Chapter Thirteen
< Nina >
The sound of knocking breaks this awkward situation. I back away from him, making him release his gentle touch on my hair.
“Luca, this is Yu.”
Luca sighs as he stands up, not a single glance at me after my sudden response before muttering something Italian again.
He proceeds to go get the door.
If it hadn’t been the knock on the door, I didn’t know what would happen next. I should really apologize for screaming and well for saying something I shouldn’t.
Yu is coming, you should greet him, I mentally thought.
The door opens and Yu is standing there, looking amused. “Hey, boss.”
“Yu,” Luca says, flatly. “Have you ever considered calling me before you arrive?”
“I gave away my phone to your kid sister, remember?” At that moment, Luca’s lips curve into a frown. Then Yu perks up from Luca’s direction and scans the room. When he sees me, he smiles.
“Good morning, kid.”
“Good morning, Yu.”
Then he makes his way inside, going in my direction. “I brought the charger, the USB cord, and the power bank just in case you need it.” He hands over a paper bag.
“Thanks,” I respond, immediately, staring at Luca’s figure who is heading back to the morning table.
“Luca, I’m going to tour Nina around school and the city. We might come back later in the evening.”
“You do you,” he says while rolling his eyes.
All of the sudden, Yu leans near to my ear as he whispers. “I guess someone got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.”
I smile at him. I’m thankful for his arrival and also to ease the tension in this room.
“While we talk, you can get yourself prepared, kid. Oh right, the bathroom is just on the left corner there, he points at the room which I have already suspected to be the bathroom earlier.
I nod and before I turn my direction to where Yu pointed at, I glance at Luca one more time...
…who isn’t looking back at me.
<<<>>>
< Nina >
“Are you tired, kid?”
“No, of course not. I appreciate that you take your time with me,” I reply, rather shyly as I look down on the hem of my sweater again.
Yu just nods. “How’s your stay at Luca’s?”
It’s a topic I’d rather not talk about, honestly.
“Err…it’s fine.” Oh right, I almost forgot. “Thanks for handing me your phone, the tour and err…everything.”
My first impression of the school is described in one word: prestigious. It’s no brainer that the number one school in the US has the best facilities I’ve ever seen in my life, the school cafeteria is bigger than the entire gymnasium in my previous school and well, I am definitely not going to fit in.
That’s for sure.
“Nina?”
“Y-Yes?” I got startled and I forgot Yu is just across from me, eating at Olive Garden.
“Don’t let Luca’s behavior get to you. Once you get to know him, you’ll see that everything he does, he means well.”
Huh.
“So I take it he h-hates me?” It is a slip of the tongue and I regret asking because my cheeks turn red from another dose of embarrassment.
“Hate you?” He suddenly asks, vividly surprised at the question. “Luca doesn’t normally hate people.”
“Then what about his father?” Again, curiosity kills the cat. But Yu doesn’t mind me meddling in their affairs, right?
“What Rodrigo did clearly upset Luca despite his mother’s approval.” Then his lips curve into a grin. “But it doesn’t mean he hates him. He’s just mad, or rather, he’s used to being mad at his father for years now.”
“I s-see.” Way to go, Nina. Is there anything else to talk about? Normally, I can chatter a lot with Gene and this situation I’m in is a completely different zone from comfort.
“Any other questions?” Yet, Yu finds ways to keep the conversation going. I can see the visible smirk on his face, urging me to speak up.
“J-just one, I guess? Why are you so nice to me?” Odd choice of words.
With that he starts laughing. At first, I thought he did it in a mocking way like how my bullies do each time I dare to ask questions but no, Yu’s laughter is far from mockery.
In fact, he probably found my question a surprise attack judging the way his cheeks flushed and the way his hand pressed on his forehead.
“Because I like you, kid. I’m glad you’re completely the opposite of what I’ve expected. Here I thought, we would probably take care of a rebellious teenager.” He grins before he gently pats on my head. “Besides, I always wanted a little sister.”
“You do?” My cheeks heat up from the way he gently touches my head. It’s like a father doting over his daughter.
Even if Yu is only a few years older than me.
Yet, he has this aura of reliance. And he has been consistently treating me with open arms.
“Of course!” He sips a can of beer before continuing. “So, allow me to spoil you more from now on, got it?”
I nod and this time, a smile finally crosses on my face. “T-Thanks, Yu.”
“So, what answers do you want?” He asks. “Wanna talk about Luca? The woman from last night or why a Korean guy like me became Luca’s, right-hand man?”
I don’t think I want to pry anymore about their lives especially if my future stepbrother has no interest in me. So I try to think of a safe question. “I don’t know…what about last night’s confusing events?”
“Well, to start off,” his grin now replaces his frustration as he sighs. “I’m sorry that Luca didn’t personally pick you up yesterday...he has the habit of forgetting things unrelated to business affairs.”
“Heather is one of our friends,” he continues as he twirls around his pasta. “By the way, Heather and Luca are sort of that kind of relationship but not in a serious one.”
“I see…thanks for the clarification,” I answer with a polite nod before I continue with my food.
“So, don’t you have a boyfriend, Nina?”
I almost choke on my food as I immediately drink my iced tea. I shake my head feverishly.
“Then who were you calling yesterday? A boy or a girl?”
“He’s a guy friend.”
“And not a boyfriend then?” He raises a brow.
“Nope.” I immediately answer.
But I have a feeling that this doesn’t end there.
Then he starts teasing while trying to get to know more about Gene and I can’t help but feel flustered with his questions.
Yeap, it’s official. Yu is my father. Rodrigo doesn’t even have time chatting with me like this.
But still, talking to Yu has been a breath of fresh air.
