Entering the kitchen, Cherry saw Tom opening a package.
"Sis."
Tom was a little startled, he wasn't expecting anyone to be awake, it was just two in the morning.
Cherry rubbed her sleepy eyes, yawned before going to the freezer for a bottle of water. She didn't bother using a cup cause her throat was very dry.
She pulled out a dinning chair and sat on it, staring at the package on the dinning table.
"Hmm, what's in it?" she asked, looking at the package.
Tom chuckled, opened it and brought out a pair of sneakers.
"A gift from Richard."
The smile on his face was so wide that it reminded Cherry of the boy in the painting, remembering it, she found herself smiling, but just for a second, as her face went back to a straight face.
"Was that why you came late?"
She picked up the shoes and examined it.
"Kinda."
"Hmm" was all she said.
Tom took the shoes from her and returned them into the box.
"Now, let's get back to you" he placed his arms on the table, resting in his hands, he looked at her.
"How was your tour with Jiang?"
Cherry met his gaze and saw a wicked smile on his face, was he waiting for her to say it was a mess, unfortunately, he was to be shocked.
"Shouldn't you be asking how my tour with Stella went." She was smiling widely and couldn't tell how happy she felt when she saw the shock on Tom's face.
Tom was at loss for words and this amused Cherry.
"Cat got your tongue."
"I'm surprised. Here I thought you wouldn't take my advice seriously, and also I know you are not very good at starting conversations." he was all almost laughing, was he forgetting that a human could do anything completely anything if in a desperate situation.
" I didn't really start the conversation, and also I didn't approach her, I met her at the restroom."
Cherry was feeling a bit embarrassed when remembering what Stella said first. She wished Tom would end it there, but Tom only got curious as to how Jiang reacted, so she ended up telling him the whole story.
" I bet Jiang would be pissed off."Tom said chuckling.
" Damn pissed off to the point that he ordered hot spicy foods when we ate dinner at a restaurant. "
" He did the orders.? "
" Yes. "she replied, nodding and laughing at the same time.
They both keep quiet for for a minute or so before Cherry broke the silence.
" Why don't you tell me something about your tour. "
Tom cleared his throat, packed his belongings and walked towards the door
"I've got to get some sleep."
"Hey, come on, at least, j, just tell me where you visited."
"That, that will be another story for another day."
He walked out of the door, turned back and said a 'good night' , even though it was morning already.
*
It was noon and driving along the streets was Hermia who just picked Cherry.
" Do you live together with Lucian?"
Hermia turned her head, just to see Cherry looking out through the window. She was curious as to why Cherry would ask such a question. Was she asking so as to know if she would have an opportunity to be with him alone.
" Why do you ask? "
" huh" Cherry turned to look at Hermia for a second, looked down and smiles sheepishly
"Anytime I see him, I see a wicked smile on his face that tells me he still hasn't forgiven me for pouring my drinks on him back then."
She played with her fingers for some seconds before returning her gaze to Hermia, who was focused on the wheel.
"So do you live together? You know, if you don't live together, he and I can never be enemies."
"Unfortunately girl, he would be staying with me for a week."
Hermia drove into a compound, and Cherry concluded that it was their destination.
After parking the car, Hermia and Cherry went to the door. Hermia rang the door bell, while Cherry was praying silently, praying that Lucian would not pick on her.
But to their surprise, when the door was opened, standing there was not Lucian, it was a total stranger.