Chapter 17: Yes I do the reminiscing!

It was early in the morning and I already packed all my stuff and so did my brother. It's our last day here in our house but there's still a part of me that doesn't want to go. I zipped the suitcase with my clothes in it and I put it close to our door.

"Do you have anything else to do before we leave?" Lance asked me.

"Yeah, actually... I still need to have my transfer form be signed by our dean. I called the registrar and I was told the dean will be available by 10:00 AM."

"Well, we have until noon before we leave. Just get back here before lunch... Okay?" He said then walked towards his room.

"Sure."

I grabbed my bag and picked up the form on top of a drawer... Along with the form was the resignation letter that I wrote last night. I better take care of it first before I go to school.

I was on my way to the café feeling a bit worried. I wonder if Luke will be there. Last night was really unexpected. His eyes were telling me he's truly hurt and I know it's all because of me. It was not really my intention... I just thought it would end up easier but it ended the other way around.

I was at the door of the café and it seemed like the manager was not around yet. I looked through the glass door and I didn't see any sign of him. I pulled the letter out of my bag and slid it through the small opening. I love this place and I will miss it very much.

I was on my way to our school when I received a message from my brother asking me to get back now. Well, I still got time to have the form signed so I hurried back home.

I was walking our street when I saw a moving company truck parked in front of our house... Initially, I thought my brother hired them to help us move out but as I got closer... I realized they we're actually unloading stuff and bringing those inside our house. What's going on? Did someone already lease the house?

I excused myself through the company staff that kept on bringing things inside our house. I went inside to find my brother. I saw him in the living room talking to someone.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"Kris! Good thing you're here. A friend of yours wants to talk to you." He gestured to the guy in front of him.

The guy turned around and I was more than confused to see Luke.

"L-Luke... Why are you are?" I implored.

He stood up and walked towards me.

"I bought this house... I'll stay here now..." He declared openly.

I was totally stunned when I heard that. But why? What he is up to now? I saw him grinned and it instantly pissed me.

"Can't you wait until we leave before you bring in your stuff?" I condemned him.

"Who said you will leave? You'll stay here with me." He sounded so sure about it.

"What?"

"Your friend talked to me and he's willing to let you stay here..." Lance engaged himself to our conversation as he stood up.

"No... I'm coming with-" I tried to resist but Luke cut me off.

"Don't you get it? You told me last night you want to stay if you can... Now I'm giving you the chance!"

What was he talking about? Did he do this for me?

"But..." I uttered bewildered.

"Think of what you're going to miss here... Do you really want to go?" He asked me and it really hit me hard.

"I have to..." I opposed it.

"For the last time, Kris... Think of yourself... Your happiness... Listen to what your heart wants and not to what your mind is telling you... All you need to do is say 'yes'."

"So what it's gonna be, Kris?" Lance asked me. I can't believe how calm he was. I wonder what they talked about before I got here.

I am all confused with what's happening right now... But I thought of everyone, everything that I might leave here... And it really makes me sad... Luke is right here in front of me asking me to stay... I don't want to leave... I want to stay with him.

"Lance... I want to stay... I don't want to go."

"Then... It's settled... I'll explain it to mom when I get there."

-----

"And that's how we ended up being housemates now," I concluded after I told Jenna the whole story.

I withdrew the application for my transfer and the registrar didn't have a problem with that. I called Jenna last Friday night and she was very excited when she heard the news. I informed Niko and he was glad as well. I guess... I did the right decision to stay after all.

"Ow... Bes! That was really bold of him. He came to rescue you once again... He's really a prince charming willing to do anything for his princess... " Jenna implied with her usual fangirling manner.

"Not again, Jen!" I shook my head as I scratched on my temple.

"All I'm saying is... He's always there to help you... surprisingly... And I'm happy that he did."

"I'm happy too... But I didn't imagine it will turn out to this. Let me tell you." I leaned closer to her.

"Uh-huh, " she moved closer to listen.

"I'm grateful that Luke let me stay with him for free... But he set some house rules that don't really make sense. He wants me to prepare our breakfast every day. I can't go inside his room unless I'm cleaning it but he can get inside my room anytime... He got his own spare key to my room!"

"That ain't bad..." She said squinting her eyes.

"You haven't heard anything yet... I can't go out without telling him where I'm going to. I'm in charge of cleaning and even our laundry. Can't he just bring it to the laundromat, he got the money to pay for it... He's very controlling! I feel like I'm going to be his slave in exchange for everything he did for me. The only good thing I can think of is he drives me to school, work, and back home."

"OMG! Those are what couples do..." Her eyes were glimmering and yes... She's imagining things again.

"You wish!" I scoff at her.

"You are like husband and wife... He's the husband... And you're the..."

I cut her off before she says something absurd...

"Don't even go there, Jen."

"Sorry... But still... He did the best he can to keep you here... All of these things that he asks you to do is not enough to make it up for his effort."

