Chapter 5 HIS DASHING APPEAL!

At the heart of the city, in one of the urban areas, the Mendoza's mansion stood gallantly tall in its foundation. Beautiful as it could ever be. Its stony facade, gleaming in the fading light as evening began, with classy grand entrance and elegant dark-blue marbles.

Warm lights peaked from the windows, laughter and chattering echoing from within.

The family gathered around the dinner table, sharing stories and smiles as the savory smell of delicious delicacies filled the air. Auria and her family had just finished eating dinner, but they still remained at the table, all gisting about their day, while some servants cleared their plates.

"Oh well, I'm tired." Mr. Mendoza said, getting to his feet. "Had a pretty long day."

"Alright, padre. Goodnight." Penny said with a smile, as the man gently patted her shoulders.

"Sweet dreams, Papa." Auria said, beaming as well as she turned to her dad. He smiled back, walking over to her, and planted a soft kiss on her head. "Sweet dreams, princess."

As their dad headed upstairs, Penny turned to Peter, who was sitting beside her, a playful smile playing on her lips. "Hey, Pete!" She leaned forward, her elbow resting on the table.

Peter turned to her, catching on to her mischievous grin as he raised an eyebrow.

Her gaze flicked to his plate, where a few slices of pancakes waited, and then back to him. "No way, you can't have my pancakes!" He said, his forehead creased slightly as Penny frowned. "Oh come on, since when did you become so stingy with your food? "Her voice took on a little hungry tone. "I thought you loved being in your room, just grabbing a few bites and dashing upstairs. You know, tonight's pancakes are just the best I have ever had in a while. It's just calling me, Pete! It's calling me to eat it, given you're too slow with your meal!"

Peter only scoffed at her dramatic outburst, and his reply was yet the same. "Well, you should just block your ears, because I'm not giving it to you."

And with that, he suddenly stood up, carrying his pancakes, and headed towards the stairs as Penny pouted. "You're so stingy!"

"Oh, because I didn't give you my pancakes for just tonight, I'm now very stingy?" Peter retorted loudly, then disappeared into the hallway as Penny twitched her lips, turning back to her front, to meet her mom's slight glare.

"Penny, stop teasing your brother." Mrs. Mendoza let out a gentle scolding, setting aside her phone, where she'd been chatting with a friend.

Penny pouted, her face falling into a dramatic depressed expression as she slumped in her seat.

"But why's he being so stingy with me?" she whined, looking like she'd been wronged in the worst way possible.

"Oh, what a drama queen." Mrs. Mendoza chuckled softly, shaking her head. Then she turned to Auria, who, just like her mom, had been a little quiet on her phone during dinner. "So what happened at the store?"

"Ah, now that's something entertaining to talk about, mom!" Penny suddenly chimed in, leaning towards the table again as she flashed a teasing look at Auria, who returned it with a death glare. Penny chuckled.

"It's nothing that serious, mom." Auria replied, brushing off the thoughts of the events at the store and returned her focus back on her phone screen.

"But you said it was eventful?" Her mom asked as Penny interjected again. "It was eventful, mom. Auria couldn't stop arguing with this handsome man at the store."

"He was being annoying!" Auria immediately retorted, when Penny's remaining words dawned on her. "Wait, did you just call him handsome?"

"Isn't he?" Penny smiled mischievously, as Auria stared at her sister, incredulous.

"Well, I've never met someone with such rude manners." Was all she muttered, turning back to her phone, her fingers pressing on the screen.

"Don't evade the question, isn't he handsome?" Penny's question hung in the air, and she refused to let it drop. Her eyes fixed on Auria, who deliberately avoided her gaze.

"I don't care." Her response was nonchalant, but her mind betrayed her, drifting back to the encounter at the store. The man's striking features flashed in her mind - his towering height, and captivating hazel eyes with ocean-blue undertones, and his smooth, chiseled jawline. He indeed was dashing, and for a moment, she'd been taken aback by his handsomeness, despite his annoying demeanor.

Shaking her head, she quickly snapped out of her silly thoughts, and looked at Penny once again. "Look Penny, with an attitude as irritating as his, who'd seriously notice whether or not he's handsome? He's just one annoying jerk I never want to cross paths with. "She vented exasperatedly.

"But you were pretty rude too. "Penny suddenly interjected. "You could've just pointed out that he dropped your basket without having to call him a moron, you know."

"I couldn't help it." Auria rolled her eyes, a sharp breath escaping her lips. "His nonchalance made me even more infuriated."

"Darling, that's still not an excuse to be rude." Her mother slowly interjected, turning to Auria who pouted annoyedly.

"Well, at least the day is finally over." Penny concluded, resting her back to her seat again.

"And I never want to see such a person again. I don't know what I'll do if we ever have an argument next time."

"It's really unlike you to lose your temper like this. So I'll be guessing it was really annoying for you today. "Mrs. Mendoza chuckled, gently pulling her daughter in for a side hug. "Come on, we've all had a pretty long day, so let's just get some rest, okay?"

"Sure, mom." Auria smiled faintly, breathing sharply through her nose as she rested her head on her mom's chest. "Wait, mom. Could we just stay like this for a moment." She muttered softly as the woman smiled. "Of course, darling!" then her hands reached to gently pet her face, while Penny just watched her sister and mom with a small smile, seated opposite.

★★★

Auria was seated in front of her dressing mirror, combing her hair for the night when Penny's voice echoed in the room.

"Okay now, you could drop the act, Aurie." She turned to the door, where her sister was leaning onto. "What act?" A confused frown etched on her face.

"For a long time, you avoided coming back to Italy, that's why dad decided we all come here because of you." Penny left the door, going to the bed as she sat on the edge, close to where Auria was.

"Talk to me, Aurie. I know your coming here isn't for school alone, right?" She asked, placing a gentle hand on her sister's shoulder.

Her words earned a reaction from Auria as she paused what she was doing, her hand with the comb, hanging on midair. She slowly turned around to Penny, who stared back at her with urging eyes. Taking a deep breath, she spoke softly. "I've decided I'll never go back to Italy. I have tried not to be selfish for you guys for so long, but please let me be selfish now. "Her lips curled into a warm smile, but it wasn't enough to hide the sadness etched on her face.

"I feel at ease here in the Philippines, way more than I feel back in Italy. I'm hardly reminded of what I went through, so it's better this way. I will not go back."

Penny sighed as she slowly crouched in front of her sister, taking her hand. "If it's what you want, I support you." she said, slowly pulling her little sister for a comforting hug.