The Taste of Wine

{ Chapter 7 - sleep }

As Xierra walked in inside the mansion, in the peak of the gigantic stairs of the owners, Mrs. Armani stood there, in an outfit ready to go not until she saw the adopted child walking inside and also talking to itself.

The child stood stunned at her place upon hearing the words of the person she despised so much, their eyes meet and anyone could tell that the tension between them isn't so good. There is bitterness and nonchalance between it, Xierra who can't let herself be rude towards Mrs.Armani slightly bowed her head towards her in a respectable greet, though it gives her so much pressure just by doing it.

'it's only past 4 pm, how come she's here in the house intead of her workplace? maybe outside the country or at her thousands of high end buildings? First i met that rude guy now this rotten human being.'

"Your not with Viella?" Mrs.Armani asked, her voice cold with a hidden annoyance on it, Xierra fighted the urge to raise an eyebrow and scowl at the lady, of course Vy isn't with her, after all she goes to a different university and they don't hang out in weekdays due to themeselves being way too busy.

"No, ma'am"

"Hmmm, are you neglecting your duty as her sister? Remember my words to you before Xierra, your a pawn to keep my daughter in track" The lady said with pure rashness, her word sharp as if no regard to the others feelings, which they actually don't.

Xierra swallowed in frustration, she couldn't defend herself like saying she is too busy or like she does tend to Vy but not all the time but since the Armani would take it as rudeness and slacking off.

She knows well what her purpose is on the house and outside the house, and she is not neglecting it, she keeps track on were Vy is, she checks her social media's and she's also the one who immediately goes when Vy needed her to, the parent is busy so of course they needed a pawn to take care of their own child.

She only stood their in silence not wanting to answer, which thankfully the lady let it slide by, and moments after they are surrounded in pure silence.

In their silence, Xierra took it as a permission to let her go back to her room, but as she is about to take her step the damn lady spoke.

"Stay away from the Zhyrious.."

Hearing that Xierra wanted to laugh, stay away? Right, does it look like she's the one sticking to the other? Does it look like she's the one trying to catch up to his pace? She wanted to deny the Armani's words but sure the Armani already had eyes stuck on her, she doesn't have the room to deny.Wait, before she could curse she needs to answer or that lady would take out her monthly allowance.

"Do not worry Ma'am, we won't ever cross paths again-"

"Stay away but keep him by your side."

'What?'

'What did i just heard from her? Stay away but keep him by my side? What the hell is that huh? Is she out of her mind?'

"Keep the young boy by your side and report to me every single thing that he wants from you or anything valuable that he says, but stay away at the same time. Keep some distance, You got yourself in to this so i'm ordering you, Watch him" The words of the lady of the mansion was stern and emotionless, the authority in her voice is evident and her stare was cold as ice.

So that's the turn of events? Both sides wants to use Xierra for their own advantage? Right, now what makes any of it human? Is she still human? Or she's just not informed that she has transformed into lifeless object that they wish to use just because they want to? Ah wait, even if she's no object....

Those type of people could care less about that, they will use you in every way they can, simply because they can.

Xierra could only bit her lower lip in annoyance and frustration, what a way to live her own life just by letting others use her.

"I understand ma'am, i'll do that" she said lifelessly, the Armani smiled in relief, she walked down the stairs to look closer at the child and to whisper the words.

"Good"

She walked past Xierra and again forget about the child's existence.

It's a normal occurance.

'Yeah right i'm doomed, with this doesn't that mean i have to go and report to them everything everytime that asshole show up?' Xierra wondered while walking back inside her room which is located close around Vy's room.

Her room wasn't that small and wasn't that big, it was actually a guest room but because the Armani had a real daughter they kicked her out of her room before and gave it to Vy, its not big deal though, it's just a room and she feels very comforrable with just a simple room.

She made herself ready for bed and to do a bit of homework before she rest, she could only rest when she's about to sleep since the man earlier took her time to rest for a moment and worst stressed her out even more. At this rate white hair might pop at her hair, but anyways........

"I'm tired"

She whisper under her breathe, her body felt worn out by working around for a week, her brain is already fed up by thinking for new ideas for her artwork, and her patience is done for the day. She wants to sleep truly but her mind keeps her awake somehow...

After a few minutes as she is about to fall asleep her phone ring, a notification popped at the screen. Xierra fetched her phone to check if Vy had any messages for her since that's the only reason her phone would ever ring a notif she got up a bit to get her phone at the side desk and sat up at her bed, but her eyes widen to see an unfamiliar name at her phone, her eyes showing pure confusion and her emotions circled, unsure if she either want to die at the moment or simply throw her phoen across the room which is impossible to do since her phone is quite expensive.

