Saturday, January 16, 2010 | 6:16 PM |

Chapter 8

Naughty or Nice?

“Bye.” Hebe said to Danson, smiling when they reached Aaron’s house.“Bye. Good luck.” Danson said, laughing. Her heart skipped a beat. She loved the way Danson looked at her. His eyes meant the world to her. It held so much hope and meaning.
She had told Danson about her being Aaron’s… well, you know. Hebe still had a little problem admitting to the fact.
---
Aaron’s POV
She’s late.
I looked out the window and saw Hebe outside the gate. I smiled involuntarily. Then I saw Danson. My smile slipped off my face. What was he doing here? What was HE doing with Hebe?
I rushed down and opened the door.
“Hi.” I said, smiling at Hebe. I forced myself to smile even wider.
“Hi…” Hebe stared at me weirdly. “Why so cheerful? It’s freaky.”
“I’m just SO happy to see you.” I said, staring at Danson while I put my hand on Hebe’s shoulder and pulled her closer to me, and away from Danson.
I could see anger light up within Danson. His eyes were piercing. He turned to Hebe. “See you later.” He said gently. He glared at me then he turned and left.

“What was that?” Hebe said, looking up at me.
“I just don’t like him.” I answered softly, aware that my hand was still on Hebe’s shoulder. I felt shocks run through my fingers again.
Hebe shrugged me away, and the shocks stopped. “Why do you hate him anyway?”
“He’s a wimp. Everyone hates him.” I answered.
Hebe stared at me. “Not everyone.”
“Everyone, except one stupid person.” I looked over to Hebe, smirking.
Hebe rolled her eyes. “Why are you always so childish?”
…Childish? Am I childish? I was putting way too much thought into her opinions.
“Why do you like Danson?” I said with disgust.
“He’s really nice, unlike you.” Hebe said, staring at me.
“Who likes nice guys?” I said, staring back at her.
“I do.” Hebe shot back.
“You don’t like guys like me?” I said, moving forward, still smiling.
“Yes.” Hebe said, looking away. “Especially irritating, annoying, rich guys.”
“Really?” I leant in on her, my arms on the wall behind her, so that she was trapped. She was forced to look up at me.
“Yes.” Her eyes shocked me. They were so mesmerizing and clear. I stayed quiet as I took in her eyes, remembering every single eyelash, as if afraid it would suddenly all disappear, like a forgotten dream.
I looked down, her scent surrounding me. What is this feeling?
I quickly backed off.
I didn’t like this feeling.
At all.
---
Hebe’s POV
Yesterday, I caught a glimpse of a serious Aaron.
He always seems so joking and immature. But seeing him yesterday, it was as if he were a totally different person. But now, he was again, the irritating, rich brat I knew he was.
I remembered how I felt yesterday when he hugged me.
I reminded myself that that wasn’t real. This was the real Aaron.
Yes, Aaron is the irritating, rich brat.
And I hate him.
I reminded myself as I looked into his eyes, his arms on either side of me.
Those eyes. Unlike Danson’s eyes, they were cold and dark. They were intense and full of force.
I closed my eyes, but I could still see his striking eyes before me.
I hate him, I reminded myself again.
But all of a sudden, it felt as if I was telling a lie.
---
Aaron’s POV
Hebe’s phone rang, breaking the silence.
She quickly snapping her phone open and answered the call.
“Hebe?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“Your rent.”
“Oh, Mr. Lin. I’m so sorry…”
“I don’t care about explanations. Hand in the money by tomorrow or you’ll have to pack up.”
“But, my brother is overseas and he’s only coming back next week! Can’t you wait until then?”
“Sorry, Hebe. I need to earn money too, you know.”
“But I recently quit my job, I’ve been quite busy nowadays…”
… I guess she means me by busy, I thought, listening in on their conversation.
“Sorry. There’s no choice. Get someone else to rent you a room.” The guy hung up.
Hebe snapped shut her phone and looked at it blankly, as if deep in thought.
“…Hebe.” I said, trying to get her attention, but she didn’t respond.
“Hebe!” I shouted.
“Huh?” Hebe snapped out of her thoughts.
Hebe’s going to be thrown out of her house because of me.
“You can stay here.” I said.
“… What?” Hebe said, still a bit dazed.
“You. Can stay. Here.” I said slowly, so that she had time to register the words.
“WHAT?!” Hebe screamed.
“I mean, hey, if you don’t want to…” I started.
“No. But… my brother…” Hebe said, worried.
