Chapter 7
I remained emotionless. "I didn't miss you."
Neron chuckled. "I expected that... By the way, why did you call me? What do you need this time?"
I took the marriage contract from my bag and showed it to him. "Take care of that. It's easy for you, right?"
I saw how Neron's expression changed at the sight. He looked at me and gave a slight smile. "You're really serious about that Caius Lettiere guy, huh."
I nodded. "I did everything just to have him sign that... so please, take care of it for me."
Neron sighed and licked his lower lip. "Okay. You really know I can't say no to you... You're taking advantage of that." He gave me a small smile.
I stared at him. If I hadn't fallen for Caius, I'd probably be obsessing over him now. I had a crush on him during my teenage years. Neron is kind and handsome; he never treated me like a weirdo. But I know he's just kind to everyone. That's probably why my feelings for him didn't deepen.
For now, I see him as a friend, as someone I can trust. He knows about my weird obsession with Caius Lettiere, but he never judged me. He even helps me with everything I need.
"Thank you, Neron. Go on, you can leave now. Papa might find out you met with me," I just said.
I was about to stand up, but I stopped when Neron held my hand. My forehead creased at him. He just made a sad face and slightly pouted his lips. He acts like a child sometimes.
"We haven't seen each other for a long time, and you're leaving immediately? Let's talk first," he added.
I just nodded. "I don't have anything exciting to tell you though." I shrugged.
"I think this is exciting enough," he said and pointed at the marriage contract. "Tell me about it," he said and stared at me.
He slightly moved closer to me and fixed my bangs. I just let him as he gently tucked my hair behind my ear. He often does that when I talk to him.
"I want to see your eyes as you talk..." he smiled, "go ahead."
I just nodded and told him everything that I did to make Caius sign the paper. Neron just laughed the whole time as if he didn't find it weird. I'm honestly starting to think that he's not sane too. No sane person would find what I did funny. He's probably crazy too. Maybe he's just hiding it... Well, I honestly don't mind.
"You're crazy," Neron said, still laughing.
I just nodded. "I was quite desperate."
Neron just fell silent, but he kept staring at me. "Why did you even fall for him that hard?" he asked.
I was silent for a moment before answering. "Hmm... I don't know. Ever since he bought a cake for me three years ago, it felt like we have a connection. He looked at me that night in a way that no one did. That night, it felt like someone cared for me... it felt like I was loved," I murmured. I stared at my phone. Caius's picture was the screen lock there.
"Why are you thinking that way? There are people who care for you," Neron murmured. "I'm here. I care for you. Isn't that obvious?"
I looked at him. I rarely smile, but I gave him a small smile and nodded. "Hmm... I can feel it. I care for you too... a little," I mumbled.
Neron chuckled and touched his nape. "Well, thanks for that."
I nodded. "If you need help, I'll try to help you too. Do you have someone that you like?" I asked him.
Neron flinched. He chuckled awkwardly and touched his nape. "I don't have time for that, to be honest."
"Your life is boring. You should stop serving my father and just be my slave instead," I said and shrugged.
Neron laughed. "What would you pay me?"
"My husband is rich," I mumbled.
"Too bad, your relationship with him is quite forced."
I rolled my eyes. "Why are you still working for Papa anyway? You're hella rich."
"I'm not rich. That's my parents' money," he defended.
"Your parents are dead. Their riches are yours now," I said as if it was nothing.
Neron just laughed at me. He's already used to my way of speaking anyway.
"The wealth you have can sustain you... It will surely last until your great-grandchildren," I added.
Neron smiled at me. "Well, I don't know. I also don't know why I don't want to leave my current job... But don't worry, I'll consider your offer... But I will only accept that once you're no longer obsessed with Caius Lettiere," he smiled at me.
My forehead creased. "Why?"
Neron smirked and touched his nape. "I can't be your slave if you have a husband..."
I sighed. "That's too bad... I will never let him go."
Neron chuckled. "That's too bad indeed."
I just drank my coffee. I stopped when I looked at the campus gate. My forehead creased when I saw Caius there... talking to Lynne. I gripped the cup I was holding tightly; it felt like it would break.
"Hey, is there something wrong?" Neron asked, worried.
Lynne entered the campus, leaving Caius behind. I froze when he looked in my direction. His forehead even creased when he saw me.
Neron also looked at what I was looking at. "Woah, is that your Caius Lettiere?" he asked.
"Yeah... He's my Caius," I just whispered while exchanging stares with Caius.
"That man is something, Luisa. I can feel it," Neron whispered.
My gaze shifted to him. My forehead creased. This is the first time that Neron saw Caius in person. Neron is quite good at judging characters and observing people. Often, he also knows what kind of person someone is... I don't know if it has something to do with him being a psych graduate.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
Neron's eyes narrowed while staring at Caius. "You've been stalking him for three years, right? Are you sure you didn't notice something off about him?" he asked.
"I don't get you at all, Neron," I just said.
Neron looked at me; his eyes were serious. "I'm sure he's not an ordinary person. The look in his eyes gave me the creeps... He's a dangerous man, Luisa."
"As I discussed, To Kill a Mockingbird depicts social issues that are still relevant today. It tackles discrimination, human rights issues, injustice, inequality, corruption, poverty, racism, and oppression. I want you to write an essay. Distinguish and elaborate on how the story relates to the present issues that we have now. Don't forget to cite evidence to support your essay."
I heard some of my classmates groan. I didn't give a fuck. I remained staring at Caius like he's a billion-dollar art. Honestly, I don't understand a shit in his lesson. I was just staring at him like an idiot the whole time. I don't even know what subject he's teaching; as far as I know, it's literature something.
Caius stroked his hair with his fingers. I heard some of my girl blockmates' gasp, and I literally wanted to pull their hair out of their heads. There are times that I hope Caius wasn't that handsome. I will still love him whatever he looks like anyway.
I bit the insides of my cheeks when Caius turned his gaze at me. I fought the urge to smile when our eyes met.
"Ms. Dominguez, are you listening?" he asked and put his hand in his pocket and stood there like a fucking model.
My classmates looked at me. I just blinked.
"Y-yes, Sir," I just answered.
Caius crossed his arms and looked intently at me. "Then, what did I just say? Care to explain?" he asked. The dominance in his voice made me quiver.
I gulped and awkwardly stood up. "Uhm. You want us to make an essay about uhm... that mockingbird thingy," I mumbled.
Caius' eyes narrowed. "You're obviously not listening, Ms. Dominguez."
"I was listening, Sir," I just said. I tried to restrain myself from smiling. I never usually listen to his lessons, but this is the first time he's asked me something like this in class.
"Then, who's the author of To Kill a Mockingbird?" he asked and stared straight into my eyes.
I cleared my throat and scratched my arm. "Uhm... J.K. Rowling?"
Almost everyone in class laughed. I just rolled my eyes and didn't give a shit. Only Caius was in my sight at this moment.
Caius sighed. "We're not talking about Harry Potter, Ms. Dominguez." He gritted his teeth.
Everyone laughed. I remained staring dreamily at Caius. I can't believe we're finally interacting in his class.
"Freak," my blockmate murmured.
I looked at her. I made sure my one eye was visible. I made sure I looked scary... and creepy. I widened my eyes at her while looking at her emotionlessly. "What did you just say?" I asked in my coldest voice.