Aileen
There was a long pause after Dave spoke. Skylar was thinking about something in his mind.
Mom and Dave both kept their eyes on him, full of expectations.
The atmosphere was so tense it could cut through a paper.
I thought maybe I should interrupt, but then Skylar’s eyes shifted towards me.
“If I have to say, it must be…. genuine human connection that I’m looking for.”
When he said that, his smile was sad, but it looked sad for no reason.
Why does he always look so aloof and alone even in happy moments? Is he searching for human connection? He has so many friends around him who all treasure and like him. Even though he’s so popular he still feels alone.
How’s that possible? Or things are totally different than how they look on the surface?
“That’s kind of an unexpected answer from you,” Dave replied, “May I know why you desire it regardless of everything? Why is it so important to you?”
Skylar lowered his eyes. “I don’t have the answer to that question at this moment. I’m sorry. But, one thing I know. I really want it. Not something fabricated, or artificial, something genuine out of the heart.”
“You”At that moment I wanted to just grab him by the collar and ask him why he was speaking like this. Why does he act like this, b think he probably won’t say anything even if I do.
It’s so frustrating, unable to help those people who are so close to you yet they seem so far away.
“Oh, Skylar, dear! Come here!” Mom hugged him tightly, patting him on his back. “If you ever feel alone, you can always come to visit us. Treat it like your own house. We’ll always welcome you and try to make you feel at home also, alright?”
Skylar nods in response, “Thank you.”
After that, Mom, Dave, and I went to see him off to the door.
“Well, I’m off then. Thanks for your hospitality,” Skylar said, standing next to his car.
“Please drop by again someday,” Mom said, waving at him.
Dave didn’t say anything and stayed silent.
“Bye, Skylar,” I also waved at him.
He smiled got into the car and waved toward me as the car drove past our house premises.
A sad feeling washed over me after he left. I really enjoyed having him around today.
“Aileen, get back inside, it’s cold. You too, Dave!” Mom said before walking back inside.
“Come to see me around midnight in my study. We need to talk,” Dave said coldly before walking away from my side.
A cold breeze blew past me and I could tell something worse was coming my way.
Well, I can expect what he wants to talk about. It must be regarding Skylar’s arrival at our house.
He always has problems with whoever boys I interact with, whether it’s Skylar or Marshall even though I have no other connection with either of them.
I wish he would grow up a little. Still not mature enough for his age.
Get ready for some scoldings, Aileen.
During dinner, Mom talked about her day and what Skylar and I did at home. Dave just kept hearing everything and nodded to Mom’s questions.
I finished eating first and went back to my room. I wrote down my thoughts regarding Skylar in my diary and played some games to kill time before midnight.
Suddenly, my phone beeped. I reached out my hand to grab it from the bed.
Marshall’s name popped up. Why’s he texting me at this hour?
He wrote: “Becky has been acting a bit weird since yesterday. It seems to be your influence. I only hope it’s for the good. Thanks for coming over Aileen. I can never thank you enough.”
Oh, there’s also the thing with Becky. I need to think of a plan, I discussed it with him.
“No worries, and stop thanking me. I’m doing it out of my own will,” I texted him back.
There are so many things to do. I hope I can help out Skylar so he can open up to me like Rosalia and the Principal did.
My phone buzzed again. Another text showed up on my screen. But this time, it was from Dave. “I’m already at the study. Come here.”
He’s being so secretive, isn’t he?
“I’m coming. Wait for me.”
I kept aside the console and made my way towards the study. I arrived in a few minutes and knocked from outside the door.
“The door is open,” came the response from inside.
Of course, it is. I went inside and closed the door behind me.
Dave was sitting on the chair leaning against the soft leather comfortably.
I walked over to his side and stood in front of his table.
“So, why did you tell me to come here?” I asked frankly. “What do you wanna talk about?”
He sat upright and fixed his posture and looked straight in my direction. His gaze was deadly and serious.
“I think you know it already, don’t you?”
“Know what? I don’t understand,” My voice was cracking up from the nervousness.
“It’s about your friend, ‘Skylar’. I don’t want to see you hanging out with him outside of your college hours. It’s an eyesore to have him around. Have I made it clear enough to you now?”
He’s not beating around the bush this time, is he? Went straight to the point.
“May I know why I can’t hang out with him outside college? What reason? And why is he an eyesore to you? Cause, I don’t think he has done anything improper which would make him look bad in your eyes,” I replied.
“I never said he did anything,” he replied, folding his arms, “And it’s mostly because he didn’t state his intentions clearly I don’t want you to hang out with him too much. Cause boys like him who don’t tell what they want are dangerous. I’m a man, I’ve experienced the period you are going through. So, not getting involved with him is the best decision you can make.”
“What?” I was furious.
“Now you are judging people based on their good behaviors also? What kind of a judging system is that? You…you can’t do this to me!”
“And why can’t I do that?” his eyes narrowed on me. “I’m your legal guardian. And I also care about your security. What’s wrong with me wanting the best for you?”
He’s completely ignoring the main problem.
“There’s nothing wrong in wanting that. But, what you are trying to do is take control of my life and freedom, like how you tried to do previously for countless times. When will you even learn from your mistake? Grow up a little, will you? Stop being jealous all the time! It’s not cute!”
He frowned, standing up on his feet, “What did you say? I’m being jealous? I need to grow up?”
“Yeah! And the worst part is, You don’t even realize how much childish you sound right now. But, someone needs to point it out to you someday or the other. This can’t go on forever. I’m tired of this behavior of yours.”
He flinched and started marching towards me. “What did you say? You are tired of me and my behavior?”
I clenched my fists, stepping away slowly. “I didn’t say I’m tired of you. I’m just tired of your jealousy, that’s all.”
“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?” he retorted.
“No, it’s obviously…not. You are being impractical and completely illogical for telling me not to hang out with Skylar. He’s a good guy, a good friend. I don’t think he can ever harm a fly. Then, why do you think…. he’s dangerous to me? When he’s the one who saved me from some troublesome situations?”
Wait, am I supposed to tell him about this? I didn’t tell him what happened at the opening ceremony of his company.
“What did you say? He saved you from what situations?” he inquired, stepping closer.
I lowered my gaze, trying to think of an excuse as fast Ias could.
“Uh…well…. I….”
I couldn’t form any words, my head totally went blank.
“Answer my questions. When and why did he save you from what?” he asked, backing me into the wall with his hands at my sides.
There was no way for me to escape out of his holds.
“Uh, um…..”
“Look into my eyes, Aileen! Look into my eyes and answer!” he growled into my face.
I squeezed my eyes shut in response.
Just don’t tell him anything extra. I can do it.
I slowly raised my head to look into his eyes nervously. My heart was beating fast against my chest.
“Ready to answer, yet?” he asked.
I gulped. “Well…. it was back when I first joined college. All my classmates were discriminating against me because I’m the Alpha’s daughter. And they were talking behind my back because I don’t approach them on my own. You know how socially awkward I am. At that time, Skylar was bothering me. He was trying to befriend me and at that time, I was the one avoiding him.”
“Slowly, a group of girls were calling me arrogant and whatnot in my face. At that time, one day Skylar defended me in front of them and since then those girls never tried to bother me or say mean things to me. There’s also a girl in my class who became my only friend at that time. So, I’m grateful to Skylar and that girl for being the only ones who talk with me at college, and sticking with me no matter what. And that’s why, You can’t tell me to stop hanging out with him. I owe him a lot. He also defended me against his team member who tried to be aggressive with me. If you stop seeing him as a boy and see him for who he truly is then you won’t find him an eyesore either.”