Two Steps Behind

CHAPTER 7

"Good evening, Blythe! How was your day?" Lexie greeted me as soon as I got in the house. 

I continued my steps to the living room without answering her. She knows my response already, the usual 'Fine' though it's not. I immediately plopped myself on the sofa as soon as I reached there then placed my feet on the table. 

"Should I prepare your dinner?" I shook my head on her question then leaned my back on the seat. 

"I'm still full. Just kindly get my things in the car." I commanded, instead. 

"Sure." 

Lexie turned her heel on the doorway silently. I roamed my eyes between the halls then a bitter smile suddenly escaped to my lips. Who would've imagined that there are only two people living in this big house? It is full of material things but lacks living presence and attention. Ah, just like me. 

I exhaled a heavy breath before shutting my eyes. Just a few minutes later, I heard footsteps echoing around the halls and a slam on the table causing me to jolt and my eyes to grow wide open. 

"Oh sorry," Lexie sheepishly smiled. I shook my head as I tried to calm my pounding chest. That made me wonder-struck! 

"You look very tired," she commented, placing herself next to me. She grabbed one of my books which she brought here earlier. 

Lexie chose to work for us rather than finishing her studies. She said that she's working for her family and for her to save for her future plans. Well, I did offer her to study on her course instead but she declined. As she wanted to focus on her job and make things one at a time. 

I grabbed my notebook where Raven wrote some equations. I raised my brow while flipping through each page. "My brain was drained because of these," I mumbled.

"You should take a rest," she replied. I turned my right to get the full view of her then heaved a sigh. 

"The guy who sent the paper earlier,"I started making his eyebrow arch. "Peachie's classmate, my new tutor." Her eyes widened in shock then swiftly drew herself closer to me. She poked my side while throwing me a teasing look. 

"I haven't seen his face clearly but… Is your new tutor handsome?" she asked out of curiosity. I rolled my eyes before turning my view back on the paper. 

"Arrogant," I deadpanned. 

"Handsome?" she inquired again. 

"A good tutor." Well, honestly, he teaches well. He can be a part-time teacher though. 

She tilted her head, trying to catch my sight. "Good looking?" she asked with a playful smile. 

"Engineer." Yeah, he's an engineer. Peachie's classmate who I accidentally hit on my car. 

"Good looking engineer?" I poke her head to make her distance to me. She really wants to hear what she wants to hear coming from my mouth. 

I grabbed my things and arranged them in my hand. "He's tall," I answered. 

"You're not answering me." Instead of answering her, I stood up from my seat. I don't want to say it from myself that he has the looks because I might have been blinded only. 

"I'll go upstairs now," I said, slowly stepping my foot to the stairway. 

"His name?" Oh, I thought she's done with that already. 

"Raven," I replied, taking my steps on the stairs. 

"Handsome?" she screeched downstairs. 

"Whatever!" I yelled then I heard a loud guffaw down below. She really loves teasing me. 

I admit, he is handsome but I don't want to conclude it yet. Attitude is much more handsome than what we see physically. Looks can be deceiving. 

After changing my clothes, I immediately scattered the papers on my bed. I need to study before I sleep. Long exam is fast approaching and I don't want to cram especially on this horrible subject. 

I scratched my temple using my pen while staring at the numbers. I forgot how he solved the equation earlier. Probably, I should keep all his scratch papers for me to trace how it was answered. 

Oh! I really hate this! 

The next morning, I woke up with Lexie shouting again. She's doing her usual morning rituals in my room. I was planning to lock my room to avoid disturbance every sunshine but I remembered that she has all the spare keys of each door. Maybe I should steal and hide it from her next time. 

"Good morning, Blythe!" I covered my ears using my hand. She's too loud and I don't want to open my eyes yet for I am feeling a mild headache. 

"Rise and Shine, Blythe!" she greeted again. 

"You slept without keeping your notes and papers again. Look, everything was scattered on the floor," she mumbled. 

"I studied last night so please give me an extra minute to rest," I replied. 

I heard her heaved a sigh before stepping her foot to nowhere. 

"Alright. I'll just prepare your breakfast in bed. By the way, Coffee? Tea? Milk or hot chocolate?" she asked. 

"Coffee, please," I answered almost in a whisper before her presence was lost. 

I actually didn't study all the time last night. All I did was to stare at the notes and recall what Raven had discussed to me. I tried to make my own equation for a hope of getting it right. Some succeed but others fail. If only I am as gifted as others. 

I pulled the comforter off to me then sat on my bed, resting my head on the headboard. I am feeling the strange emptiness all over again. How could I feel so empty and miserable even though I have my friends on my side? I have Lexie at home and Peachie and Khassie in school. It's kinda weird that I am still feeling a gap. I am always feeling lacking. Not enough. Empty and lonely. But I am happy. Free and contented. I really don't get myself. 

My eyes roamed around my room. All my things were already arranged in the study table together with my bag. Lexie, for sure, did it. Yeah, I have my study table but I usually study in my bed because I love lying and dropping my body while studying until I fall asleep. Then, ends up Lexie fixing my stuff. 

A minute after, the door cracked open exposing Lexie holding a food tray and her usual morning smile. She's charming and her smile would change everyone's mood while looking at her. 

"Here's your food, Blythe." She placed the tray on my bed still with a smile. 

"Tell me honestly Lexie, are you my mother in my past life?" I joked. She shifted her eyes on me with a blank face. 

"I'm your reincarnated grandmother," she replied seriously before bursting out into laughter. 

She was so caring to me from the start. Though, I was mean to her in her first month. I just wanted to test her attitude and endurance with me. I didn't expect that she is naturally nice and caring. I just found myself being attached to her and filled the absence of my parents. 

Unlike other housekeepers who are wearing the usual white and blue or black uniform, Lexie is wearing a casual one. I don't want her to feel like she was a housemaid though. For at least, she would feel at home with me. 

"Did my parents send you money for groceries already?" I inquired. 

"Yeah, yesterday. I am planning to buy some stocks today. Do you want something?" she replied. 

I shook my head while chewing my food. "Kindly get my bag," I ordered. 

She immediately hopped from my bed and reached my bag from the study table. She handed it to me as soon as she went back in my direction. 

"Open it. There's a white envelope there," I said. 

With a creased forehead, she searched the envelope inside my bag. "This one?" she asked as soon as she found it. 

I motion my head up and down with a half-smile. "What's this? Should I open it?" she inquired once again. 

"Yes, please." 

She immediately opened the envelope and then looked at me with scrunch brows. "I told you, your parents had sent me the money already," she deadpanned. 

I placed my utensils on my plate before crawling in her direction. "That's for you. Happy birthday!" I greeted. 

She hugged me very tight and the next thing I knew, she was crying. 

"Hey, aren't you happy?" 

She wiped her tears when she pulled herself away from me then curved her lips upward. "I'm very happy. But… Is this really for me? The necklace looks expensive plus the money on it is too much. Are you sure?" 

I tapped her shoulders before jumping off on the floor. "That's nothing compared to everything you did to me. Enjoy your day!" I hollered while heading my way in the bathroom. I still have my class though.