Chapter 361 - Winter

Kyle was stunned to see Kurt's dad when the moment door was unlocked. Is this the reason Kurt locked me inside? She kept aside the picture she was seeing, stood up from the chair, as stiff as a pole.

Arnold's eyes lingered on the picture, but a second later, he turned to Kyle, a smile on his face. ''We meet again. How are you?''

''H_i, Uncle.'' Kyle hesitantly raised her hand and waved, looking past his shoulders. The look on Kurt's face was so menacing that she got intimidated by it. Is this also my fault? Kyle cried.

Kurt swore like a trooper, not on his father but the rat. He knew who it is—the security guard, always waiting to inform his whereabouts. Before his dad would imagine beyond the thoughts, Kurt started. ''You have misunderstood, dad. There is nothing_''

''Yes, yes.'' Turning to his son, Arnold vivaciously nodded his head. ''A girl staying in a man's bedroom for the whole night? Definitely, I have misunderstood.'' There was a hint of mocking in his voice.

A sigh escaped from his lips. Kurt gave up. There is no way this stubborn man will listen. He has come here listening to the false proof of that security guard, and no way his dad will believe him. ''Assume whatever you want. I don't care.'' He then addressed Kyle, his voice cold. ''Time for you to go home.''

''Did you had breakfast, Kyle?'' Arnold questioned, snubbing his son's thoughts.

''Not yet, Uncle.'' She whispered in a meek voice. 

''So am I,'' Arnold added brazenly, turning to Kyle. ''The Weller family doesn't let the guest leave the house starved. Let's go.''

Kyle looked at Kurt, asking for permission, but she found the same expression- Angry, furious. His face can be taken as a reference for the angry birds game.

''Don't intimidate her, boy.'' Arnold could feel the tension his son was creating on the poor girl. 

''Don't mind him, child. He is born in that way.'' Under his protection, Arnold led her into the kitchen. Kurt didnot follow them, for he was not interested in listening to his dad's piercing questions about yesterday's incident. Let her pay the punishment for willingly staying here.

....

''So, you are telling someone has tried to harass you, and you have come here to talk with Kurt,'' Arnold asked. Quite acceptable theory, but he will not believe.

Kyle nodded her head in response. ''I was scared he would come to my home again. So, I thought it would be a good thing to stay here.''

Scared that she would get caught in the act, Kyle diverted the topic to Kurt's hatred among girls in school. She hit the right button because Arnold's face instantly turned red in rage. ''That insolent brat. He is bringing shame to my ancestors.'' 

Both bitched behind Kurt's back about his behavior, and a while later, they didnot had anything to talk.

''Curious of the picture on Kurt's bedside table?'' Arnold broke the silence. 

''I was looking at the picture.'' She didnot sound desperate, but in actuality, Kyle wanted to know very badly.

''His mother.'' Arnold gazed at a distance as he spoke.

''She is..'' Kyle didnot finish her thoughts as she watched Arnold's joyful eyes turned heavy.

''My wife, Elain.'' He said. ''She is Kurt's mother. When Kurt was a kid, he was a momma boy. Sometimes, even I would get jealous of the attention that brat receives from Elain.'' 

''A naughty kid he was.'' Arnold chuckled when the memories of his once-happy family began playing in front of him. ''He would play pranks on his mother Elain, which would make her want to pull his hair, but with one look, Kurt would melt her heart.''

''Elain has to feed him breakfast every day, prepare him for school, drop him at school, bring him back, read bedtime stories until he is asleep. But one day...'' His voice choked. ''My son learned to do it alone.'' And his heart also shattered on the day. He never saw the same jovial boy again.

Kyle stood rooted, watching Arnold's inner turmoil. She never expected Kurt has a tragic past.

''So, don't get repelled by his words or actions. He might act cold to everyone, but he doesn't mean to hurt anyone.'' 

''I would never, Uncle.'' Kyle shook her head. She felt Kurt's coldness rather cute.

