Today, Mira told us that we would be going to Sagada for an adventure trip. Dominic and Damian agreed, while Lucca and I stayed silent. Mira said it would mostly involve hiking and exploring caves. I felt a little nervous because I wasn't used to physical activities. I did walk sometimes, but not consistently, only when I had spare time.
"Let's pack our things now," Mira concluded our short meeting. Then we headed to our rooms.
As I was about to enter mine, Dominic called my name.
"Seraphina…"
I looked at him with a questioning expression.
"Hmm?"
Dominic glanced around before walking closer to me and smiling. "I planned to talk to you last night, but I assumed you went to bed early," he said.
His words made me remember what had happened last night. After Lucca said those words, I didn't comment and excused myself, pretending I was sleepy. But in reality, I couldn't sleep until dawn. That's why I felt a little dizzy today.
"What do you want to talk about?" I asked curiously.
"I heard about you and Lucca," he started, making me startled.
Did he see us on the balcony last night? But he thought I was already asleep.
"What do you mean?" I asked calmly, trying not to look nervous.
"Lucca's offer."
"What?" I didn't know how to respond. I knew I should have expected this since Dominic is Lucca's friend, but knowing Lucca, he wouldn't usually overshare.
He smiled. "I found out because Damian told me."
I didn't know how to react. Would he be mad at me? But I didn't accept Lucca's offer.
"You know, I regret not increasing your salary like Lucca did. Maybe you would still be in my company now. But I know you probably wouldn't go back after what happened."
"I didn't accept Lucca's offer," I said quickly, wanting him to understand that I didn't betray him.
He laughed. "I know, I know. But that amount is huge to refuse, isn't it?"
I looked him in the eye and sighed. "It's okay," I said, even though I was still thinking about that large salary.
Dominic leaned against the wall near my door. "Did you refuse the offer because you thought it might hurt me, or because you don't want to work under Lucca?"
"Both," I answered without hesitation.
He laughed. "Yeah, who would want to work with someone as cold as ice and as dark as night? I wouldn't either."
"But he is your friend. It's more complicated than that," I said.
"Yeah, yeah. He really is a pain in the ass," he said with a laugh, then continued. "But if you're hesitating because you think I'll be hurt, don't worry about it. I don't hold grudges against my friends. I was even thinking of hiring you again in my company with the same offer Lucca gave—but I already know you wouldn't accept it. Still, I'd be glad if you worked in my friend's company. At least we'd still be in the same city."
"Lucca already took back his offer, so I don't need to think about it anymore."
"He already took it back?" Dominic asked, slightly surprised.
"Yeah, last night before I slept."
I didn't mention the balcony. That awkward moment still sent chills through my body.
"He's a bastard then," Dominic said, making me confused.
I was about to ask what he meant, but he just smiled and said he would return to his room to continue packing.
I nodded and entered my room.
Lucca's POV
I was in my room, packing the things I needed for the trip, when suddenly someone opened the door without even knocking. I was about to shout at whoever it was, but when I looked up, I saw Dominic. So I continued packing without facing him.
"You really are a bastard, huh?" Dominic asked while sitting on my bed where I was packing.
I didn't answer, though I was curious why he was calling me that.
"You took back the offer? Isn't your job supposed to be persuading her more?" Dominic asked angrily.
So he already talked to Seraphina. He must have tried to convince her to accept the offer, but since I had already taken it back, he was now upset.
"You started the offer but ended it in an instant just because she refused. Shouldn't you have tried harder to convince her? You did that because you don't want her to stay here. How are you supposed to get the ring if you keep acting like a bastard?"
Dominic had a point.
I made that offer because I couldn't stay in Mira's city for too long. It would be too obvious. If I stayed here, my friends might eventually return to our city. Mira's city was also far, making it difficult to travel back and forth just to gain Seraphina's trust for the ring.
"I told her to accept your offer. I'm helping you now, dude."
"What can I do? She already refused," I said coldly, not even looking at him.
