Shadows Of Red

CHAPTER 3: Kinship

 CHAPTER 3: Kinship

"And why are you here?"

Calum asked her, not even letting me answer my fuming step sister.

Yes, Amanda Wilson is my half-sibling. If it isn't obvious already, the Wilsons doesn't want it to be known I was part of their family. And I left. Feeling too fed up with the rejection I've long since felt since I was a kid.

Amanda's piercing browns went to Calum and it softened a little as she looked at him who still had those unfazed metallic eyes.

"I was looking for you." She glanced back at me and that fiery glare came back. "And now I'm seeing that you're just here with who? This loser?"

I breathed out and averted my gaze away from them. I shook my head slightly. Now, we're back at it again.

"You shouldn't be here." I heard Calum say as I watched the undergrowth under my feet. I sighed once again and nodded. Yeah, I shouldn't be here. Why am I even here, getting inside a forest I've never ventured in and just unknowingly follow someone whom I don't even know? What am I doing? Yeah, I shouldn’t be here. I should go.

I took a step forward but Amanda's voice stopped me from walking away.

"I shouldn't be in here?" I looked at the both of them and saw that Calum's metallic eyes were actually directed at Amanda and not to me. That made me stare at him, a little confusingly. She was supposedly his girlfriend after all. Even when we all know what’s the real score between them.

Calum's sharp features didn't even falter at Amanda's drama. He just stared at her as if that look would give the girl every answer she needed to hear. And Amanda seemed to have gotten the message he was trying to give her with his eyes. She started fuming. And just like what always happened when she feels like bursting, she vented it out on me.

"You b*tch!—" but before she could even lunge at me, Calum got a hold of her arms and not a second later, dragged her away from me, out of the forest, still shrieking in anger. Leaving me shocked and wide-eyed at what just happened.

What the heck was that?

"Natalie?"

My head snapped towards the other side of the woods and saw Jordan curiously looking around the trees. His thick brows in a frown.

"What are you doing here?" He glanced at the still shouting Amanda who was still dragged away by Calum. I sighed and shook my head again. What a brat.

Jordan pointed a finger at them. "What happened?"

I shrugged and started walking towards him. "Relationship drama," I said. I tapped his shoulder and walked past him. "Come on, I'm starving."

Jordan followed almost immediately, still with that curious frown on his face. But he didn't ask more questions even after a few more minutes. He just watched me as I got my things back to my bag and closed his laptop to go and have lunch already.

"Nat." He must not able to contain his curiosity about what happened when he broke the silence a few seconds later. I glanced at him and wore the straps of my bag. "Is she bothering you again?" He asked, his voice in between irritation and worry.

I shook my head. "No. Did I ever got bothered by her?" I said as I diverted my gaze away from him. I heard him sigh and he followed me as I walked out of the gazebo. I closed my eyes and breathed in the fresh yet chilly air in the place.

Jordan is the only person who knows the real situation I have with my family. He knows I'm a Wilson, but a Wilson who was never accepted by any of them. Not even by my father. I grew up in that mansion of a house but never felt welcomed, nor felt at home. I've never even felt what a real family was like.

I grew up always unnoticed by my father, treated badly by my step-mom and bullied by my step siblings. I must say, despite feeling inferior sometimes, I can pretty much hold myself up against my step siblings, most especially with Amanda. But I must admit that there were times that their words have struck me and created a whole inside me that I didn't know how to aid nor to handle. But for the most part, I try not to let anyone see it. Not even to Jordan who knows what my situation is.

And it was purely accidental when he knew about my situation. When we were still in middle school, Jordan was a transferee in our town too. He was new and everybody immediately liked him. He was invited by the popular ones to go to their homes for a birthday party and at that time, it was Cole, my other step sibling who invited him to our house.

He was looking for the toilet when he saw me in my room besides the kitchen. He thought I was some house help, and so I just acted like one for the sake of not getting caught. No one knew about me being a Wilson, the family kept is as a secret, being an illegitimate child that I am.

But the next day in school, Jordan saw me. He then realized that I can't be working for the Wilsons. I was a minor. A child. He was able then to connect the puzzle pieces and realized I was a Wilson. A hidden Wilson. Hidden not to shame the perfect image of the honourable family.

