CHAPTER 005: LAST LAUGH

JUNE;

I took the stairs, one at a time, hand tight on the railings. They were already seated, Mom, Mr. Grayson, and that boy, but their cutlery still lay perfectly, glasses remained untouched. The aroma of different delicacies wafted through the air into my nostrils.

But I still hated the idea of this dinner. It should have been just my Mom and me, on our little dinner table, maybe having some rice and grilled fish, something simple and not dramatic, like the array of dishes that lay across the long wooden table, as if it were Christmas. Rich people and show-offs. They always love complicated meals.

I sighed slightly. My eyes fell on him, not like it was the first time since the staircase. But I just noticed his eyes lit up. Why was his lip lifted at the corner? I darted my eyes around me, maybe I had worn my clothes inside out.

Why was he looking at me that way? God! I hated those eyes on me. I hated how they suddenly made each step heavy. I hated the way his face shone in the light, like he wasn't the same boy who had nicknamed me earlier today.

“Come on, honey… The food is almost getting cold,”

Mr. Grayson’s voice reached me. I bet the man just wanted to win me over. Why was he being too sweet? It was already enough that he stole the quiet life we had, and fathered this uncouth boy.

Mom stretched out her hand, beckoning me to come over, I shuffled to the table, pulled the seat, and…

“Can we all eat now, ugh?” That was him. Of course, it had to be him. Always impatient. Always trying to ruin things.

"Do you always have to rush about everything?” I rolled my eyes at him, lowering myself onto the seat.

The foam felt really soft against my butt. I wouldn't lie, this felt good, too good, better than the hardwood that always had my butt hurting by the time I retired to bed every night. But I hated one thing about this seat, the position. It made me sit right across from him.

His blue eyes darkened at once, he stopped halfway with the fork already in his hand, he didn't expect that I could speak to him here. He should be dreaming then. I would never let him, nor anyone taunt my mom or me in this beautiful cage.

“June,” Mom's hand clasped mine, “that was rather harsh for your brother,” her voice low. He scoffed.

“Brother?” I pulled my brows together. Did he just scoff? This boy could be so annoying. My jaw tightened at once. “He's not my brother,” I muttered low, staring at his face through the edge of my eyes.

My fist formed on my thigh right under the huge table. I hated the smirk that sat on his face. I hated the crisp white T-shirt that caught the light thereby illuminating every delicate carve of his face. You know what I hated even more? I hated that I noticed all of these.

“Okay… Okay, guys,” Mr. Grayson dropped off the glass of water he had already grabbed. “I think you both got off on the wrong foot. It shouldn't be that deep you know, especially when you both would be in the same house, attend the same college and study the same course,”

“What?!” We both yelled. We hadn't let him finish.

“No way! I'm not going to study the same course as this girl… That's not happening!” He screamed, spun halfway on his seat so he could face his Dad, hand pointing at me.

“Very well then, feel free to quit! The air would surely feel lighter with you gone from there!” I blurted, picked up the fork that lay by the plate. Hand gripping tightly, letting all my anger out on it.

“June!” That was Mom. I hated the look in her eyes. I hated that I made her angry. But it was his fault not mine. Why can't anyone see how much of a jerk he was and how much he was trying to get under my skin?

Mr. Grayson chuckled. Easing the moment for a second. Then he clasped both hands under his jaw.

“I expected this… But what I didn't expect was that you two would disrespect us this much!” He thundered.

My body shook at his tone. Wasn't he the man who chuckled just a second ago?

“Ronan, you would apologise to June immediately!” He continued.

Oh, that was perfect! I was starting to think Mr. Grayson wasn't bad for Mom after, all.

“Now, I said.” He roared.

The flicker, the one that had been in his eyes since I got to this table, I watched it disappear. I watched his mouth as he mumbled the words out.

I responded loudly, even though the apology had come from his throat and stopped at his tongue. Then I noticed it, the cold way he darted his eye at his dad, like he was stopping words from flowing.

I took my fork, started digging on the plate Mom had pushed before me. We ate in silence. Thick air, just the darting of eyes, and the clattering of spoons against porcelain.

But when I retired to bed, my eyes remained fixed on the ceiling. My mind kept replaying the scene. I didn’t like what happened. But I couldn’t let myself be shadowed. That’s what all these men are good at.

Ronan. The name kept recurring in my mind. I could still see his face as he munched in silence. I could still see his finger tapping judiciously by the side of his plate. And the look on his face, it was the type that says “the battle line is drawn.”

Well, I was born ready. And for this night, I had the last laugh.