Eight

Eight
– Hannah’s POV –
“Sweetie, it’s almost 7 am. Why aren’t you dressed yet?” I heard my mother’s soft voice.
I turned my head halfway to see her worried face, walking towards me. I grab my milk from the small table in front of me and take a sip.
I was sitting on the couch of our living room. Completely lost in my thoughts. I don’t know why I had this heavy feeling after King invited me to his house. His grandfather’s reaction keeps on crossing in my mind. It feels weird to me that he knew my mother and Veronica? He called me Veronica back there. Does he mean my Grandma Veronica?
After sipping my milk, I put it back on the table. I looked down as I pressed my palms together. I felt my mother sat next to me and I could also feel her eyes staring at me. But I didn’t bother to look at her. I was drowned in my thoughts.
“Penny of thoughts, sweetie?” Her voice was so calming and soft but behind that I could sense her concern.
I swallowed as I took the courage to open up to her, “Mom, do you know anything about Carnillo Family?”
I wasn’t looking on her when I asked. I was hesitating to ask this question to her so I didn’t have enough courage to look at her.
She composed a smile, “Why did you suddenly asked about them?”
In that instant, my heart race like I can almost hear it, my tongue moved backwards and my mind went blank. I went first to talk about this topic but I can’t bring myself to talk further. I wasn’t sure of what I should specifically asked. Is it about me and King dating? Or how did his grandpa knew about her?
Mom was impatiently looking at me. Waiting for an answer. I swallowed as I rubbed my palms together.
“Actually, the owner of the card that I tampered is Daniel King Carnillo. He’s been tutoring me for a while and eventually….” I paused as I thought of how would I say it. My voice was so low that it was almost a whisper. I never opened up with my mom about something like this before. So it’s kind of awkward.
“You’re dating him?” She finished the statement. Her voice was steady and it doesn’t sound like she’s mad at it.
I looked at her with puppy eyes, “Won’t you be mad at it?” My voice sounded unsure though it was low.
My mom gave me a warm smile, “Carnillo family are known in town because of their wealth. And also because of their son who studied in public school, even though they have enough money to educate him in private school.”
Now that mom mentioned it, I wonder why King choose public over private. I was speechless for a while, staring at her.
“And if you say you’re dating him, I don’t have anything to worry as long as you prioritized your studies.” She continued. Her voice was calm and natural. I don’t sense any objections behind it.
I felt relief after hearing what she might think if I dated. And it seems she supports me. My grades aren’t that bad if Math and Science wasn’t included. And after all, she saw me studying hard, just to have good grades as possible. But in the end of the day, that’s all my mind can manage. I can’t be in top 5 but at least I didn’t fail.
A small but sincere smile was formed in my face, “Thanks, mom.”
She smiled back at me genuinely, “Of course, sweetie. But does he know about the report card?”
I blinked as I looked at my palms. My heart was pounding when his report card crossed in my mind. My palms were sweating as I pressed it together. What if he finds out about it? How will he react? I’m so sure that he will be furious and possibly won’t talk to me. I can’t endure it.
“I didn’t tell him yet.” I answered in a low sad tone.
“You have to. Before he finds out.” She stated and she gently brushed her fingers on my hair.
I was forced to smile while staring at my sweaty palms. I can’t bring myself to think of the possibilities that might happen after he finds out about the card. It makes me hard to breath like something’s blocking.
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. We exchanged looks for a second then she stood before I could thought of opening the door.
“I got it.” She said while heading to the door. My eyes were following her.
She opened the door and I saw a glimpse of someone standing in front of her. Mom cheerfully smile to them.
“Hello, Vanessa.” Mom greeted.
“Good day, Aunt Emilia. Is Hannah home?” I know that voice. I’m pretty sure of who it could be.
Mom gave me a quick look with a smile before she answered to her, “Yes, she is. Come in.” She opened the door wider as she stepped aside to give them way.
I saw Vanessa entered with a smile and I was shock to see the guy standing behind her. My lips was lightly parted as I place my palm on my mouth. Who would have thought that he would come here?
