9

Cherry

My eyes slowly opened, but I was now alone. I tiredly rubbed my neck, not remembering how I slept off. The last thing I remembered was Xavier telling me he wanted to take a nap. I spent the whole day watching him sleep and didn’t even know when I fell asleep myself.

I opened my curtains and realized it was already dark. I sighed and closed it back, after which I gently shifted the blanket by the side. I can’t remember covering myself with these. I came down from the bed and wore my flip-flops as I left my room. On walking downstairs, I could hear my parents’ voices. Guess they are back.

“Oh, she’s here,” I heard my brother’s voice. He was staring at me. I took the last stairs, and everybody was already in the dining room.

“I was about to come call you.” My brother grabbed my hand as he walked me to the dining. I took a seat beside him.

“Hey mum, hey dad,” I greeted both of them.

“You look tired, honey. Is everything okay?” my mum asked as she filled my plate with extra meat.

“Yes, mum. Thank you.”

“Aunt, come on, I want some extra meat,” Gueneve whined. I almost rolled my eyes. Bitch is an attention seeker. Gosh, she makes me crazy.

“Of course, dear. You can have as much meat as you want.” My mum smiled at her and filled her plate with meat. She threw me a side smirk, which I totally ignored. She had no idea I was never even competing with her. Let her be delusional.

Miraculously—yeah, it’s a miracle today—I had dinner with my family and there was no argument. Especially with my father’s presence, it’s unlike him not to find fault in whatever I do. I was finally done eating.

“Thanks, mum. Thanks, dad,” I said to both of them as I stood up to leave.

“Wait,” came my father’s voice.

“Sit down. I have something to say to you guys.”

I just hope that whatever it is will not end up in an argument, so I sat back down. I don’t know what happened, but Xavier is not here. I just hope he’s okay.

“We will be going on a business trip to Japan. It’s going to be a three months business trip, but your mother and I will try our best to speed up everything so we can come back home. For the time that we will be gone, Zayn, take care of your sisters. Cherry, you have to always listen to your brothers. Don’t cause trouble in our absence. If you keep on causing trouble, then I won’t hesitate to……”

“I haven’t even done anything yet. Why are you threatening me?” I sighed.

My father wanted to speak, but my mother stopped him.

“She’s right, honey. We are going to be away for three months. Is this how you plan to say your goodbyes to her?” my mum questioned him.

“Zayn?” he called my brother, totally ignoring my mother’s talk about me.

“Yes, dad.”

“Come. I need to speak to you about Mr. Salvatore.”

I watched as both of them left the dining, and I was a little bit confused, cause why did my father address Xavier as Mr. Salvatore?

“Honey, are you okay?” my mum asked.

“Auntie, I’m going to miss you,” Gueneve spoke up immediately, totally diverting my mother’s attention to her. She has always been like this ever since we were kids. Seeing how my mum completely forgot about me and was now talking to her, I angrily stood up and began to leave. I thought my mother was going to notice my absence and call me back, but I was wrong, cause I only heard her giggling and laughing with Gueneve.

Of course, I wasn’t going to get affected. I wasn’t even expecting anything from them anymore. I’ve outgrown my ache for their parental affection. I don’t need them anymore. They were never there for me, so why should I bother?

I was wiping my tears, hating how I looked right now.

On getting to the hallway that leads to my room, I noticed it was unusually dark, which made me wonder if something was wrong with the lights. I was about to search for the switch when a hand suddenly dragged me towards a dark corner, and before I could even scream, my mouth was covered.

But I wasn’t letting whoever it was win, so I bit him.

“Let me go….” I muffled and continued biting him till I tasted his blood.

“Princess….” I heard that familiar deep voice as his hot breath caressed my neck. I felt electrocuted to the spot as his hand slowly left my lips.

“Xavier?” I called and slowly turned. The lights came on, and we were both in his room. I slowly looked up to meet his gaze, his gray eyes piercing into mine. I looked down, and his hands were bleeding.

“Your hand,” I mumbled with regret and gently held onto it.

“Come here.” I walked him to the bed as we both sat down.

I stood up to leave when he suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Are you leaving?”

“I’m coming back. I need to get the first aid kit, else your wound will get infected.” He slowly let go of my hand, and I left. I came back minutes later with the first aid box. I sat down beside him as I began to tend to his wound. The whole time, I noticed he was staring at me.

“Why are you staring?” I asked, packing up the things I used back into the box. He brought his hand close to my face, and for some reason, I didn’t move. I thought he was going to touch my face, but his thumb rested on my lips.

“There’s blood on your lip,” he muttered, showing me his thumb.

“Oh… thanks.”

“Does it still hurt?” I asked him, staring at the bandage.

“I like the pain that came from your bite.”

I wanted to ask if he’s crazy, but I waved it off.

“Why did you drag me in the dark?”

“Cause you look sad.”

“Huh, that’s all?”

“Hmmm, I wanted to know what’s wrong.”

I sighed.

“That’s a weird way to check on someone.”

“Is it…..” He smirked.

I noticed he doesn’t look fine. He’s kind of pale.

“You didn’t come down for dinner. Why?”

“I have a headache.”

“Why didn’t you say it?” I panicked and touched his forehead.

“It’s not just a headache. I think you have a fever as well,” I said to him and stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“To get you medication, of course.”

But instead, he dragged me back down.

“You…..”

“Just stay with me, Princess. I’ll be fine if you’re here.”

He held me to himself.

“But…..”

“Can you sleep over tonight?”