The Hired Daughter

Chapter 11

It had been a month since the school had started and soon we’d have our prelims. And I think I was just doing fine, what surprised me when it came to our school activities and Cast always excel. Numbers, history or theory he was really good at all. I envied genius people, who were effortless in their studies, and Cast was one of them despite he did not look like one. Well, he was like he didn’t care at everything why it really surprised me. While I, on the other hand, had to boil down to tea all of my books just to get it into my head.

Why now, I felt ashamed of myself and shy to her. Coz Mom’s investing so much to someone like me, who was just an 'average student' when she’s got a son like a walking, talking and living Encyclopaedia.

Like right now, I could not help it but to stare at him, we were driving home after class. I just wondering what might be his possible weakness, as I found out earlier he tried out for football and he’s good at it. But then he chose basketball because of his friends.

He side glanced at me that made me blink my eyes but still were fixated to him.

"Why?"

"Nothing, just wondering.."

One more glance before I looked in front. Even in our school uniform, old navy blue and white long sleeves, he was still good looking. I tilted my head to the side, this is bad, I should not have looked at him that way. Having crush on him means..suicidal, I was more safe with Lee.

"Hey, Sheina."

I jumped from my seat, my eyes looked around and we’re already home. I opened my door and slid out, I should focus more with my academics than day dreaming. Our parents were still expecting me to have good grades and to not make myself fool in front of him, I had to study hard.

He was tailing me till we entered the mansion. Our parents were not yet at home. They were both at their offices, I figured, actually Mom was rarely gone to her foundation. She just had to work now since she was on a vacation for a month as she spent those days with me.

I changed my clothes, now it was more comfortable that I could wear some shorts, pants and tops, but then dress was never be out of my closet.

I was drifted to dream land the moment my back hit the mattress and stirred when I heard the annoying alarm of my phone, even it was hard to detach from my bed I had to. I was in dire of reviewing my notes later for our long quiz tomorrow and a short nap would do. I flattened my clothes before I decided to get down.

No one was there in the dining why I continued walking to the kitchen. And saw our helper busied cooking. As far as I could remember, we have three house helpers and two drivers here in the mansion.

"Hi, can I do something here?"

"Sheina, hmm.. I don’t think so, the last time you offered your help, we ended up making some salted dishes. But if you like you can watch." she glanced at me with a huge smile around her face.

I told them to call me in my name only, coz addressing me ‘senyorita’ sounded like too noble for title.

"I didn’t know why it did happen but I could really cook.. and I can do house chores also." as I used to do all the house chores to Barbara’s house.

"All right, I believed in you. But for now, let me do my work."

I pouted, surely she had not believing in me, obviously. From my peripheral vision I saw Cast entered and went to the fridge.

"Cast, can you take Sheina away from here. She seems bored and wants to help me here but I declined her politeness." I made face at what she said, this old helper was actually a bit close to Cast as she served the family for like years.

My eyes were following him and when he looked at me, I pouted more. "Let the old lady do her cooking, you can watch in the living if you’re bored."

"Go, sheina." she smiled at me again.

I left my chair and followed Cast to the living. What to do then, watching Netflix? I would rather watch in my room than there.

Before I could make a sit, Cast spoke. "Do you want to look around?"

"Really? I’ll just change to.." my eyes travelled down to my clothes.

"Yeah, and you don’t have to change, I’ll just touring you outside the mansion."

"Hmm, okay." I then followed him.

We used the backdoor, and we passed their enchanting plants that some were blossoming. My eyes twinkled looking at the swimming pool, I had been seen it before I first time came here but never did I try to make a dip as I unfortunately did not know how to swim.

"You want to swim?" he stopped and looked at me.

"Huh? No! I don’t like." I chuckled and shook my head.

"Do you even know how to swim?" he arched his brow.

"No, I-I never tried." I looked down my flats.

"Oh, why not then take swimming.. I meant, you should have taken it this semester." he knitted his forehead. "But I can teach you.. if you want."

"Are you sure?" my eyes twinkled again, I really wanted to learn, hoped he was serious at his offer.

"Yes, even now, that’s if you want." he shrugged.

"Fine, next time.."

He nodded and continued his walking. We were a bit far from the mansion now.

"Where we heading?" I matched his pace.

"Tree house." he replied shortly.

I just shrugged and followed him silently. A smiled crept on my lips when I saw it from here, a mini house above this huge tree. It was looked preserved judging by its not faded paint and the lamp post outside.

Mostly the lamp posts were the ones lighting the entire place. He stopped in front of the huge tree and then he looked up.

"Can you climb?" he glanced at me.

"Yeah, I think so." smiling at him.

"Good. Start now."

