Chapter 16: Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen.

She was glad to be back in her comfort zone. She took in the familiar colours and scent. She could not help but listen to the water running in the bathroom.

'Hey, my beautiful Nini.' Francis came out of the bathroom and walked towards her, a towel draped over his waist and down.

She rose lazily on the bed, and sat up, giving Francis a lazy grin.

'I missed you.' Francis said as he sat beside her and placed her head on his bare chest.

'I missed you more.'

She kissed his chest and closed her eyes sniffing the scent of his soap.

'I love you.' Jennifer whispered.

And when she did not hear an answer,

she raised her head to look at his face.

But it was Mark's.

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Jennifer rose from the bed, feeling a little sore. She squeezed her eyes shut and opened them again.

Once her eyes was clear, she scanned the room with her eyes.

She ran her hand through her hair, remembering the dream she had. She really missed home. She missed her dad and Francis. She wished she could contact Francis, she wanted out of the place she was.

She sighed deeply and shook her head when she remembered what had happened the day before.

The guy was a total bore.

No television and no internet!

What a life!

She sat at the edge of medium sized bed, placing her leg on the purple rug, she noticed he had a thing with purple colours.

She wondered what Mark was doing and immediately decided it was none of her business. He did seem like someone who didn't want anyone interfering in his business.

She stood up and studied the room. It had a very large touch of white and black.

The wardrobe in front of her was painted those colours, so was the leather on the stool next to it.

She looked at the drawer next to the bed which was thankfully not black and white because the room was starting to look weird  and studied intently the black and white framed picture of a young lady on it.

She wore a black coloured bob which complemented her large black coloured iris so well that she seemed to glow especially with her faintly exposed white teeth that had a lovely smile.

She looked very young, causing Jennifer to wonder how she was related to Mark.

Jennifer stood up, after realising she should not waste too much time brooding over pictures and black and white furniture.

She opened the wardrobe to check for any suitable, comfortable cloth.

She chose a purple, knee length, short- sleeved gown.

Looking at the cloth she had on since the day before, she decided to have a bath, a thorough one.

In twenty minutes, she was done, her hair having the vanilla scent, which strangely made her feel like she was home.

She walked out of the room and closed the door. Noticing about three doors opposite hers, all in fairly long distance from one another. It made her realise how big the bungalow was that she wondered if Mark was some rich dude.

Not that she's be surprised, he did exhibit traits of a snobbish rich personality.

She found her way to the sitting room and wondered where Mark was.

"Mark?"

"In the kitchen!"

She pouted, wondering what he could be cooking, since she could not smell anything.

She walked towards the door not too far from the entrance she came through earlier.

She entered the spacious kitchen which was thankfully not black or white and not purple, it was as a normal kitchen should be white with touches of brown of the cabinets and all.

She noticed Mark's figure in brown shorts and a singlet, bent over a plate of bacon and egg.

" Hey." She walked to him and sat on the stool next to him by the breakfast bar marbled by ash coloured tiles.

"I will get your breakfast." Mark stood up and walked towards the cooker.

Jennifer tapped her hands on her legs, wondering how to start a conversation with him.

He soon came back with her meal.

Her mouth watered at the sight. It then occurred to her that she hadn't had a decent meal for quite sometime.

She hurried in eating it, each chew satisfying her hunger.

"You had better take it easy."

Mark said, his voice sort of mocking her.

She rose her head to see Mark looking at her, a small smile on his face.

"Oh, I am taking it easy. I am actually hungry."

"You should be. I doubt if you ate anything yesterday." He said.

Jennifer was surprised he was actually conversing with her.

"Yeah."

She folded a  strand of bacon into her mouth.

"Hey," She said still chewing,

"There is this picture of a girl next to the bed, who is she?"

His smile quickly turned to a frown. He did not answer, he just held her gaze, as though he was deciding whether to tell her or not.

"My sister." He finally said.

"Oh. She is pretty. Where is she? College?" Jennifer asked further.

His eyes withdrew, and he shifted on the stool.

"She is dead." His voice was so low and dreadful at the same time.

Jennifer heart fell. She knew how it felt.

"It must have been painful, losing her."

He rose his head from his empty plate and his eyes immediately smiled at her, as if delighted she understood his feeling.

"Yes. Yes. It still is."

"I know."

He narrowed his eyes in question.

"My dad. I lost him recently."

She dropped her fork, having lost appetite and stared at her food.

She felt a large, rough hand on hers which was tapping the table. She looked up to a reassuring blue eyes.

She nodded slowly and withdrew her hand.

She gave him a huge grin and told him she wasn't eating anymore.

"I will just pack these," She proceeded to take thier plates.

"Just a minute. We need to talk."

She sat back, wondering what he had to say.

"Jennifer, what I am about to say is not meant to discomfort you, but it is for the best."

He crossed his arms over his chest.

"See, I have these few rules you have to follow as long as you are in this house."

She frowned.

"If you follow these rules..."

"Just go straight to the point"

His jaw clenched in obvious annoyance. It was fun to Jennifer how his face went from sad to delighted to angry.

"The first is to always stay where I ask you to stay. That can be the kitchen, sitting room and your room." Jennifer almost raised her brow in question.

"Second, no entering, any other room from the ones I mentioned earlier most importantly the room with the red door at extreme end of the room."

"B..." Jennifer started to protest.

"Sshh. Third, do not talk to anyone who comes to visit me. Don't even say hi. Except Dr Mike and the sergeant.

"Fourth, no talking to the neighbours. " He looked into her eyes which looked shocked to death.

"Any question?"

She blinked and sat very well.

"How...?"

"I didn't think so."

He stood up, taking his plate.

"I did not even ask anything."

She crossed her arms over her chest.

"Exactly." He walked away, Jennifer's eyes trailing him to the sink.

"Your rules are crazy. And dude, I am not an animal or a baby you can draw limits for."

He did not even look at her.

He walked out, Jennifer quickly went after him.

"You know, just watch me violate each of your dehumanising rules. I..."

"You dare not. Mark my word for that." He turned, his eyes narrowed.

She frowned.

"Well Mark, just watch me unmark your words."

She stumped her feet on the carpet.

He shook his head and walked away.

Jennifer ran her hand through her hair and sat on the nearest couch.

She just couldn't believe him. Rules?

Rules.

Who was he to set rules?

Well, he should watch her disobey his rules.

She thought, a smile on her face.