Whisper Destiny

Chapter 6

~ Natasha ~

For the past few days, I've been keeping myself busy partying every night. By the day, I wander aimlessly through the area, capturing moments with my camera - which my absolute favourite thing to do. I can lose in my own world when I'm behind the lens, and Chase is always tagging along keep me entertained.

Since that morning, Cate has been conspicuously absent from the house, which I'm grateful for.

My parents also preoccupied with the party planning, and honestly, I have zero interest to get involved.

Today is Christmas eve. We have this family tradition; an early dinner plan, then board games, and sapphic romantic Christmas movie. Yes, we're the wealthy Graysons, but my parents especially my father believe these simple activities strenghthen our family bonds.

But, I've been distant since I turned fifteen. I've skipped out on them so many times, sneaking out to do who-knows-what. Even though, my parents will grounded me until New Year, but I'd just do it again.

This year, I planned to sneak out with Chase. But he's prefer to stay in. It's freezing outside, and all the pubs are closed. But, honestly, I think he just wants to stay close to Cate and stare at her all night.

So here I am, sitting at the dining table like a dutiful child, having Christmas dinner with my family. Surprisingly, the vibe's pretty nice, and my mom cooked everything herself. She gave the staff the day off to celebrate with their families and loves one. I hadn't noticed when this tradition started.

I'm curious about Cate's absence but don't really want to ask.

I enjoyed myself as the night went on, feeling a rare warmth and connection with my mom and dad. We bantered and laughed over the board games, Dad and I teaming up against Mom and Chase. The chaos was invigorating, and I love every moment.

Watching my parents, still so affectionate with each other after 30 years of marriage, stirred deep longing within me. I yearned for that kind of affection and love with Nick and I hope it will come true soon.

However, I couldn't ignore the undercurrent of sadness that Cate's absence brought to my parents. I felt a twinge of guilt but brushed it off, focusing instead on the present moment.

As midnight approached, the room was filled with a pleasant haze of tipsiness. Chase, ever the life of the party, had drunk himself into a stupor and lay collapsed on the couch, snoring softly.

******

I woke up the next morning to the sound of my mom's voice, gently coaxing me out of sleep.

"It's Christmas day, darling. Let's get up" she called cheerfully.

I took a moment to gather my thoughts before heading to the bathroom to get ready. Despite my stubbornness and occasional bouts of craziness, I'm actually a morning person. I love the tranquility of the early hours; the quietness calms and fulfills me. So, usually, I have no trouble waking up in the morning. Surprising, right? I'm a Pandora's box full of surprises.

When I stumbled into the living room, I saw Chase emerging from his slumber, looking like he'd tangled with a tornado. Grinning mischievously, I grabbed a small pillow from the couch and lobbed it at him. His groggy eyes shot open, and he muttered a curse under his breath.

I couldn't help but laugh at his misery.

The mouthwatering scent of my mom's famous cookies and cinnamon rolls drifted through the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

"Get up already, Chase. It's Christmas, and I want my present from you," I commanded with a grin, before heading to the kitchen.

There, I found my mom and dad engrossed in conversation, their hands wrapped around mugs of what I guessed was eggnog. Cate stood nearby, watching them with a small smile playing on her lips.

To my surprise, this view felt strangely fulfilling. Perhaps it was last night's events that had softened her feelings towards Cate, or maybe she has become mature, helping her handle her emotions with a bit more grace.

But obviously, I wouldn't let it show on my face. I maintained my hard demeanor as I greeted my parents, and, as always, I ignored Cate's existence.

"Ouch..." I yelped, quickly blowing my hand. I hadn't reliazed the cookies were still hot.

My mom hurried over, concerned all over her face as she examined my fingers. "I just took the cookies out of the oven, pumpkin-pie" my mom said in a soothing tone.

From the corner of my eye, I saw my dad chuckle. Cate, however, maintained her perfect poker face, though I caught a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"My pumpkin-pie never grows up. You've been doing the same thing since you were a kid," my father said, ruffling my hair before checking my fingers himself. He then planted a kiss on my forehead. "Merry Christmas, darling."

Mom carried the cookies and cinnamon rolls to the family room, where presents nestled beneath the Christmas tree. Dad started making his signature hot chocolate, filling the house with its rich, comforting aroma. We settled into the cozy room, exchanging Christmas gifts.

"It would be a perfect Christmas week if Cate weren't here," I thought in my head. But the sight of my parents' happiness makes me let my selfishness go.

My mom handed me a beautiful necklace with a emerald triangle gemstone. She fastened it around my neck, beaming. "I knew it would look good on you. See how the color complements your eyes?" She kissed my cheek, and everyone else agreed. I loved the necklace instantly.

My dad's gift was a set of the latest Apple devices—an iPhone, MacBook, and iPad—each customized to my style. They were one-of-a-kind, just for me.

I joked, "Do you want me to start working with you now, or what, Dad?"

He laughed heartily. "I can't wait for you to join me, my dear daughter."

In return, I gave my parents a trip to Bali after the New Year, knowing how much they loved to travel. They hugged me tightly, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

I handed Chase a small mug that read, "My bestie is gay." He laughed and loved it. He gave me a t-shirt that said, "The craziest person walking on the planet is my bestie." We burst into laughter at our silliness.

Chase also had gifts for my parents, which we've picked out together a few days earlier in the city.

My parents gave Cate a bracelet and watch set, each uniquely customized to complement the other. They were one-of-a-kind, just like the pieces they had given me. Cate, in turn, presented my parents a pair of shoes that she personally designed for them, crafted to their tastes. My mom was ecstatic. "I can't wait to show these off to my friends," she exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

Cate also gifted Chase a pair of customized shoes. He was over the moon, his eyes welling up with emotion. "These are amazing, I also can't wait to show-off to my friends," he whispered, looking like he might cry.

I hadn't prepared anything for Cate, for obvious reasons. But Cate did have a gift for me. I'm not making an effort to take the gift from her. Chase just grabbed the gift and placed it on my lap.

"Open it, we want to see!" Chase said excitedly. I sighed, knowing it would likely something similar to what she gave my parents and Chase, a pair of shoes which I planned to throw it away. But when I tore off the wrapping, I gasped. It was a camera—a limited edition Leica prototype, designed by Jony Ive and Marc Newson.

Surprised was an understatement. A flood of questions swirled in my mind. Why would she give me something so valuable? How did she know I love taking photos?

Cate cleared her throat, pulling me back to reality. I looked at her, trying to telepath all my questions.

"I hope you like it, Natasha," she said calmly. "And I believe this is something you wouldn't throw away." Like she knows what's on my mind.

For the first time in my life, I was at a loss for words to retort back to her.

"That's very thoughtful of you, Catherine," my mom commented, with a glint of something in her eyes that I couldn't quite decipher. Everyone else agreed, murmuring their approval.

I despised Cate; that was obvious. But I wasn't stupid enough to throw away a Jony Ive and Marc Newson-designed Leica prototype camera. This was an incredibly rare item. I wondered how Cate had managed to get it. Her connections must be impeccable.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I was too engrossed with my new camera to pay much attention to anything else.

Chase teased me relentlessly, saying, "Who's impressed with Cate now?" I ignored his comments, but a small part of me couldn't shake the unsettling feeling that came with Cate's unexpected gesture. What was her game? But I decided to ignore it for now.