“By the way, Aunt Emilia, this is Daniel King Carnillo. He’s our classmate.” Vanessa introduced King to my mother.
Mom gave me a quick look with a teasing smile as I looked away, still covering my mouth with my palm. But I still see them from the corner of my eye.
She was grinning from ear to ear, “Hello there, Daniel. Hannah and I were just talking about you a while ago.”
King chuckled unnaturally, he seems pretty nervous, “I hope it was all good.”
“Of course.” Mom’s smile was so wide like her face was about to be thorn, “Make yourselves feel at home.”
Mom closed the door as I saw Vanessa’s image heading to where I am. She was giggling as she sat next to me. King was behind her and he was holding back a smile. I keep my eyes away from their gaze as I felt my cheeks burning. I was grinning but they won’t notice it since I was covering my mouth with my palm.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Carnillo and you were dating?” I heard Vanessa’s voice in my ear and she seems giggled.
“Because there’s nothing to tell.” I respond without looking at her, still covering my mouth.
I could catch a glimpse of Vanessa as she stood and sat in front of me instead. I was off guard when she pulled my hand away from my mouth and hold it tightly so I won’t be able to take it back.
“Your cheeks are burning.” She teased as she giggled.
Darn it! I really hate being teased by this woman.
I bite my lower lip to resist the butterflies that is about to make me smile as I gave King a quick look. He was holding back a smile as he looked away when our eyes meet.
“Tell me in detail.” She was grinning from ear to ear as she kept on asking for details.
“Did you skip morning class just for that?” I tried to be sarcastic but my voice doesn’t cooperate. It sounded more like I want to chuckle.
She gave me her playful smile as she glanced at King who was looking away, “Well, to be honest, someone feels uneasy and keeps on asking me about you for every 5 minutes.” She paused with a playful smile, “So, I skip morning class to take that someone here.” After she giggled as she covered her mouth with her palm before she moved her eyes to King.
I tighten my bite on my lower lip as I felt my blood rushing to my cheeks. I slightly moved my eyes to him and I caught him staring at me, but he instantly looked away when he noticed I was looking at him.
He felt uneasy because of my absence? Not a good way to assume things.
“Now tell me in full detail.” She stifled a chuckle as she kept on teasing me for details.
“That’s enough, Guillermo. Don’t pressure her if she doesn’t want to talk about it.” My head suddenly turned to him when I heard his low soft tone.
“Vanessa! Damn it!” I was surprised when I heard her exclaimed. Like its not everyday that I heard her raised her voice, “I really hate being called by my last name.”
“Sweetie, Your grandma and I will be out for a while to buy groceries.” I heard my mom’s voice from the main door.
Vanessa and I turned to look at the main door and see my mom and grandma standing at the open door. King seems shy so he just simply look down.
“No worries, mom. We will be fine.” I respond with my natural smile.
She waved her hand at us while grandma smiled and they went out as my mom closed the door.
Vanessa and I looked at each other’s eyes once again. She was grinning from ear to ear while I was biting my lower lip. It’s my way of surpassing butterflies that can make me hysterically smile.
Luckily, before Vanessa could boil me again with her intriguing questions, we heard a ringtone that caught all our attention. Her face suddenly frowned as she reached of her pocket and pulled out her iPhone.
She glared at her iPhone while her mind was reading the name that is flashing on the screen, “Wrong timing.” She mumbled as she pressed the receive button on the screen and place her phone on her ear, “Dad?”
My eyebrows crossed but I can’t hide the fact that I’m glad that her dad called. It means, I break free from her embarrassing questions that can possibly turn me into a living tomato.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m sorry. I’ll be there shortly.” I could sense her disappointment in her tone as she hang up her phone and put it back to her pocket.
“You’re save for today, Hannah. But I’ll make sure that you won’t have your way next time.” She joked with a funny grumpy face.
I giggled as I covered my mouth with my palm, “What’s that even mean?”
