Japen stood quietly beside me. I took a deep breath, feeling the peace that the night breeze brought. A smile formed on my face.
“On Monday, Tatang will be the one to take you,” Japen said.
My smile faded. I glanced at him from the corner of my eye. He stood there beside me, unmoving.
I sighed. “I guess… I…” I blinked, realizing what I had meant to say, so I cleared my throat and changed my words. “I won’t be seeing you again?”
“My classes start next week, so I won’t be able to drive you anymore.”
I looked down, a heaviness settling in my heart. I wished he could fetch me every day, but circumstances wouldn’t allow it. I swallowed hard. “O-Okay…”
I flinched when I felt his hand on my shoulder. “I’ll visit you sometime if you want.”
“No. I mean, you don’t have to. I’ll just travel around alone.”
I heard him take a deep breath. “Azora, about what you asked this morning, I’m sorry, but I can’t give you what you want. I already have a girlfriend,” he whispered.
I looked down, furrowing my brows. “I said let’s forget what I said earlier, didn’t I? And I don’t want to be your girl. As if,” I huffed. “I was just joking, and you fell for it so easily.”
Japen remained silent for minutes, and I couldn’t help but bite my lip. Yeah, sure, I wasn’t myself this morning, which is why I said those hurtful things. But even if I were myself, I wouldn’t have wanted to offer myself to him. I wouldn’t even have dared to say those things.
There was a knock at the door. I sat up straight and looked back. The person outside hesitated to open and enter my room.
I stood up and walked toward the door, feeling Japen following me. He didn’t say a word. I stood in front of the door and turned the knob. I saw Dad’s stern face. He looked at me and then glanced at Japen standing behind me.
“Get out of her room,” Dad ordered Japen.
Then, I saw Japen’s back as he walked past me and out the door. He didn’t dare look back at me as he strode toward the staircase.
I immediately turned to Dad when he cleared his throat. “Don’t let any man enter your room, Azora.”
I looked away. “He was just being nice, escorting me to my room.”
“Even so, I don’t want this incident to happen again. Understand?”
I sighed heavily and nodded. I understood why he was strict about this. It was also for my safety. “Yes, Dad.”
He glanced at his watch on his wrist and nodded as well. “It’s dinner time.”
“I’m full. Japen treated me to dinner earlier when we stopped at a fast-food place…”
“Ah. You skipped class today?”
I blinked at what he said and immediately shook my head. “No. I mean, he treated me while we were heading home from… from school.”
“Really.” He sneered. “Don’t deceive me, Azora. I always know what you’re up to at the university.”
I stopped myself from rolling my eyes at him. He was still my Dad, and I didn’t want to be disrespectful. I fidgeted with the hem of my white dress, remembering how Dad kept a close watch on me both at the university and elsewhere.
I sighed again. “I went somewhere far to relieve stress.”
“Badian.”
I looked down further. I avoided meeting his gaze because even staring at the floor, his piercing gaze felt like a hot razor blade ready to cut through me.
“Y-Yes,” I whispered.
“Who told you to skip class? Is that what Japen is teaching you?”
My eyes widened at Dad’s words. I looked up at him, gasping. “No, Dad. Japen isn’t teaching me those things! It was my choice, my decision! I wanted to go to Badian to relax. It’s not Japen’s fault!”
He raised an eyebrow. “Your irresponsible behavior started when Japen became your driver. Are you still studying hard, Azora?”
“Of course, Dad!”
“I’ve received reports that you’ve been traveling around Naga and neighboring towns with him. Does that mean anything?”
“No, Dad.”
“Should I be concerned about your reputation when you’re with that man?”
I shook my head vigorously, becoming dizzy for a moment. I held my breath, staring back at Dad. “It has nothing to do with Japen! I wanted to go. I asked him to accompany me to those places.”
Dad sneered and crossed his arms over his chest. “You don’t know that man well, Azora. From now on, he won’t set foot in this mansion.”
My forehead creased at his words. “No. No!”
“Are you defying me, young lady?” he asked, annoyed and angry.
I whimpered under his gaze and stepped back. “N-No, Dad.”
I looked back at the floor. Then, I heard footsteps approaching. I looked toward the hallway and saw Simmy walking toward us. I furrowed my brow even more. What was she doing here?
“Ali,” she called as she approached Dad. She stopped when she reached him. “Japen seems like a good boy.” Dad looked at Simmy but didn’t say anything, so she took the opportunity to continue. “Didn’t Azora and Japen grow up together? From what I see, Selyo’s son is decent. He doesn’t look like someone loitering on street corners, and I heard he’s studying. It would be better if we let them be friends. We’ve known Japen for a long time, so let’s allow them.”
I hadn’t expected Simmy to ease my feelings. I was glad she was there to defend me.
“But —”
Simmy cut off Dad. “Let it be. I’ll keep an eye on them when they’re here at the mansion. Nothing untoward will happen under my watch.”
That did it. Simmy’s words brought a small smile to my lips. I never expected her few words to soothe Dad’s anger and make him retract his words. It occurred to me that Simmy did a good job in that moment, after so many years…