Hershey Kisses

Twenty-Fourth Kiss

I finished getting ready for the day and walked downstairs to the dining area for breakfast where I see Damien and Nathan eating quietly. Just a few moments ago, I made a scene in front of Rick and they're going on their life as if that incident never existed.

"Good morning." I broke the silence and sat myself on the chair.

"Maybe you should be my new alarm clock." Nathan mocked me. Must.... hold...... in....... temper.....

"I'm not a morning person..." I made an excuse.

"Yes you are." Damien denied my reasons.

"I wasn't feeling well...." I made another excuse and started eating my breakfast. Today's menu was sunny side eggs with toast and mixed fruits on the side. The more I enjoy this the more I pity Juliet giving all this up.

"Mom and dad wants us to eat with them for lunch, Nathan." Damien reminded him.

"At the usual?" he asked finishing his meal.

"Yeah. The usual." he sips his cup of coffee quietly.

"Will he come as well?" Nathan speculates. Damien hesitates awhile.

"He won't." was all he could say. Is that why Rick was here? To tell us he won't join our lunch with his family?

Nathan throws the silverware aggressively and storms out of the dining.

"Nath...." I tried to call out but Damien held my hand indicating me to stop.

"He misses his brother." he explains to me, "Let him take out his anger and he'll be back to normal."

"You guys have a weird way expressing what you feel..." I look at Damien.

"That's how brothers communicate." he chuckles as he finishes his meal. "Even though we act aggressive towards each other on the outside, we still care for each other on the inside. Don't you have siblings of your own, Juliet?"

I remembered that time when my brother raged at me when I couldn't explain my situation. Is that Rufus's way showing how much he cares about me?

"I don't have siblings.... remember?" I reminded him.

"Right.... sorry about that." Damien clapped his hands and stood up and kissed my forehead. "I'll wait for you when you're ready to head out." Leaving me alone in the dining room, I lost appetite to finish my meal.

My family was never called a family. We just share the same last name but we barely talk to each other.

Right.... I've only been here for a day but I can tell they rarely eat together each meal. Maybe meeting them for lunch might be their first time eating together as a family. I gobbled up my remaining food and ran out to the entrance where I see Damien waiting by the door.

"Ready to go, Juliet?" he takes out his arm. I grabbed and clutched his arm and nodded in agreement. We walked out together and got in the car allowing our driver to take us to the bakery. I can feel Damien clutching on my hand tight while I look out the window. We arrived in front of the bakery and saw the chefs working hard early in the morning. Damien observes them prepping the chocolates and custards as they all noticed us and stopped what they were doing.

"Head chef!!" they all greeted, "Good morning!"

"Continue your routine." he commands and they went back to work.

"Wow... I never knew behind the bakery they're so skilled." I complimented.

"We recruited the best chefs and they all look up to you." he smiles. I looked around and I could see their eyes sparkling when I notice them.