She sighed with a pout, “My dad called me that he is in the school right now. Actually, I should expect that because he will excuse me at 9 am to come with him for some business meeting. But I completely forgot about it.”
I heard King’s soft chuckled. I knew he was surpassing it for the entire time and finally came out when he can no longer hold it. Vanessa looked at him with a glare while I was giggling in a control way.
“What?” He muttered between his chuckled when he meet Vanessa’s glare.
“You surely like the idea of you and her alone, don’t you?” Vanessa mocked as she stood, “Well, don’t get carried away by the butterflies. It can create pupas.” She joked in a teasing tone as she walked to the main door.
“Hey, seriously? You’re leaving?” I am still on the verge of chuckle when I called her.
She turned to me before she held the doorknob, “What do you think? If only dad didn’t called, you’re toast.”
I finally burst out in laughter as I covered my wide open mouth with my palm. I don’t know why I had this feeling that I’m glad that King and I were left alone. That’s why I can’t stop myself from laughing and giggling. I also catch a glimpse of King. He was softly chuckling while he was looking down. Trying not to get caught.
“Whatever. I’ll see you.” She blurted with a playful smile as she opened the door and close it the moment she went out.
I looked at King when Vanessa is finally out of eyeshot. He was unconditionally chuckling in a low controlled voice while stooping.
“What’s funny?” I interrupted him. My voice sounded like I wanted to laugh more.
He lifted his head to meet my eyes. His eyes was sparkling while he was grinning from ear to ear like his face is about to be thorn. It made me giggled even more.
“Nothing.” He respond, surpassing himself from chuckling.
I took a deep breath to get a hold of myself but I was still smiling like an idiot, “Why don’t you help me out with our assignment in Math and Science?”
He nodded with a wide grin, “Sure.” Then he went to sit on the couch where I was sitting.
“Wait here. I’ll get my textbooks upstairs.” I spoke as I stood and left him before he could respond.
– Daniel King’s POV –
I can’t barely get a hold of myself from laughing. I don’t know why that I felt like giggling while staring at her smile. It’s something that makes me feel comfortable and ease all worries that I had. Like I feel uneasy when she’s out of my sight just for a few minutes. I love this feeling. I want to have this every single day and I don’t want to lose it.
I heard footsteps coming. It made my head turned to see her walking towards me with her notebook and textbooks, wearing her most charming smile. My eyes were following her movements as she put her things on top of the table in front of me. I was smiling like an idiot while I can’t get my eyes off of her. She’s so damn gorgeous.
“I’ll grab some snacks. I’ll be back.” She was biting her lower lip as she gave me a quick look. She took the glass that was on the table and left. My eyes were still following her.
Accidentally, my eyes went to the textbooks. They all look new like it was just released. Maybe because she doesn’t bring her textbooks at school. I take one from the table and started scanning on the pages.
It’s a Science textbook. One of my favorite subjects. This subject is like a sister to Math. It also has a solving problems that requires computations and solutions. But thanks to my intelligence, I don’t have any problems with this subject.
Unexpectedly, the pages stop at the center of the book where I found two white rectangular paper. My heart was pounding when I realize what it could possibly be. My palms suddenly sweat and a little shaky.
For sure, the one is hers but the other one? And if the one is hers, why didn’t she returned it? Why would she had two of this?
I swallowed to drain the impossible thought that I had in my mind, as chills started to get in my nerves. I let my instincts get the best of me and attempt to pick it. But before I could lay a finger on it, something fell from the textbook that landed on my lap that caught my attention.
It was an old black and white photo of a young girl. It seems she was with someone in this photo but it was thorn. The edge of the photo was the proof. She looks familiar but I can’t recall where I saw this girl. I flip the photo and at the bottom of it, there was a name written and a year.
In that instant, my heart felt heavy and I can’t even breath. Cold sweat broke from my forehead and my hands were little shaky. I gasped as my mind read the name and year written on it.
‘Veronica Murfin- 1959’
I don’t know why I had this confusion in my mind together with this uncomfortable feeling. But the fact that this girl looks familiar to me is the reason why I feel bothered.