"Well... That's true... I guess I just need to get used to it... But the more I think of it, the more I'm getting annoyed."

-----

My brother explained the sudden change of plan to my mother and he brought back my stuff last Saturday. Before Lance left I saw him talking to Luke but I didn't hear exactly what they're talking about. My brother just told me to take care of myself and listen to Luke. He said something about Luke knowing what would be best for me. But after living with him for the past days, I started to doubt it.

I was in my room and I finished reorganizing everything. I can't hide my smile as I look around. I laid down on my bed and hugged my bolster pillow. I still got to live here in our house... The only difference is that my family is not here with me, instead, I'm living with Luke. Technically, he owns the house now and I'm just a freeloader.

I still can't believe he bought this house... He's really well-off. He got to use the master bedroom which was my brother's room and we used my mother's room as our stock room. It was a bit odd seeing Luke around the house. I got to see him every morning and before I go to bed. The past days we're awkward, especially with the house rules he set up. But I thought this is just temporary, after graduation, I'll find an apartment and live on my own. It's over a year from now... but I can definitely take that.

"Kris! Can you come here for a second?"

I heard Luke from the other side of the door. I stood up and went to open the door.

"What is it?"

"Uhm... I don't know where I can put these." He showed me a box full of colorful kitchen wares.

"I bought these online... Aren't they cute?" He asked smiling.

I took a sigh and looked at him.

"We still have that new set of kitchenware that you brought last Friday when you moved in... We don't need those... Just put them here."

I walked towards the stock room. I opened the door and it was full of stuff already. There is a new sofa set still in plastic, high chairs, coffee table, coffee maker, a mattress, etc.

"You're such a... hoarder!"

"No, I'm not. I thought we might need them someday, so I bought them in advance." He was so proud of himself when he said that.

"No!... What you need to do is return some of them and just keep what we really need for the meantime." I demanded.

"But..."

"No buts, Mr. Hoarder." I closed the door and walked over him.

"Fine... I'll ask Ben to help me return those." He took his phone out and started typing.

To think of it, it's the first time he listened to me after a while. I stared at him for a moment and I can't help but smile at how admirable he was.

"What?" He uttered.

"It's just amusing to see you fall off the wagon."

"Well... I guess... Listening to my dear for once won't hurt." He teased.

"Dear my ass!" I answered back.

He just smiled and kept on doodling on his phone.

"Uhm I just thought of something... You used to live alone in your apartment, right? Since you're living with me now, what happened to your apartment?"

"It's still mine... I asked Ben to take care of that place... I don't need to worry about expenses since our family owns it... No... My father owns the building actually."

"Wait... What? How wealthy is your father?" I asked in awe.

"He got a lot of business properties, real estate, and some export trading establishments... Remember what I told you before at the café, it wasn't wholly true at all."

I can't imagine how wealthy they are. But I don't understand why he needed to bluff about it, pretending to be desperate to live.

"Yeah, you got me there... So that means... you're on good terms with your father?"

"Not really... When I found out that he's my father... I was happy... as a child that never had one..."

"I'm confused..." I can't really put all the puzzle pieces together.

"Haist. I guess it's time for you to learn about my life."

We sat on the couch and I prepared myself to listen to him as he about to tell the story of his life.

"First, Alex is my half-brother... His mom died when he was about six years old. My father met my mom before he met Alex's mom... He's a real jackass..."

So that explains their difference in personality. I'm already shaken from that revelation but I kept on listening.

"From what my mom had told me... When she got pregnant, my father's parents found out about it, they arranged a fixed marriage for him and that's when he met Alex's mom. My mom was forced to leave my father and raised me alone."

"That must've been hard for your mom." I felt sorry for him.

He just nodded and continued.

"When I was eleven-years-old, my father found out where I and my mom lived through some private investigators. He talked with my mom, explained himself, and promised to give us everything we need... Eventually, my mom agreed to his proposal and that's how we got the mansion by the beach, and Ben was assigned as our butler."

"Oh, I see... So how did you and Alex grew up together?" I asked eagerly.

"Just let me finish, will you?"

"Okay... Okay..." I nodded and let him speak.

"My father introduced Alex to us and my mother accepted him. He was a very cheerful kid and he was so excited to know that he got a brother. He's staying with our father and used to visit us very often. We got along pretty well and we bonded like real brothers."

"If everything went well, how did you end up despising your father?" I asked wondering why he hates his father.

"Well, it's true he is our father but he has never been a real father to us..."

"What do you mean?"

"He's always busy... He never had time to spend with us. You see... Alex grew up beside his nanny and we got to spend every occasion without our father's presence; birthdays, Christmas, and graduations." He was so upset sharing those times his father failed to be with them. Our father left us when I was little so I knew the feeling of not having a fatherly figure beside us.

"He was not even there to take care of my mother when she got sick" I saw his anger and sadness through his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Luke."

