I was pulled out of my trance when Garren held my wrist and pulled me. I wasn't able to bid a proper farewell to Enzo, so I just smiled apologetically. Garren slammed the door leading to the porch with a loud slam, scaring the shit out of me. He dragged me out of the mansion and couldn't care less that some maids were already looking at us. I tried to stop him, but he didn't listen and continued pulling me. My wrist is already hurting for god's sake! We didn't walk through the same path that we entered when we arrived here. I'm certain there are guests left because I can hear classical music playing, but that's the least of my concerns. "Sir. Can you please let go of my hand now?" I almost begged him, but for the second time, he turned a deaf ear. What the fuck is wrong with him?! The two security guards standing on the gate greeted him, but he didn't respond. They looked at us with bewilderment, and I wouldn't be surprised if I became the subject of their gossip the moment
Who's calling me in the middle of the night? Although bewildered, I stood up to answer the call. Much to my surprise, it's my brother who's calling me. I pressed the answer button. "This better be important, Archeus Saphiro," I feigned a stern tone. "C-Cleo." I frowned when I discerned the fear in his tone of voice. "Arch, is everything alright? You're making me nervous." There was a deafening silence on the other line. I could hear a peculiar static sound, but I don't know what that is. "It's about mama." My heart skipped a bit. "W-What about her?" His heavy sigh made me even more nervous. "She's at the hospital right now." My breathing hitched and my hands quivered in fear. I could feel my heart hammering against my chest. "W-What?" I shook my head. "Please tell me that this is just one of your stupid jokes, Arch." I know my brother would never jest about such a thing, but my mind is in a state of chaos and could not process his news. "I wish I am, but I'm not, Cleo.
"Are you sure you're alright, Cleo?" I pinched Greyson's cheeks. "You asked that question a hundred times already. I'm fine, alright? I just had a hard time sleeping last night. Stop worrying about me." Like I expected, I woke up with dark circles under my eyes. He shrugged his shoulders. "If you say so." After I finished packing his lunch, we headed outside where his father is waiting. Our eyes met, and I smiled at him. He also flashed a subtle smile. Greyson and I hopped inside his car. Soon, he began taking the road. The conversation that I had with him last night really helped me clear my mind. If it wasn't because of him, I wouldn't have been able to sleep. We reached the school twenty minutes before Greyson's class started. "Good luck, buddy. I love you." "I love you too, dad. Take care!" We crossed the road. The day went smoothly. During Greyson's class, I received a text from my brother that made me smile. The doctors said that our mother can be discharged from the h
We sat down on the nearby bench and rested for a while before Garren told us to eat first. We stopped in front of a food stall. The inviting smell of churros and corn dogs pervaded my nose. Garren handed me some bills. "Buy three corn dogs for us," he said. I nodded and fell in line. When it's my turn to buy, the vendor leaned to me and said something that made my jaw drop to the floor. "Your family looks lovely." I shook my head. "N-No. They are not my family, aunt. I'm that kid's nanny and that man is his father, so he's just my boss." Her forehead creased. "Really? But the way that man looks at you, it's full of love and adoration," she said and handed me my order. What the hell? How can she come up with such a ridiculous conclusion?! I smiled awkwardly and got the corn dogs. "Thank you, Aunt," I said dismissively and turned my back. I walked back to them and gave them the snacks. We eat silently while watching people pass by. I opened my phone and saw that it's already fi
"Aw, it's already ending?" Greyson murmured as the ferris wheel began circling down. "Why? You want to stay there longer?" I asked. He nodded fervently. "I want to spend the rest of the night here." I chuckled. "There's still a next time." The ferris wheel eventually stopped. The door of the cabin automatically opened as we stepped out. "Did you have fun?" I asked him. He beamed widely. "I did. But I'm already sleepy. Dad, let's go home." Garren laughed. "Your energy has finally inflated, huh?" He carried his son in his arms as we walked out of the amusement park. I gave the place one last glance before I ran after them. I helped Garren get his son in the backseat. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around him, and he also turned down the AC in his car. That made me smile. He walked past me without saying anything and headed to the driver's seat, as if I'm nothing but a ghost. That made me quite confused, but I chose to brush it aside. I checked Greyson to see if he w
I shook my head and went to Greyson's room to wake him up. After he took a bath and put on his uniform, we headed downstairs. Surprisingly, his father is also standing at the end of the stairs. He's carrying a suitcase in his left hand.. His hair is disheveled, and he looks exhausted with his dead eyes. "Dad!" Greyson sprinted downstairs to meet his father. Garren discarded the look of enervation in his face and put on an energetic expression. He welcomed his son into his arms. "Did you miss me?" The latter nodded fervently. "I do! It's been almost a week since you've been gone. You said you'd only be away for four days," he sulked. I just stood behind Greyson while watching them. "Sorry, buddy. Something came up, so I had to extend my work days." "I understand, dad. You look tired. You should get some rest now." He chuckled. "I could still run a mile, buddy. I'll just change my clothes and drive you to school." "Are you sure?" "Definitely. Now go eat your breakfast." With
When the night fell, all of us gathered at the kitchen table for dinner. While I'm spooning mashed potatoes as a side dish for Greyson's plate, Garren suddenly spoke. "He doesn't like potatoes." I took back the spoonful of potatoes and apologized, "Sorry, sir. I didn't know." "You've been here for more than three months now. You should be familiar with all his likes and dislikes." He said that calmly, but I felt like he humiliated me with the tone of his voice. What's wrong with him?! "Dad, it's fine. I haven't told Cleo yet that I don't like potatoes. You don't have to be mean to her." I internally grinned. I'm glad that I have Greyson on my side. Garren laughed snidely. "I wasn't being mean. I was just reminding her." What a liar. After dinner, I accompanied Greyson to his room. While I'm heading downstairs after I tucked him to sleep, I come across Aunt Esther, who's carrying a cup of coffee. "Who's that for, Aunt?" I asked, though I already have an idea. "It's for Ga
Cynthia nudged me when Garren left. "What was that?" "What?" I scowled. "You didn't even look at each other. Are you still in quarrel with him?" I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe? But I don't care anymore. He can snub me for all I care." That's right. I should fulfill the words I affirmed last night. I almost bleared the boundary between us and crossed it, it's time to clear that line. "Hmmm.... this is interesting." I ignored her and walked towards the kitchen, where I found Greyson and his father sitting on the table. Aunt Cora and Aunt Esther are there too. The breakfast was silent and awkward as hell... or at least for me. The kitchen is spacious, yet I feel like I'm moving through a narrow room and walking on a floor scattered with shattered pieces of glass. It's flabbergasting to think that I suddenly went back to that time when Garren's presence terrified me. The same thing happened during the ride through Greyson's school. I didn't throw Garren a glance or speak to h