Chapter Four.

I was busy drawing the pattern for a royal blue dress I had been working on for awhile now.

The dress was for one of my mom's wealthy best friend, she had requested for it last week for a charity gala she was going for in three weeks time and she had given me the work because her regular designer would be busy till 2030 (kidding) and you have to get a slot at least two prior months and this was sort of an emergency.

Also, she was being a tad biased when she said that she thinks I am going to be a bad-butt designer after seeing my Spring collection last year which she could almost swear were the in-thing. I don't even understand the woman half of the time, she has this cool way of acting fad and looking classy while at it.

She told me to use my creative imagination and make something real good as she only cares about looking good, so you could say I am actually hard pressed to do an excellent work as this might give the break I have been working so hard for, and am going do a kick butt work while am at it.

The dress was meant to have a plunging neckline with a short sleeve and fringes dropping from the sleeves, the body of the dress was to be decorated with faux stones and then the tail meant to be sweeping with a high slit reaching mid thigh, made with only the finest of velvets and lined with the softest of silks to give the most comfortable wear. Oh, how haute couture.

I was still cutting the pattern for the neckline when I heard a buzzing sound coming from the next door. I peeked out from my workroom and saw none other than Jason powering on his mower and pushing it in a swift move, trimming the first patch of grass.

He was wearing a white Nike shirt with grey sweatpants and a pair of cream coloured Nike slippers and looking darn good, its been awhile I saw him, don't know if he's been avoiding me or something. Men, one day telling you how hot your legs are and the next day avoiding you like crazy, but see who cares? No one, that's who.

I was staring and still contemplating if I was a little bit insane since a voice within me has twisted Nike slogan into something akin to "just do him", when his door opened and Miss. Supermodel, sorry Myra stepped out wearing a dress shirt, probably his, and walking over to him with a tapping at a phone while saying something.

He frowned at whatever she was saying and as if feeling my eyes on him, looked up directly into my eyes and I ducked, knocking into my table and sending my sewing materials clattering to the floor.

Dumb, dumb, I chanted in my head wondering why I didn't wave a hello like any other normal person would. Quickly packing up my stuff, I stood up just in time to see Long-legs slamming Jason's door and dragging a mini suitcase behind her.

She had packed her long brown hair into a sleek ponytail, wearing an off shoulder maxi peach dress that stopped mid-thigh and moderately heeled fur-lined black ankle boots with an oversized white-framed sunglasses perched atop her head.

She was waving her hands around a bit dramatically and kind of yelling at a bored looking Jason, before she suddenly stopped, took a deep breath and stalked off, suitcase in tow. Few minutes later, a taxi stopped and she entered slamming the door and the taxi zoomed off.

Not really a nosy person, I shrugged and continued my pattern drawing.

A minute later my phone rang and checking caller ID, I picked up to the sound of my mum's soothing voice.

"Hullo mama", I said in the cutest voice.

" Don't hullo mama me", my mum's was saying. Sigh. I don't get why she's immune. On cue, I heard my dad's deep voice, "hello Munchkin".

"Not now, Pete", mum mumbled in the background, I heard a smack, ewww, not when I can hear you, folks.

"Which daughter of mine doesn't call in two weeks after she moves out?"

"Your favorite daughter, mama and I called you after I alighted from my flight down here".

"Tsk, tsk. Don't get smarty ass on me, you are my only child and that was two weeks ago, so when are you visiting...." I winced hearing her say the a-word.

"Mum!!",

"I miss you already".

"I miss you too, mum",

"So how's the dress coming along?"

"Quite good, I will probably start draping tomorrow".

"I trust you will do a great job, Tamara will be so impressed and is going to show off to her snotty friends and I will be like watch out! my daughter is going to be the next big designer since Gucci, Versace, Prada......."

"Mum, one step at a time, let me start by being perfecting my pleat making, now put dad out of his misery and give him the....."

"Hey, Munchkin".

"Hey Papa!!", I am a daddy's girl. Sue me.

"How is my baby doing all by herself, hope you're not stressing yourself, you can always come back".

"I know, Papa but am fine". I have always had this independent streak and am enjoying my independence as it is. I love my parents but they can be overbearing and overprotective.

I don't really blame them, after they got me, they had to stop trying because of mum's health as she had some complications having me so they had only me and try as much as possible to keep me safe.

I looked up to see my neighbour sprawled over the grass and the mower dangerously close to his left foot still buzzing. He was mowing my side of the grass.

He raised his upper torso, groaning and deftly caught the mower switching if off. He removed his hand from the mower's white handle and I saw red stains on where his hand had been. Is that blood? What the freak happened?

I realized a minute later that dad was still talking, "um, papa, I have to go, I love you. Send my love to mama, amma call back ASAP". Barely had I heard the "Love you too, my Munchkin, please do", when I disconnected the call and dashed out to check on Jason.