“YOU are such a piggy-rabbit, do you know that?”
Suddenly reminded her of the past that she rather wishes that she didn’t. Cath open her eyes as she felt a slight pang of pain in her head.
“Where---”
Cutting herself, her vision slowly made the layout of the room. She sighs deeply as she realizes that she is already in her bed and old room way back when she is still living in the place.
“Can I make you stay here for good?”
Somewhat slap with the thought that she is in the hang of believing that it all happened or not. She immediately shakes those thoughts away as she might be just hallucinating it out of drunkenness, yet.
“How did I end up here?”
Electrified for a second as she jumps right out of the bed and looks all over under the mattress for any trace of a nightmare that might just happen last night. Considering that there is only one person she’s been with.
“Wait a minute?”
As she thought to herself. Now sitting properly on top of her bed thinking logically about what happened.
"Just think about it and all with the reasonable reasons Catherine.” She scolds herself and is convincing. “He can’t do it. Of course, he couldn’t, and for all the hell of a reason that this is still your house. And for all your stepfather, your stepbrother, and younger brother are surely here in that time, right?”
Calculating those facts and counting reasons that could make her worse fear of an impossible thing happening. She looks for any trace and once more under the covers of her bed, making sure not for once, not even twice, but thrice that everything is all according to the right side that she thinks of it.
“All clear.”
Convinced and enough. She immediately looks at her phone that almost got her eyeballs out for oversleeping and the first after years since she took her passion and career a few years back now.
“Catherine.”
Scolding herself for being a bit unreasonable these past few hours ever since she bumps into Sam. She hurriedly fixes herself in the mirror which is low and beholds is a typical result of a drunken mess.
“Perfect, just perfect.”
With her things that are still in place and exactly the day that she left the house and run away from all the troubles that eventually is the same reason, but a bit that pulled her back. The nostalgia of both sadness and happiness crosses her mind. Swallowing everything for now as it is not her main concern. She found herself already pack out and all tidy in the closet from her suitcase. Already knew who did it as there is only one person who never fails to reach out to her, yet she always closes the door before the person could ever enter.
“Focus Cath. It’s not your past issues that are the reason why you are here.”
Reminding herself, she quickly tidies herself up and freshens up to meet everyone will full confidence that the person that she didn’t want and was ready to see is already not home. Knowing the nature of its job and being the forever absent mother to her.
“Well then. This is the start.”
As she conditions herself and somehow burry the shame and fault that just happened yesterday. All for the sake of her job, right?
“Right!”
Just then, the scent of her favorite chocolate chip cookies drew her attention, out from her room and downstairs. Smelling the mixed scent of the fresh air, pine trees, and the sweet singing voices of the birds outside. She sure misses the comfort that her hometown brings.
“And who’s in the kitchen?”
Knew it as there is only one person who can make her perfect comfort food. She is immediately greeted by the smile and open arms of her beloved stepfather.
“Why don’t you give your old man a big hug.”
Missing that big voice of his, she runs and gave him her bunny-like hug that he nickname.
“I wanted to say that I am disappointed, but you for all knew that I could not do it for the only princess of this family. But still, you should have informed us that you will be coming home.”
Somehow scolding her, she pouted like the teenage girl that she used to be.
“Well, it was urgent. I do not have the time to call and inform you.”
She lied, just reasoning. But her stepfather knew it as he knew her well and more than her real parents could.
“Very well. I will not pry into it more, it’s your life, your plans, your decision.”
Independent and freedom. The things that she learns from him and the two things which make him the most special parent and father she could ever have. His open-mindedness and understanding make them who they are now. His three children of his are successful in the path and careers that they have chosen.
“I knew that you understand.”
She compliments and immediately much on the cookies that never fail to make her smile.
“How long are you going to stay here?”
“Maybe one month, but not longer than four---”
“I mean to stay in here, Cath.”
Cut and taken aback by the real question that he wanted her to answer. She took a deep sigh, as she stops eating and force a smile on her face, and honestly replied.
“The same, since she already tied everything in my room.”