After breakfast, Arnold didnot force Kyle to stay at home. Although he wanted to spend time with her, he kept the thought watching his son's gloomy face. Both exchanged numbers in front of Kurt, becoming good friends.

Sundays are meant to be jolly days for Leena. It's half-past ten in the morning, and she was still not up from the bed. The picnic has tired her both physically and mentally, and she decided to give enough rest to her body.

''Baby, you can't skip breakfast.'' Heather gently tapped on Leena's shoulder.

''Can you please stop with your naggings?'' Leena dizzily muttered, and with that, Heather went away.

Her mom and Meemaw came twice to wake her up, which Leena didnot heed to them. A while later, with one spank on her back, she jolted awake with a start. Has he come? Who else dares to spank the great Leena except him?

''Words doesn't work on you, isn't it?'' Devin stood next to the bed, waiting for the sloth to get up. Sleeping on the stomach, with her arms freely falling on the bed, Devin swallowed hard when the urge to take her from the back tempted him. But the next moment, the d.e.s.i.r.e died down when he remembered the tattoo on her back. Scary tattoo! He still couldn't fathom why a mere tattoo is affecting him.

''And you stop ogling at my back.'' Shouted Leena before stretching her body.

''I can't keep my mind to myself around you. You are a living temptation, Sweetheart.'' He huskily replied, hugging her from the back.

''I love when you say those words.'' Leaning her head on his back, she said. ''When did you come?'' 

''Early morning, and since then, I was waiting for you to get up.'' He practically accused her of ignoring him. Without Leena, he couldn't sleep at night, and when he woke up in the morning, he straight away came back to see his Sweetheart, and here she was sleeping like a log.

''I am sorry, babylicious..'' She pouted. ''I was tired yesterday.''

''This is the last time I will hear you skipping breakfast.'' With that, he shoved her into the bathroom.

A while later, still in the shower, Leena called Devin and asked him to bring the dry brush from the wardrobe. At last, frantically searching, he found a long wooden brush with bristles, soft to touch yet firmer. ''Why does she need a brush? Is she going to clean the bathroom with this?''

''Leena.'' He knocked on the bathroom door and handed the brush. Before she closed, Devin held on to her. ''You don't need to clean the bathroom.''

''Pffftt..Are you making fun?'' Leena closed the door shut. ''Not in a mood.''

''But I was serious, though.'' He muttered and went back to the bed.

By the time Leena completed her activities and went back into the room, it was already afternoon. ''What are you doing?'' Climbing onto the bed, Leena nestled into Devin's arms. 

''I saw a photo album while searching for the thing you asked.'' He said, flipping the page, a smile on his face. The pictures started from her childhood, and she is so cute in every image that he wants to frame them in the room, which he solely designed for her. Funny though, he found her face familiar in his memory.

''You were wearing piggy tails?'' He teased her in some of the pictures to see her annoyed expressions. 

''I will take the album back if you keep teasing me!'' She tried to snatch the book, but Devin raised it high, not in her reach.

The pictures were neatly organized according to her age, and at one point, he found a school picture. Leena was wearing a school uniform, standing next to a girl, a bright smile on her face. ''I have seen you either with Reese or Jane? Who is this girl?''

''She is my school friend. I lost in touch with her after school. So, I am not in contact with her.'' Leena continued. ''A very kind girl. She was often bullied in school. So, I was her_''

''You are the hero who saves the damsel in distress,'' Devin completed.

''Exactly.'' Leena nodded her head with a happy grin. ''Irony is, I saved a boy in my school when he was involved in fighting with a gang. It happens to be her friend. As gratitude, her friend would send me Bananas, snacks, what not..but I never accept anything from strangers. Although I loved bananas, I didnot risk because Francy would kill me.'' Leena went on and on, brandishing her achievements.

Saved a boy? ''What's her name, Leena?''

''Winter.''