Along the road
What else can I expect from Nicole? Of course, she don't want to be disturbed. June smiled wryly at me while Ariel's face was grimacing. I know that Ariel and Nicole's relationship is not that good so I understand if his expression is a little off when I mentioned that name. That's probably one of the reasons why Ariel had agreed and persuaded me to stay with them in Club Fort -- to annoy Levi's girlfriend, Nicole.
It take minutes for Tiden to run down the stairs with a big grin hanging on his lips. He walk towards me and put his arms around my shoulder, sitting beside me. My lips twitch with a smile and poke him. "So? Did Mama agree with you?" I asked. I hold no hope that my mother agree since she is strict and never let a stranger barge into second floor freely, but I am dumfounded when I see Tiden nod with a smug smile on his lips.
"You don't believe me? Ask your mother then," Tiden said chuckling when he look at my bewildered face.
I scorn at him and fold my arms in front. "That's it. I'll visit Club Ford..."
Since we receive Mama's abrupt yes, Tiden and June bid their goodbyes. Ariel wink at me before hopping on their car but Levi? Oh well, he is still busy with his phone, does not even bother to raise his head and say goodbye. I don't know what things he is working on but I don't have the guts to approach and ask him.
At dawn, I am not surprise to see Tiden's grinning face. I don't have the problem of him driving to El Grande to fetch me, in fact I like it, if he only wait for the sun to rise in the east.
The sorrounding is still dark and the incoming wind from the open door is chilly. Tiden is standing by the foot of the staircase while I am huffing at the top, glaring at him. "What a morning," I complained hoarsely. "You have the guts to wake me this early, huh?"
Drawing a breath, I take a step down the stairs. A maid had woke me up, telling me someone is looking for me and is waiting in the living room. I already punished her for disturbing my sleep and seeing that it's Tiden for not so urgent matter, I regret giving that maid a light punishment of pulling weeds at the backyard. Seeing that wide grin on Tiden's lips, I just want to smack his face with my fist.
My feet step on the living room and without waiting for him to say anything, I stride towards the kitchen. Tiden follows me while asking what I want to eat.
"Why? You'll cook it for me?" I asked, sarcasm is evident in my voice.
The smile on his lips does not diminish at all. "You're still grumpy even early in the morning," he commented, clearly teasing me.
Sneering at him, I yawn and turn my head to the left. I want to sleep but Vine might be waiting for me seeing that Tiden's too early to fetch me. So I went to the kitchen to make coffee. Tiden is still following in leisurely manner which makes me frown. He is really feeling at home, huh?
"Miss, do you want something to eat?" Husea asked when I arrived in the kitchen.
I can smell the aroma of brewed coffee hovering in the air which makes me relax a bit. Some of the maids love coffee so every morning they will brew cups of corn coffee and today, I feel like I want to sip. "Just give me a cup of coffee," I said and sat across from the dining table. "Also pancakes," I added.
She smiled. "That's right, Miss. The pancakes are still warm," she said before hurrying to serve pancakes and make coffee.
I smirk when she had placed the coffee on the side of my saucer. "Where's Jemima?" I asked when I noticed that she is alone in the kitchen.
"Ah, Jemima?" Husea thought for awhile before slightly grinning at me. "She had gone back to her home in LLC, Miss. She reasoned her work here is done."
I nodded and looked away. Husea excused herself to take care of the pickle being cooked. I took a sip of the still steaming coffee and placed the cup on the table. I saw Tiden sitting next to me out of the corner of my eye. He reached for a pancake on my plate and took a bite. I called Husea again to serve another pile of pancakes. It might not enough for the two of us.
"Do you have your suits ready?" Tiden asked while swirling the spoon inside the cup.
I put the coffee cup down. "I won't be there long so I won't bring any more things. CFM is just around the corner."
He nodded. "Have you bid goodbye to Aunt?"
I took another sip of coffee and bit into the pancake. "She didn't know that I'm leaving this early. Mama would probably gone mad. But it's okay." Shrugging my shoulder, I smirked at him. "You bid goodbye for me last night, right? So it's alright. Don't worry about it."
Tiden flicked his tongue, clearly dissatisfied with my thinking. After a few moments he asked, "Does Tito know?"
"Err..." My lips twitched because of his question. "I didn't get to say goodbye to Papa, but that's okay. Maybe Mama will tell him."
We were silent for a while. After a few minutes, Tiden spoke again. "I have to get back to CFM before eight o'clock," he said.
"Okay. Wait for me. I'm just going to get dressed."
I stood up and ran up the stairs. My eyes caught the cell phone on the bed. I haven't sent my replay to CareLikeGoldFish's message yet. Sighing, I shrugged. Maybe later.
I went to the bathroom and washed up. I even brushed my teeth before entering the walk-in closet, staring at my bikinis for a few seconds. I was confused what to wear.
Knowing that Nicole is beautiful and Levi definitely won't notice me if I just wear a simple dress, I decided to put on the bikini that Mama bought last summer and wore the best summer dress in the closet before leaving the room and walking down the stairs.
Tiden looked up at me and was stunned for a few seconds. I raised an eyebrow at him, only then did he come to his senses. He closed his eyes and looked away. "You're beautiful," he praised.
I pursed my lips and squinted my eyes. "You just realized now?" He glared at me so I laughed at him. "Tsk. That's why you're still single until now. You don't know how to appreciate beauty!" I added.
The corner of his lips twitched but he didn't move. Huh. I'm right. I have never seen him flirt with another girl. I just shook my head before leaving the house.
I saw a beautiful sports car outside. The red car gleamed under the giant lights outside the mansion. "Is this yours?" I asked because it was my first time to see that particular car.
He shook his head then opened the door for me. "It's Levi's," he said.
"Oh." I sat in the passenger seat while he went around the front and sat in the driver's seat. "Do you have a license?" I asked, skeptical of the idea that he's a skilled driver.
"Yes. I just receive it recently," he answered then drove the car out the big gate of the mansion.
"Are all of you gonna stay at CFM all weekend?" I asked.
He slowly turned the steering wheel. "Levi and Nicole have plans to go to Ablayan Peak and Ili Rock."
"You three won't go with them?"
Tiden winced pursing his lips into a thin line, then chuckled without humour. "We would like to but Nicole doesn't want to agree. She wants to monopolize Levi." He laughed. "Levi persisted for the first time so Nicole couldn't do anything but agree."
I looked down at the dashboard. I bit my lower lip. "Is it okay with your manager?"
He shrugged and didn't answer. I know it's okay with the manager because they can't visit tourist spots without the manager's permission. But it's tiring to hope that their relationship will go downhill. Levi and Nicole will always be together. It would be fine if the other three members will come and I'll beg to come with them because I can use Tiden as an excuse to go on their trip, but I don't want to give in to fate yet I can't do anything.
I sighed and looked out the window. I can see that light in the distance and realize that the sun is about to rise so I told him to hurry and Levi might wake up this early. I don't want to be late for our meeting.
But while the car was traveling to CFM, my chest suddenly pounded. I don't know why but I held on to that side and looked ahead where I could clearly see the arch of the resort
My muscles went cold when I felt that familiar gaze again. It was the kind of stare that had followed me for the past two months.