Somehow giving up, as her stepfather wanted her to stay for the real and deep reason that he still hopes that her relationship with her mother will be fixed. Taking this opportunity to do so.
“I am not forcing you or anything, nor she will. That’s why she went to work earlier today, knowing that you are not ready to see her even though you decided to stay here.”
He explains that makes her a bit uncomfortable, especially since they are starting to deeply talk about her mother that she doesn’t even know if she will be able to face.
“Hide and seek, that’s your both games ever since then. But sooner or later you two needed to talk, Cath.”
Gave her a cup of hot chocolate with a bit of the hangover remedy that he used to give her in the past. She just weakly nods and smiles as she is somehow obliged to do so.
“By the way, Brian left you with this note, and your younger brother, well you will just see.”
Changing the topic and the turning awkward atmosphere. She took note that her older stepbrother left her while shaking her head just thinking about her naughty younger brother. That by now is somewhere trapped in a luxurious hotel just to run away from his fans. All with the probable fact that it escapes from the clutches and watchful eyes of his manager just to fly back home knowing that she will be here.
“And that’s my cue.”
Folding the note and stashed it in the back pocket of her jeans. She heads on her way as her father reminded her.
“Take care, do not go home drunk once more with Mr. Lawrence carrying you to your bed.”
Almost stumbling face flat on the floor, her stepfather knows how to get her. While casually addressing just what happened last night that she is trying to avoid. She laughs in a silly way trying to shove it all off her sleeves.
“I will not. I promise!”
“Remember, I am not the type who is prying about your business.”
Closing the door behind as she hurriedly runs away like a cat who is caught in a trap. He shakes his head and all smiles while whispering at the very end.
“Will they be ended up together this time around?”
“YOU are starting to be pathetic Catherine.” As she scolds herself whispering those words while deep sighing once in a while. All after knowing what happened last night and what her stepfather had told her. “Get your head in the game Catherine. There is no room for mistake.”Reminding herself and once more that somehow becomes her ritual every time she thinks and feels like she is being retracted from her original goal. Sitting in somehow an uncomfortable manner with her head somehow a bit on the cloud with the events that just happened. Her phone rings and she immediately picks it up. “I’m almost there.”As she assures, while looking out the window of the cab with the driver that’s for a while is looking back and forth from the passenger mirror and the road ahead. “Aren’t you the famous journalist Miss. Catherine Wayne?”Somewhat alarm in a way that she is thinking of keeping her job a secret just to be cautious of what might Sam thinks upon knowing. That will end up wi
ONLY a bit after seven thirty in the early morning and already the Lawrence’s household is in chaos. “I do not want that!”Monique screams, throwing her crayons and papers onto the floor while the three maids are in a big dilemma on how to subdue their little miss tantrums. “Little Miss please do not do this.”“No!”Wild like a lioness who is hunting for prey for the pride’s food. Monique even shrieks with a high-pitched voice that is like torture to everyone around her. While she is kicking and throwing everything that she could see. “I want to bring Mr. Scuffles!”She demanded. Her favorite cat that she always insists on bringing to school, with her reasoning that it will guard her against everything. Her spoiled and acting nature becomes their every morning struggle, just to get her to do a thing before going to school. All because she isn’t allowed by Sam to bring her pet cat Mr. Scuffles to school. Her adviser and some of the students in her class are allergic to cats. The su
“MONIQUE, LITTLE BABY BEAR.” As Sam’s voice started with a calm one, with a little bit of pleading and more on the side of sweetness as he started to convince his daughter once more to give up her tantrums that are getting way out of her supposed to be doing. Considering that she is not a three years old girl anymore. “You know that you cannot bring Mr. Scuffles to school, right?” He still and calmly started once more while holding his daughter’s hand. “Miss Anne is allergic to cats and so some of your friends at school. Do you want them to be in pain because you took Mr. Scuffles to school?” As he gently explains and puts some emphasis along with a lesson and two. That in reality is his dialogue every other day. As it all depends on Monique’s mood and level of being a brat for the day. “Then let them be!” she protested and fast. “I hate them, I do not like them, so they deserve to be in pain because of Mr. Scuffles!” Pulling her hand from him as she pouted in anger and cross
