Chapter 4. Forbidden

Cristine’s POV

The next day

I put the friend's bacon, hotdog, and egg on the plates. I put some spreading on the loaf to make a sandwich. I was preparing breakfast this time, and I had five minutes before Aron went downstairs to eat his meal.

I’m still thinking about the emails I just read yesterday. Jannah was still a mystery to me. Why does he need to send her emails 

I’m sure she has something special, or maybe she herself was special to Aron.

“Are you done with that?”

Joy suddenly mushroomed beside me, and that gave me a mini-heart attack.

“Joy! Do you want to kill me, huh?” I asked, holding my chest while catching my breath.

She chuckled and crossed her arms over her chest before leaning against the kitchen sink.

“Don’t drink too much coffee, Tin-tin. I noticed that you are out of your senses. Is there something bothering you?” She tilted her head while looking at me.

I sighed and averted my gaze before bringing it back to her. She was waiting for me to answer her.

“Yeah, actually, this gave me a sleepless night.” And it’s true—even when I close my eyes, my mind automatically flashes her name.

“Care to tell me? Maybe I can help you.”

I’m still holding back on asking her. She worked here for two years, so maybe she knows something.

“Do you know someone named Jannah Villa?" Before I could even finish my question, she immediately covered my mouth with her right hand.

She checked the kitchen to see if someone had heard me say, I’ve revealed a very dangerous secret. My forehead furrowed in response to her gesture.

“Don’t ever say that name again inside of this mansion, do you understand?” she whispered.

I removed her hands from my mouth and looked at her with confusion.

“Why? What’s wrong with you?” I don’t know why I’m whispering too. We look like idiots.

“It’s a forbidden name to say.”

Forbidden?

Is it a curse that whoever says her name will turn into a frog?

My curiosity was killing me. I want to know more.

“Why? Who is she?”

Her movement became uneasy, and her eyes became allusive. Her hands were shaking as she placed the plates on the rolling table.

“T-that’s all I know.”

After that, she immediately left me and delivered the food to the dining area.

“Weird.” I just shook my head and washed my hands before preparing his coffee.

***

“How much for two hours?”

“Twenty pesos.”

I get some coins from my pocket before giving them to the cashier here at the computer shop. I was tasked with buying some groceries, and I used the opportunity to go here.

I didn’t bring my laptop with me. Just imagine hiring a maid with her own laptop and pocket WiFi.

The computer shop was filled with people, usually students, playing video games. I could smell the sour odor inside, but I have no choice and I need to endure this for a while.

I sat on the chair in one unit and opened the browser. I searched for her name, Jannah Villamor. Maybe I could find something about her on the internet.

The internet shows her picture. She was beautiful, with long blonde wavy hair, a thin nose, monolid eyes, cupid lips, and a sexy body figure.

It says that she is now twenty-six years old. She was a famous designer in Italy. She was also the owner of a famous brand of clothes and bags there. A very successful and rich woman probably suits someone like Aron Quizon.

I opened an article to learn more about her. It says that she lived in the Philippines when she was sixteen and decided to go to Italy to continue her studies.

I opened her social media accounts and saw how many followers she had. Well, she’s quite famous.

The Internet says she’s single.

The Internet says she’s famous.

The Internet shows her backstory.

But that’s all.

No Quizon is involved.

NO ARON.

I leaned back in my chair with a wrinkled forehead. No information about her was connected to Aron, so how the hell does he know her and have her email address?

“Ehem.”

I looked up and saw the cashier earlier. She was looking at me with raised eyebrows. She was holding a cigarette in her left hand.

“Your two hours were done,” she said. I could smell the morning breath in her. Did she know about the word "broom"?

“Uhm… "Can I stay for more minutes? I’m just looking for someone.”

“One hour is ten pesos.” She leaned in, asking for payment.

I checked my pockets, but I realized that my money was just enough for a taxi. I sighed and stood up, walking towards the exit door.

When I stepped inside, my phone suddenly vibrated inside my pocket. I got it and saw a message from Miko. He asked for my number before, and he insisted on programming his number in my cellphone too, even though I didn’t ask for it.

“What does he need?” I asked myself, reading the text message he sent me.

From: Miko

Message: My invitation was still open for you, Miss Beautiful. I’m going to the bar later. 10:00 p.m., I’ll wait for you there, Babe;

I rolled my eyes and was about to put my phone down when an idea came into my mind.

Miko was Aron’s friend. Maybe he can help me.

I smirked and tapped a reply for him.

To: Miko

Message: See yah!

***

“Let me help you with that, Tin,” Joy said, getting some of the grocery bags I’m carrying.

I smiled at her, but I saw some luggage inside when we got in. Joy noticed that I was looking at the stuff in the living room, so she spoke and explained to me what these were.

“Sir Richard came home earlier.”

I looked at her.

“Richard? Who?” 

“He was Sir Aron’s father,” she answered, but I wonder why she whispered the last two words that she said.

I realized that she was now looking upstairs, so I looked there too. I saw a tall old man wearing eyeglasses, a gray polo paired with white pants, and brown boat shoes.

He was looking at us—at me exactly. His eyes were as cold and dark as the ocean. I could say that he’s really the father of Aron. They have the same aura and confidence.