Chapter 5 Familiar

• Beads of sweat keep falling from my forehead down to my neck. I was breathing harshly as if someone was behind me and kept on chasing me. I looked at my reflection on the life-sized mirror. Even my gray loose shirt is already wet because of my sweat. I drew near the coat rack to get my towel. I dried myself before untying my messy ponytail and then eventually tied it again into a neat one.
• I was about to leave the dance room to bid goodbye to my student, Lizzy since I was done teaching her to dance. But when I turned around, I froze as if my soul just left my human body. I'm dead sure that I paled upon seeing the person who was now standing in front of me.
• He removed himself from leaning on the door frame and then chuckled. Those chuckles then followed three claps from him. If it's a compliment or sort of an insult, I don't know.
• “A nerd dancer?” his right brow flicked. His comment made my brow arc on the other hand. “I didn't know you can dance,” he added.
• I was ready to ignore him and just leave without any word but then he blocked my way. What on Earth is this, this time?!
• “I dance, Sir. Joined a club when I was seventeen,” I firmly replied.
• “What kind of club, then?” he asked, and I knew well that he was implying something on that question. “I saw your moves, Nerdy. They are familiar.” Then he gave me a sly grin before boldly throwing his eyes at me, scanning me from head to toe.
• “I'm not a club dancer, Sir if that's what you are trying to say,” I replied before leaving him in that room.
• As I took my steps downstairs, I couldn't help but clench my fists. Out of irritation and yeah, because of his arrogance. I couldn't imagine how that man turned out to be my angelic student's brother.
• ***
• The next morning, I woke up late because my stupid alarm clock just broke. It was already ten in the morning when I arrived for my tutoring to Lizzy. At the lanai, I catch my student having fun with her brother, and just like yesterday, when Mr. Sylvestre saw me, his brow arched.
• “You're hours late, Nerd,” he said, and I rolled my eyes. “I saw that,” he added, frowning now.
• “I'm not hiding, tsk,” I murmured instead. When is he going to bother me, for goodness' sake?!
• ***
• “Baby,” Lizzy and I both look at the open room which gives us her brother. He has a food tray in his hand. Milk. Cookies. Fruits. Full of food for her sister. “Your snacks are ready,” he said, placing the tray on the table next to his sister.
• My eyes then diverted to my wristwatch and couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.
• I faked a cough, meant to catch his entire attention.“It's not time for her snacks, Sir. We still have an hour and a half to finish our lessons. After that, Lizzy–”
• “Lizzy, my sister,” he cut, emphasizing the last two words, “is allowed to eat whenever she wants,” he continued which eventually, made me give in.
• I sighed in defeat. “You're right, Sir,” I replied, faking a smile.
• He transferred the food to the front of Lizzy while the other, my student started to dig in. Instead of watching Lizzy eating her snack and feeling her brother's eyes scanning me, I left my seat for the comfort room. I could still feel his eyes on me until I stepped out of the room.
• “What a disturbance,” I growled in frustration as I walked through the hallway.
• ***
• “Nice tattoo, Nerdy,” I jolted in place and instantly looked at the man behind me while I was fixing my hair into a bun. “Where did you get the design?” Mr. Sylvestre asked out of nowhere.
• His question made me feel uncomfortable instantly causing me to untie my hair and just let it down. “Just a recommendation from my tattoo artist, Sir.”
• He nodded and replied, “Think I've seen them before.” Then he leaves me waiting outside their house.
• ***
• When I arrived home, I prepared for my stream. I glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall. My eyes settled on the encircled number in it and couldn't help but heave a deep hopeless sigh. What Mr. Smith told me the last time I saw him flashes back in my mind and as if that old man is just sitting beside me, I kept hearing his voice.
• “No,” I murmured and looked intently at my reflection. “You're going to pay him. You can pay him, Serena,” I convinced myself even though deep down, I knew that I couldn't.
• The reality is slapping me every day. The debt my mother owes to that man, I knew I couldn't pay him until the end of this month. Even though I work so hard, all day and night, it's only the miracle that can save me from marrying that man. And just thinking that it is me, my body will be the payment of what we owe him, makes me shiver in disgust.
• xxxTim: When are you going to accept my offer, Midnight?
• This is the message that caught my attention as soon as I opened my account. I bit my lower lip, thinking of what to reply.
• xxxTim: Just accept my offer.
• He's online.
• I typed. “You'll pay me at any price, right?”
• I don't do private sessions but if this one behind the camera is the only person who can help me elude marrying Mr. Smith, I might take the offer.
• xxxTim: “Send me your details, and I'll send the money right away.”
• He replied that I knew, I couldn't decline. Maybe this is the miracle I am waiting for.