Chapter 6

Chapter 6

SHE moaned when she felt as if someone touched her hair. She opened her eyes. Gabrielle is sitting at the wooden chair, giving her an impassive look. She frowned.

"What?" she asked.

"What did you ask my parents?" Gabrielle asked in a serious tone.

"Nothing," she muttered with a shrug.

"Next time, don't interfere in other people's lives."

He stood up and left her. Her ears perked up because of what he said. She immediately got off the hammock and followed Gabrielle.

"I am not interfering in your life!" she said while tailing him. But then Gabrielle suddenly stopped causing her face to sink behind him.

"Shit!" she murmured weakly while holding her nose.

"Then don't be too nosy," he said, giving her a warning tone.

"And who are you to stop me, anyway? You have to remember this! You're just a bodyguard! My father pays you, so don't even interfere in my life too!" she said angrily as she walked out but Gabrielle quickly pulled her away. He held her tightly by her left arm.

"I have power over you so I have the right to do what I want. Speaking of your father, of course I work for him but not for you. So don't push me to my limits. You'll regret it!" He released her and left her. She rubbed her arm. His fingers stretched out on her skin. She clenches her jaw.

"I swear, one day you're gonna pay for treating me like this!" Kathleen swears.

IT WAS LUNCH already when Susana called her. She's been locking herself in her room for a while now and she doesn't want to come out because if she does, she's sure to get into a fight with Gabrielle. She slouched her back against the bed and covered herself with the duvet. Fortunately, her blanket is thick, so she won't get too cold at night.

"Kathleen, haven't you eaten yet?" Susana called her while knocking on her door.

"Later," she answered back.

She covered herself with a blanket again. Honestly, her room was hot but fortunately there was a small electric fan so she didn't feel the heat too much. Suddenly, the door to her room opened. She immediately got up and sat on the bed. She guessed, maybe she forgot to lock the door. She frowned when she saw Gabrielle. His face was seriously staring at her. She just gave him a smirk and went back to lying on the bed.

"Are you acting again like a spoiled brat?" Gabrielle asked. Her jaw tightened but she remained speechless.

"Stand there if you don't want me to drag you out."

She let out an annoying sigh. She got up again and stood up. It's not that she's afraid of him, but she's ashamed about being dragged outside. She doesn't want to be embarrassed in front of his foster parents.

"Damn you!" she gently pushed him so that she could pass beside him. She got down and went straight to the kitchen.

"Is it okay if this is our only dish, son?" Susana asked her. She looked at the table. There is no problem with the dish. He eats the beans.

"There's no problem with it," she answered and sat down. Gabrielle then came and sat across from her next to his father, Efren. Mother Susana served her.

"I can manage," she said as she waved her hands.

"Don't worry Kathleen, it's really fine. I really want to serve you too," Susana said with a smile. The older woman seemed to really like her. After serving her, Susana then sat next to her when she suddenly stopped and looked at her left arm.

"How did that happen, Kathleen? Why do you have a bruise?" she asked, exclaimed in shock.

"Yes?" she wondered and also bent down to look at her left arm. "It's nothing, mother," she answered as she pulled down her sleeve.

"Are you sure? Wait, Gabrielle, buy it some ice later," Susana turned to Gabrielle.

When she glanced at Gabrielle, he was silent but didn't want to take his eyes off of her. She avoided his gaze. She finished her food quickly. Then she said excuse and informed them that she'll go back to her room. But she was very surprised when Gabrielle suddenly followed her. He stopped her and was about to grab her arm but she immediately avoided it.

"Don't touch me," she said firmly and turned her back on him. He didn't insist and just let her go. He left her alone.

When she was left alone, she immediately examined her left arm in front of the mirror. A little bruise appeared on her left arm but she didn't mind it at all. She sat on her bed for a moment then thought about lying down. She wants to take a quick nap. She also fell asleep easily. Maybe she's tired of overthinking.

SHE'S into deep sleep when suddenly something cold landed on her left arm. When she opened her eyes, she saw Gabrielle. He was holding a face towel and under it was a small ice cube. He applied it into her arm where there was a bruise. She sat up and pulled her arm.

"Don't touch me," she said and was about to take the face towel in his hand but Gabrielle quickly took it back from her.

"I'm the one who did this, so I'll be the one to treat it," he said while pulling her hand again. She just smirked and rolled her eyes.

"I won't apologize if that's what you want to hear from me." Her face frowned even more.

"I'm not expecting either," she answered bitterly, then looked away from him again. She heard him sigh.

"Don't ask my parents about personal things again. They get easily offended, they don't just say something but that's what they feel. They just don't want to embarrass you. I don't want them to be hurt, thinking that I am not their legitimate son. I get annoyed every time someone asks if I am their adopted or not. I don't want them to feel that they're lacking in something. Do you get my point?" Gabrielle said then stared at her. She bit her lower lip. Yes, she will admit, she was curious about it but hurting their feelings is not her intention.

"Sorry," she said softly. He released her arm.

"If you want to ask something, ask me. Don't ask them. Do we understand each other Kathleen?" She swallowed. His eyes were burning with anger. She nodded absently. He left her and she was left stunned. And when she realized, she slapped her forehead. Gabrielle is right. Even if he says it's okay to ask his foster parents about it, she still can't hide the fact that she can offend them.

"Damn it Kath! You just only got here and you already strike one!" she chastised herself and took a deep breath.