"Stop giving me that look, Mia." he managed to combed his hair with his fingers though it looked neat already. "But why? I mean.. who are you? Why are you here? What are you doing in my house?" I know I've asked these questions a hundred of times but these are what bothers me the most. The anger and the fear that almost ate me alive slowly disappeared, knowing he is from the good side. At least that's what he is implying to.
"Those punks you encountered.. are the notorious kinds. They shipped and delivered illegal drugs to other parts of the town to make money. That one hell of a cash in just a gram of coccain, girl." he is now settled comfortably on the couch, his t shirt is slightly raised exposing the tan muscles on his backside. Oh no.
I am interrupted by the honk, screeching of tires and headlights that almost illuminates the whole house. I don't know but I had this sudden urge to keep him out from Dad's business which I shoud've put this man in the limelight and confess whatever he knows about the punks. Big catch. But being Mia.. I shove him up thestaircase and let him in my room. "Don't you make such noises, Brad. So God help me.. if you will.. I will kill you." I hissed at him that I almost saw little droplets of my saliva falling. Ew.
"Hey, why are you still up?"
Dad eyed the living room and as a police and investigator, he might've felt something is not right.
"Mia,the bathroom light is on. You took a shower?"
Crap.
"Uhm yeah. The sink on my room broke, so.."
His eyes twitched as if he is not believing to every word I said.
"Tomorrow I will call a plumber to fix your bathroom. Go get some rest, sweetheart. It's already 3:00 am."
He dragged his foot to his room just opposite to the bathroom. I switched the light off and made my way to my room silently only to find my window open.
I looked up the stars and found none. It will rain again hoping it will wash away the fear that I am feeling right now.
****
I woke up with a silent thud of my butt that hit the floor. Blanket sprawled on the carpet and the half of my body was still on the bed.
"You are so fond of sleeping on the floor, Mia. Get up and make your own breakfast. I'll be at Ashton's.. we will play basketball."
My brother is now sporting his old jersey shorts and a white t shirt. He's an ass by the way. He ate his breakfast but didn't make me one. Such a good boy.
"Where's Dad?!" I shouted making him halt from stepping the staircase.
"At the station. And hey, I saw some leather jacket on the couch this morning. It looks expensive. Did you have visitor last night?"
He is now looking me with eagle eye. Hands on his hips and eyebrows rose up at the sky.
"What?! No. That's Sophie's. She came by last night just to say goodbye. She will be heading back to the city."
I managed not to stutter and believe me girl, I am not good at lying. I immediately avert my eyes and pretended to be sad by the thought of Sophie walking away.
"Is that it? Why does it smelled men's cologne?"
I blushed with the thought of someone walking in the house. Handsome and gentle intruder but that's definitely opposite from the intruder last night, after he yanked me on the couch. Bastard.
I did the most embarassing thing most women won't do. I pretended to take some invisible lint on my blanket as if I'm not listening to whatever he said and asked him, "What? You want some cologne? I'll buy you later.. what do you want?"
But of course, he isn't buying it. Instead, he closed the door and locked it. The smug on his face is the worst look I've ever seen in this family. "Mia, I'm your brother. You can tell me if someone's trying to get in your pants. I won't budge either. It's okay. I know you know the real deal.. And besides, Dad really wants to have a grands--"
"Whoah! Wait a minute.. what are you talking about? I am not seeing anybody or.. trying to--get in my pants, my gosh. You're so gross. You know.. just go. " I throw him the pillow and hit him straight out of face.
****
Enjoying my bowl of cereals is like walking on soft cushion. Heaven. I didn't notice how hungry I am, until I finished two bowls of it.
Bzt.. Bzt.. My phone buzzed for the nth time from numerous text of my blockmates, and classmates taking gossip about their lovelife, next sale at the mall in town, hanging out with both nerds and jocks at the club, and the detailed conversation about how they got 'rough sex'. I really can't understand why everyone in school is so agitated to know more stuff aside from academics. Personal stuff is what i mean. People are so fond of poking their noses into someone's business. At my school, these people have what they called 'Daily Gossip Group Conversation' and me being part of the schools journalism club, geez man, I almost regret I let myself got into this DGGC thing. But of course my main reason is to squeez them out of latest and the most controversial news to publish.
Out of the gossips texts, something really caught my eye, an unregistered number popped out of screen making my phone danced in excitement.
"Hello?" I heard heavy breathing and a fit of laughter in the background. "Hey, this is Luke. Ahm.. i got your number from your Dad, and I just want to ask if you are free tonight?"
My goodness. Luke? As in Luke the freaking handsome Daniels? Is asking me out? My childhood friend is asking me out. I shifted on my seat awkwardly trying to hide any nervousness. "Ahmm.. I don't have appointment yet, so.. yeah. I'm free for later." I heard a sigh of relief and i think he smiled as he said, "Good. I'll be there on 7. We will just have to have dinner and I will take you over town."
Friendly date.Ouch.
"Okay. See yah." I smiled still looking at the screen with eyes full of amusement. Until it dawned on me that I shouldn't feel excited nor nervous. A friendly date, Mia. He hadn't even said it's a date, for crying out loud. Keep dreaming, girl.
Okay. I'll admit that a girl like me with raging hormones will be flying to the moon with pure happiness. Luke is every girl's dream way back Senior High. He is so caring, thoughtful and well..yeah a jockass sometimes. But i think, that's what guys do to attract girls. Right?
