Chapter 29 - Reclusive

'How is 'THIS' a teenager. Is he on steroids?' Reya thought as she peered up at him.

"Is this true?" she whispered as she peered at Mr. Kooper.

"Yes, he is," he sighed.

"But didn't you say that he worked for NASA, how is that possible than," she inquired with a confused look.

The stupid guy, Ahem ,Clive snickered.

"He graduated college at ten, he worked for NASA for eight, no nine years yeah?" he told with a little of confusion in his tone.

"I worked for eight years, and then I got poached by ruskies," he said with his chest puffed out.

"Don't be so proud," she snickered.

Reya really didn't like his attitude in the first place, now she knew where that arrogance came from.

'So he was a child genius, going to college at just ten, he would not have had any friend to teach him about social norm. Tsk tsk, I bet he got bullied a lot for his hair as well,' she thought gazing at him.

Somehow, she could empathize with him, so she decided to forgive him.

"Mark, come on, let me experiment on her. I think she might be one of 'Them'," he whispered to Mr. Kooper.

"Hey, listen, let bygones be…" she started, but that stupid guy's whisper enraged her. "You're still calling me an alien!" she said through her clenched teeth.

She cracked her knuckle. "Mr. Kooper shall I kick him in the balls?" she asked in an eager voice.

"No and no. two of you should learn to get along. And Clive, SHE. IS. NOT. AN. ALIEN, get it through your thick skull," Mr. Kooper said.

Reya growled and pounced on him.

"Okay, this has gone beyond control. Reya, stop it now. And you I don't know who you are, but no one gets to bully my daughter. I might punch you myself, as of now let's go to sleep. Its midnight," Her mother said with a scary smile.

Reya shuddered at her smile. 'Oh god, it's her killer smile,' she thought with a wince.

It was her I'm-not-so-angry-but-I-am-very-angry smile.

'Shit,' she gave her not-so-lovely mother a sweet fake smile. "I think it's time to sleep too," she whispered and darted out of the room.

She heard silent footsteps following her. Subtly, she glanced back to find the bearded guy following her with his back hunched.

'Weirdo, why is he following me?'

she became quite vigilant after her first encounter with him. 'Maybe he is following me to get my urine sample and tissue sample,' a dangerous thought emerged in her brain. she bit her finger nails.

"Hey, why are you following me?" she said in a whisper.

"Che, don't overestimate myself. I'm going to MY room in MY house and in MY hallway," he said and strode past.

"Hump, I don't give a shit," she whispered and walked into her room.

The next morning was surprisingly uneventful. Reya had a wholesome breakfast and napped on the windowsill.

The bloody bastard she met yesterday was not anywhere in sight. He was not there for breakfast and lunch. So she went to the butler to inquire of his health.

'Did I hit him too hard? Or did Mr.Kooper hit him too hard? Head wacks do not cause brain damage. Does it?' she thought, biting her fingernails.

But the butler chuckled.

"Oh, it's nothing to worry, young one. Our master is always reclusive; he has his breakfast and lunch in his room. But you will see him by dinner," he said with a small smile.

His wrinkly face and kind smile did sooth her anxious heart.

"Oh, that a relief. I thought he got hurt because of me," she said, letting out a breath of relief.

"Don't worry dear; our master has always been quite… naughty. His head is used to those wacks," he said with a chuckle.