Chapter 23: Chapter 23

"Imma leave before this shitface gets under my skin," Xavier grouched before leaving the kitchen.

And now I'm left alone with Garren. Great.

The silence hovering between us is putting me on pins and needles. Nothing can be heard but the clatter of the dishes I'm washing and the whistle of the wind.

From my peripheral vision, I saw him getting a can of from the fridge. I thought he was going to leave after that, but I was wrong. He leaned against the countertop and looked directly at me.

I swallowed a lump. I feel like he's already piercing holes in my back. Why the hell is he not leaving yet?

"Cleo-"

"I'm not flirting with your brother," I cut him off. "It's never my intention to get close to him and milk money from him like what you're thinking, sir."

I put the last plate on the drainer and dried my hands.

"I may have grown up in a family that does not possess opulence like you do, but that doesn't mean I'm a parasite."

He didn't speak nor take off his eyes of me. This man doesn't realize how much he's making me restless.

"Goodnight, sir," I muttered as I walked past him.

Greyson was already asleep when I checked on him. When I headed back downstairs, I saw the three siblings on the porch, drinking wines.

Claudette and Xavier are laughing while Garren is just silently sitting there, his eyes fixated on the bonfire lit beside them.

Is he really that allergic to happiness that his smile can be seen once in a blue moon?

I shrugged off those thoughts and walked to my room. While lying on the bed and staring at the ceiling, I recalled how I talked to him earlier.

"Did I go overboard? What if he was not even thinking bad about me?" said the subconscious part of my brain.

I furiously shook my head. "No. He was definitely thinking maliciously. The tone of his voice could attest to that."

I'm having an internal conflict. I'm terrified that I pushed his buttons with what I said. There's a possibility that he will kick me out because of what I did. I'll be doomed if that happens.

But he can't blame me, though. What I told him was justified considering all the horrible things he accused me of.

That was the only consolation I could think of to calm my raving nerves.

I fell asleep later than usual because I kept on overthinking. That resulted in me waking up with a puffy face.

"I look so freaking terrible," I uttered while looking at the mirror.

I applied concealer to hide the dark circles under my eyes before I went out of my room.

To my surprise, Claudette was in the kitchen, sipping tea.

With a smile, I greeted her with "Good morning."

"There's no good this morning," she groaned.

"Is there something wrong?" I asked.

"Obviously." She blew a fuse. "I forgot to turn off my phone alarm, so I was awakened by it and I couldn't go back to sleep again. It sucks."

"Just get back to sleep later when you feel like it."

I don't know if my advice makes sense, but that's better than not saying anything at all, right?

"That's what I'm really planning to do. Anyway, haven't you tried modelling before?"

I was confounded. I wasn't expecting her question at all.

I shook my head.

"Really? That's a shame because I can visualize you being one. I mean, your body ratio is close to perfection. You look so gorgeous as well, and please don't get me started with your skin tone that's making me envious."

My cheeks heat up. Her compliment honestly made my heart flutter. My skin color was one of my biggest insecurities back then.

"I have always wanted to have tan skin. I always go sun bathing at the beach just to achieve that tone, but the effect is just temporary," she grumbled, pouting her lips.

I smiled genuinely. "Thank you. But you're still prettier than me."

She grinned and winked at me. "That's what we can't deny."

We both laughed at her response. But I stopped when I felt a presence behind me. I turned around, and my eyes almost fell out of their sockets when I saw Garren topless!

I quickly averted my gaze from him and swallowed a lump. This is not the first time that I've seen him naked, but that doesn't mean I don't feel uneasy anymore.

"What the hell? Can you at least wear a shirt, Garren?"

Claudette voiced out what I wanted to say.

"Shut up," he chided.

The youngest rolled her eyes. "You never changed. You still have no shame."

Garren didn't respond to his sister. After he got two bottles of mineral water from the fridge, he left the kitchen right away, much to my delight. I let out a sigh of relief.

Out of the blue, his naked appearance appeared in my mind. Garren, with his messy hair... is undeniably sexy.

I mentally slapped my face. Where the hell did that thought come?!

"You're blushing," Claudette blurted out, grinning from ear to ear.

"Uh, I just feel hot." I forced a laugh.

She giggled. "You can fool anyone but me. Do you like my brother?"

"No," I said, with finality.

"I don't believe you."

I heaved out a sigh. "Believe me, with all the things your brother has told me, liking him will make me the most stupid person to ever exist."

Her eyebrows knitted. "Oh my god. What did that jerk do to you?"

I pressed my lips together. Saying that was a bad idea. I don't want to be the cause of their quarrel. Also, Garren will certainly think that I'm ruining his image to his sister.

I stood up from the high stool. "Now that I think of it, I need to wake Greyson up for school."

