Sassy Angel’s Secret Sin

(Anj’s POV)

Go straight to the hallway, and then turn right…

I heaved a deep sigh as I carried the elegant arrangement of sunflowers, anthurium, hydrangea, and heliconia for the offering Mrs. Wilbur ordered from Sister Grace. She usually donates at the nursing home, but I seldom see her because she is mostly out of town, joining her husband on his business trips.

The housekeeper had other flowers to bring, so here I am, forced to look for that room where Mrs. Wilbur expected the offering should be. I didn’t have the time to memorize the direction because I was also in a hurry to go back.

Anya said that instead of meeting me, Claire was friendly enough, offering to pick me up outside the gate of Wilbur’s mansion because Aunt Rose asked her to run an errand before going to the party.

“It’s a black SUV,” she told me. “When you get there, let’s meet in the lobby.” She has repeated those words many times, worried that I would wander and get stuck in a room called the library or study room. She often joked that when I was young, no one could lure me into going with a stranger because I disliked candies and chocolates, but anyone could kidnap me by giving me a book.

I used my back to open the ajar door wide after finding the room.

“Finally!” A woman’s voice exclaimed, making me stop walking. The tall arrangement of flowers made it difficult to see who it was, and even if I tilted my head to peek at the owner of the voice, I still couldn’t see her.

“The offering?” Another voice asked, but from a man.

What is wrong with these people? Why don’t they just tell me where to put the flowers so I can go?

“Umm… Yes!” I answered, hesitating at first, but my hands were getting numbed already, so I had to put this heavy thing down. “Where can I put these?” I asked, not moving anymore because I noticed big antique vases and was afraid I might trip and break them.

I hear someone walking toward me. “Here, let me help you,” he said, taking the flower arrangement from me. “Why are you even carrying this heavy thing?” he chuckled as he placed it on the center table, then turned to me again.

would be pleased,” beamed the woman, maybe the same age as Anya. I

as he studied me from head to toe. “Indeed,” he

am sure she doesn’t recognize me because she belongs to a famous group of students. Anya, Dylan and I usually call them the elite as they are the sons and

why Jake was studying me as if he was unsure of something. I have seen him in the nursing home

me, placing her arms on my shoulders. “Didn’t they tell you about the party?” She asked as we went out of the room,

They did,” I answered hesitantly, wishing I owned a cellphone so I could call

said. “The black SUV is in the driveway. Wait for

the driver opened the car door for me, and although I doubted it for

sigh when Jackie entered the car and sat next to me.

her hand. “She’s in the other car with Jake,” she

window. When I breathed in, I inhaled the scent of Jackie’s perfume, loving the bold but not overpowering floral scent. I have never

own perfume has been a hobby I have liked doing ever since

whenever she received a reply from whoever she was texting. I closed my eyes, trying to figure out what I did wrong

front of a private resort. From the outside, we could hear the loud music, but when I peeked outside the window and saw the place Anya had described, I realized this must be it.  She must have miscalculated the time and place again, which happens very often,

to go, how to find the stairs, and wanting to cry in an unfamiliar environment. But before all those things could happen, Jake had already held my hand,

filled with loud music that sounds vibrated through my body, but it seemed every guest didn’t mind as they chatted and drank. My eyes widened to see some men and women dancing with their bodies almost glued to each

the weird taste

this?” I asked curiously, my face crumpled after drinking

lean his head closer to my ears so I could

I shook my head.

I did. I licked my lips, tasting the drinks on my bottom lip. The cocktail drink was much better the second time.