Dark Secrets

Chapter 16: Do You Say That I'm A Sweetheart? (1 of 2)

Mom, she always caught me at the most embarrassing moments of my life, like she’s collecting all those memories I want to forget.

Pluto and I tried to be normal as much as we could during lunch but Mom’s smile was torturing us when she glanced at me or him.

It started with the talk about man’s genitalia with Troye while we’re preparing lunch, then I saw the erection on Pluto even if he’s still wearing his underpants, and now I’m spacing out because I’m really curious about the real thing.

I’m supposed to be washing the dishes but I’m preparing my room because Ashton is finally released from his curse after 32 hours of continuous praying.

“Desa, are you done?” Dad called out to me after he prepared all the medical supplies that he needs to tend Ashton.

“Y-Yes.” I nodded at him.

“Then you may go now, there’s nothing to see here when Ashton comes. I’ll take care of him, don’t worry. You may go back to Seoul after dinner.” Dad responded.

“Thanks, Dad.” I left my room and went to the kitchen to help my Mom with the dishes but they’re already done with the chore.

“Why don’t you take a swim with Alessia and Troye at the spring, Desa?” Mom suggested.

“Sure. I need to clear my mind anyway.” I replied. “Let’s go, girls.”

“Clear your mind, huh? Not clean your body??” Troye grinning at me.

“What did my Mom tell you while I’m gone??!” glancing at Troye and Alessia. “I already explained it to her earlier and she saw it too.”

“Explained and saw, what, Desa??” Alessia hooking me in her arm.

“Nothing.” I think I dig my own grave.

“Liar.” Troye uttered. “I knew it, something happened between you and Pluto earlier when you two went to get the mat together!”

“Nothing happened alright?!!” I exclaimed.

“Then tell us everything behind your Mom’s smiles while she’s looking at you and Pluto during lunch.” Alessia pulling me closer to her.

“If you don’t clear it to us, we’ll just assume that you two make out and you’re Mom caught you at the moment.” Troye added.

“Make out with Pluto??! That’s never gonna happen between us!” I shouted but it made me look more guilty to snapped at them. “Urgh! Fine! I’ll tell you two everything!” walking off to the spring.

We went for a swim with only our underwear as our swimsuit as I explained myself in detailed.

We came back to the house before sunset and helped with the preparation of dinner, obviously the two teased me with my Mom.

I’m really confused if Mom is really my mother and if Alessia and Troye are really my friends.

“I’ll drive Ashton’s car, Luke.” Calum said. “I’ll take him home with Michael, take a ride with Pluto and Diso.” getting in at Ashton’s car.

“Sure.” Luke nodded. “Ah, wait, Desa. I left my car at the front of your apartment, right?” he turned to me. “Whom are you riding with? Pluto or Troye’s car? I might as well join you.”

“I’m riding with Troye and Alessia. Sure, let’s just sit together at the backseat.” walking towards Troye’s car.

“Come with us Luke.” Pluto uttered. “I’m dropping Diso home anyway and Desa’s place is just a station away from his place.”

“Oh, alright.” Luke nodded. “But you’re not dropping me off to the train station, right??”

“Haha. No, I’m taking you to your car.” Pluto answered before he glanced at me.

We left at Suncheon by 7pm and arrived back to Seoul by 11pm.

Troye dropped Alessia off first before he took me home and we saw Pluto’s car still in front of my apartment.

“What is he still doing here??” taking off my seatbelt.

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s waiting for you.” Troye grinning at me.

“Huh? What for??” I asked him curiously.

“I don’t know, I’m not him. Why don’t you go and ask him yourself?”

“Right. Thanks for dropping me off. Take care on your way home.”

“Sure thing. See you tomorrow at the campus.” he kissed me goodbye at the cheek before I get off his car.

Since I become friends with Alessia and Troye we greet each other by kissing both cheeks and bid farewell by kissing one cheek, it might be too affectionate for anyone who see us but that’s how we do it and we don’t care what people say about us.

I knocked at Pluto’s car window after I watched Troye’s car leave.

“Why are you still here?” asking Pluto directly.

“To give you this.” Pluto handed me a piece of paper. “That’s my phone number, only SOS members know that so if that number spread to the campus, you’re the one I blame for it.”

“You waited here for me just to give me your phone number??”

“You should notify me of your leave, you don’t have any reason now not to.” he closed his window and drive off right away.

“Why would I notify him? He’s not even my professor if I take a leave of absence in the campus. Also, I don’t have a phone at home.”

I climbed up the stairs to the attic and drank the last bottle of beer in my refrigerator.

I ate all the meat that Luke and his friends left at home since they told me that they really left it for me to eat, as for the beers, it made me sleep tight at night without interrupted because I passed out completely after half bottle of beer.

I’m not a drunkard though, I only drink beer at night before I sleep.

The next morning, I overslept and I was late at Professor Lee’s class, I’m all prepared to be scolded by him but he didn’t say a word to me and just left the class quietly.

“The perks of being Pluto’s girlfriend.” Ana said loudly after Professor Lee leave the classroom. “You’re being untouchable.”

“She must think more highly of herself right now, that even Professor Lee, doesn’t reprimand her for being late.” Ari added as she rolled her eyes at me.

I left the room and chased after Professor Lee to asked him.

