CHAPTER 5

"The rain here and there is the same thing,' Ryan shunned him with a smug smile. The wolf just whined unhappily and went back to its initial position to sleep. Ryan finally chuckled.

He took a left turn and stopped in front of a huge, black gate. The security officers immediately stood up to do their daily routine but as soon as they saw the familiar car, they opened the gate and let Ryan in.

They even greeted him cheerfully as he drove in. Ryan was almost near his apartment when he remembered what had happened in the office.

He was just about to think about what's being bothering him about the incident when he noticed a former empty apartment a few steps away from his apartment had a moving truck in front of it.

He arched an eyebrow in surprise as the thoughts of the unsettling office events flew away and the thought of who the new neighbour that occupied the spot is.

He played a little mind game trying to guess who the new neighbour is. Is it an old, retired widower? Or a family? Or... The imagination just went on and on even as he drove past the house.

Never for once did his mind drift to the reality of the new neighbours being a single mother with two grown-up daughters. He drove into his garage and parked his car.

His face immediately scrunched up to a frown when a faint but familiar scent assailed his nose the moment he got to his doorstep.

He inserted the key into the lock hole but wasn't surprised to find it unlocked. "Scott, I thought I told you not to come here again," He immediately complained as soon as he got in.

Scott was sitting down on the comfy sofa in the sitting room, cross-legged with a glass of juice in his hand. "How the hell did you even get here so fast?" Ryan asked with a puzzled look.

He was already undressing right from the doorstep. Just flinging any pair of clothing he removed anywhere it choose to land.

"I used the motorbike you gifted me last year," Scott answered with a smirk, taking a long sip of his juice.

"Great... Now, you have to leave the same you have come. I am giving you just five minutes," Ryan warned.

Scott immediately fell to his knees, "Brother, you can't kick me out now into this rain. My clothes were completely soaked that I had to change into yours. If you kick me out now, I'll get drenched again and might even catch a cold. Then I'll surely fall sick and..."

He went on rambling about so many reasons why Ryan shouldn't kick him out but the latter's attention was on the new designer clothes he was wearing. Ryan's mouth was slightly open as he stared at the new designer he hadn't even gotten a chance to wear yet.

"You even have the nerve to wear my new designers... Do you wanna shred this too?" Ryan questioned incredulously.

Scott shook his head sideways to indicate 'No'. He stood up and walked to Ryan, "I won't shift today... I am not going to ruin your designers. Brother, please don't kick me out."

He even tried to pout and give his brother a cute puppy face. Ryan shook his head at his failed attempt to act cute. "It would work better if you were a girl," He mumbled lowly but Scott still heard his words.

Just then, their phones made a 'ding' sound cutting their little argument short. They both hurriedly brought out their phones and clicked on the message.

When they both finished reading the content, they looked at each other. It was Scott that smiled and broke the silence, "Brother, I heard Jeff's club has lots of new smoking ladies... Who knows... You might actually fall for one or even find the one that's meant to be."

"Shut up," Ryan turned away but Scott followed him like a stubborn leech. "I won't be going anywhere."

"Really Ryan! We only get to have one get-together with everyone once a month and you still want to decline the invitation," Scott whined.

"It's my choice... I have work to do... Just a weekend in Singapore will make my work pile up," Ryan explained.

"But..."

---

"The cookies are really great," Mrs Jones commented with a smile. Lena beamed happily when she heard this but before she could even say anything, her mother already burst her happy bubble.

"I know it's Emily that baked the cookies." Lena pouted at what her mother said. "Mom," She whined. "I helped her too. What do you guys take me for? Do you think I'm as lazy as you are painting me to be?"

Emily exchanged glances with their mother and they tried to keep their laughter in. But Emily couldn't hold it in cause the dining room instantly filled with her soft, pleasant laughter.

Lena noticed then how Emily really resembled their mother a lot... The only difference was her hair colour which has a stubborn streak of natural red on it while their mother's all black.

"Hey! Why are you laughing? What's so funny," Lena pouted, feeling like she kissed something that made them laugh so much.

"Nothing... Nothing... You just looked so funny with the way you proclaimed how hardworking you are," It's their mother that answered.

Lena narrowed her eyes at this. Even if her mother said it so lovingly, why does she feel like she had just spoken in a sarcastic tone? Wait... Are they mocking her?

"Mom! You promised to choose a college for me when you come back," She discreetly changed the subject.

"Oh yes... That's true. I found a nice one for you already."

Emily's laughter died down when she heard this. She watched her mother search her handbag for something and contemplated whether to say what she was thinking.

In the end, she said, "Mom... You promised we'd choose together." Her voice was so quiet that they almost didn't hear.

Mrs Jones paused in her movement when she said this. She turned to Emily who was staring right at her. The latter didn't appear to be upset though.

But Mrs Jones is well aware of how Emily can hide her true feelings.