“I’m busy,” I told him in stern tone.
“Come on, Sister Eden,” he cooed with his thick accent. “We’re friends, right? After everything we’ve been through, you can talk to me, you know.”
He nudged in a playful me once again.
As I handed another filled plate over, in the corner of my left eye, Romano’s smiled turned upside down.
“Fine, suit yourself,” he said, and departed, meeting other girls who will entertain him.
Finished with my duties, I went back to the church kitchen from the back door, which I met up with Emily, who was not assigned aside from me and Micah.
Her dark eyes angled on me from top and bottom until she spotted the bracelet.
“Nice bracelet,” she began, leaning back, scanning the details on my wrist. “Where did you get it?”
Again, just like Romano, I said nothing to her.
What was the point of making a civility to someone who has shown her true colors?
“Why the long face? I was just asking,” her tone grew sharper, a sharp contrast of her friendliness was diminishing. “In case you didn’t hear me the first time, I asked you where you got that bracelet. It’s not like a poor nun like you would get the bracelet that cost a fortune. Besides,” she loomed in and leaned her glossy lips, muttering, “I still find it hard to believe you, of all people, could earn a high-paying jewelry. See, you’re not thatinnocent; I find you boring and sad. I told you to stay away from me. That’s why I still fucking hate you. Do me a favor, stay the fuck away from him, too. He belongs to me, and only me.”
She sneered.
With that, she strolled away with a smug on her face; one that’s so irritable nearly reminded me nails on a chalkboard, oblivious to what she meant.
***
As I was finished doing the dishes, a pair of strong arms enclosed over my waist. I turned to see Adrian with his black suit with red cuffs and red tie and a silver chain linked on his coat pocket, still resembling as a beautiful nightly creature basked under a pale moonlight.
“You did a fantastic job as always, Sister Eva,” he said with a hint of tease.
“Adrian,” I uttered, my breath held in. “Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
Adrian tilted his head. “Who do you expect?”
“No one. I was caught off guard. I thought it’d be one of your friends or something.”
The truth was, I despised the dreaded notion of someone sneaking up behind my back and ambushed me, fearing of an unknown outcome. Gladly it was Adrian for once.
“If my friends were to do that, I’d make sure to make them pay as much as possible they would never see the light of day,” his voice laced with threat. “Even perverts.”
I exhaled, shoulders relaxed since it was only Adrian. I should’ve gotten used to it by now, but ever since Romano has taken his strides to sneak up behind me, I felt tenser than usual.
“Very considerate of you,” I commented loosely.
His shoulders bopped. “It’s what I do best. I don’t like people looking at a person who’s mine.”
I choked a little, but swallowed my frantic stance and maintain my composure.
“Taking a break is the best thing you could ever reward yourself,” he said, still having his arms over me.
“So, what do you intend to do, Adrian?” I asked, undo my violet apron.
“Where are you heading?” he asked, elbow propped on the metal counter, looking angelic and pristine as always. Maybe because it’s the sun knows how to amplify Adrian’s natural good looks, his princely demeanor has accentuated with a sun glow upon his light-blond locks, loose waves hung over his shoulder, tied into a sleek ponytail, almost like a glowing halo.
“I’m…going home.” I bit my lower lip, refraining myself from blushing.
His eyes drifted within my movement, studying my lips and red blush canvassed over my cheeks.