CHAPTER TWELVE

“Have you ever considered talking to birds?”

“What? Are you stupid?”

Gin chuckled after hearing my statement. How can he make such a stupid question every time we see each other?

“Shut up and start acting your age, alright?” I whispered back to him when we finally sat at the table.

It’s been a week since those incidents happened. That week made me feel hell for a bit. Yesterday, my dad and my grandma came back from the business trip they had gone through. Of course, the next thing would be predictable; he finds out that both his daughters have a fiancée and keep on visiting and staying at the house every day.

Surprisingly, it was peaceful between the four of us. Navia didn’t pull any tricks or stunts to me, which seemed suspicious. On the other hand, Gin keeps on asking dumb questions every God damn time that it irks me, but it also helps me get my mind off my problems. I think my feelings for June is getting burnt out little by little. I sure do feel hurt every time I think about him, but it doesn’t affect me that much anymore.

“So, I came back here last night,” The cold icy voice said in a low tone, “And the news is, you’re both have a fiancée? So suddenly?” He gave the two boys that were sitting beside Navia and me. Grandmother didn’t even bat an eyelid as she continued to judge the two gentlemen with her strict eyes.

I knew this would be their reaction. I’m also surprised by the sudden revelations, and this time is entirely different from the past.

Father sighed.

“You’re both adults, but this is too sudden,” He said.

Then he gave me a knowing look. I gulp. Of course, he knew my actual relationship with Gin, and he’d probably interrogate us after this brunch.

And I was right. After the silent treatment my father gave us at the dining table, he called Gin and me over to his private office. Navia and Van were given the blessing as a couple by my father. It turns out that they knew each other in the business world, and dad said he’s a trustworthy man.

I don’t know anything about that blonde freak, but he for sure gives the creep every time he stares at me with that grey eyes of him.

“So, what about Tutoring?”

I took a long breath to gather my courage to answer the man sitting in the chair wearing a solemn expression. He furrowed his brows together, and I could see the wrinkles on his face more clearly.

“I’m having my lessons.” I lied.

Of course, that was a lie. Come to think of it, Gin and I made a deal about this so-called revenge. It was offering marriage as a deal because Navia secretly likes him.

Wait…

There were some loopholes that I disregarded. I know he’s smart, but realising I have some beef with Navia is a little out of reach. How did he know that I was also planning to annoy my sister? It’s a little understanding that he assumed I wanted revenge on my ex-boyfriend, but about Navia? I never told him anything about my issues with Navia, yet he came into my house carrying a brown envelope containing supposedly confidential information.

Also, how did he know Navia likes him? She has a fiancée now.

I got so worked up about my dad’s reaction lately before he came home that I always forgot to read the document’s information wholly.

I gloomed.

“Really?” My father’s tone of voice is sharp.

“Yes.” That statement almost came out as a question in my mouth.

I looked over at Gin, who seemed too relaxed for this situation.

What should we do? Indeed, he thought of something… Like a plan to get out of this situation safely? He’s known for being intelligent. He should know his actions have consequences.

Will he reveal our deal? Will he continue to pretend?

Gin, what the hell are you thinking?

“Do you love my daughter?”

“Probably.” My mouth gaped open when I heard the answer to Gin from my father’s question. Is he trying to jump in the fire?

I look again at my father, then at Gin and then my father again.

“Haha,” I awkwardly laugh and pat Gins back, “He’s joking, father.” I plastered a broad smile and pinched Gin’s armpits secretly.

He flinched his body but didn’t show any expression.

“Freya,” called father.

“Yes?”

“Wait outside.”

I couldn’t argue since I felt the tension grow more significant between the two of them. I gulped and nodded.

I was about to leave, but Gin grabbed my hand made me face him again. He then planted a soft kiss on my forehead that made me froze.

“Wait for me,” He uttered. His husky voice sent shivers down my spine. I could feel my face getting hotter, so I quickly turned my back on them and ran outside.

My heart is pounding so fast. When I finally closed the doorway, I leaned on it and started to realise that my knees were shaking. I got so weak that the only thing I could do was sit in front of the cold, hard, wooden door. Did he do that on purpose?

