Chapter 5

The day had just started.

Familiar arguments from yesterday reached her ears again. Brandon's voice was clearly furious despite having suppressed his volume. He was still trying his best to stop Kyle from entangling himself with her.

Leaning against the door, Clover stared at the female clothes she was holding. 

"I miss home," she muttered as she stepped into the minimalist bathroom.

Turning on the tap, water gushed down the sink as she stared deeply at her own reflection. Broken lips, lifeless eyes, and messy hair—nothing close to good or well. A completely different person than before. Who would've believed she was born with a silver spoon?

She cupped the running water and splashed it on her face. The good times were gone. "Hang in there, Clover Hon," she said, feeling the drips coursing down her chin. "Don't give up."

"You're gonna regret this, Kyle."

The conversation became clear the moment she walked out. But Kyle ended it before she could get involved personally.

"Wow, Clover. Looks nice on you," he said, gulping down the last of his cappuccino in his white ceramic mug.

She flashed an awkward smile and went over to help Brandon when she saw him by the doorstep, carrying bags to the black executive van parked outside. Rummaging in her back pocket, she took out a hair tie and accumulated her silky strands into a neat ponytail.

"Let me help." She rolled up her sleeves and hopped slightly to keep her loose jeans in place.

"If you really want to help," he uttered, hinting at the coldness growing in his tone, "then leave.”

She swallowed the sour lump down her throat, blinking back her tears. "W-Why..."

"The only way for you to help is to disappear from his life." He drew his face closer to her and turned his voice into a whisper, "Trust me."

She withdrew herself. "I—"

"Clover! Can you come up here for a sec?" Kyle poked his head out of the extended balcony and searched for her.

She walked to the front yard and raised her head, her eyes squinting at the sun. "H-Huh?"

"Get in. I need your help with something," he continued.

"Okay, coming!" she said.

She was a step away from entering the house when Brandon suddenly grabbed her arm and squeezed it hard. "Don't destroy him, Clover. Don't make use of his kindness toward you. He has sacrificed too much to be who he is today."

After saying that, he turned around and trotted over to get the van ready for the day.

Her elbow stung. But she had no time to feel. It wasn't until she stepped into the living room that she faltered and hit the tall Monstera at the corner as Brandon's words echoed in her head. 

Was Brandon right?

Lost in thought, she twirled the green leaf absent-mindedly. 

"Clover?" Kyle called once again, pulling her back to reality. "Come on!"

She jerked and immediately took two steps at a time up the floating staircase after realizing she had kept him waiting.

As soon as she reached the top floor, she caught sight of an elegant music studio inside one of the rooms. She gaped and flitted her widened eyes to the square bunching tables in front of her. Various world-renowned brands were displayed on top: Lancôme, Estée Lauder, and Rimmel London. She had heard of them before. But to use them? Not even once in her seventeen years of living.

"As my personal assistant, you'll need to learn a lot of things." Kyle was scrolling on his phone, having his hair done by a professional.

A lady beside her instructed, "Get started with the primer."

"Primer? What's..." Her voice trailed off.

Clover stopped asking at once when she felt the fine hairs behind her neck contract. Pursing her lips, she picked up the cosmetics one by one to read the labels written on them. Too many creams; too similar. It felt exactly like she was browsing around a beauty store, assisted by an unfriendly employee who was about to lose her composure at her for taking forever to choose.

"Quick." The same woman tutted and crossed her arms. "It's right in front of your eyes if you're not blind." 

Anxiety rose in her. The blusher slipped from her hand and fell to the table, knocking over the rest of the cosmetics. "Sorry! Sorry! I'll get it done in a minute!"

"Stupid! You don't expect everyone to wait for you! I—"

"Emily," Kyle intervened. "Patient." He got down from his chair and helped with the scattered makeup. "She's still new to this." He patted Clover's shrunken shoulder. "Right, Clover? Take it easy."

Clover didn't return his concerned look. Instead, she just nodded a little with her eyes lowered to the floor. She wouldn't have felt that bad if Brandon hadn't shown up the next second.

But he did.

"Kyle! You're not done yet?"

When he saw the mess, he raised his brows and glanced over at Emily, who then narrowed her eyes at Clover.

"You do it, Emily! It's really late!" He stomped off, leaving behind the echoes of his loud thuds.

Kyle flashed Clover an apologetic glance. "Wait for me in the van," he whispered, walking over to the makeup artist for his final touch-ups.

Clover left without saying a word and strode straight to the front yard. But her steps slowed down when she saw Brandon in the driver's seat, whistling his own rhythm. She knew he saw her, but he acted like he didn't. She stood next to the fountain for a while before sitting on the stone bench at the side. She didn't want to be alone with him either.

"Why are you waiting here?" Kyle asked as he squeezed his feet into his blue Adidas sneakers and closed the door.

His hair was sprayed and spiked. Thin lines of black liners were drawn at the corners of his eyes, highlighting the almond shapes. His brows were trimmed, and his lips were tinged with a shade of brownish nude. It'd be a lie if Clover were to say that she wasn't attracted to him. 

"W-Well..." She scratched her head.

"Come on, let's go."

"Where are we going?"

He smiled. "A fan signing event."