9: something fishy

"What?" I asked in shock.

"I don't want to!" I complained.

I'm widening my eyes at him while raising my brows with my utmost objection to his idea.

"Don't raise your voice. Listen, they don't know who you are so it will be okay," Caden convinced me.

"But for me, it wasn't okay," I hardly objected then rolled my eyes at him.

"Cassandra, please!"

"No way! I won't ever do what you want."

This jerk wants me to sit somewhere near them and act cute towards that Darwin. As if that I have a stomach to do that. Disgusting.

"Cassandra, you're cute. So, I know you can."

I threw a glare at him. "Hey, whatever you say, you will never fool me. Got it? I won't ever do that. Never."

"Even in the name of cancellation of our marriage and five million pesos?"

I was a bit stunned when I realized what he said. I almost forgot that this jerk was actually my fiancé. I shook my head and sighed in defeat.

"Why does it have to be me and not you?" I asked.

"It can't be. Kiara may think that I'm a stalker. She might get turn-off and we'll be dead."

I breathed out deeply. So, it means I don't have a choice?

My attention shifted to where Kiara and Darwin were and observed them. Kiara looks really happy with Darwin's company. A few moments later, my forehead wrinkled when I noticed something odd with that Darwin.

I looked at Caden. "Fine. I'll do it."

Caden looked surprised. "For real?"

I nodded then I gestured my hand to wait up. I stood up from my seat and simply went near to where Kiara and Darwin were. I can really feel that there's something odd here.

After a while, Darwin stood up and went to the drink's stall and fall in line, then I followed him. I also fall in line and stood next to him. After he ordered and got his drink, I head off his way.

He paused while I'm just looking at the ground. I slowly lifted my gaze until our eyes met.

"Miss?" Darwin asked.

I'm just staring at his eyes until I saw that he's feeling awkward.

"Excuse me," he said then he went back to his seat where Kiara was.

Then I went back to my seat as well.

"What was that, Cassandra?" Caden queried.

"There's something odd with that Darwin."

"Odd? What do you mean? Is he harmful?"

"No. I don't know yet. Still not sure. I guess we have to keep on following them."

"Okay."

And we really followed those two like real stalkers. They strolled at other parts of the mall after going to food court. They also went to the clothes' section, perfume store, arcade, and even at the department store. And while we're tailing them, I'm just letting this jerk whine in jealousy while I kept on observing Darwin.

Until we reached the mall's exit. After they stopped walking, we also stopped as well at a right distance where they can't easily notice us but we can hear their conversation.

"Thanks for today, bestie," Darwin beamed.

"No problem, bestie. Happy birthday!" Kiara greeted him happily then they hugged.

"Bestie?" Caden puzzled.

"Confirmed." Caden looked at me with his forehead wrinkled after what I said.

"Don't you still get it? Darwin is gay. A queer, an LGBTQIA."

"Oh, that's what you meant when you said that there's something odd about him?"

"Exactly."

Caden laughed in victory. "That's good. I felt relieved," while he can't take his bright smile away from his face.

"So, I can go home now. Right?" then I walked straight towards the exit.

"Let me send you home."

I was surprised when I realized that Caden was just next to me.

"Nah, I used to go home by myself. Besides, won't you chase Kiara? You should send her home."

"I want to but look," then he pointed outside.

"Her personal driver got her first."

We saw Kiara already riding at a car and it drove away.

"Oh, come on. Besides. We're living under one roof. So, it's the same."

I scratched my nape after I realized what he said. "Okay. Fine."

Then we head to the parking lot where his car was.

--

"Since when you're suspecting Darwin?" Caden asked while driving.

"Hmm, while they were eating at the food court, his fingers are moving in a lady-like manner, even the way he wiped his lips with a tissue. At first, I was hesitant because I thought that maybe he's just a soft guy," I explained.

"Also, his aura and presence. that's how it feels like," I added.

"Wow. Can you sense gay people?"

I haven't managed to answer him quick and thought for a while.

"I don't know. But I guess that's it."

Caden laughed a bit. "That's weird and amazing at the same time."

"I also want to ask something."

"Hmm?"

"Why are you even asking for my help to pursue Kiara? You don't know how?"

Silence went between us, then Caden spoke.

"I never liked anyone else aside from her. So. . ."

We went quiet again, the Caden spoke once more.

"How about you? Don't you have any admirers as of now? Or even had a puppy love? You know what I mean?"

"Nothing. I don't have anything that you mentioned."

"Really? But you're eighteen already. Most teens nowadays starting to have those things as early as fourteen?"

I sighed, "I'm not interested."

"Oh."

"I suddenly remembered something," I blurted.

"Hmm?"

"Do you still remember when you offered me that treaty the day of our meeting?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"I have my own plan that time regarding breaking our engagement and talk to you about it. I'm planning to pay our debts in a different way. But you brought up your plan first, so I forgot about it already."

His forehead wrinkled, "Pay in different way?"

"Yep. For example, I'm going to work at your company and just deduct it on my salary. Something like that."

"Oh. . .okay."

"Wait, what are you thinking about?"

"Huh? Nothing."

After we went through their automatic gate, we head out his car after Caden parked it. I went in the mansion first and headed straight to my room and closed the door and changed my uniform into my home clothes.

After a while, I heard a knock on my door.

"Come in."

I was surprised when Caden was the one who opened the door and went in.

"What?" I asked.

He was turning his gaze around my room. "It's so messy. Unlikely for a girl," he commented after seeing my messy bed.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Wow. Thank you," I sarcastically remarked.

"You're study table is a mess. Papers are scattered everywhere."

I frowned then placed my hands on my waist. "Hey, if you're just here to make fun of my room, just better go away."

Caden picked up a crumpled paper at the floor and opened it.

"Wait. It looks like a manga. You made this?" he queried.

I was shocked and quickly went towards him. "Don't look at it! Give it to me!" I yelled while kept on grabbing the paper from him. But he also kept on keeping it away from me and he was tall so I'm having a hard time to reach it.

"Hmm, not bad. Your drawing looks good. May I see more of this?" he remarked.

"What? Beats me. And why? Are we close?" I hissed.

Caden made his shoulder close to mine. "There. We're close now. So, can I?"

I pushed him away. "You're really an idiot, huh?"

He quickly searched up on my table. "Aha! Got it!"

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped after I saw my folder of manga that I made on his hands.

"Stop right there, Caden! You, stupid jerk!" I yelled while kicking my feet aggressively.

"You're not only a trespasser, you're also an invader of privacy!"

But he seemed like never heard any of my yelling and just continued to open the folder and read what's inside of it.

"Trespasser? Don't forget that you're living in our house."

I thought for a while about what he said.

"Even so!"

A moment of silence prevailed around my room while I'm just staring at him and feeling nervous as he read what I made.

I don't really feel comfortable to make someone read or see any of my work. I guess if you're close to me, it could be an exception.

"Not bad, Cassandra. Please update this. I wanna read it," he stated with a smile on his face.

I raised my brows. "Seriously? For real?"

He just nodded then smiled.