"I'm not laughing with you, Sera," Mira said without even smiling.
"I didn't say you were laughing with me. He carried me because I sprained my foot. Happy?" I answered.
"Why do I feel like it's more than that?" she asked, looking at me intently.
What does she mean by 'more than that'? More than a sprain?
"Stop being so curious about us, Mira. You know we would never work as a couple. We're not even friends, so how could we possibly become lovers?"
"You've been acting strange ever since we arrived in Sagada. Why do I feel like you and Lucca have gotten closer because you're hiding something?"
My smile faded. Why did Mira sound so suspicious?
"Then think whatever you want. My conscience is clear," I said, trying to convince her that I wasn't hiding anything. We were going back to Baguio later. Our adventure in Sagada was over. She didn't need to know about our little secret.
Mira stared at me for another minute before nodding and leaving to take a shower.
I sighed heavily. Mira was as nosy as ever. It was becoming exhausting, especially since I was hiding something.
After fixing myself and taking one last look in the mirror, I couldn't help but glance around the room. Honestly, I was going to miss this place.
Missing the almost-kiss scene with Lucca?
My mind teased me.
I looked at the bed where it had happened. Although it wasn't the first time we had been that close, it was by far the most intense moment between us.
I sighed deeply.
I was going to miss Sagada, even though I hadn't explored the entire town because of my injury. If I hadn't gotten hurt, I would have enjoyed every corner of this beautiful place.
I grabbed my things and went downstairs to wait for everyone.
When I arrived in the living room, no one was there.
At least I got here first.
"Would you like to eat now, Ma'am?" the old housekeeper asked.
"I'll just wait for them. Thank you," I replied with a smile.
I scrolled through my social media while waiting. I expected them to take their time, especially Mira, who always took forever to shower.
A few minutes later, everyone came downstairs one by one. Dominic was the last to arrive.
"Sera, you showered too fast," Dominic said with a smile.
"You just shower too slowly," I teased.
He laughed at my comment before looking at the others.
"Let's wait for Mira before we eat lunch."
I nodded while the two other men were busy scrolling through their phones. Dominic sat beside me, still wearing his usual smile.
"In just a few days, you'll be Lucca's personal assistant," he said with a chuckle. Maybe he found it amusing.
"Ah... yeah," I replied. I didn't know what else to say.
"Do you want some orientation? Or maybe a warm-up?" Dominic asked.
"Dominic!"
Lucca's voice echoed through the living room. All of us looked at him.
"What? I'm just trying to teach your soon-to-be assistant," Dominic said, teasing him.
"She doesn't need it. I've already taught her," Lucca replied with a frown.
"Did he?" Dominic asked.
I looked at Lucca in confusion.
Did he already orient me? Since when?
"Ah... I don't know," I answered.
My response made Dominic laugh even harder. Lucca looked even more annoyed. I couldn't tell whether he was irritated with Dominic or with me. I honestly couldn't remember him teaching me anything. If I had said yes, Dominic would have asked more questions, and I wouldn't have known what to say.
Why was Mira taking so long? I knew she was slow when it came to showering, and she was probably doing her makeup too. Still, being alone with these men made me uncomfortable, especially with Dominic constantly teasing Lucca in front of me.
"Just tell me if Lucca abuses you. You know you can work as my personal assistant without even coming to the company. That's your only concern, right? You don't want the other employees to see you there."
"Why are you only telling me this now?" I asked. Not because I was considering his offer. I was simply curious.
"You're considering it in front of your future boss?" Lucca asked angrily.
I looked at him. He was clearly irritated.
Did I say something wrong?
I had already accepted his offer. I had no intention of backing out.
"You're ruining your face with that ugly frown," Dominic laughed, teasing Lucca even more.
I leaned toward Dominic and whispered, "Don't tease your friend. He's about to explode."
Apparently, Lucca still heard me.
"Ah... about to explode? Do you want to see me rip Dominic's neck off?" Lucca challenged.
My eyes widened.
