Chapter Fifty One
< Luca’s POV >
“Sometimes I was wondering if you have mood swings.”
Oh, this is a first. I look to Yu’s direction who has been using that smug look of his. His knuckle was placed neatly on his cheek as he leaned, making him bend a bit for comfort. He eyes both me who has been reading the magazine next to the stand and behind me, Nina, who has been blushing during the hair session.
We are at the salon, the finest in Dawn City and when I found out this morning that Nina had been cutting her own hair in the bathroom, I immediately called Yu to set an appointment for La Beau Salon.
Apparently, when they heard of my name, they quickly canceled other appointments and reserved the whole shop for me. So that leaves the two of us watching girls pampering my little (ex) nuisance.
Oh right, going back to Yu.
“Is it because I’m now getting well with my future step-sister?” Not to mention that I could finally sleep well now and back in my bed after the reconciliation.
“Yeah, not long ago you have been like the reincarnation of Mr. Scrooge but now, you are the happiest person I’ve ever seen.”
I just laugh, good-naturedly as I proceed to eye Nina who was continuously being bombarded with questions. Her eyes look at her own fingers as her lips quiver from embarrassment.
She was right about being uncomfortable with the presence of women.
“You said that her classmate tackled her down right when you entered, correct?” Yu asks and immediately his face darkens. “Tch, if I beat that motherfucking— ”
“Careful, Yu. He may be younger than us but he’s still a student.” I pause for a while. “He’s Nina’s friend.”
“You know, the kid doesn’t have friends.” That catches my attention. I look back to Yu who shows his motherly side of him again. “I can tell that she hasn't adjusted to her school yet. And the only time she invited a classmate happened to have ulterior motives.”
“You are sounding presumptuous just now, wife.” Oops, I seem to anger him with that glare but I go on. “What about your principles of innocence until proven guilty?”
“Well, you were also planning to do so yourself,” Yu seethes.
“I’m still in the process of being on Nina's good side, you know,” I say. But honestly, I will continue to be wary towards her friends from now on if she decides to defend someone who has a dominating presence.
Heck, I’m not even sure if her friend, Gene, is trustworthy.
Then Yu sighs, cutting me from my thoughts. “Since when have I been your damn wife, boss?” He says, sarcastically.
“Since the arrival of Nina,” I say with the goodness of my heart. Yu just mutters cursed words then he jabs me on the shoulder.
It was a light one so I couldn’t help but grin.
He had his time teasing me when I was being a prideful idiot towards Nina, so I can finally make my comeback.
“Now you’re acting like a father figure to the kid?”
“I see why not if my own father can’t do it himself.” A part of me is pretty pleased to have her as my companion now. Something I won’t admit to Rodrigo.
“Then you must have known that Nina doesn’t have any friends except the guy whom she talks to every day.”
I look up, placing my fingers on my chin. “We had that conversation yesterday, so I know. But it seems that she doesn’t mind being acquainted with that Clarence guy as well.”
“And that worries you, huh?”
I give him a lazy shrug as we both continue to watch over Nina who attempts to talk to the women.
How cute.
“She never tried to go to the salon before. She doesn’t have female friends and she only had the adults being her friends in Dawn City. Of course, I am worried.”
“Not to mention, Nina is a beauty beyond wonders,” I add. Yu just gapes at me. “What is it?”
“You didn’t tell her that, did you?”
“Yeah, twice. So?”
He facepalmed. “Luca, I know your way of flirting with anyone around but Nina is a student. Didn’t you forget?”
I blink. “What on earth are you talking about? I’m sure that compliments aren’t just flirting. For all you know, I’m just boosting her confidence.”
“But it’s you, Luca. You aren’t aware of it or maybe you do, but you flirt with just anyone. Even a dog gets swooned by you.”
I get Yu’s point but I couldn’t help but ask, “And your point being?”
“Don’t flirt with a barely legal adult let alone your future stepsister. Nina might take it the wrong way.”
“Are you sure about that?” I smile, confidently. As I continue to watch the hairdresser zip a lot of her hair. “Nina is perceptive. She isn’t the type to jump to conclusions.”
Plus she said so herself. She doesn’t understand true beauty and with men around her, she doesn’t have a slight attraction towards them. She is probably a late bloomer, I believe.
The reason why she doesn’t really care about romantic relationships like most teenagers does astound me.
“Besides,” I add, shaking my head. “I have my own principles, Yu.” Like being attracted to your future step-sister is “morally” wrong. “You know my tastes happen to be with older women and well…Nina is just a kid in my eyes.”
“Well, I’m just warning ya, boss.”
Now, let’s change the topic. “By the way, I was wondering why Heather disappeared during your birthday.”
Yu frowns. “Heather has some unfinished business with her former clients. It’s confidential but she will be returning in maybe a week or two.”
“Ah, I thought she was running away from me,” I chuckle.
“You think so?” Yu, who has always been so serious, couldn’t understand my humor sometimes.
“Work is more important to her. And I won’t take that away from her, of course.”
In fact, too much, I might add. Heather loves work more than sex itself. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Uhm, Luca, Yu?”
Ah, damn, we were so immersed with our talk that we didn’t watch the whole process with Nina’s first experience. I look up, my eyes widen at what I witness before me.
At that moment, I forgot that she’s just some eighteen-year-old kid…err…young adult.
I hum, standing up and touching the locks of her brown hair. I accidentally touched the skin of her neck while doing so.
“W-what do you think? It’s n-not too short, right?” Red-beet, brown eyes look up to me for approval, and her head lower as I lean closer. One thing that came to my mind when I first saw her.
“Sei bellissima donna," I whisper to avoid Yu from hearing it.
“W-what?”
I chuckle. “It means it looks good on you, Nina.”
Translation: You are beautiful.
