I narrowed my eyes at him, "Damn, I don't think I've ever seen you not calm and you're freaking out right now"

"I haven't done the whole being introduced to girlfriend's family thing for a while now," Breton hurriedly poured out water in the vase into the sink, "Plus, this will be the first time I'm introducing my adoptive daughter."

I couldn't help but smile when he said those words, and got up from the couch, walking to the kitchen where Breton is now lighting up candles. It was Friday night and Breton's girlfriend, Helena and her daughter, Leah were coming over for dinner. I saw the scrumptious dishes laid out on the table and my mouth watered from the aroma. There were mashed potatoes, fried salmon, hot chocolate lava cake, sweet bread and pink lemonade.

"I don't see any reasons that it would go wrong. I've got a feeling that even Leah and I would be friendly, she's only four years older than me so it's easier to find stuff to talk about."

As if right on cue, the doorbell rang and I went to open the door. The two women who stood in front of me looked exactly like the pictures Breton showed me. Helena, who wore a dark blue lace dress which complimented her blue eyes. Leah, who went for a casual side, wore mint skirt pants with a simple white top.

Helena had a big smile on her face when she saw me, "Hi, you must be Tiana. Nice to finally meet you."
"Likewise, both of you," Leah gave me a small smile as she stood behind her mother, "Come in, please."

I closed the door behind them and saw Breton greeting Helena with a kiss. All of us then settled down around the dining table and dug into the food. Another reason why I was excited about today was because of the food, obviously.

"So Tiana, I heard you're setting alright in Eunoia Junior College?" Helena asked me.

Just have to steer clear of conversations about my life before I came here for the entire night. Should be doable.

I chuckled, "Barely there, Singapore's education is no joke."

"I think you're doing alright. What about you, Leah? Your mother told me you recently graduated from university," Breton cuts in and stirred the conversation focus away from me.

Leah put the fork down, "Yeah, just graduated last year and am currently pursuing journalism."

"I think journalism is a great route to go," I said. But I can never do that as I'm still presumed dead.

"Oh don't be so humble, Leah," Helena turned to Breton and I, "Leah got a job as an intern at the Strait Times last month."

Strait Times is one of Singapore's most popular newspapers. Every day I do take a look at the international news page, just to see what Nicandro was up to.

"That's fantastic, Leah. How is it going so far?" Breton asked her. I also saw that Leah's cheeks turned a shade redder.

"It's going great, a little overwhelming at first, but I'm getting the hang of it."

We went on talking about why Helena and Leah moved to Singapore, it was because Helena got a job offer here when her company back in Russia decided to move locations. She now works at a bank company as an accountant, and the same bank company which backs up the law firm Breton is working at, which brings back to the point how they met at the New Year Eve's party, as it was hosted by the bank company. I talked briefly about Sha and Sherwyn, taking the focus off myself once again and Leah shared a little about this guy she had been sort of flirting with the past few weeks.

After dinner, Leah and I went up to my room while Breton and Helena stayed downstairs to 'clean the dishes'. I really liked them together, but public display of affection generally makes me uncomfortable, even more so when it's your second foster dad's with his girlfriend in the house.

"Nice room," Leah commented as she sat on the chair beside the desk.

What you could describe my room in one word would be simple. The walls are an off-white colour, a wooden header bed with a plain nude coloured bed sheet, a light brown wood desk paired with a white plastic roller chair and a closet at the corner.

"I like simplistic things," I replied.

There was a few moments of silence before she asked, "I hope I'm not sounding rude or anything but did you ever try to search for your biological parents?"

I was a little stunned when she suddenly asked me that question, and it made it think about everything that has happened last year. I never knew Zari's death would be a jump start to my journey of finding out what happened to my parents, and that I would fall for the prince of Spain.

Leah's face turned into a shade of guilt, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"No, it's fine. And yes I did."

I can visibly see Leah letting out a breath, "Because my father has been out of the picture since I was three... and I still think about him every day."

Yes, her father. That question has popped up in my mind, but I didn't want to ask it and sound intrusive.

"I hired a private investigator last week to find him," she was fidgeting with her fingers as she said that.

"Any luck?" I asked.

"None so far."

I slowly nodded my head, taking it all in. It does feel nice to talk about wanting to find biological parents.

"I take it your mum doesn't know about this?"

"Yeah, she always avoids talking about him. Which I understand since he basically walked out on me and her," Leah sighed and brushed her finger through her brown hair, "But I'm an adult who can make her own choices, and I choose to get in contact with him."

"I'll definitely back you up if you need," I gently placed my hand on her shoulder.

She sniffled, "Thanks, and I totally didn't mean for this to turn into a pity party."

"Pity parties are the only kind of parties which I fit in, so you're good," I chuckled in response, and she laughed along.

Geography. I looked around the classroom, searching for a seat. Damn, it really sucks being the new student and not knowing anyone.

The third and fourth row is already occupied by those chatty and popular kids, and the first row is where those kids who want to be the teacher's pet sit, so my only option is sitting in the second row.

I spotted an empty seat in the second row and quickly sat down before someone else sat there and I'll have to awkwardly sit beside someone else. I started taking out my books and pencil case as other students walked into the class and before the teacher came in.

"Good morning class," the teacher said as he walked in. He was a little older, in his late forties, I would say.

"Good morning, Mr Reven," some of the students replied back.

I was just praying really hard that he doesn't ask me to stand in front of the class and introduce myself. Like, I don't think I'm that interesting anyway.

Mr Reven pressed a button and the projector screen lit up, "Take out your workbook and flip to page thirty-six, where we last stopped."

I let out a huge breath and flipped my workbook to page thirty-six.

"Let's take a look at part b, when the water flows out from the-"

A knock on the door interrupted him.

I turned my head to the guy standing at the door. He was wearing a light brown polo tee that matched with his dark brown hair. I heard someone behind me whistled, so he must be from the chatty gang.

"Mr Oplin, I'm sure you know the procedure," Mr Reven looked at him with annoyance.

"Yes, I'll be at detention after school," He gave a playful smirk before walking into the classroom.

That's when I noticed him walking towards the empty seat beside mine. Why would he want to sit beside me and not his friends? Then I realised that's the only empty seat left, the other one was right in front of the teacher's desk and of course, he would rather choose to sit here than there. I couldn't help but roll my eyes when he sat down.

I felt his head turn towards me, "I know I don't have the best skill with remembering faces, but I'm sure that I haven't seen yours before."

Great, now I've to deal with his chattiness for the next hour.

"I'm new," I replied, not looking at him.

"Yeah, I figured," He clicked his pen and moved a little closer to me, "What's your name?"

"Tiana," I replied, and started writing on the workbook.

"I'm Walter," he threw me a glance before he started writing down what was shown on the screen as well.

"So you just moved here?" he asked me a few seconds later.

Can he just stop asking me questions?

"None of your business," hopefully that'll shut him up.

He chuckled, "Aw, why are you being such a-"

"Mr Oplin!" Mr Reven's voice boomed across the classroom, "Stop talking to-"

He looked at me for a few seconds, "Oh my, how forgetful I am. You must be the new student."

Everyone turned their heads towards me. Please no.

"Please, come to the front and give a short introduction of yourself."

Bloody hell.