Chapter 2: The pair of red eyes

 The parlor door was abruptly pushed open, revealing Ava who yelled effortlessly as she made her way inside, 

“I'm home!” 

She threw the bag on the couch and made her way to the kitchen.

“Welcome back Ava,” A lady with blonde hair smiled widely as she placed a kettle filled with water on the stove. 

Reneging her gaze from Ava, she met with a pair of emerald eyes staring right into the kitchen, whilst standing a bit far from the kitchen counter. 

“I see you brought a company,” The young lady said, not tearing her gaze away from the guest. As excitement swirled within her, she turned to Ava, 

“Don't tell me you got a boyfriend already?” She teased chuckling, which caused Ava to almost choke on the glass of water she had almost gulped down.

“He is not my boyfriend Asha,” Ava disposed of the remaining content of water into the sink before placing it back on the shelf.

“He is just a friend ok? His name is Otto and he helped show me around college being my first day today.” She clarified.

“So tell me, how was it? Your first day of college I mean?” Asha asked excitedly, almost completely forgetting about the guest.

Mulling over the issue for a while, Ava's brain wandered back to what happened on the bus. She still couldn't believe he had denied touching her butt when he was a pervert. 

However, speaking of which, why does he look so familiar? Just where had she seen him before? Gosh, it was so frustrating that she was already beginning to develop a migraine.

 Regaining her composure, she pushed her random thoughts aside and let out a smile.

“My first day of college was awesome, however, Otto made it more fun for me.” She gestured for Otto to come over.

“Well, hello dear,” Asha leaned on the counter as Otto walked over. 

With her lips curled up into a slight smirk she began, “You must be a bookworm and a gentleman judging from your appearance.” 

Having heard what Asha had said, Otto looked down at his clothing. He was putting on a blue sweatshirt accompanied by black jean trousers and white sneakers. And indeed she was right for a person who had just met him.

Adjusting his medicated glass, he simply let out a small smile which revealed his two-sided dimples. Thereafter he tore his gaze from Asha and directed it to Ava, squinting his eyes at her.

As if understanding what Otto had meant, Ava clasped her hands together, “Otto this is Asha, my older sister,” she pointed to Asha before she added, “And Asha this is Otto, my friend.” 

“You seem to have a crush on my little sister Otto.” Asha suddenly blurted out, emphasizing his name, and chuckled right after.

“Well,” she continued in a voice calmer than before. “You can date my sister but there's a condition attached to it and that is you must be a rich guy.” she clasped her hands together and leaned on the counter once again. 

The situation seemed rather uncomfortable for Ava that she nudged her sister on the elbow. Nevertheless, Asha was adamant and continued with her question. 

“What do your parents do?” 

The question came so suddenly to Otto that he chuckled softly. He was confused and amused by the lady in front of him. Just why the hell does she want to know all this? 

After a few seconds of staying quiet and contemplating whether to tell her or not, Otto adjusted his medicated glass once again and began in a confident voice before, “My father is a medical practitioner, a surgeon to be specific, and my mother...” 

“Perhaps your father, Tyler Freeman, is the highest-paid medical practitioner in Los Angeles?” Asha interrupted as excitement glinted in her eyes.

“Yes, he is,” Otto answered sincerely and chuckled right after. “You seem to know about him.” 

Stomping her feet in excitement, Asha pushed her hair back and replied, “Of course, I know him very well and besides everyone knows about him too.” she patted him on the shoulder softly. “You have my permission to date my sister since you are rich.” 

She withdrew her hands and then turned to Ava. “Make sure you date a rich guy, Ava, otherwise I'm going to kill you.” she strictly warned.

Rolling her eyes drastically, Ava sat on a high stool. Her eyes wandered around every bit of the house and as it seemed not to get in contact with what it was searching for, she tapped her sister on the shoulder.

“Where is Mom?” 

“Oh...she is still in the market...” Asha trailed off her words as she looked at her wristwatch. “I will go pick her up by 7 pm.” She completed her sentence.

After spending a little time with the sisters, Otto took the initiative to return home. However, Ava insisted on seeing him off which he bluntly refused to. Hence, after insisting so many times he agreed.

As the silence between them was getting more awkward by the second, Otto shyly itched the back of his head thinking of a way to start a conversation between them. 

Sighing deeply he began, “Your sister is really...”  

“Crazy, I know!” Ava interjected and chuckled right after. “I'm sorry about how she behaved towards you. That is just Asha,” 

Letting out a soft chuckle, Otto replied rather calmly. “I was going to say Funny, not crazy but what is with all the rich guy stuff she was spewing?” He slowed down his movements to meet hers.

“Well...” Ava sighed deeply. “Asha was thirteen years old and I was ten years old when our parents got into an accident. Things got pretty rusty and my mom stayed in a coma for ten months. We sold our convenience store alongside a few of our properties to pay the medical bills...” She halted on her track and so did Otto.

“After losing our dad, we couldn't watch losing our mom too. Although she woke up with a disability, as long as she is alive for us, we don't care about anything else.” 

Having heard the word disability got Otto extremely curious, “Disability?” he furrowed his brows asking.

“Yes, my mom is suffering from dumbness.” she let out a bitter smile and made it clear, “She can't speak.” 

Seeing the sad and buttered smile on her face caused Otto's heart to ache badly. He loved seeing her smile and that kind also made him happy. Although today was their first time meeting, he felt like he had known her for a long time. Perhaps it was the kind of personality she possesses.

 “I'm so sorry Ava, I shouldn't have asked,” he uttered sadly.

Waving her hands in the air, she replied, chuckling, “It is not your fault Otto, you would have found out sooner or later though I hadn't told you.” she patted him on his shoulder, “Let's go.” 

•••

Meanwhile, inside the woods, a pair of red eyes watched the two as they walked alongside together giggling and cracking jokes.

“You have gotten so big Ava Evander,” it uttered with gritted teeth.