Then I remembered the time I saw Lucca rough up Dominic, and Dominic hadn't even taken it seriously.
"You really like violence, don't you?" I asked.
"If that's the only way to let out my anger," he said, crossing his arms.
"Violence will never be the solution," I replied, looking at him seriously.
Suddenly, Dominic laughed.
"Okay, guys, stop being so serious. I was just kidding," Dominic said.
"And you, Dominic, keep teasing your friend even though you know he gets angry easily," I said, trying to lecture him.
"Okay. Sorry. I won't do it again, for your sake," Dominic said with a smile.
"How much do you like Seraphina, Dominic?" Damian suddenly joined the conversation.
Everyone turned to look at him, trying to understand what he meant.
I thought Dominic would be annoyed by the question, but instead, he answered calmly.
"Seraphina is the type of girl anyone would like. She's very different from other women. That difference is what made me like her," Dominic replied while looking straight into my eyes.
I didn't know if I was blushing, but I could feel my cheeks growing warm, and I was sure everyone could see it.
I glanced at Lucca, who was still frowning while looking at me.
Why is he mad at me now? I didn't even say anything.
The conversation was interrupted when Mira came downstairs.
I sighed in relief. At last, the conversation had ended.
"Let's eat lunch, guys," Mira announced.
We stood up and headed to the kitchen.
That's when my stomach growled, and Dominic heard it. He laughed.
"You should've told us earlier that you were hungry," he said.
"I should wait for the hostess," I replied.
We took our seats. Dominic sat beside me, while Lucca and Damian sat together, with Lucca directly across from me.
This is going to be an awkward lunch.
I was about to serve myself when Dominic scooped some rice onto my plate and added some viand.
"You don't have to," I said.
"Can't I serve my friend?" he asked.
I didn't answer and simply let him be.
I looked at Lucca, who was watching Dominic with a deep frown.
Why is he so upset? He's been frowning ever since we were in the living room.
"Eat more and put on a little weight," Dominic said before laughing.
His words reminded me of what Lucca had said earlier, making me frown.
I knew I was underweight, but it wasn't intentional. With all the stress I'd been dealing with, who wouldn't lose weight?
I ate more than usual during lunch. It wasn't my normal portion. Although I naturally ate small meals because of my petite frame, I wanted them to see that I was actually trying to gain a little weight.
"You're really tired from hiking, huh?" Mira asked after noticing that I hadn't stopped eating.
"Yeah. I don't want to be lightweight anymore," I replied before glancing at Lucca, my mouth still full of food.
He didn't even look at me, so I wasn't sure if he had heard what I said.
"That's right. Take better care of yourself, Sera. Enjoy your food because once you go back to the city and start working for Lucca, you probably won't have time to eat properly," Dominic said before laughing again.
"Are you threatening Sera?" Mira asked with a frown.
"Nope. I'm just stating a fact," Dominic replied with a grin.
Everyone was startled when Lucca suddenly slammed his utensils onto his plate.
"I'm done eating," he said coldly before standing up and leaving the dining room.
Everyone looked at Dominic, who simply laughed as though he wasn't the least bit worried that he had just irritated Lucca.
Dominic's POV
After eating, the girls left the kitchen, leaving only Damian and me in the dining room. They excused themselves to go to their rooms and brush their teeth.
"What are you up to?" Damian asked once we were alone.
"What do you mean?" I asked innocently.
"Stop acting innocent. You know exactly what I mean," he said, anger evident in his voice.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I replied, deliberately trying to make him even angrier.
"You're teasing Lucca and using Seraphina to make him jealous. I thought you were helping him get closer to her," Damian said bluntly.
"That's exactly what I'm doing. Weren't you doing the same thing when you asked that question back in the living room?"
Damian didn't respond.
I knew he was planning something again to speed things up. Lucca was moving far too slowly on his own. I understood that he wasn't used to dealing with women, but Seraphina was different. If he wanted to succeed, he needed to put in much more effort.