"Have u rest? " Why the hell Ranzel Zhyrious is asking that on her dms? And how did the man even got her phone number?

After staring at the message for a long time she sigh and deleted the message, its rude but since she doesnt really load her number because she always just wait for Vy to call since that's the only purpose of it, she can't do anything like reply to the message. Though she does wish the man would leave her alone now before anything gets even more serious, The Armani talking to her is already a problem so making things worst is the last thing she wanted for.

But her phone instead of ringing just for a second now is ringing nonstop..

"Hey"

"Answer me"

"Don't leave me on read here"

"I'm serious. "

"Look, reply right now, or ill kill you"

"Your getting brave huh"

"Want me to go there? "

"I swear if you still don't reply"

Xierra rolled her eyes, the man is really impatient as expected, but either way no matter what the man say she can't do anything, she doesn't have load but she also doesn't know how to load herself.

After some time of her phone ringing in no end she fell asleep by annoyance, maybe because she's also tired that her sleep seem to be long and nice.

... .. . ..

Xierra finally woke up at the feeling of itch in her throat, she slowly opens her eyes and the first thing that caught her attention is that-

She's at her bed.

And a blanket is covering her whole.

She clearly remember that she's only sitting at the bed with no blankets on top of her so why-

Oh wait what happeneded to her phone?

She remember Ran spamming her dms, and wait why does she feel like-

Slowly, she turned her head at her side praying what she's expectint is not true. But unfortantely no matter how many prayers she does, the man is there at the side of her bed scrolling at his phone. While its lily eyes glued at the screen, his free hand softly caressinf her hair that because of how comfortable that made her feel she is stupid enough not to suspect it. And now in front of her she want to let a doctor check her eyes and tell her its broken, Because how could this man appear at the side of her bed in the middle on the night? !

"Your finallt awake, did you know i waited for 3 hours for you to wake up? You dont answer my text that it annoyed me, but i guess il forgive you for now since i checkes your phone and you don't even have a network, how stupid are you to even keep yourself with a phone when your not making it useful huh? "

She just woke up yet, she's being scolded at??

"Why-"

"Don't ask why, since its pretty obvious. Well it be impossible is i got here because i teleported right-"Before Ran could finish his gibberish talk Xierra had already sat up to hold his cheeks with no sense of gentleness at all, she forced him to look at her in the eye and checked if this man in front of her is true or she's just dreaming.

Maybe she is just dreaming?

"A bold move, but i prefer you keep yourself from doing this again or ill do it for you" Ran warned her but she ignored that warninf and pinched her own cheek checking if she could wake herself up, but because she is already awake of course she can't.

"I'mnot dreaming.. " She mumbled which made Ran rolled his eyes.

"Yes your not, do i look that majestic and unreal to you lady? And please give me your attention now just know that im being extra gentle and patient since you just woke up and your brain is just tryna function"

'He talks so much for a man who tresprassed' Xierra said to herself, so then.

Ran is here

"Why are you here? " Maybe due to her state of just woking up, she didnt have the strength to even be mad or shower him with questions, or maybe even react at the fact this man THIS MAN IS AT HER OWN ROOM.

"I plan to marry Aviella" Ran said in his most serious tone and expression but that phrase did not made Xierra laugh.

"Please f**k off" Xierra said in the most lazy tone ever, its strange this man is at her room yet she doesn't even feel alarmed by it?

Ran sigh heavily, and before Xierra knew it this man had already seized both of her hands-

"Stop, just stop im tired. Just tell me why your here" Maybe because of how bored and lazy Xierra acted right now, Ran was too stunned for a moment with his mind thinking.

'Is she serious right now? I'm so ready to seduce and scare her off yet she's here yawning and s**t- Oh god, i feel bad. Should i let her sleep again? ' Due to Xierra's actions, Ran now doesn't know what to do.

"But i wanted to talk" Ran simply said, he's voice sounded as if he even wanted to say it pleadingly.

Xierra raised an eyebrow and lay down again at her bed while coverinf herslef with the blanket, Ran just watched her with a dumbfounded expression.

"I came because i want to annoy you and s**t- Ah, why did i even come here" Ran said, the annoyance evident at his voice. The urge to threaten Xierra is there but it felt like it be useless, he even forgot what his rewly intentions for coming here is.

"Sleep on the couch, lets talk later" Xierra said closing her eyes and tucking herself more with the blanket.