Chapter 5
Merliah's Point of view.
“Psst… Maurice,” says I while sliding half of my body on his slightly opened door.
“I told you not to call me by my name. Call me brother, where’s your manner? What do you need this time? Liah, Can't you see I'm busy reviewing my notes, so if you have too much to fool around, please exempt me, spare me this time," he replied.
“Ts, you are such a snob. Acting like a woman on her red days does not suit you at all. Let me correct you, stop saying you are older because we are born on the same day, it just happened that you came out 20 minutes earlier.
“I’m still older than you.”
My twin brother and I were close in a peculiar way. He might be cold with words and action but he is a caring sibling. He was the reason why I am not forced to take business-related shits because he took the responsibility of the company. According to our parents, one of us should inherit the company, to continue its legacy in the business world. He volunteered so I can choose what course I am interested in. He wanted to be a doctor, but it would be troublesome for him because daddy had expected too much from him.
“Whatever.” I rolled my eyes and flipped my hair.
“Liah, if you are here to ask me to court Lore, I shall counter your agenda... It's a no," he replied.
Tsk! That is not the reason why I visited his room. Anyway, Poor Lore, she's so in love with this dense guy. I won't tell her about my twin's response, I don't want to hurt her, she's my girl bestfriend. Tho, she did not expect that Maurice would reciprocate her feelings, she is just happy in love with him. One more thing, Lore has several happy crushes, I'm sure she is aware that Maurice is impossible to please. She is just challenged to get Maurice's attention. Told you, chasing a difficult guy is challenging.
Going back, the reason why I came here is to ask for courtship advice. I had enough talk about my best friend's and twin's stupid love life.
“Luh, I haven't even said a word, don't worry Lore has several crushes. Don't be too harsh on her, she is just comfortable with you since we are childhood friends.” It was an excuse because I don't want to force Lore into him, it will make things awkward between them.
Actually, we were first-year college when Lore confessed to me that she is in love with my brother, and then she asked for help on how Maurice noticed her feelings. Unfortunately, Maurice hears it, to cut it short, they end up nothing but friends. Although Lore is persistent in getting Maurice's attention, the odd thing is he never asked her to stay away. They do have weird friendships, thus I don't want to stick my nose in their personal life.
“I know,” he replied with a neutral face. I don't know if it is my imagination, or he really changed his mood, he is quite upset. “Don’t waste my time, Liah. What do you want to ask?”
“I need courtship advice," says I with a straight face and I did not even blink my eyes.
He drew three folds on his forehead, then stood up. He is finally coming to the door whereas my stupid self is leaning on. “What the heck are you asking, liah? Are you perhaps…”
"If you are thinking that it's for me. That’s a big NO. All the boys want me, so why would I do such a disgusting thing?” Again, I need to keep a straight face while holding this conversation with my twin.
“What a stupid question, who is that coward asking you that silly question?"
“Nah... just a random friend from my organization,” I replied, which is obviously a lie.
“Is that person even a guy? Why would he even ask a girl?"
“Nevermind. Let me just change my question. If ever a certain girl would court you, what do you want that girl to do? Since you are a guy, I'm curious what would be your reaction if a girl decided to court you suddenly. I wonder how guys deal with a girl suitor."
He placed his thumb on his jaw, then stared blankly on the floor. “Nothing in particular. Maybe just like how Lore behaves... always visiting me and making me secretly smile?
Wait, what? What is he talking about? I stared at him with a suspicious look. He just rejected Lore, then all of sudden, it turned out that he actually likes what Lore has been doing.. hhmmm.. something's fishy.
“Do you have a crush on Lore, right? Admit it already, I won't tell her."
“How many times do I have to tell you? I am not interested in her, ok? I just used her as an example, since she is the most persistent among the girls who had a crush on me."
Liars go to hell, he still refused to admit, when in fact his ear is like painted red, stupid. Anyway, I could not waste my time minding their love life.
“Just go back to your room. I need to focus on my studies." He pushed me out, then shut the door. Anyway, I will leave him alone and just go back to my room. I need to carefully plan my ways to court that stubborn dean. I still have three days before our scheduled class with him.
What should I do?
Should I buy him jewelry? Hmmm… but my parents would probably know that I brought it for a man... tsk! This one is a big no.
How about Chocolate? He is too snobbish, I bet he doesn't have sweet bones at all, this one is also a big no.
What about Flowers? Psshh I doubt that he would cherish it, I bet he'll just let it withered... another big no.
What am I supposed to do? I don't know how to court a man, that bastard is damn lucky because he is the first person I will court.
Geez! I will sleep for now because I need to be fresh tomorrow. I will pay him a visit since the student council office is just situated next to the dean's office.
