Rich man next door

Chapter 2

A loud and very obnoxious sound woke me up. I guess that's the doorbell calling.

Then a blurred figure of Mom approaches the entranceway direction.

Squeezing my eyes, I exhaled. My headache seems to wear off. I feel much better than last night.

Looking around the space, I became amazed by my surrounding. The living room is almost furnished.

I immediately shoot to my feet and take in the full view. The kitchen seems done and tidy already.

Surprised by how they did almost all the work the whole night, I question. "Did some miracle happened while I was asleep?"

"We spent the night arranging everything ." Mom answered me with an exciting smile on her face.

She appears happy. Is she really fine with leaving everything back in Seattle?

Maybe we had nothing left back there, but that's where our life was.

I want to believe she's feigning the smile because this place is just a cover-up, and sooner or later, it will sting us away.

Holding a tray that seems to have come from the door, mom pats my shoulder and walks into the small kitchen.

"Why didn't you wake me up to help?"

My mind traveled to my room. I should probably organize my space for a good sleep tonight.

"Jimmy had set up your room." Mom answered my thought.

What exactly is wrong with these people?

My eyes widen. "Really?"

Mom flashes me a smile as she unwraps the tray that is covered with a white lace napkin.

"Look, we've got lunch." She cheerfully announced.

Lightly scoffing, I roll my eyes.

Is not like I care anyway.

"What is that delicious aroma? I am drooling." Jimmy uttered, stepping down the staircase.

What aroma? I can't smell anything to drool for.

I rolled my eyes again at the exaggerating people I was stuck with and went straight to the cabinets to get something for breakfast.

"Looks like we've already started making friends. A neighbor brought us some roasted fish and salad." Mom delightfully informed curious Jimmy.

Going through the empty cupboards and refrigerator, I huffed at the annoyance.

"Why can't I find anything to eat?" That, we just moved in. "Uhm... Jimmy, thank you for helping me with the room." I briefly glance at him. He has a sudden wide grin on his face, revealing his complete set of teeth.

The smirk is noticeable enough.

Tapping on the worktop, he sighed and sat straight. "For first, since there is no food and I had helped you with the room, which is your room, by the way." He made sure he emphasized the last two words. Duh! "I think you can stroll down the street and see if you can get us some stuff like toothpaste, cereals, and other things we will need." He instructed with a satisfying smile and straightened from the stool.

That got me mentally excited for the second part, so I asked. "And for the second?"

"What second?" He confusedly questioned, heading towards the living room.

I narrow my eyes at him. "You count first, so what's for the second?"

Didn't he say for first?

I begin to tail behind him while he responds: "There's no second." He heaves a sigh, arranging the tiny frames on the bookshelf.

"But every first has a second." I press. Don't they?

"Well, this time, there isn't a second, Jazzy."

"But..."

He didn't let me finish when he started. "No buts, you know dad says you don't..." Realizing what he just said, he paused, leaving his sentence unfinished, and my stomach twisted.

Mentioning dad is something I'm trying to avoid, even though it hurts like hell doing so.

Swallowing the lump down my dry throat, I shrugged.

"I will go change and then leave."

I was ascending the staircase when Jimmy informed me the second door by the right is my room.

I didn't care about choosing my bedroom because nothing matters. A room is just a place to lay your head and keep your belongings, and nothing more.

The second door by right made me laugh when I realized Jimmy had already fixed my door decorations, just like my door back in Seattle.

I turned the doorknob and found the room a little like the other since it's made up of all my old stuff.

The space is like half the size of my former bedroom, but it is okay. Everything fitted in perfectly, just that there's less space compared to how I've gotten used to.

The only boxes left on the floor are those that hold my outfits. I needed to arrange my wardrobe, for indeed, Jimmy won't go setting everything for me.

After changing into grey joggers and a plain blue long sleeve t-shirt, I slipped into my shoes and hung a tiny bag across my shoulder, then descended the staircase.

The street is even much prettier in daylight, quiet and green. The houses were extravagant, most of which had black gates.

I surveyed up and down the street for a hint of a store around the area, but I came across none.

Exhausted and annoyed, I dial Jimmy's digits to tell him how boring our new neighborhood is and how driving is needed anytime we want something.

"Tell me you're lost, and I need to come to get you?" He mocks me as soon as he picks the phone call.

Rolling my eyes. "No... it's just that I don't think there's any store in this area." I complained.

"Use the map." He suggested, making me feel stupid for not thinking about that earlier.

"Oh." I try to act normal.

"Call me when you get lost, Jazzy." He said and hung up before I could retaliate.

After working a miracle on my phone, I finally found a place to get most of the stuff we might need.

