CHAPTER XLVIII: Moments Beyond the Greed

By unexpected, this thing sure is taking so much time!

It's not like I'm complaining or anything…

Perhaps, a little…

But making something valuable requires so much consideration and effort.

I've also been going home straight for the past few days. That's why I don't really get to hang out with the others so much.

And thus, I thought maybe Ross would be curious or something, probably saddened that I don't spend time with them anymore, but that stupid guy shows little to no reaction at all!

He just literally waves at me and says goodbye like it's an everyday routine.

We used to eat out sometimes so he should notice the obvious difference right?!

Argh, is he that dense?

I crossed my hands together and placed them on the table.

I leaned my head on it and sighed.

Seriously, I hope he will at least give me a sign that he's interested.

Because this just makes me question everything I've been doing up until now.

I'm not one to be emotional for this kind of thing but when it comes to him, there are no barriers nor stop signs.

It's scary to keep on charging in without any clear direction.

With all these thoughts, I couldn't help but let out another deep breath.

I got to get a grip.

There's no time for me to be a woose.

What I'm trying to accomplish right now is probably the final push so I gotta give it my all.

At least in that sense, I wouldn't regret anything…

Even after I'm rejected.

Being at home, I thought there won't be any more stress to deal with, but unfortunately, I forgot that my brother still lives here.

Yes, he returned from his long trip with my parents a few days back.

That's why it's been very suffocating to move around the house again.

After the argument that took place a month ago, things began to become shaky again with regards to our relationship.

Especially since he spent his vacation with our parents.

It was pretty visible how indifferent this family has when it comes to me and that includes both my father and mother.

After what happened 'before,' they completely turned against me.

They stood by my brother and supported him yet they left their daughter fighting alone.

Being abandoned was something I've never dreamt of until they showed me what it truly meant to be disregarded.

It hurts but I'm slowly starting to build an immunity towards it.

In that way, no matter how left out I feel, it won't come to a point where I'm the one who looks away at every mention of their names.

On that note, it appears Forden and I are back to square one.

Well, I've already gone through it once, what's there to lose by experiencing it again?

I closed my eyes and dropped my hand on my side.

I felt how the brush slowly slipped through my fingers, but I didn't bother rooming my eyes to glance at it.

On top of being swamped with enormous paperworks plus exhausting projects, why does my life continue to accept problems whenever it feels like doing so?

Am I turning into a freaking masochist?

So not my style…

I don't know how many minutes I stayed like that but before I knew it my stomach began to grumble like crazy.

I turned towards where my clock was and saw that it was nine in the evening.

It was a Friday so I planned to stay up and work on the painting so that I can focus on my plates during the weekend.

It's nearly done so I didn't need to worry about rushing but I just couldn't help but lock myself in my room because I was deliberately trying to avoid bumping into Forden.

I don't know if he's here today because I heard med students usually never go home anymore even though it's near the weekend.

But I can't really be too complacent.

However, my stomach can't take it any longer so I don't have a choice but to go out and scavenge for food in the kitchen.

But before that, I cleaned myself first since I was covered in paint and dirty paint water.

When I went out, the lights in the hallway were dimmed so I guess there's no one upstairs other than me.

As I walked down the stairs, I observed that there were only a few helpers roaming around the house.

I cautiously tried to sneak a peek in the living room to know whether Forden was there or not.

He usually studies at various places in the house.

If I remember correctly, he said that it was because getting used to a single environment for a long time might deteriorate your capability to maintain your interest in studying.

He also mentioned that going to different locations allows you to further widen your perspective in a refreshing sense.

I didn't really understand him at that time because I usually just study in the garden, in my room, or, in rare instances, in the library.

But I got his point later on.

So I don't really know where and when he might pop out, that's why it's better to be prepared.

When I saw that the coast was clear, I headed towards the kitchen and grabbed whatever snack I could find in the fridge.

Luckily, there was a big box of cake in there.

I was about to reach it when a hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder.

I literally jumped out of fright.

When I turned around, I saw Chef Ron standing behind me.

"What are you doin' there, kiddo?" He asked with a smile.

I tried to calm my rapidly beating hearts first before answering him.

"I was just about to have some cake." I pointed at the object in question.

"Isn't it a little late for dinner trips, young miss?" He grinned.

"Well, food doesn't have a specific time in my schedule."

This made him laugh out loud.

He grabbed the box out of the fridge and placed it on the counter.

I tried to watch what he was doing as he prepared a delicious dessert for me.

He placed the oozing and delectable cake on a small plate and handed it to me.

"Do you want anything else?" He asked while washing the knife he just used.

"Can you make an ice cream sandwich for me?" I tried to be as sweet as possible in an attempt to make him agree.

He grinned at my lousy acting and ruffled my hair.

"Of course. Wait for me there."

