CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Month later. Decker's house. weekend morning. Belle bedroom. she still on her bed. she rolled over on her right and then to her left. she didn't bother what time it was. she know is morning. all she want to do is sleep. sleep and sleep.

she wanted to sleep for the rest of weekend. like a animal starting to hibernation. and the next searching for food. but she not animal. she human. just she need rest.

she doesn't care what will happen this morning but something bothering her sleep.

"Oh my god ..?! where the hell sound come from."

she cursed. kicked off the blanket then jumped off the bed while her eyes still blurring. as he walk, how many time her toes stumbled upon the things around her. she cannot open up her eyes, but she know way to go.

she stood front of the window. rubs both of her eyes. she slide the curtain. hissing. she back off as the sun got through her. she close her eyes, without wearing any proper clothes. she shout.

"Shut up!."

an sudden. around her turn into silent. stretching her body and yawning. she open her eyes. her eyes widen as people looking at her. guess who down there. her mother and the neighbours.

they are watching something she wished for. there's a truck parked side of the road. also there's a people doing renovation inside the house. house of Gibson. she didn't see him. but - renovation.

"Honey. you awake." shout her mother from the outside of the house. "I think your wish dream come true."

Belle yawning again. said. "Bout what? look I hate you shouting back at me. I'm going down."

she turn her feet reach for her cardigan without showering. she went downstairs. meeting the folks.

"What the heck is going on?." she asked. "New neighbour?."

her mother nod. "Mr Gibson no longer with our neighbourhood anymore. he moved. so there's couple renovation inside."

"That's so loud."

"Well, everything must be perfect. next three week the new neighbours moved in here after renovation is done. and we gonna greet them with smile." said the mother.

other neighbour nodding agree. "We should be prepare new coming. oh, I missed that young man already. he helped me throw dumpster. he quite handy man."

"He did."

Belle mother and other neighbour amuse, saying at the same time. she didn't know Gibson what -?

"Of course he is. he help me too. he help my husband."

and now this time Belle's mother spokes.

"He help my daughter, Belle." she stare in smile. "You know when Belle passed out suddenly. he's the one carried her back in our house. they two like a cute couple you've never seen."

"Mother!!."

"Straight to Belle bedroom."

"MOTHER!!."

"As he laid Belle down gently on bed. my baby such a lucky girl carried by a man like him. his strong arm. broad chest. masculine. even my husband never do on me."

"MOTHER ENOUGH!!."

they shocked. as hear Belle shout. she spokes back.

"No - mom? I think it wasn't unnecessary to tell. wasn't my fault. and I don't intend to. that day is so rainy. I have to go to school. where I supposed to do, deal with the rain? tell God 'I'm going to school. make it stop'. is that it."

"He offer you his car. that's why you get sick."

Belle put both of her hand up. surrender. she doesn't want to arguing anymore with her mother. she turn her feet walk back to house. without looking at the back. she could hear her mother and the neighbour still talking about the new neighbour coming and Gibson.

she slammed the door shut behind. she walk inside the kitchen. she didn't notice her father sitting there having his breakfast, reading newspaper. she went straight to fridge having some fresh milk from the carton. she drink it till half.

"A virgin like you shouldn't drink fresh milk straight from the carton."

she burst. shocking. looked around. there she spot her father reading newspaper. he fold the news, grab a cup of coffee as his eyes on his daughter. he drink.

"Your mother huh."

she wiped her mouth. the father continue.

"Your mother and the folks never stop talking about Gibson. I admit it, his the good teacher. good person I've never meet but I'm not obsessed or impressed with him. his gone right? so be it."

Belle nodding agree. she then take a sit beside her father.

"Honey?." he reach his daughter hand. "He'd kind a handsome."

"DAD! you too!."

he laugh. "I'm just kidding, okay."

silent. he stares Belle a bit with smile. he never ever think he and his wife will create such a beautiful daughter like Belle. thanks to God. she's beautiful like her mother. remember how he meet Belle mother, how he proposed her, how she become his wife and how she became mother of his child.

such a creation made by God. he thought himself till Belle noticed that her father are staring on purpose. she laid her palm at his.

"What?."

the father spokes back. "There's? I mean. I want you to know. I'm lucky to have you has my daughter. you such alike your mother when first I meet her."

"Really? but your wrong, dad. I may look like her. but our thoughts are different."

"I know. you two are mine precious. I cannot lose both of you."

she smile. she take his hand in her. she kiss his knuckles then she laid his palm at her cheek.

"You won't. I'd never go away. not till I graduated. maybe I'm going to. but now. no. I'm here with you and mom."

they two smile. continue having their breakfast. in the moment. the mother enter the house as they hear the main door close behind. a mother figures show front of them. she shivering. cover up her body with bathrobes she wear. don't know how long she been outside gossip with the neighbour.

or she doesn't realise that she wearing bathrobe?

he stare on his wife and she look confius like been bewitched by something as she entered the kitchen. the gossip took her well.

"Satisfied?."

he asked his wife. "You alright?." he drag the chair for his wife. she sit on it and still look confius.

"I'm your husband and this is our daughter, Belle. if you trying to asked why we both are here."

the wife look up at him. said. "I know you my husband and Belle my daughter."

"Then why your face sudden look being bewitched as you enter? what the neighbour said makes you suddenly look like this."

"I don't know. I'm feeling fine. they're nothing to said. I'm fine. just - Gibson. that's all."

silet a moment. the wife spokes back.

"Why sudden he left this suburban place? he'd just moved in here not for so long or years. if he moved who's gonna teaches Belle english in school."

"Honey? in this world there a lot oppurtunity to become a teacher. not just him. not the only him as a english teacher. outside there young, youth female and male teacher are waiting to fill his position. why you so afraid about? you afraid because Belle will get 'F' in her english test. no. I don't think so."

"I don't said Belle will get that 'F'. I'd just said -."

"Honey, it's a same. you afraid she failed in english test. look."

he gently reach his wife hand. "She won't. Belle won't letting us down even she working as a part in -." he look at his daughter.

"What that restaurant called?."

Belle rolled her eyes. she pushed her chair walk toward the sink. she reach bowl, spoon and cereal box then fill the bowl with cereal and milk she drink earlier. then she sit back. about two or four scoop. she spokes.

"You guys can talk. I'm listening. it's Alpaca's, dad. not sheep."