HOME SWEET HOME-E

`Hadwin, I'm about to drop her at her place. Don't ask anything with your mouth or your eyes. Do you understand?' Ace turned to look at Hadwin when he neared the Route 3 bus stop.

`Uh-huh. Why?' Hadwin looked outside and saw the familiar road where he knocked on his sister's car.

`If you open your mouth, and if she gets upset, we are both losing her', he whispered angrily at him.

`Okay, I will pretend to sleep ok', Hadwin took a tissue paper, covered his face and closed his eyes, using his hands as pillows. This should do.

Ace parked the car away from the bus stop and looked at his watch, at 4.10 pm. He gently nudged her and called her name.

Astrid woke up and rubbed her eyes. She looked outside the car and realized where they were. She turned behind her to see Hadwin asleep. She looked at Ace and raised her eyebrow. Ace placed and index finger on his lips and shushed her.

Next thing, she knew both stared at the car bonnet and Astrid was flabbergasted. There were too many bags a person can carry. Plus she didn't want her grandfather to ask her too many questions.

`Ace, how am I going to bring this to my house? My grandfather will not be pleased to look at all these clothes. You compensated way too much'.

`I don't know', Ace rubbed his temples.

He thought for a while and then told her to take whatever she needed, and he will keep the remaining for her at his house. Astrid picked the Versace shoes, Dr Martens shoes, her Billabong swimsuit, Zara dress, and a Hermes monochrome mosaic dress.

`Do you want me to help you carry the rest to your place?' he questioned.

`Next time perhaps. I mean next weekend we are meeting up, right?' Astrid's hands were full already.

`Looking forward to seeing you, Astrid. May I?' he bends his head down next to her cheek and kissed it, lightly brushing his diamond stud on her jawline. Her cheeks turned to a raging blush. Before she could reply, Ace kissed her other cheek holding her chin in place.

`You always kiss my cheeks before I reply', she manages to mumble under her breath, and he heard her.

`You can be too slow sometimes'; Ace patted her head. She laughed softly and fidget with her shoes. She was forming words in her mind to thank both.

`Ace, all these clothes and stuff. I can't thank you both enough', she looked into his eyes and genuinely felt gratitude that someone actually took an interest in her besides grandfather.

`You saved Hadwin's life. This is the least I can do, I mean both me and my brother. At least think of it as a token of our friendship', Ace raised an eyebrow.

`But these clothes cost like a fortune. I rarely go for outing or…'

`You will after this'. Ace smirked at her and started moving towards the car and waved goodbye to her before sitting in his car. Hadwin who pretended to sleep sat straight and rolled the car window down.

`Goodbye, Astrid. Don't forget, next Saturday. You agreed!' Hadwin shouted as the car rolled away. He blew flying kissed to her and Astrid smiled back at him.

She waited for their car to disappear before she set foot into Mellow Forest and vanish from sight. As she walked towards her house, she wondered what he meant by his ambiguous answer. She noticed the forest to be windy, a cool breeze at that.

Tree branches were swaying in rhythm to the gentle wind, dried leaves scattered around her like confetti. The fresh smell of the forest trees sprouting new life, earth bathed in moist, and the puff of cool wind released her mind of stress knots and calmed her. She inhaled deeply and exhaled in peace. She saw a squirrel scamper around looking for food.

Astrid reached her front door and saw an extra pair of shoes that looked like a loincloth tired to a piece of rubber. She frowned, wondering who the guest could be?

`Pop?' Her eyes scanned the rooms and saw no one around besides her grandfather.

`Astrid dear, come on in. Did you finish work early'? Grandpa Jones was sitting on the floor mat with several heavy looking hardcover books.

`It is my off day today.' Astrid removed her shoes and walked in slowly.

He eyed her hands and asked her `Where did you get those?'

`From the Wagner brothers?', she hugged him and sat next to him, looking at the books in hand.

`Explain', he spoke without a smile and Astrid got nervous.

So Astrid explained, that Ace Wagner found her at Route 7 bus stop, took her to her working place, she went for dinner, Hadwin spilt the wine, she went clubbing…

`You went clubbing with your workmates?' Grandpa Jones asked. `Something happened?', he was looking at her intendedly.

`Yes, but it wasn't a pleasant experience. I think I drank too much and got cornered. But, both the Wagner brothers saved me….I think I'm even now. I'm sorry'. She looked down and played with her fingers.

`How did they know your whereabouts?' Grandpa Jones wondered if the Wagner's were trailing her. Grandpa Jones comforted her hands.

`I think I must have drunk called them? '

`Continue', Grandpa Jones heaved a sigh.

`So I ended up at their house for Sunday night and they bought me shopping today. '

Grandpa Jones cleared his thought wondering what else she was up to, but his thoughts were cut short when Astrid said `Shopping as a replacement for the spoilt dress. But there is more, I couldn't carry it, so I left it with them. Oh, and they invited me next Saturday for a dirt bike ride and swimming!' Astrid was beaming at the end of her conversation.

`Can I go?', her eyes full of hope.

`Mmmmm. I suppose', Grandpa Jones relaxed.

`Astrid, I think they both like you. As a friend I suppose?', Grandpa Jones looked at her to see her reaction and he noticed how her eyes sparkled when he mentioned them. She nodded. Grandpa Jones did not feel any threat coming from them, so he decided to leave that matter for now.

`So how was your trip? Did you find any exotic plants or herbs?', she queried.

`No, I have something I want to talk about. Have your shower. I will prepare a meal for you to eat.' Grandpa Jones kissed her forehead and slowly stood up to walk towards the kitchen.

`I had a Japanese meal today; pop and I am full. Warm milk will do!', Astrid left for her room and took a change of clothes.

Grandpa Jones remembered his guest was showering in the outhouse and he rushed out of the kitchen to call her.

`Astrid, Astrid!. Come back!'

She rushed to the outhouse and heard Grandpa Jones shouting something, but it was too late. She bumped her body against something hard and she scowled. She turned around and screamed her lungs out at the sight in front of a man in front of her!

`Who are you?', she pointed at him and gaped openly.

A well-toned man, approximately at the height of 6ft 3 inches stood with only a towel wrapped around his body. His dark brown skin, with droplets of water dripping catching the light, accentuated his refined pecs and abs. Every indention weathered with tiny scars and lines. His arms were muscular, and he had fine large hands. She observed his face, he had stubble along his jawline, a sharp jaw, chin, and high cheekbones. On either side of his straight nose were two warm grey eyes, with specks of dark grey near the pupil. His brows were furrowed in a frown. His hair was in jet black dreadlocks reaching his shoulder.

He looked like a well-seasoned warrior. And a very very good looking one at that!

Astrid edged around him, painfully aware of his existence, and observed his broad back adorned with tattoos of wind. Starting from the hips going upward, the wind coiled in a frenzy of designs and projection moving upwards towards his shoulder that ended at the base of his neck with a single feather, as if capturing the turmoil of the wind. Astrid blew a low whistle and fell a smack at her back.

`Awwww,'. She looked back at her grandfather and glared at him.

`Have some respect. Apologies, Enlil', Grandpa Jones bowed slightly, and Astrid followed suit.

`She is Astrid.' Grandpa Jones introduced her to him, and he nodded, staring intently at Astrid. Astrid smiled feebly and started backtracking towards the toilet.