I nodded and sat on one of the high chairs placed around the island counter.

I began to eat the cake while entertaining myself by checking out how Chef Ron made the requested dessert.

Chef Ron was one of my father's most trusted friends. He was actually a well-renowned chef who made dishes all around the world.

However, when he resigned and had a family, he decided to accept father's offer to work here.

He never really wanted to let go of his passion to cook and create various delicacies but he also wanted to live a simpler life than what he usually had before.

If people tried to ask why he didn't bother to start a restaurant or something, the only answer was because he couldn't handle a business even if his life depended on it.

I remembered when I was young, my entire family went to his house to sample his proposed menu but before we could even choose an item, he already served us with a table full of overfilling food.

He couldn't contain himself and just spontaneously buys so much food that he'll go bankrupt before he can even gain profit.

It was really funny how my brother wanted to throw up after eating three plates of enormously piled food.

My father also gave up midway into the meal itself.

And yet, looking at Chef Ron now, I could say that he was happy and satisfied being here.

I was so busy reminiscing that I didn't notice Chef Ron had approached me.

He laid the mouthwatering ice cream sandwich in front of me.

He patted my head again and said, "Enjoy."

He gave me a warm smile along with it.

After that, he informed me that he was going to leave now and prepare tomorrow's dessert.

I was left alone in the kitchen once again but I was greatly pleased especially since there were delicious things in front of me.

Half an hour passed by before I headed back to my room to finish the painting I was driving hard to progress on.

Days passed and it was back to Monday again.

I was sitting inside my classroom as I quietly answered the quiz handed out to us earlier.

It was pretty simple so I had nothing to do for the remaining time after I was done.

I didn't want to go out yet that's why I'm just leisurely gazing out of the window as I wait for the bell to ring.

Now that I mentioned that, it had been a while since I last gazed out of the window to stare at the view past it.

The leaves were beginning to change. Old ones fell like snow while the new ones sprouted like recently opened flowers.

I missed painting sceneries like these.

But I was preoccupied with matters revolving around Ross to think about coming up with another sketch like those.

Ten minutes before the bell rang, I stood up, gathered my things, and handed my paper to the professor before leaving the room.

Solar texted me that she was already in the garden with Ross and Haru so I should go there directly.

The thought of seeing Ross again made me fidgety.

I could still feel the cool paint in my fingertips and just by that mere thought, I felt both excited and nervous to be around him.

Once I was there, I saw that they were all chatting about something related to shit, poop, and crap depending on the severity of the word used in everyday life and in cussing.

I, myself, don't understand the thought process of these people so I just leave them to enjoy their nonsense amongst themselves.

"You're such bad influences, you know that right?"

"What made you think that?"

"You're making Haru hear vulgar words about shits and crap like it's a usual thing."

"Oh, come on, even Haru has cussed once in his life." Solar glanced at Haru for confirmation.

He scratched his head shyly, "Actually, my parents forbade any type of cursing in our house."

"Really?!" Solar slammed her hands on the table to show her disbelief.

"Hey, Haru, let's play rock, paper, scissors. Loser has to obey the winner's wish. 1,2,3, go!"

Before anyone could even react, Ross went in and threw his hand out of nowhere.

Haru had no choice but to follow along.

It was so obvious that he wasn't prepared because after just one game he already lost to paper versus rock, the former being from Ross.

"Yo, that was totally cheating." I commented.

"Eh." Ross replied with a shrug.

"Okay, Haru repeat after me."

Haru nodded obediently.

I could tell by his mischievous grin that he was going to make Haru do something idiotic.

"Do."

"Do."

"Re."

"Re."

"Mi."

"Mi."

"Fa."

"Fa.

"King."

"King."

"Hill."

"Hill?"

"There, you're not a cursing virgin anymore!" Ross ended with a loud laugh while shaking Haru's hand in a congratulatory manner.

I couldn't contain my smirk as I watched Haru's confused face.

"Huh?" He tilted his head, puzzled by what just happened.

But Ross didn't say anything else and just let Haru comprehend the situation on his own.

And that he did, because not long after, Haru's face turned unbelievably red in just a second.

"W-W-What?!"

"Haru you're so innocent." Ross smirked.

"And here, you're questioning why I call you bad influences." I shook my head but the smile never left my face.

We continued to tease Haru while he waved his hand around and denied it with all his might.

That's what we had going for until…

"Wait, I don't get it." Solar intervened.

We all looked at her, dumbfounded, and before we knew it our laughter shifted towards Solar.

"Wait, I seriously didn't get it."

I stood back and quietly witnessed the scenes unfold with my very eyes, along with the slight lift in the corner of my lips.

This was also one of the changes I admired.

Past that window.

Beyond nature.

They were there.

And this was one of the moments I foolishly cherish.

And also one of the very things that I might lose once I voice out the feelings I've painted with my greed.