Chapter 7 DISTRACTION

I'm from Navotas, one of the largest fish ports in the Philippines, so the market in my hometown sells pretty large fish. Since my father has been a fisherman since he was a teenager, we have always eaten fish when he had a family. Fish has become such a mainstay at our dinner table that a meal would not be complete without it.

I quickly went to the market after getting off the tricycle since it wasn't just any wet market; here, high-quality seafood is to be anticipated. Fish ports are commonplace throughout the nation, with the best ones being found along the coasts. The fish must be stored well on ice as soon as they are caught and transported to the market as quickly as possible because there is no air conditioning in this type of market. I walked to the fish section where the market's floor was wet while smelling the fishy smell of various types of fish. Since we have warm weather all year long, it is important that the fish are stored well on ice as soon as they are caught and transported as quickly as possible to the market. Because there are so many people buying fish on Saturday, there is a lot of shouting and background noise as customers and vendors negotiate over costs. I still feel the effects of what Guillermo did to me, and some bad luck happened to me while buying fish, so I don't hesitate to use my hands when checking the quality of the fish I plan to buy. Fish vendors prepare pieces of Bangus (milkfish) for their customers at their stalls inside the wet section. Due to my negligence, the fish nearly jumped on the vendor's face when I touched it and attempted to push the fish meat. Even though I was still feeling a little reprimanded, I first composed myself and made an effort to focus.

My thoughts seem to be taking off into nothingness. I don't want to pass judgment, but after only spending a half-day with him, I've come to conclude that he is a playboy insane billionaire who enjoys manipulating the emotions of helpless women. He is full of surprises, enough to drive a woman's head wild.

Every time our paths cross, I want to struggle with my self-control, but it simply makes me more vulnerable. He is fully aware of my weakness and uses it to his advantage.

I decided to head home after spending about an hour and a half purchasing groceries at Paksiw na Bangus because it was getting close to noon and I knew my housemates would be hungry.

I got back on the trike and rode it to our house, where I entered right away. I put the umbrella on the shelf, quickly grabbed the flower vase, filled it with water, and placed the red rose inside. I entered the kitchen right away. However, Donna saw the flower and grabbed it off the dining room table to give it a sniff.

"Who handed you a crimson rose, sister?"

Don't smell the rose's fragrance too much, as it might wither. I just bought that at the market.

Donna scowls.

She put the flower back in the vase and said, "You're disrespectful; it's like I'm just smelling the flower," before returning to the sofa to watch TV. While I was cooking, I placed the basket of fresh vegetables on the table. Rafael entered the house almost at the same moment as me, but I didn't immediately notice him there.

Rafael appeared to be full, and my mother observed that he had been gripping his stomach.

My mother inquired, "Son, where are you from, and does your stomach hurt?"

As I put the basket by the sink and washed the vegetables, I couldn't help but cast a glance in their direction.

The chat was cut off by Donna, who was watching television.

"Mother, I'm sure he went to see Miguel and they played basketball again to impress his crush, Sandra, so he had a fast shower this morning."

Rafael scowled as he threw a rolled-up piece of paper in Donna's face,

"Mother, when I arrived and came from Miguel's house, we decided to go to the plaza, and I found out from him that he and his brother would form a basketball team. Someone sponsored their team earlier and fed them porridge in the plaza while we were there. They also gave free coffee and bread to the residents of their barangay. Miguel and Jacob's sponsors are fun and kind.

My father was mending the net in the corner of our living room when he asked,

"Really, well, that's wonderful." Is he big time? "

"He is from the United States and Miguel informed me that Mayor Dela Torre left his property to his nephew, the resort, which he now administers and resides in," Rafael said.

"He is the nephew of our former Mayor, who is the owner of Cielo en la Tierra resort, "

My parents remarked, "Wow, Mayor Dela Torre's nephew seems wealthy."

Rafael concurred, and he continued, "He's also Miguel's pal."

My father asked, "Son, the mayor's nephew seems to have a nice heart for the poor; is he a candidate?"

Rafael shook his head.

My mother asked, "Son, did you notice what he looked like?"

Well, he talked earlier in the plaza and was very handsome and appeared to be a billionaire, which is why my friends and I were a little uneasy because he had so many bodyguards and, because of the clothing he was wearing, he appeared to be an assassin who didn't hesitate to kill people."

Donna scowls.

Donna rolled her eyes at Rafael and said, "Brother, don't be judgmental." You just saw that he got so many bodyguards. It doesn't prove that he is a killer. "

Rafael was a bit mad and he responded.

"His other statements are also a bit airy, but I can see that he was proud because he already has many achievements in life at a very young age,"

He added

"If you were right there in the plaza, you would have seen his gray eyes and his actions." There you can prove that there is something strange and terrifying in his aura.

Rafael then focused on our parents.

"I'm incredibly envious because while he was talking before, women were turning to look at him one after another." And from his physical appearance, I can say that he can get the lovely women in our town with just a grin. "

Donna, looking eager to learn the name of the person Rafael was talking to, inquired, "Brother, what's his name?"

My brother thought for a time about the name of the person it was referring to and said, "Wait, I'll think of his complete name first."

My brother thought for a long time, "Hmph! His name is too long, but it sounds rich and famous, "until he suddenly remembered his nickname."

My brother said cheerfully, "Guiller! "Guiller" is the nickname of Miguel's friend.

Donna exclaimed with awe, looking forward to meeting the sponsor Rafael was referring to.

"Wow! It seems like a high-class name. "

From where I'm standing, it seems as though I'm deaf. When I heard the name, my entire body shook, and as a result, I couldn't help but be careless. My heart was racing quickly with intense apprehension as a bowl dropped out of my hands and promptly burst into pieces on the floor. I just hope my assumption that Guillermo is the person my brother Rafael is referring to is incorrect.

As they all turned to face me, I once more experienced intense shame, as if I had committed a serious offense.

My father whispered to me, "Daughter."

I made a small frown at them as if I were guilty of a serious offense. My anxiety, embarrassment, and perplexity caused my entire face to practically turn pale.

While my mother was shocked by the bowl breaking, Rafael scowled.

I was standing next to the kitchen sink when my worried father inquired, "Daughter, is there something wrong with you? Are you okay?"

After a brief period of shock, my thoughts quickly returned to normal.