Chapter 7

• I sniffed. My eyes close on their own as I let myself indulge in that relaxing scent of sweet tangerine. I wonder whose scents it is? I just love how the tangerine mixed with hints of this morning breeze.
• Piper America. The lady who entered my room last night and called Ender Kuya (older brother) wiped the side of her lips the moment she stopped sipping her latte.
• Using her forefinger, she asks me to come near her. Like a child called by some magical fairy, I oblige willingly. The wonderful smell of tangerine and the morning breeze strengthened. Now I know who's using that scent.
• She tapped the vacant rattan chair on her left side, telling me to sit. "I love your perfume. Personal, mix? I haven't smelled something like that before." She pauses. She puts down her toasted bread and the bread knife she uses to spread the Nutella on it.
• Her eyes almost popped out of their socket. That sweet curve in her peach-colored lips is even wider than the horizon I see in movies and pictures.
• "You notice it? You love scents too?" I stop mixing my pesto and look at her earnestly. Looking back, perfume is the only thing that I love collecting. I have thousands of them at my home. Chanel, Bulgari Jo Malonne, name it... I have it all. One time, I even dreamed of becoming someone who makes and mixes perfumes.
• "Oh. My. God!" I clapped my hands. She looked both stunned and puzzled as I suddenly stood up from my seat and looked around. I can't find Hedero near here. Is she busy with something?
• With the same excited smile. I settled myself back on the rattan chair and faced Piper America. "Is there a problem?" she asks worriedly.
• I shook my head. "Nope. None. You, because of you and your scent. I know now what I want to take for College."
• She signals me to spill the tea. "I will be a Chemical Engineering then I'd create my own sets of perfume."
• She rose to her feet then inch our distance excitedly. Ender says nothing about what course I should take, so I'm making this assumption right now that he will let me take a course that I want for myself.
• Piper pointed herself. "I'm a chemical engineer, too." She showed her finger to let me know that she was just a freshman.
• "But this semester started already, like a month ago," I said. She slam her elbow with my arms and then wink mischievously as if she's up to something.
• She made me face her. Her finger forces the corner of my lips to stretch. "You'll be needing Mr. Mendeleev's help. He can and will make anything possible for you." Piper walks back to her seat. Will he do that for me?
• I took my cell phone, the one he gave me. I nervously type words to complete my request and after I hit the send button. My heart started to calm a bit.
• My first day in Mendeleev's Villa is about to end, yet I receive no message from Ender in reply to the one that I sent to him earlier. I opened the French door that would lead me to the patio.
• "Wow." From where I am, I can see the majestic view of Metro Manila's nightlife, something that I haven't seen before. The orangy with hints of white light that I can see gives this aesthetic vibe to me. The way they twinkled and sparkled, I couldn't help but think that they were some sort of star. Star made by human and their busy life.
• I rested my hand on the banister and looked down. I painted a small smile on my lips after I saw the pool. The ocean blue color of the villa's infinity pool changes color too, whenever the Christmas carol that I'm hearing ends and another one starts playing.
• Christmas is coming. The joyous curves in my lips didn't last long at the realization that hit me. I will celebrate this Christmas away from my family.
• I moistened my lip and amble to the couch.
• With my phone in my hand and the boredom kicking in again. I lay on the three-seater couch. My hand reaches for a snow globes placed on the coffee table. Like a child trying her best to entertain herself with it. I shake it, then watch how the so-called snow falls. My entertainment with it didn't last long. I was about to leave the patio so I could wash myself and sleep, but the incoming calls stopped me.
• Ender's calling.
• I cleared my throat, and with a quivering finger, I slid the answer button.
• "Have you eaten?" I moved the phone away from my ear. I needed to make sure that I was talking to Ender right now. His voice sounded soft and endearing right now, and I couldn't believe that I was talking to him.
• I nodded my head. I heard him chuckle. Wait, he chuckled? Did he see me move my head in response to his cute question?
• My eyes went to scan my surroundings. "Is there a CCTV here? Surveillance camera or anything that'll allow him to see everything that I am up to?" I whispered to myself.
• "Ender, I already know what I want for college."
• "Hmm?" I heard another noise from his background. A baritone voice asking him about something. I think he's in California now. Is he working already?
• "Baby, I'm doing something here but go on, I'm listening," he said. I wish he'd stop calling me 'baby.' It's making my mind chaotic every single time.
• "I said I want to take Chemical Engineering at the same university as your sister, but this semester started a month ago." Silence filled my ears. I checked my phone again. He didn't hang up but why am I not getting a response?
• "Okay, I'll tell Esquivar to work on it." Just like that, without even saying his proper goodbye, our conversation ended.