"So what's your point? Every time she refuses, you just stop trying? You need her, for goodness' sake. How many months do you have left? Ten months? Time is running out. If you keep acting like this, just accept your fate, you're going to die," Dominic said in frustration. I could hear how angry he was.
"Take off your pride and make an effort. We all know Seraphina is aloof and introverted, just like you. She won't go out of her way to please you because she doesn't need anything from you. You have to be consistent. Rejected once? Twice? Thrice? Keep trying until she gives in."
Dominic was seriously lecturing me about effort.
I admitted I was frustrated every time Seraphina rejected my offers, whether it was help or anything else. My pride usually stopped me from continuing.
But somehow, she was the only person who kept pushing it down without even trying.
Dominic didn't say anything else and left the room silently.
I stared at the door he closed behind him.
He had a point.
It wasn't logic holding me back, it was pride.
But he was right. Seraphina didn't need me…
But I needed her.
Seraphina's POV
We were now inside the van, traveling to Sagada. Mira and Damian sat together, while Dominic and I were seated beside each other.
Dominic's words from earlier were still on my mind, though I was trying to forget them.
Wasn't my wish before to avoid these three men completely? I even wanted to stay far away from them. But when Lucca offered me a job, all those thoughts suddenly disappeared.
And the fact that I was still thinking about his offer meant I hadn't really moved away from them at all.
I sighed deeply, and Dominic noticed.
"Are you okay?" he whispered.
I nodded and smiled at him before turning my gaze back to the window.
This trip made me realize I couldn't easily escape them, especially now that Damian was part of Mira's life.
"Here, take this," Dominic whispered again, offering a bottle of juice. I was about to refuse, but he had already opened it.
"Thank you," I said before taking a sip.
"If Lucca offers you the job again, don't hesitate to accept it," he whispered near my ear.
My body stiffened. He was too close.
I pretended to cough to calm myself and forced a small smile.
"Do you have a cough, Sera?" Mira asked from behind.
"Hmm? No, I was just clearing my throat. I'm just drinking this," I said, raising the bottle.
"Oh, okay. Do you want chips or biscuits?"
"I'm fine, thanks."
The trip took five hours before we finally arrived at our destination. We went to a villa Mira said belonged to her family. It was huge, big enough to accommodate five families.
The surrounding area was spacious, and the environment was beautiful. The villa was surrounded by pine trees and colorful flowers.
"You never fail to amaze us, Mira," Dominic said with a smile.
We went inside the villa, and three women greeted us. Mira told us that they would attend to whatever we needed.
"Let me get this to your room, ma'am," the younger lady, whom I presumed was younger than me, took my bag. I was about to refuse because I was not used to it, but she was so fast that I had no time to speak. I wasn't even able to say thank you because I was just shocked.
"Ma'am Mira, your food is now ready," said the old lady.
Mira smiled at us. "Let's have our lunch, guys, before we head to Sumaguing Cave. That will be our first destination," she said, then winked at us.
I followed her, and we went outside the villa. I was even more amazed because at the back of the villa was an infinity pool. Alongside the pool was a long table with lots of food. On the right side was the place where you could have a bonfire.
"Let's have a bonfire this evening, guys. Don't worry, I have a collection of wine here," Mira said while still smiling.
"You know how to make us happy, huh?" Dominic said, and we went to the long table. The food was mostly Filipino dishes like kare-kare, dinakdakan, afritada, pork liempo, crispy pata, pinakbet, chopsuey, fried tilapia, garlic buttered shrimp, and pork rib soup. For dessert, they served fresh fruit salad with milk for sweetness and buko juice.
I was about to get some rice when Dominic got it first, and to my shock, he put some on my plate.
"You don't have to," I said, but he didn't listen.
Since we were sitting beside each other, he had a way to put food on my plate. He even poured water into my glass.
"Thanks," was all I could say instead of nagging him that I could do those things myself.
I looked around, and all of them were watching me. Mira was even smiling at me. But I tried to ignore it and started eating. Surely, Mira would interrogate me again later. It was just a friendly gesture, wasn't it?