Since then, we became friends and he wasn't invited to any parties by the popular circle anymore. It was pretty much the same pattern for people not siding with the popular kids in school. Though, Jordan was not considered to be one of them again, he wasn't someone who was labelled as a wallflower like me. He was still pretty popular, being a charmer that he is. Which was a good thing for my conscience. I wouldn't want him to be treated the same way I had been. He's a nice guy.

"I know. But you can still tell me anything."

I felt his arm wrapped around my shoulder as he pressed me to his side. I just smiled a little and shook my head at him. He can be pretty thoughtful and sweet sometimes, like now.

"Yeah, but I'm fine," I just said and that made him nod.

"So... the same diner?" He asked and when I turned my head to look at him, his face was a little scrunched up in disgust.

I chuckled. We've been eating in the same diner for 3 straight days now. But it’s because that's the only place I can afford. So, I said, "Yup. So we could achieve a perfect attendance." I exclaimed, exaggerating my enthusiasm. Because the truth is, I'm as sick as him eating the same food for a few days now. But what can I do? The food inside the university is so expensive so as the other stalls outside. I know how to cook, I just don't have anything to cook. No supplies whatsoever that’s left for me, since I haven't taken any salary yet for this quarter of the month.

Scratching his head, Jordan looked at me and I raised my brows at him. Then, we both just laughed at our situation.

"I think I'm starting to grow grease on me." I laughed again as we walked towards the same diner.

***

I WALKED towards the post nearby the university just as Jordan ran back for his next class.

I sighed, seeing the seven pictures plastered on it. My eyes fixed on the last two people on the post. Helena Vergara. Stacey Kennel.

My mind immediately went back to that Halloween night, where I saw Helena looking almost lifeless on the ground. I don't know her like I do with Stacey, but I know I've seen her in the bar quite often.

No matter how many times I try to recall those moments, I don't exactly remember what happened before Helena Vergara slumped on the ground. All I remember is the terror that shook me out of my drunken state. And those eyes. Those cold and dark eyes directed at me. Pinning me on my spot.

My eyes went to Stacey's smiling face on the picture. Had I done something after that night, would she be safe at this moment? Would she disappear like all these girls before her? Had that made a huge difference? Or nothing at all? Since probably no one would believe in me.

Heaving a deep sigh, I put both of my hands on my front pockets and started walking towards the university to do some school work. But before I could even step further, I saw Amanda walking towards my direction.

Already thoroughly jaded by her dramatic antics, I stepped aside to continue walking past her. I don’t really want to deal with her right now.  But she held my arm that made me stop and meet her glaring eyes.

"You really have the nerve to follow him, don't you? For all I know, you're just the same as those desperate losers wanting to hook up with Cal—" I took her hands away from me and that made her stop.

"Desperate? Look who's acting like one, right now," I said that made her grit in anger.

"You—"

"Can you just stop, Amanda?" I said before she could continue. Now also gritting in anger, I pierced her with my blue eyes. "Just stop any of this. I'm not interested in anything that you want to have. I don’t want anything that has to do with you and your drama. It's all yours," I said but she suddenly scoffed.

"Oh, don't get me started with everything that I have that you want to have for yourself, Natalie." She stepped towards me and raised her perfectly made brow, taunting.

She smirked. "Do I need to mention that I am the legitimate child and you," She pointed a finger on my chest, pushing me but I didn't falter on my stance. I just met her glaring gaze while I stood still and letting her finish.

"No one ever wanted you. Dad doesn't even want you. Everyone keeps you hidden." She started chuckling to herself. I scoffed, then I started laughing after a second too.

She is just exactly like her mother.

She raised a brow again at me. Looking at me as if I was someone insane. I continued chuckling.

Smiling at her irritated face, I said, "You know what, you can say whatever you want. But that doesn't change the fact that you are an insecure brat that even with everything already spoon fed to you, you still don't feel loved by your prided family, not even with that pseudo boyfriend you so desperately cling to."

With that, I left her with her mouth hanging open. I exhaled out forcibly. Letting out all the frustration I was feeling and released the glare I so wanted to pierce her with all the while gritting in control.

I'm so sick and tired of everything I get from her. She just never grew up. She's still that Amanda who kept on trying to make me feel trashy even to the point of competing with me. Which only made her not a worthy opponent to my eyes the more she kept on doing it. She will always be just that little witch I've imagined her to be as she breaks off every doll I had in our house before.

