Knock, knock…
Yuki tossed, then turned to look at the window she left open the previous night. The sun was already up. Several birds stood on the window frame twittering. Yuki wondered how all that noise escaped her when she slept. She sluggishly rose from the bed and sat up. She rubbed her eyes gently and turned her eyes in the direction of the voice she heard.
"Yuki? Are you awake?" Zora called from outside the room.
Yuki lethargically ambled to the door, turned the knob and opened it. "Good morning," Yuki drawled while leaning on to the door frame. She peered at Zora after the unusual silence only to find Zora staring with a shocked expression at her. "Is there a problem?" Yuki's sleepiness had cleared a bit.
Zora abruptly but delicately pushed Yuki into the room and followed when she heard the door of the next room being opened. She leaned with her back against the door and sighed in relief. Zora had a tray of food in her hand that she had brought to Yuki.
By her scent, her hair and her beautiful eyes, Zora was sure this person was very much the Yuki she came to find.
"I think you forget something, Yuki," Zora said and pointed to the mirror.
Yuki did not need a mirror, just by Zora's words, she had an idea what had happened. Yuki's eyes grew wide, surprised at her negligence as she touched her face. She forgot to apply her tanning cream!
"This…"
"You needn't explain anything to me. You have no obligation to," Zora walked on and placed the tray of food on the table then turned and smile warmly, "do not fret."
Yuki instantly calmed down at the sight of Zora's warm expression. She nodded and returned the smile.
"Treyton tells me you guys are going hiking today. Do you have an attire for the occasion?"
"An attire? Don't I wear whatever I want?" Yuki was unhappy about the new information and her knitted brows was evidence of that.
"You can wear whatever you want so long as it makes you comfortable." Zora said with a shrug.
Yuki walked to the bag which contained her stuff and pulled out a grey dress. "This is what I brought to wear." Yuki held the dress over her head to show Zora.
Zora did not look at the dress approvingly. "You will struggle if you go in that dress. Will you let me help?" she did not want to impose.
"You will help me?" Yuki looked at the young woman with narrowed eyes. "Do you perhaps pity me?" Yuki wore no expressions. The question had nothing to do with the dress or Zora's help. It was more or less a hunch, but Yuki felt as if occasionally, Zora looked at her with pity. She was well acquainted with that look thanks to her mother's disappearance. That was how Yuki could tell even though it was subtle that Zora harbored pity towards her. She did not understand why but she hated it regardless.
Zora was visibly startled by Yuki's question and her intense gaze. Her mouth felt dry in an instant before she gathered both her thoughts and her composure. "Sorry, I didn't think it showed. Walter is a close friend of mine and my husband's. We used to read the letters your godfather sent him. There was a lot he said about you in the letters… I am sorry about your mother."
Yuki's face clear. So that was what that was about. "I didn't know godfather wrote about me."
"He did. A lot. He was greatly worried about your wellbeing, after the incident with your mother."
"I see. So, everyone in town knows my story, then?" Yuki forced a smile.
"No! absolutely not. Amir and I were the only ones who saw the letters. The people probably see you as Walter's relative as you were raised by his father. You see, he is very much adored here in Gouna, forgive them if they behave peculiarly, they are just extending their love for Walter to you."
Yuki was more relieved than she expected. She was glad no one else knew of her past than the few people that did. "I see. Then, does your help offer still stand?" Yuki was back to herself. Also, there lingered inside her heart a hint of ease at the thought of how simply Zora brushed off her natural appearance.
Zora smiled, "Absolutely, you can eat and shower first. I will be back in no time," she uttered and excused herself.
After watching Zora leave, Yuki walked up to the window and looked at the spot the wolf stood the night before. There was no large furry creature. But there was a hunky human figure at the same spot. He was originally walking by but stopped to look up and that was when Yuki met his gaze.
