Seal The Deal

19. Cold Surprise

"Care to eat luch with me today? I found a new Italian restaurant which is always packed with people, I'm guessing the food are amazing." He asked, as he looked at me. His blue eyes never failed to made me feel at ease.

"Sorry, I can't. I'm currently sticking to eating healthy these days. Maybe next time?"

"That explains why you were never really eating in Korea." He finished.

"Yeah." I mumbled.

"Jessie, are you okay?" He stopped walking and turned to look at me suddenly, his blue eyes searching mine with full curiousity and worry.

"Of course, I'm okay." I managed to let out a forced laugh before turning my eyes away from him.

He didn't utter a single word when we walked inside the building. We parted ways like usual once we reached my locker and he walked away, this time, there were no traces of confidence or arrogance when he walked as I was sure they were blocked by his clouded thoughts and worry that his creased forehead explained it all.

James was beside me the whole period and we were left with tense silence as the teacher explained about Newton's theory. I tried to listen to the teacher's surprisingly boring lecture but the thoughts of clearing the understanding with James kept popping into my head which never failed to disturb my intentions to listen to the lectures.

"Miss Karlton, please report to the school's main office." Miss Clooney, the vice-principal of our school informed the class.

This statement broke me out of my trance as my eyes narrowed confusedly at her.

"Which one?" Mr Golding, my physics teacher asked her.

"Jessie Karlton. Sorry I forgot there are twins in this school." She replied in a clipped tone as her eyes were moving between me and Jamie.

"Jessie Karlton, please go with Miss Clooney. I'll make sure to hand your homeworks to Jamie." Mr Golding sent me a smile which I returned with a soft 'thank you' before I exited the room with all eyes, including Jamie's trained at me.

"Is something wrong?" I asked worriedly as I trailed behind the vice-principal who was walking in a brisk manner.

"Your father asked for you." She replied while we stopped at my locker for me to grab all my belongings before we began our walking journey to the school's main office with my thoughts swirling in my head in an infinite spiral. Dad was always busy with his work and usually didn't have any spare time to even attend our middle-school graduation ceremony, what made him clear his schedule for even an hour to come and get me? It had to be an extremely serious matter for him to do that because he was never that person who would willingly stop working for even a minute.

Ms Golding flashed a brilliant smile at my father who was standing inside the office in his usual Tom Ford suit and I could never miss the small hints of reds tinted on her cheeks when my father politely thanked her as he flashed her his charismatic smile.

"I think it's best if Jessie will be excused today." He announced to the vice-principal.

"Of course, Mr Karlton." She immediately responded before she got a smile from my father.

"Very well, thank you Ms Golding." He replied as the vice-principal blushed even more in an exchange.

I couldn't bear to see the situation as I averted my gaze quickly away from the principal and stared at a random painting on the wall.

We walked out of the main office in silence as my father's black mercedes was waiting outside the school's main entrance.

I went in the passenger seat before turning to look at my father with a questioning look on my face as I expressed my curiousity about his sudden appearance at my school.

"Where to? Miss?" My father looked at me with a smile on his face.

I laughed at his rare playful manner before questioning him of his extremely abnormal decisions.

"Should we go for lunch? I made an appointment at the new Italian restaurant." He asked, ignoring my question.

"I can't. I'm full." I lied although I had skipped breakfast in the morning but I wasn't in the mood to eat.

"Oh well, so where to?" He asked me, his smile unfaltered.

"Dad."

"Yes? Jessie."

"What is wrong?" I asked him.

"What do you mean?" He turned to look at me, his forehead creased perfectly expressing his confusement.

"What made you clear your schedule to come and fetch me?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him with complete curiousity.

"I thought you needed some cheering up." He nonchalantly replied as he started to drive slowly.

"Dad, I'm fine." I retorted although it tasted bitter at my tongue.

"No, You're not." He finished, his eyes never leaving the road.

"So where are we going, dad?"

He was silent for a moment.

"Dad?"

"I think it's best if you meet Dr Klayton."

And I turned to him with my eyes wide-open with shock before they narrowed into slits.

"I'm freakishly fine, dad. I didn't let Nadine's words get to me. I'm perfectly fine!" I replied, in a louder tone filled with pure annoyance.

"You sounded like you were trying to convince yourself." He retorted as he sneaked a worry look at me.

"I was convincing you." I replied, frowning as his words were slwoly making sense.

"You lied to me." He said out of the blue.

"You said you were full but Mrs Wong informed me that you skipped breakfast today." He continued, now his eyes were narrowed at me in an accusing manner making me shrink in my seat.

"That was once." I argued.

"Which could lead to the second time, then third and that'll turn into a habit." He replied.

"What made you do this?" I asked, in a soft tone.

He stopped the car before he turned to look at me as he heaved a long sigh.

"Landon."

My eyes widened in shock but I couldn't utter a single word as I was too flabbergasted to respond.

"He told me about how you are constantly avoiding to eat and it lead me to believe that it is best to send you to your psychologist to start your new session." He explained and this time, he showed his worry with his slight frown causing him to look much more older.

"You look old." I muttered suddenly, I guess I was just trying to spite him for sending me to my old psychologist.

"I'm going to go for a facial after this. I cleared my whole schedule today." He replied and rolled his eyes at me.

"I know you're telling me that as a consequence for bringing you here, Jessie." He pointed at me accusingly although his expression was not as tense.

"And you never fail to offend me but just know that it's for the best." His expression turned serious suddenly.

"And please do not blame Landon for this." He said before I was being ushered to the small clinic to meet my psychologist as one hour session of talking awaited me.