"What is she doing?" Alliana asked her friend, Olivia, as the two of them secretly observed her cousin, Hannah, who was acting strangely just a few feet away.
"She... maybe... I don't really know," Olivia replied, unable to explain what her friend is doing.
With every step she took, Hannah kept on looking at her surroundings, as if she were afraid that someone would suddenly appear.
"Is she alright?" Alliana wondered out loud again, her concern for her cousin's well-being evident in her furrowed brows and narrowed eyes.
A mixture of concern and curiosity filled her mind as she tried to make sense of her cousin's behavior.
She knows that something is wrong, she can sense it.
After all, how could she not notice when the girl who normally radiated confidence from every pore of her body suddenly seemed completely drained of her usual energy and self-assurance throughout the entire class?
What gets under Alliana's skin even more, though, is the fact that, deep down, she knows something's wrong—but no matter how much she pushes, she can't figure out what seems to be the problem.
Aside from that, every time she asks Hannah, she's met with nothing but an excuse that she's tired from training.
"Come on, that's Hannah that we're talking about. Who dares to bully her?" Olivia spoke after a while, completely unworried about Hannah's sudden change of behavior.
She couldn't be blamed for her way of thinking, though.
After all, Hannah is the eldest daughter of the Salvador family, the pampered princess who's treasured by her elders and protected by her brothers.
Harming her would be equivalent to committing suicide, which is why Olivia couldn't think of anyone who would dare to harm her.
"Come on, let's go," Olivia added as she gently pulled Alliana toward her car so they could head to the closest shopping center near their school.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Alliana realized that Olivia was right. Only a fool would dare harm someone from the Salvador family.
Moreover, since her cousin did not say anything to her, Alliana realized that she should back off and patiently wait until Hannah decided to voluntarily open up about her problems.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, the princess of the Salvador family that they claimed to be untouchable has been sleepless for countless nights already, bothered by nightmares of her experience with Ivan.
Her paranoia and fear intensified the horrors in her nightmares, making them even more terrifying than what had really transpired—and that frightens her even more.
"Señorita," Benjamin worriedly called out to Hannah upon seeing how cautious the young lady was. He immediately opened the car door for her, and Hannah didn't waste any time going inside.
Gently, he closed the door for her and went to the driver's seat.
He made sure to drive the car gently while peering glances at her through the rearview mirror.
It had been days since Hannah had suddenly disappeared, and since then, every time she went to school, Hannah always looked wary, and this worried her driver greatly.
"Señorita... would you want me to turn the car and head home instead?" Benjamin couldn't help but ask.
He knew full well that by doing this, he was going against his duties since Sheldon himself had already made it clear while on the phone with him.
Take Hannah to the restaurant, no questions asked. That's a direct order, and disobeying that meant that he was defying his employer.
But as Benjamin watched her, this girl he had been working for so long looked dazed and out of herself, Benjamin's heart clenched. Not only does it worry him, but it also scares him.
Watching the bright light in her eyes turn dim made him unable to ignore it. Job or not, how could he possibly sit back and do nothing?
His question made Hannah look up at him. She wanted so badly to say yes, to retreat to the comfort of her room and shut everything out. But deep down, she knew that doing so would only strain her relationship with her brother. So, with a strained smile, she quietly shook her head, signaling no.
Her decision made Benjamin sigh, but still, he chose to just obey.
Soon, they reached the restaurant, and Hannah went in alone. She was assisted by the manager towards the VIP room, and there she saw a familiar-looking man.
"Sir Racca?" she quietly called out to him, keeping a safe distance between them. When the man turned to look at her, Hannah breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing his face.
To avoid repeating her previous mistake, Hannah had asked Sheldon for a photo of the man, and she was relieved to see it was indeed him this time.
"I'm sorry I took so long. Did you wait long?" she awkwardly asked, breaking the silence, as the man continued to stare at her face without saying a word.
"No, it's okay. I was enjoying the view," he answered her.
He then proceeded to pull out the chair for Hannah, assisting her until she was comfortably seated.
"Indeed, it has a nice view," Hannah said, seeing a clear lake when she turned to look at where Alfonzo had been looking earlier, forcing a bright smile on her face.
She had never been on a date before, and the pressure of not knowing what to say was overwhelming. But as Alfonzo continued to stare at her without blinking, the smile on her face began to falter, becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
Hannah was used to people looking at her, but this felt different. It wasn't just a quick glance or a shy look—it was an unblinking stare, unwavering and open, and it made her feel exposed in a way she hadn't expected.
"I-Is there something on my face?" she couldn't help but ask after a few moments of silence.
"You look familiar... like the woman who got into my car, thinking it was a taxi," he said, making Hannah's brow furrow in confusion. Her mind flickered with doubt, and before she could collect her thoughts, she felt heat rise to her cheeks.
A wave of realization hits her. This is the same man who drove her 'taxi' just a few days ago. The one she had that argument with. The realization surprises her and makes her cheeks blush even more.
Before Hannah could deny it, Alfonzo suddenly clapped his hands together.
"Indeed! It is you—!" Alfonzo confirmed.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! I wasn't used to riding on my own, I thought it was a taxi," Hannah apologized swiftly before Alfonzo could finish talking, her cheeks growing pinker in embarrassment, and she wished that the floor would open up and eat her.
Despite her concerns, Alfonzo didn't seem upset about what had happened. Instead, he laughed it off, his bright smile and pink gums showing just how amused he was.
"No worries at all. It was a bit confusing, but I honestly thought that's just how girls flirt around here. Guess it was just an honest mix-up," he chuckled, which made Hannah smile in return.
The tension between them faded away with the revelation, and as they continued to talk, the conversation flowed effortlessly. They shared stories, laughed at each other's jokes, and found themselves more at ease with every passing minute.
The awkwardness that had initially hung in the air melted away, replaced by a lighthearted energy that made the evening feel natural.
Before they knew it, the restaurant was almost empty, and the once-bustling atmosphere had quieted down. Hannah glanced at her watch in surprise—hours had passed without them even realizing.
"It's already late. I'd better send you home now, or else your family might hunt me," Alfonzo joked, also realizing just how late it is.
"Yes, I also didn't realize how much time had passed. I enjoyed the meal," Hannah agreed as they both stood up from their seat. Even until they went out of the restaurant, the two of them were happily talking to each other.
"I really enjoyed our time together. We have way more in common than I expected. How about we do this again sometime?" Alfonzo said, gently taking Hannah's hand as he helped her down the stairs toward her car.
"I'd love to. Are you free sometime this week?" Hannah asked, turning to face him once they reached the bottom of the steps.
"Definitely. I'll give you a call, and we can figure out the details. Until then, stay safe on your way home," Alfonzo replied, opening the car door for her.
With one last smile exchanged, Hannah climbed into the backseat of her car. Alfonzo shut the door behind her, and the car pulled away almost immediately.
'Well, that wasn't so bad,' Hannah thought to herself, feeling pleasantly surprised. Her first date had turned out better than she'd anticipated.
As she replayed their conversation in her mind, a smile tugged at her lips.
'He... He's so kind and easy to talk to.'
"You seem very happy, my dearest,"
***🦋***
Author's Note
Uh-oh, here comes the devil with the silver tongue... or is it really him? What do you think of Alfonzo so far? He sure has a way with words, doesn't he? That charming smile, the smooth talk—he seems like he could win anyone over. But is there more to him than meets the eye? Let's stick around and see what happens next. I'm sure there's much more to discover about him in the upcoming chapters.