Saturday morning was bright and clear, with the early morning sun dancing merrily on its slow and majestic but steady journey to the west. Andy crept out of bed with yesterday's argument still fresh in his mind. He felt agitated, but nothing made him more refreshed and relaxed like an early morning run. He thought to himself.
He made his way to the washroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.
A few minutes later, he returned to the room and shuffled to the wardrobe situated in the right corner of the room. He pulled it open, picked up his jogging suit, and got into them, coupled with a pair of sneakers. He staggered to the drawer beside his bed, slammed it open, and picked up his walkman. He looked up the time from the clock on the desk and noticed that he was already running late. He scanned around and when he was sure that he had everything he needed, he trolled out of the entrance.
He slowly closed the door, locking it merely to turn and meet Kalisa standing behind him. Her face instinctively brightened up with a smile.
"Going for a run?"
"Yeah..., what's up with you this morning?"
"Well..." she exuded, "Just checking up on you. I heard your argument with Mum yesterday. It felt like the whole house was coming down."
Andy snorted, " That's crazy Kalisa, enough of your wild exaggerations. I will run now." He patted her shoulder.
"Alright..." She smiled.
Andy cocked his head with a smile as he brushed a hand over his sister's hair and hurried down the stairs.
Kalisa stared behind his brother with looks that screamed her sympathy as his back faded out of the house and gave an inaudible sigh before shuffling back into her room.
Not long after she entered her room, she heard a knock on her door.
"Miss Kalisa..." a voice followed.
"Come in Akita, the door is not locked."
With this said, the door slowly creaked. Revealing a young lady with long silky hair, gathered in a ponytail in her early 20s.
"Good morning Miss Kalisa." She greeted me with a slight bow.
"Good morning Akita." she smiled, "What's going on?"
"Breakfast is served, Miss.."
"Alright, bring mine here."
"Sorry miss, but your mother wants you to join them at the table."
"But I don't feel like joining them today." she flustered.
"I'm sorry Miss but it's an order from your mother."
There was a subdued silence for a short while.
"Alright," she cocked her head, "I will be down soon."
"Okay.." She smiled and sauntered out of the room. Kalisa followed shortly after.
She got to the dining hall to meet her parents already seated behind the table with her Dad's eyes intently fixed on a newspaper.
"Good morning Dad..., Good morning Mum.." She greeted me as she settled in the wooden chair in front of the dining table.
"Good morning..." Her Dad replied, deeply immersed in what he was reading.
Her mother also threw a glance at her with a slight nod, "Good morning dear." she reached for her beverage. "What's that look on your face? Are you okay?"
"Yes I am mum..."
"Okay.." She sipped on her beverage, "Why is Andy not yet here? Akita," she turned to the lady who was standing a foot away from them. "Go get Andy."
"No need to. "Kalisa interrupted, "He has gone for a run."
At the said of this, Mr. Richardson slit his eyes to look at his wife.
"Did you get to talk to him to make him understand what he needs to do?" he sipped on his beverage.
"Not yet dear but I will get it done soon. Just leave it to me."
Mr. Richardson cocked his head, sipping on his beverage as he turned back to his newspaper. Kalisa just looked on, flustered at their conversation.
"This is driving me crazy," she growled.
Mrs. Erica threw a glance at her daughter and she faked a smile, continuing with her meals.
***************
Odette was jogging through the pavement leading to the central park as it's been her usual morning routine for quite some time now since she returned from the States when she saw a familiar figure jogging ahead of her.
She instinctively knew who it was. She smiled to herself and hurried to join him. Andy had his walkman on and didn't notice when someone joined him.
"Hi..." a voice interrupted his music.
He instinctively turned to the voice and was met with a bright smile from a blonde hair lady, his age.
"You..."
Odette grinned, "Remember me?"
He smiled, looking ahead. "Of course. We met at the party yesterday." He glanced at her, "Odette, right?"
"Yeah," she cocked her head, "You sure do remember."
"Yeah..." he chuckled, "I rarely forget people I meet."
Odette smiled and the rest of the run continued with fewer talks. Soon, they got to the park.
Odette settled on one of the benches, exhausted as Andy went to get water for them.
She was staring adamantly in the air when Andy stretched out a bottle of water to her.
She turned to him with a smile, "Thank you." she took it.
"Welcome." He muttered as he took his seat beside her.
"Do you always come out to jog? I have never seen you around."
"No, I don't, I usually come only on Saturdays. My weekday schedule is very tight. I hardly have time for myself."
"Oh, I see.." she nodded.
"About last night," He glanced at her, "I'm sorry I left early."
Odette chuckled, "Don't worry about that." she pushed closer "Anyway, talking about last night." she seductively passed a hand on his thighs. "Do you mind if I make a pass on you?"
He instinctively held her hand, his face instantly contorting with rage as he jolted up.
"I think I should be going now." he glared and sauntered away.
Odette stared with a smug look as Andy's back disappeared through the crowd.
THE GARDENER'S COTTAGE
The morning was no different in the Gardener's cottage. The whole house was bustling with activities especially today being Saturday and everybody was at home.
Andrew was at it, doing what he does best which is being a pain in everybody's neck. Tyra felt very agitated with this as she was Andrew's ultimate target.
"Will you stop that Andrew?" she exuded.
"Don't you have any assignments to do Andrew?" queried Eugenia as she strolled towards the door with a basin of washed clothes in hand.
"No mum..., I did them yesterday."
His mother glanced at him as she strolled back into the room.
"Alright dear but that doesn't allow you to disturb your sister. Look how miserable she looks now."
Mrs. Eugenia was still ranting about how Andrew was disturbing Tyra when Tiara walked out of her room with messy hair.
"Andrew again huh?"
"Do I even need to tell you?" Her mother replied, "I don't even know why he didn't go with your father."
Tiara staggered to the dining table, sitting directly opposite Tyra who was picking out beans.
"Come here Andrew.." she dropped her phone on the table.
Andrew smiled and hurried to where Tiara sat. She opened her arms and he fell into her bosom.
"Why don't you go freshen up and change so we go and give Papa a hand at the ranch? I believe you want to see those beautiful brown horses."
"Yes.." he cocked his hand with a smile.
"Then you better get going now if you don't want me to leave you behind." He nodded and rushed off to his room.
Eugenia looked on with a smile. "You always know how to handle him. He is so...hyperactive."
Tiara smiled at her mother. At that moment, her phone rang. She reached for it, glancing at the caller ID but noticed that the number was not familiar. She shrugged, answering the call.
"Hello..." she muttered skeptically.
"Hello Tiara, this is Andy."
"Andy....? she muttered, surprised. "How did you get my number?"
"How I got your number is not necessary. I have a job for you. Come meet me up and let's talk about it."
"Job..? What....." she muttered but Andy hung up before she could say any further.
"Gosh..., he hung up on me." she exuded, raising her hand dramatically in the air.