CHAPTER 13...
^_________^
"Mabel, are you okay?" Charlotte asked curiously breaking off Raphael and Mabel's hug forcefully.
Mabel looked down on her hand and she found Raphael's handkerchief on it.
She didn't even know when he tied it on her.
He gave me his handkerchief for the second time. She said in her head staring at Raphael who was looking at her worriedly.
"Mabel, I'm so sorry! I had no idea, the knife was going to slip from my hand! I'm so sorry, my carelessness led to this" Charlotte apologized in tears.
She hugged Mabel tight.
Mabel kept staring at Raphael but Henry ran over standing in front of Raphael.
"Mabel, are you okay? Let's see how hurt you got?" Henry asked worriedly and Charlotte broke the hug.
"I'm fine!" Mabel forced a smile on.
"Henry, please take Mabel to the bar, I left a first aid kit there! Take care of her on my behalf" Charlotte pleaded wiping off her tears.
"Sure... Let's go Mabel!" Henry said holding Mabel's arm then left with her.
Charlotte turned to Raphael who had a blank expression on his face.
She held his arm playfully with puppy teary eyes.
"Oppa, I didn't do it... Please don't look at me like that..."
Raphael took her hands off his gently.
"If you didn't do it then my looks shouldn't matter to you!" He said coldly and walked away.
After tonight's vision became clear to Raphael, he saw Charlotte for who she really was.
Charlotte glared at the direction Mabel took.
Henry pulled out a chair for Mabel to treat her wound.
Mabel looked away fearfully. She couldn't stand the sight of Henry taking off the handkerchief.
"I'll take it off now!" Henry uttered calmly holding on to her hand.
This is going to hurt a lot... I can't stand it! It's going to bleed so much. Mabel exclaimed in her head and got out of the chair swiftly.
"Mabel! Is everything okay?" Henry asked in surprise.
Mabel exhaled sharply and looked at him. "I'll be fine, I don't need this! Raphael tied it already so I believe it stopped bleeding already. I'll get it treated at home!"
"Thank you for the help!" She uttered calmly then left the hall.
She got out of the party to get some air. She tried everything she could to take her gaze off her wounded hand.
Raphael saw her heading out of the party so he went to his car, grabbed a disinfectant and bandage then he went after Mabel.
"Nothing's working out for me tonight... Tonight's supposed to be Charlotte's big day, why am I ruining that for her" Mabel mumbled worriedly as she gazed at the empty space.
Raphael took a few steps behind her.
"You didn't get your hand treated?" He questioned out of the blue and Mabel flinched turning to his direction.
She bit her lower lips cutely as she avoided his gaze.
"You tied it with your handkerchief already, you stopped the bleeding. I see no reason to open it again... It's only going to make it hurt more" Mabel mumbled with her gaze down.
Raphael smiled and got even closer to her.
He took out a sun shade from his pocket and it wore on Mabel.
"What are you..." She stuttered not getting his move on her.
Raphael held her hand and loosened the handkerchief.
"I know you're scared of wounds or even seeing blood... I'm hoping the shades help!" He uttered warmly.
Mabel got lost by his warmth and kindness. She never knew Raphael to be this considerate.
"How did you know I'm scared of blood?" She asked slowly.
Raphael sprayed some disinfectant on the wound and blew air on it.
Mabel's heartbeat raced as she watched Raphael look out for her in a very sweet way.
...
Mr Bu watched them from the balcony upstairs.
He held a glass of wine in his hand and he sipped on it with a serious look on his face.
Charlotte ran to him angrily after clearing up the crowd that was after her.
"Dad... I can't believe you! How could you do this to me? Why would you even think of such in the first place?" Charlotte fired angrily.
Mr Bu was focused on what he was looking at.
"What are you looking at?" Charlotte asked frustratedly and turned to what he was staring at.
She swiftly clenched her fist. Her father turned to her.
"What's Mabel's relationship with Raphael? Are they close?" Mr Bu asked coldly.
Charlotte laughed awkwardly. Hearing her dad's tone she knew something was up.
"You think too much, dad. Mabel and Raphael worked together in the past so I think they're acquainted!" Charlotte stated with a smile.
Mr Bu glared at her, her smile made it even more suspicious.
"They're only acquainted and he's holding her hand like that... Why did you cut Mabel with the knife? I thought you were the best of friends?" He asked turning back to Raphael who he was staring at.
Charlotte looked away angrily.
"I didn't cut her. It was a mistake! Dad, why would you assume I did that intentionally? What do you take me for?" She fired defensively.
Mr Bu scoffed.
"You're my daughter and that's why!" He stated coldly and turned around to leave.
"Some words of advice... I want you to make sure, I don't see Mabel hanging out with Raphael again... She's your friend and that's why I'm telling you this!" Mr Bu threatened and walked away.
Charlotte furrowed her brows looking at her father.
She has no clue what was going on. Why is her dad so protective of Raphael?
She ran after her father.
"Dad, I've made up my mind, I'm not leaving the country... I'll work in your firm! So I'm telling you to abort whatever marriage plans you've been cooking up behind my back" Charlotte protested angrily then walked away.
•••••
Raphael placed a bandage on Mabel's wound then took off the shades.
"Thank you!" She uttered softly while looking at her hand with so much love.
