I got to the end of the hallway after the big assembly hall, I looked up at the tag on the black glass door, a smile formed on my lips as I knocked on the door.
“Yes, please come in.” I heard a female voice call out from inside and I stepped in and was surprised when she turned around. It wasn’t the person I was expecting to see, at least not so young. “How may I help you?” She left the drawer she was rampaging and glanced up at me.
“I am…” before I could tell her who I was looking for she grinned and I could see her eyes lit up.
“You must be Robin Hiesten.” She pointed at me, getting up from her chair as if I was too popular, I only looked at her quizzically while she made her way over to me. “I know you must be wondering how I knew your name, everyone knows your name in this school, isn’t that awesome…”
The lady kept on speaking without catching her breath. I wondered why almost any lady I come over to talks a lot and don’t think before they speak.
I glanced around the room hoping to find who I was looking for but I couldn’t see anyone apart from the lady who kept on speaking constantly.
“I know everyone says a lot about you and I have also watched you sing at the daily bar, also how you only arrived in this school a few days ago, and your looks are awesome, you should make it to the school modeling group, your type of body is what we have been looking for and talk more of your talent, perhaps I could speak to the school board and we can put your image in the school magazine and….”:
“I am looking for the studio manager.” I cut her off and she gasped for breath before pressing her lips together. Finally, she stopped talking.
“Oh, I am she.” She pointed at herself and for a moment I was speechless while giving her a once-over. “I know you may find it shocking since I look so young, but this was not given to me because of my age, but because of my talent, you see I am…”
“I have something to show you.” I interrupted her once again not having all day to listen to her constant blabbering and hell yes, it was surprising that a lady of her standard would talk this much, now I can figure out why Hinn Carlos made me come here instead of him.
“Oh, sorry, have a seat.” She pointed at the wooden chair and I sat down with her across the table. “Show me.” She told me. I handed her the record I had made with the others a few days ago, this was a different record from the one Ivana sang, I had handed Ivana’s record to Hinn as I had promised myself, I didn’t want to be addicted to it.
“This must be the music done by Hinn Carlos, you and the other boys.” I nodded and she plugged it into a sound speaker and the beat began to play. I looked at her face for a reaction, still shocked that the studio manager would be this young.
She adjusted her glasses and smiled while nodding. “This is good, I like the guitar part and I can tell that you were the professional who was handling that part.”
”Hinn said you know what to do with it and since you like it, I will take my leave now.” I got up to leave, but she was quick to block my path. “Is there something else?” I asked her.
“Yes,” She tucked her hair behind her ear and flashed me a smile, her eyes twinkling, I could already figure out what she was about to say. “Let’s have coffee together, I can better introduce myself since I didn’t. What do you think?” She blinked cutely and I held the space between my brows.
Now I wish the studio manager was an elderly man, it would save me all this stress and headaches. “I am sorry, but I don’t have time to spare.” I moved to leave again but she opened her hands and blocked my path again.
“I think you do, just one coffee…” Her brows wobbled. “Please Robin.” She bit down her lips.
I stepped close to her and she stepped backwards, then I leaned close to her face to look at her closely. “Honestly, I still doubt you are the studio manager.”
“And why is that?” Her brows snapped together. “Could it be because I look young and attractive?” She touched her cheeks with smiles on her lips.
“No,” I gave her once-over. “It is because you aren’t fit to be a studio manager,” I said indifferently and a deep frown formed on her face.
“You came into my office to tell me this!” She barked and I flinched, surprised at her sudden anger. “I was trying to be nice and here you are saying I am not fit for this job, do you have any idea what I had to go through just to get this job, you crazy person!” She was in a fit of rage and I had to brace myself, still shocked that a lady who had been smiling all this while could change so easily.
“Now we are done here, leave my office and don’t step foot in here without me asking you in!” She said in rage, pointing at the door and I had to avoid her like a plague and flee for my life.
I glanced over my shoulder when I made it out of her office and exhaled sharply, this must be the reason Hinn sent me here instead of coming by himself. “Ladies are scary.” I shuddered and made my way down the lobby as fast as I could.
I glanced down at my wristwatch, they must have been done with their practice by now so I walked over to the practice hall and leaned on the wall. I was waiting for Hinn Carlos to be out to give him a piece of my mind.
He sent me to a lion’s den without informing me that I should beware of the lioness in there, at least a warning would have been nice, and I wouldn’t have said what I said to her. I didn’t wait for long before I saw the student coming out of the practice hall.
I saw Ivana walking out of the practice room with Kate by her side, they were both smiling and saying something I couldn’t hear, she must be happy to have made it to the audition.
“Ivana wait up,” I heard Hinn Carlos called out to her and she looked backwards. I stood up straight from the pillar as Hinn Carlos walked over to Ivana, he said something to Kate and she nodded, waved Ivana goodbye and left.
My eyes darkened when I saw the smile on Ivana’s face and to top it all, Hinn placed his hands around her waist and tucked the loose strand of her hair. She didn’t push him away. I guess they have decided to date openly.
“Hi, Robin.” I heard an annoying voice and turned to see Clara smiling at me. It was odd that she actually dressed like a lady today. She was a lady, but I have never seen her dressed like a lady, she always dresses like a man.
“Why are you dressed like that?” I glanced down at her.
“Oh,” she turned around. “Do I look amazing, now do you wish to talk to me?” She blinks with a smile on her face.
I rolled my eyes, not this one too, I glanced over my shoulder and didn’t see Hinn Carlos and Ivana, I was too offended that this girl had just made me miss the chance of tearing Hinn and Ivana apart, I curled my hands to fist, who knows if they are not in a lonely place making out or doing something immoral.
“You don’t look amazing!” I snapped in fury as I turned to her with bloodshot eyes making her flinch. “Just get lost!”
“That is so long mom.” I look at her with large eyes. I have never imagined my mother would go on a business trip, let alone stay for that long. I wished to always see her face whenever I wake up, especially after being away from her for that long.
“You should be lucky it isn’t for a month.” She made her way out of the room and I followed her. My mother has truly changed, she wasn’t even looking at me for long, and she must be in a hurry.
“But mom…” Her phone rang before I could complete my statement and she picked it up and went professional in all the business arrangements and how she will be there in a short while. I rolled my eyes, this was why I didn’t choose business as my major course.
She ended the call and turned to me. “I have to leave now Robin,” She glanced down at her wristwatch. “I wish I had seen Ivana before I leave, you be good to her.” She pointed at me and I rolled my eyes. “I left a loaded credit card on the table, so get whatever you both need, okay?”
I pecked her cheek and walked her to the door after she took her car keys. “Be safe.” I waved to her and she got into the car and drove out of the mansion.
I stared at the gate for a long while, and then my eyes fluttered to the garden. I hadn't had much time to go around it, it looked so beautiful and it was sunny making the flowers bloom. I was about to head inside the mansion when I saw Hinn’s car stopped by the gate, he stepped down with Ivana who was smiling.
They said a few words I couldn’t hear from where I stood and he leaned in and kissed her lips, she giggled and waved him goodbye, Hinn got into his car and drove off.
I curled my hands into a fist and gazed at Ivana who had halted when she saw me, I tilted my head to the side and smirked.
I stepped out of the house and walked step by step toward her, who was just standing like a scarecrow and watching me. “Welcome home,” I told her softly when I got close to her.
She looked at me with wide eyes. She must have been surprised at my sudden soft words to her, but I knew she would be shocked at what was to come next.
I wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her closer to me and in a twinkle of an eye I covered her lips with mine, kissing her aggressively and her eyes grew big.