It never would have occurred to me that I could last in a house with five guys.
I couldn't keep a smile off my face when I looked at their picture hanging on the wall.
The day T. H. treated me rudely and the day I saw Latrelle in a cafeteria seemed like it happened just yesterday.
"Let's go, Kaoree!" Marcus yelled with a grin on his face as he held his luggage.
I'm not sure what is going on between him and Melissa right now. It's perplexing that he's here today when Melissa told me that I was the only one she had invited.
Wel, I have no ill will against Marcus for being here with us, but it just felt different.
"Did you say goodbye to Latrelle? he asked as I was slinging my bag over my shoulder.
He tucked his polo collar into his shirt and smoothed his hair with his fingertips.
"I'm sure he's still asleep. And don't worry about him, he'd be surprised to learn that I'm with you."
Wyn was already waiting for us when we arrived outside. He was cleaning the dust off the hood of his car. He was dressed casually in a green tee and basketball shorts. Even though he was only wearing flipflops, he managed to seem really attractive despite his simple attire.
"Let's go." Wyn helped me into the backseat by opening the door.
Marcus took a seat next to me and sat down comfortably. My brows wrinkled when I looked up and saw T. H. standing on the terrace. He was staring at Wyn's car.
"Are you two not going to talk to each other?" I remembered Jez asking me that question when he came to my room last night.
I attempted to speak with him a couple of times, but he remained in his room. Maybe he merely went outside to get some water one time, but he never even gave me a glance.
He completely ignored me.
My eyebrows sprang up when a woman in a spaghetti strap top and tattered shorts walked towards us. She was fiddling with her bucket hat while keeping her eyes on me.
"Hi! Kaoree. Isn't this a beautiful day?" Before getting out of the car, she cast a sidelong glance at Wyn.
The way she stared at my friend made me laugh out loud.
"Did that come as a surprise?" she asked, giggling.
"He's coming with us, oh, by the way... what's your name again?" She turned to face Marcus, who was walking towards Melissa.
"Marcus," he answered, extending his hands.
I wasn't surprised to see Vanna and Drinna struggling to catch their breath. Bullets of sweat were visible on their foreheads while they were clutching their luggage.
It was only a three-day trip. Why do these girls appear to have carried their entire home with them?
"Let's get going. Mama and Papa have already arrived at the vehicle." Melissa led the way to where the van was parked.
But before we followed her, I hugged Wyn and kissed him on the cheek before saying goodbye.
"Take care," he murmured softly.
Everything went smoothly, and we ultimately arrived at the airport, where we boarded a plane to the destination. Melissa was walking back and forth indicated that she was feeling anxious.
"Mama isn't here, Kaoree. I'm at a loss as to what to do." She can't maintain her position in her chair.
It was my first time taking part in this type of trip. Every time I return home to our province, I travel by ship rather than by plane.
"Everything will be fine. Take it easy, Kaoree." Sasha remarked while reading a magazine in a relaxed manner.
I had the feeling that I was in a hammock when the plane began to lift off. I've been feeling sleepy, yet I can't sleep. I'm obsessively worrying about what might happen on our flight.
Melissa leapt up and down with excitement as soon as we stepped off the plane. We were curious as to why she had done that.
"Guys, I can't believe it! Who would have thought that we'd be the only ones living in the house for three days?"
Her parents are only accompanying us to the airport because they have a business to run and can't be away for days at a time. I'd heard it was doing well, so they really need to be hands on if they want to keep it that way.
There is a good chance Melissa would study in the United States for her Master's Degree, she told me once.
Wow! I'm the only guy in this group of females." Following his realization, Marcus started playing his favorite simulation game.
"Why didn't you invite Latrelle? Or maybe the cute and softie guy you were with earlier?" Sasha mumbled as she applied bb cream on her face.
Vanna, who is sitting next to her squealed with delight.
"I'm intrigued, as well! Why didn't you bring him along with us?" Vanna's chocolate brown eyes glowed with joy. As if girls like her are Wyn's cup of tea.
"He's going on a trip of his own, he's actually inviting me to accompany him, but I've already said yes to Melissa's invitation," he added as he looked at someone. We followed his line of sight, only to be met by Melissa's bemused expression. She swallowed to alleviate the uneasiness.
"Anyway, let's get going!" She took my hand in hers as she proceeded towards a taxi that was waiting close.
She burst out laughing while she is reading her mother's SMS message. I took a glance at the phone to see what was funny.
Melissa, please take care. Always keep in mind what I told you earlier.
But I was well aware that my friend had other ideas. Her out-of-the-ordinary smile, which is carved on her face, confirms this.
"Welcome to our humble home!" she exclaimed ecstatically after a half-hour-long car excursion.
Thank God, we've finally arrived at their residence.
Even just looking at the front gate of their house reveals that it was a long-established residence. It was constructed of a thick and broad piece of wood. I could see a couple of mango trees in their back yard from where I was standing.
Everything was pitch black when we walked into the house.
"I'm sorry, guys! It was our family's ancestral home, so it's a little dark and creepy. Don't worry, there is no ghost in this house." Melissa apologized as she turned on the lights one by one.
My mouth dropped open when I saw the entire house. No matter how dimly the lights are turned on, this house still has an inviting feel about it. I took a good look at the vintage photo frames that adorned the walls of the room. These were exact replicas of the works of well-known artists.
"You can either share a room with another person or each have your own room. You have the last say. There's plenty of room here, so you can pick and choose anything you want."
I didn't pay much attention to what she was saying, and instead, I was scanning the house. It was just so beautiful. Even the stunning chandelier fit the overall mood of the property. I couldn't help but also notice the lacquer on the wood products utilized, which was clear to see as clean and well-thought-out.
"I'm sorry, I just realized. Our pantry is empty, so we'll need to head to the store for supplies."
She scratched her head in disbelief when she noticed the refrigerator was completely empty.
"That's alright with me. Vanna and I will be the ones to make the purchase." Drianne offered to help when she went to the room she had selected.
"Are you sure? Will you be able to find your way back home?"
"Ofcourse! I've lived here before, and I finished my senior year of high school here!" Drianne exclaimed with pride.
The sound of someone knocking on the front door almost caused us to jump from where we were standing. We exchanged glances.
Being the only one who didn't get shocked, Marcus was the one who went up to open it.
"Could be Melissa's aunt. Don't be —- " When he saw who was standing at the front door, he almost lost his grip on the phone he was holding.
"Yuan? What are you doing here?"
He is still the same Yuan that I remember. Something, particularly his hair, remained unchanged.
"That is a question that I should be asking. What are you doing here?"
The three girls behind me murmured and giggled.
"God! He's quite attractive! He seemed to have walked out of an anime straight away." Vanna let out a quiet squeal.
"I completely agree! Take a look at his skin tone. It appears to be as soft as a cloud and as white as snow. He's really handsome." Drianne giggled and flirtatiously covered his mouth with his hand.
"Shh! He's mine, ladies. Don't stare at him any longer." Sasha interrupted.
I didn't say anything, just grimaced.