“Are you okay, miss?” A random maid popped out of nowhere. Her slick black hair and shining emerald eyes, along with her thick voice, made me jump.

“Y-yes?”

“Oh, thank God. Do you want a glass of water?” She smiled sweetly and handed me the glass she was holding.

I felt my throat dry, so I gave her a broad smile and accepted it. When I was about to drink, another maid appeared and grabbed the glass away from me.

“What the hell?” I voiced out furiously, “What do you think you’re doing?” I exclaimed.

“M-Miss!” She cried out and lost the grip of the glass resulting in it falling on the ground and getting shattered into pieces, “I-It was... It has poison, miss...” She kneeled.

I bit my lower lip and stared at her in disbelief, and then I peered at the emerald eyes maid that was smirking while looking at the maid on the ground begging.

“How did you know?”

“P-pardon?”

I left my gaze on the other maid and looked at her again. Her hands have blood, and it’s spreading on her uniform. The door behind me opened up, and I heard someone gasp behind me.

“Miss! I swear I was just… I didn’t… I-I was forced!” She wept.

“You poisoned it?”

I saw my dad walking forward. The maid looked terrified, unlike the one who purposely gave me the water. She’s calm and smiling like she’s watching a tv show.

Before dad could even let out another word, Navia and Van showed up. The maid suddenly went silent – no, she’s not entirely silent, she’s forcing herself not to cry. The blood was now on her face as she clamped her hands on her mouth.

“What’s this?” Navia raised an eyebrow.

The bloody maid scattered and crawled on Navia. She tugged the end of her red dress that compliments her red hair, “Tell them!” She shouted. Navia’s face turned pale, and she kicked the maid, “Please tell them the truth…” The maid implored.

“Tsk. Are you crazy?” She yelled. I can see other maids peeking at the scene. When I glanced at where that emerald maid was standing before, she was gone.

Where did she go?

“Are you alright?”  Gin crept behind my back, and I could feel his chest sticking on my bareback.

“Yes…”

“Navia, do you know anything about this?” My father asked in a booming voice.

“No, I don’t even know her! Isn’t she the one with bipolar disorder who applied here?” Navia answered.

Father didn’t oppose, meaning it was true. I never had an idea about this since I didn’t care about this before.

“Miss!” The bloody maid with short hair called out again. Navia glared at her before turning her back with Van that was staring at me. It freaks me out.

“Did you see a maid with emerald eyes?”

Gin stood beside me, so now I could see his charming face.

He shook his head as an answer.

“You!”

I wince at how the maid shouted and pointed her injured fingers at me.

“ENOUGH!” My father boomed, but the maid didn’t even change her expression.

From a despicable behaviour, it was now changed to an enraged one.

“You should’ve died that night!” She antagonised, “You should be dead!”

I took a step backwards by how shocked I was.

“I said enough!” My father interrupted, but the maid ignored him.

“You should’ve died by falling…” She picked up a shard of glass and stood up.

“Call the police!” Everyone started panicking, especially my father, and then the other helpers began to dash out.

“You…” She slowly approached me. Gin grasped my wrist and hid me behind his back.

“You shouldn’t be here. Your soul died a long time ago. Everyone… will find you…”

Her trembling voice went silent. I was about to look at what she was doing, but Gin stopped me by spinning his body around and then covering my eyes and ears.

“She killed herself.” He uttered.

Tears went down so suddenly. Her last words were imprinted on my mind. Did she know I came back from the past?

Her voice sounded like the one I heard before falling off the stairs. I was sure it was her when I heard how she lowered her tone, so I thought she was talking about that ‘night,’ but she’s… talking about that night when June pushed me off, is she?

That can’t be. It’s impossible.

“Shh,” Gin ushered, but I was shaking so bad I couldn’t take his comfort properly.

Someone – someone out there knows something.

But the girl had a connection with Navia; does she know too? Impossible. Navia won’t treat me this way if she knows.

“It’s okay, and it’s okay…” Gin’s calm voice tried to soothe me.

I couldn’t help but feel more scared. Someone is… after me…

Whoever they are, for sure their intention is to kill me…