Chapter 22
Friend
***
Leila was just so flabbergasted as she saw Duncan in front of her grandparents’ house.
“What are you doing here?” She managed to ask him.
But Duncan’s hug became a bit tighter as he shook his head.
“I am just so happy to see you, Leila. My God, I am very worried.” He said full of concern.
Then, he broke his embrace and held her on both shoulders. His light brown eyes reflected worry as he looked at her from head to toe as if he was trying to check whether she was really alright or not.
Leila chuckled to lighten up the mood.
But a warm and big hand pulled my arm causing me to step away from Duncan. My eyes widened as I saw Hunter’s dark expression as he looked at Duncan.
She swallowed hard as her lips slightly ajar. Her eyes moved from Duncan’s now serious expression, then Hunter’s cold and annoyed face.
“Uh, I am fine. Why are you here, anyway?” Leila inquired curiously.
But the two seemed like they didn’t hear what she just said.
“Who are you?” The two asked in unison.
Leila’s forehead creased as she felt the sudden tension dripping in the air. She couldn’t even understand why. However, what she knew that she had to do was to lighten their mood.
“Well, Duncan, this is Hunter… Uh, my… my neighbor. H-Hunter, this is Duncan, my childhood friend.” Leila introduced the two still curious about the rising stiffness between them.
However, it seemed like the tension between them escalated.
“Neighbor…” Duncan stated as if he was mocking Hunter.
But it looked like Hunter wouldn’t stay silent at his word.
“Friend…” He sardonically uttered as he gave Duncan a smug smirk.
Leila looked at them with oblivion. Her forehead creased more because she couldn’t understand why they were acting that way.
“Uhm, is there a problem?” She asked innocently.
“Nothing.” The two uttered in unison with their dark and irritated faces as they both looked at her.
Leila immediately raised her both hands like surrendering as she shook her head.
“Fine. Fine. I won’t say anything more.” She said and scoffed at them.
“Men are not easy to understand, really.” She murmured under her breath as she walked back to the kitchen to continue what she had been doing a while ago.
“Feel free to sit down, Duncan. We will talk later. I just need to finish baking tart.” Leila said as she got the raspberries and washed them in the sink.
But knowing Duncan, he followed her to the kitchen instead. Hunter looked at them with his clenching jaw.
“You are baking! I will help.” Duncan volunteered excitedly.
However, Leila immediately shook her head stopping him. Then, she chuckled.
“Stop it, Duncan! You are not stepping here!” She smilingly stated.
“You almost burned our kitchen way back at home.” Leila added and giggled.
But Duncan simply smiled at her words.
“Stop teasing me. I just want to help.” He tried to look at her innocently causing Leila to laugh at him.
Well, Leila couldn’t stop but to feel really at ease at him.
“How did you know that I am here anyway?” She asked while she was waiting for the tart to cook.
Duncan let out a deep sigh. This time she could see concern radiating in his eyes.
“I went to your house and said that you are here. I want to know if you are alright, but I couldn’t reach you. I am waiting for you for two days now, but no one knew where you are.” Duncan explained.
Leila felt a bit guilty. She didn’t think of Duncan because he had been so busy with his studies, and she rarely see him.
“I am really sorry that I haven’t think of telling you about my plans. I am just too… Uhm, well, preoccupied…” Leila replied consciously.
Duncan stared at her with so much curiosity causing her to feel a bit bothered.
“What do you mean? Are you okay?” He asked seriously.
This time, she felt a bit tense. She was guilty, too. She knew that she couldn’t say the truth about what was happening to her for a lot of reasons. It was not because she didn’t trust Duncan enough to tell him everything.
Leila mentally let out a deep sigh.
First, who wouldn’t believe her, right?!
Second, she knew Duncan very well and she knew that he would be restless once she gave him with those unbelievable reasons.
Third, Duncan could really be too protective of her.
So, she must be careful with her words.
She smiled sweetly at Duncan.
“I… I just went into a vacation… You know… Unwind and find some inspiration for various food that I am working into.” She explained as she shrugged her shoulders at him, like it wasn’t a big deal at all.
Duncan let out a deep sigh and smiled like it was a relief. Then, he ruffled her hair causing her to groan in frustration. He always does things like that to her. And he always treats her like his younger sister.
“That is good to know. Just always be careful, okay?” Duncan reminded her sweetly making her smile at him.
He was like a big brother to her, and she was so blessed knowing that he was always there for her.
However, she instantly jumped when a shrieking sound of the moving chair interrupted her conversation with Duncan.
Leila’s eyes moved towards Hunter who moved his chair harshly.
However, she was left with Duncan as she looked at his Hunter’s back.
“What happened to him?” She murmured under her breath as she shrugged his shoulders innocently.
***
Hunter gritted his teeth as he watched Leila and her ‘childhood friend’ whoever it was while talking in the kitchen.
He went outside to calm his raging nerves. That man was already getting into his nerves. He clenched his jaw.
Hunter didn’t understand why he felt that way. He didn’t want to see Leila smiling with that friend of hers.
‘Why are you so possessive, Hunter? You are just a neighbor yourself.’ A part of him whispered and he couldn’t stop but to silently cursed.
“As if I will let her be with just a friend, too.” He unconsciously whispered and before he could even think rationally, he found himself walking back to the kitchen and got Leila’s hand.
Leila looked at him speechless and shocked.
“Let’s talk…” He uttered and pulled her out of the house leaving that man glaring at him.
Hunter smirked.
He wouldn’t let him be with Leila alone this time.
However, before they could even walk out of the kitchen, Leila stopped as Duncan held her other hand.
“We are still talking.” He stated seriously causing Hunter to clench his jaw.