For The Stars Have Sinned

I haven’t seen him for a few days but he looks different. He got a haircut. If before he looked like a domineering CEO, now he looks like a member of the military.

It’s good for him because he looks like a member of the AFP. I raised my eyebrows when I saw that his muscles were bulging because his clothes were so tight.

But my eyes narrowed when I noticed that his forehead was slightly wrinkled while looking directly into my eyes. He doesn’t seem to want to see me, huh? When I remembered what happened the last time we met, both of my cheeks suddenly warmed up. I looked away. I suddenly felt ashamed especially since I rejected Kervy less than a month ago.

“Oh, why do you look at me like that?” I asked annoyed. I folded my arms and glared at him.

He looked at me from head to toe. “You don’t mind if I see you like this, Larica?” He folded his arms so I frowned even more.

“I’m dressed nicely,” I said.

He looked me seriously in the eyes for a few seconds before the corner of his lips lifted. “I see, but you can only dress like this in front of me.” He looked past me. “Get dressed, Miss Larica. I’ll wait for you until you’re dressed properly.”

My face got even worse and I looked down at the thin white pajamas I was wearing. Because the undies are black, it is noticeable. The corner of my lips twitched because I didn’t notice it earlier.

It’s tiring to get dressed and there’s no one else around because we’re on the second floor. This hateful man knocked on my room’s door earlier. I don’t know why Mama let this man wander up here.

“No need.” I looked past him and didn’t see the things I expected. I frowned. “Where are my things?”

“In the living room.”

In the living room? Good thing Mama isn’t there. She left the house earlier because she and Papa went on a business meeting. Lyndon already told Mama that he will come here to EGL. It might be the reason why he’s too thick-skinned to wander here and knock on my door.

I stared at him. “Really? Just put it in the living room. I’ll take care of it.” I looked up at the wall. It’s still six in the morning on the wall clock. “You’re a bit early,” I said and looked at him again.

“I have things to do. I just dropped them off.” He breathed deeply. “Still boarding to Panglao?”

I blinked and frowned. “Why did you ask?”

He looked away. “I just want to know where you’re going.”

“Huh.” I smirked at him. “You’re a stalker, are you? I won’t be surprised if I see you in Panglao.”

“See you there then,” he said as he turned and walked away.

I frowned at Lyndon’s receding bulk. I don’t know but I have a bad feeling about it.

After a while, there were some butlers carrying my things to the opposite door of my room. I also ordered the maids to carry them inside. I even reprimanded the one with the naughty hand, who suddenly took a piece of merchandise to take a closer look.

“Did I tell you to touch my things?” I glared at the maid who was pale with fear as she crouched in front of me. “If you want merch, buy your own! Don’t take someone else’s stuff!” I snort at her.

“Miss Rishel, Aurora didn’t mean it. Please be patient,” said the butler of the house.

“Hmmp! If I hadn’t seen it, she might have stolen it!”

The maid raised her head slightly and looked at me shyly. “I don’t intend to steal the merch, Miss. I just want to look at it.”

“Heh! Get lost!” I snorted and pointed to the door.

The maid stepped out the door with her shoulders slumped. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the exchange of looks between the butler and a maid whom I thought was a friend of the one I scolded. I just ignored the occasional glances from other housemaids.

I thought my things were safe in the room, but when I got home from school, I only saw Mama with a bad expression on her face while giving orders to the servants.

“All the boxes. Don’t leave even one!” she said angrily and looked in my direction.

I swallowed nervously and approached quietly. “What’s wrong, Mom?” I asked and looked at the boxes being brought out of my room. My insides went cold when I saw some merch got broken by rough handling. I’m sure Mama was the one who did it.

“What is it, Joy?” Mama asked sarcastically as she followed the butlers who were lifting the boxes of merchandise.

I swallowed hard. “Nothing, Mom.”

“Nothing?” Mama’s look on me got worse. “Explain to me properly!”

I knew she was mad so I better tell her about me buying merch and hiding those things at the port in the city. While I was telling the story, the wrinkle between her brows didn’t diminish at all and it only got deeper.

“You’re buying that? Why, Joy? Are those edible? Answer me!” she snorted.

I closed my eyes. Who told Mama about the merch? I hid those in the room so she wouldn’t see it!

“Ma…”

“Answer me, Joy. Are those edible for you?”

I sighed, shaking my head. It was embarrassing to be reprimanded in front of the maids and butlers but I had no choice. I don’t have anyone to blame but myself because I know Mama doesn’t like me buying unnecessary things but I did it anyway.

“Sorry M-Ma…”

“Do you know why I don’t want you buying these useless stuffs?”

I didn’t say a word. I just let her talk.

“Did you know, Joy?” She breathed deeply. “Do you know it’s hard to find money just to feed you? Your dad is scrambling just to pay for your college and buy food. Then I’ll just know that you’re wasting your money for that? Do you know if how painful that is!”

“M-Ma…”

“You don’t know the hardships your Papa and I suffered, Joy! It’s easy for you to spend for useless things because you don’t know the hardships of finding money!”

My vision blurred. Not because Mama’s too loud but because I was hurt by what she was saying.

“Joy, before we reached the top, we walked twenty kilometers every day just to get to the factory. We ate dust. We crawled through mud. We shed tears and blood before we got to where we are now!”

“Ma…”

“So tell me if those can be eaten in times of need!” She huffed. “We’re not always on top. You should think what’s good for you!”

“I-I’m sorry, M-Ma…”

She was silent for a few minutes before yelling again, “Put them in the back and burn them!” she ordered the maids.

My fist clenched and my jaw tightened. I want to stop the maids but I can’t go against Mama’s order because she will only get angrier. I just looked at the boxes being carried down the stairs.

Mama suddenly asked. “Tell me why you bought those.”

I looked at her. “I’m a fangirl, Mom. And I see my co-fangirls buying those. I-I just want to have merchandise.”

“Then? What will you gain by buying those?”

“M-Ma…”

“Say what, Joy!”

I looked away. “I’m happy to collect merch, Ma…”

She was silent for a moment before speaking again. “Joy,” Mama said calmly. I looked up at her and she breathed deeply. “The first thing you should think about is whether it will help in times of need. The coin you bought with that, you can use for more meaningful things. You should know the difference of need and want. Remember that.”

“Yes, Mom.” I nodded and looked down again.

“Change your clothes and go downstairs. We’re going to eat dinner.”

“Yes, Mom.”

She walked down the stairs. I continuously took a deep breath and looked at the row of maids standing quietly on the side. I noticed a woman wearing a small smile on her lips. When she noticed me looking at her, she lowered her head to hide her face. I scoffed.

I can’t be wrong. She is the maid I reprimanded yesterday. If I’m not mistaken, she was the one who told Mama about the my merch. My lips formed a line and I clenched my fist as I stepped closer to the woman.

“You, raise your head!” I ordered.

A few seconds passed before she looked up at me.

*PAH!*

I slapped her hard on the cheek. The woman’s head turned to the left and looked at me wide-eyed while holding her injured cheek. “Miss?” she uttered.

“I don’t want to see your face. Get lost! Now!” I shouted, pointing at the stairs.

The maid swallowed hard and ran down the stairs. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that some maids were secretly glancing at each other but I didn’t care anymore.

If that girl had kept her mouth shut, all of this would not have happened. It’s that maid’s fault!

I just want to collect merch because I’m jealous of my fellow fangirls. They have merchandise that they brag in social media. And it will be sensational. I also want to experience going viral to make other fangirls who can’t afford merch jealous.

First, it’s good to have things that are trendy. I believe a woman is not a true fangirl without merch. A fangirl without them is such a loser.