"This couldn't be happening, this couldn't be happening.." a voice kept repeating in Nichole's mind.
"Or am I wrong mum...?" smirked Lionel as he walked past her to where Dickson sat.
Nichole was so alarmed and felt like the whole world is coming down on her at the daggering eyes fixed on her.
Dickson raised a questionable eyebrow at his son as he sat beside him whiles Nichole still stood in silence thinking of an excuse to free herself but none seems to come.
Lionel noticed his father's gaze and glanced back at Nichole with a smile.
"Why looking so alarmed mum..? Didn't you tell me you were going to meet with some industrious men for the big project? You asked me to keep it from Dad since you wanted it to be a surprise on his birthday. Right?" He smirked.
Nichole suddenly felt relieved by Lionel's words.
"Um..yeah..yeah.." She stammered.
She gazed at Lionel who was smirking by now since she smelt something fishy from his sudden change of mind.
"What the hell is he up to now?" she thought to herself. "Have you guys had anything yet?"
"No.." answered Dickson.
"Alright, I will go change and fix something for us all."
"Okay.." He smiled, "I'm sorry about the surprise."
"It's nothing dear, I'll go change now." She turned to leave.
"I'm sorry for being a spoiler mum..." she heard Lionel shout over her shoulders. She paused for a few seconds, feeling pissed by his sudden arrogance.
"I just know how to handle brats like you." she glided upstairs.
Lionel glared at her as she walked away. "Just wait for it, Nichole"


***********
It has been weeks now since Lionel returned home. He had put down strategic measures to keep an eye on Nichole without her notice and everything seems to be on track but he can't continually be at home and forget his education. Especially with the calls coming in from the University and his Dad's continuous nagging.
He was deeply asleep when he heard a heavy knock on the door. It seems like the person has been knocking for quite some time now. He drowsily opened his eyes and sat and the bed.
"Lionel..?" a voice called from the door.
He shrugged up from the bed and glided to the door. He unlocked it and slowly pulled it open, rubbing his eyes only to see his dad at the door.
Dickson glanced at his son and titled his head.
"Still sleeping?"
"Hmm..." He nodded.
"Check your time Lio, it's already getting late for school. I wonder what has been keeping you at home, making you forget entirely about your education."
"I've got it Dad..., enough of the nagging. I'll go get dressed." He closed the door and sauntered into the washroom.
After some few minutes, he was all done. He took his bag which lay beside his bed, picked up his car keys from his study table, and dashed out of the door. He was about to descend the stairs when he remembered not to have locked his door.
"I almost forgot."
He went back and locked it. He got downstairs to meet his father in the hall.
"I'm leaving Dad.."
"Sure son..., what about breakfast? Your mother prepared you one."
Lionel glanced at the dining table which had his breakfast sitting gently on it and winced.
"I think I will skip. I'm already running late. Help me inform her that I'm leaving."
"Okay son, have a good day."
"Okay Dad..., you too." He said with a smile and rushed out of the house.
He walked over to his car and took his seat behind the wheels. He tossed his bag on the seat beside him and composed himself well.
Nichole stood starring at him through the window in her bedroom as he drove off.
"I thought you were never going to leave this building," she smirked. "What do I do with you, Lio..?"
She was deeply in thought and didn't even notice when her husband walked in.
Dickson glanced quizzically at her for some seconds.
"What are you doing over there Nichole?"
She got startled and swiftly turned to face him.
"Have you been here for long?"
"Well, I've been here for a while now. What are you in deep thoughts about?"
"It's nothing" she smiled.
"Sure..?"
"Yeah, I'm okay."
"Okay, then. I'm leaving for work."
"Sure, let me help you get your things."
She rushed over to the drawer beside the bed and picked up Dickson's suitcase which lay beside it. She was about to hand it over to them when she remembered the files in the drawer.
"Oh, the files."
She went back and took them.
"Here you are." she handed the suitcase over to him. "Let me help you with the files."
Dickson glanced quizzically at her since it was unusual of her but didn't say anything.
"Okay..." he shrugged.
"Alright, let's go." she strolled out of the door, taking the lead.
Dickson stared in awe, "This is weird." he said but followed anyway.
When they got to the car, Dickson sat in and placed the suitcase on the bag seat.
"Here you are," said Nichole as she handed over the files to him. He took them placed them on the seat beside him. Dickson didn't understand Nichole's sudden behaviors so he glanced at her once again.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah..., I'm perfectly fine."
He stared skeptically at her for a few seconds and nodded.
"Okay, I'm going then."
"Alright, have a nice day."
"Thanks, dear, you too." He shut the door and bed off.
Nichole stared at the car as it disappeared through the gates and sighed.
"You should be more careful Nichole. You can't afford to be reckless at this moment," she whispered to herself and strolled back into the house.


