Rosa Lin’s POV
I tried my best to focus on the lecture. God is my witness to know I am trying so freaking hard, but the lunatic who is supposed to be my lecturer is not making things easy. I tried to scribble down some notes as he spoke, only to find myself looking up to catch those sharp brown eyes of his staring back at me, like he was trying to understand me, gazing so deep into my soul. It took me off guard. I blinked rapidly and quickly avoided his gaze, my heart racing for reasons I can’t articulate.
Oh my good God, what the hell is he doing? He should stop doing that.
I ground my teeth together in an attempt to make myself focus.
Ignore him, Rosa, just ignore him, I kept telling myself. But the moment I would look up at him, he would be staring at me again with a smirk on his face. What is so funny? I found myself wondering, gripping tightly against my pen.
Now I regret coming to the front. Did he summon me here just to have a good look?
Murmurs surrounded me from all the girls in the hall. And God help me, it was so irritating. They kept whispering about how good-looking he was, most of them making filthy remarks about how they wanted to get into bed with him, how he was so freaking hot. My ears couldn’t take it anymore.
"I promise you, before the end of the semester, I’m going to figure out the size of his manhood," I heard the girl beside me say, and I flinched the moment I heard it.
What the fuck? I thought to myself, turning to look at her with wide, disgusted eyes. She must have noticed I was looking at her, because she turned her head to the side to look at me as well and flashed me a harsh glare. I fluttered my eyelids and quickly turned away, avoiding her gaze.
What is wrong with these ladies? Don’t they have some level of shame? Oh my God, my ears can’t take this anymore. I just want to hide. I want to pop my brain out so I know I’m no longer existing, rather than hearing this nonsense.
I looked up for what felt like the hundredth time, and then again, Mr. Don Diaxu still continued looking at me while lecturing. Something hot prickled in my chest. I folded my lips and twisted my fingers together. I breathed out.
It’s pointless. He won’t stop.
For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself not to take my eyes off him. He also didn’t look away from me, staring at me like he wanted to say something, like he knew a secret about me that I probably didn’t know. I swallowed and fluttered my eyelids before forcing my eyes back towards my notebook. My heart kept thumping so hard and uneasily, and I couldn’t help it.
Just as I was thinking of anything I could use to distract myself from this mounting heat, my phone vibrated in my bag on the ground. I looked at it, dipped my hand inside, and took out my phone. I swiped it open to see it was a message from Mrs. Kim Tee. She was the lady in charge of the villa. I blinked, quickly moved my other hand, dropped my pen against my notebook, and unlocked my phone to check out the message.
The message read thus:
Hello Rosa, how is your day today, and I hope you’re feeling okay? This message is an official, straight notification to let you know that the owner of the villa has finally arrived. He has inspected your work and he’s really grateful for your services all the while he hasn’t been around, so please do ensure to return back to the villa at exactly 12:00 p.m. to return the keys, and you will also be paid a heavy compensation to ensure you don’t have to struggle anymore, okay? Thank you so much for your service and your time.
I don’t know why my hand was shaking as I read the final message. I felt a sudden heaviness settle at the pit of my stomach. I dropped my hand and pressed my phone face down against my notebook, staring at the floor a few feet from the podium, countless thoughts racing through my mind.
I took a deep breath. Yep, I guess my time in the world of luxury has finally come to an end, I thought to myself, battling a heavy wave of sadness settling in my chest. I didn’t want it to end, I thought to myself. I relaxed back against my seat and looked at my phone, fiddling with it, completely forgetting about the lecture, sounding like mumbles in my ears right now.
What next do I need to do? I kept thinking to myself. I guess it was time to find an apartment, and then I would have to focus on Mia’s advice about starting up my career as a professional recording artist. I sighed and tilted my head to the side, twisting my lips. I couldn’t fight the ache I felt.
I don’t want to leave the villa. I found myself staring at my phone, wondering if I should send Mrs. Kim another message telling her I could work extra and I didn’t need to stay in the villa—if only I could just work part-time, maybe still have access to the studio, maybe still get paid half the money she paid previously. I was still going to take it.
I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers against my forehead. What is your problem, Rosa? It’s not yours, okay? Your tenure is over. Just accept it and move on, I thought to myself, but I couldn’t fight the sadness in my chest.
The rushing sound of feet scraping against the floor, the chatter of students, and the whispers echoing all around me signaled to me that the lecture had ended. I snapped out of my thoughts and looked around me to see everyone getting up from their chairs, packing up their books, and talking to themselves in loud voices. I exhaled and then slowly began to pack my own books as well, in a slow manner.
