Chapter 2

"Mielle! What are you cooking? It smells so good!" My grandma Kimmy (Mielle's grandma) asked as she watched her anime show called, Princess Sarah.

"Seasoned ground pork, grandma." I answered. One of the perks of being Mielle Luara is knowing how to cook Filipino dishes and more. As Aice Figuera, I only achieved the master level of cooking instant noodles. I have my one and only, trusted butler to prepare me anything. He did taught me a very few dishes though, but that was all.

Sighs, I missed my butler Minami. I really hoped he would take care of my business and the rest of my assets as everything is named after him on my Last Will of Testament, which I had made years after knowing him.

"Make sure it's good, alright?"

"Yes, grandma."

I turned off the stove and began washing the dishes, remembering my conversation with Nariza yesterday. . .




Nariza smiled bitterly with my question. "What was that kiddo? Have you forgotten that your dadi cannot show his face to me as his grandpa doesn't like me?"

"No, I get that anyway. But, won't it be better to see each other, face-to face, so you can talk easier and you both can do something with your current love life?"

"Even if I want to, he doesn't want to. Or more like, it cannot be."

"Isn't that unfair? You don't know how he looks like, but him, on the other hand, not only he can see you, he also knows how you look like. When it's you, it cannot be. When it's him, it can be."

Except for me, Aice, who knows this story by heart. And I'm telling you, Nariza, your Jace is quite a hunk. . . for you. He's not my type, don't worry.

This is the reason why they are a star-crossed lovers, according to the novel. Nariza loves Jace blindly despite the fact of not seeing his face, nor hearing his voice. She loves him unconditionally even if they only talked through texts/chats.

On the other hand, Jace knows everything about Nariza -- her looks, her face, what school she goes too, her best friend, and so much more.

Tch. Annoying Author.

"Haha, I thought you've already moved on with that topic, kiddo?"

"Don't laugh when you don't even want to laugh." I told her with a cold voice. "I know you're feeling conflicted with your situation. I also know that you truly want to see him or hear his voice, at least. That, you get so frustrated whenever he tells you that he's around, but you don't even know which one around you is the person you love. I know all about that, Nariza."

It actually made me lose my mind as I read the novel. I kept shouting in front of my laptop for you to wake up.

Nariza lost her smile and was replaced with a frown. "What should I do? I love the person I haven't seen nor heard his voice. I fell in love with a person who can't give me a normal relationship. If it weren't for your really sensitive feeling, we won't know -- I won't know -- that he's close to us."

Oh yeah, that's right. The author made Mielle a human detector, per se, as she really have a strong intuition and could tell if Jace is nearby.

"I don't know..."

"See? No one can tell or knows who is he or what Jace looks like."

"Right.."

Nariza and Mielle didn't know anything about Jace and his whereabouts, yes... but I, Aice Figuera, do.

I fixed my glasses -- another thing Mielle and I had in common, besides having a nice tooch, we both wear glasses.

Maybe I can do something about it.

"See? That's why, again, move on kiddo. HAHA!"




I bit my lower lip -- my habit as Aice whenever I feel that tingling, exciting feeling.

"We're not going to move on, dearest Nariza, we're going to move forward instead." I grinned as plans starting to form in my head. "I will make you see Jace Miko Salguero's face."





@~@





Jace Miko Salguero: Baby?




"About time you messaged Mil Luara, Jace." That's Mielle's name on MSGER. Originally, Mielle would always been the first one to message Jace just to annoy the crap out of him, part of her childish personality. But ever since I became her, I changed that approach little by little.

Now the tables had turned, and whenever he wanted to let a 'crazy, childish baby' talk to him, he gotta messaged me -- Mielle -- first.




?


Hows you?


Good and you?


Good as well, thanks.


Are you mad at me?


No. Why would I be mad?


Because you seem different.




Well duh?




Ohh, haha, didn't mami tell you? I thought nothing will become fruitful out of my childishness.


You're still young, baby, it's okay to be childish. It makes you cute.




Barf! This friendliness of yours Jace is one of the reason you and Nariza get into arguments. Tsk.




Is that right, dadi? Haha, it's okay if I'm not cute, at least I'm wise.


Ah, our baby is being matured now. Don't be in such a hurry, okay? Enjoy being a teen first.




How can I enjoy if I would end up dead?




Don't worry dadi. I will. Thank you!


Haha, this is nice. Even your English improved! Good job!


Hehe thank you.. I have been reading lots of English stories.


That's great and all don't neglect your school, okay?


Yes. Well dadi, just take care of yourself as you follow mami, okay?


...
How did you know I'm following your mom?




Because I read this scene at the novel? Duh?




Hehehe.. just feeling.


Haha. You really have a strong feeling baby.


Did I get it right?




Of course it will be right.




Yes.




See?




Your mami told me she's going out today since Saturday and you have no school. Do you know where she's going? She won't tell me anything.


Secret! Just follow her, you'll still know in that way.


That's unfair baby. You don't want to help your dadi. :(


Trust me, dadi. I am helping you.




Me, as in Aice Figuera.




Haha okay. I'm going now. Bye
*seen*




I didn't reply any further, unlike Mielle before who would give cheers and such.

Sighs, Mielle.. we really need to do baby-steps to undergo your change.

My phone went off and when I checked it, Nariza is calling.

[Are you ready?] She sounded excited. [Papa and I are leaving the house now.]

"Yup, yup!" In all honesty, I haven't even taken a shower. "See you later mami! Drive safely."

[Okay, okay!]

I immediately went and took a shower. I only have 20 minutes before she can get here. Quite plenty of time since another thing that Mielle and I have in common is we don't wear make-ups. Only sunscreen when going out and moisturizer at night. Plus, we both have rosy cheeks.

Just really need to work on the figure and eating habits, which I had began, to ensure that Mielle and I will live a healthy life.

My phone went off and I saw Nariza texted me that she's outside.

"Grandma Kimmy, I'm going now. Nariza is already outside." I gave her a kiss on the cheek as she's really busy with Princess Sarah.

"Okay, okay. You girls take care with your hang out." She hugged my head before I grabbed my body-bag and went out. "Hi uncle, hi mami!" I greeted them as I got in the car.

"Hello Mil, how are you? You're looking good!" Uncle looked at me through the rearview mirror.

"Hehe, I'm okay uncle. I have been exercising and going on a diet, so..."

He laughed and Nariza added, "I told you Papa! Mil is doing the new year, new me trend!"

"That's good! Keep it up, Mil."

"Yes uncle!"

Nariza's dad dropped us off at the mall and took off.

According to the novel, this is the scene where Jace would be following us right in our backs and would even get in front of us, pretending like any other shoppers! But of course, the girls didn't know that it was him and the day ended with Mielle being all alert, sensing Jace but never really helped Nariza to see him.

So what if I reverse it?

"Hey kiddo! Why are you smiling like that? You're planning something crazy, aren't you?"

I turned my head at her the same time I saw a figure not so far from us. "Hihi. Nothing mami." I bit my lip -- my old habit as Aice again surfaced whenever I feel excited. "We're just gonna have so much fun today."

Chapter end