WITH a smile that is a mix of composed, yet jumping excitement. Sam is all over the moon upon knowing that Cath is on her way to his house. “You’re coming here?” He asked once more which gained her the kind of look of wonder, and secretly giggling thoughts and emotions from his servants and most especially from his nanny. “I am.” Hearing the confirmation and one more time from Cath. He couldn’t help but both be anxious and felt excited by that very fact. Smiling from ears to ears as he didn’t notice that he’s been walking back and forth in the same direction for a couple of minutes right now. He finally ends the call casually and with a bit of a business tone. “Then I’ll be seeing you in a moment.” Both ended the call while still on their toes walking in the same direction, but a little bit worse this time. With him looking down and thinking even deeper than he had ever been. Like he is about to go into the most difficult business deal of his life that all means a life and de
“WELCOME to our secret base!” Sam cheerfully introduces. Ass smiles and is excited to present that little garden that he made do from the back of their mansion and by which his nanny help him make. The garden that he builds with a little fort on top of the tree is Cath’s little castle. “Wow!” As Cath’s face brightens with a huge smile and an excited tone upon seeing what Sam prepared for her. “You made this for me?” She immediately asks looking around the place that completely mesmerizes her. While on the other hand, Sam is all with his smug face proud and prideful as he took all the credit and said. “Yep! I did everything, aren’t I just awesome?” Both giggled as they knew that he couldn’t do much without any help, yet Cath just let him take the credit. All knowing that he did it for her sake. To cheer her up and all after her parents finally divorce and for quite a while left her in a sad state. “Do you like it? Well, I know that you like it.” All proud and still, he sta
“THE light shines along with your long and shiny hair. The wind kisses your freckled cheeks. While the moon is making your eyes shine brighter. When you are showing your sadness, you started to sob with your eyes crying. How I hate it. Thinking and quick to make you smile. I want to tame your heart. I want to be the one you’ll love. Reminded me of the day that we first met. The start of the roller coaster ride that makes us both hate and like each other. Please, please let me tame your heart. Little kitty-cat, you have long been in me. I promise to always be by your side. No matter what happened nothing can tear us apart. Hurry, hurry let me have that heart. Do not hold back nor lie to me. Say you’ll agree, and just say yes. Without hesitations, I will gill all the sweetness just to you. I want to be your love. I want to tame your heart. That time when we first met. I couldn’t forget even a single from it. The roller coaster ride is just too memorable to even dare to be forgotten.” Im
“HURRAY!” Monique cheers screaming the word in glee like she is some adult whose been in different countries. Along with the still silent Cole, but jumping along with her older twin sister with all his wide smile. All because Cath just agrees to accompany the twins to their school. “Thank Miss Catherine!” As the twins hug her tight with Monique who is much excited by the news. All the servants and Lindsey couldn’t help but smile and cry a little for seeing the twins happy unlike ever before. “Hmmm.” She gestures and acts like thinking deeply in a convincing way for the twins. Crouching and seeing the twins at their eye level, she then smiles and said. “How about let’s start by calling me Cath, rather than Miss Catherine?” Proposing as it delighted the twins even more than before. The twins then nod and without any hesitation agrees with what she said. “Then.” A bit now knowing the twins, as she is working her way, even more, to be close and genuinely in return to them. S
“I know as I am fully aware of that.” Sam stated and more than aware of what type of gambling he is playing right now. A risk that took him years to take and now is facing. A gamble that can either make or break everything apart. “Should I cancel all your appointments for today?” As Brian suddenly offers and does not ask. Knowing that after what Lindsey sent him and what he just watched. And even though he didn’t tell anything to him nor show anything, his reaction and tone are enough for him to figure everything out. “A day wouldn’t kill anyone.” He rhetorically added, emphasizing the fact that he had the choice to pursue his perfect plan or let it all be in the hands of destiny. By which is a cliché thing to even think about. “You’re right.” Immediately heading out of his office as Brian noted everything and canceled all his appointments for today. He called Sam’s driver as he is left inside the office to take care of things on his behalf. “Wait.” Suddenly stopping in