LOVED BY STEPDAD

[7]

“Are you... okay, Susan?” asked Jillian as she looked at her best friend with a doubtful look. Susan's arrival on campus with slightly swollen eyes alone represented how the girl was feeling. But Jillian had the courage to ask. At the very least, the girl had to ascertain for herself how her best friend was doing.

“Well, as you can see,” Susan shrugged. Her smile still looked sad. “At least I still have the presence of mind to return to campus.”

“Your mother must be sad if you're still putting on a gloomy face, Susan.” Tina embraced Susan as she pointed towards the field where many young men were practicing basketball. “You know, next week is sports week. And our class basketball team is showing off their skills.”

“I'm sure our team will win.” Jillian said enthusiastically. “Two of our team were recruited by the college's core team. They will represent us in the inter-campus competition in this city.”

Susan just listened and smiled. She wanted to respond but her heart was still too sad and uncertain. Even this morning she woke up because she had to if not for Lucian who was a little chatty, she might still be in the room. Curled up under his warm blanket crying. Or... visiting her mother's grave and asking whatever questions were now piling up in her head.

Including her status as an adopted daughter. Susan needs clarity and her mother's direct acknowledgment. But... her mother would never answer, right?

“You see?” Tina nudged Susan's shoulder. “Isn't that Tedy?”

Susan looked in the direction Tina was pointing through her chin. Tina wouldn't have pointed at someone so blatantly; she would have used the gesture as her own code. “What about Tedy?” Susan asked without interest.

“Oh my,” Jillian sighed softly. “Have you forgotten that Tedy has been approaching you very aggressively in the past few weeks? Almost the whole class knows that Tedy likes you.”

Susan blinked slowly. Her personal life was normal. She was just one of the students at a well-known university in the city where she lived now. She majored in business economics because her mother loved to tell her about the excitement of economics courses. Besides, according to Susan, it seemed like she could do the same thing as her mother.

Many people knew Susan on campus, but only just. She was also not among the popular students. Unlike Hannah and Olivia, who were named the prettiest girls on their campus, and several other popular names because of their achievements and influence on the campus. After all, Susan did not really like the popularity that made her inevitably the center of attention.

She just wanted to go to college in peace, enjoy her teenage years with some good friends, and if possible... date. With a guy she liked of course.

And because of that, she remembered Tedy. It was true what Jillian said. He had been approaching her for some time. Susan responded well at first and sometimes they sat at the same dining table during breaks. Or just spend time in the library doing assignments. But as time went by... Susan didn't find the excitement of talking with Tedy.

“I don't know, I find him a boring guy,” Susan said with a shrug. No longer staring at the field where Tedy was there. Unfortunately, it was too late. Tedy looked over and saw where Susan was.

“Hi, Susan,” Tedy said, half shouting. Not caring if he was in the middle of training, he hurriedly ran over to Susan.

Meanwhile, Jillian and Tina looked happy because of Tedy's attitude. “You just need to get to know her better, Susan. Make an effort,” Tina whispered with an ignorant grin. “We'll be waiting in class with the story of your next date.”

“What date?” grumbled Susan unhappily. But she couldn't possibly show a displeased face when Tedy was in front of her. Even so, she still gave an annoyed look to her two best friends who were now walking away.

“Hi,” greeted Tedy as he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “How are you?”

Susan returned the greeting with a faint smile. “So far... so good.”

“I'm sorry to hear about your mother's death. What a sudden passing.” Tedy looked at Susan with a sympathetic gaze. And his hand that unceremoniously grasped Susan's hand. “I'm sorry I couldn't be with you when you needed someone you could trust.”

“No problem,” Susan tried to release Tedy's hand but could not. Tedy's hand was gripping quite firmly and the young man's gaze seemed to be squinting as if questioning, why did Susan seem to dislike Tedy's existence now?

“Did you know that next week is sports week?”

“Tina just told me,” Susan finally gave up. At the same time, she had to ignore the many stares directed at her. Some seemed to be looking at them with a curious look, others seemed unhappy that Tedy Auxford's name was well-known as the future captain of their college basketball team.

