Chapter 18: The Real Her

The next day, I woke up earlier than usual. I was in the kitchen blankly watching Elsa and Noemi prepare breakfast. Elsa glanced at me once in a while but Noemi glued her eyes on the vegetables she was cutting.

"You're up early!" Elsa nudged me with her words and I flinched in my seat, obviously, I was physically here but my mind was wandering somewhere. "Yeah, couldn't sleep and checked the winter blossoms in the garden!" I lied about my second reason.

"Hmm!" making Noemi groan. Even if she wasn't staring at me, I knew well that violent reaction was meant for me.

"And you groaned because!" I questioned, arching my eyebrow at her.

"Nothing!" she plastered a forced smile when she lifted her head. "You're just hurting yourself!" and muttered while giving the cut onions to Elsa.

"Heard that, Noemi!" I grumbled in a low tone avoiding making my voice loud. At any minute, Don Miguel and his wife would come downstairs.

"Noemi is right, Desmond. She's not the right girl for you. She's as high