Raphael leaned closer to her ears.
"Mabel, I've got some advice for you! Don't go close to the pool tonight... Even though you've been forced to, don't go!" He forewarned and Mabel gave him a curious eyes.
"Why? The pool's where the real party is... Why shouldn't I go close to it?" She asked curiously.
Raphael exhaled sharply. He knows telling her the truth isn't going to work on her.
"I fear you've got some bad energy around you tonight and getting close to the water is only going to make it worse!" He lied convincingly.
Mabel looked at him obviously confused.
Raphael's phone started ringing. It was a call from Josh.
"Excuse me!" He uttered and left before taking the call.
Mabel watched him leave. His words still ringing in her ears.
"Yes, Josh!" Raphael uttered over the phone.
"I spoke with my friend and he agreed to speak with his model about the photo you talked about!" Josh said at the other end.
~~~~~~~~~~
~ VENOM BAR ~
Violet and her high school friends were having a reunion. They had a table filled with varieties of dishes.
The hall was well decorated, it was giving out a classy vibe.
Violet sat at the end of the table, scrolling through her phone. She was getting so bored out of her mind when the girls on the table turned to her.
"Violet, where's Raph and Simon? They're not here today... Didn't they get the notification on the class group?" One of them questioned.
Violet placed her phone on the table as she crossed her legs.
"You're sounding like this is the first time, they didn't make it to this reunion. They're both busy, they've got business to take care of and that's why they're absent" She uttered coldly.
One of the ladies laughed picking up her glass of wine.
"Busy... Have you ever bothered asking yourself if they're uncomfortable going out with you cos of your silly childhood love story" she scoffed.
Violet glared at her.
"Veronica, I've got no idea what you're talking about. What rubbish are you spouting? I've got other things to do but I kept that all aside to attend this. Don't make me regret coming here" Violet fired straight up.
"Stop acting all high and mighty just cos you're a well known star. You're not the only one who's popular here... Cherry's an idol, Norah is an actress so get off your high horse! You might act all high and unreachable but you're the only one who's been single her whole life... Oh no, please don't tell me you still haven't moved on from Raphael?" Veronica mocked covering her mouth.
Violet clenched her fist angrily.
"Shut the f*ck up Veronica!" Violet fired angrily.
"What gave you the right to speak to me in that tone? I will rip your mouth apart if you don't watch it. Don't forget, it's still me, Violet Sato!" Violet threatened glaring at them.
Everyone in the room kept shut as they glared back at Violet.
Josh was walking past that room when he saw Violet through the door. He could see her raging face.
"Raph is Violet out with her friends?" Josh asked over the phone.
"Yeah, she's attending a school reunion. I told her not to attend stuff like that but she never listens to anyone! I'm pretty sure she only went there to show off, that's all they do there!" Raphael uttered sarcastically over the phone.
Josh kept observing violet's expression and body language.
"Then why's she forcing herself to be there! I'll call you back Raph!" He said and hung up the call.
Josh pulled the door gently and walked in.
He walked straight to Violet. Violet's face brightened up at the sight of him.
"Josh, what are you doing here?" She asked faking a smile.
Josh looked around the table and all the ladies had their eyes on him.
"Violet, who's he?" One of the ladies asked flipping her hair backwards in a sexy way.
"Violet, I was dropping by then I saw you in here. If you're not occupied can we have dinner together?" Josh requested stretching his hand out to her warmly.
Violet smiled and grabbed his hand.
"I'm done here... Let's go!" She smiled and stood up.
"Just so you girls know... I'm getting myself out of that goddamn school group. Don't even bother sending me an invite next time. Coming here was just a waste of time!" Violet hissed and left with Josh,arm in arm.
They walked out of the door and a noisy gossip began.
Josh laughed staring at Violet.
"They're definitely talking about you! You're like one of the most handsome white guys they've ever seen!" Violet uttered while laughing.
"Nah... I don't think so!" Josh chuckled in disbelief.
~ THE BU RESIDENT ~
Everyone at the party hall moved down to the pool.
Mabel looked around the crowd in search of Raphael. She still couldn't get his words off her head.
"Mabel, come with me!" Charlotte called out from behind and pulled Mabel with her.
She pulled her out of the crowd to the side.
"Charlotte is everything okay?" Mabel asked catching her breath.
"Mabel, do you have feelings for Raphael?"
Mabel staggered in shock.
"What... Are you saying?" She stuttered blinking nervously.
Charlotte laughed jokingly.
"Relax okay... Dad just said some silly things and I found it weird, he was sounding that way" She uttered with a smile.
Mabel smiled awkwardly.
Someone ran to Charlotte.
"Miss Charlotte, Mr Bu got a beautiful surprise for you at the pool. Come see!!" She said and ran off.
"Surprise!" Charlotte gasped with a smile and she pulled Mabel with her.
They ran to the pool.
Getting to the pool, Mabel saw Raphael at the other end talking with Simone and just then his words flashes in her mind.
"Pool!!" Mabel mumbled and tried moving away from the pool but someone from behind pushed her.
She was about hitting her head on the edge of the pool when Raphael dragged her and she fell on him.
Raphael hurt his shoulder as he hit them hard on the tiles of the pool as they both fell down.
"Arghhh!!" Mabel screamed in fear shutting her eyes.