That day Sakura held onto her wits and stomped on the Orchard grounds with hostility. Everyone avoided her, wondering what it was that could have triggered the harrowing expression that stayed on her face through the entirety of the day. Nobody could approach her fearing that she would explode, taking them along with her. Even now as she worked on the security pass panel of the barn, she cursed loudly in Spanish, her voice deepening with each syllable that passed. Most usually were startled when she spoke her language, forgetting that she was very much different from them. Yet some always put it in mind that everything about she didn't belong in the Texan sun. She was too much of a different type of woman to blend into their simple ranch lifestyle.
Sakura didn't sense the gazes that lingered on her, watching as she pulled angrily at her dark thick curly hair. She was even more annoyed at the fact that her tools kept falling down. She had always been clumsier when her anger was fresh. It hadn't changed in over two decades of her life. If her mother saw her now, she would pull her ear for allowing herself to get so affected. Her mother would speak in her native Calabar language, the interpretation 'You cannot allow your anger to overshadow your reasoning'.
"She's not the owner of my life." Sakura mumbled begrudgingly, at the moment annoyed at how her mother's words were echoing in her mind and jamming her screwdriver in again to secure the bolt
"If you jam it that hard, you might just destroy that thing, Sak." Her head turned to look at the smirking Wallace that carried a big bag across his shoulder. He had been the only one to approach her since she got back "A penny for your thoughts?" Snorting loudly, she continued on with her work
"I'm afraid I'll have to decline. I'm busy." She answered monotonously
Wallace didn't say anything as he watched her work silently. He had seen her and Cyrus when they returned. Her face had been contorted in anger while he was filled with joy. It didn't take a genius to realize that something had happened between them and he could bet it was Cyrus that had instigated it all. He had noticed the way his eyes had lit up the day before when he looked at her. It was rare to find that look in a man's eyes, yet it was not something strange. Yet, he wondered if it was really for the best, seeing as how she was blazing up more than usual with him around.
"I apologize." He tuned in to the conversation again, seeing that she had turned to face him
"I'm sorry, what?" Wallace asked. Sakura blew a huff and tucked her tools into her small bag
"I said I apologize. I don't mean to be rude and I appreciate the concern, thank you." He smiled widely at her
"Do you always have to be so curt with me?"
"I'm curt with everyone. Is that a problem?" At her raised eyebrow, he shook his head vigorously
"Alright then. Is there something you needed?"
"Nothn' much. Was just wondering why Axton is in the house grinning all over the place and why you're the complete opposite." Sakura narrowed her eyes. He was happy and here she was letting her anger eat her up.
Their ride home had been full of a kind of tension. After he had spoken those cryptic words, her body had heated up in the way it hadn't for years and had left her with an awoken hunger. As unnecessary as she found it, she had to remember that she was still a woman and Cyrus was a very attractive man. Being near him would awaken things like this. Yet, it was the way he went on to completely ignore her existence that pushed her over the edge. If she could, she would have knocked him right between the eyes on his pretty little face.
"I'm actually fine and I'm sure he's happy to have been able to accomplish what he came here for." She walked past him, towards the direction of the stables. Hearing him walk beside her, she took a low deep breath
"And what might that be?" he asked amusingly
"You'll have the answer to that. I have no dealings with what he came here for."
"But you went to town together this morning, did you not?"
Sakura cast a sideways glance to him, not knowing if she should give him the right answer or remain elusive like she always did. Opting for the former, she cleared her throat "Because anybody else is better than Tyler Robinson."
The hearty laughter that escaped Wallace was expected. She didn't flinch even a little bit when the workers turned their way. Wallace was the most carefree one out of the Robinson family. Wherever he went, there was a high amount of joy and laughter. It attracted people to him like a magnet, his charisma shining constantly. Sakura heard that he was like his mother the most. She hadn't been able to meet the woman but her stellar reputation and tradition had been kept alive.
"Is my little brother still giving you trouble?" he asked
"More than I deserve. Frankly, a little more and I'll have to deliver his dead body to you." He sensed she wasn't joking, but he laughed anyway at the comical relief of it all
"I'll have a talk with him when I get back."
"You do that." She doubted if anything anyone said would make a difference. Tyler would continue to be the person he was and wouldn't pay mind to reason.
. If anybody would be able to put him in his place, it was probably his mother. Jonathan had probably pushed all his affection to Tyler after she died, making him the way he was and effectively making him narcissistic to the core. Then again, she didn't blame him.
"So…" Wallace began, as they stood in front of the stables "There's a bonfire tonight. It was supposed to be this Saturday, but Axton leaves tomorrow and dad wants him to be here too." She had a feeling she already knew where this conversation was going and she was dreading it "Everyone is obligated to be there."
"I'm going to be busy." She answered automatically. His grin stretched across his face, his eyes raising and the dimples on his cheeks deepening
"No can do ma'am. I've already informed Candace and she's agreed to drag you out here in case you decide to hide in your little office." Sakura wasn't sure if she wanted to strangle herself or strangle candace. Inevitably, she'd end up in the same space as Cyrus again and she didn't want to be close to him again so soon. She preferred if she didn't see him again. He would leave the next day and life would return back to normal.
"See you tonight. It starts as early as 9 pm. Dress pretty, thank you." With that he turned and went on with his day, leaving her to curse the universe to the deepest points of hell