'Dammit, Callum! Congratulations on being a jerk! What are you, an infatuated high schooler? Really?'
"I want you to be my woman..."
'Dammit, how insensitive of me to offer such an embarrassing proposal knowing she was just discharged from the hospital due to domestic violence and just lost her baby.
God, I'm a jerk. Hoooo... Dammit, I'm an asshole in front of her. It would have been better if she just slapped me when I disrespected her with that offer.'
He sat on his executive chair, head tilted back, and swiveled himself while remembering the very first time she saw her...
9 years ago...
Callum just got back from the University and heard his father's voice in the living room. He stopped by the door and listened, not wanting to disturb them.
"Let's go to the study and discuss this further. We can have your daughter with us or you can make her stay and enjoy the garden." Mr. Gabriel Humphrey, head of White Hat Financial, suggested.
"I'd rather have her stay in the garden, Mr. Humphrey." Mr. Burnes humbly said then turned to Nyla and gave her a threatening stare. Nyla nodded.
"Okay, I'll have the servants give her snacks while she's waiting. A girl her age will get bored on business talks anyway."
"Thank you, Mr. Humphrey."
Callum heard the door of the study open, then closed. She heard the sliding glass door open and knew that the girl was guided by the servant to the gardens.
It was then that he continued inside the house and went to his room. The exams just finished today and he doesn't want to meet new people. His mind and body were exhausted due to the exam the whole week.
He put his bag on his study table and sat in front of it. He doesn't want to sit in his bed if he hasn't showered yet. He's a bit of a neat freak. He wants things neat and orderly too.
Maybe because his father is a perfectionist. Kind but strict nonetheless. Callum doesn't mind. He loves his father more than anything in this world. His father raised him properly, despite the absence of his mother who was taken by the angels when he was just 5 years old.
'Haaaaah... I'm so tired and hungry. But I don't wanna go down as I might meet them…'
He decided to take a quick shower.
While in his towel with another towel to dry his hair, he went to his bedroom window and nonchalantly looked out.
Wait a minute...he forgot that his bedroom on the second floor is facing the gardens...
His eyes immediately looked to where the girl should be sitting.
She was there, sitting in her simple baby blue dress, on her side profile, admiring the flowers which were maintained by the gardener for years. Those flowers were originally planted by his mother and well kept years after. She looked like a painting, complementing the garden table and chairs made of rattan on a breezy summer day.
'She's pretty and her innocence is captivating... but, I have no time for this. I'm hungry.'
He got dressed in his casual home wear and went down the stairs hoping to sneak into the kitchen without anyone noticing.
Just as he was about to bring his bread and juice in a tray, his father went out of the study room with the visitor behind him.
'Haaaah I got caught.' He put down his tray on the center table.
"Oh, there's my boy! Mr. Burnes, I would like you to meet my only son and the future head of my company, Callum. He's taking a double degree in Finance and Economics. Callum, meet Mr. William Burnes, owner of Burnes Limited."
"Pleasure to meet you, sir." He extended his hand for a handshake.
Just then, Nyla was entering the sliding glass door from the garden and meekly stood behind her father. Her head still lowered. Not looking at anybody, trying to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible.
"Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Humphrey. We look forward to the final contract next week. We'll be going now. Thanks again."
"G—good day Sir. Thank you." The girl said almost in a whisper and looked quickly at Mr. Humphrey.
"Your daughter is so cute. Alright, let me show you out."
"Good day, and take care, Sir." Callum respectfully said his goodbye. He noticed the beautiful timid girl just followed silently.
Back to the present...
Callum opened his eyes. She grew older but she's still a bit timid. Maybe that was why she chose to be a kindergarten teacher. Kids are much easier to deal with than adults.
Of course, he's had relationships in those nine years. It's not like he lost all motivation to date just because he met this girl once.
'But yeah... seeing her again still has the same effect on me. It's like you want to break into her soft but impenetrable exterior.
I don't know if I should be thankful for that scum of a man Jacques Curt. But I want to hurt him for doing such unforgivable acts toward Nyla.
Nyla... will you see me again after receiving such a detestable offer from me?'