Luke and I are just pure friends. There's no way he will date or go out like me, for real. What do you say, a brother is dating a younger sister? Gross right?
But you are not related in blood for Pete's sake. Stop being paranoid. If you likes him, so what? You're a girl and the guy is oh-so-handsome. And those eyes..
I snapped back to reality when I was supposed to picturize the chocolatey cereal like Luke's brown eyes, but a black with brown specs eyes popped out of nowhere.
I know those eyes. Why am I thinking those bastard?
***
I danced my way out of the bathroom to change, carefully wrapped my hair with a spare towel, and tighten my another towel that hugged my body.
I grabbed my tub of moisturizer and patted my face with it. Lather it like you do with sandwiches.
When I was about to open my closet, a portion of a head appeared on my window, followed by a fingers and elbows then half a body of a man. Brown soft hair and a cut off denim jack over white plain shirt. I panicked and grabbed the nightstand lamp and acted to smash the intruder 's head when he looked up. The Bastard looked at me with dilated eye and a red ears.
Holy crap.
I covered my body with my hands, as if it helped me from embarrassement.
He only chuckled and now sitting on my window like a monkey, a sexy monkey might I add.
"Surprise."
My expression went like this:
O.O--> -.-
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
I throw whatever object I grab at him but stopped in mid air when he pointed at me, with mocked expression.
"I bet you don't want to throw that."
I was holding the telephone with the wire jack still attached on the outlet.
"Brad? Listen.." I shifted on my feet, arms on my chest and face still flushed from embarassement. It feels awkward to stand like this in front of a stranger but with little bravery, I stood my ground because I have a feeling something is not good.
"I know you are thankful how I came to your rescue when I hit you with my car. Though in second thoughts, I was really planning to hit and run you, but as a good daughter and samaritan I did the good thing. But.. you just can't climb in my window and talk to me like you haven't put me into heart attack. I--I barely know you."
I was eyeing him like I am scolding a child for eating too much sweets. The smug on his face was still there, eyes danced with amusement and he did the most terrifying thing an intruder in the movies can do.
He stepped his foot onto my bedroom floor and now he is standing right under my nose, locked the window and sat on my bed.
"Then, let's get to know each other. But, put something on Mia, you do not have any idea the things that are running on my head right now. " He winked and put both of his hands on my bed, sitting cross legged weighing his body down like a man in the beach wanting to have those tan marks on sculpted abs.
I did nothing but to wipe my hands on my face in surrender. " You are one hell of a hard shell." I whispered making him to chuckle.
***
"What?! You did what?"
I am laughing my ass off looking at the most beautiful yet, dangerous man I've ever met. We are now looking face to face sitting like a buddha in my room doing 20 questions. I asked what are the embarassing moment he has done with his life. "Yes, I ran at school naked for losing the bet."
"Gosh, you are so impossible." We've been doing this for almost 2 hours and all we did is to laugh and I am hitting his arm for saying unappropriate words, like shit, fuck and MF. I know he is some kind of a bad boy, and according to his story, he studied Engineering but withdrew from college because of some personal reasons. I conclude this man, barging in my room only to play 20 questions is not trusting me, yet. I think we are now on the same boat.
" I must admit, I enjoyed talking to you Mia. But I must go now. Your phone vibrated for almost a hundred times now, and I bet you have a date, i guess? " My mind went silent still, and like a cold water splashing my face I came into senses and jolted my ass off the bed. "Crap! "It's 6:30 and anytime soon, Luke will be here to fetch me. I yanked my closet open to find the most appropriate clothes I can find. I sported the black leggings and a gray hoodie over white shirt.
I stopped in mid air from undoing my hair, when someone coughed from behind. " Nice butt, ."
I turned around to find Brad eyeing me up and down whistling.
"You son of a-- Argh!!! you clearly don't know the word privacy. Why are you still there?!"
"Okay, okay!! I'll go now. Just be careful Mia. "
He jumped out of the window and no one knows how he did it. I looked down to find him running out of the frontyard.
****
"You've been spacing out again." Luke chuckled as we strolled around the park with both ice cream in hands. I had the chocolate chip flavor and he got the blueberry. We've been to the nearest riverbank, throwing peebles at the water disturbing it's stillness. Like how Brad disturbed my mind from peaceful attention to Luke.
"I am just thinking if I will go to college or just find a work here. I spent half of my life in the city, and it kinda made me think twice to leave Dad alone. Darwin will be doing his thesis for the whole semester. Even in regular schedule he barely stays in the house. I mean, I missed Dad that much and I just don't feel to leave so soon."
Luke guides me to sit on the bench licking his ice cream like a child. He is now dangling his feet back and forth thinking deeply.
"So that means, I will be seeing you everyday, then? Because if that's the case.. I will help you find a part time work." He smiled showing his white teeth and hugged me sideways. What bothered me the most is the way he kissed my forehead, and squeezed me tighter. "You've grown up Mia. And I'm happy for you." Sweet. "But I have one problem.. how can I say this to Dad? I'm sure he will get angry. "
He stood and offered his hand for me to stand up. " Don't worry, Mia. I know your Dad too well. He will understand. I promise."
We walked our way back to his car and there I noticed that the sky turns into a fluffy pink cotton candy. I silently prayed Dad will.
*****
