章 15: CHAPTER 15
OPHELIA'S POV
I had seen Xavier's house a month ago but it felt like it had been a long time since then. I know a lot has changed since then but it's still hard to believe sometimes.
We pulled into his driveway and got out of the car.
As soon as we entered his house, Audrey greeted me with a hug. It was warm and welcoming. It was a mother's embrace.
Something I've always yearned for my whole life.
"Hey mum, you can leave for your shift now. Don't worry about the twins. Also Ophelia is here to study with me. Need to complete a few assignments."
Xavier loved his mother. I could see the deep admiration in his eyes for her.
"Thank you so much Xavier. You really are a lifesaver. Also don't let the twins near the kitchen. Take some rest while studying. I'll get going now."
The door closed as Xavier walked into the twins' room. They were styling their doll's hair. As soon as they saw Xavier, they got up and hugged him.
"Zavy you're back!! Is she the beautiful girl you were talking about?"
I looked at Xavier questionably just like his sisters. He looked at his sisters and then at me with a look of a deer caught in headlights.
"No, I mean yes. You are beautiful. Oh god, I hate you guys."
Hazel and Olivia broke out laughing and so did I.
"Any way, Ophelia and I will be right down the hall. I'll keep the door to your room open so if there is anything you guys need, come to either one of us. Also stay away from the kitchen, okay?"
"Yes Zavy.", the twins replied in unison.
Xavier kissed each of them on the forehead and walked down the hall. I followed him like a lost puppy.
Xavier's books were already stacked up on the coffee table near the couch. We sat on the couch and I took out my laptop. We decided to complete our Algebra worksheets. There were 6 of them, each consisted of 5 pages.
It was going to be a long, long evening.
"If x equals to 48 then y has to be 12. It's such a simple concept, Xavier. Why are you not getting it?"
We were stuck on the same problem from the past half an hour. I didn't know what was so difficult. It was simple math.
"Ophelia, I'm telling you for the I don't know what time that It's supposed to be 24, not 12. Can't we just take a break? We have been studying for almost 3 hours"
3 hours, really? More like hell hours.
"One, its 12 not 24. Two, It's only been an hour and a half. Three, yeah let's take that break."
It was almost 6, that meant the twins were going to be hungry any time soon.
"Wanna have something to eat? I am hungry. What do you wanna eat?"
Now that I thought about it, I was actually hungry.
"Umm I'm fine with anything."
I didn't want to come off rude.
"Come on, Ophelia. Ok, what's your favorite snack?"
Popcorn. It's always going to be my first love.
"I like popcorn. But it's fine if you don't have it. Even an apple works for me."
Please have popcorn!!!
"Are you kidding me? My mum is a popcorn addict. She can't go a day without it. Let's go pop some kernels."
Food and I didn't have the best relationship. Especially when it came to eating in front of others. It's not like I didn't want to eat.
I couldn't.
Every time I did, I felt really guilty. I've been trying my best these past few weeks but there are days I hate myself for eating and I hate myself for that even more.
"Yeah sure, you grab the kernels, I'll just ask the twins if they're hungry."
They were strangely very quiet, so I thought they were up to some mischief. But it was a completely different scene in their room. Olivia was fast asleep on the floor next to her sister who sat there with drooping eyes. I slowly lifted Olivia and placed her on their bed. When I went to lift Hazel, she spoke something gibberish.
"Hey Phee-Phee, I know Zavy can be sad sometimes but please don't leave him. He sometimes says Dada is not here because of him. But I don't believe it. Please make him happy. Promise me."
She lifted her pinky finger with so much hope in her eyes, that it was enough for the whole world.
I intertwined our pinkies and nodded my head.
"Don't worry, you pretty little angel. I will try my best to make him happy."
And she smiled the brightest of smiles and fell asleep on my shoulders. I slowly lifted her up and place her next to Olivia.
Xavier's dad? What did Hazel mean by him not being here because of Xavier? Did he leave? I had to find it out.
But one thing was for sure, Xavier's dad still haunts him.
I walked into the kitchen and heard the kernels popping. Xavier was sipping on some Apple juice as he stood next to the counter.
"Want some?"
I shook my head. Should I ask him about his dad. I didn't want to make this an awkward evening. Maybe later.
"What did the twins say? Are they hungry?"
Your sister knows, Xavier. Your sister knows you're sad and she wants me to help you. And I'm trying my best but I don't know if it's gonna work.
"They were both fast asleep with the doll still in their hands. I carried them both to their bed. They're sleeping."
"Thank you Ophelia! Look, I think all the kernels have popped."
He took of the lid as the aroma of the freshly popped corn filled my nostrils. He chuckled when he saw me inhaling the smell.
"You really like them, don't you?"
I shied away and looked down. Oh god! I just made a fool out of myself.
"Hey Hey, don't be embarrassed. I do it too, sometimes."
"Do you?"
"No I don't, but I knew it would make you feel better. Plus I like you the way you are. Don't change yourself. Stay the weird Lia that you are."
I stared at him as his eyes widened when he realized what he had just said. Did he just say that he liked me? I waited for him to correct himself. Waited for him to realize that a girl like me wasn't worth his time. But he didn't.
He didn't make an attempt to change what he had said.
"What are you waiting for? Dig in!", he said, while offering me the bowl of popcorn. I took a few of them as I slowly chewed them.
"Can I ask you something, Xavier?"
I had to ask him. It was killing me from the inside and I had to find out.
"Yeah sure. Go ahead."
"Where's your dad, Xavier? I mean, you never talk about him and there are no pictures of him in the house. I remember your dad coming to the parent and child activities in elementary school but then I stopped seeing him. It's like he just disappeared."
Xavier's eyes closed and he took a deep breath. His jaw clenched as anger flew through his veins. I knew I had crossed the line and I wished there was something to go back.
But there wasn't.
"He isn't here anymore, Ophelia."
Isn't here? What did he mean by that? Is he dead?
"What do you mean by that, Xa-"
"He's dead, Ophelia! And I killed him, okay? I am the reason this family fell apart. I'm a fucking murderer."
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