Eyes Blurred with Tears

A single tear fell on his cheek, but it was not his. It belong to the woman looking down at him, the same person that fed him chocolate cookies. Xander had put his head on her lap when he told Clara their first encounter in this mansion years ago.

She stroked his dark hair gently as he finished the story. His mother died at the end of summer from pneumonia. Clara asked him about his sister and how he survived after that, but Xander refused to answer.

"It's a blurry memories. I remember a tall and thin boy that never fulfilled his words. He said that he will see me again, but I waited and waited for him until I finally forgot about him somehow. And that boy was you all along." She said, choking back the tears.

Xander reached out to wipe the tears that fall from her hazel eyes, he never see her cried like this before. No matter how many cruel treatments he inflicted on her, she always hid her tears, oh he knew that Clara cried buckets of tears, just not in front of him.

"Why are you crying, silly? It's all in the past now."

She sobbed, "Because you're still so young at that time, Xander. Liam told me he was not even born yet when you lost your father.. I can't imagine how hard it was for you."

He fed from her misery, right?

She finally gave in to tears but he didn't find satisfaction because it was all for the wrong reason.

She should cry because he kidnapped her and stripped her freedom away, terminated her night job which was earning money from showing off her body to men, prevented her from seeing her own father, caged her inside this big lonely mansion just like what she felt as a child living here.

But nope. Instead she cried because a fourteen years old boy had to lose his mother to illness.

He searched for any fakeness in her face but found none. It was a genuine expression, she shed tears of unfeigned sorrow.

It disturb him greatly so he yanked his hand away from that soft cheek dampened with tears.

"So you already know it from Liam? You should tell me earlier so I don't need to waste my time."

"Just that, Xander. He didn't tell me the details." She wailed.

Clara saw the change in his expression, the vulnerable sad looks was gone. He built that emotional walls of sorrow with a flick of his hand, even layered it more so no one, not even the innocent girl that gave him cookies could pass through it.

So Clara lowered her head and kiss his forehead before the man pulled away from her.

Their eyes met, that green eyes burned with anger then he pulled her face down by the hair roughly and kissed her mouth hard.

Clara whimpered from the pain at her scalp, he punished her again.

"How funny. I was a poor boy at that time and you're the daughter of wealthy person but here we are now 17 years later with me owning your mansion."

They were back to square one.

She thought this revelation will lead to something. But she was wrong, he just wanted to play with her emotions. With her knowing that they already met each other years ago, knowing that he was the boy Clara waited for, it makes her want to be here with him.

"The wheel of life keeps spinning, Xander. You'll not always at the bottom, your mother must be so proud of you and I believe she could see it from above."

He got up from her lap, took his crutches and readying himself to walk away from her.

"And you will not always on the top. There will be times when you fall…"

Xander looked at her with the side of his eye, "Are you praying for my downfall, little mouse?" He chuckled.

"There will be times when you fall but I will always be by your side, Alec Xander.."

Say it, say the words, Clara. Her heart urged but her tongue wouldn't move. Because if she say it out loud, her suppressed feelings would be real.

Because it would be so fuck up.

How could she fall in love with her kidnapper?

"Good. Remember your own words, Clara Anastasia."

He left her, just like he left 17 years ago from this room, but this time Clara didn't follow him. She just stared at his back, her eyes blurred with tears.

***

The next morning, everyone has gathered downstairs to enjoy breakfast together. Usually they did it in their own room, but Clara heard from Gemma that Xander want everyone to break the fast together this morning.

"Good morning, everyone. Sorry I'm late, I couldn't sleep last night."

Clara took the empty seat between Liam and Noah. Xander and Norah seated across the rectangular marble table. American style breakfast was served deliciously on it.

Liam was the first to greet her. "Good morning, Clara. Who.. I mean, 'what' kept you awake last night?" He grinned.

She could feel the warmth of the blush as it crawled up her neck. "A book kept me awake, Liam."

Noah poured a glass of milk and gave it to Clara, "She is an avid reader of classic and contemporary novels, Liam. That's why I arranged a spot on those shelves in the library.. If you've already read 'em all, just tell me Clara. I'll buy some more."

Clara widened her eyes in disbelief at the man sitting on her left, "I thought Xander… I really appreciate it, Noah. I didn't know I would love reading so much if I wasn't cooped up here."

They all noticed the looks at the woman and the man who were smiling at each other, until Xander cleared his throat, breaking the mood.

Noah drank his coffee, and Clara turned her gaze towards the man seated across her.

"So…. What is all this sudden eating together thing?"

"Oh.. Actually it is my idea, Clara." Norah smiled at her. "I just thought it would be more fun if we could sit down and eat together. Xander also agreed, right babe?"

Xander just grunted while chewing the sliced bacon.

Liam cleared his throat in discomfort, "So you both are really 'a thing' now?"

Her face grew hot under his scrutiny. "Yes, I think we are."

Norah glanced at Xander, asking for his help, but the man was busy savoring his breakfast or deliberately ignored her.

"Is it official yet?" Liam didn't let her go easily.

Norah was fuming, "It still counts as dating though."

They looked daggers at each other across the table.

"Umm.. Guys, I think we should finish the meal before it grew cold.." Clara tried to cool them down.

Norah was the first to break their eyes contact, drank her orange juice then dabbed her mouth with napkin.

She inhaled and announced to everyone in the room. "I have made up my mind to go to college this year."