Temptation

8

Abella flipped through every single page of my notebook to explore the nasty cartoons I sketched.

She let out a small laugh and then paused. She burst out laughing at my sketches.

What a fire alarm. Damn.

"Abella," I called out as I remembered why I called her.

She turned towards me.

"The reason why I called you here. I want you to take full responsibility of this house," I said with a serious expression, gripping both sides of her shoulder.

"What?" She gave a confused look, "I am just a guest. Besides, I'll take the responsibility? Of this entire house? What am I to yo--"

"Look Abella, it's not what you think. What I mean is, you'll take care of me and my father," I said.

"But why me? I am not for a job or anything?" she frowned.

"Because you're responsible, and I know that."

"So you called me here to take care of your family? And what about my family? Who's going to take care of them? And what makes you so convinced about the fact that I'm responsible? How far do you even know me, sir?" she asked with concern.

"They're going to be alright. Now if you plan to go back, I'm sure your mother won't like it. Will she? And do you want your mother to be upset? I think not," I explained. Sounded more like a condition.

She sighed, heavily breathing and shaking her head to her own thoughts.

"I should probably leave," Abella said as she rushed away from my side starting to exit the room.

"Abella, I don't have a mother," I yelled.

She stopped at my words.

"And I don't have a father," she replied, facing me gradually.

"But you're privileged enough to have another woman to take care of you. My dad and I haven't had this experience for years. That's what keeps this family under a mess even if it seems perfect from outside," my tone got serious as I continued to speak, "I just want you to help this family. That's it."

"Is that sort of an emotional blackmail?" She questioned.

"If you see it that way, I honestly can't do anything to change your perspective. But that is not what I intend to do," I said.

She remained silent.

"For how long do I have to go through all of this hassle?" she finally spoke.

I sighed.

"Not long, I hope. Just help us a little," I pleaded.

She looked up at me, making an eye contact. She didn't say anything, but disappointment was surely evident in those eyes.

"Take me on a tour around the house," she said as she faced outside the room.

"So, it's a yes?" I asked with a brightening tone in my voice.

She nodded.

"One more thing. I give you the freedom to access yourself with everything around, which I've never given to anyone before. So take it as an honour," I declared.

She seemed a bit down.

She followed me afterwards as I showed her the room she was going to stay in and introduced her to every other important places of the house.

"Yeah, that's it," I said as I flung my hands in the air when we were done moving around the house.

She nodded lightly.

"So what do I start with?" she asked.

"Me"