The Tour.

Chapter 5 - The Tour

Knight’s Pov

She choked on her food.

“You need water—” My forward twin grabbed a glass and a bottle of water. He poured some into the glass and handed it over. “Sorry.”

She looked at me, then looked away.

All at the table waited for her to be done. We needed answers. No one needed this answer more than I did. “Do you have a boyfriend?” I asked on behalf of everyone when she dropped the glass. “Dad was asking if you did.”

“Uhm, yes. I have a boyfriend.”

“Wow—” Sharon, my new stepmother snapped. “That's unusual. You never have a boyfriend, Sia. Who is the lucky man and for how long?”

The lady looked at her mother who was all smiles. “I'm not sure you care so much about my life. If you did, then you should know this isn't my first relationship, Mom. I've been with other men before him.” She looked around the table, at each of our faces before stopping at Dad's. “Can we not talk about my relationship? I'm not sure it's something I want to share, Mr. Smithfield. Thank you for understanding.”

Dad nodded.

He dropped the glass that he had been holding for a while, back on the table. “Yes, yes. We don't have to talk about it. I wanted to know what I'm up to—” He chuckled and looked at me. “Now that I'm back, we must resume rehearsals as soon as next week starts. Show your sister around after the meal, mm?” He looked at Richard before facing me who nodded. “I'll need some time with my wife.”

“Yes, Dad.” Richard and I answered together.

And so, we continued to eat.

It didn't take long for the moment to end. Awkward as it was, I was glad. One thing I wanted to do was head to my room and take a nap. Life was better that way - or not, but I needed to be out of their faces for as long as I could. The thought of sharing one house with my brother and his girlfriend, I didn't know.

I didn't know how to feel about it.

Or maybe I should talk about it. Maybe I should tell Dad what his son and new daughter are up to. Maybe her mom needed to know even.

Why was I even scared to speak?

What was the worst that could happen?

Ignoring these thoughts, I led my way through the stairs. But one voice made me stop, leaving me with no choice but to turn around. “Dad?”

“Where are you going?”

“Uhm - my room?”

“Have you two done as you have been told?” He looked at my brother before facing me. “Show your sister around. Richard, you'll join her and the driver in going to get her things from her former house early tomorrow, mm?”

Richard?

If only he knew—

“Yes, Dad.” He got up. He looked at Sia who didn't look at him. “Come on, let's show you around, Sia.” He stretched out a hand and she took it, nodding at her parents before moving.

The moment was more awkward.

Worse than it was when we ate.

Richard didn't say anything.

The only thing I could see was the usual mischievous smile on his face. It got to a point and he looked at me, his brow raised. “What? Why are you staring at me like I don't have your face? Is there something on my face?”

“I'm not staring at you.”

“I caught you staring at me, Knight.”

“I'm not staring at you, Richard.” I pressed.

“You are—”

“I'm not staring—”

“That's enough!” Someone cut us short. “I don't want a tour but now that we must do one, I'd like it to be a peaceful one, mm?” Sia looked at me, her smile was warm. “Can you do that?”

“Yeah, sure. It was Knight.”

“Richard, can we not?” She moved faster than us, leaving us with no choice but to catch up.

“I just want to be done with this. I have something to do in my room. Let's be fast.”

“What do you have to do in your room?”

“It's none of your business, Richard.” I snapped back at him, then I continued to walk.

“Those stupid live sessions that don't make you concentrate on hockey. I'll have to tell dad about it when he asks me what's wrong with you and why you've not been performing well.”

“Is that so?” I laughed.

“Yes, Knight.”

“Alright, then.”

“What live session?” A feminine voice asked. She stopped moving and looked behind her - at us. “What live session do you do, Knight?”

“It's none of your business, Sia.”

And before she could say something else, I was on my way out of her sight. It didn't take long before we reached the poolside, our first stop. “This is the pool, as you can see.” My brother explained. “We come here when we feel like it. Now that you're one of us, you should do the same when you finally move in tomorrow.”

“Right.”

“Let's show you the garden. Come on.”

And again, we moved. All I did was move along, not saying a word. What was there to say? I would only speak when it was just Richard and me. He had so many questions to answer. “This is the garden.” I snapped out of my thoughts, moping at a beautiful space we owned. “Knight thinks it's for girls, I think it's for everyone. He's never paid attention to the growth of these flowers, you have me to thank.”

“Right—”

“There's the game house. All sorts of games exist there. Then there's the house for our dogs. Do you like dogs, Sia? We should get you one.”

“Yes, I love dogs. Never had one.”

“The time has come for you to have one.” Richard winked and continued to move. “Do you have any place in mind, Knight? To show our sister, I mean. I've been doing the talking.”

“I have nothing to say, Richard.”

After a short walk, we reached the game house. I could see on her face how much she loved it here. Whether to be happy for her or not, I didn't know, and it didn't change the fact that I wanted to be back in my own room.

Alone.

“It's beautiful.”

Sia cried when we were done touring the game house. “How often do you come here?”

“As often as I want.”

“Cool.”

It wasn't an awkward moment, not any longer. But it was cut short by the presence of the head maid, Rachel. “Mr. Smithfield. I was asked to show Miss Sia to her room.”

“Oh.” My brother nodded.

Sia moved away from us now. She looked at me, I didn't understand why. Wasn't Richard her boyfriend? What was the meaning of all these? “I'll see you two around.” She mouthed before moving, leaving with Rachel who led the way.

Silence.

Once again.

What to say, I didn't know. Or maybe I knew, I just didn't know the exact way to say it.

“Do you want to talk about something?”

“Why do you think so?” I began my own journey back to my room, but my brother held my hand from behind before I could go far. “What is it, Knight? What do you want?”

“There's something I have to tell you.”

“Which is?”

“I'm not in a relationship with Sia.”

A while ago, the only thing I wanted to do was head to my room. Now, I wanted to get to the end of everything. “You told everyone in class that you two are together, didn't you?”

“Yes. To keep our reputation, of course.”

I chuckled. “I'm not sure I understand you.”

“We kissed. At our birthday party, remember? That was - something two adults can do. But since it went into record and was even leaked by someone I plan on killing, I had to claim a relationship with her so it's not worse than it is.”

“You're lying.”

“Of course, I'm not.” He moved away but I followed. “That's all that happened. I'm never going to kiss her again - not now that she's a part of this family. But the relationship we have given to the others on campus will be held. At home, we're siblings. In school, we're lovers. Do you understand me now, Knight?”

How could I not?

“Yeah, right.”

“That's not all. Dad mustn't know about it.”

“Yeah, right. There's no relationship, no need.”

I turned to look at him with a smile, moving away from him as soon as immediately. I had gotten everything I needed, after all.

“Hey!”

“What?” I snapped from my distance.

“What did you tell Sia about me?”

“I don't understand your question, Richard.”

“You said something about me to her. I just don't know what it is, you should tell me.”

“Or what?” I scoffed.

“Nothing. I just need to know.”

“It's none of your business.” I showed him my middle finger before reaching the entrance door.

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10