It was Treyton. He was shirtless. His hair, his shorts, his chest; they were visibly soaked. His grey eyes gazed upon Yuki without as much as a blink. "Did you sleep well?" Treyton's deep voice poked Yuki's lustful eyes that were looking at an outlined spot on his wet shorts.
She brought her hand to her mouth and cleared her throat, when she did, she immediately remembered she did not have her fake tan on. She slid down and hid behind the wall under the window at once, her eyes wide open. How could she let it happen again? Twice. Not one person but two were now aware of her natural complexion.
Yuki never tanned herself when she was home. It was something she was used to; therefore, it so happens that since she felt a sense of comfort in that house, her mind automatically considered the place home.
Yuki cussed under her breath. 'Wait', she froze up before a deep frown crept onto her face. 'Why did he not look surprised? Was he already aware? When? How?' Yuki rose again to confirm her suspicion but Treyton had already left. Her frown deepened.
From the window, Yuki stepped right into the shower. Afterwards, before anything else, she applied her tan cream on her face, her legs, hands, neck and shoulders. Then she sat for the cream to dry while she continued to ponder over Treyton's apathy towards her true appearance.
Zora returned to Yuki after a long while. Yuki was already done eating when she did. "Your brother wanted to see you, I asked him to give us some time, is that alright?"
"It is fine. Did he fret when you asked him to wait?" Yuki was surprised Jacek had not come to see her yet, considering how protective he was of her.
"He did not want to but since I said I was going to help you get dressed, I guess he had no choice but to excuse us," Zora chuckled when she remembered her encounter with Jacek. "He really, truly loves you."
Yuki grinned unintentionally. "That he does." She spoke as confidently as she felt.
"He reminds me so much of the brother Amir is, to Treyton." Zora pulled Yuki to sit in front of the dressing mirror. "When he was stronger, all he ever did was look after his little brother. Trey this, Trey that…" she laughed.
Yuki looked at Zora's reflection in the mirror, "Did they grow apart?" Yuki was curious. Treyton had a weird way of looking at Amir and it did not look like it was just purely love to Yuki. Yuki watched as Zora's face fall while she braided her hair.
"Does it look that way?" Zora looked dejected. "They still love each other; I know they do or at least I know without a doubt that Amir never stopped loving Treyton for a day. But Treyton…his feelings are something I have never been able to understand in depth."
Yuki doubted Zora's perception of Treyton. She believed he was quite open and honest. To her, Treyton was a simple man. Still, Yuki did not let her discernment and thought become visible on her face.
After putting part of the hair in braids, Zora tied the rest and wrapped it into a steady bun. Afterwards, Zora brought out Yuki's hiking attire. It was a feminine-looking breeches, a beautiful long-sleeved blouse and a pair of leather boots.
Yuki looked at the combination with a judgmental expression. She had never worn breeches. Were women even allowed to wear them?
"It is fine. Don't you want to roam the hills freely without the restraint of a dress some tight shoes?"
"Well…okay then" Yuki gave up when she looked at the determination in Zora's eyes.
…
Treyton, Jacek and Beckett were standing outside the mansion in their hiking outfits. Each had a few things they would need on their adventure with them as they awaited Yuki. Treyton threw his cousin a warning look as soon as the door of the mansion opened; his eyes spoke volumes. It was as if they were telling Beckett to hold his damned tongue no matter what! Beckett looked offended but dared not voice his thought.
Emerging from the house was Zora beside whom, an elegant figure walked. The boys looked at Yuki with equal astounded expressions. The hiking attire seemed graced to be allowed on Yuki's alluring frame. Her styled hair glimmered in the sun's golden light while her beautiful eyes confidently looked at the three men.
Jacek turned sharply to glare at Treyton and Beckett who avoided his eyes and cleared their throat. He looked back at her sister who was at forty percent of her beauty. He sighed. His beautiful sister attracted men when she did not even try. He really needed more muscles in the future when Yuki finally revealed the entirety of her beauty. Jacek sighed again.