Chap_9

Adrian's P.O.V.

.

Today when I entered the central library, Shane was already present there working on his laptop. With a frowning face, I went up to him and took a seat beside him.

He didn't even notice me but continued his work. I couldn't help being sarcastic and spoke up, "Shane, you here! This early! Is everything alright?"

He glared at me and then turned to his laptop screen again. He was scrolling down and turning to the next pages while searching something.

I got surprised at his behaviour as he was a person who believes, "If it's not on the first search page on G****e, it doesn't even exist."

I asked him casually, "What happened, Shane? You are looking quite serious."

He spoke up in a disappointed tone, "Thesis project submission date has been declared. And it is by the end of this month. Like literally THIS month. Can you believe it?"

But hearing him, I got excited. Though I didn't know when the submission will be, I already told Alina that by the end of this month, I will get back to them. Now I can really get back to them by the end of THIS month.

Being happy with the thought, I uttered excitedly, "Really?" only to get a glare from Shane.

I thought of giving Alina the good news and immediately called her. When the call was answered, I was about to utter, 'Alina' but heard an unfamiliar girlie voice, "Hello." and got paused for a moment.

Then it hit my mind. Why Alina's phone would be answered by an unknown person rather than her or Rose what generally happens!

Remembering the day when I called Dad only to get the call answered by an unknown person and telling me about the damn accident, I got terrified.

While fighting my fear, I started shouting, "Who are you? And why in the world you are answering this call?"

I was damn worried and just wanted to hear that my family is safe but the person got totally silent. So I again started yelling, "Answer me, damn it. Who are you?"

This time she answered me stuttering, "I a..am Kh..Kathleen."

I was too worried to remember who she was and asked again, "Whoever you are, why are you answering my sister's phone? Where is she? Is she alright?"

Then I heard what I wanted to hear the most at that time, "She is alright. Here, talk to her."

Saying that, maybe she handed the phone to Alina as I heard her saying, "Adrian, I am alright, dear. Don't worry."

Hearing her voice, I got relaxed and asked, "Why was your phone answered by the girl whatever her name was?"

"Her name is Kathleen. I forgot my phone on the table where Kathleen was tutoring Rose." Alina spoke up casually.

But I was irritated and spoke up, "Oh, so it's her. But why would she being an unknown person answer someone else's phone call!"

Hearing her saying, "Adrian!" in a cold tone, I got silent for a moment then again spoke up, "Whatever. Thesis project submission date has been declared and it's by the end of this month. When I told you that I would be back by this month, I wasn't sure but now I am sure to be back to you guys by the end of THIS month."

Alina uttered being extremely happy, "Really? I am waiting for the day to see you here already."

"I will be with you soon big sis. Now got to go. You stay with Rose now, okay? Bye" Saying this, I cut off the line and got back to my seat.

Shane seemed to be stuck on something. So I spoke up, "Go slow, Shane Take it easy. This way you will kill yourself."

He gave me a death glare. I nodded at him smilingly anyways and said, "Okay okay. I got it." and started working on my project.

Alina's P.O.V.

.

For almost 1 hour, Rose was waiting for Kathleen to come. She was jumping around and looking at the door every minutes as she kept asking me about the time.

When Kathleen came, she shouted excitedly, "Mom, Aunt has come." and ran towards the door.

I went to gave Rose and Kathleen some snacks and then hurried back to kitchen as I left something on gas. But I forgot my phone there on the table.

When I was done with my kitchen stuff, I went towards the poolside where Kathleen was tutoring Rose. Getting near, I heard Kathleen stuttering, "I a..am Kh...Kathleen."

When I caught the sight of her, she was on phone and Rose was reading something. Then I noticed Kathleen was talking to someone on my phone.

Seeing her face, I understood who would be the person Kathleen was talking to. When Kathleen saw me, she handed me the phone after saying, "She is alright. Here, talk to her."

Taking the phone, I went to other side of the pool. After talking to Adrian, I was very happy as he would really get back home by this month.

When I got near them and saw Kathleen's sad face, I thought Adrian must have talked to her rudely. So I got near her and spoke up, "Kathleen, please don't mind Adrian's word. He has always been like this. I am apologising on my brother's behalf."

She looked at me with a little bit of smile but I didn't know what happened to her but her eyes were all teary.

Seeing her like this, I again spoke up, "Kathleen, did Adrian say something or bad mouthed you? Why are you.." But she didn't let me complete and spoke up, "No. He didn't. He was just worried for you."

