2 Chapter 2

He doesn't remember since when he sees the world become monotone. All the things he did, his daily activities, are nothing but mere routine. He did because he has been doing it as far as he can remember. Maybe some event happens, but not enough to disturb his mind.

I don't find any excitement in my life

Sam's disappointed look after he says those words, he remembers it clearly. Part of him feels guilty, but another part of him feels empty. He doesn't think his happiness depends on other people, that's why he doesn't bother to look for a partner. If he found one, someone interesting enough to shake his heart, then he will do anything to keep them by his side. But he won't make a move to look for one.

Countless girls he met from matchmakers and blind dates, he's lying if he said none of them pique his interest. Some of them are good enough to make him turn their way, but that's it. He didn't feel any force to find a way to get close.

"Ah--"

His hand stops moving. His eyes focus on the way the drill slowing down, gives him a better view of his snapped tool. He wonders how many times he has broken the tip of the corkscrew he uses. It's not even hard work, yet once again his tool ended up snapped into two.

"Uwah. It's broken?"

Wolfram turns his seat and shows the snapped metal tool. His eyes gloom, makes him look no different than a sad puppy. Sam makes a fake disgusted voice the moment he sees that disappointed eyes, pretends like he doesn't see it and returns to his own work right away.

"Wanna use mine? Don't break it."

"No need, then."

"If you ask that girl from the accounting division, I think she'll lend you some."

"I don't want to keep a big debt."

"What are you gonna do, then?"

"Hunting for another."

"Eh, just use mine for now. We don't have the time."

Wolfram hesitates, but took the toolbox Sam offers anyway. As Sam said, they don't have enough time to browse around. New communication tower will be built next week, and there are still so many things to do. He won't be able to make it in time if he diddles now.

"Thanks. I'll try to keep it in one piece."

"Relax. I know what you handle is more than the rest of us."

Wolfram's gaze shifts to the piling chips on his desk. He sighs as he took one, puts his safety glasses back.

To be trusted is one thing, he thought, but single-handedly working on these is another thing.

=====

The elevator door opened after the ding. Shera comes out, walks at a steady pace as her hand playing with the card key of her apartment door. Across the building is a big digital advertisement, showing a good-looking male model with albino hair, promoting what seems to be a new line of clothing from a famous brand.

Seeing that face always gives her a strange feeling. That person is indeed wonderful. His gaze, his smile, his gesture, everything about him is serene and graceful. It's really easy for him to make people stop to watch him, to see what he's doing. As a model, it's a crucial thing. Shera learns it at one of her classes. His face is literally everywhere; television, ads, newspaper, magazines, she honestly gets bored seeing it. And as if it's not enough, she still has to see the same face in this apartment building. Obviously, the expression that person has is totally different than what shows in public.

"I'm ho--"

A medium-sized plushie threw right onto her face before she even managed to say her greeting. She stands there unmoving, stares at a couple of grown men currently in… what seems to be a one-sided fight.

"I'm home."

She repeats, not too loud but enough for the two guys to notice her presence in that eerie silence. She took off her shoes and walked past them, and didn't even bother to ask what happened. The kitchen is currently empty. Seems the weekly maids just done cleaning the whole house. She feels grateful since she doesn't need to do some cleaning today. She's too tired from the endless exhibition she attends as part of her class. All she needs for now is a good, undisturbed sleep.

"You're early. There's no class today?"

The albino head peeking in, the same one as she sees across the building.

"Not today. I want to sleep."

"Have you eaten yet? Shall we go have lunch somewhere? Or do you prefer delivery instead?"

"Farran, stop." The raven-haired man shows up behind, eyes sharp like a hunter ready to jump on its prey. "You spent enough today."

"It's my money, Kaine. It's up to me how I spend my money."

"I know it's your money. Doesn't mean you can just throw it away for useless things."

"What useless things? You're gonna use it someday. Or Shera will."

"Neither of us will. Damn it, can't you listen for once??"

"You're the one should listen! Aaaaa, I can't hear you! Is that a meowing I heard? Did someone just meow?"

Shera rolls her eyes. With a glass of milk in hand, she takes a seat on the dining chair and watches how her brother Kaine massages his nose bridge. It must be a pain to deal with someone like Farran--when it's about money--even though personality-wise, Farran is not hard to deal with. With his occupation as a first rate model, his wealth is blinding. Shera couldn't follow his pace when she first moved here. With Kaine working as Farran's personal bodyguard and attendant, she wonders if there's a time when Kaine thinks of stopping.

"So…" Shera cuts the banter, "What are those boxes at the entrance?"

"What else?" Kaine grumbles. "Sell them fast. There's no place to keep them here."

"Help me move it downstairs, then. It seems heavy."

"Fine."

"What's inside, though?"

"Equipment."

"What kind?"

"Heavy equipment, toolbox, toolset, I don't remember."

Shera's mouth hangs open.

"Wha-- What are those for??"

"How would I know? We passed a hardware store and he just went in, bought random things."

"What's the cause of the fight this time?"

Kaine hesitates. "He wanted more plushie."

"...you should've let him buy it rather than… those boxes."

"Don't remind me. I'll help you later. Gotta calm him down first."

Kaine brought Farran out rather forcefully. Shera watches the couple, head still couldn't make out why Farran became a spendthrift only when he got mad. She's really grateful because Farran is generous, letting her stay in his two-stories apartment floor for free, pays for her college tuition, even helped her get a part time job using his connections in the entertainment world. His kindness makes her wary at first, but now that she lives there and witness how Farran and her brother have a deeper relationship than mere boss and employee, she can understand.

Why did someone like him fell for Kaine, though? Kaine has what they call resting bitch face. Adds with his crude words, Kaine is obviously not anyone's main option. As his sister, even though Kaine is not a bad brother, she personally won't choose him as a lover.

Shera stares outside the window. She knows love is an unexplainable emotion. Human's emotion in general are already hard to decipher. It happens to anyone, and most of the time it's uncontrollable. She thought it would take a long while for Kaine to meet anyone precious. Yet here he is, serving his important person on a daily basis, like a slave. She's sure Kaine did voluntary, not because he is Farran's employee. About how the love grows between them, that she doesn't know. She doesn't want to know.

As someone who puts a partner at the very bottom of her list, the appearance of someone interesting is obviously out of her sight. Even if there is, she didn't pay attention to them. She's not that dense not to notice some guys are interested in her, but she made a clear line to stop anyone from coming over. She won't use classic excuses like wanting to focus on her study or career. She merely enjoys her single life, that's all. Besides, she's still young. Even though she enjoys romance's show in general, she's not that eager to experience one herself.

Sounds of something scratching snaps her out of her thought. Kaine's cat is clawing the box, honing its little claws. Shera rushes to pick the white-furred feline up, caressing its head, watches how it snuggles to her and meows cutely.

Cat is cuter, she thought, and there are a lot of cats here to take care of. Cats don't judge your choice in life and just think about themselves, unlike boys.