Annabella scratched the back of her head and gave her father an awkward smile.
"Dad, when did you come? Where's mom?" She asked instead of answering him.
Mr Parker cleared his throat as he took a sip from his tea. "She went to the supermarket to buy some vegetables I guess. I just came and have to go to meet one of my colleagues later as well. Wait, answer my question first. Who's this little lad?"
Damien's face darkened. He wasn't a little lad for god's sake! He was a young man, a man, okay? He came forward and introduced himself with a smile that he thought was professional.
"Hi, uncle. I'm Damien and we are..."
Annabella interrupted him by saying, "He's one of my friends' younger brother. Mmm... Clara! Clara's brother. Right, Damien?" She gave him a look that showed, 'Act accordingly.'
Damien reluctantly nodded his head. "That's true."
Mr Parker raised his eyebrows. Clearly, he wasn't convinced yet.
"Then what is he doing at his elder sister's FRIEND'S house, may I ask?"
Damien replied before Annabella could say anything. "Sarah went on a trip with her co-workers and our parents are abroad. So she's worried about me and asked..." He glanced at Annabella a bit nervously before saying, "Big sister here to take care of me."
"Oh," Mr Parker nodded his head understandingly. "But I still have some more questions."
Annabella felt like something was wrong when she felt her father's sharp gaze.
"What do you have to say about the blood stains on your shirt, your back... And how did Clara become Sarah?"
Annabella gulped in fear. Sure enough, fooling her father was the hardest thing ever. She helplessly looked at the boy who was standing beside her. He caused trouble and he must be the one to correct them as well.
Damien didn't look affected by his question. He clicked his tongue and said, "I was arguing with my friends and big sister saved me when someone hit my back. Thanks for that, big sister." He turned around and bowed down to Annabella a little which made her speechless. What a drama king!
"And as for my sister's name... To outsiders, she's Clara as her birth certificate shows that name. My mother chose the name, 'Clara.' Dad was upset because he wanted to name her 'Sarah' instead. To satisfy both of them, Grandpa suggested that they should use both names to address her."
Annabella widened her eyes at him. He was such a brave one. He could just make lies here and there so casually like that! Mr Parker nodded knowingly. "That was epic. Even for Annabella, we argued a lot because of damn names and eventually, we bonded the names together."
"Oh, really?" Damien's eyes lit up. "Tell me more about it."
Annabella glared at him unhappily. It was none of his business, wasn't it?
Damien gave her a playful smirk and sat beside her father nonchalantly and popped his chin on the back of his hand as he crossed his legs, showing how eager he was to listen to his story.
Annabella sighed and sat in front of the two of them on the single sofa as if she was the outsider there.
A happy smile spread across Mr Parker's face as he began, "I want her to be called Anna or Annie but wifey protested, saying that she liked the name Arabella. We argued about it and finally, I told her we should join the names together and she became Annabella in the end."
Damien chuckled. "That's how she became the ghostly girl."
Annabella raised her eyebrows in confusion. "What did you mean?"
Mr Parker laughed out loud. "I noticed that as well. But that name is a nice one though, right, right?"
Damien nodded, biting his lips to fend off his laughter.
Annabella could finally understand what they were talking about. An upset pout formed on her lips. She gave both of them a dejected look.
"You guys are so bad. I'm not that doll."
Finally, Damien burst out laughing along with her father. They literally enjoyed teasing her as a pair. Annabella was so upset.
'What if his son-in-law also pairs with him like this? I'll be doomed by then.' suddenly a weird thought conquer her mind. Annabella shook her head in disbelief. Really! What was she thinking about?
The doorbell rang at this moment and Mr Parker stood up and went towards the door and opened it to see who it was.
"Oh, Mr Smith." He greeted his colleague with a smile before turning his head over to the young people in the living room.
"Sweetie, I'll be going. Stay safe and take care of the younger brother as well." He told his daughter before leaving the house.
Damien crossed his arms. "Did you hear that? You should take care of me very well." He lifted his chin arrogantly.
Annabella rolled her eyes at him. "You look more like a middle-aged uncle instead of a younger brother."
Damien clutched his chest in a fake shock. "That hurts, you know."
Annabella rolled her eyes yet again. "You made me hurt as well," She complained.
"What?" Damien blinked his eyes innocently. "When did I?"
"Aaaah!" Annabella was about to roll her eyes again when Damien blurted out, "Don't roll your eyes. It's annoying!"
"Whatever." Annabella grabbed the first aid kit from the kitchen and carried it towards the living room before placing it on the corner of the giant coffee table.
"Remove your shirt," She commanded.
Damien let out a 'Hmm.'
"Okay, but on one condition," He uttered, looking serious.
"What is it?" Annabella enquired, looking tired and bothered.
"Don't rape me using your eyes," Damien stated, as serious as ever.
It took a while for Annabella to digest what he said. When she did, she glanced at him, an unbelievable expression on her face.
"You're... You're..." She stuttered.
"Unbelievably handsome." Damien completed the sentence for her.
Annabella shook her head at him, not intending to say anything anymore. She opened the box and took out a would cleaner, some ointments and other necessary stuff to treat him.
When she turned over, she was greeted with a firm, fair chest and steady, powerful abnormal muscles. With a single glance, she could tell that he was a gym boy! He must be living in the gym to gain them.
"I've already warned you," Damien said with a sigh as he noticed her keep staring at his shirtless upper body.
Annabella blushed and looked away from his dazzling body. "Don't be so full of yourself. Nothing is special about your body. Just some muscles and whatnot. Any boy can get them if they go to a gym regularly."
Damien scoffed, "Oh really?"
Then he grabbed her by her wrist before putting her palm on his chest. "What about now? Isn't it hard and tight? Isn't it better than other boys'?"
Annabella's face flushed red even more when her perverted mind roamed around. She thought of something else when that innocent boy talked about a totally different thing. Really! It was the difference between teenagers and early adults, right?
Annabella shook her head to dismiss her wild thoughts. Damien misunderstood that she said 'No'. He pursed his lips in dismay.
"Just apply the medicine already," He barked as he turned his back towards the girl.
Annabella was taken aback by his sudden roar. However, she couldn't understand why he looked pissed off all of a sudden. Shaking her head once again, she started applying the medicine to his wounds.
"Ssss!" Damien hissed in pain. "Can't you be a bit gentler?"
Annabella nodded although he couldn't see her. "Okay, sorry."
Damien rolled his eyes and repeated, "Okay, sorry."
Annabella became angry as well. "Hey, kiddo. Respect me, will ya? I must be a complete fool for bothering this much just to treat an arrogant, stupid, good-for-nothing person like you!"
"What about you, ma'am? Do you think of yourself as Mother Teresa?" Damien returned her insult.
Annabella frowned. "What does this whole thing have to do with her?"
Damien waved his hand at her. "Just apply them."
Annabella shook her head dejectedly but still treated his wounds completely and even bandaged his back before giving him his light blue shirt. "Here, wear this and leave. Bye!" She said curtly.
Damien raised one of his eyebrows. "That's it?" He asked displeased.
"What else?" Annabella was so annoyed by him. He was a pain in the neck from the very beginning.
"Cook for me," Damien declared.