I didn't wait for her response and left the kitchen.

"You owe me a story, Cleo!"

I heard her shout and that made me laugh.

That day, Claudette also came with us to visit Greyson's school. It turned out to be the same school where she studied from elementary to high school.

I'm in awe seeing the beautiful landscape in front of us. It's a garden surrounded by pine trees. There are also a few tables and benches where someone can relax.

Claudette pulled me here while we left her brother in front of his son's classroom.

"I bet you were popular during your high school  days."

She laughed gracefully. "I don't want to brag, but you can say that. I was a constant honor student and graduated as the Valedictorian of our batch. I also joined numerous pageants and competitions, so a lot of people really know me. Not to mention that my brothers are Xavier and Garren."

"They also studied here?"

She nodded. "Yeah. But in different departments. Xavier took political science, and Garren took business management. Most Ridley students, including my classmates, were crazy over those two jerks."

I internally rolled my eyes. Xavier is indeed attractive because he's really handsome. Though he's often formal, he still knows how to deal with people.

Garren, on the other hand, is the most remote person I've met. Moreover, he's rude as hell. How could girls be head over heels for him?

"How about you?"

I was snapped out of my train of thoughts when Claudette asked that.

"Huh?"

"Where did you study in college?"

The smile on my face dropped. I felt a tweak in my chest with her question. The feeling of envy and jealousy that I thought I would never feel again came back.

"I wasn't able to finish college."

She stopped on her track. Her eyes widened, as if realization struck her.

"I-I'm sorry if I asked that. That was so insensitive of me. I'm genuinely sorry, Cleo. I didn't mean to offend you," she apologized.

I smiled and patted her back. "Calm down. I wasn't offended, I swear."

She let out a sigh of relief. "I really need to filter my mouth sometimes. Anyway, let's go back now. My legs are kind of tired already."

I know she's diverting the topic on purpose. That's actually in my favor because I myself didn't want to take a trip down the memory lane of that melancholic phase in my life again.

After Greyson's classes ended, they decided to pass by the mall first before we got home. I stayed in the car while those three went out.

"Cleo, come here!"

I was supposed to go to my room when Claudette called me.

"Yes?"

"Here. Get this." She handed me a bag and smiled.

I threw her a bewildered glance.

"Just open it."

Although reluctant, I still did what she said. I opened the bag and pulled out its content-it's a beige halter neck dress.

"Isn't it gorgeous?! When I saw that in the mall earlier, I already visualized you wearing that dress, so I didn't think twice about buying it!" She squaeled.

A smile appeared on my lips. But when I saw the price tag attached to the dress, my jaw dropped to the floor- it's 200 euros for Pete's sake!

I put it back in the bag and handed it back to her. She frowned.

"I-I really appreciate what you did, but I can't accept that, Claudette. This dress costs more than my life."

She chuckled. "You're exaggerating it too much. Come on, take this as my first gift to you as my friend."

I scratched my cheeks sheepishly. "You don't need to give me presents, though."

She hissed and pulled my hands. "I insist. Take this or I will really get mad at you."

I couldn't do anything when she wrapped the bag's string around my wrist.

I heaved out a sigh and smiled. "I guess I have no choice. Thank you very much. I really appreciate it."

She smiled back. "You're welcome."

This woman, without a doubt, is a lot like Lauren. A week after we became friends, she also gave me a gift as a token of our friendship, she said. They will get along well if they ever meet.

"You sure you brushed your teeth properly?" I asked Greyson when he came out of the bathroom.

"Yep!"

"Good."

The door behind us suddenly opened. Garren entered the room.

"Are you going to sleep?"

Greyson nodded.

"Is that so? Can I borrow some of your time, son?"

"Alright."

Garren smiled faintly. "I have a gift for you."

Greyson's eyes glistened with delight and excitement. His father pulled out something from his pocket and gave it to him- it's a rectangular box covered in red paper.

Greyson unwrapped it with a creased forehead. I myself am curious about what's inside it. When he was able to open it completely, two pieces of blue paper were revealed.

"What is this for?" he asked.

"Take a look at it, son."

Greyson then proceeded to read what was written on the paper.

"A hotel reservation ticket?" He still look baffled. "Where is this, dad?"

"It's a hotel around Santorini."

His eyes widened. "Did I hear that right?! Santorini in Greece?!"

"Yep! I know you've been wanting to visit that island for a long time. Let's fulfill that wish, shall we?"

My lips curled into a smile. I know that Greyson is already celebrating inside, and I'm more than happy for him.

"I will come with you.... but on one condition."

Garren and I were both confused.

"What condition?"

Greyson crossed his arms in front of his chest. "I want Cleo to come with us."