Chapter Two

River's POV

As we all had light lunch at the funeral, Anthony decided to head towards a restaurant to have early dinner as It's already evening and we all were tired to go home and make some food.

Right now we are at a family diner, Anthony is ordering food for all of us after asking what we all wanted to have a few minutes ago. I really don't have idea about food out here in restaurants as I never really went out that many times, didn't have money to buy food from restaurants either so I decided to have what Scarlet ordered which includes a hamburger and fries with oreo shake. Apparently, Henna doesn't like Orni eating junk food all the time but she didn't stop this time. She was too busy to grieve over the death of Mary.

Sometimes I really don't understand her sadness. We all have to die one day. Isn't it useless to cry your eyes out for someone who will never return? I've learned from experience. No matter how much I cried, my parents never came back. If people who are still alive won't come back, how will the dead?

"We could have gone to "The pearly's ``. They make the best burgers and fries!" Scarlet whines, throwing her hands in the air to add a dramatic effect which only earns her a glare from Gabriel who is sitting right in front of her and beside me. I try to sink in my seat more as if it would stop Gabriel from feeling disgusted by my presence.

"Stop whining about everything, you little shit! You are getting burgers and fries " He mutters, clearly annoyed at his sister's outburst for no reason.

Sometimes, I don't understand Gabriel either. One moment he is the ideal big brother to Scarlet but then another moment he makes it clear he isn't so ideal. Maybe it's just me not knowing how to read someone's emotions.

" Language, Gabriel." Henna scolds him.

"Refrain yourself from using this kind of language in front of your parents and your little sister." Anthony scolds Gabriel as well while holding a stern gaze at him.

Not gonna lie, Anthony looks scary when he pulls the dad mode but other times he is a very gentle person who loves his children very much. At least, that's what I've observed over the month. He has always been good to me as well. Granted that we haven't extracted much but it's enough for me to determine that he is a good father.

"Sorry." Gabriel mutters, not totally meaning it.

"And you are already getting what you wanted. Don't complain about little things, dear. It's not very polite to throw a tantrum and that's too in public. You could be disturbing other people. " Scarlet nods her head, sticking her tongue out at her brother, teasing him for getting scolded.

"I'm sorry, dad." She apologises softly and tries to lean onto her father's shoulder but because of their height differences, her head reaches his chest and he pats her head.

It's beautiful to watch them interacting, it brings a smile to my face unintentionally. I have read books about parenting, I've seen videos which showed me the utmost love that parents hold for their children. It showed me that parents' hearts are always full of love for their children. Maybe in my case their love was too much to handle that they decided they couldn't take it anymore. Maybe I had put a hole in their hearts and that's why they didn't feel the love for me when they threw me away like dirt.

I cast my glance at Gabriel to shake off all the last memories away from my mind. Apparently, his hatred burns all my stamina to even think about my horrible luck.

I know I can never be permanently free from my memories, they will always haunt me but I can always look for temporary relief. I try to focus on him because along with his hatred for me, he is just like a mystery to me, an alluring mystery that I want to solve. Whatever happened today with his friend has caught my full attention. I've no intention to invade his private life any more as soon as I remember how much he loathes me for stepping in his life.

So, I put my head down, casting my gaze at the table, looking at nothing in particular, just being lost in my thoughts like always.

Being bored by doing nothing but waiting for our food to arrive, I finally look up to notice my surroundings, a small smile on my face when I face Anthony and Scarlet.

If I'm being honest, I must admit that I'm jealous, so jealous of their bond that I want to cry over my fate. Was I really a horrible child for them to just throw me away? Maybe everyone is right. I'm a bad omen. I avert my gaze from them as well because if I spend another minute watching them, I will cry for sure. It would be so embarrassing.

After a while of looking around, I find myself gluing my eyes to someone particularly. It's Gabriel's friend Killian Price who is serving at a table which is placed ahead of ours, he is in his work cloth which consists of a pair of plain black pants, white shirt and a black apron in his front with a name tag.

I decide It's enough to be a creep for today. I shouldn't stare at the boy anymore

If he catches my gaze again, he may think of me as a creep this time for sure.

"I need to use the washroom." Gabriel excuses himself from the table, dragging his feet away from my line of vision.

Is Killian the reason why Gabriel told Anthony that we should come to this specific restaurant to have dinner? Maybe he still has something to discuss with this Killian guy. I hope it's nothing serious and he doesn't pick up a fight with this guy. It would be too much for Henna to handle all these things at the moment.

"Umm…" I clear my throat, causing 3 pairs of eyes to settle on me, giving me their full attention which I actually didn't expect.

"I….I will go to the washroom too." I say awkwardly.

