Chapter 5: Juice

Exhausted by the flight, I quickly fell asleep. I just gasped when the cold wind hit my cheek. I woke up late and noticed its getting dark outside. With narrowed eyes I peeked outside my room in after getting up and slowly going down the stairs.

I heard noises and laughter in the kitchen so I had the courage to peek there.

Manang Gloria and Ellwood were the ones I caught talking to. But they weren’t the only two in the table. There were three more sitting with them, a woman and a man who I’m sure were only a few years older than me. And the woman next to Ellwood.

I frowned, because she was not the woman in the picture I saw on the ship.

"Oh? Venice you're awake!" said Manang Gloria as she looked at me.

They all turned to me but my eyes only focused on EIlwood. I couldn’t help but warm my two cheeks as I remembered the scene earlier.

Stupid Venice!

If I could just cover my face I would have done so out of sheer embarrassment.

"Good and you're awake, I'll prepare your dinner," said Manang Gloria.

"I'd like you to meet, Issay and Allan. They're the ones who could help you here at the mansion." Ellwood introduces the two who is sitting across to him.

"Hi, Venice! How nice of you!" A man named Issay waved at me.

I just answered her with a small smile.

"I'm Allan, single." The man said, he even winked at me so I couldn’t help but smile as well.

"Hi .." I was embarrassed with my word.

I glanced at the woman next to Ellwood. Even sitting I knew she was tall, had a slender body and a beautiful face shape. She has also a bit revealing dress, spaghetti strap and short shorts while the sweater is slung around her waist.

"Is this the kid you mention about earlier?" said the woman next to Ellwood.

I frowned slightly at what she had pointed out and now turned to Ellwood who was staring straight at me.

"Yeah, that's her," he said in a baritone voice.

"Hi, I'm Pia."

I just smiled at her too and started walking closer to Manang Gloria.

"I'll help you with that." I pulled out the plates and carried them to the dining room.

When I returned around, I caught a glimpse of Ellwood who was sipping wine from a glass.

"Come on, hija. It looks like they are still full and still not hungry." Manang whispered to me as I step closer to her.

I even left one look at them while usy chatting before entered at the dining area.

"You must be hungry, alas you haven't had a snack earlier."

I followed her and sat quietly in the chair. I was the only one who ate alone, as I could hear from here their loud laughter and storytelling.

When I finished my dish, I also volunteered to clean the table and wash my plate. Although Manang Gloria stopped me, I still insisted.

"Venice, come on here first..." Allan stopped me as I attempted to exit the kitchen.

I glanced again at Ellwood who was waiting for my answer.

"All right..." I slowly walked closer to their table. I sat down next to Issay in front of Ellwood.

"How old are you in Venice?" Allan asked.

"I'm seventeen" I answered timidly.

"Woahh! Seventeen?!" His eyes almost widened as he peered at me next to Issay.

"Venice you're so very young. So, don't flatters Allan's sweet words," said Issay and laugh a little.

I immediately blushed and took my eyes off the table.

"That's too much, we can be a good friends, right?" Allan chuckled a bit.

"Gosh, I know you well. Don't even try your luck on this young lady!" Issay answered.

"Stop that nonsense, just let her know you well." Manang Gloria told to them.

They lower down their head and muttered as they chuckled a bit.

"Try this drink, baby girl. It's just a ladies drink."

I looked up at Pia after glancing at Ellwod.

I tried to drink, on Samuel’s birthday, the day Iverson kissed me.

I bit my lower lip. How is he? Did he know what happened to me? Oh if he was worried about where I was already.

"She's too young to drink. I'll just make you juice for Manang." I heard Ellwood's low voice in front of me.

I slowly looked up at him and shook my head, "No, it's okay. I've already tasted this kind of drink." I raised the glass with only blue drink and sipped it slowly.

The taste was unusual, a little warm in the throat.

I hadn't even lowered the glass when Ellwood snatched it from me.

"I told you not to drink."

I glanced at Pia who smiled at Ellwood's reaction. She came to the side and wrapped her left arm around Ellwood's shoulder and eventually played with his hair with a few fingers.

"You're seem so over protective, darling," she said sexily to Ellwood.

Instead of answering, he called Manang Gloria while not taking his eyes off me.

I also did nothing when Manang placed the pitcher of juice and long glass in front of me.

