CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

The airport was crowded. Inundated with distinct people from distinct countries.On the either side of the terminal, youths were jabbering on their cellphones, businessmen hauling their carry-ons behind them and travelers hopping out of their vehicles foretelling a hectic summer to come.

On dad's private jet, I settled into the flight. Despite the fact that It was my first time to travel on a plane and what seems to be a very expensive one, I tried to act normal nonetheless.

There were only two seats on the either side, one I learned was occupied by my Dad. The airliner features two separate lounges, a spiral staircase, the interiors have been built with the finest material, there is even a massive office with a conference room! It's so amazing!

Act normal Krie! Don't be ignorant! Don't be ignorant!, I said to myself as I continued surveying the room.

A young man: Long limbed, black hair and tall, who seemed to be a cabin crew caught my attention, he kept gawking at me. His smile was sweet like candy. After we exchanged glances, he unexpectedly sauntered towards me and offered me with a glass of wine. I refused and smiled as an apology. I don't drink liquor and I'm planning to keep it that way.

Discerning he was about to strike up a conversation, I quickly fixed my eyes on the window, watching my brother on the ground waiting for us to take off. It's not that I don't want to talk to him, it's been an eternity since I had a conversation with a stranger and I'll probably mess things up really quick.

When Kai saw me, he simply nodded. He had built this impenetrable wall between us, overrun by hatred and anguish that only he could break down, and behind those walls was a wide and almost bottomless chasm, that the more I tried to fill it with love, the more it deepened and the more we drifted apart. I've always wondered what would have happened if mom was still alive, would we turn out to be a loving family untouched by tragedy? But then again, I couldn't rewrite the past, no one could.

It was already 6:00 PM when the stars flickered faintly and moon had began its relentless drift towards the western sky, rendering an almost dead-like mist that blanketed the whole terminal. After that, the airplane had took off.

I felt almost breathless as I gaze under the stars illuminating on the darkened sky. My eyes widened in astonishment. I couldn't even stop smiling! For pete's sake! When I was a kid, I was very fond of the stars. After I had woken up from one of my nightmares, I'd unfailingly step out on the balcony and admire each one until I'd grew sleepy again.

“Krie..”

The sound of my father's voice dragged me out of my trance. His voice reminding me that I was still on the plane.Blinking rapidly, I squinted back at my dad, who seemed rather anxious.

He wore a dark suit and tie. His hair was a clean cut. He was in his mid-forties but still looked striking as ever.

“Dad?” I asked, leaning closer.

“I bought you these!” He grinned, passing me two white shopping bags.

Once I got a grip, I gently pried it open, revealing a expensive laptop and the other one was an expensive cellphone. Surprised, my eyes broadened, I was nearly wordless! Is he serious?

“You're kidding right?” I asked, glancing straight back at him .

“Those are for you, Krie”  He smiled genuinely, sitting in a posture-perfect way.

“But dad” I said.“I can't, these are too expensive”

“Take it Krie” He replied.“Consider it as an early birthday gift”

“I don't know what to say” I smiled.“Thanks Dad!”

I couldn't believe it! It was the very first gift dad gave me in nearly seven years. It almost felt like a dream. Somebody pinch me!

“You're welcome! And who knows you might need 'em for school” He said, giving the slightest of shrugs.

“You did study right?” His brows bent  into a questioning arch. “After we will arrive, get some rest, the exam is scheduled tomorrow, 9 AM. I have a friend there, he'll guide you”

“Of course!” I replied.“I won't disappoint you Dad, I promise”

“You'll do great, sweetie” Dad replied.

I reviewed 2 days preparing for the entrance exams, just to get into one of the most prestigious and one of the oldest universities in the world - Eucliffe University.

Even though, I dwelled most of my existence in the darkness, I wasn't literally hundred percent illiterate.I was still educated.Dad wanted me to become this flawless social butterfly. In the weekends, I took art, ballet and instrumental classes while on the weekdays I had classes like any normal kid could have like Science and Math. Believe it or not, all of those happened in the mansion.

And by the end of the day, Dad would pay most of them to keep their mouths shut.I didn't really needed them,I learned most of the subjects by myself. In a family that prizes elegance and grace above all else, being indecent is the worst sin.

❣

After a steady flight, we rushed over the brilliant lights of Toronto and the city itself was like a mirror that reflected the muffled stars twinkling in the sunless sky. And its unruly scene only magnified its exotic beauty.

In Dad's expensive car, we rode all the way from the terminal to an almost secluded mansion just near the city. When I ascended the car, it felt good to stretch my legs. It was already 8 o'clock when we arrived and the only thing that prevailed was the sound of the car heading towards a glass elevator which surprisingly went down fully flushed.

I was awestruck, I couldn't resist my jaw dropping. The building itseld was a unsual architectural achievement.

“Dad, how much did this house cost?” I asked squinting at the mansion before turning back at him.

“Not much, it's only 88 million dollars” He replied,seeming lighthearted about the expense.

“W-what?!”

“It's okay” He managed a reassuring smile. “Come on, let's get inside”

Believe it or not, Dad is the richest man in the world. For him, it only cost him a penny. The Fiores were a family treated like royalty, according to Forbes magazine. With money comes power that's why almost everyone respects us, almost everyone envies us. But little did they know that our family wasn't like those cherry images found in the newspapers and in social media, it wasn't like those stories that had been told for so many years of how happy we were as a family. We were until mom died. I knew the real Fiores, they didn't. A family full of dark secrets and I was one of them.

When we went inward, we were greeted by a man with gray hair, a man who seemed advanced in years. Along with him were 5 housekeepers and what seemed to be security guards.

The butler, I learned kept talking about something, but I dismissed it

I felt drained from traveling. I desperately need spaghetti. I could barely stay upright. I felt my eyelids wanted to shut but I resisted it, I didn't want to ruin their first impression of me.

“Krie..” Dad said which brought me out from my sleepiness which surprised me.

“Dad?!” I replied blinking rapidly.

“You must be tired, the maid will escort you to your room” He mumbled, he must have sensed how badly I wanted to sleep. “You're gonna have a busy day tomorrow, my bestfriend, Azrael Valerdi and his wife, Fallon Valerdi and his two sons, Marco and Josh are coming here for a visit. I need you to be the best you can be and keep them entertained, okay?”

I didn't really quite comprehended what he said cause I was sleepy, I nodded anyway. The only thing that I heard was the name “Josh” which was quite weird but before I could dwell on it, at dad's  urgency I went straight to my new room and laid down on my bed in the moonlight as the crickets were calling from afar.

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