***********

Riley was getting dressed when she heard a car pull up in front of the house. She strolled to the window, pulled the curtains aside to see who it was. Just then, her mother shouted from downstairs.
"Riley..., Lionel is here."
She winced and walked over to her bed, gathering her things.
"Coming mum..."
She looked over the room and when satisfied with its cleanliness he dashed out.
She got to the living room to meet Lionel sitting with Lian and Rosita.
She rushed to the kitchen for a bottle of milk. After a few seconds, she returned to the living room.
"Let's go."
Lionel nodded, "Okay Aunt.., we will be living now."
Rosita brushed her hand into Lionel's hair with a bright smile on her face. "Okay dear, take care of yourselves."
"Alright Aunt..." He stood up. "See you later Uncle.."
"Sure, you guys should take care of yourselves. Help me send my regards to Kate and the rest."
"Okay.." They answered in unison and sauntered out of the house. They glided into the car and drove off.

RILEY'S UNIVERSITY
Kate, Loretta, and Nancy were happy to see both Lionel and Riley in school once again since they hardly see her at home because of the goons who have been spying on them for quite some time now.
They walked over to her, pulling her into a hug.
"We missed you so much Riley," said Loretta.
"I missed you, girls, too. How have you been?"
Lionel looked on with a smile as they got together for a while. They were still chatting and giggling when Kate turned her gaze to where Lionel stood.
"Oh Lio..." she smiled at him as if she had ad had suddenly just seen him.
"Hi, Kate..."
Loretta and Nancy also glanced at him with a smile. "We're sorry for ignoring you earlier on Lio.." said Loretta.
"No problem, girls." He placed a hand over Riley's shoulder. "I will see you, girls, later."
Riley smiled with a nod. "Sure.."
He patted Riley's shoulder and smiled at the other girls before leaving.
Arriving.....
The bell went off.
Loretta gasped,
"Oh mine, let's get going."
They nodded and strolled off towards their lecture halls.
"What course do you have this morning?" questioned Kate as they glided the corridor to their classrooms.
The rest of the day and lecture hours continued peacefully with no unusual. Soon, it was closing. Riley was packing her books into her locker when Kate walked over to her, rounding her arm around her neck.
"Let's go together, ugh..?"
Riley glanced thoughtfully at her for a while and nodded. "Okay." she closed her locker as Kate let go of her neck and she turned to face her "But you have to help me convince Lionel to go home alone."
Kate nodded hastily with a smile, "Sure, let's go." she pulled her by the hand and they strolled away chatting and giggling.
Riley and Kate sauntered out to meet Loretta, Nancy, and Lionel waiting for them.
Loretta glanced at them and sighed, "What kept you guys?"
"Sorry..., Riley needed to return her books to her locker so I went with her," said Kate as she robbed Loretta's arms with a babyish smile on her face.
"Okay, okay, enough already. Stop acting all cute with me."
Kate winked at her and smiled. "Um. Li o?" she turned to him. "Would you mind going home alone?"
Lionel glanced quizzically at her, "Why?"
"Well...the thing is, we want to go home together with Riley. It's been a while since we had some girly fun."
"But I don't mind you girls joining us."
"Um...Lio," uttered Riley, chipping in. "Can you let me go with them? I promise to be extra vigilant. I cross my heart." she made a sign of a cross on her chest.
Lionel stared thoughtfully at her for some few seconds and nodded, "Alright. You girls should take care then. I'm leaving and don't forget to call me if you sense anything unusual."
They all nodded in unison. "Alright." they chorused. They stared at him as he sauntered over to his car and drove off.
Riley glanced back at her friends with a smile.
"Okay, let's go."
They nodded and glided out of the school, chatting and giggling since it has been a while they had time like this.