14 14. Movie Star.

"What is this?"

I look up and whip my head around, towards the source of the voice. Then I meet eyes with Elian's and his signature heavy eyebrows.

Distantly, my butt screams in dull aching pain.

Why, of all times, is he here now?

Elian grabs the edge of the door to my room, pushing it to open wider and with a slight creak, Briley and Frank come into view. They stand still behind Elian, looking quite puzzled.

Elian turns back to them, and he glides his hand towards the room,

"You may go in."

My eyes roll off on their own as he spoke. He sure does act like the master of this place.

Except, he really is the master of this house.

I sigh in defeat to myself.

He is a noble.

And Adian is apparently a charity event, plucked off from a random street.

Let me tell you that, this feels a lot like I started watching a movie right smack in the middle with no research.

And so I might as well have fun with it?

Briley and Frank immediately huddle up at the coffee table, where all the workpieces have been scattered out. They start pointing and murmuring, as though dissecting the theory of suits.

Elian breaks away from the elderly, walking over to the middle of the room where Maria and I stood in front of the standing mirror. He looks as though he just took a bath, a freshness to his skin and his relaxed attire.

"Maria." He calls out in a stern tone but I turn to this call in unison with Maria, like the yapping fool I am.

"That didn't escape my eyes. I am surprised you are part of the cult."

My jaw immediately drops open as soon the words come out. And it doesn't stop, he continues.

"Now I am afraid I'll have to get you replaced."

What??

My chin juts out in disbelief and I glare at Elian with absolute horror. Is this man actually saying that?

I clear my throat in discomfort but Maria starts laughing and the awkwardness is now easier to be in. She continues laughing, waving off the remark as a mere joke.

"Oh, the things you say." She grips the measuring tape close to her cheek, gazing at him with a look that says 'How can this man be real' and my chin juts out even more.

Is this really happening right before my eyes?

Elian catches my eyes and then, he frowns. He always seems to frown when he sees me, an all too familiar expression. His eyes go over me, scanning my expression and his face hardens ever so slightly. As though, he is now smacked back to reality.

"Is that one of your new tantrums?" He tilts his chin out at my expression and I pull my chin back in.

"Tantrums, pshh." I mutter under my breath, and I suppress the urge to give him a real mean eye.

I feel like I have regressed to my puberty years talking to this guy.

"Maria." I called out through my teeth.

Maria is watching us like at a dramatic theatre play, and she immediately snaps out of her trance from my sharp call.

This time, I wildly gesture my eyes at her, 'Go away'. She looks at me with a blank point. I tilt my head towards Frank and widen my eyes with the code.

"Maria. I think Frank needs your help." Elian slides in, placing a hand around her shoulders. He steers her away and towards the direction of the coffee table. She lifts her apron and slightly bows, walking away towards Briley and Frank.

"I don't get you." I mutter begrudgingly as I shake my head, walking towards the other side of the room, where it opens to the balcony.

The weather is peaceful today, the sun shining on top and the stark contrast between the white clouds and the blue sky.

"Get me?" Elian echoes as he mindlessly follows after me.

"I mean, I don't understand you." I whisper this time, quite harshly in my frustration.

"Fair enough. I don't understand you either."

"What was that before? Cult? What the hell?"

"What?" There is a sudden silence and he looks at me with confusion, "Oh that. Why, I was simply jesting."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, "That was a joke? It wasn't even funny!"

"Well," He bends over to pick up the white chiffon floating on the floor, "You don't have to be so agitated by a mere joke. I don't see why it's your concern."

"No, it's just...so frustrating! I am so confused, okay? You are so hot and cold...and I can't remember anything! My mind is completely blank. You…" I trail off, unable to find words to continue. What is it about Elian that keeps throwing me off?

Why do I feel so conflicted about him?

"Adian, you don't have to concern yourself with me too much. I am merely a living breathing person living in the same house as you. You can go on with your own matters, as you always did."

Yeah, right.

Merely.

Merely a living breathing person.

That makes things so much easier.

All the heaviness is now lifted off my shoulders by angelic glowing hands.

I take a deep breath, I needed to calm down. Talking with Elian never seems to go anywhere. This man doesn't even talk, let alone communicate.

He comes in closer, and his hand goes over the collar of my morning shirt. His long fingers glide over, straightening them.

"You seem quite restless. It looks like the little fuss you kicked up yesterday did nothing for you."

I look up at him sharply, and I find him looking down as well. I search his eyes, hoping for something. Anything. But I am unable to read them at all. He whispers,

"Don't cause any trouble. I won't tolerate it well."

"Stop talking like you know me." I growl at him, reaching a new peak of frustration.

God, I wish I was at least taller to size up against him.

He smiles at me. A small simple one.

"I do know you very well. After all, I have spent all my youth with you in this house."

"Huh?"

I am rendered silent. In my mind, sparks and dots are going off in all directions, and I make an effort to connect all the meager collection of information I have in my hands.

Didn't Sir Dominic mention that Elian saved Adian from the streets– something of that sort?

I had assumed it happened and we immediately got married afterward.

But now it seems Adian and Elian shared something more.

Taking a chance of my silence, I look up to find that Elian has already walked off into the room. He didn't seem to even bother to wait for a reply from me.

My fist is balled up and I slowly open it. The piece of white chiffon fabric is now on my palm, sticking to it by the sweat. The breeze picks up again.

I watch Elian talk to Briley and Frank, nodding and gesturing his hands.

You don't get to walk away next time.

I'll make you spill everything.

I am going to own this movie and make it my own.