"We will be staying here for three days. I am sure you will like staying in this place," Mira said while eating.
"Don't you like it, babe?" Mira asked Damian. Damian only smiled in response. Since we got here, I had seldom heard Damian's voice. He was not even showy or clingy to Mira. But Mira didn't seem to mind it. Maybe before saying yes to Damian, she already accepted that her boyfriend is nonchalant and aloof.
I admit, all of the food was great. I ate a lot and enjoyed it. If I keep eating like this, surely my weight will go back. After finishing my plate, I grabbed a bowl to have dessert. But Dominic, being caring, took my bowl and filled it with fruit salad.
"Thank you, but you don't have to. I can manage," I said because he kept serving me like he was my maid. I also didn't like the way people were looking at us. Will they think that Dominic likes me?
After lunch, we decided to go to our rooms to rest for one hour before going to our first adventure. Mira told us to change into clothes that were comfortable and appropriate for where we were going.
Lucca's POV
Since Mira told us to rest for a while and change clothes, I immediately headed to my room to rest. I was about to close my door when suddenly someone pushed it hard, making it swing wide open. Dominic went in without even asking if he was allowed. Next time, I will surely lock the door so he won't barge in.
"Let me rest," I said.
"Why? Are you losing your strength or what?" he asked, mocking me.
"Why are you here?" I asked with a frown on my face.
"I was just wondering what you were thinking when I was being caring with Seraphina," he said. I admit, I was observing them earlier. Dominic, who is not usually that caring, put on a show in front of us as if Seraphina were his girlfriend.
"To hell with it. Why would I care?" I asked. I know Dominic likes her, so what? Does that have something to do with me? I don't even care.
"It is an example, Lucca. I am demonstrating an effort here that you might do in the future," Dominic emphasized it by acting it out.
I frowned again. Dominic was talking to me as if I had never made an effort to help Seraphina. In fact, I helped her many times.
"I know what you're thinking. I know you helped her many times. But more effort to come closer to her? Like asking her to be your friend or what?"
"And make her uncomfortable, just like what you did a while ago?"
"That's my point why I did that. She is uncomfortable but doesn't utter a word; instead, she just accepts that someone is being nice to her. Why can't you do that?"
"I am not a fool like you. I won't do that to a woman."
"See? You are so close to that ring, yet you are trying to make yourself far from it."
"I am not as weird as you. What if she thinks that I like her?"
"That's the purpose, isn't it? Have you forgotten what I told you before when you asked for my help? I told you to make her like you. But what are you doing now? It is far from my expectation. Two months have passed but there is still no improvement. You are not even friends. When will you stop being weird?"
Dominic's voice irritated my ears, but on the other hand, he had a point. I know he is already tired of reminding me what to do and what not to do. Between him and Damian, Dominic is putting more effort into helping me get the ring.
"Offer the job again to her. If she still rejects it, find another way until she accepts it. You know that I like her since the day I met her. But for your sake, I am setting aside my feelings and helping you first instead. Even if you are aloof, a bastard, and a weirdo, I can't let you reach the end of your life. What's the sense if you will die? I don't want to be called the strongest handsome man if you die. I am okay being second," he said then stood up.
He put his hands in his pocket and smirked at me. "Please do not make me repeat myself over and over again. This is the nth time I am reminding you. Take off your pride and put in more effort. Rejection is not your concern now, but your life is. Change whatever attitude you have and just pretend to be someone else. After all, who will benefit in the end but you? Seraphina is not that hard to approach as it seems. Be nice to her," he said then left the room.
I couldn't get rid of my frown. Dominic was different now and kept reminding me about making an effort, swallowing my pride, and such. Or maybe he was really concerned that Seraphina would stay in Mira's place and never go back to the city again? I was concerned too, that's why I offered her the job. But what should I do if she already refused it?
Take off your pride…
Dominic's words kept replaying in my mind. Should I really step in and try to swallow my pride? Will I ever do that now? Then I remembered what Master had said before, that my time would lessen when I decided to steal the ring from Seraphina.