el

rays rousing me from my slumber. I reluctantly pried my eyes open, only

ed my face in the pillow, hoping to sh

I despised them

e than m

rom the blinding sun, I stumbled my way to the bathroom. As usual, I brushed m

nants of sleep, unwilling to risk looking like a

ngst family members, I vaguely recalled my dad m

iends who would come a da

emed eerily quiet, signalling that no guests had arrived yet. However, as I made my way towards the kitchen, I couldn't he

ell on Dad and Clara .They were preparing breakfast, with Clar

too, sweetheart," The

playfully inquired, walking closer to

" Dad replied with a hint of self-deprecating humour in his voi

ll. You're still the best," I gi

ad chuckled, returning the embrace and

acking you in a suitcase the other day. I didn't mean it, really." I kissed his chee

"You are still too childish

her laugh tear

r direction, "Nobody loves me."She melodramatically declared, averting her eyes from me, as i

lara with a grin on my face. "Oh, come here, my drama queen," Lau

led expression, but a smile inevitably made

drama queen, huh? That's not fair, Evie," Clara play

now, he needs affection," I mu

ed with a teasing threat, "Remember, little lady,

me. With a month full of functions and travels to v

tten that I don't need any money for this entire period," I poi

t it next month.

I couldn't hold onto my laughter anymore and the

ed his attention on cooking again but this time with

s indeed

uel," she giggled as she p

ubbing the spot where she left a

se and this only seemed to increase Dad's irritation, ev

ying to maintain his faux sternness, though a hi

two of them, one that I had grown accustomed to over the years. However, at this moment, with t

ul banter for too long, I would be left hungry and

today," I decided to speak up, "I'm starving,

chest, asserting herself. "You h

but he soon shifted his attention back to th

refrigerator to grab some orange juice. As I raised the bottle to my mouth, I

the guests ha

off as a familiar yet foreign voice resonated fr

id, unmistakably the voice of the Ital

nd the room suddenly felt devoid of oxygen, despite

looming behind me. I was too petrified to turn and face

ob," Clara greeted

asually, not bothering to look up from his coo

gaze on me as well as Clara's, who se

through the tense silence, and my worst imagi

, I was just fifteen years old. These past five years

glancing at Jacob. I, too, mustered the courage

handsome jawline, the full, tempting lips, and those bewitching

through countless times, fell casually on his face. And that same maddeningly attractive

ted muscles and paired with trousers, he could easi

h so that the gasp did

voice made his lips part in what

ooking heavily dumbfounded

enough to imagine your gorgeo

gan," Evelyn, did you fail to recogniz

e bit. He looks the same as before." The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. I t

een eyes upon my words, and perhaps because of

inside your room every time you saw me. For years, I wondered what it was about me that made you so

scared of you. The only reason I used to do that wa

d ask her she'd just ignore me." Dad seemed to f

d that red shade of embar

s childhood," Clara seemed to be the first one t

there was a barely noticeable twitch at the corner of his lips and I didn't know if it w

n! Get hold

ket and raised it to his mouth, taking a bite as he leaned against

ly

it was my mind that was acting weird o

was before," Dad seemed to find very nice entertainment i

," Jacob made a thoughtful noise while still l

restraints bre

to go well if I sta

quickly spluttered and turning aroun

eakfast..."

piece of my hair strand behind my hair And stealing a

trailed after me, attempting to

my footsteps quickening as I ascended the s

en holding. A solitary bead of sweat traced its way down the side of m

n," I said to mys

ars I had thought my attraction for him had faded but one gaze

wasn't g

years before or maybe it was my own hallucination that made me wan