Was he serious? I looked at him if he was. I sighed before I gripped to the railings. It was not that hard to climb why we did it on top in just a minute.

He lifted the pot and took some keys. He unlocked the door and his hand searched from its sides, the lights lit the tree house. My eyes wandered as we entered, this one was quite cute, with its complete package. There was sofa, bed, a mini table and a mini fridge.

"How about bathroom?" my brow shot up.

"The dark brown door." he pointed on the left side.

"Whoa! This place is a happy place, is this tree house, yours?" I giggled.

He suddenly became silent, his face was void of emotion, he then clenched his jaw. "No, it was, Venus’.." before his cold eyes bored mine.

I swallowed nervously. "I-I couldn’t remember.." I averted my gaze, the way he was looking at me, it’s like he knew my secret.

"I know.." he uttered before he sat down on the bed.

I cleared my throat and busied myself looking around. I stopped when my eyes landed to this frame, it was an old photo of a little girl who’s got honey eyes. It was Venus..

My breath laboured, yeah, at first glanced we had this resemblance but it was not enough to attest that we were look alike not could even pass as twin. Nothing more, nothing less. I cleared my throat again and went back to Cast.

"Let’s go back, Mommy might looking for us.."

He stood up and headed to the door. He checked first the door of the tree house before we took the ladder down.

When we get back to the mansion, our parents were already here.

"Where have you been?" Mom asked after I kissed her cheek.

"Tree house." Cast answered her.

Mom immediately changed her mood but she managed to smile. "Oh, yes, your father and I, built that tree house as a surprised present for you. Your brother led the caretaker to preserve your tree house."

"Yeah, it was still.. in good condition." smiling a little at her.

"Venus loved that tree house way back." Cast just shrugged.

"Uhm, dinner is ready." Mom uttered before she turned on her back.

I took a deep sigh, I wasn't comfortable with that topic. Cast and I followed her in the dining, we greeted Dad before we took our seats.

"How's school?" Dad started while looking at me.

"Just fine, prelim is waving."

"I heard from your Aunt, you were classmates with Bynery." Mommy.

"Yes, in two subjects."

Cast remained silent the entire dinner. Well, he was sometimes answering Dad, whenever the latter throwing him some question and that’s all. And Mom, she was not looked bothered now, when earlier she looked agitated when she learnt that we visited the old tree house. I could see the sadness in her eyes right the moment she heard about it.

After dinner, I started my notes in Algebra. I had to study now to at least get a good mark on our quiz.

I repeatedly reading my notes and tried to memorize all about the possible Identification and Enumeration keys and per se.. now my biggest problem is solving.

I heard again this familiar knock on my door, I knew it was him coz he’s the only one who knocked on my door but never say a word. I opened my door and saw him, I just turned on my heel and continued my review.

He followed me here on my table and took my notes while I was playing with the scratch paper and pen on my hands. I just sighed and continued what I was doing before he disturbed me and yet I saw him in my peripheral vision, he walked to my vanity mirror and took my chair and rested it in front of me.

"You need help?" he was lazily looking at me with both of his hands were under his chin.

I stared at him before I sighed. "..Yeah, I think so. Well, I was just a bit confused with this one?"

"Let me see." he took my paper and read it, I rubbed my face, actually I was not good at numbers, why it confused the hell out of me more with a wrong computation from my notes.

"Hmm, I did have the right formula and computation but.." I trailed off.

"There. You forgot to change the right value why you got it wrong in your final computation." he pointed at my mistake.

I nodded and focused on his explanation. Oh well, I now understand this problem, much better. He helped me with other problem solving and gave me some tips and funny that I find it easier to understand his explanation than our professor.

I reread my notes from the start and when my eyes landed to the wall clock I almost shrieked. "Shocks! It was quarter to eleven now.. I’m so sorry, Cast.. it’s late.." I bit my lips while staring at my notes.

"I got to bed late.. no worry." he said cooly.

"I am so happy to have a brother like you.." I said merrily. "I got Dianne before but then she’s not that approachable why.." I pouted.. I remembered Dianne suddenly, she never helped me with my homework during high school. Even she was a year ahead nor helping me to review my notes.

"You think so?"

"Yes, not only think.. I can feel it.. I am beyond blessed to have you as my brother!" with a huge smirk on my face.

He stared at me for a moment. "You really want me to be your brother?"

I happily nodded and I might be happier if he would accept me as his sister. Coz it means, I could sleep at nights soundly, not thinking of anyone or him watching my back and just waiting for me to mess out.

He neared me and kissed me on my forehead. "Sleep now, we’re early tomorrow. Good night, Sheina."

He walked to my door. "Good night, Cast.." I whispered.