Summer House

Chapter Four

❤︎

Chapter Four

"You! Get over here!" Kayla high-pitched voice sounded behind him.

Arthit had just finished sweeping the front of the house when he heard Kayla calling him and referring to him as "You." Pfft, rude. Well, this sounds like a nasty fight about to happen.

Turning around to the young woman, Arthit saw that she had changed into something more daring, to say the least. Dressed in a small tight t-shirt, Arthit could see the lining of Kayla's white push-up bra. She wore a pair of shorts that showed off her thinly shape legs. Pretty revealing, but Arthit wasn't one to judge. His own dressing style apparently got a lot of criticism as well.

"Is there a shop nearby?" Kayla asked him, tucking her short hair behind her ear.

"There's one in town. The town is a mile away," Arthit replied calmly.

"Good. Then let's go for a walk."

Arthit froze, immediately thinking about the town people and some of them he used to know. He couldn't risk the possibility of them seeing him. What would they think if they saw him? He couldn't be alive again. "I can't. I have to finish the chores around the house. Your brother will get angry if I don't get them done."

"My brother is busy with my other brother. I don't think he cares." Kayla sounded persistent as if she wanted to escape from...something.

"Then I should go ask him first," Arthit said, walking past Kayla who suddenly reached for his arm to hold him back.

Her nails dug through Arthit's arm. "You can't do that," she said with a threatening tone.

"Why shouldn't I?"

Kayla being childish, said, "Because I said so."

Arthit pulled away, "Sorry, I only take orders from your brother. He's the one paying me."

"Are you trying to tell me that you're against me?"

Is it so wrong to defy the great princess Kayla?  Arthit answered, "No."

Her eyes widened in defense, "My gosh, you're really rude."

Arthit never meant for it to come out, but it did anyway. "And you're spoiled."

Kayla stepped toward him, infuriated by his truthful yet insulting remark. "What?!"

Quickly covering his mouth in mock-surprise, Arthit spun around and took off on his feet, heading towards the back of the house to escape from Kayla's outburst. When he was out of Kayla's sight, he stopped to look through the window into the summer house. Kongpob and Chris were both standing side by side, their gazes locked onto him and their mouths were moving.

Are they talking about me? Arthit noticed how bothered Kongpob appeared. Chris was the opposite. He was smiling. Maybe even at him. Arthit felt like he wanted to disappear in front of their eyes. He shook his head. They couldn't be. He wasn't important.

Arthit forced a smile and gave them both a wave of his hand in acknowledgement. Then he turned his back on them and pretended to pay attention to the shrubs and plants that grew along the back of the house. Plucking a dead leaf from one of the plants, he examined it and said, "I could have taken better care of you. I'm sorry." He flattened the leaf against his palm and gave it a blow. The dead leaf went fluttering along with the breeze.

"YOU! YOU WITCH!!" Kayla shrieked, suddenly reappearing out of nowhere.

Arthit hadn't expected the twit to come after him. Feeling helpless, he ran again.

"Don't run! If you run, I'll break both of your legs!" Kayla screamed after him.

Arthit was running in circles and Kayla was chasing after him like a madwoman. He turned his head just enough to see that both brothers were still watching them and doing nothing. Finally having enough, he whispered a simple word. "Fall."

Kayla fell behind him, tripping over her own feet.

Arthit stopped to glance at the brothers and as expected, both of them quickly moved away from the window, rushing out the back door.

They were screaming Kayla's name while Arthit went ahead to help her, "Are you okay? I'm sorry."

Kayla pushed away from him, "It's all your fault!"

Kongpob and Chris arrived, blocking Kayla's hateful glare. Arthit stood up and brushed the leaves off his clothes, preparing himself for Kongpob's attack of fury.

Kongpob turned to regard him with a serious expression. "What's wrong with you?"

Arthit pointed at his own face, knowing he was going to be blamed for everything, "Me?"

"Who else?"

"Isn't that an odd question to ask me? Shouldn't you be asking me, 'What happened?' instead?" Arthit responded in annoyance.

"It's obvious what happened. He pushed me!" Kayla accused.