Chapter-16🌜 Part of Family
William's POV
"Gifts for me?" I ask.
"No for me." He jokes. "Of course for you." He has a subtle smile on his face.
I don't know what to think about this...
I mean my family doesn't give me gifts on Christmas, or gifts in general.
Simply because my mom is not Christian, so yeah, we can still celebrate it, but for that-she needs to be home.
As for my dad...he comes from a catholic christian family. Sure.
And he was Christian too, I remember going to Christmas masses with him.
But that was in my childhood, this hasn't happened since I was five.
Now, he doesn't go to church at all.
I feel like he's an atheist now. Or, now his god has changed.
The only god he believes in-is himself. And his religion is money.
This god doesn't write Bibles...he writes cheques.
He doesn't preach about the well being of others. He preaches about how to make more wealth.
How to be greedy.
There's no place for festivals and celebrations like these.
Although I do get Christmas gifts...from my other family.
Sebastian and Elena make sure I spend the whole Christmas day at their house. When we were younger...Ryan and I would sleep in the same room and we would wake up-
There would be gifts in our huge Christmas themed socks. And then we would go out and help Elena in making cinnamon rolls, egg-and-sausage breakfast casseroles, French toast, monkey bread and even bacon.
Sebastian would prepare a bonfire, sometimes even a barbeque.
Because in their house, you don't use househelps. Everything you do is together.
But this time...I didn't go there. Because I wasn't in the mood for celebration. My life has been dropping enough crackers on me to think about others.
Ryan was wistful, but he understood my reasons.
It's not good to go to someone's house and ruin even their happiness, when it's just your pain.
Although, I know they are not someone...
They are family, but still.
Even though I didn't go there, Ryan did come to our house right in the morning to give me the presents.
'Christmas gifts should be given on Christmas only.' He had said.
But about gifts from Zane and his mom...I am not sure.
Like why would they want to give me presents?
We are not friends or family...
They didn't even know me three days ago. And now I am suddenly, 'part of the family'?
"Hey, don't get too worked up on this." Zane says. "They are not much." He tries to reason.
And I can't say anything to that...
But I still try, "It's not about them being much or not. But it's just..."
How can I take gifts from my enemy?
Plus, even in some cases I do accept it, "I haven't bought anything...
And I can't just take without giving anything..."
"Oh don't be silly now. Gifts are not about materialistic exchange only. They are meant for celebration. We can celebrate whenever you are ready, and that way you can 'give' too." He says with a warm smile on his face. "Or that's what my mom says..."
And that brings out an irresistible little laugh out of me, "you are sounding uncertain."
He shakes his head, "I am not uncertain about what my mom says."
He adds, "What I am not sure about is whether you would like it or not."
I don't know whether I am awe-struck or irritated. Like he's too slick for his own good...he just knows how to say the right things at the wrong time.
Like even if it's all planned...but this good?
And where do I fall into this plan?
Should I just accept these gifts?
What if there's something weird in them?
I gulp...what if there's a time bomb in it which will blast right when I reach home and then-
Okay, calm with the dramatics he's a mafia not a terrorist!
And I can't stop my intrusive thoughts, "Do you use time bombs?"
EXCUSE ME?! Did I just actually ask him that? If he wasn't gonna kill me before...
He will now.
But unfortunately at that right moment, Luca enters with a tray which would have our Tiramisu in it.
And it's a miracle how he doesn't drop it.
Because the way his jaw drops to the floor is almost comical.
And Zane is not much better either, he chokes on the wine he was just gulping down. He coughs, "Ugh-What?"
"Nothing...nothing..." I look at them both simultaneously, trying to convince them.
And if you think my dumbass would shut down by now...well you are wrong hun, 'cus I keep going.
"It's a prank! Haha! Gotch ya'! There's a hidden camera... it's a prank!" I say in a high-pitched tone.
All Zane can do to that was blink, like he's seeing an otherworldly alien.
Even Luca looks at me as I am that one kid who shows the worst tantrum ever...
Oh God...just kill me.
And then I start acting dizzy, and then laugh at my own joke.
