Logan woke up groggily. He could sense the sand around his eyes as he opened them. His head felt heavy and throbbed at different spots. His pillow also smelled like he drooled somewhere. It definitely wasn’t an attractive way to wake up.
What time was it? He thought. His hand tapped on the bed and searched for his phone.
The thick curtains on his window blocked his view of the sky. It didn’t give him the slightest hint of the day’s current weather nor the sun’s position. He usually closed them before he slept on weekends. He didn’t want the mornin sky to wake him up early.
Clutching his phone from under the pillow, a flash of light burned his eyes. The time told him that noon had already passed. He sat up and stretched his arm and back muscles. It seemed unusual that his father and his mom let him sleep in.
Was it because of yesterday?
Whatever it was, he felt grateful… since he slept at 3am.
Thoughts of his mother and of his ex-girlfriend haunted him in the night. Every time he closed his eyes, he’d see their faces. His mother’s disappointment at his relationship with Jae. Skye’s look of concern since she knew it was his mother’s death anniversary. She’d wait for him to come back whenever he visited the grave.
Then, she’d provide him company and comfort.
Where did it all go wrong?
He swung his legs to the side, planting his feet on the floor. He stood up and did more stretches. Today would be a day of solitude, Logan concluded in his mind. A time for him to reflect and battle with his inner turmoil.
The servants greeted him quietly when he stepped out of the room. His legs led him to the kitchen. The house seemed empty. He half expected for his mom to yell at his lazy butt. He grabbed a glass from the cupboard and used the refrigerator’s water dispenser to fill it up.
The lukewarm water refreshed his parched throat.
Leaning his back on the island counter, his emerald eyes gazed at the magnets and photos on the fridge’s door. Every summer, they’d travel for a week. Never the same destination. Some had been fun, others had been unlucky for weather. Each magnet had been positioned in chronological order of their visit.
They also held up the pictures of the Parker Family during their trips.
Soon, Tim would be part of the display.
The couple agreed on a summer wedding so the family could resume these adventures.
He and Jae strongly opposed it. Who would want to join on their parents’ honeymoon, anyway? But their mom had a way of getting what she wanted. In the end, they could only agree—with a compromise to bring some friends.
Would Alex go? Logan suddenly wondered. He stared up at the ceiling and sipped from his glass. Where would they even go? The beach? Would she be the type to wear a bikini or a swimsuit?
He choked, the water spitting out of his mouth. A disturbing image of long honey brown hair on a pair of bare legs surfaced in his head. ‘Disturbing’ in the sense that didn’t mean ‘unpleasant’ but in the context that it challenged his self control over his male hormones.
He might not be ready for that yet. If his temper told him anything, he had aggressive tendencies. It could become the bane of his existence if it scared off a lamb.
“Young master, someone at the gate is requesting for you” Lele, a maid in charge of the perimeter, spoke up from the kitchen’s doorway, “Should I dismiss her?”
Logan turned around, a hand still holding up the glass of water. His sight met an irritated expression. He couldn’t be sure if the maid was aware of it. Her eyebrows slightly frowned at the top of her nose. The corners of her lips also noticeably curved downwards.
Just who was this guest?
“Did she mention her purpose?” He asked and walked to the sink. He placed the glass on it, heading out of the kitchen.
Lele stayed hot on his heels, “She only said that she wished to talk to you, young master. She refused to state anything else unless you’re present.”
Remembering the scene, the maid wanted to drive the guest away again. The girl’s snooty attitude really pushed her buttons. She refused to accept her as a future madame of the house. If only the guard hadn’t been there, Lele wouldn’t even tell the young master about it. Alas, she had been reminded of her position and duties.
Clasped hands over her waist, her fingers dug into her palms.
“What did she look like?” Logan inquired.
They reached the living room. He pushed a curtain aside to peek out the window. The gate stood a few meters away and he could only see people as small Lego figured from here. He couldn’t be sure if he spotted a person or a shadow.
“Fair skin, black hair, black eyes, black clothes, black shoes…” Lele replied. ‘It was too much black if you asked me’, she added mentally. If it weren’t for the girl’s pink lips, the maid would have mistaken her as a vampire.
Logan leaned back and let the curtain fall. He took a deep breath. His mind processed the information calmly. He had decided this day to be a time of reflection. It might be the only time he’d talk to her with a relaxed composure.
If she needed any closure, he’d willingly give it—for a peace of his mind as well.
“Send her in” he instructed without sparing Lele a glance, “She’ll stay here in the living room. Serve her any drink she wants. I’ll go up and freshen up a bit.”
His feet went to work and climbed up the stairs. He quickly disappeared from sight. His actions showed no sign of eagerness nor did it display annoyance.
The maid bit her inner cheek.
How much trouble would she be in if she lied to the girl? No one else was around. Only she heard Logan’s words. She could also just tell the young master that the guest left before she reached the gate. Oh, how temptation loved to dare her with disobedience.
===
Lele gripped her broom. Clouds rolled by overhead. Autumn leaves scattered around her feet and on a marble floor. She stared at the pile she gathered. It looked almost like the shape of someone’s head.
Maybe she could use her broom and whack it���but then, she’d have to clean it up.
She groaned in frustration.
If only the young master didn’t pass by another servant, she could have driven the girl away. He had forgotten a few reminders and told someone else about them. The person also happened to be her senior. Unless she wanted to lose her job, she could only bite her tongue and follow the given orders.
After they escorted the guest, Lele made up an excuse to finish cleaning the pavilion at the back of the mansion. Or else, she’d serve the tea with salt instead of sugar. Then, she’d be fired and the one who won was the bi—she shook her head. She couldn’t think ill of the guest.
Not until the guest left, that is.
Logan took his time in the shower and on his way down to the first floor. Droplets drizzled from his damp hair and onto his shoulders. He changed out of his pajamas with a gray shirt and dark jeans. His aesthetic made his green eyes stand out.
Skye couldn’t look away, not minding how he never glanced her way.
He sat on a couch across from her. He leaned back and set an ankle over his knee. His right elbow laid on the armrest while the left one chose the back of the couch. Once he was comfortable, he glimpsed at his guest. Doll black eyes continued to watch him.
The dark mahogany coffee table between them, Skye had a cup of green tea on her side of the furniture. Her feet stood apart with her knees close together. Her hands rested on her lap. She focused on calming her heartbeat down.
“Have you been well?”
Logan went straight to the point. He betrayed no emotion, “What are you doing here? Is there anything you forgot to say before the breakup?”
Skye gulped. Her voice shook a bit, “Can’t I be concerned for you anymore?”
“The post office must have misplaced all your letters then.”
She flinched. His words had the sharpness of a knife. Each syllable sliced her chest and opened wounds. Breathing suddenly felt like a strenuous task. Skye struggled to maintain her demeanor. Faded black spots began to fill her vision.
Fully quivering, tears pooled at the corner of her eyes, “I’m sorry for what happened, Logan, but it was hard on me too. Since we broke up, I also needed the time to heal myself. How could I reach out to you when I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror?”
