Chapter 50 - Wait, WHAT?! (1/2)

[Music Recommendation: ”The Name of Life” by Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away OST)-available in Youtube or Spotify] ~ Please listen to it in a loop while you read this part to experience the utmost beauty of this chapter ~

Kaiden turned to me and dad, sighing.

”… I never had a female friend. That's why they all assume that you're my girlfriend,” Kaiden explained with an ”I-give-up” expression. It seemed that his family pestered him too much about it. ”No matter how many times I correct them. They don't believe it so… it doesn't matter anymore. Let them think what they want.”

”Ahh… I see.” I understood what he meant. It's basically the same with dad and Hora. If mom knew, she would add to the equation. How I wish they could all be cool about it like my younger brother. ”There's no use explaining then.”

”Uhm,” he nodded.

I peeked at dad and he seemed to be deliberating seriously on something.

”If that's okay with you then,” dad said after a few moments of silence, ”I will entrust my daughter to your care. We can pay for food and lodging, security, and anything she'll need.”

Wait, WHAT?! Did dad just agree to Crystal's suggestion? And what about Hora's opinion? And MY opinion? Imagine living at the same house as your crush? I'd die of embarrassment! I felt my heart sunk within me as I thought of all the worst case scenarios that could happen. Oh nooooo…

”D-dad, that's too much! We can't just—I mean, we just met them today and you're already—”

”It's totally fine, Senara. Think of it as me, finally having sisters instead of my surly brother,” Crystal grinned from ear to ear. ”If it makes you feel more comfortable, then you can pay rent as your dad suggested. But I assure you, everything's gonna be fine. Mother and father will love the idea.”

She sounded like a saleswoman who could make you agree with just a few simple words—so confident, and persuasive.

'Am I the only logical person here? This is outrageous! It can even be a scandal! What if the whole school knew about it? Plus, we're not related at all! I'll definitely be bullied by his fan club. Yeah, he definitely has one or more. I'm doomed.'

My internal logical self screamed inside my brain. It's all true though. And what about their privacy? We would basically be intruding! Sometimes I don't understand how rich people think.

”I really can't,” I refused for the ”nth” time.