ERICA'S TRAVEL: The Strangers land

Chapter Seven: Matters of the heart

As she had read the messages that was sent by Lilian and her boyfriend Mk, she stood there looking blankly at Erica. 

" Hi Oma, Let's have a sleepover instead, you said your mum is out on a business trip? it has been long we talked to each other as a friend because of the school test " came Lilian's message 

" Good pm sweety, you seem to be busy; we haven't talked nor seen each other for almost a week now, can we see tomorrow instead. I will be sending you the address for my birthday party " came Mk's message. 

Oma looked up at Erica " We have a problem" she said. 

" What problem?" Oma asked in curiosity 

Oma briefly explained the message to her hoping she cancels their plan for the sake of her boyfriend at least. 

" You are going to tell them that you are not available; we have a deal" Erica replied unmoved by those messages 

" What? Did you not hear what I said? this are important people in my life and tomorrow is special for them" she said 

" So? they are not worth to cancel my plan tomorrow" Erica icily said 

" What? why do I even need your permission for goodness's sake? You probably don't have someone important in your life nor know what love is. You are emotionless! " Oma said in annoyance pointing her finger at her.

"There is nothing important you are doing at the fundraiser" she added and walked out of her presence. 

Erica just stood there in total silence. 

(Mr. Hansel's mansion) 

Mr. Hansel looking at himself on the wall mirror inside the sitting room 

" Are you seriously running for mayor dad?" Lava asked.

He has been sitting down there playing video game 

" That's the third time you are asking me that young man" Mr. Hansel responded 

" Because I don't see any reason you should run for mayor, I just can't see it" lava said dropping the game pad to look at his dad 

" When you get to my age, you will know that nothing is ever enough; only a fool stops achieving" he said as he picked up his briefcase.

He turned towards lava " your school acting principal said you are doing well in school and your grades are good; don't fuck that up with the video games" he said again 

Lava scoffed "I am no longer a child dad, quit monitoring my life; agreeing to take over your business is already enough" lava angrily said getting up from the chair 

" That's what am trying to remind you, you are no longer a child; you are twenty-one, you should start handling the business matters and not sitting around having fun during break, great men don't rest" Mr. Hansel said reaching for the door,

He paused for a second "Get ready for tomorrow, I will be introducing you to my new business partners" he said to him before closing the door after him. His bodyguards who were standing outside escorted him out. 

Lava balled his hand, he angrily hit his hand on the chair as if they had offended him. 

* * *

At night, Oma couldn't sleep as she kept on rolling on the bed. Her only flaws was that she worries and cares too much about things, people's business or problem, she would rather prefer she doesn't know anything at all because once you involve her in your business, she hardly back out.

Even though Erica's plan to go to the fundraiser was bizarre, she was still worried that Erica would continue to be mad at her for long. 

When she looked around the room, there was no sign of Erica

"She must be really mad at me" Oma thought to herself, she stares at the clock which ticks 1:00 am. She signed getting up from the bed. 

Erica sat outside, she couldn't sleep because she was thinking about what to do at the fundraiser, she laughed at herself for really having a sleepless night over a mission.

 Back at Riveria, when she fought the queen's sister Vashi; it wasn't that hard nor needed a step-by-step plan, Vashi was an outcast who doesn't believe in having someone rule over and control the sirens, so she just lived outside Riveria with some of the mermaid and merman's who were with her under the deep sea. It took just a day to attack them while they were sleeping although Vashi escaped. She killed every of them that was against queen Riveria.

She had been killing people for the queen since the age of thirteen when the queen had asked her to poison the king's drink, 

When she remembered all these things, she smiled to herself " if only the humans are just under one roof like the Riverian, it would have been much easier

"The queen was right, the human world is different" she thought to herself. 

" Are you really that mad at me?" Oma asked from behind interrupting her thoughts 

" About what?" Erica asked turning to look at her. 

" About what? About me saying I will not be joining your bizarre plan of going to the fundraiser of course" Oma said really pissed that Erica was pretending not to know 

" If I can't control my anger, Then I wouldn't have come this far" Erica told her

She got up from where she was sitting down " you will take me there before going to meet your beings" she said and walked pass her not waiting for any of her response. 

" I am really mad at myself for worrying about you! How do I become so attached to her?" Oma angrily said to herself 

* * * 

A Big day for the most popular and outstanding man of the city; Mr. Hansel who will be running for the position of the Mayor of Bellaire city year 3030. A lot of people will be showing up at his fundraiser, it's not just a fundraiser, it is also to win the heart of the people, although he doesn't need to do much as the only candidate running for that position, but still, he wants to prove to the people that he deserved that position even if there were other candidates. 