Sensing her hesitation, I just nodded and she turned to Rose but I was sure there were tears in her eyes. I thought of asking Adrian for myself and got silent. Taking a seat on the other side of the pool, I waited for them to complete their study.

But I couldn't help thinking there was something with Kathleen. I wasn't sure if it's something good or bad as she was looking happy one moment and on the next moment she was all gloomy and hurt.

Kathleen's P.O.V.

.

At first, hearing him yelling at me just for picking up the phone, I did mind a bit. But then I realised that he was not yelling at me rather he was worried for her sister.

The thought of my brother came to my mind and my eyes got watery before I could realise.

When Alina saw that, she started apologising to me thinking I was crying because of her brother's behaviour.

The case was not that. So I spoke up interrupting her, "No, he didn't. He was just worried for you." and then turned to Rose who was memorising some pronunciation.

After a while she uttered while pouting, "Aunt, I have been reading for too long. I am tired now." Hearing her cute voice, I smiled at her.

It was almost evening and I thought of leaving. So I spoke up, "Then I should leave now. You take rest."

She stood up immediately and happily spoke up, "Okay aunt" and left from there while jumping. I looked at Alina and spoke up with a little bit of smile, "Mrs. Alina, I should leave now."

She looked at me smilingly then turned to the tray where the snacks were left untouched.

She looked back at me and said, "Kathleen, you didn't even touch that! Okay, leave that. But you have to eat something for sure. You have come to our house for the first time."

I tried to say something but got cut off instantly, "It's okay, Mrs. Alina. I will"

She spoke up with a demanding tone, "Not Mrs. Alina. It's sounding odd to me from you. Call me Alina or Sister, Okay?"

I uttered whispering, "Sister!" and she smiled heartily hearing me. Then she again spoke up, "Now like a good girl, listen to your older sister. Come with me."

Without uttering anything, I just nodded at her and followed her downstairs. She got me sit on the living room and brought something sweet for me.

Seeing me hesitating, she told me to start eating immediately and took a seat beside me while calling Rose.

I was about to shove some in my mouth but stopped hearing, "Princess, I am home." and turned towards the voice and saw Mr. Ace standing by the door.

Rose went running to him and spoke up smilingly, "Dad you know, aunt Kathleen came today."

Alina spoke up then, "She is still here."

Mr. Ace took Rose in his arms and came towards us. Seeing me, he smiled and spoke up, "Thank you, Kathleen for coming here. My Princess is so happy now." as he caressed Rose's hair.

Rose got down from his arms and started jumping around.

Alina looked at him and spoke up then, "Let her eat, Ace."

He looked at the sweet kept in front of me and spoke up, "Sorry sorry. Kathleen, you eat. Alina makes really delicious sweet."

Smiling at him, I took some and said, "You are right, Mr. Ace. It's really delicious, Sister." and turned to Alina.

Hearing me, she smiled and spoke up, "I am glad that you like it."

With a smile I stood up and said, "Mr. Ace, I will take your leave now."

But Mr. Ace spoke up while making a confused face, "How come you are calling me as Mr. Ace when you are calling Alina as sister! Isn't it weird? Call me Brother then."

Finding nothing to say, I just nodded and left from there saying, "Bye". They offered me to drop me back to my house but I refused politely.

I was utterly confused at their behaviour. They were being too nice to me to be true.

Whenever I got close to someone, I ended up losing the person at some point. So I was feeling confused whether I should continue coming to this house.

While thinking like that I got on the road and taking a taxi, I went towards my house.

Adrian's P.O.V.

.

I was on my way home when Alina called me. I answered the call and she started asking me, "Adrian, what did you say to her?"

Being confused, I asked her, "Who are you talking about?"

She spoke up again, "You know very well who I am talking about. I am talking about Kathleen. What did you say to her to make her cry?"

" I didn't say to her anything." I replied to her casually only to hear her concerned voice that too for a girl she barely knew.

"Then why was she crying!"

Being irritated with that, I uttered, "How would I know that, Alina? And by the way don't you think you are caring too much of a girl you have known just for two days and even questioning me for her?"

But my Sister being herself got totally silent and I knew for sure she was thinking about Kathleen.

Sensing that, I tried to say something but she cut off the line saying, "I will talk to you later. Bye."

Then I also started thinking, "Did the girl really cry because of my behaviour! But I was just worried for my sister. That's it.

And by the way why did she answer someone else's phone call! She was the one at fault. She shouldn't have done that, right?

So I didn't do anything wrong."