The next morning when Thea woke up she saw that Selene's bed was empty with the sheets and blankets already made up. Thea glanced at the clock, eight o'clock in the morning her gray eyes widened as she overslept at someone else's house. Embarrassing. Without thinking twice Thea got off the bed and went to the bathroom to wash her face. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, making sure there was no eye dirt and that her hair was better organized. She tried to dismiss the image of Alaric in her mind. No, she was not like this because of Alaric, it was only natural for her to look presentable even if she had just woken up while staying at someone else's house.
After making sure she looked fresh, Thea went to the Grayson's kitchen. Just as she descended the stairs she smelled cooking coming from the kitchen, followed by the sound of Selene and Julius' small argument. Thea tiptoed into the kitchen, she saw Selene nagging Julius saying that half-boiled eggs were better but Julius said that half-boiled eggs were terrible.
Meanwhile Alaric just smiled at the argument between his two children, he himself seemed to be engrossed in frying sausages for breakfast. But as if noticing Thea's presence, he turned his golden brown eyes to meet the gaze of Thea who peeked quietly into the kitchen.
"Good morning Thea. Come join us." Alaric smiled in greeting, causing Selene and Julius to stop arguing.
"Thea, why are you peeping like that? Let's have breakfast." Selene pulled Thea into the dining room, the smell of sausages greeting her. "Do you prefer half-cooked eggs or perfectly cooked ones?"
Thea was stunned to hear Selene's question, it turned out that Selene and her brother's little argument was only to determine the type of eggs for their breakfast.
"I don't mind either one," Thea replied simply, and neutrally.
Selene rolled her eyes at Thea's answer, while Julius let out an annoyed groan. Alaric chuckled, clapping his hands together lightly. "Alright, no need to fight I'll fry two kinds of eggs for you guys."
Finished frying the sausages, Alaric began to crack the eggs on the teflon and fry them. The smell of fried eggs and butter filled the kitchen. Selene deftly transferred the orange juice she had just squeezed into a glass, she then placed the glass of juice in front of Selene.
"Thank you," Thea muttered, taking a sip of her juice.
"No problem." Selene waved her hand, and helped her father prepare breakfast.
After the food was neatly arranged on the table, the little family began to eat their breakfast. Thea silently glanced at Alaric in front of her and marveled at Alaric's shirt-wearing appearance, already looking neat and elegant on this Sunday morning.
"After a night of rain, it's quite sunny this morning," Selene commented, breaking the silence in the dining room apart from the clanking of their utensils. Selene looked at Thea enthusiastically. "How about we go swimming and sunbathe behind my house after breakfast?"
Thea chewed on her sausage, looking at Selene doubtfully. "Sorry, I'm going home after breakfast."
Selene let out a disappointed groan. "That soon? Gosh, I haven't even invited you to have fun at my house yet."
"Sorry, next time. I have some work to do." Thea smiled, politely declining Selene's invitation.
"If you come here the door is always open for you," Alaric smiled meaningfully at Thea who was looking at him deeply.
"Papa is right, and next time you can't refuse my invitation."
After breakfast this time Thea helped wash the dishes with Selene. Selene hummed softly, turning on a song from the mini speaker she had placed on the counter near the sink.
"You woke up at midnight last night, didn't you? Because I heard the door open," Selene's voice broke the humming from the speaker. Selene looked at Thea curiously, the reason why Thea wanted to use the toilet couldn't be? Because Selene's own room had a bathroom complete with a toilet.
"Actually, I was thirsty so I left you're room and went to the kitchen," Thea answered honestly. She had nothing to hide, except her small talk with Alaric last night.
Selene let out a soft "oh" at Thea's reply, her hands deftly wiping the dishes Thea had just washed. "You're the type to wake up when you're thirsty. I'll prepare a pot of water next time you stay over."
"Thank you." Thea smiled. There was only one more plate to wash, then she could go back to her apartment.
_____
Thea neatly folded the pajamas that Selene had lent her last night, actually she had insisted on taking them home and washing them herself at home. But Selene certainly refused Thea's good intentions. According to her, Thea was a guest in her house, just lending her pajamas was no trouble at all.
Thea then took her hairband from her bag, putting her milk-brown hair in a ponytail. After that she exited Selene's room, as she descended the stairs she saw Selene chatting with Alaric who was already looking presentable in his suit. Thea frowned, wasn't Alaric just wearing a shirt during breakfast.
"Thea, you don't need to call a taxi. Papa will take you home. There's an important meeting in the same direction as your apartment."
"A... But I don't want to be inconvenienced..."
"No trouble at all," Alaric cut in quickly and chuckled. "Sorry Thea, it's like I could already read your mind that you were going to refuse. And honestly no, I'm not bothered at all."
Selene nodded in agreement. "Papa's right, you're in the same direction after all." She then whispered to Thea. "As long as you don't die of boredom because Papa usually likes to ramble on about his museum collection without realizing it."
Thea unconsciously smiled at Selene's whisper. That was exactly what she liked. Yes about museums, she liked that.
____
The black car glided smoothly through the streets of Calvenhart that still left wet traces of last night's rain. Thea sat in the passenger seat, staring straight ahead, at the city traffic that was not so busy this morning because it was the weekend. She placed her bag on her thighs, the strap unconsciously fiddling with it.
Nervous.
That's how she felt. Just like last night when she was alone with Alaric in the kitchen accidentally because she wanted to get a drink. The corner of her eye unconsciously glanced at Alaric silently, the man was also staring straight ahead focused on the road he was walking on.
He was wearing a black suit that looked neat, and clung tightly to his body. Looking like a CEO or businessman that Thea used to read about in her favorite genre of novels, made Thea unconsciously gulp her saliva. She gasped, realizing that Alaric's charm had unknowingly distracted her.
'What was I thinking?' Thea thought to herself, cursing stupidly to herself.
The silence that seemed like an eternity to Thea was finally broken by Alaric's calm voice.
"What about your studies? I know from Selene that you majored in... Archaeologist?" asked Alaric doubtfully.
"That's right, I'm majoring in archaeology," Thea replied, erasing Alaric's doubts. "It's been fun so far, even if the assignments are piling up." Thea smiled still fiddling nervously with her bag.
"Actually, my college life is quite monotonous. Going to campus, going home to the apartment and sometimes taking part time. I don't have many friends, I'm only focused on my studies but since I met Selene my college life started to get colorful. I'm grateful to be friends with her."
Alaric was stunned for a moment, he smiled at Thea's story. "Selene also told me a lot about you. She says you're a sincere friend because you don't look at her status."
Thea smiled at Alaric's words. Before they knew it, they arrived at their destination, the modest apartment Thea lived in. Alaric got out of the car and opened the door for Thea.
"See you soon, if you have time stop by my house again, my door is always wide open for you."
Thea got out of the car and nodded. "Thank you, Mr. Grayson."
Thea walked slowly into her apartment. She looked back and saw Alaric still there, in the car waiting for her to get in before he left.
Their eyes met, very briefly as Thea quickly looked away and stared back ahead. Thea pressed her chest, feeling a pounding.
Why was Alaric having an effect that felt foreign to her?