Destroy Me Gently:Ex-Enemy Becomes My Lover!
Chapter 32: Reunion

Chapter 32: Reunion

Chapter thirty two

**Oliver West**

"Hey, Mom said I should ask if you are done preparing?" Pumpkin spoke as she made her way inside my room. I looked up from my table of assignments. She plunged herself to get comfortable on my bed. She was already dressed in a simple evening gown, her hair gathered in a pigtail.

An unwilling sound escaped my mouth. It was a Saturday evening, one that I wished to spend on my own, but Mom appeared to have other plans.

Earlier today, I had met her downstairs making a phone conversation with Mrs. Morrison.

She had invited Mom over, and Mom was insisting for me and Pumpkin to come along with her.

She had been overly excited by the prospect of meeting her college best friend all day. Her cheerful mood was quite the opposite of mine.

I didn’t want to go.

Heath had informed me that Kieran was no longer in the house, but I still couldn’t risk it. I didn’t want to find out how he would react if he finds out I had paid a visit to his house.

I couldn’t exactly blame Mom either. She didn’t know the situation between Kieran and me.

She only knew that the friendship between Kieran and I had fallen apart. She still has no idea that he blames me for that incident, to the point of bullying me for eight whole years.

I glanced at Pumpkin and remembered that she hadn’t spoken anything about that boy she had been telling me about.

"So... you still haven’t spoken anything about your date. Have you discovered if you like him or not?"

She bit on her fingernails as she returned my stare with a blank glare.

"I don’t like him anymore," she replied, her brows pulling into a frown.

I gave her a puzzled look. For a moment I didn’t know what to say.

"That was quick...?" The words sounded more like a question rather than a statement from my lips.

She shrugged lightly and resumed chewing on her nails.

"I got so mad at him. I saw him sharpening a pencil for Natalie. Humph!"

A burst of laughter accompanied by disbelief escaped my mouth at her funny but serious expression. She must really have a dislike for this "Natalie" girl.

"So you stopped liking him because you saw him sharpening a pencil for another girl?" I shot out incredulously.

"It’s not just about the pencil," she said, crossing her arms. "He was being all nice to her and ignored me completely during art class."

I couldn’t help but smile at her serious expression. "So what happened to this great romance then?"

"I decided he’s not worth my time," she said with a shrug, but I could see she was still a bit bothered by it.

"You know what? You’re probably right. You deserve someone who’ll sharpen pencils for you and only you," I said, trying to keep my voice light, while holding back a laughter

She giggled. "You’re weird, Oliver."

"I’m your big brother. It’s my job to be weird and look out for you."

"Speaking of looking out for me," she said with a mischievous grin, "what about you? When are you going to find someone to sharpen pencils for?"

My face heated up, she always had to turn the this kind of topic againstme each time. "That’s different."

"How is it different?"

"Because... because I’m focusing on school right now."

"Sure you are," she said, not buying it for a second.

"I’m also grown, once I find a boyfriend do you think I would do lame things like sharpening pencils?" I scoffed and her eyes went brighter with curiosity.

"Ohh, so what do grown people do with the person they like? Please tell me,"

My tongue was glued in my mouth, I definitely couldn’t tell her these things!

"Who is liking who?" A voice sounded from behind us. We both whirled around to see Mom regarding us both with a skeptical expression.

"No one," Pumpkin hurried out, casting me a worried glance.

I also wasn’t sure about how much Mom overheard, but would it be that bad? We were just talking about an innocent... well, pencil-sharpening situation, and grown things?

Hopefully she hadn’t heard that part.

"Why aren’t you getting ready? I sent Pumpkin to inform you to hurry up. Didn’t you inform him?" Her last question was directed toward Pumpkin.

A silent sigh of relief escaped through my nostrils, but it didn’t last long as it kicked in where I was about to prepare to go.

-

"Oh my goodness! You look so amazing! And is that you..." Her gaze widened as it fell on me, then slowly trailed to Pumpkin.

I wish I could say I shared the same enthusiasm. I didn’t want to be here.

She was still as radiant and elegant as I remembered, only just a bit older.

Her clothes and jewelries all screamed expensive in capital letters.

She and Mom looked polar opposite. Mrs. Morrison was all flashy, even down to her six-foot heels, while Mom looked casual.

It made me wonder how their friendship stayed strong for so long.

The Morrisons were no doubt the richest people in this part of the town. She was a popular international super model, while Mr. Morrison owned a global company.

I suddenly wondered how it would feel like to own such amount of money.

I stiffened slightly as she suddenly enveloped me into an embrace. The smell of her expensive perfume wafted into my nostrils.

"You are so grown up! I still remember you as that little boy and baby Pumpkin! I almost can’t recognize you," she gushed out to Pumpkin.

After the exchanges and greetings, she ushered us into the house.

This was the most uncomfortable place I’ve ever entered in a long time. My skin prickled with uneasiness. I also expected Kieran to jump out from nowhere and rip off my head.

Every step I took felt like I was walking on a minefield. My palms were sweating, and I kept glancing around nervously, half-expecting to see those familiar gray eyes glaring at me from some corner.

She led us through a large modern living room, into a neatly and beautifully designed dining room.

"I didn’t know what you all would prefer, so I decided to make everything!" she spoke, clasping both her fingers together in anticipation.

I stared at the variant of enticing dishes. My stomach was rigid and taut with nervousness. I didn’t think I would be able to stomach anything.

She served the dishes while she and Mom reminisced about their old times.

I wasn’t paying that much attention to what they discussed. That was until Mom suddenly asked.

"What about your son Kieran? How is he?"