06

Lily’s POV

“Good morning, Lily right?” A beautiful brunette asked as she waltzed into Derek’s home like she owned the place. She didn’t act like a visitor and that made me wonder who she was. She didn’t bother to knock as well, she just walked in.

“Yes,” I replied, not sure if I should be replying or asking her who she was. Derek was currently in his room after throwing an unnecessary tantrum because his mother asked him to change the lights in his house. After calling me crazy, he barged out of the house, came back a few minutes later, and hadn’t come out of his room yet.

“I’m Arianna, Derek’s cousin,” She finally introduced herself and I nodded.

“I’m lily,” I informed her. She immediately smiled at me, telling me she knew who I was and that it was Mrs. Miller who sent her to the house.

“Where’s Derek?” She asked. I pointed upstairs.

“He’s in his room,” She nodded again and went back to open the front door. Two big men walked in with some boxes and appliances.

“They’re here to fix the lights,” I smiled, glad that light would finally stop being a bother to me. It was beginning to cause headache but I didn’t have a choice but to manage despite how sensitive I was to the light.

“Shouldn’t you tell Derek about it?” I asked her.

She laughed. “He doesn’t have a choice, don’t worry about him, Lily. In fact, you should be worried about something else,”

I frowned when I didn’t understand what she meant. “Seducing the playboy,” She replied when she saw the confusion etched on my face.

“I still don’t understand you,” I told her sincerely. She grabbed my hand and walked us towards the dining area. She turned to face the electricians “You guys can start with the living room,” “Yes ma’am,” They replied in unison.

“What do you think about him??” she asked, once we both sat down

“The electricians?” I asked. Her eyes went wide.

“No, I’m talking about your husband, Derek,” she squealed, almost not believing that I’d mentioned those guys.

“I didn’t know you were talking about him,” I told her sincerely. I also wasn’t comfortable with the topic she wanted to start with. Can’t we talk about something else other than him?

“So, what do you think about my cousin?” She asked again and I realized she was probably as stubborn and adamant as her cousin.

“I don’t know. I’ve been here for barely a day,” I told her. I quickly removed my hand from hers, she had placed her hand on mine for like two minutes and I felt really uncomfortable with it.

She smiled sheepishly. “Okay, how about this?” She moved her mouth in a weird way. “What was your first impression of him?” She asked.

I thought for a while, not enjoying the direction of the conversation. I just want to go to my room and hide. I shook my head.

She suddenly grabbed my hand and I shifted back, shocked at the sudden movement. “Are you okay?” She asked.

I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself, and finally replied after a few minutes “I’m okay,”

The words came out slowly.

“You don’t want me to touch you,” She asked sadly.

I shook my head. “It’s not you, it’s me. I don’t like people touching me suddenly like that,” I informed her and she nodded.

Her eyes had regained their colors and she smiled at me again. It was obvious from her attitude that she was the jovial type of person and friendly to probably every person she had met in her life.

“So, what was your first impression of Derek?” Again! I wanted to cry.

“Sailor,” I whispered.

She bellowed into a fit of laughter. “A what?” She asked again. I knew it was unbelievable but it was true.

“He swears like a sailor,” I told her. I found myself laughing with her because as true as it was, it was still funny. Derek curses more than he talks

After her uncontrollable laughter had died down, she said, “Don’t mind Derek. He’s all talks and threats. I don’t think he can actually hurt anyone,”

I want to trust Mrs. Miller and Arianna that Derek cannot hurt anyone but the fact that their sentences usually begin with ‘think’ is enough reason to doubt that trust.

“I guess I’ll have to start with you, then, Arianna,” Derek’s angry voice resounded from the stairs and immediately, Arianna stood up, back away from Derek.

“Hey cousin, I thought you were busy,” She stated while I watched the scene in amassment.

“Busy enough to not know that it was you. The same person I plan to kill or break her legs for betraying me,” Derek yelled. The electricians had stopped what they were doing, looking at the drama that was unfolding.

“I didn’t have a choice. It was your mom who threatened me into submission,” She cried.

Derek folded his hand against his chest, stopping at the edge of the dining table while Arianna was on the other edge of the dining table.

“Let’s agree she threatened you. But that doesn’t make up for the fact that you should have called me to give me a heads up. We were supposed to have each other’s back, Arianna”

I knew the conversation was getting serious at that point.

“I know I messed up, I’m sorry. She threatened me elaborately and you know how inclusive her threats are. If I had called you, I would probably be back in my parents’ house right now, I’m sorry, Couz,” She pouted, apologizing to Derek.

He ignored her and faced the electricians. “Who are these people and what are they doing in my house?” he asked angrily.

“They’re here to fix the lights, because…” He turned to glare at me and I quickly swallowed the rest of my words.

“They’re fixing my light, messing up my appliances without notifying me,” he yelled. “What the fuck is that?” he cursed, again.

“Your mom asked me to bring them over,” Arianna replied, it was obvious that she was hiding a smile.

“Fuck!” he yelled, kicking the edge of the chair right next to him. “She doesn’t fucking own me,” Arianna lost it at that moment and began laughing. “What the fuck is funny?” he asked angrily.

Pointing to me, she managed to say. “She said you swear like a sailor and for the first time, I think someone got that description right,” He turned to face me, his eyes red with anger. He muttered some words underneath his breath and left the house angrily.

“Is he mad?” I asked Arianna who was still laughing.

“Hell, yeah, he’s pretty mad right mad,”

I realized I keep messing up really hard despite my self-conviction to make him accept me.