"If you need anything else, I'm just in the room, alright?"

"Thanks for the juice, Manang," I whispered.

"Would you mind asking where you're from? You seem to be missing?" Pia's question to me seemed unbelievable.

I glanced at Ellwood first before nodding slightly.

"And your age? You don't know how to go home?" Pia laugh with disbelief.

"Actually, I ran away from home!" I interrupted her laughter.

Pia turned to Ellwood who shrugged her shoulders next to her.

"What are the young people really like now, huh? Issay commend.

"Young people are different now. That's why some get pregnant early because they get aggressive." Pia was looking at me.

I slowly bowed because of what S

she said. Tsss... Judgmental.

"Why are you guys so curious about her?" Ellwood asking with furrowed brows.

"Nothing, curiosity can kills right? Anyways, how long do you stay here in Queensland?" Pia came closer to Ellwood, she almost hugged the person next to her.

"Maybe I'm leaving tomorrow too,” he answered to Pia.

My gaze shifted to Ellwood to trace the concern on his face. It means that he will leave me here.

"Why don't you stay at my house tonight?"

I noticed Ellwood glancing at me before his jaw tightened. I slowly averted my eyes from her.

"No, I can't. I still have a lot to take care of tomorrow before leaving."

"In that case, I'll just sleep here. Isn't that a good Idea?" Pia muttered seductively.

I didn’t hear Ellwood answer so I’m sure he agreed to his wishes.

"Are you studying, Venice?" Issay asked me.

"Yes, I'm in grade 12 now."

"Why do you left from home? How's are you study then?" Pia who suddenly raised her voice to me.

I bit my lower lip. What will they say when they find out that I am here to hide?

"Venice and I will talk more about that. But for the meantime, she can stay here as long as she want." Ellwood answered many of their questions.

I saw Pia arch her brows and Ellwood then glanced at me and smiled slightly.

The story took a while before they went to sleep.

I went upstairs to my room first because while Ellwood talked briefly on his cell phone.

Because of the long sleep earlier, drowsiness did not visit me immediately. I prefer to stay on the terrace first to freshen up. From here I can see the calm sea. I feel free and I forget the trouble I bring when I look at the sea while listening to the quiet waves crashing on the beach.

I decided to go back inside to sleep but I heard a loud bang from outside my room.

I stepped closer to the door. There were even crashes that almost stopped my heartbeat.

Maybe that Dolfo, or a cops. Maybe they already know where I am. I leaned against the door and listened intently to the noise outside.

But I was startled when a woman's voice seemed to shout from outside.

I pulled the visible reed broom to the side of the door. Nervously, I bravely turned the door open. It was dark in the hallway. There seems to be no indication that there is an intruder because it is quiet again around.

I stepped down to see if anyone was still awake but there was a knock right on the door of Ellwood's room.

My heart almost leapt up when I heard a soft voice of a girl inside his room. I no longer hesitated. I turned to face door and hurriedly opened the door.

My feet stood still at the ground and my lips agape. It was too late to turn around because both Ellwood and Pia turned their shock face to me.

They are almost naked. Ellwood was naked and her belt was stripped, while Pia was wearing only a bra and panties. Pia was lying on the table as Ellwood faced her.

I let go of the reed I was holding while staring intently at them.

"What the hell?" Pia shouted.

I blinked and stared at Ellwood. He shook his head while his jaw is clenching.

"Ohh... I'm so sorry." My tremble lips said.

I quickly turned around and left his room. I crossed my door. I was about to close it when I backed away when Ellwood entered.

He closes the door and making a huge step toward me.

I swallowed as I looked up at him. I can’t explain the kind of way he looks at me. Is it just because it's dark all around or, because he's mad at what I did?

"I-I didn't mean to, I thought..." I said in a trembling voice.

He sighed right in front of my face and I shut my eyes firmly. My heart was beating very fast. I couldn’t help but blame myself for my rude entry into his room.

"It's alright, just ignore what you saw," he said in a low voice.

I nodded at him one after another and finally looked up at him. His facial expression still did not change. It still wrinkled and dark.

Slowly my eyes dropped to his entirety. I took a step back. D*mn! He's half naked. This is almost the scene I saw earlier in his room.

The abs and the muscles. I saw them closer.

"Go to sleep," he said huskily.

I blinked and looked back at him with disbelief...