"It's the wine dumbo!" I hiccup throughout.
"I am joking..." I giggle.
"You should have seen you guys' reactions!" And this time I start guffawing like a cow.
I am not sure if Zane buys it, or if he wants to save me from further embarrassment, so he says, "You definitely got us." He chuckles.
And even Luca joins in nervously. "Here's your order gentlemen." He says in English.
After he's done with serving, he leaves.
But I don't look up, because I am busy staring at the plate in front of me.
Because the things I have done...
Oh my god...
I should change my name and move to Antarctica. Yeah that's the only solution.
And then when I don't make a move he chortles. The sound is a low-pitched vibration, more akin to a large cat's purr than a human laugh.
"So a prank huh?" I can hear the velvety smirk on his face. But I still don't look up.
Too embarrassed for that. "Look up William." He says.
And I do.
But just as I raise my eyes, our eyes meet. And his are staring at me intently.
"Were you worried about what's inside them?" He questions me gently.
And I can't deny it, so I just nod. "Don't be." He tells me, "These are just Christmas gifts. You can open them in front of me if you are still dubious."
I prob the inside of my cheek with my tongue, causing my lips to pull into a faint pout as I consider his words.
Yeah I can do that, right? So what if I even die? It's not like I have anything to live for.
I shrug and pick the rectangular box, which is gift wrapped. "What's inside it?" I ask.
"Why don't you find out yourself." He says as he puts a piece of his dessert in his mouth.
I make a hmph sound and tear the gift wrap. When it doesn't tear up, I become impatient and try to tear it up with my nails like a maniac.
And yup. I was right. There's indeed a box in it, a burgundy red box. There's a toggle latch attached to the front of it, so I pulled the lever up and opened it.
And there's a...sweater inside. I pick it up and open it to take a look. "Wait...is it handmade?" I ask, awed by this. It doesn't look machine made-not because it wasn't precise, but because it was too precise. Too balanced.
"It is." He says, looking at my expressions.
It is a heavy, slate-grey masterpiece. Thick with the kind of intricate cable-work that only comes from weeks of patient knitting.
The wool felt substantial-a warm, charcoal-toned weight in my hands-etched with deep, braided ropes and honeycomb stitches.
It isn't just a garment; every tight, steady loop of the yarn feels like a tangible bit of care I could actually hold.
It would be perfect for windy cold nights...
I can feel the warmth.
But wait, "If it's handmade, how did she make it in just three days?" I question.
"She didn't, she altered it though." He said as he took another bite. "When she started knitting it-it was for my brother-"
"Wait-It's Vance's?!" I don't like it now...
"Let me complete." He says patiently. "It was for my youngest brother Enzo."
"Oh... you have another brother?"
"Yeah. So when she started making it-it was as a Christmas gift for him. But a week ago he called and said that he won't be able to come for holidays this year. His finals are going on." He explains.
"Hmm... his finals?"
"Yeah, he is in college, just a year younger than you. Plus you and he would be approximately the same size too." He says pointing his spoon in my direction. "So when she found out you are...you know, going to be the groom three days ago-she did some alteration and made it in your size." He shrugs.
"So...it was for her son and she..." I trail. "She didn't have to... it's a big gesture."
This is just business, there's no feeling in this...
So she doesn't need to...
"My mom is just like that..." There's too much love in his voice as if he's feeling happy just thinking about her. "She can literally care about literal strangers, and you... she already calls you family." He says it as if it's nothing much.
And I don't know...
I am feeling touched. "This is such a beautiful gesture..."
"Please thank her for me... actually no, I'll thank her personally for it." I say.
And he just shrugs, "don't you wanna open that one?" He says as if he doesn't care much, but I can hear the anticipation in his voice.
But nope.
I am not gonna open his gift right in front of him.
"Nawh, I'll open it at home."
A/N ??
It's meeeee!
How was the chapter?
Did you like his mom's gift?
And what do you think will be inside Zane's gift?
What do you think about the pacing...
We are 16 chapters in, do you see the chemistry? Or are they a lost case?
Read next chapter to find out;)
Thoughts? ??
Comments? ??
Votes? ??