I sighed for the umpteenth time that night cause I couldn't go to sleep.

Romero's image was painted with bright colors in my head. The way he looked at me, smiled at me, spoke to me and how close we were, everything played like an interesting movie making it hard for me to fall asleep.

I rested my back on the head board and buried my head in my hands. Why can't he get off my head?

I looked to my left to find Nicole sleeping peacefully and it brought a slight feeling of envy in my heart. It's not fair, why would she be having a good sleep while I'm in the battle field of different emotions trying to stand as my soldier and fight off the image of her very handsome cousin

It's going to be a long ride in Westview as long as Romero Rodrigo was here.

I tried thinking of the consequences of the thoughts I have about Romero but it didn't work cause he somehow possessed a power that controlled my mind so all my thoughts revolved around him

All these are mother's fault. If only she had allowed me to interact with the opposite gender frequently maybe I wouldn't be so affected by Romero and the irony of it all is that he is the exact type of guy she never wanted me to cross path with but unfortunately I did, we even stayed under an orchid tree while others were in there respective rooms, he bought me dinner, he held me in a way that is forbidden to her and I let him walk me to my room and now I'm currently awake because of the thoughts about him.

Is this normal for people? To be thinking about someone they met and spent few hours with

The moment i started drifting into the world of our unrealistic fantasy was when the stupid alarm decided to ring its bell. I think I'll be taking one of my throw pillows to my classes cause I'll really need it.

As usual Nicole groaned in annoyance and I did her the favor by switching it off.

I got into the bathroom and turned the faucet on. I joint my palms together under the running cool water and splashed it on my face.

I stared at myself for awhile before brushing my teeth and going under the shower.

By the time I was done Nicole was up already. She smiled at me and wished me a good morning which I returned.

I quickly got dressed and waited for her but when she got out she asked me to go ahead cause she had to stop by Damon and Romero's.

I reached the cafeteria and ordered for a cup of hot cocoa tea to help calm my nerves and make my brain function properly.

"I dropped by your room yesterday, where were you?" the sudden voice startled me and caused the cup to drop from my hands. I whirled around to find him and I groaned in annoyance.

It is official that today isn't going to be a good one.

He looked at the brown liquid on the floor then back at me without an apology. "Aren't you going to apologize for that?" I glared at him with crossed hands and it pissed me off that he acted like he did nothing wrong.

"You didn't answer my question Andrea" he stated with a pointed look on his face.

"And why should I? Are you my father" I snapped at him and his brows furrowed in annoyance.

"Andrea why are you like this? I'm very certain this isn't how aunt Nora trained you and--- "Enough" I yelled which drew attention towards us and him to look at me with that look that drives me mad like I had committed an unforgiveable sin.

"I've had enough of you Leon. I've told you before, stop following me and acting like a shadow, it's really frustrating and annoying. If you really want to live a perfect life like the way your parents want it then suit yourself but leave me alone. I don't want to be perfect, I hate being perfect and I love my imperfection. So go tell your momma and papá that I'm a bad influence and leave me the hell alone" I yelled angrily and walked out.

"Andrea--- I didn't let him finish I walked away from him and I found myself heading to the top most floor of the school building where people hardly visited.

If this is my first time going to bunk a class then I don't mind. A single day of no class wouldn't cause me to fail.

I sat at the staircase and rested my head on the cold silver rails. I shut my eyes to calm my burning heart and use the silent opportunity to think about my life. My thoughts traveled to my parents and a single trail of tears rolled down my eyes.

"Wow! did you do this honey?'' My father held the canvas in his hands staring at the sketch I made of him and my mom.

With a bright smile I nodded and looked at him waiting for his compliment but his next words had me disappointed

"I don't like it" my smile dropped and tears began pooling in my eyes. "Y-you don't like it?" I stuttered with quivering lips cause of my broken heart.

