Chapter 23

Third-Person POV A different Elyana emerged from the White Castle Hotel and Resort's VIP room that day. Her elegance could be seen in the way she dressed and swayed her hips. She wore a tight black dress that exposed both of her long white thighs, put on makeup, and curled her long hair to bring it to life. When the elevator doors opened, she walked out, and everyone in the lobby turned to look at her. It was a few seconds of silence, and only her heels tapping the floor could be heard. Elyana made her way to the front desk. The two receptionists could barely recognize her. "How much was my bill last night?" she asked the two. "C-Can I get your name, ma'am, and room number?" the one in front of the computer asked her, dumbfounded by her beauty. "Is she new here?" Elyana asked the other woman, who was standing right next to the one who had asked for her information. When she spoke for the second time, one of the receptionists recognized her voice and her distinct accent. She moved closer to her colleague and whispered, "She's Miss Elyana..." She was quite ashamed. The other one raised her head and looked at the guest in front of them, surprised to discover her colleague was correct. It was their VIP guest. She quickly apologized and typed her name into the keyboard as quickly as she could. It only took a few seconds to figure out how much of the bill she already owed, including the cost of all the liquor she had consumed at the bar. Her bill reached more than 25,000 pesos. "Okay, thank you!" she said to the two, but when she remembered something, she returned to them. "I'm just wondering if someone took me to my room last night; I just want to thank whoever helped me," she said. "Unfortunately, ma'am, we don't know who. Perhaps one of those who were on duty last night, but they'll be back later; we'd try to ask," one of the receptionists replied. "Alright then, I will just ask them later. By the way, I have one more question." "Sure, ma'am, what is it?" the same receptionist inquired. "I need a car; can you recommend a place where I can rent one and pay in advance?" The receptionists exchanged glances and appeared to communicate with their eyes. "I have a car, ma'am, but it's not the latest issue—" "It doesn't matter; can I see first?" she interrupted her. "Y-Yes, ma'am, I parked it just nearby," she said after asking permission from her colleague to accompany Elyana to the car. After pressing the unlock button on the key in her hand, she pointed at a red car in the distance with its front lights blinking. "I will rent it; please enter your bank account," Elyana said, although she hadn't seen the car inside. She was in a hurry. She also handed her cellular phone to the lady so that she could enter the information required to send the amount of the advance payment Elyana would give. She took the key and walked toward the car to see it closer. The lady chased her to return the cell phone. Elyana immediately typed in the amount. She no longer asked the lady if she had received it already. She opened the car door, went in, inserted the key, and started the engine. The receptionist moved aside to give the car away. The car had already passed by her when she felt her phone inside her uniform pocket vibrate, and when she checked it, her eyes widened when she saw the amount. It was more than the price of the car when she bought it secondhand. *** Elyana's POV Finally! My license became useful that day. I was on my way to see Pretzel. What Felix feels toward her makes me furious. I was freaking mad as if I wanted to hurt someone right at that very moment, but all I wanted to do was see her and ask her the same question I asked Felix that night. Dressing well that day and putting on makeup was like putting on armor. Although bringing a weapon was not on my mind at all, I drove the car to the community all by myself. Luckily, I didn't get lost because I had already memorized the route a few times when Felix drove me back and forth. I parked the car away from the house, knowing how sandy it was and that the car's tires might sink into the sand. That would make it difficult for me to leave if it happened. I took a walk, and because I was wearing stilettos, my heels kept getting buried in the sand. I was already near when I stumbled upon Aunt Cora. "E-Elyana?" she exclaimed, perplexed. I could see the surprise on her face, and she couldn't believe I was standing right in front of her. I wanted to smile at her because she had been so nice to me, and it was difficult to go into brat mode when the person in front of you had always been so nice to you, so I politely greeted her and asked where I could find Pretzel. "Why are you looking for her? It is supposed to be your day off today? And what happened to you, and why are you wearing such clothes?" Aunt Cora asked as she looked at me from head to toe. I suddenly felt embarrassed by