Chapter 44 Acting Strange
We went to our room but her gaze was affixed on the ground, distressing me to fathom what happened to her to be this detached.
When we were in our room, my fingers trailed on the side of her face smoothly, turning her to face me with a softened gaze.
“Hey, are you alright? Did something happen?”
“I did not feel safe with your mother,” She whispered.
I get it, my mother might come off as a strict woman but she told me everything. She did everything to help but Alyssa refused.
She wasn’t the best with my mother either but I was not complaining too, was I?
Forcing a feeble smile, I held her chin with one hand while holding her shoulder with the other in order to reduce her sorrow.
“Alyssa, I left you in her care. She informed me about you every second, I know it was hard for you but she did her best,”
She muttered, “I am your responsibility, not anyone else’s,”
“Yes, yes, I know, Ma’am,” Sighing, I ruffled her hair, pulling away from her to dismiss this matter.
“Now, please wipe this gloom from your face. For me, please?”
She stared at me for the next few seconds before forming a feeble smile to which I smiled back.
“That’s what I want to see,”
Later, I freshened up. Alyssa was sitting on the edge of the bed, seemingly waiting for me with a glimmer in her eyes.
A smile adorned her lips when I gestured her to follow me.
“What is it?”
“I got some gifts for you. I hope you will like them,” Speaking sheepishly, I opened her suitcase as we both sat on the couch and I picked the phone.
“Since you broke yours. I got this one and it’s durable. I won’t break this easily,” I joked.
Her smile faded, maybe she got offended. I prayed she won’t get angry but thankfully fading her two-second anger, she shook her head and accepted her gift.
“Thank you, Vince,”
“Great, uh…” I cleared my throat, “And this perfume,”
“Oh, I love it,” Her eyes started to twinkle, boosting my confidence too as I showed her one gift after another.
“Is it still going? Did you really get me 14 gifts?” She asked playfully when she had no space to place her gift.
“Obviously, this whole suitcase is yours,”
“Oh, Vince,” She giggled, poking my cheek which induced a bubbly sensation accompanied by a satisfactory shiver.
Chuckling faintly, I scratched the back of my neck nervously when we were done.
“I will set these things first. Are you hungry? Do you want dinner or would you like some coffee?”
“For now, I will rest and watch you set these things,” I smirked, laying on the couch which she quickly cleared up for me to relax.
“Oh, okay,” Nodding sheepishly, she gave her phone to me to set it up first.
“Grab my sim from your mother and backup my data,”
“Okay, okay,”
Watching from the corner of my eyes, my lips curled into a contented smile when she was applying the perfume I gifted and wore the diamond pendant I bought.
My heart skipped a beat when her fingers traced over her collarbones, admiring the jewelry, evoking a thrill I never experienced before.
“Alyssa,” I unknowingly called but now had no idea what to speak.
“Hmm?”
Think, Vince, think of a topic-
“Now that I am back, you should go back to work, okay?” I cursed myself for sparking the conversation with this one.
“Oh, okay,” Thankfully she was relieved and grinned at me as if she was excited to hear that.
If she wanted to go to work then why avoid it in the first place?
“Wow, you look excited,”
“Because I am,” She beamed.
“If you wanted to work too then why didn't you go and work from home?” I asked casually but it wiped her smile.
Clutching the pendant, her gaze lowered with a glimpse of dejection, bewildering me what made her lock herself in her room.
“Because-”
Before we could continue the talk, the door knocked, getting our attention.
“Vince,”
“Come in, Mama,”
I sat up straight when the door pushed open and it was Mama holding a tray of tea with some chocolate chip cookies, bringing instant glee on my face.
I loved junk food. Especially snacks, cookies, chips, anything would do.
“I hope I am not disturbing you kid. I got this for you since you returned from your flight.” Flashing a mellow smile, she placed the tray on the table.
“Thank you, Mama, but you didn’t have to do it. Should have sent someone,” I murmured, holding her hand to kiss her knuckles for being so sweet and caring so much for us.
“Anything for my son. Alyssa, dear, I bought some for you too. Have some.” She called but Alyssa held a frown on her face.
Arching an eyebrow with discontent, I did not like her expression.
She looked bothered, displeased with her while Mama was simply smiling and being kind. It was wrong. She shouldn’t.
“See? You didn’t have to suffer alone. We are a family now. You should have told my mother exactly what you needed.”
Still trying to be optimistic, I forced a smile.
“Exactly. I will always be there for Alyssa,”
Nonetheless, folding her arms at her chest, she simply rolled her eyes with rude response, “I... am not hungry,”
It was not pleasing at all.
Okay, I get it she was missing me but to be like this was wrong, especially when my mother was trying to cheer her up.
“Come on, child, I made this with my heart. Have some, please,”
Hoping she might not break her heart, I extended my hand out to her, gesturing to her to come closer.
“Yeah, sit with me, Alyssa. Have some,”
Her lips parted to decline but forming her lips in a thin line, she exhaled and followed me thankfully, sitting next to me.
“Here, won’t you eat one from my hands?” I asked softly, tugging her hair behind her ear, offering her a cookie.
Lowering her eyes shyly, she nodded, opening her mouth and taking a bite that relieved Mama.
“You kids relax. I will prepare dinner until then, okay?” She grinned.
“Sure, Mama,” I also grinned back as she left.
Of all things, I was relieved that I left Alyssa in good hands but I wonder what was her ordeal to be this enraged with her?