Chapter 58: Chapter 58

"Did you swallow a rainbow? Your smile can already reach the Milky Way," I teased Greyson, who couldn't stop himself from smiling the moment he woke up.

He giggled. "You can't blame me, Cleo. Dad will arrive today. I can't wait to see him."

The smile plastered on my face faded like blazes. That's when I remember that it's Wednesday, which means Garren will arrive home any moment now.

My two days of peace and solitude are about to come to an end.

I put my smile back on and tousled his hair. "I'm pretty sure your dad misses you too. Now you should finish your meal quickly."

He nodded fervently. "Alright!"

After he took his breakfast, I let him rest and play with his tablet for a bit before we headed back upstairs so he could take a bath.

While he's taking his time in the bathroom, I'm preparing his bag. All of a sudden, I felt my phone inside my pocket ringing.

Surprisingly, Lorenzo's name flashed on the screen. I was quite shocked because he hasn't called or messaged me for the past three days.

I didn't disturb him either because I know how busy that man is.

While looking at his name, I couldn't help but have a flash of memory—horrendous memories of that night.

"I hate seeing you being all happy when you're with him."

Those words, up to this point, have remained etched in my mind, and God knows how much I despise them.

I swore to myself that I would forget everything that night, but no one told me that erasing a memory is like squeezing water from a stone.

I shook my head, and after a whole minute of deliberation, I answered Enzo's call.

"I miss you."

I screwed my face up and was about to wrap him over the knuckles when he suddenly burst out laughing.

"Damn it. I know your frown is deeper than Mariana's trench right now without actually seeing you," he said, barely holding his laughter.

"Glad you're aware how detestable your romantic escapades are," I scorned.

"You should be grateful that you're one of those lucky people who's getting a drench of my affection."

"That's a great joke you got there," I snapped back at him. "How are you anyway," I asked, diverting the topic.

"I'm doing good. I had my hands full on the hospital these past few days, so I wasn't able to call you. I hope you weren't down in the dumps because of my absence."

"Oh, you can actually not call me for years and I won't even notice it," I quipped.

I could already imagine him feigning a hurt expression after that.

Lorenzo and I conversed for almost ten minutes before he ended the call because their senior doctor called him.

Talking to him somehow alleviated the anxiety and paranoia bagging me because of Garren's arrival.

The moment I turned my phone off, as if on cue, someone knocked on the door. I stood up from the bed to see who it was- which I promptly lamented.

I froze on my spot when the figure of the man who's been bothering my system for the past few days stood before me. My eyes, as if they have their own psyche, took a brief scrutiny of him.

My eyebrows knitted when I noticed that he became more tan. Was the place where he conducted a business fair that balmy?

But I've got to admit... this skin complexion suits him better.

"Dad?!"

I was pulled out of my musing when I heard Greyson behind me. I widened the aperture of the door and stepped aside.

"What the fuck, Cleo?! Did you just check him out?!" I mentally rebuked myself.

I sneaked a look at Garren, and I swear, I saw him grinning deftly.

Damn it. Did he catch me staring at him? I just want the floor underneath to open up and swallow me.

Garren walked past me. He dropped the bags he was carrying and walked towards his son. He crouched down and was supposed to give him a kiss, but the latter avoided him.

"Dad, no kiss yet! I just finished taking a bath."

The former laughed. "That's fine. Come on, just give your dad a kiss. I need that to revitalize my body."

His son shook his head.

"Don't you miss me?" He pleaded, but his son is really obstinate.

In the end, Garren had no choice since Greyson wouldn't yield at his entreaty.

"Fine. But at least let me dress you up."

Greyson willingly acceded. I stand in the corner as Garren takes care of his son. He's preparing him for school for the very first time.

I beamed as I watched him struggle to button Greyson's uniform. They look adorable.

My eyes widened a fraction, realizing what I just thought.

No... This man doesn't deserve even an ounce of compliment for causing me a pandemonium of thoughts.

"You really inherited my genes. I'm pretty sure you'll make a lot of girls cry in the future."

I rolled my eyes at Garren's stupid remarks. Why is he instilling that terrible notion in his son's mind?

"I beg to disagree, dad. Once I find the girl I love, I will be faithful to her and I won't make her cry."