Anthony and Henna nod their heads, I get up off the chair and wander around to find the washroom. It's not a big restaurant so it's easy to find the gents washroom. I think Gabriel might be on his way to the table now. It's been 5 minutes already. I hope he doesn't think I'm following him because I really need to use the washroom.

I need to freshen up a little bit. I'm feeling tired already and getting sleepy, maybe I can feel a little bit fresh after relieving myself. With that thought in my mind I step inside a stall and sit on the toilet seat.

"Listen to me, you can't tell anyone about it! And you wouldn't be telling it to anyone either!" An angry and threatening voice blooms around me, scaring me as It's so sudden. It takes me a while to realise this voice belongs to Gabriel.

What is he doing? Is he arguing with someone in the toilet stall? That's kinda awkward? He shouldn't talk loudly, I believe there are other people around here. If I can listen to him, others can too. Maybe he is in the next stall to mine as I can hear him clearly.

"I've already told you to stay away." A scarier voice speaks up, his voice is calm and collected which makes it sound intimidating, giving me goosebumps.

What's happening in the toilet? Is it the Killian guy? I've never heard him speaking before so I can't tell but I can assume it's him as Gabriel knows him and he had an argument with him earlier.

"If anyone comes to know about it, they will know who you really are, Killian. Don't think I'm kidding." Gabriel threatens.

So,I was right. It's the Killian guy. I really have no idea what they are talking about but it definitely seems to be something serious. But Gabriel is being too desperate. If he doesn't want others to know whatever secret he has, he shouldn't speak so loud where many people can hear him. Gabriel should really keep his anger at bay.

"As if you are not enough to make it a news to everyone. Stop yelling."

Well, at least he makes sense.

"Shut up. And listen I'm not kidding, Killian. I'm fucked up and I will make sure you are too if you tell anyone about it."

"Are you really threatening me, Gab? I don't think you are in a place to do so." Once again I feel the goosebumps rising on my skin, his voice is merely above a whisper yet it sounds more threatening than Gabriel's angry tone.

"No, I'm inviting you to a tea party. Of course I can threaten you, you shithead." Gabriel mocks, his voice is louder than before. I can tell he is getting angrier as time ticks by . I'm afraid they will take the whole restaurant by surprise with their loud argument. I mean, with Gabriel's loud argument.

"Keep your tone down. Anyone can hear you shitting your mouth. Don't you have common sense in that empty head of yours? " Killian sounds annoyed now.

"I don't care. Just promise me you will keep my secret."

I wonder what's this secret of his. Oh God, I sound so creepy right now. If there was a competition for invading someone's personal life, I would win the first prize.

"Don't waste my time. I need to work."

"Just promise me, dude. I will keep my mouth shut in return." This time Gabriel sounds relaxed and his tone is slower, almost like he is begging.

Now, I shouldn't listen to their conversation anymore, I have listened enough. I'm also done with my business. So,I should take my leave before they come out. I can't stand the awkward air in the environment here either. They are also quiet so I think they are now calm. I take another two minutes to come out of the stall as I wait for them to leave the washroom. Since I don't hear them anymore, I assume it's safe enough to come out.

Quickly I step out of the stall. Maybe this is the reason why Gabriel doesn't like me. I try to pry in everyones' business without meaning to do it. Even I find myself annoying.

"What the fuck?!" My face turns pale when Gabriel stands in front of me, facing me while his own face holds a hardening and disgusted look. And here I thought I could avoid them.

"I-I-"

"Were you listening to us? Are you spying on me now? What's your problem, man? Can't you just stay away from me? Is it that hard?" I can't open my mouth to defend myself as Gabriel keeps going on, accusing me of something that I didn't do intentionally.

"God, get a life!" He leaves me alone after yelling at me, leaving me dumbfounded.

Maybe I deserved it. I shouldn't have listened to their conversation and should have focused on my business but again they were yelling and it was crystal clear to hear them, I couldn't possibly avoid them.

My eyes turn to the Killian guy who has a look that I can't decipher nor that I want to. I know he is disgusted just like Gabriel. Maybe he also thinks that I was spying on them. I look at him with guilty eyes and open my mouth to say something but then I stop myself from saying anything because I know I will just stutter which will make him more irritated.

He comes closer to me before giving me a strange look and walks ahead without saying anything. Good, I wasn't looking forward to hearing more accusations.

Sighing softly, I also start walking to leave the washroom and go to the family. Maybe food has already arrived but now I'm not feeling hungry anymore. I feel dread inside of me. I don't know how I will face Gabriel even though it's not exactly my fault. He will hate me more from now on knowing that I know that he has a secret that he wants to keep as a secret forever.