Heartbeat Song

Chapter 16

Anna

I was stunned.

"You...? Why are you here?" he then suddenly turns to me. His brows furrow and unfurrow.

Oh no, I don't know what to say in a situation like this. Caleb seems to have also swallowed his tongue.

"My son, ha-ha, come here." Melissa seems to be concealing something else from Matthew. Her laugh is nervous and rough.

"Don't mind her, she's just -"

"Anna?"

"Luke?" I whisper to myself. He's Luke. He is now out of the room door where he must have been brought a while ago. He looks much awake now. I guess the coffee has kicked in already.

"Luke?!" in an instant, it's as if Matthew's nose is flaring up. He's angry. And I'm angry also. As far as I know, he's a spoiled brat, a mama's boy who made Luke's sufferings.

"Matthew..." Luke speaks his name in an apologetic way, but why? Why does it seem that he's the one asking for forgiveness?

What is this?

And then his eyes swiftly turn towards me.

"Anna, you're still here." he says. I was stunned, two times.

"I- I-"

"Anna, thank you again, but I'm afraid I need to send you off now." Caleb snaps gently. Oh yes, I will actually volunteer for that, but good thing you insist.

"Yes, Sir." I quickly respond.

"Wait, you two know each other?" Matthew's eyes are all in me now.

"My son, it's not what you think, okay?" Melissa is trying to pacify him. But wait, why am I being involved now?

"Mom!" he shouts. A loud shout demanding for an explanation.

"My son, no. It's not what you think, let me explain, please..." Melissa is begging him now. Then she suddenly glares at me. Why? What for?

"Melissa, what about this now?" Caleb gets in, also unaware of what's happening now. Why am I being involved? I don't know what's a mess going on in this family.

"Both of you are together?" Matthew keeps on asking me. Why?! Oh gosh. I need to speak.

"Um... what's happening? I- I'm not -"

"Anna, please come with me for a while." Without me noticing, Luke is already beside me. He's now holding my hand. Oh gosh. Wait, my stuffs. We are now soon to pass Melissa and Matthew. But when we're about to pass,

"Luke! I won't forgive you." Matthew speaks, it was like a poisonous venom being spit out from a deadly snake. And I can see how conflicted Luke's face is.

"Melissa, now tell me what's going on -" Luke closes the door behind us.

And we both sigh.

We are in an awkward silence now. It's deafening and I need to break off the awkwardness. 

Think Anna. Think.

"So, Luke's the name." I say, forcing humor in my tone and in my eyes.

"Hm? Well yes, I'm Luke. Sorry for getting you caught by that awk -"

"It's okay! I- I'm not bothered at all." I'm actually affected, not bothered at all.

"You sure?" he asks, cocking an eyebrow at me. I, I was just wondering and curious about some things...