Frost and Fire (+18) ✔️

11 | issues

Knox and Reece didn't ask me to explain. They just behaved as if nothing happened, and were their usual self around me. Levi, on the other hand, wasn't himself. He avoided meeting my eyes and was as far away as he could from me. Then when it was time to go home, he just said that Reece will drop me at my house and that he had to do something.

When I got in the penthouse, my mother was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Tony. Much to my surprise, my father lounged on the couch with his legs stretched in front of him resting on the table, with his laptop on his lap. Typing furiously.

Even being in his later forties, he looked as handsome as ever. He was in shape due to his regular workout routine and healthy lifestyle. But right now, he looked tired. Exhausted. He worked too hard. And that drained him, not to mention my mother added to that exhaustion. The lines on his face were deeper, making him look older than he is.

"Hey, papa," I greeted him as I flopped down on the couch beside him and wrapped my hands around him. "I missed you,"

My father kissed my forehead, "Missed you too, my Starlight," before shutting his laptop and giving me his full attention. "How have you been?"

"Good." I said, "You know, you don't have to ask that every time we talk. I'm fine, Papa,"

He gave a look that said that no matter what, he's always going to worry about his daughter. I just gave him a smile and asked, "Are you staying?"

He nodded, "For a couple of days,"

I went still. "Is mom...?"

"No." He said, his jaw tightened as he looked away. Instead, put on a teasing smile on his face and said, "The house is pretty clean, considering that you and Tony occupy this,"

My heart broke for him. My father was one of the best people I've known, and seeing him like this was like a fucking blow to my heart. He always made sure I was happy and content and supported me no matter what. He doesn't deserve my mother. He deserves all the happiness in the world. And yet...

"Dad..." I groaned, "We don't like to live in garbage,"

"What? I'm just saying. I'm just surprised considering how lazy you are," He smiled

"I'm not lazy!" I exclaimed but then, "Okay, maybe a little bit," I smiled sheepishly. "Are you hungry?" I asked getting up and strolling towards the kitchen. "Because I am starving and I'm gonna make something,"

"Good to know that your eating habits haven't changed," He chuckled, "And no, I'm fine."

"More for me then," I said and got to my task.

My relationship with my father has always been like none other. If Tony was my best friend and Nisa was my guardian angel then my father was my anchor no matter what my mother did. Even after what happened, he was angry with me, yes but he didn't start resenting me as my mother did.

I was the kid who didn't excel in school. I was the kid who always got in trouble. I was the kid who lived under the spotlight of her twin. I was the kid who didn't receive the approval of her mother, her 'idol'.

Whenever my mom punished me for all the trouble I got into just to gain her attention, my dad stood back without saying anything to her. Not when she'd let me starve for a whole day, not when she spat at my face saying that I was useless, the worthless kid whom she regrets giving birth to.

He didn't say anything on her face or in front of her, but I would never forget when he'd sneak in some food in my room and would feed me himself. I would never forget that it was my father that held me when I cried my eyes out. I would never forget that until the day I left their house with Tony, he would give me a goodbye kiss before leaving for work, much to my mother's dismay.