13

I push the thoughts aside and get up. I open the shower and get in. After that I wear my pyjamas and look at the time; 00:37. No use sleeping now. I take out the Cambridge Math text book I brought along and toss it on the table and start from the beginning and work through a few of the chapters I've covered so far. I check the time again and it's 06:40.

I suddenly remember Ryan. I don't know what time he plans on calling, or if he just said that to be nice. That makes me sad again because I really had hopes of making new friends.

I check my notifications and see that Lyha added me in a group chat with Dylan and a bunch of other people I don't know. I'll talk to them later, now I have to work out. And charge my phone again.

I won't go to the gym because that pest might be there. I'll work out here instead. I take out my fitness file and look for a good workout routine. I find a quick one: 30 squats, 20 lunges, 15 star jumps, 50 bicycles and 20 sit ups. 3 reps. This should be a fun 45 minutes.

Once I'm done, I take a 15-minute shower and dress up. The time is now 07:45. I don't think Mrs Grand will be awake by this time. I go downstairs and walk in the hallway. It's day one and I got lose. There are lots of doors around this house and never a single one open by chance. I slow down when I hear movement and decide to follow it.

I head up to a white corridor and I'm lead to a glass door. I sigh out of relief when I hear the crushing water against the rocks. The backyard is pretty cool with the large swimming pool and beach chairs around it while the surroundings of the pool are little stone statues with water flowing out. It's quite pretty, I must admit.

I walk towards another glass door which was at the other end of the pool and enter the kitchen, but slow down when I see an old lady in a blue and white apron by the kitchen island. Her body is tiny and I'm a little taller than her. Her hair is dyed black but the white roots are prominent. I remember being told that there's a house help, so it must be her.

"Good morning," I greet her as I sit on the kitchen counter stool. She spins her head in my direction and stares at me for a while before smiling and coming around the counter to me.

"Hermosa," she says as she holds my hand.

"Gracias. ¿Cómo estás?" I ask her how she is.

"Fine. How did you sleep?" she asks as she goes back to the fridge and takes out some eggs.

"I slept well, thank you," I half-lie. The good part about my sleep was that I saw my dad. "Can I help?"

"If you want. You know how to make omelette?" she asks as she takes potatoes, pepper, onions and oil.

"Yes," I giggle and roll up my sleeves. I wash my hands at the kitchen sink and stand beside her.

"You can prepare that," she says as she points to the vegetables, "and I'll beat the eggs so long." I nod and start cutting the pepper into thin slices.

"Who taught you how to cook?" she asks me as she adds a pinch of salt and pepper to the eggs.

"My grandpa. He's the owner and head chef at a local restaurant back home," I say as I start slicing the onions.

"Which one?" She stops what she's doing and gives me her undivided attention.

"Sapporo Manchester," I say and raise my eyebrow when her eyes widen.

"Is his last name 'McKinley'?"

"Yes," I frown, "how did you know?"

"Let's just say I was his cooking partner back in school," she smiles and takes the sliced vegetables. She mixes them with the eggs and pours the new mixture into the pan and puts the lid on.

"Is he still married to Elizabeth?" she asks me. I smile at the thought of my grandmother and nod. "I was one of her best friends," she tells me, smiling brightly.

"What's your name?" I ask her. Grandma often mentions her friends' names when she tell me stories of her youth days.

"Gretna." Yepp, that name sure is familiar.

"What are my two favourite ladies talking about?" a familiar voice asks as someone enters the kitchen.

"Good morning," we greet her as she comes around to the kitchen island.

"Good morning. What are we cooking?" she asks with so much enthusiasm.

"We finished preparing the Spanish omelette," I say. She goes to the fridge and gets apple juice and four glasses from the cabinet.

"Aren't going into the office today?" Gretna asks as she dishes the food. Mrs Grand shakes her head and smiles.

"No," she looks at me with a shy smile. "Dr Kernel is on his way." What? Is she blushing?

"Hmmm, Dr Kernel, huh?" I tease her. She throws the dishcloth at me and I catch it with ease.

"Stop it," she tries to keep a straight face but smiles nonetheless. "I'll be in the lounge."

"Morning fam," a voice says, breathlessly. Well, there goes my good mood. I don't even bother turning around.

"Morning, mi chico. How many slices do you want?" Gretna asks. I busy myself with washing the dirty dishes in the sink.

"I'll just have four, thank you," he says.

"I'll go sweep your rooms," she says and walks out the kitchen. It's not long before she calls me from at the top of the stairs.

"Kira, you have a phone call," she pauses to read the name, "from Ryan."

I leave the dishes and wipe my hands against my pants as I walk to get my phone. Usually, I'd have a problem with people touching my phone, but I like her so it's not a problem. After all, it's Ryan that's calling, and Kian heard, even if he was 'busy' on his phone. The shift in his mood was visible as he clenched his jaw and that's enough to make me smile out of pure bliss.

"Morning," I say holding the phone to my ear as I walk out to the backyard.