"Have you had your first kiss yet?" He asked and Ethel's eyes widened.
"Huh....huh??" She asked in shock.
Nathan let out a corny smile and moved away from her.
"Why is your heart beating so fast? You think I'm gonna kiss you?" He asked.
"No!" Ethel said loudly and touched her chest, Nathan chuckled.
"Move" he muttered and Ethel did, he took the plates by himself.
"You look cute when you smile" Ethel said and Nathan looked at her, he honestly didn't realize he's been smiling.
"I don't like looking cute tho" Nathan said and Ethel smiled.
"Fried Rice? Why?" He raised his head.
"You ordered this yourself, and chicken" Ethel replied.
"Seriously? I did?" Nathan muttered.
"Of course, I wouldn't bring what you didn't order" Ethel said and Nathan nodded.
"You should take enough for yourself, I'm not really hungry" He said.
"But.....it's getting late" Ethel mumbled.
"Don't worry about that and just eat" Nathan sat down on the tall seat right opposite Ethel.
"Thanks for the food" Ethel said and Nathan nodded, he watched her as she started eating, he didn't touch his until Ethel looked up.
"Why are you not eating?" She asked.
"Worry about yourself spy kid" Nathan said and Ethel groaned.
"I'm not a spy, how many times do I have to tell you?" She asked.
"So what should I call you? Kiddo?" Nathan grinned.
"I don't want anything kid, call me my name" Ethel said.
"What's your name?" Nathan asked and Ethel's spoon dropped.
"You....you don't know my name?" She asked.
"You never introduced yourself to me, but Spy kid sounds cool" Nathan said, finally eating a spoonful of rice.
"My name is Ethel"
"I don't like that name" Nathan said instantly and Ethel sighed.
"Why?"
"I just don't like it, but since you don't want spy kid, I will give you something else" Nathan said and dropped the cutleries.
Ethel stared at him as he thought deeply.
"Shortie?" Nathan grinned and Ethel frowned.
"I can't believe I was expecting something nice" She scoff.
"Something nice? Aren't you short? You don't even reach my shoulder at all" Nathan said.
"That's because you're a giant! It's not that I'm short, you're just too tall!" Ethel shouted.
"That makes you short of course, a lady should at least reach a man's shoulder level, oh sorry I forgot you're not a lady yet, my bad" Nathan said and Ethel dropped her spoon angrily, she got down from the seat
"Hey hey" Nathan rushed to her.
"I'm going home, leave me alone" Ethel said.
"Are you angry because I said you're not a lady?" Nathan asked.
"Yes I am! I told you I hate it when you talk about me like I'm a child" Ethel snapped.
"You're a girl not a child, but a lady? You're not" Nathan shook his head.
Ethel glared at him.
"Okay fine, I won't say a word again, you should finish your food" Nathan said.
"I don't want to eat again" Ethel muttered.
"How about a cute nickname this time? Like....Bug?" Nathan asked and Ethel glared.
"Bug? I'm a bug to you?" She asked.
"Cute Bug...something like that" Nathan said and Ethel scoffed.
"Now I see why you don't have a girlfriend, what is cute bug?" She asked, sitting down again.
"Hey, who said that's the reason why I don't have a girlfriend? I just don't want one, if I want to have ten girlfriends today, I'm sure gonna get them" Nathan said.
"I know" Ethel muttered.
"But I think bug sounds more like you though" Nathan said.
"Anyhow, Anaconda" Ethel scoffed and Nathan sighed.
"Why Anaconda of all names?"
"Your face is always like that, scary" She said..."but handsome" She muttered lowly that Nathan didn't hear her.
**
"Are you taking me home?" Ethel asked happily as she walked out of the house with Nathan.
"Do I look like Waylon or something?" He scoffed and Ethel pouted.
"Stop giving me that face spy....I mean Bug" He pushed her forehead.
"Boss, are you going somewhere?" Some guards asked.
"No, take her home" Nathan said and Ethel immediately looked at him.
"I....don't even know them" she said.
"It's more safe than taking a taxi, stop making noise and go home" Nathan said and Ethel followed the guards.
They opened the car door for her and she entered, she wanted to wave at Nathan but he already went in.
Seconds later, the car drove out of the island.
Nathan went to the kitchen and opened the fridge, he took one of the strawberry milk Vivian got and closed it back, he decided to check the messages on his phone and one caught his attention.
💌 UNCLE, I KNOW YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ME RIGHT NOW, BUT CAN YOU LET ME MEET YOU AT LEAST? - Arya
Nathan closed the app with a straight face and went upstairs.
****
SANTIAGO'S PLACE
Arya came downstairs, Jenny was in the living room, she ignored her and went into the kitchen. She returned with a bottle of water in her hand and almost went back upstairs.
"Stop" Jenny ordered and Arya turned back.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Is there something wrong I don't know about?" Jenny asked.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Arya muttered.
"You're so quiet these days, you hardly talk and you keep skipping meals. Tell me what's going on..."
