me?”
“Well, although it’s just a trial it’s still part of my job description,” he explained where I giggled over his words. This guy was funny. “You have a cute laugh, Olivia.” And that was when I stopped. “Oh, s-sorry!”
“No, that’s okay.” I smiled thinking about how cute Javier was. I thought because he looked fierce, he would be over-confident but he didn’t. “I can be at your club tomorrow evening around…four?”
“I’ll be there then.”
I saw Karen was approaching me. “I’ll call you later?”
“Sure. Have a nice day, Olivia!” I ended the call and stood up.
“Hey.”
“Hey. Sorry for the wait. Shall we?” We walked together to the car park.
“Javier called,” I informed and she looked at me. Excitedly.
“Really? What were you guys talking about?”
“He asked me if I would like to join his fitness club.”
“And you will, right?”
“I haven’t. But I’ll be joining the trial to see if I would fit in.”
“Ah, I’m sure you will be happy there. I guess Javier already had his eyes on you.”
“Please don’t say that.” We reached her car and jumped in. She started the engine as I put the seatbelt on. She didn’t immediately drive the car. Only grabbing the wheel with her eyes on the front.
“Olive?” she started and turned at me while smiling sadly. “Please stop thinking about Stewart again. That guy deserved everything and I’m sure Javier is different. Can you just…give him the chance?” It was not like I didn’t want to. Stewart was not the problem anymore. I just…well, I was a little bit traumatized. I couldn’t exactly trust Javier just like that. I knew he was a great guy, he was kind, and funny too. “Well, although you just need to be ready if his harem comes on you,” she joked and I laughed hard at that. I guessed I had to be careful because, with that physique and facial, I should be careful. And he was a model which means…he has his own fan club.
“You know what? Fuck this! I’ll be taking you to your house and you will change your clothes into a sporty one and I will take you to his club,” she said. She was serious. Like deadly serious. The weird thing was…I didn’t really mind with it.
“You’re sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, I have to let him know first.”
“Go on, then. Call him. Put it on loudspeaker so I can hear it as well.” I smiled at her and pulled out my phone. I searched for his number and dialed it. He picked it up at the second ring.
“Olivia? What’s wrong?”
“Hey, um. Javier, I change my mind. Can I do the trial today?”
“Sure. I’ll be waiting then.”
“Great. I’ll see you later.” I ended the call. I turned to Karen and her mouth was fully opened.
“Oh, my God. That’s a green light to you.” Karen began to drive her car to my house. Along the way, I asked her what the teacher wanted from her and she told me it was just some usual stuff. They were still persuading her to choose any college instead of modeling. Her parents had approved and I guessed…the teachers should stop bothering her. Karen was young but she was old enough to decide on something. I could imagine Karen was annoyed and holding herself back to not snapped in front of them.
Some of our teachers in our school were still old-fashioned. Karen agreed with me as well. They still wanted the younger generation to choose the safer path. Less risk was better than regret. But I guessed…
Regretting something because of something we did by our decision was better than doing something we didn’t want. At least we had followed our hearts. Maybe I should start to consider Karen’s offer about being a model manager. I mean, I was good at persuading people. Maybe I would do good in marketing or sales.
“Karen? If I want to learn more about a model manager, can I ask Heidi about it?”
“What? Of course! You can contact her. I’m sure you have her number already just in case I was unapproachable.” Indeed, I had. Heidi gave me her number after we met a few times. She knew how Karen sometimes could do anything out of control and she gave me her number just in case something happened to her model. “You know? I’m really glad now you’re brave enough to try new stuff. You can learn stuff or two with Heidi and see if you are good at it or you’re comfortable with the job.”
“Well, if I don’t try, I wouldn’t know, right?” Karen nodded her head and we finally arrived at my house. My phone rang and I grabbed it from my bag. A text message from Cindy asking my whereabouts. I didn’t text her back because I arrived already.
“Um, Liv?” Karen called and when I looked at her, her eyes were on something in front of us. I followed her eyes and that was it. My heart sunk to my shoes.
A Black Aston Martin was parked at the car park.