CHAPTER 1
PROLOUGE
SAZHARINA’S POV
“AHHHHH, where did you go out ?!” I shouted when suddenly a man appeared in front of me.
I was just here wandering around the pool side when it suddenly blew hard on my back so I looked at it. But approaching me, there was a man standing in front of me and carrying a gift.
“Does it matter?” He raised an brow. “I was invited by your mother,” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. His voice was obviously mocking me.
“What?” My brows furrowed. I really don’t know what is going on right now. He suddenly appeared in front of me.
He frustratedly groaned and rolled his eyes like I was the dumbest people in the world.
It’s just that he’s handsome.
Well, I did not lie. He looked like a god because of his handsomeness – exagerrated, but he was so handsome! With his thick eyebrows, hynotizing almond-shaped eyes, not so big and pointed nose and plumpy lips, he indeed like a god. His jaw is also well -shaped and it really adds to his good looks.
Marry me!
“Am I too handsome so you’re just like that if you stare at me?” I realized when he suddenly spoke. “Your saliva is dripping, pftt-” Then he laughed out loud.
I immediately wiped my mouth but I was very annoyed when I found out that I wasn’t salivating.
“You’re crazy!” I slapped his arms.
“Aww.” He caressed her arms while darkly staring at me.
“What?” I raised an eyebrow and crossed my arms over my chest.
“The pain of your beating, are you really a woman ?!”
“Probably! I’m beautiful then you won’t believe I’m a woman ?!”
And our banter has already begun. Every time he throws stones at me, I slap his arms. He also chased me when I kicked his knees causing him to fall to the ground.
“W-wait .. S-stop,” he sighed. He was still holding her chest while breathing deeply.
“Y-you okay?” I concernly asked. I was also a bit breathless because we had been chasing each other for so long.
He nodded. Later on, his breathing started to turn back into normal again.
“That was tiring!” I exclaimed.
He scoffed. “Yeah, I almost died.”
I laughed. “And your cause of death is?”
“Running.”
I laughed hard. Wow, I didn’t expect him to ride on my jokes.
I just realized lately that he was staring at me all the time. As expected, the awkward feeling surrounds us. But he did not leave me with his strange gaze. It makes me uncomfortable but I don’t know why I can’t scold him or resent him.
I faked a cough. “I-Is there dirt on my f-face?” I slowly asked.
He, in turn, seems to have returned to sanity. He quickly removed his gaze from me.
“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to look at you like that.” He smiled nervously at me. He was also sweating and I noticed his hands were shaking a bit.
Why? He looks like he was going to poop. Yuck, Sazha.
I forced a nod and invited him inside. In fact, my mother invited him. Maybe my mom expects him too.
We went inside the house but I couldn’t see Mommy. I asked one of the guests and she immediately answered.
“Oh, baby, your Mommy has LBM,” she said sweetly with mixed concern in her voice. “I think she’s in the CR of her room. You must check her out, maybe that’s what happened to her.”
I smiled as I thanked her. I looked for him quickly – wait, I don’t even know his name! When I looked for him I saw him on the side talking on the phone? Wait, I don’t see his phone.
I could see him talking because I could read at the mouth of his mouth but he wasn’t even talking on the phone but I could see he was holding his ear. It was as if he had invisible airpods and he could hear what he was talking about there.
I laughed at the thought. Who in the world would use invisible airpods? There is no even such thing.
I fixed my self when I saw him walking toward my direction. I even saw another female visitor heading in his direction.
Who doesn’t? He looks like knight-in-shining armor. But instead of a sword, he held a goblet of wine in his left hand. His face was serious and his eyes were emotionless as he walked closer to me. I don’t know but I feel like the world is slowing down and I see nothing but him.
“Let’s go, honey.” I snapped back to reality when he spoke.
Wait, did he just call me ‘honey’?
“I called you honey because I’m irritated by the stare of other women. It’s like they’re going to eat me alive,” he whispered on my ear and I chuckled.
“You look like a bone,” I joked. He just looked at me badly so I laughed.
“Anyway, we didn’t have formal introduction.” I faced him. “I’m Sazharina Versalles.” I laid my hand in front of hin, offering a shake hands.
He gladly took it as he grinned. “Antricus Porlliander.”
My brows furrowed when I heard his name. It was familiar. It was like I already heard his name years ago.
“Is there a problem?” Antricus asked.
I slowly shook my head, and smiled at him. “Nothing, let me tour you around.”
“Where? In your heart or here in your house?” He grinned.
“Why not both, honey?” I teased him, emphasizing the endearment he called me earlier.
He narrowed his eyes at me, as if I hadn’t seen his ear turn red.
“Maybe not now, but soon, honey.” He winked at me, making me laugh out loud.
I walked around him inside the house, even though I knew my chest was throbbing because we had been teasing him before.
Hay, then, I must say this is one of my special birthdays.
——————
“ARE you sure you’re gonna be okay here, Mom?”
I’ve been here in Mommy’s room before to check. Her friend was right. Mommy has LBM.
“Of course, sweetie.” She caressed my cheeks softly. I can also see her weakness.