According to my exhausted energy, it's a bit far from my location.

Strolling down the quiet street, I put on my earphone and turn on some pop song to lighten my mood and accompany me through my boring hike while mentally writing down imaginary interrogations for the people in those massive houses. Why it seems like no one lives in them, and why they don't come out even for a healthy morning exercise.

Just then I sensed someone's touch against my shoulder.

Instinctively, with fear, I flinched and twirled, as I try to steady my quick breathing.

My eyes were rapidly blinking when they found a young man standing before me. He's dressed up in khaki shorts and a white polo shirt, his styled hair was brownish, and his ocean blue eyes studied me attentively.

"You are in the middle of the road." He politely notified, pointing towards a black SUV, which might have stopped because of me.

Shit.

Biting my lips, I nervously apologized. "The street is so quiet."

"Well, that's among the reasons you shouldn't walk in the middle of a road like this, or any road in particular, with earphones." He smiled to soften the harshness of his words.

At least the smile was warm and apologetic.

Not knowing why I was returning the smile, I uttered. "Yes, okay, cool." Then I shifted to the side of the road and stopped in my position, watching the boy slide into the passenger's side of the black SUV.

I had a quick contact with somehow a familiar face from the driver's side before the car took off.

The walk wasn't that bad as I thought, and I made sure to keep my eyes and ears alarmed. Being entirely cautious and checking behind me every ten seconds, I reckon.

I even took off the earphone 'for safety.'

***

Finally arriving at the store, I grab a basket and start shopping for essential things, including groceries.

I filled up the basket and ended up grabbing some stuff around my arms before approaching the check-out section.

Well, there's a long line ahead of me. I settled behind some woman and blew out a breath.

My exhausted brain couldn't help wondering how the neighborhood is so quiet, yet the residents know how to shop for their homes.

Odd.

"We are playing golf today, for Bryce's sake. You know how his father can be." Said a familiar voice behind me. But I didn't care to turn around.

"I hate club games. Can't we just let him deal with his s**t?" Another voice groaned behind me, which was also familiar, but I didn't care to find out either.

"We can't bail on him."

The mid-age woman ahead of me had a baby in a back carrier behind her. The child should be at least six months old.

The baby kept their eyes on me, which somehow made me uncomfortable.

And when the baby giggles brought the woman to spin around and offer me a light smile. I thank God her hand purse decide to slip out of her hand at that point.

To be honest, I hate confronting strangers. Matter of fact, right now, my head was gathering up all the negative scenarios that possibly exist.

You avoid the awkwardness, I sat my basket down and squatted to help her grab it.

The grateful woman smiled politely and thanked me before turning away.

While the baby continued to smile at me, I kept tapping the floor with my shoes, eager for my turn to make my payment.

I was chewing my bottom lip when the person behind me complained about the obvious: "This s**t isn't moving."

It is not like we are not all irritated. They should at least have some patience.

Then a deja vu happened. There was a slight touch on my back once again.

Seriously?

Swerving, surprisingly, it's the guy from earlier.

Great.

Now that explains the familiar voice.

"You again." He smiles charmingly. "So you were coming here?" He asked a completely dumb question, but I went on and answered with a yes, while mentally praying for my turn to make payment.

Furrowed brows, the young man sighs. "The line doesn't seem good." He sadly remarks, seeming in a hurry.

Shaking my head, I look up to the person standing next to him.

A tall fitted figure, wearing light blue ripped faded jeans along with white sneakers and a white long sleeve shirt.

A messy brownish blonde hair that spelled 'healthy' and perfection. Flawlessly conscious and strangely luminous glossy light green eyes that could easily get you lost in no time. He has slightly coral lips, perfectly shaped to gorgeousness even with a bruise by the side of its curve.

Bruise—that is; Green eyes—busted lips.

Shit! It's the guy from last night.

The bad blonde.

It was a quick glimpse last night, but I was confident of the face I saw, and it is the one staring back at me right now.

My heart skipped a beat and stopped for a moment. When it reboots, it begins to pound abnormally.

More fidgety, he has his gaze observing me.

Did he remember me? Was he mentally plotting revenge? What is he thinking right now? Why won't he stop staring at me? Why won't it be my turn to pay?

"I'm Theodore. You can call me Theo." The blue-eyed guy from earlier introduced himself. He holds out his hand, implying a handshake.

Confused, I stared at him. Who shakes hands at this age? Stupid rich people, of course.

I couldn't help rolling my eyes inside.

Clearing his throat nervously, he chuckled. "And this is... Griffin." Theodore beckoned to the bad blonde beside him.