"Aren't you hurt? You like Seraphina, yet you're letting Lucca spend all his time with her," Damian suddenly asked, making me question myself as well.
Honestly, it hurt a little. After all, I met Seraphina before Lucca did.
But I also knew Lucca was only doing this because of the ring, not because he loved her.
"Nah. I'd be more hurt if Lucca died," I replied before taking a sip of water.
"What about you?" I asked.
Damian looked at me curiously.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you and Mira. Everything happened so fast that I started questioning your intentions."
A smirk appeared on his face.
"Why? Do you think you're the only one helping Lucca? I am too," he said confidently.
"Then how exactly are you helping him by dating Mira?"
"Information," he answered simply. "Information that I need to know about Seraphina."
"About what?"
"You're Seraphina's friend, yet you barely know anything about her. You only recently found out about the conflict between her and her mother."
"What do you mean?"
He smirked again.
"Mira is a good storyteller. I can tell."
With that, Damian stood up and walked out of the dining room.
I remained seated, silently thinking about what he had just said.
Seraphina's POV
We finally arrived at Mira's house. The maids helped us with our belongings and even assisted us to our rooms.
"Sera, my makeup artist will knock on your door to do your makeup," Mira said.
"Is it necessary?" Even though I already knew the answer was yes, I still asked.
"Yes." She smiled before entering her room.
I went inside my room while the maids arranged my belongings.
"Let me do it. You don't have to," I said to the maids.
"No, Ma'am. It's our duty," they replied.
I didn't refuse anymore because I didn't want to make them uncomfortable. After about ten minutes, the makeup artist arrived. He greeted me with a warm smile and asked me to sit in front of the mirror.
"Are you nervous?" he asked when he noticed how uneasy I looked.
"It's my first time. Sorry," I admitted honestly. I had never worn professional makeup before. I didn't really like wearing makeup or anything that made me look prettier. The only cosmetic I usually wore was lipstick, and that was simply to look presentable whenever I went to work.
"Since it's your first time, I'll make you look as beautiful as a princess. Trust me and just relax," he said with a reassuring smile.
I smiled back and immediately felt that he was someone easy to get along with.
He began applying products to my face. I had no idea what they were, but I quietly followed every instruction he gave me.
"You have beautiful features," he said as he continued working. "It's truly a pleasure to be the one doing your very first makeup."
I smiled awkwardly at his compliment.
"Thank you, but I don't really know anything about makeup."
He chuckled softly.
"That's perfectly fine. Sometimes people with naturally beautiful features don't need much. My job is simply to enhance what you already have."
His words made me fall silent. No one had ever complimented my appearance like that before. I had always considered myself plain, someone who blended into the crowd without attracting attention.
"Just close your eyes for a moment," he said gently.
I obeyed, letting him continue his work while I tried to calm my thoughts. In less than an hour, we would be attending a dinner filled with influential businesspeople.
I just hoped I wouldn't embarrass myself.
I smiled in response.
When I graduated from elementary school, high school, and even college, my grandma was always the one who helped me get ready. She would always tell me that I didn't need heavy makeup because I was naturally beautiful. Besides, we didn't have enough money to spend on salons or expensive cosmetics.
I could still remember her saying that I was lucky to have long, straight, shiny hair and fair skin. She even said my naturally rosy cheeks looked as though I was wearing blush.
"I'm sure Mira will be shocked when she sees you."
"I'm not that beautiful," I replied with a smile.
"Who told you that? The moment I saw you, I was mesmerized by your beauty," he said sincerely.
It was the first time someone had complimented me like that. I had received compliments before, but this one felt genuine, and I found myself enjoying every word.
"Thank you," I said softly.
Growing up, my beauty was never something people appreciated because we were poor. To some people, beauty wasn't about appearance, it was about money.
His words somehow boosted my confidence. I couldn't stop smiling every time he reminded me that I was beautiful.
He was the type of friend you would never want to lose. Somehow, he reminded me of Mira.
"How long have you known Mira?" I asked curiously.