the way she asked me questions. "I-I am—" "Oh, look! They are staring at you! Come to me and change your clothes!" I received a blow from the basket he was carrying. She dragged me to their house, and she handed me a duster dress to wear. I admit, she was scary. I looked at the dress. the smell—as if it hadn't been worn for a long time. "Isn't there anything else you could lend me to wear, Aunt Cora?" I bit my lower lip. "Most of my clothes are too big for you, and I haven't washed most of them yet; it would be shameful to make you wear something I already wear; just put that one on because I can't go to the market leaving you here dressed like that," she ordered, which stunned me. It was the first time someone unrelated had yelled at me like that. All I felt was fear. Aunt Cora was short in stature, but she had a round body. The way she looked at me was enough to make me do what she said, and when she shut the door, I felt I had no choice but to obey. I lifted the dress to get a better look. I could smell the dust and nearly sneezed at the peculiar odor it was emitting. I wore it over my black dress, but as soon as the fabric touched my skin, I removed it. It seemed like there were molds and some tiny organisms living there, and that idea gave me shivers. 'Auntie Cora, your dress is itchy!" I shouted inside the room. "What?" the old lady outside asked, so I had to repeat myself. "Hold on, stay inside, and I'll ask Pretzel for a dress!" she shouted, and when I heard that name, I automatically rolled my eyes. It seemed that there was nothing I could do. I had to wait there and wear what that pregnant woman would lend me only if she had some dresses because I always see her wearing shorts and an oversized T-shirt. While Aunt Cora was not around, I first looked around the small room where she left me. The room was small; they had a bed made of bamboo and a dresser with a design like rattan but just made of plastic. Inside, there were no chairs or tables. There was no air conditioning, not even a fan. Their bed appeared hard because the foam was thin and a mosquito net was still hanging. While looking around the room, I felt strange. It was far too different from the kind of room I had at the mansion. I suddenly felt sorry for them, and I understood why Pretzel wanted to improve the lives of the people on the island, but I couldn't get the thought out of my head that she wanted to take away all the people I cared about. I no longer wait for Aunt Cora to come back. I followed her to the house where Pretzel and the twins were staying. Yes, they are in the same house, and I discovered that the three of them are sleeping in the same room every night. "Elyana?" I hadn't even entered the fence of Pretzel's small bungalow house when someone called my name. I turned to face him and discovered it was Felix, already dressed, and it looked like he was about to leave at that time. I saw his eyes move upside down. He frowned as he examined me from head to toe, and there was disgust on his face. I knew I looked close to those bold stars, but there was decency in me compared to them. "W-What are you doing here?" he asked. "I want to see, Pretzel," I answered directly, and I was about to turn around and leave him when he suddenly grabbed my arm and blocked my way. "W-Why? W-What do you need from her?" he inquired, looking tense about what I was planning to do with his beloved. "I just want to ask her something," I said with a frown, and I also slightly pushed him away, but he was so strong compared to me that he didn't even move a bit. "And what are you going to tell her, huh?" That question sounded more like a warning. "Why do you care about it? I just want to know something!" I yelled at him in my annoyance because his grip was getting harder. "No! For what? To make her look like you're somebody greater, so that's what you're doing, to make her feel insecure about herself? That's the reason you dressed like that?" I suddenly thought his accusations were quite exaggerated. I commanded him angrily, "Let me go, Felix! Step aside!" but he refused. "What's going on here?" I heard Felicity's voice. I was about to call him to ask for help when his twin brother approached him before I could even explain the reason why. "Tell your best friend to leave! She wanted to cause trouble, and maybe she was planning to do something to Pretzel and my child!" My lips parted when he said this, and I didn't immediately react in shock. Yes, I despised Pretzel, but I couldn't harm someone, especially the baby in her womb. I wasn't yet insane enough to let anger consume me. I knew my mind was just messed up, but I didn't and wouldn't intend to hurt anyone. Felicity pushed me away. Without even hearing my side of the story, my best friend became enraged. Felicity's words hurt even more, and the way they both push me away makes me feel like a dog that has nowhere to go.