until he left // luke hemmings

01 - White Lie

The Subaru entered a tall gate. Just like what I had expected, a garden took the greater part of the front yard because gardening is what most grandfathers do. There was a man-made pond made from granite stones and the water was coloured green which indicated that the water was deep. I also caught a glimpse of kois. It was beautiful.

The car moved in a circular motion around a marble fountain until it finally came to a stop. I couldn't help but admire the marble statue once I stepped out of the car. A beautiful Greek lady was holding a water jug with hands slightly raised in the same level as her waist. Clear water was coming out from the jug's opening and it fell gently towards the crystal pool creating a calming sound you always hear at breakfast when pouring coffee onto a cup.

I gaped at the beautiful house right after I averted my gaze from the Greek lady statue. The house almost intimidated me. The house looked more like an Italianate villa. The roof was coloured beige and the walls were cream-coloured that made the house looked regal. The tall windows had white curtains so the sunlight could still get in during the day.

Two of my grandfather's men who stayed after my grandfather left the Mrs. Fields café got out of the car and opened the trunk to bring out my baggage. I tried to help them in carrying my bags but they insisted that I should enter the house already. They sounded so strict that I had no choice but to follow what they said.

I walked along the stoned path to the main door which looked like it was made from a rare species of tree. I stabbed the doorbell and waited. I turned to my shoulder and saw that my things were already placed on the stoned path behind me and the Subaru was already moving in a circular motion around the fountain and went straight ahead. I followed the car's path and I heard a sound of an automatic gate opening. I saw the garage being opened.

No one arrived to open the door so I wandered my eyes while the Subaru is being parked beside a grey Mercedes. I was amazed when I saw that the garage was very spacious. The Subaru honestly looked like it was out of place because the other cars inside the garage are too fancy.

On the left side of the garage, the first slot was vacant which I assumed is where my grandfather's Audi is supposed to be parked when he's just staying at home. On the second and third slots were two cars: a white Maserati and a grey Mercedes. On the fourth slot beside the Mercedes was where the Subaru was being parked.

On the right side of the garage were another four slots. Three slots were occupied by three other luxury cars: a black Porsche Targa, a white Range Rover which I think is a Supercharge one, and a grey BMW convertible. The slot between the Rover and the Targa is vacant. I creased my forehead when I thought that those kinds of cars weren't really my grandfather's type because his Maserati, Audi, and Mercedes are more like the kind of cars that families use.

The three cars on the right side of the garage are more like the cars used by teenagers raised in a luxurious type of life and not by an old hotel king like my grandfather. I didn't want to assume but maybe... just maybe those cars were mine or maybe one of those cars is mine. I didn't really want to jump into conclusions but who wouldn't want a fancy car?

After a few moments of staring at the inside of the garage, I finally heard a door click. A cute curly-haired boy with chocolate eyes opened the door, a cheeky smile plastered on his face with matching deep dimples. I didn't realize sooner that I was smiling back at him. "Hello there, mate! Welcome to your new home!"

My smile slowly faded. "Hi. I'm Audrin Robinson." I told him, confused on why a boy is inside my grandfather's home. I partially expected a maid to open the door and not some cheeky person.

He opened the door wider and motioned me inside the house. He went outside to grab my baggage. Three housekeepers were already standing by the beautiful staircases as if they were waiting for orders from the boy. He asked the housekeepers kindly to bring my things upstairs. They nodded with a smile and grabbed my things.