Tinkering Hearts

Chapter Twelve

Zaelia

"I think you're Zaelia? What were you doing there, sweety?"

"Yeah, I'm Zaelia Agenda. Pleased to meet you." I smile. "I was searching for Sicre's apartment, ma'am."

"Oh, those were our neighbors. The owners are out of town, you see, and it seems like their boys are having another party." Sicre's nanny makes a face. "And please call me Gina. Sicre's like a son to me and any of his friends are family," Gina smiles warmly. She drops the 'master' along with his name and says only Sicre.

Rich people things. We wouldn't understand.

"Level Sixteen."

OK. Must keep that in mind.

As soon as I step in, my breath hitches.

Caterall is standing there shirtless with nothing but his sweatpants on.

My head snaps to Gina before I gawk anymore at his toned skin that was sweat-covered and, by the look of it, rock-hard abs, below which was that kind of V line that was on perfect display.
So much for a guy who wears full-sleeved and baggy clothes ordinarily.

God, damn it. What did I get myself into?

On my left though, Gina doesn't even bat an eyelash. She had a funny scowl on her face. "And that's why you're still single dear," she sighs. A snort leaves my mouth.

"Oh, hi Gina. Hey, Zee. Make yourself at home," he smiles and I wave awkwardly. "G, how does that even make sense though?" Sicre gives an offended look to her, not getting the catch.

"You invite friends over and move around like that? That's an absolute—"

"You're too much from an old generation to understand girls nowadays, Gina." Sicre says boasting, and motioning his hand in the air, "Girls in school swarm over—" Gina throws a towel over his face, muffling what he was saying.

"Go take a shower. You stink."

I couldn't hold on any longer and fits of laughter escape me. "Both of you," he points at us with narrow eyes, "piss off."

He stomps mockingly into a room and we hear the door click. Gina and I start laughing again. She hands me a napkin to wipe my tears and I high-five her.

"Dear, I need to go run some errands," she says, apologetically. "Please wait in Sicre's room by the time I'm back. You might get yourself lost."

His room? I'm already worried about the idea of it.

"And if he asks for me, just let him know, I'll be back soon."

"Yes. Alright." I grin, "And thank you, Gina, for earlier."

She shoots me a wholesome smile, grabs her coat, and heads out.

Before I wander around more, I head into the same room Sicre went into, assuming that it's his.
As I step in, I'm filled with a comfortable and homely scent. I take in the environment. The room is larger than Zeke's and mine, both rooms combined.

It's slightly-dim lit with cream walls that has a huge picture frame of a family. The woman has her arms wrapped around the man beside her, grinning widely at the man. A girl with dark auburn hair held hands with a boy with warm brown eyes, both of them smiling cheekily.
Sicre's family.

I never knew he had a sister... and she looked familiar with a hint of Sicre's face in her.
I conclude that the picture must have been taken in winter as all of them were snuggled up in warm clothes.