Who doesn't know the young man who is now in front of Susan? Many girls approached Tedy and openly wanted to be his girlfriend. Unfortunately, all of them got rejected by Tedy and it turned out that the reason the young man refused was because ... Susan? Gosh, Susan actually didn't want to get this kind of attention but...

How could she avoid it when almost all eyes were on their closeness? Tedy also gave the impression that they had a special relationship. A couple for example.

“You should come and cheer me up,” Tedy pleaded.

“I don't know. I... don't know what to do during this week. You know, I'm behind in a lot of subjects.”

Tedy snorted in annoyance. “Oh, come on. I'm sure no one will scold you. After all, this whole campus knows that you've just been through grief. There's no way you're going to be asked to catch up on all your missed classes.”

It's true, but...

“Ah, or do you want to copy my materials?” offered Tedy with a smile. “You know I'm good at taking notes, right?”

Susan grimaced. “You're a pretty diligent student.”

Tedy laughed. “Alright. I'll give it to you when I get home. And I hope you don't mind if we go home together. It's been a while since we've had a date, hasn't it, Susan?”

Susan didn't know what to say. Especially when Tedy just left her like that, while waving and winking. giving a code that was so obvious, as if they were lovers in love.

***

“Mr. Lucian,” called Gina, Lucian's assistant who seemed to be carrying a lot of files to the man's desk.

Meanwhile, since morning, Lucian had been busy with a lot of documents, especially those related to his late wife's company. Noticing Gina entering his office, Lucian paid a little attention. “Yes?”

“I brought the files you need. Most of the information we got was that Mrs. Yossie's company was in the bakery business.”

Lucian unconsciously smiled. Remembering how Yossie loved to be in the kitchen. Whatever dishes and snacks Yossie made, they were always appetizing and delicious. Including her bread and cookies. Lucian was often sent low-sugar cheese cookies as a snack while the man worked.

And now, there were no more such deliveries coming to Lucian's office.

“From this data,” Gina said as she handed a report to the finance department. “This bakery company, although still small in scale, already has three branches. Everything is well-managed and I see that their finances are also fine.”

“Yossie is indeed good at managing business affairs,” Lucian praised as he looked intently at the section that Gina showed him. “Their profits are quite large and the debt incurred for the company's operations is also small.” Lucian chuckled. “That woman is really good. I'm not wrong to admire her.”

“But it seems like you should pay a visit to make sure the employees are doing well and put their hearts at ease. Even if the owner changes, you don't intend to put the company out of business, do you?”

“Do I intend to?” Lucian looked at Gina sarcastically. “Instead, I'm going to make Yossie's legacy bigger and more influential in this city. I was asked to manage it. Although I also have the responsibility of a CEO here, I believe I'm capable.”

“You can do it,” Gina said encouragingly.

“By the way, have you done what I asked?”

To that question, Gina looked hesitant but it was impossible not to tell her boss this. “Miss Susan has returned to her campus activities. As you requested, I have arranged for a driver to take Miss Susan back and forth during her campus activities.”

“Good.” Lucian smiled slightly. “I need to meet the driver. Can you arrange for us to meet? Maybe in two hours?” Lucian glanced at the watch on his left arm. “Just in time for Susan to get home from college.”

“Yes, sir.” Actually Gina was a little, ah... no. she was very curious. why Lucian was still paying attention to the daughter of his late wife. In fact, Gina felt that Lucian was becoming more and more overprotective of Susan. Not only did he ask the driver to pick Susan up, Gina had to find out the schedule of classes and when the girl was finished with all her subjects.

Not only that, Gina was also asked to find out how Susan's social life was on campus.

Does Lucian intend to be a surrogate parent? Oh my! Isn't it a pity that a man as handsome and cool as Lucian has to be a nanny?

“What are you waiting for? Don't you have a lot to do, Gina?” asked Lucian with a surprised look.

“Ah, you're right. Well, I resign.” Gina stammered. She hurriedly left Lucian's office.

Meanwhile, Lucian picked up the cell phone in the drawer and sent a message.

[Lucian. B : Are you home on time? Daddy will pick you up and feed you. I can't believe you're eating regularly without me watching. Reply my message soon, Susan.]