"Yes honey, I don't like it but I love it" his smile was back and his eyes glowed with mischief

"Dad" I sobbed out and he picked me up and kissed my cheek making me giggle. "You draw so excellently baby, I can't wait for you to grow up and start exhibiting your work" he kept kissing my face making me smile so widely.

~~~

"But mom you promised you were going to take me to the park this weekend" I whined in ignorance to the fact she wasn't in a good mood.

"Baby I'm sorry but we can't go today, mom isn't doing so well, you understand that right?" I pouted and ran up the stairs to my room leaving her yelling my name.

I banged the door and got into my bed with a frown on my face. I was angry at the fact it was the third Saturday she broke her promise.

Not long after I had left the living room I heard a soft knock and I knew she was the one. "Don't come in Mom" but the stubborn woman had to annoy little me and come in

"Honey" she got on the bed beside me but I refused the look at her. "I'm sorry alright, I know I've been breaking my promises which isn't a nice thing for mamá to do but things always come up and I'll end up disappointing you. I'm sorry, now will you forgive mamá?" She asked in a very soft tone.

I loved my mom so much to be mad at her for a long time so I turned around and jumped into her arms while sobbing.

"I'm sorry for being rude to you Mom" she pulled me away and cupped my cheeks with a smile.

"I forgive you baby but you have to promise mamá something" she brushed my hair with her palm as she spoke

"I'll do anything for you Mom" a calm laughter escaped her lips making me smile.

"Really? You'll do anything for me?" She quirked her brow teasingly and pulled me closer into her body.

I nodded with a wide grin making her smile and shake her head. "Listen to me alright. When you don't get what you want, you don't have to be so whiney and bratty because it isn't a nice thing to do. You should learn to understand people alright, I'm telling you this cause I don't want you to grow up with the attitude and have people hate you, do you want people to stay away from you?" I shook my head while listening to her and playing with her curls that looked like mine

I wish my both parents were still here with me, life was way beautiful and less suffocating with them. I was never a perfect kid to them but they loved me so much. They gave me the support every parents should give their child, they gave me the happiness that my little body and mind couldn't contain and also they didn't fail to scold me whenever I did wrong but they didn't make me feel like a disappointment.

My parents were very wealthy people; my mother was a known surgeon in a reputed hospital and my father worked with the government and owned an engineering firm.

After they passed away none of my uncles nor aunts were ready to take me in except one but she was seventeen at the time and by the time she was eighteen I had been adopted already.

My other uncles and aunt wanted to claim my parents wealth, good thing it was willed to me and only one person was made in charge of it until I was the right age to claim their wealth; Aunt Aurelia.

I need to visit her, i haven't heard from her since my seventh birthday which was a day after my adoption.

"Aunt Lia why are you apologizing?" I questioned my crying aunt. She held the back of my head and pulled me into the crook of her neck.

"It's because I won't be coming to see you again princess" my brows furrowed in confusion and I placed my small palm on her cheeks.

"But why?" She smiled between her tears and caressed my cheek with her thumb.

"I can't say cause you wouldn't understand but soon you'll know why and remember i will always love you after all you are the gem of my elder sister and my favorite princess. When you grow up and come to understand things I hope you can forgive me" she kissed my cheek and waved at me one last time before leaving.

I broke out of my thoughts as the last conversation I had with her hit me.

Why did she never visit me again? Did anyone stop her or-- I'm certain aunt loved me so what made her say all those things

The buzzing sound from my phone broke me out of my deep thoughts and I took it out from my bag to see so many missed calls from Damon and Nicole.

How deep in thought was i? I swiped my thumb across the screen and opened my messages.

"Where the hell are you Andy, pick up the phone I'm worried"

"Andrea are you okay, I haven't seen you since you left the room and you didn't attend any classes".

"Amorè, did someone do something? Why aren't you replying to the messages and calls? If it's Leon I'm so going to bang his head on the wall"

"Andrea where are you? You have to come back, the chancellor is looking for you" I felt my blood freeze as I read the line of the last message.

Why will the chancellor be looking for me? Does he want to expel me because I Skipped classes or take my scholarship away.

Tucking my phone in my bag I took in a deep breath and mentally prepared myself for what i am yet to face.