He took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh.

"After my mother died, he wanted me to listen and do everything he asks me to do... Saying it's for my future's sake. He got me in a business college hoping I can be his successor someday. For two years I've listened and followed him hoping that way he would be proud and spend more time with me. But that didn't happen. So I began to despise him more."

I wanted to comfort him but I just don't know what to say. I can't meddle with his family issues.

"Then I came to a decision to switch school and follow my own path... I moved out and got myself the apartment. I used my own savings to start up a business and that's the café.  He didn't know it at first but when he found out, he threatened to block my bank account. He even told me that I won't be able to stand on my decision and will go back home... But I proved him wrong..."

I remembered Alex mentioned the same thing on the day that we met him. So that explains it.

"Well... I got to say... Getting an apartment in a building that your father owned is not really a good plan... But if you won't mind me asking, what made you do such a brave decision?"

"Uhm... I met someone..." He got a bit fidgety.

"You met someone?"

Is it the same person that Jessie mentioned before?

"Yes, I met someone, that person made me who I am today..."

He looked into my eyes and I felt warm inside... Was it me?

"It was a year ago..."

A year ago? I met him this year so it's not me... This is embarrassing... Why did I even think it was me... I got upset but I tried to hide it.

"I see... That person must be very special... I-uh... I got to prepare something for dinner."

I stood up but he yanked me by the hand.

"Kris... It's... It's y-" he faltered when we heard the doorbell rang.

"I'll get it..." He let me go and I went to the door to check who it was.

"Good evening, Kris... I've brought some of the young master's stuff from his apartment." It was Manager Ben. He's holding a box containing some of Luke's personal stuff and he's carrying a bolster pillow. I got excited when I saw it.

"He also got a bolster pillow?" I took the bolster pillow and realized it was the same size as mine, I flipped it over and saw a printed star with Luke's name on it.  It was the same design as mine. Why does he have one?

"I'll take that!" Luke snatched the pillow out of my hand.

"Ben, you can put that box in my room" He ordered him.

"Yes, young master... Excuse me, Kris.."

I let Manager Ben passed and I was left standing in the doorway thinking about that print on Luke's pillow.

-----

"It was so weird... What are the odds that we have the same printed bolster pillows with our names on it?" I shared what I found out to Jenna the next day.

"That is just one thing... But I guess this could answer it." Jenna showed me her phone.

"Oh... This is Luke's IG account. How could this be the answer?"

"I was playing this word puzzle game last night wherein you got to came up with the word that has all the letters given and I got hooked immediately"

"What does it have to do with Luke's IG?"

"I made a lot of thinking this morning after I came across his account. His IG name, 'ilikeskuLKer', it's three words jumbled into one. If my previous hunch is correct, that the capital L and K correspond to both of your names....then..."

She wrote something on a piece of paper...

"See?" She showed me the paper and I read what she wrote on it.

"Luke like Kris" I mumbled.

"He likes you Kris... he could be the one who gave you that pillow and he got one for himself as well." She assumed.

"But I called him that night and he said had no idea about it."

"Well... A white lie always aims for good intentions."

"Why would he need to lie about it?"

"He had his reason for sure... But if you think about it... He had done several things a usual friend wouldn't do for you... I can't buy you a house..." She explained.

"You're right. But why me? I'm just an ordinary guy."

"No, you're not! Who told you that? You're cute, smart, and talented. You're totally above average."

"Really? I don't think of myself like that."

"If you want to know the answer... Why don't you ask him yourself?"

She looked over me and pointed to Luke who was on his way towards us.

"Kris... You're ready to leave?" Luke asked as he stood beside me.

"He's ready!" Jenna exclaimed.

"Jen..." I tried to stop her.

"Go ahead, Bes... Besides, I need to go and meet Alex... We're going out for a date..." She said as she grabbed her bag.

"I know! We'll drop by the café... See you Bes! Bye Luke!" She added then trotted her way out of our sight.

She just left me like that alone with Kris.

"They're really getting closer and closer. Don't you think?" Luke asked me.

"Well, they are dating for real... So they should be..." I said as I put my things inside my bag.

"Why don't we try it then?" He asked unexpectedly.

"What? We live under the same roof, how close do you want us to get?"

"I mean... to date... for real... I still want to get to know you more." He said those words straight to my face. He's not smirking at all. Could he be serious about it?

Then I thought of what Jenna told me, that Luke really likes me... My heart fluttered once again and my face felt warm... He bent down and got closer to my face and I felt the warmth went up to my ears...

"I-uh..." I tried to avoid contact with his eyes.

"You're really cute when you're blushing..." He said then let out that irritating smirk.

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my bag.

"Let's go... I can't be late to work... boss!"

I walked pass through him and didn't look back. He's really bothersome and I'm annoyed with his little tricks. Why can't I resist him? God help me!

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