“He can stay here too. And don’t worry about living expenses. I’ll take care of it.” I said. Hebe opened her mouth to protest, but I interrupted her. “Remember? Rich brat?”
“Okay.” Hebe said, heaving a sigh of relief. “Thanks.” She smiled up at me.
I smiled back.
Wait… am I being NICE?
I immediately stopped smiling and said, “That way, you’ll have to work around the clock.”
Hebe looked and me and laughed. And I joined her. Her laughter filled my mind, like music to my ears.
---
Hebe’s POV
That’s the first time I’ve really seen him smile.
And for some reason, it warmed my heart…
-Is this possible?-
… Even more than Danson’s smile did.
---
Right then, three guys entered the room.
“Hey.” They said, greeting Aaron.
“Who’s that?” One tough looking guy said, looking at me questioningly.
“No one.” Aaron quickly cut in.
“…” The tough-looking guy and the cheerful looking guy stared at Aaron while the guy with the spikey brown hair laughed.
Aaron quickly added. “I mean… She’s Hebe. She’s going to stay with us.”
Now, all of them were staring at Aaron.
“She’s my slave.” Aaron said casually, as if letting a girl stay at his house was something he did often. It wasn’t. Slave. I winced.
“Hi. I’m Calvin.” The cheerful, smiling guy said, shaking her hand. Hebe thought he looked like a really nice guy.
“I’m Wu Chun.” The tough looking guy introduced himself, smiling charmingly at her. He looked really muscular.
“I’m Jiro.” The guy with the spikey hair said. Hebe recognized him from the party.
“Hi. Nice to meet you all.” Hebe said, smiling back at all of them.
“Hey, I know Aaron can be hard at times…” Wu Chun said, punching Aaron lightly.
“…But he’s really a nice guy on the inside.” Calvin continued.
Aaron narrowed his eyes and glared at them.
Nice guy? Aaron? I don’t think so.
“Well, see you guys later.” Wu Chun and Calvin walked out of the room.
“I’ll… go clean the kitchen.” I quickly can up with an excuse to leave the room.
---
Aaron’s POV
“Uhh, so where’s Selina?” Jiro said, a little too casually.
“Somewhere.” I said, brushing it off.
“Oh.” His face fell. “So what’s no one doing here?”
“Hebe.”
“Hebe…… Wait… Isn’t that the girl at the party? The one with Danson? The one that went on stage and…”
“Yes.” I cut him off. “And she wasn’t WITH Danson. He was forcing himself on her.”
Jiro threw me a smug look. “Could it be that you’re… Jealous?”
Yeah right.
“Me? Jealous? Of Danson? Pfft.” I said unconvincingly.
Jiro narrowed his eyes. “Sure…” Then his eyes brightened. That’s never something good. “So you don’t mind me asking her out?”
“No… But why?”
“’Cos she’s pretty and she has character, seeing the way she dissed you at the party.”
I tried to protest but he was already out the door.
---
Hebe’s POV
“Hi.” He grinned at me, leaning against the counter.
“Hi.”
“I’m Jiro. Remember?” He was smiling even wider now, reminding me of a Cheshire cat.
“Yeah.” I said, turning away.”
“Wanna go out sometime?”
I froze. “Okay?”
“Great. How about tomorrow? At seven?”
“Okay?”
“Where do I pick you up?”
“Here?”
“Great. Can’t wait. See you.”
“Okay…”
And he walked away. I followed him out of the kitchen.
“See you guys tomorrow.” He looked over his shoulder and winked at me.
Aaron stood up and stared.
The door slammed shut.
Ten seconds passed before I snapped out of my daze. I looked over to Aaron. He was still staring at the door, as if hoping Jiro would suddenly appear again and explain his weird behaviour.
Weirdos.
---
Aaron’s POV
Later in the afternoon, Selina came over.
“So…” Selina said, waiting for me to say something.
“Yeah?” I said, bored.

“I think we should give it another try.” Selina said.
“Give what another try?”
“Us.”
“Oh. Sure.” Aaron looked away.
He didn’t know why he felt so reluctant all of a sudden. He never really objected being Selina’s boyfriend, if it’s for the family business. He never really cared because when he was with her, he could play around with any other girl he wanted.
But even though there were many girls dying to be his girlfriend,
He had never fallen in love before.
That’s why he didn’t object to being Selina’s boyfriend.
But now, all of a sudden, he felt like telling her that he had no feelings for her.
He pursed his lips, stopping himself from saying what he wanted to say so much.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hebe’s staying with Aaron now! :o
Mostly Bebu <3
Hope you liked this chapter.
Nxt chapter, Hebe goes out with Jiro. O.o will sparks fly? (:
Love you guys!
~colourful-raindrops~

---