"You expect me to be happy? I'm supposed to be getting ready for college already!" Arya shouted in tears and Jenny stood up, she walked over to her.
"You know your father is trying hard....."
"Trying hard? You call that trying hard? Going to uncle Nathan to ask for money is trying hard?! After everything you made him go through?!! It's all because of you! I can't even face him knowing fully well that I have him but just because of you and dad's wickedness and greediness!!..."
Jenny slapped her.
"How dare you say that to me!!" Jenny yelled.
Tears rolled down Arya's eyes, she smashed the bottle water in her hand on the wall and the water burst out, Arya ran out of the house.
"Arya!!! Come back here you brat!!" Jenny shouted but Arya ignored her calls, she opened the gate and ran out in tears.
She ran straight to the nearest playground in the street but then stopped when she saw a guy sitting on a bench there, she almost turned to leave.
"Are you scared?" Adam asked,facing her.
Arya wiped her tears and went to sit down, leaving enough space between them.
"Here" Adam offered her his handkerchief.
"Thanks" Arya said, taking the handkerchief with a shaking hand, she wiped her tears.
"Why are you here this late?" Arya asked.
"Because.....I hate my house" Adam muttered and faced her.
"You?"
"I hate myself." Arya said.
"Why?" Adam asked.
"I just hate myself a lot, I wish I could turn back time" Arya muttered and Adam sighed.
"You look quite young to be saying that" He said.
"I'm not a child tho, I'm close to seventeen" Arya said.
"Oh" Adam muttered.
"It's my first time seeing you here" Arya said and Adam nodded.
"It's my first time here" He said.
**
"Thank you for walking me home" Arya said to Adam and he nodded.
"You're welcome" He said and Arya smiled.
She waved at him before going in. Adam also went his own way.
****
NEXT MORNING ★ THE LEVIS MANSION
Adam climbed down the stairs,he was almost surprised to see his mom just coming out of the dining room.
"Morning son" Mrs Levi said,smiling.
"What are you doing here?" Adam asked.
"Son....."
"Call me my name" Adam cut her off.
"I know you're mad at me...."
"That's what you always tell me every f**king time!! I can really count how many times I've seen you since I turned ten! I wonder what you're still doing here,I've been telling people I don't have parents...."
"Son!"
"There's no difference between me and those who have no parents anyway, so find your son somewhere else" Adam said and walked out of the house, closing the door loudly.
Mrs Levi sighed out loudly and sat down on the couch weakly.
*I've been telling people I don't have parents* The statement rang in her head and she sighed out.
She just found out recently that Adam withdrew from college,that's why she's home,she didn't know her son left school for two years already, because she's hardly in the country. She's a single mom, her husband died when Adam was still a child and she had to work so hard, but maybe it's too much, she doesn't even have time for her only child.
"I'm so sorry son, I'm sorry" She muttered in tears.
**
Adam walked to the bus stop,even though there are countless cars in the house, he doesn't even use any of them.
As he approached the bus stop, he saw Ethel sitting and a smile appeared on his lips. He walked faster and touched her from the back. Ethel immediately turned and her eyes brightened when she saw him.
"Panda" She called
"Morning" Adam said.
"Are you okay?" Ethel asked.
"Why?"
"You look kind of...sad?"
"Oh, I'm fine" Adam said and Ethel smiled.
"It's so good seeing you this morning" She said.
"Me too" Adam muttered.
The bus stopped in front of them and they immediately moved to it, Adam allowed Ethel enter first and he followed
"No, I will pay for us" He stopped Ethel before she could pay.
"Oh..thanks" Ethel muttered.
Adam used his card and they went to sit down together.
"Thank you...."
"It's nothing,stop embarrassing me" Adam cut in and Ethel chuckled.
****
AXEL'S MANSION
Evelyn knocked on the door to Axel's room gently, she's his maid, the only maid in the mansion to be precise.
"Come in" Evelyn heard the voice of a lady, probably another bítch he brought home last night.
She swallowed and entered with the tray of food in her hand.
She met the girl on the bed,she was wearing Axel's shirt.
"Place it right here" She said,pointing at the stool next to her.
Evelyn placed the tray on the stool and the lady took the tea mug,she sipped from it.
"Ahh!!" She screamed and dropped it immediately as the tea burned her tongue.
"Are you crazy?!! Why didn't you tell me it's so hot?!" She yelled and stood up.
"You asked for hot tea..." Before Evelyn could finish, she slapped her and Evelyn fell on the floor.
"How dare a maid like you talk back at me?!"
The door opened and Axel came in, he was actually getting ready for work.
"What's going on?" He asked and saw Evelyn holding her face in tears.
"She allowed me burn my tongue because of the stupid hot tea she made"
"You can go" Axel said to Evelyn, she stood up and immediately ran out of the room.
"Hey sweetie..." The lady tried touching Axel
"Get out" he snapped at her angrily and she frowned.
"Axel..."
"Who gave you the audacity to touch her? Who do you think you are?" Axel asked.
"I just..."
