10

JEREMY

After my argument with Lucia at the restaurant, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t upset, especially after she slapped me.

Maybe I deserved it, though. I called her a coward after all, but I knew she was not. She seemed like a strong woman capable of handling herself.

I just said that in the heat of the moment to hurt her the way she hurt me. She wanted me to stay away from her, and I decided that it was time I did what she wanted.

Not because I was giving up on her, but because I was trying to test a theory. I was a hundred per cent sure that she was into me the same way I was into her.

I could see it in her eyes. The eyes never lie.

But Lucia was so stubborn and was incessant in pushing me away. So, I would back off like she wanted and just hope that it would make a change no matter how little.

I knew it would be agonizing to stay away from her, but I was willing to do whatever it took if there was a small chance of making her mine. I was willing to take that chance.

I began ignoring Lucia, and even if it was the hardest thing I ever had to do in my entire life, I did it anyway.

I stopped causing any ruckus in her class. Even stopped speaking altogether. I didn’t try to speak to her after the class, and it hurt me to see that she looked relieved that I had stopped bothering her.

I was tempted to go after pining after her, but I held myself back as much as I could.

We had finished classes for the day, and Ryan, Dean, and I had begun heading home when I saw Lucia walking towards us.

My heart instantly raced in my chest as I gulped with no idea what I was supposed to do with myself. I was so gone for this woman.

I remembered that I was supposed to act like she didn’t exist and even though it tore at me to the depths of my soul, I managed to tear my eyes off her, looking straight ahead as we passed.

“Professor Darwin.” Dean and Ryan greeted her, but I didn’t say a word as I kept looking straight ahead like I was a damn robot. If I looked at her, I knew I would break at that moment.

I didn’t even wait to hear her reply before I moved ahead, leaving Ryan and Dean behind.

“What the hell, man?” Ryan protested as the two of them managed to catch up with me.

“Where are you running off to? And why did you ignore our professor?” I heard Dean ask, and I let out a loud sigh as I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder.

“I didn’t ignore her. I already greeted her earlier.” I lied through my teeth.

We did not have Lucia’s class that day, and I had not laid my eyes on her till that moment, but they didn’t need to know that now, did they?

“Oh, alright.” Dean answered as we made our way out. We said our goodbyes, and after promising to catch up on our group chat, we went our different ways.

I slipped into my car and began driving him home, blasting the A.C. It was already evening, and the sun had begun to set, and just as I expected, the traffic on the road was heavy as people were trying to get to their homes.

After spending a longer time than I anticipated on the road, I finally made it home in one piece.

Sweat trickled down my chin despite the fact that the air conditioning in my car was on, and I wiped off before pressing the doorbell.

The door opened to reveal Thomas, my butler, immaculately dressed as usual.

“Welcome, Mr. Hale.” He greeted me, and I gave him a wide smile as I stepped into the mansion.

“Thank you, Thomas.” I replied.

“Your father and brother are around. You three will be having dinner tonight. I just thought I should warn you.” Thomas said, and I spun towards him with wide eyes.

“What?!” I whisper-yelled, feeling my heart sink in my chest. It was not enough that my dad was here, but my brother was too?

“I thought they were both supposed to be on a business trip!”

Aaron, my brother, worked for dad’s company, and the two of them had gone on a trip. I never expected them to be back so soon.

I couldn’t believe this had happened. Just when I was just starting to enjoy my freedom.

“They finished up pretty early, and now they are back.” Thomas said, and I couldn’t help the loud sigh, which escaped my lips.

I hated it when my father and brother were home. It was always nothing but utter chaos. The two of them always managed to gang up on me, and it did nothing but piss me off all the time.

“Please try not to make any trouble tonight.” Thomas said with a pleading look in his eyes.

“I’m making no promises.” I answered, storming over to my room and wishing I was anywhere else but here.

I managed to get in a few minutes of rest before going to the bathroom to take a shower. I didn’t want to give dad or Aaron an extra excuse to pick on me.

I got dressed in a nice shirt and pants before making my way down to the dining hall, letting out nervous breaths.

The thought of having my food brought up to my room instead crossed my mind, but I quickly decided against it.

Dad would never allow such when he was around. He always insisted that his two sons join him at the dining table.

I began hearing clatter of dining ware as I neared the dining table, and my hands instantly turned sweaty.

Shit. I was late. Dad did not like that.

I finally summoned up courage and entered the dining room. The first person my eyes landed on was Aaron, and I nearly snorted at the fact that he was dressed in a business suit like a stranger in his home.

He was such a poster boy. It was clear that he was doing it to suck up to dad, who was also dressed in a business suit.

Was I surprised? Not in the least. In the Hale household, it was pretty normal.

I thought mom would be back with dad as they had gone on the trip together, but since she was nowhere in sight, she probably was still on the trip.

“Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence,” Aaron sneered the moment he laid his eyes on me, and it took everything I had not to roll my eyes at him.

“What did dad tell you about coming late to dinner?” He continued, and the urge to roll my eyes grew even stronger.

My older brother was such a royal pain in the ass!

“Well, if I had any idea you two were coming today, I probably would have made it in time.” I replied snarkily, my eyes flashing with annoyance at him.

“Sit down, Jeremy.” Dad ordered in an ice cold tone, and that was enough to send me to my seat.

“Good evening, Dad. How was your trip?” I attempted some small talk as I began dishing my food.

“Fine,” was his only replied as he continued eating without looking me in the eyes.

I wasn’t surprised by his one word answer. That was the way he communicated with me. The longer sentences were reserved for Aaron, his favourite son.

The one who had decided to follow in his footsteps.

I couldn’t help the bitterness which welled up in my chest, and I instantly took it out on the food, stabbing at it more aggressively than I should have.

“How is school?” He asked, and of course, he was not asking how I was faring at school or if I was enjoying it. He was asking if I was at the top of my class as always.

“Pretty good.” I answered, taking a sip of my water.

“So I heard you performed at a wedding,” He continued speaking, still not looking at me, and I nearly choked on my water, immediately removing the cup from my lips.

Oh boy. Here we go again.

I heard dad let out a loud sigh, and I could tell that a scolding and a long lecture was coming next.

“How long are you going to keep doing this?” He asked sternly, meeting my eyes. Finally.

“Doing what, dad?” I asked through gritted teeth.

“This music thing or whatever it is you call it.”

“It’s the only thing I’m passionate about, dad. It’s the only thing I’m good at.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t pay all that money for your education and tutoring for you to be good at just music.” Dad said with a cold sneer on his face.