Chapter 5: Zeth and his Ginormous Pride

Adriel slammed the door close before roughly wiping the tears away from her eyes. The words that Zeth said went straight to her heart because deep inside, she knew—she knew that he was right.

She was spoiled. She was used to getting everything that she wanted. She hasn’t worked a day in her life.

But after she came here, she realized the beauty of a simple life. She started trying. That’s why Zeth’s words pained her even more. Because for once in her life, she was actually trying something new...but it still turned out to be a disappointment—she was a disappointment.

She went to her closet and started bringing out her clothes. It’s true. She doesn’t belong here, so maybe she should just leave.

As she was packing her bags, a small and timid knock was heard on the door. She lifted her head up and saw Milo looking at her with wide eyes.

“Adriel?” he said in that cute voice of his.

Adriel quickly composed herself and hid her luggage under the bed. Milo slowly walked towards her with slumped shoulders—as if he had already sensed what Adriel was doing.

“Are you going home?” he asked, his voice breaking.

Adriel’s heart melted with the sound of his voice.

Paired with his teary eyes and small pout, he couldn’t help but hug the little and innocent kid.

“I’m not going home, Milo,” Adriel lied.

Milo looked at the scattered clothes on the bed.

“But you’re taking all your clothes out.”

“I’m just—fixing them. Yeah, I’m just fixing them. Don’t worry.”

Milo stubbornly shook his head. “No. You’re leaving. That’s what mommy said when she also left.”

Adriel was stunned by the kid’s sudden revelation. She knew that the Grays also had their own struggles, considering that the children lived with their grandfather instead of their parents. But, she never really knew the complete details, nor did she ever try to find out about it.

Just then, tears fell from Milo’s eyes. “You’re going to leave me, just like mommy did.”

Adriel’s heart softened, and she quickly carried Milo and caged him in her arms. “Shh, no, baby. I’m really just fixing my things,” she said, the thought of leaving now devoid from her mind.

She was a sucker for kids, and she was a sucker for tears. Combine them together, and you’ve got the ultimate weapon of winning Adriel over.

Milo sniffed while Adriel gently wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’m not going to leave, okay? I’m going to stay here so we can have fun and play more games together.

A smile finally appeared on Milo’s face, although there were still tears in his eyes. “Really?”

Adriel couldn’t help but coo and pinch the younger’s cheeks. “Of course, baby. I’ll stay here for as long as you’d like.”

His smile widened, and he wrapped his short arms around Adriel’s neck. “Thank you, Adi!”

“Adi?” Adriel asked.

Milo broke away from her hold. “Can I call you that? Adi? Short for Adriel?”

“You can call me anything you like,” Adriel smiled.

“Then can you also tell me why you’re sad?”

Adriel shook her head. “I’m not sad, Milo.”

“But you are. Your eyes are sad.” Milo spoke in such an innocent voice that Adriel felt like she could fully trust him.

“I just...met a very mean guy.”

He poked my cheek and frowned. “Did he make you cry?”

I shook my head. “Let’s just say that he’s a very big meanie and I don’t like him.”

Milo huffed. “Then I also don’t like him. Anyone who is mean to Adi is my enemy.”

Adriel chuckled and quickly pinched his cheek. “It’s alright. At least I have you, right, Milo? You’ll always be here to cheer me up.”

He enthusiastically nodded his head. “Yes! I’m here! Francine is here! Grandpa is here! And my big bro is also here for you, Adi!”

“Hendrix?” she asked.

“Yes! Big bro Hendrix is very friendly, and he’ll also cheer you up.”

Adriel ruffled his hair. “Then I can’t wait to meet him.”

The room was filled with childish talks and giggles for the whole afternoon. The two of them enjoyed each other’s company, unknowing to the presence listening to them just outside the door.

Zeth unconsciously smiled as he looked through the little gap in the door. He finally saw his little brother smile—the kind of smile that he had never seen after their mother left them.

***

“Just apologize to her, Zeth,” Cedric said as he watched his friend bounce his leg up and down.

Zeth shrugged his shoulders and squared his chest.

“I didn’t do anything wrong, though.”

Word had gotten around about what happened at the rice mill, and frankly, Kian and Cedric found Zeth’s words quite harsh. Zeth, himself, felt like he went a little bit too overboard, but of course, his pride was too big to be able to admit that out loud.

“I would have cried my eyes out if I was in her position,” Kian jokingly said. “You didn’t have to undermine her efforts like that, dude. The farmers say that although she’s a little bit clumsy, she actually tries hard to help them.”

Zeth stayed silent and continued bouncing his leg up and down. He was about to cave into his friend’s requests, but he quickly dismissed the thought and stood up from his seat.

“Whatever. I’ll be going to the mansion to check all the decorations. You can stay here and defend that spoiled brat for all I care, but I’m not going to apologize to her,” he said before walking out of the house.

The twins shook their heads as they watched their friend walk away from the room. Zeth is just too stubborn for his own good.

***

Adriel doesn’t know why Zeth has been coming more often to the mansion, but she sure as hell doesn’t like it. She has already prevented herself from going out of the mansion too much since she’s afraid of causing trouble as Zeth had previously said. But now, she also feels uncomfortable staying in the mansion because the preposterous male always seems to be there.

So now, she was staying in her room because she wants to avoid Zeth at all costs.

Zeth, on the other hand, couldn’t help but crane his neck to look for the familiar blonde hair that he saw at the entrance of the event hall. However, she quickly vanished when they made slight eye contact.

As much as Zeth hated to admit it, he wondered whether what he said two days ago to the beautiful lass was too much.

“Sir, where shall I put this?” his train of thought was broken when one of the organizers called for his attention.

He shook his head to get rid of any emotions that revolved around Adriel. She was nothing but a spoiled brat who was sent here to be disciplined by her parents. She’s bound to leave by the end of the summer, so there’s really no use thinking about his lingering feelings.

“Place them in front of the podium,” he said, completely ridding his mind of the thoughts of Adriel.

While Adriel was hiding in her room, Milo suddenly went in with a huge smile on his face. He held onto her hand and started dragging her out of the bed.

“Woah, woah,” she said, surprised. “Where are you taking me?”

“Hendrix is here! Hendrix is here!” Milo excitedly chanted as he continued pulling Adriel to the direction of the event hall.

Adriel’s eyebrows unconsciously raised up. “Your big brother is here?”

“Yes! We can meet him together so you guys could be friends!”

Adriel chuckled as she watched the excited little kid talk about his big brother. She has always been curious about this “Hendrix” so she let herself be dragged away by Milo. Besides, she doesn’t mind making a new friend while she was staying here.

Once they made it into the event hall, Adriel became warier. She was pretty sure that she saw Zeth lingering around here earlier in the day, and she was anxious about whether he was still here.

“There!” Milo screamed, tugging at her hand and pointing to someone behind her.

She snapped out of her thoughts and looked in the direction that Milo was pointing.

She slowly turned around, and once she did…

She got the biggest surprise of her life.