Lava stare at himself on the mirror for the 5th time, he was really nervous especially for the fact that he will be talking to a lot of people he hasn't met before once his dad introduces him 

" You can do it lava; you always have that strong charm of winning people's heart" came a gentle voice from the stairs. 

Lava turned to the old nanny that had been working for her father since he was little, she had been there for him as a mother.

He smiled " Thank you Mrs. Smith, " he said cheerfully 

" Who knows, Today might be the best day of your life and a new beginning to something good" she told him 

" Then I will walk into there with my heads up" he said smiling " thank you again for your kind words" he added and Mrs. Smith briefly smiled.

She watches him leave the house to join his chauffeur on the car. 

***

" Hi Lilian" Oma said immediately she has sighted Lilian from across the road. 

" Hi best friend" Lilian said as she reached her hand at her for a hug. 

Oma hugged her warmly before they smiled at each other. 

" So where are we going?" Oma asked in curiosity 

" My mum's friend opened a restaurant, so we are invited to eat foods for free" Lilian said in happiness 

" You love free foods; I am guessing you will take half of my meal there " Oma said and Lilian laughed 

" I am the only one allowed to eat with you on the same plate and steal your foods, we are more like blood sis" Lilian said " Now let's go" she said again 

Oma briefly smiled " you are not the only one" she thought to herself as Erica eating with her and sleeping in the same room with her for almost one week flashed into her memory.

Erica is becoming more closer to her than she had thought and she wanted to brag about her sudden strong feelings for a stranger. She quickly waves the thoughts away 

" I wonder if she is already there?" She said really worried that Erica might not follow the address she had given to her properly. 

* * * 

" Good afternoon Mr. soon to be mayor" One of the important guests said reaching his hand for a handshake 

" Mr. Morin, am glad you made it here" Mr. Hansel said shaking hands with him 

" Looking forward to this big event " Mr. Morin said smiling 

" I am betting on you all to help me out" Mr. Hansel said returning the smile. 

Some guy approached them. Mr. Hansel excused himself to talk with the man 

" It's time for the introduction sir" he told Mr. Hansel.

He nodded his head before scanning the whole people inside the room looking for lava. Lava waved his hand at him when he figured out that he was probably looking for him. He had been there fifteen minutes ago. His dad gestured at him to get ready for anything before heading to the stage where everyone could see him. 

" Good afternoon beautiful people, it's a pleasure having you all here" he said drawing the attention of his guests who were so outstanding in what they wore. 

" First of all, I am really glad to see much people who had come to my fundraising party, I didn't know a lot of people wants this tiny guy standing here to be their mayor" he teased and they all burst out laughing 

" It's unfair that am the only one running for the mayor and to make it up to some people who thinks this tiny man isn't worth the seat, I am going to follow every procedure starting with this fundraising, all the good money you all will be putting at the fundraiser once my accountant steps in after me will be used for the good will of the people of this city. We are one kind of people in the world that are here to help the other kind of people who were not able to be here today even though they would love to be part of this,

We are still going to show them that we still have them in our hearts by raising money to take care of the little things that matters in the city. As long as you are a citizen of Bellaire city; you are also a part of the good money that will come out of here today. I promise to do my best as the future mayor of Bellaire city" he said as a round of applause filled the air for him. He smiled and bowed humbly to them before he continued 

" While I run for the mayor of the city, my son lava will help run my business" he said pointing towards lava who was standing close to the stage looking as handsome as ever with his curly short hairs, beautiful eye and his tall and well fitted body. 

He smiled while bowing in respect to them all as a lot of ladies both single and married fell for his charms, a lot of mothers are already planning to make him their son in-law once the party is over. 

"Um...." Mr. Hansel cleared his throat " I know what is going through the ladies head" he teased and everyone laughed again. 

" Why I run for the mayor, he will assist me in my business, so there won't be any excuse from me for not doing my job well, I am betting on you all" he said and a round of applause filled the air again. 

He handed the mic to one of the men to continue the remaining process while some people who had it in them went for his accountant. The single ladies started making effort to win lava's heart, if he wasn't there, they would have gone for his dad. 

Lava noticed what was going on, he was the type that isn't interested in dating or anything romance at the moment, he didn't want to be like his dad. When he raised his head to turn to the other side of the big room, he sighted a familiar feminine figure he had seen before, the only lady who had made his heart skip a beat at first sight 

The beautiful Erica stood among the crowds with her brown eye starring straight at him, her curly hair braided backwards, there was no jewelry of any sorts but she looks more beautiful than any lady in the room, she was wearing a light red long gown which illustrated the shape of her body. 

"Oh my God, another hallucination of her; I must be going crazy" he said almost running out of his breath with his heart pounding out of his heart.