Heaving deep calming breaths, I made my way inside the university grounds and crossed the street towards the entrance. But just as I was about to enter, a white car parked beside me, making me look at the driver who was slowly taking her window down to let me see her face. And I almost gaped at the person I saw.

"Hi, I'm Rina." I stared at the greenest-grey eyes I've ever seen in my life. I didn't even know those colors were possible to be mixed or layered like that and yet still so distinct in color.

"You're Natalie, right?" She asked with a bit of an accent that made me wake up from the daze I was in.

"How did you know me?" I frowned. The gorgeous girl chuckled and her breathy and smooth voice filled my ears.

"Oh, I think I must have heard things I shouldn't be hearing a while as I parked beside the street.” Her smile faltered a bit as she glanced at me and the place where she was referring to. “I apologize for that." I looked at the intersection where the pictures have been posted and where that argument took place. She must have heard Amanda's gritted shouts of my name.

I looked back at the girl. She smiled sheepishly at me. I sighed and just nodded. "That's fine."

Rina pursed her red lips and I just stared for a while. I waited for her to speak. She must have approached me to ask something. Which I assumed correctly when she started saying, "Do you know Calum Price?" She smiled a little again. That made me raise a brow in question.

"Do you know where I can find him?" Oh. Is she a... girlfriend?

But Rina started shaking her head, making her pixie-cut straight hair sway with her. "Please don't get me wrong. I'm Calum's cousin. I just started university here, but I don't know where everything is. So, I kind of need his help." She impishly smiled at me again. That made me nod slowly. Oh.

I pursed my lips. Well, how should I know where he is? So I just said, "I'm sorry, but I don't know where he is." She just slowly nodded.

I gripped on my jacket as the wind whistled beside my ear. The cold is starting to get inside my clothes, making me shiver. I looked over the place.

"Uhmm, I guess you should ask her." I immediately said the moment I saw Amanda marching her way towards us to get inside the university. I averted my gaze away from her when she glared at me again.

"Oh, no. I'd pretty much do everything blindly than... that." Amused, I watched as Rina's pointed nose started scrunching up as she looked at Amanda's walking reflection on her side mirror.

She must have heard quite more than I expected.

"Oh, uh. Yeah, I should go ahead," I said after a few seconds. But Rina suddenly stopped me.

"Natalie." I looked back at her and I saw her reaching for her passenger door, opening it. "Would you mind helping me, instead? It will be just for a while. Besides, I can see you're already cold." She offered.

As if to push me to take her offer, the wind started whistling again. I shivered. "O-okay." I reluctantly said, but still just stood there. Not exactly expecting Calum's cousin to be this friendly. I mean, basing on their family's elusive and private character, I didn't expect Rina to be welcoming and warm.

"Well?" She said and I sighed. Yeah, it's really starting to get colder as I stay much longer outside. I should get to somewhere warm. November is almost ending, snow would fall soon.

I circled my way towards the car's shotgun seat. I immediately closed the door the moment I sat down inside which was so cozy and warm. I looked around inside but then I stopped when I met those grey-green eyes again. Rina smiled, making her eyes smile along with her.

"Comfortable?" She asked.

A little bit embarrassed, I slowly nodded my head at her. She beamed at me that accentuated more of how gorgeous she is. The Prices must really have these perfect genes. I don't see any of them below the average standards of pretty. They must all be gorgeous.

The car started moving forward inside the university grounds. I directed her towards the parking lot and she asked me a couple of questions regarding the places she needed to know to start with. We were just having this conversation about where the university registrar was when she suddenly said the words that made my brows raise in curiosity.

"You know, you're quite... hard to read, Natalie," Rina said as she unbuckled her seatbelt, a slight frown forming on her small forehead. She looked genuinely confused which peaked my interest.

"Why? Doesn't everybody have their own little mysterious side?" I asked, a bit teasing as I felt comfortable with her. Rina’s lip raised a little, making a smirk that made her look somehow different to me.

And oddly enough, that made my heart beat like a sledgehammer on my chest. My smile faltered. I swallowed as I suddenly felt anxious at the twinkle I saw in those gorgeous grey-green eyes.

She faced me fully and stared straight in my eyes, as if watching what's behind those blue doors to my soul.

"You're right, anyone can be a mystery to anyone." She paused and tilted her head to the left a little, her eyes glinting as she continued staring at me.

I swallowed at the tension that suddenly formed in the air. The warm car suddenly feeling chilly.

"But not to me." Those red lips stretched out in a smile.