I need a beauty rest first…
‘My beautiful Queen, please wake up!' That was my cute alarm clock.
Gosh! It's already morning, here I am walking up; beautiful as usual. I stood up and spent enough time in my tub. After taking a bath, I attended breakfast with my parents. I wonder why they are still here and it's a miracle that we are complete in the dining, sharing breakfast. Usually, during this hour, they are nowhere to be found in the house because they have already gone to work. My dad is a company owner and my mom is the mayor of our locality.
“How’s school so far?” Daddy asked.
“Tehee~~ we’re doing good, dad.”
“Liah, I hope you are not having flings again. I will cut your allowance if you messed up. You should behave well, you are carrying Faunteen’s surname. I was able to hide your fling rumors so you better behave like a fine lady.”
Blah…blah whatever. It is always the same scenario. Every time we share the same room, they always remind me of how heavy my surname is. After that, a long silence would eat the place.
Honestly, we are not close and open with our parents because they are always busy. They always talk about their expectations and plan for our future, which we don't have a choice at all. Sometimes I find it suffocating. I can’t even date, but I manage to hide my relationships. They told me that I am not allowed to date because it will ruin my studies and future. You know having a relationship has nothing to do with academic failure, if you are dumb you're dumb, the relationship does not disturb your education.
“We decided to give you the chance to live independently, now that you are in your 3rd-year college. We have procured a simple yet secure dormitory. Maurice will live next to your dorm, Liah. We would summon you here in the mansion if there are private matters to discuss. We would also do a surprise visit, so you should be wary of your conduct and behavior.”
Amen! Hoely heavens grace! It has been our wish since the first year, finally, they are allowing us to live in a dormitory. Obviously, money is not the reason why they kept on declining, my parents are effin rich. Yeah, it is them who's rich, not me because it was not my hard-earned money. I wonder why they suddenly changed their mind, could it be because they realized that we are old enough to be treated like a child and they are too overprotective?
It’s a good thing, then…
“Also, we are putting limits on your cards. You should learn not to live lavishly, especially you Liah.”
Wait… what? Cutting my allowance means cutting my lifeline! What if my budget for the whole month would be gone for one week? Crap!
My hands are fidgeting. I can't demonstrate that I am against the budget cut, but I can't voice it out. My parent’s words and decisions are always absolute.
“You’re going to be late. Both of you should leave now,” says mommy.
“One more thing. Liah, you should control your weight. You should maintain a good figure. I already told you beauty and physique are important in society, you will earn respect just by having a beautiful face and body.”
“I will exercise and go on a diet, mom.”
My mother was once an actress before she became a politician. That's why she has this habit of presenting herself as a flawless lady. For her, this world has cruel judgment whereas, your beauty, your wealth, and education is the measurement of how people respect you. She wants us to be perfect too.
I feel suffocated, that is why sometimes I intentionally make a slight mistake just to feel that I didn't lose the real me, to feel that I am a human and not a doll.
We were not making any noise inside our van, still silent until we reached Elysian Dream University.
As we headed inside, my twin tapped my shoulder. “Don’t take her word seriously.”
I was almost touched by my brother's warm words, but this fella has a nasty mouth.
"Even if you turn into a whale, I think you are still beautiful?" He ran and I chased him, just when my hand almost reached his hair, Lore appeared out of nowhere.
“What are you doing with my future husband?”
I saw my idiot brother turn into shades of pink.
“Don’t you think you are being rude to your future sister-in-law then?” I replied.
“Who told you that I would marry you? Lore, stop dreaming, you are not my type." He walked out like a child throwing a tantrum.
“Your twin brother is so cute. Are you sure he is not gay?"
There she goes again and her unreliable gay radar. “Who knows? Why don't you just ask him?"
She suddenly lost her word, she blushed? What kind of face am I seeing?
Something's fishy hmmm… Anyway, I think my day is completed already. I am so lucky, my vitamin eye is here already. He is walking in the hallway, and we bump into him.
“Good morning, dean.” I smiled at him to show my respect. Knowing that there are eyes around, he will not ignore our presence, he will not ignore me just like what he usually does when we are alone.
“Good morning. Ms. Faunteen and Ms. Buencamino.”
See? He is being civil towards me because I am with Lore and there are other people around us.
I intentionally stopped when our shoulder bumped into the other, I whispered through the air, “I hope you didn’t forget what I told you last time, darling.”
I am sure he heard it because our height was not too distant, he is standing 5'10 in height while I am 5'6. We continued heading on our way and bypassed our dean. Before finally taking a right turn to enter the room, I glanced in the dean's direction, then I found him glued to the ground, my statement for a while had him statue.
You never failed to entertain me, dean.
I have decided on ways to court you… just wait.
