EVE
Our small group was guided to the manor. Unlike me, they entered the house with not the same reaction as I had before. My mother, father and Tito Rusty were walking ahead of us, leaving a more awkward space between me and Xenon. He wasn't much of a talker, I noticed.
"what would you prefer, Antonio? We stay here for dinner or get out of the house somewhere?" – Tito Rusty spoke over the silence
"your call, Rusty."
"ooooh, I guess we'll ask Genevieve?"
They stopped and turned to me. I wasn't following at all. I only knew what was going on when the question was repeated to me the second time.
"I… I guess we'll stay here. Mom and Dad must be tired from all the trip."
I said and my parents smiled. Knowing them, I'm sure that's what they both wanted too. They're just too shy to say it.
"I disagree. It's Mr. and Mrs. Fuego's first time around here. we should bring them someplace nice. There's a lot of steakhouses in the city with great reviews." – Xenon said, matter-of-factly
Tito Rusty looked at Xenon, then to me, and back to his son.
"I asked your fiancé, son. What would she like?"
The sound of the f word still echoing in my head, I caught a glance of my mother suppressing a smile. Why does this arrangement give so much highlight on me anyway?
Xenon joined the little staring party. Now with the whole decision for dinner entirely on my shoulders, I weighed which one of the two was better. It's just dinner anyway.
"I guess let's try some places in the city?" – I didn't sound certain, I'm sure.
They all nodded approvingly. Xenon looked at me with a little smirk. I guess he liked my support of his idea. Deep inside my system, I blushed. Damn it.
"dinner out it is."
Tito Rusty snapped his fingers for some reason. While my parents rested on the living room, Alfred came to get their belongings. Dad has one travel one and mom (as always) carried three bags with her. when we spoke on the phone she didn't say how many days do they intend to stay.
The five of us were sitting on the couch while Tito Rusty and dad catch up with their lost years of friendship. Mom was listening intently, inserting her own comments every now and then. The only people excluded from the conversation was me and Xenon and because we sit next to each other, I couldn't help but notice how close we were. His leg was grazing mine and his perfume was consumed in my system. Suddenly I got conscious of how I looked… or smelled.
"Excuse me, everyone. I have to pick some office essentials at the store." – I felt a sudden movement beside me. Xenon stood up.
"take Genevieve with you. Her parents and I have some important things to talk about."
My eyes widened. I don't know if anyone in the group noticed but Xenon and I haven't gone somewhere with only each other as company yet. He's very dismissive of me in a group setting, how more if there's only the two of us.
"do you want to come?" – Xenon asked, looking at me
"just take her, son. I believe the two of you needs some alone time. You know, get to know each other and all that." – Mom said. I frowned. They're really calling him son, huh?
He nodded to my mom and pulled me up by my wrist. I gave a little wave to our parents as we walked out of the house. He let go of my hand when we were in the front door and sighed.
"look, I don't like chatty people so please… I didn't have enough sleep last night. Stay quiet this entire trip." – he said, scratching his nape.
"sure."
"alright."
Kevin, his butler, came to give him his key. Seconds after, a silver Aston Martin DB11 emerged, driven by a valet. I followed, secretly admiring the car myself. its shiny appearance, the wheels, everything about it.
He slipped to the driver's seat and I opened the door to the passenger's seat. Even the interior smelled fancy. When the engine roared, I inserted my seatbelt and waited for the car to run. He drove slow and steady.
The city looked gloomy today. The sky was grey with a chance of rain. Because of that reason, the usual street peddlers and vendors were gone. Commuters on bust stops and train stations were thin. It's like everyone knew a heavy rain was coming.
"do you need to buy something too?" – It was Xenon who broke the silence. Something I was thankful for. I don't like the cold war that's going on between us at all.
"office supplies?"
"yeah. I heard you own a music school."
I smiled.
"yeah, I do. It's Treble Music School."
"kind of heard about that."
I nodded proudly… and then that ended the conversation. the silence was back in the car again. It continued to reign until we reached the store. He parked at the side of the road. There were two other cars in the area and the place only had such limited parking space. It can only accommodate three cars at once. He got out and I followed, jogging behind him. He has such long legs that it was impossible to keep up with his pace.
"good morning, sir Xenon."
The person at the counter greeted him as soon as we entered the door. A regular, perhaps? There were small baskets at the corner and I got one. He got a huge cart for himself.
"hey there, Anji."- he greeted back. the girl giggled. I guess someone has a crush on someone.
As for me, I received no greeting. Instead, the Anji girl was eyeing me all the time as I tailed Xenon. He picked up five blue transparent folders, some glue gun, a huge corkboard and push pins. I found some cute sticky notes and got myself some. Markers and pens as well. I looked back at the counter and yeah, Anji was still looking at us.
"so, I heard you're taking over the company now. how do you feel?" – I braved myself to start a conversation.
"it's something I always wanted. What do you expect me to feel?"
"happy?"
He turned and looked at me with a frown.
"yes? but then it won't be given to me right away. I'm sure my father has told you the entire set up here. I have to marry you first."
And then he walked to the counter where Anji was waiting. She obviously retouched her makeup when Xenon and I were picking items. It was pretty obvious. Her blush on was not even balanced on both cheeks. It looked like a rushed doll up.
"cash or card, sir?" – she said, rather flirtatiously
"card. Please include these as well." – Xenon turned and got the items from my small basket.
The girl stared at me from head to foot. She scanned the items with her eyes locked on me.
"do you have a bag sir or should I pack these up in a carton?"
"a carton would be fine."
While she was packing and her eyes were still on me, I think Xenon also noticed. She was staring at her and me interchangeably. It was getting uncomfortable to be honest.
"thank you, Anji." -he said when the carton was placed in front of us
"as always, sir."
"you're such a dear… anyway, my fiancé and I have to go. See you around."
Whether it was intended or not, I didn't care. What's amazing is that we left the store with Anji's jaw dropped on the floor and my heart melting. He called me fiancé.