I simpered at Greyson's response. That's great. Don't be a scumbag like your father.

"Really? What traits are you looking for in a woman anyway?"

Greyson pondered for a while, then unexpectedly, he turned to me and showed off an ebullient smile.

"I want someone like Cleo! She's pretty, caring, and very diligent!" He exclaimed.

That made my heart flutter in glee.

"Am I right, dad? Cleo is beautiful and kindhearted?"

The smile on my face disappeared in a flash. He doesn't need to ask for his father's opinion!

I'm already having an egg on my face here, but Garren said something that made my entire face turn red.

"Hmmm. She's pretty."

I was halted dead in my tracks after that. Greyson began teasing him, while I'm frozen in place, trying to process what he just said.

I mollified myself. Perhaps this is just one of his antics so we can appear like we have a civil relationship in front of his son.

Yeah. That's really the case.

"Can I open these boxes now, dad?" Greyson asked enthusiastically.

His father chuckled. "You're already opening them, buddy."

While they're busy with the stuff that Garren bought, I cleaned up the mess that Garren made while he's dressing his son up in a uniform.

"You also bought one for Cleo?"

My attention was piqued when Greyson mentioned my name. I turned my attention to them. He's holding a velvet box in his hand.

Greyson dashed towards me and gave it to me. I reluctantly accepted it and gave Garren a once-over. But he's not even looking at me.

I don't know if he's avoiding my eyes on purpose or if those paper bags are just really endearing to look at so he's playing with them mindlessly.

"What is this for?" I asked, acting oblivious.

"That's dad's souvenir for you! Open it please!" Greyson is more excited than I am.

My eyebrows furrowed. Why is he suddenly giving me a gift? The last time I checked, he was ranting and raving at me.

But then I recalled that the last time he flew abroad and came back home, his son told him that he should also buy me a present. That's certainly the reason behind this.

Hence, I shouldn't put color in this.

I carefully opened the box wrapped in linen fabric. I'm honestly curious as well what's inside.

I had no idea what would be in the box, but I was certainly not expecting a blue scarf. It looks basic, but I know for a fact that it's worth its weight in gold.

I didn't notice anything unusual, not until I saw something embroidered on the lower left of the scarf.

मेरा प्यार

My face contorted in confusion. What language is this?! This is the first time that I've encountered such kind of writing.

"I bought that at the clothing store I passed by. It's not much, but that scarf reminds me of you. I hope you like it," Garren blurted out all of a sudden, still not looking at me.

What does he mean it reminds him of me? I once again looked at the scarf. Frankly speaking, I don't know why of all the things, he chose to give me this.

But who am I to complain, right? I should still be grateful. So I smiled at him and mumbled, "Thank you, sir. I appreciate it."

I want to ask him what the meaning of the embroidery is, but I just kept my mouth shut.

After that, we headed downstairs to the living room and wait for Uncle Oliver as he takes out the car from the garage while Garren went to his room to rest.

We were bantering when I heard heavy footsteps. I wandered my eyes around, and I saw Garren walking down the stairs. He's now wearing a white cotton shirt and pants.

"Dad? I thought you're going to rest?"

He cleared his throat. "I changed my mind. I'll drive you to school."

Is he being real? Doesn't he have a jet lag? What if he suddenly feels drowsy during the ride?

Although I didn't like that idea, I have no choice. I'm not in any position to make a complaint. He just have to make sure that he won't drive us straight to heaven.

The three of us walked outside. It's just in time that the driver already took out the car, so to not waste his effort, Garren stated that we would use it instead of the blue sedan that he often uses.

I let Greyson hop inside the car first. I was about to follow him, but Garren called me all of the sudden.

I threw him a questioning look.

"Sit here in front."

I was beyond flabbergasted after hearing that.

I'm trying to sweep the weird deeds he had done under the rug. But I'm getting really weirded out right now.

What does he suddenly wants me to go back to sitting beside him?

I know I shouldn't make a mountain out of a hill. Everyone will probably call me dramatic for reacting this way in such a trivial seating plan, but you can't blame me.

This superficially minuscule and insignificant stuff is already a big deal to me.

I internally let out a sigh. I didn't have any energy left to hold any discourse with him, so I just quietly obliged.

I'm getting curious. What really happened during those two days that he was gone?