Parrot (JaDine AU)

Chapter 5

Nadine's POV

I only realized that James is holding my hand when his gripped tighten as we entered the house. There were already so many guests and here we were looking a little worse for wear. So many eyes darted toward us as we made our way upstairs.

We stopped on the landing as we heard a man's voice. It came from one of our guest rooms. James froze and dropped my hand. I looked at him in confusion.

"Go change to your dress or whatever." He said monotonously.

I just stared at him, a little bewildered.

He sighed. "It's my dad. He's a little obsessive compulsive." He said nonchalantly. "I guess I pissed him off again."

"Oh." I just said.

"Just go. I'll meet you later." He said, as he turned to the room, opened the door and closed it behind him.

I hesitated in going. There was just something odd about James (not that I know him that well, but there was an obvious difference in his aura) since he heard his father's voice.

I took a step toward my room, but changed my mind, stopped and turned back to the door. I was curious and I felt a little guilty. It was my fault if we were late. Maybe I should go and explain...

I stepped towards the guest room and silently opened the door. But I immediately stopped as I watched, shocked and frozen, as a man -- James's dad, no doubt -- strike him across his face.

They didn't notice me. And I really couldn't move. I couldn't see James's face. He too, wasn't moving.

I realized there are other people in the room. There's a very beautiful woman standing just behind James's dad--James's mom. Loisa and Jerome are also there.

"You're irresponsible!" James's dad said. "You just won't stop disgracing me. I should have never agreed to you. You do not fit to be heir. Loisa is obviously the right choice, all along." He continued saying, looking at James menacingly. Still, James didn't move; not even a flinch.

I felt a little dizzy. I always complain about my dad, but he'd never hit me. He doesn't listen to me, but he'd never purposely say words to wound me. And all of this was just because James is late for a business party.

"I can talk to Lustre." His father muttered, looking like he's talking more to himself. "I can't have you ruin everything for the two of us. It doesn't matter which of his sons, Loisa is the better choice--"

James finally moved. I still couldn't see his face because his back was turned to me, but his voice sounded pleading, "Father, I apologized. Please--"

"I can't, Father." Loisa suddenly said. She spoke quietly, I almost didn't hear it.

Finally, I saw James's face as he turned to Loisa. He looked shocked and a little scared.

James's dad also turned to Loisa. "You can't?" He asked, raising a brow at his daughter.

"I..." Loisa was looking at the floor. "I can't do it, after all. I'm in love with someone." She said, bravely looking at her father.

"What?!" Their father's voice was loud.

He approached Loisa but before he could reach her, both James and Jerome covered her. Unconsciously, it seems, Loisa grasped Jerome's sleeves. And it was apparent her father realized who she was talking about.

"Please, father." James tried again. "I won't mess up again. Please let Loisa be."

James's father looked furious.