"Since we were kids," he answered.
"Oh, so you've been friends for a long time."
"Yes. We're practically best friends. That's why when she called and said she was back in the city, I came right away even though I was very busy. I couldn't refuse her favor. I didn't even know she already had a boyfriend." He laughed.
"Your friendship is genuine," I said.
"Yeah. I treasure it a lot."
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Charlotte. Just call me Charlotte."
That was when I confirmed my suspicion that he wasn't straight, though I didn't point it out.
"What a lovely name," I said.
"You like it?"
"Of course. I treat Mira as my best friend too, just like she treats me."
"So that means her best friend is my best friend too now?"
I smiled.
"Yes, of course. I'd like that."
We continued chatting about our personal lives. Surprisingly, I felt completely comfortable around someone I had just met. Charlotte had a way of making people feel at ease, no matter the situation.
For the first time in a long while, I didn't want a conversation to end because I was genuinely enjoying it.
Unfortunately, we still had a party to attend, so Charlotte hurried to finish my makeup before helping me into the gown Mira had prepared.
"Wow!" he exclaimed. "You're a goddess! Everyone is going to stare at you as if you're the star of the evening."
"You're exaggerating," I laughed.
"No, I'm not. I simply appreciate beauty when I see it."
He stepped aside and let me look at myself in the mirror.
I gasped.
For the first time in my life, I saw myself looking... breathtaking.
My long, straight hair had been styled into soft, elegant waves that rested gracefully over my shoulders. My makeup was light and natural, enhancing my features instead of hiding them. I almost looked like a Korean actress, not because I was praising myself, but because of Charlotte's incredible talent.
"Charlotte..." I whispered. "This is... it's so beautiful."
"I told you you'd love it. Now, let's get you into your gown."
I stood and noticed that the gown had already been placed neatly on the bed.
It was a breathtaking royal-blue satin evening gown that shimmered beautifully under the lights. The fabric hugged the waist before flowing elegantly to the floor. It featured an off-the-shoulder neckline that gracefully revealed the collarbones and shoulders without exposing too much skin. A tasteful thigh-high slit on one side made it look sophisticated rather than provocative, while the fitted bodice accentuated the figure before cascading into a soft, flowing skirt. Tiny crystal embellishments were scattered across the bodice like stars against a midnight-blue sky, giving it a luxurious yet elegant appearance.
"I can't wear it," I said immediately.
"Why? It's gorgeous."
"I just... can't. I don't think I can."
"Seraphina... look at me."
I looked at Charlotte. He wore a warm, reassuring smile.
"Mira told me you might refuse. But trust me. Wear it. I promise you'll be the most beautiful woman in that ballroom tonight."
The funny thing was, I wasn't even the guest of honor, yet Mira had prepared everything as though tonight revolved around me.
I understood that she simply wanted me to look presentable, but couldn't I have worn something simpler? Something that wouldn't attract everyone's attention?
A knock sounded on the door.
Charlotte opened it, revealing Mira.
She looked absolutely stunning.
She wore a deep ruby-red mermaid gown that perfectly complemented her figure. The elegant sweetheart neckline highlighted her shoulders, while sheer lace sleeves added sophistication instead of revealing too much skin. The gown hugged her waist and hips before flaring gracefully at the bottom. Delicate beadwork sparkled across the bodice, and the silky fabric shimmered every time she moved. Her soft curls framed her face beautifully, making her look like a real-life Barbie doll.
I couldn't help but admire how gorgeous she looked.
"Oh my gosh, Sera!" Mira exclaimed. "You are absolutely gorgeous!"
"See?" Charlotte grinned. "I told you."
"Thank you so much, bestie. You're the best!" Mira turned back to me with sparkling eyes.
"Wow, Sera... I can't believe it. I already knew you were beautiful, but this? You're like a goddess! I can honestly say you're even more beautiful than I am tonight."
"You're overreacting," I laughed.
"I am not! Just wait until Lucca and Dominic see you. They'll probably end up competing for your attention all night."