I forced a nod. “Just call me when you need help, hmm?
“Of course. Enjoy your birthday, okay? I’m sorry if I can’t be with you on your birthday.”
“It’s okay, Mom.” I chuckled. “Just take a rest. Maybe you just ate something bad. ”
Even though I had told her that before, she still wouldn’t believe it. She said that what she eats is safe, especially since she prepares it herself. Suddenly, her stomach hurt. Maybe her energy was drained so she also weakened.
I went down immediately after we talked. Then I remembered that I was going to introduce Antricus to Mommy but I decided to do it next time. Maybe Mommy is resting too.
“How was it?” Antricus asked after I got off.
I sighed. “She has LBM, all of a sudden.”
He smiled at me, strange smile so I couldn’t help but wonder. Well, I know it’s not my business anymore but I can’t help but get confused. There was something in his smile.
Or maybe I was overthinking too much?
“You okay?” I snapped back when he asked. Concern was evident in his voice so I can’t help but smile.
“I’m okay.”Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
He nodded.
“Anyway, do you still want me to tour you around?” I offered. Our tour of the house was delayed earlier because of Mommy.
“Sure!” He smiled sweetly.
I tour him around the house. From the kitchen, to the wide yard, the backyard and even to its underground where there are rooms that you can hang out. I used to sleep here when I was still 9 years old but that only stopped when Grandma, Mommy’s mom, forbade me.
“Wow, you have a lot of rooms, huh,” he said with amusement in his voice.
“Yup, this room used to be mine.” I pointed to the small room next to the bookshelf. “It’s a pity because Grandma forbade me to hang out here.”
“Why?” His eyes was still roaming around. Perhaps surprising to an extreme extent.
I shrugged. “Lola threatened me not to come here and said someone would take a fairy from me.” I chuckled when I remembered what she had said before.
I often hang out here, especially when Mommy scolds me. There is no problem because it is clean here and I am with my cousin. She is my comforter when I cry and she will take me here.
It’s wide underground because it’s like a rounded library but the only difference is there are rooms around. Its position is circular because its underground curve is also circular. At the very end is high bookshelves full of various books. This is also where our other relatives sometimes sleep when we have a family reunion.
But one day, Grandma visited here she caught me lying here underground.
~~~flashback~~~
“Iha, what are you doing here?”
I jumped in panic because of Grandma. I didn’t even feel like she entered here.
“L-Lola…” I startled.
I was really surprised at her. After all, who wouldn’t be surprised if an old woman suddenly appears behind you. The rattle of her cane is also weak so you can’t hear it. Include her long hair that goes down her back and her white dress.
If I hadn’t just been Grandma, I might have mistaken her for a fairy – with a cane.
“Why do you always hang out here? Did you know that a kid like you shouldn’t hang out here?” My Lola said strictly.
I was swallowed. “Uh, just now, Grandma. Ate Keizy is out so I don’t have anyone to come here with.”
She just nodded, satisfied with my answer. “Just don’t come here alone again, ah.”
Curiousity invaded my system. “W-why, Grandma?”
Her piercing gaze stared on mine so I couldn’t help but be scared. Her stare was so frightening that even my other cousins were scared when she was around – even the oldest of our cousins, who was 17 years old, pushed her back.
“One word – fairy.”
I was suddenly intrigued. The seriousness of Grandma’s voice was really terrifying. Plus her emotionless and serious face.
But even though I was horrified, I was still able to ask questions. “W-what’s up with the fairy?”
“They’ll take you. Our family has a legend, Sazharina. I know you don’t know that yet but I’ll explain it to you when the time comes.”
I swallowed and was forced to nod.
“Y-Yes, Lola.”
She plastered a small yet mysterious smile. “Let’s go. You can’t come here anymore.” She turned so I followed.
~~~end of flashback~~~
Since that day I have never attempted to go underground without anyone. That didn’t happen again for several years because even Ate Keizy, with whom I always went there, didn’t invite me either.
It’s only now that I’m with Antricus again.
“Wow… ” he only whispered when I told him about underground.
I chuckled. “Unbelievable, right?
“Yes.” He nodded. “I mean, who wouldn’t believe that you have a hidden story underground?”
I sighed. “I was scared too, e. But I just remembered what Grandma said. Maybe when the time comes, she’ll be able to explain it to me as well.”
Hopefully …
“Come on, let’s get out of here,” he said after a moment of silence.
I just nodded so we went up the stairs to the exit of the underground. I looked inside for a moment but was horrified by what I saw.
Impossible! I can not believe!
“Sazha?”
I was back in a trance when Antricus tapped me on the shoulder.
“Y-yes?”
He looked at me with concern in his voice. “Are you okay? You look pale.” He touched my forehead.
“Uh, yeah.” I nodded, still not in mind.
He nodded but hesitation was evident in his face.
I am not lying. I don’t look back. What I saw was true.
I looked at it again but it was fixed in its original place.
What was that? I’m not mistaken. What I saw was true.
THERE WAS A HIDDEN ROOM BEHIND THE BOOKSHELF AND IT WAS OPEN EARLIER.