He threw two bundles of money on her and packed her clothes on the floor, he threw it on her and pushed her out of the room.
"Do something good with the money" He said and closed his door back.
"What a crazy bítch, is she trying to act like my girlfriend? Geez, girls can be funny" He scoffed, walking back into the dressing room.
****
EVENING ★ GOOD TIME RESTAURANT
As soon as Nathan entered, came murmurs from different angles.
👥 Oh my gosh, it's Xavier Nathan
👥 I can't believe I'm seeing him!
👥 He's even more handsome than seeing him on TVs
"Hey" Axel raised his hand from his table and Nathan walked over to him.
"What's this? A date?" He asked and Axel smiled
"Maybe" he said and immediately a waiter came to get their orders.
"I missed you" Axel said and Nathan scoffed.
"After yelling at me on the phone?" He asked.
"That wasn't even a yell...."
"You didn't answer my call the first time,what if I died?" Nathan asked and Axel sighed.
"Nathan, I didn't even know it was raining here,I was out of the town and it wasn't raining where I was. You should know I will never ignore your call,I would have called you first" Axel said.
"Whatever" Nathan rolled his eyes
"Hey,I'm sorry, okay?" Axel said.
"Not like I'm angry, I deserve it" Nathan said.
"Stop it,byou don't deserve it. It was an honest mistake, stop making me feel like a bad person" Axel said and Nathan scoffed.
"I love you" Axel said and Nathan glared at him.
"Stop It" he immediately said and Axel chuckled.
**
Ethel walked out of NX sadly, she came to see Nathan but he's not there,she doesn't even know why she came but the thing is, while serving a customer, she got a coffee stain on her clothes and she had to go back home to change.
'Why did I put on this dress?' She asked herself.
And now she's here because she wanted Nathan to see her in the dress.
It's a white short gown, but it's a really pretty one, different from the one she's used to. It was part of the dresses Hailey got her but she never wore,but whatever came over her to wear it, she doesn't know, but the truth is, she's looking hot.
The gown got her perfect slim figure giving her the model look,her long hair which dropped freely behind her making it more sexier, since Nathan said the ponytail doesn't look good enough, she didn't tie up her hair either.
She was walking to the bus stop already when suddenly a car horn beside her and she immediately looked up to see Nathan but instead it was Waylon.
"Hi" she managed to smile.
"Going home already?" Waylon came down from the car.
"Yes" Ethel replied.
"Oh...I was thinking....would you have dinner with me?" Waylon asked and Ethel bit her lips.
"Not my house, a restaurant" Waylon said.
"Oh" Ethel muttered.
"Don't worry,we won't take too long,I promise" Waylon said and Ethel nodded. Waylon smiled.
"Thanks" He opened the car for her and she entered,he also joined her .
****
BACK IN GOOD TIME RESTAURANT
"So what are you planning to do about Santiago?" Axel asked as they ate.
"I'm not planning to do anything" Nathan muttered.
"He's crazier than I thought" Axel chuckled.
Just then, Waylon came in with Ethel, Axel was the first to see them since he's the one facing the entrance.
"Oh...is that not your cutie and Waylon?" He smiled and Nathan raised his brows but he didn't look back and soon, Waylon and Ethel walked past them to a table
"Honestly,they look good together,and the cutie is looking hot today, did they plan a date?" Axel grinned, staring at Nathan who scoffed and continued eating without saying a word.
"You're not gonna talk?" Axel asked.
"What do you expect me to say?" Nathan asked and Axel chuckled.
Ethel was becoming uncomfortable seeing Nathan but she had to calm herself down, still she couldn't help but to think.
'What if he misunderstands again?'
'I should have decline'
****
MINUTES LATER ★ RESTROOM
Ethel sighed out loudly after washing her face,she stared at herself in the mirror and her mind went to Nathan again,she ignored it and opened the door.
"Ahh!" She screamed when she saw Nathan standing right there,she was shocked.
Nathan was leaning on the wall,his two hands in the pocket,his eyes on her.
"Hi" Ethel muttered.
Nathan stared at her from her face down and then back again before scoffing.
"Did you dress up because of him or something?" He asked.
"I..."
"It's not pretty" Nathan cut in and Ethel frowned.
"Why? Because it's Waylon? Just the way you said my hair wasn't pretty,now my dress isn't pretty? You really like making me feel bad,well as long as Waylon like my dress,I don't care whatever you say" Ethel said and made to leave.
Nathan grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"You forgot something" He said.
"What" Ethel muttered.
"Your hair should be in a ponytail,isn't that what he likes?" Nathan asked bluntly and Ethel looked at him.
She was about talking when Waylon appeared.
"Ethel" He called and glared at Nathan before grabbing Ethel's hand.
"Are you okay?" He asked and Ethel nodded.
Waylon took her away and Nathan let out a fake chuckle.
"Seriously?" He muttered and went back into the restaurant
"Hey,where are you coming from..." Axel asked.
"Goodnight" Nathan said and took his car key.
His eyes fell on Waylon and Ethel again before finally walking out of the restaurant.