“Prof. Lee, wait!” I run towards him when he stopped walking.

“What is it? Ms. Ha?” he looks at me with a poker face.

“Am I already kicked out form your class without me knowing it?”

“No, why would I kick you out? It’s your 2nd time being late at my class. Haven’t you read the student’s manual? It takes 3 absences to drop out from the subject, and 3 late is equivalent to 1 absent.” he explained. “But I suggest that you won’t be late or absent again unless you really want to drop out from my class.”

“I-I won’t … I should read the student manual from now on.” I said.

“Why? You think I’m doing you a favor because you’re Mr. Nevaeh’s girlfriend?” he laughed at me. “I’m not like that, I’m only following the policy of the university. Also, I was harsh on you when I scolded you before, I didn’t know that you’re a member of SOS.”

“You know about SOS, Prof. Lee?” I talked to him softly.

“Since Adam founded it, I was their first client.” he tapped my shoulder before he walked past by me.

SOS, stands for Secret Organization for Supernatural, and it shouldn’t be known to the public unless someone is experiencing a supernatural case himself or herself.

I wonder what case did Professor Lee had before, maybe I could go and check it in the Head Quarter this Sunday.

2 days later, Pluto showed up again Thursday morning in my classroom to bring me brunch.

I almost forgot that I have to deal with this guy but every time I try to talk to him about us, he always has his way out from the topic.

Same goes the next day when he brought me breakfast Friday morning, but he’s different when it comes to our dance practice on Saturday morning.

He’s serious when he’s teaching me the choreography that we only talk with the steps and when he’s scolding me.

“Are you done? Can I go now?” I uttered after he makes me feel that I didn’t do anything right today. “It’s already 12:15, I have my social welfare class at 12:30.”

“Fine, go now.” he turned his back to me and I walked away from him.

“Geez. Does he wake up from the wrong side of the bed?!” I mumbled as I get my bag from the locker.

I’m also frustrated that I couldn’t get the new steps right but yelling at me made me feel more discouraged.

I went to the ladies’ room to change my clothes and since I got no time for lunch, I just skipped it and endured my hungriness for food for 2 ½ hours just to be physically present in class.

“Let me guess you skipped lunch and you’re extremely famished right now.” Diso approached me as soon as I climbed down the last step of the stair to the ground. “I got burger and fries here, also cola.”

“Diso-sunbae.” smiling at him. “You always appear at the right time when I need someone the most. Thank you!” taking his paper bag of meal and eat the fries first. “I’ll treat you with the same meal next time. I’ll get paid next Sunday; do you want to have a meal with me?”

“Are you asking me for a date?” he smiles at me cunningly.

“No, that’s not what I meant, I just want to pay you back for this.”

“Sure, next Sunday. Just tell me the time and place where to meet.”

“Of course! But probably we’re only having an afternoon snack.”

“It’s alright as long as you’re paying, even if I didn’t ask you to repay me, but since you insist then I’ll accept your offer.” he said.

“Haha. I’ll go now, I can’t be late to my part-time job.” I responded.

“Are you going to eat while walking?” he asked with concern.

“Yeah, I’m doing this at morning when I’m running late for class so I’m getting used to it now.” walking backwards as I talk to him.

“Then, take care on your way.” watching me leave.

It’s like I’m eating while exercising at the same time but this is my life as a working student.

I’m unlike Alessia whose parents run a restaurant, or Troye whose parents own a building.

When the evening comes, Ashton and the others appeared in the restaurant, they reserved the rooftop for a meeting.

“I heard the news about you and Pluto.” George greeted me.

“It’s only rubbish.” I denied immediately.

“Why? You’re not proud to be his girl?” Ross asked teasingly.

“I am not his girl, he just announced it himself.” I replied.

“So, Pluto forced you to be in a relationship with him??” Adam looking at me in disbelief. “Haha. Sorry, but it’s something I can’t …”

“Yeah, I know it’s hard to comprehend that even I still don’t understand until now.” I responded to him.

“Love is a complicated thing to understand.” Matthew uttered. “You are the chosen one, the luckiest among girls who succeeded to get Pluto Nevaeh as their man.”

“You won’t believe me no matter how much I denied it.” sighing heavily. “It’s hard to believe that I don’t like him, right??” giving up.

Pluto has a tall height, sun-kissed skin, and a handsome face.

He’s perfect physically and even his family background, being the 3rd generation of the Nevaeh, who happen to be one of the wealthiest family in the world.

So, who’s girl won’t fall for this godlike being? I get everyone’s sentiments but how can I fall for someone who’s ill-tempered and making me a liar to the public?!

When every member already gathered, Alessia told me not to let anyone in, so I become their waitress for the moment.

 I should be in the kitchen doing chores but she excused me for a while to join the meeting.

“Tomorrow morning, we’ll be off to this Museum in Seongbuk-dong.” Adam showed us the photos taken from the said museum.

“What kind of museum is this??” I asked as I browsed the pictures on the table.

“A museum that collects artifacts from cults around the world.” George replied. “The director of that museum doesn’t listen to what the visitors said about his museum and he keep it open to public.”

“He’s earning a lot, so why would he close his source of income?” Ross said. “People are coming even though they know the place is haunted.”

... To be Continued ...