When I looked up, I saw that Mr. Don Diaxu had already left the podium, and I frowned for a while before shrugging. Didn’t actually expect him to leave that fast?
Just as I was about to get up, the girl who was sitting beside me suddenly brushed against me, using her body as a battering ram to clear the way, and I stumbled to the side as she and her minions stepped out of the row. I stood and watched each and every one of them pass me by, each sneering at me. I shook my head and rolled my eyes.
Childish, I thought to myself.
The moment they were all gone, I glanced at my wristwatch to see it was 12:13 p.m. Yep, I guess it was time to return the keys after all, I thought to myself. There was no escaping it.
I swung my backpack over my shoulder and casually stepped out of the lecture hall, walking out of the building and into the premises of the university. I looked around and glanced at Mia’s sports car parked at the parking lot. I don’t know if she would still be busy; I wondered if she would want to take me. I sent a quick text as I walked around:
ME: Surprise, surprise, the owner has arrived and he has requested for the keys.😪😪
It didn’t take too long for her to reply:
MIA: Oh my god, are you for real?🥺😧
I typed back:
ME: Yes, I have to go right now to return the keys. We will talk about the details later. Are you less busy?
Her reply came immediately:
MIA: I’m sorry, I’m still a little bit occupied with the bursar department. I’m definitely going to be stuck here for a while. This stress is killing me. You owe me a stress relieving drink later. 😩
I smiled and rolled my eyes:
ME: Whatever. It’s all right, no problem. I’m just going to take public transport. Take care of yourself, okay?
She typed back:
MIA: Sure, bestie.☺️😘
I shoved my phone into my pocket, looked around, and noticed the countless stares that surrounded me. Yeah, just run away, Rosa, I thought to myself.
It didn’t take too long for me to get to the outside of campus towards the bus stop. I took public transport, and in a few minutes, I found myself at the estate.
I stepped in and froze for a while, observing the manicured gardens, the beautiful flowers, the watery fountains, and the large, spacious compound.
I breathed out.
I am so going to miss this, I thought. I twisted my lips together before slowly making my way across over towards the mansion at the far end. My knuckles felt tight as I gripped against the straps of my backpack.
Maybe I could come up with some sort of negotiation, I thought to myself. Extend my stay or something. I slapped myself mentally. Are you stupid, Rosa? Are you thinking of staying together with the owner? I shook my head. That was definitely not an option. I groaned and slapped my palm against my forehead, brushing my fingers through my hair to scratch my scalp.
I am obsessed with this villa. I puffed my cheeks and blew out air as I finally came to a stop in front of the mansion. I looked to the left and then turned my head to look to the right of the large edifice.
"I am so going to miss you," I said with a whisper. "I really do hope later in the future I get to build such a massive, good-looking place such as this," I said to myself.
I dipped my hands into the side pocket of my backpack and took out the keys. I looked at them, watching as they jingled in my hands, then I slowly approached the entrance, climbing the sprawling stairs. Mrs. Kim had sent an earlier message while I was on the bus instructing me to knock, because the owner had a spare key and was already within the villa.
I lifted my hand and froze with my knuckles a few meters away from the door. I hesitated for a while, but then I shook my head and knocked, my heart thudding in my chest. I really do hope he is satisfied with my work, though, I thought to myself.
I began to pout, feeling the sudden urge to cry. Yep, I was definitely going to miss this place.
There was no response. I frowned at the door and then pressed against the doorbell. I don’t even know why I forgot about that. It didn’t take too long for the lock of the entrance to beep and then click as the door swung open.
I lifted my eyes, tracing my gaze across a familiar-looking set of trousers that made me frown and wonder where I had seen them before. My eyes raked over the muscularly built figure, landing squarely against a sturdy chest wrapped in a perfect, familiar official suit... I frowned. I know that suit. I saw it at...
I quickly snapped my eyes up completely and met the eyes of the man standing at the door, smirking at me.
"Well, well, well, look who I ran into," he muttered, his voice gravelly and teasing.
My eyes widened, and my heart resumed its incessant pounding. I blinked uncontrollably and chuckled nervously, scratching my neck.
Mr. Don Diaxu?!!!!
He was the owner?!!!! Oh my God!!!!!
I was stunned; I couldn’t look away from him. "Mr. Don Diaxu," I whispered his name.
He smiled. "Yes, it’s me. Are you surprised, Rosa Lin?"