Kiss of A Titan
Chapter 55

In spite of the team's efforts to keep the rumors under wraps, the Principal got to find out about the incident from one of the teachers and Coach Robbins was summoned to confront all qualms at the Principal's office and all this happened, two weeks later to the end of August break before I received an emergency phone call from Richard at our usual time of chatting together in my bedroom after school late at night.

It was from his phone call that I found out that his family would embark on a sudden weekend trip to Hawaii which would last for four days following an unexpected decision made by his father whom he told me was persuaded by his mom to take her there since her treatment had turned for the worse like she had feared. He formally invited me to join him for the trip knowing his father wouldn't refuse if he told about bringing someone along with him and I knew from the way he barely told me the details of his family trip that he was deeply hurt with his mom situation which I guessed was getting far worse than what I had imagined.

I told aunt about his invitation as well as the heartbreaking situation he was passing through and aunt unanimously gave me her permission to join him for the trip though she had me promise I won't get too intimate with him during the four days trip like we already did having found out everything about the status of our relationship from a private chat with Chloe two days after the return from Denver as well as what we both did alone when we got missing. When the day arrived for Richard's family to leave town, I left home to join them at their mansion before they left, taking along with me, the clothes and other accessories I needed to sustain myself during the trip with no ill intent towards anyone that might ruin the thrilling feeling of spending a brief holiday with Richard and his family particularly what Chloe did behind my back and Katherine's embarrassment to apologize for what she did to me on purpose regardless of the fact I secretly received an apology from Paige in her stead but on getting there before we were driven to an aerodrome privately owned by Richard's family for a quick flight to Hawaii, Richard told me I needn't bring my things since he had already ensured the necessary arrangements for my accommodation in the private resort beforehand which includes what I had to wear to look presentable to his family during the whole trip particular his father who was quite uneasy with my presence with his son though I recognized him at first glance.

***

It greatly caught everyone by surprise that Hillary, Ben's would-be fiancée was already there at the Jefferson's private resort estate located in a strategic point in the Cliffside near the unsteady tidal beaches of Hawaii, waiting for us inside the furbished compound that was broad enough to contain a full crowd despite the herculean structures that supported the mansion. She came out of the house to greet everyone, especially Richard's mom whom she met in a wheelchair as soon as we arrived in the mansion and kept hugging everybody as though she had been waiting for a lifetime to see our faces.

After a brief introduction, she got to know that I was Richard's girlfriend even though I wasn't too sure about it when she kept inquiring about our relationship but it was clearly a fact to those who were present that I was the second person apart from Lori that Richard had personally introduced to his family members who undoubtedly saw me as his girlfriend. Thirty minutes after our arrival, we had breakfast inside the mansion at the beautifully decorated dining chamber where we were attended to by ten maidservants who neatly served us with varieties of dishes.

The fancy interior household furniture and the antiques which I believed without doubt was far expensive made me felt inferior

Richard's family in all respect despite wearing a fancy Italian black sleeveless gown given to me by one of the

maidservants particularly the glassy chandelier that clung to the ceiling above the heads of everyone who sat down to eat at the dining hall that was twice the size of aunt's sitting room back at home. In addition, the stylish outfits of everyone including Richard who sat at table to eat the luxurious dish that was too many to count intimidated my humble origin in all respects except for Richard's mother who still clad herself in a patient tunic whilst sitting in the same wheelchair she was in when Hilary met her, beside her husband. Even Hillary looked more attractively beautiful in her white sleeve gown as she sat beside Ben who was having the moment of his life sitting beside his lover regardless of the predicament and the main reason why the family had come to this part of the country.

Richard's father was the first to start eating after a brief moment of prayer which I thought was customary to Jefferson but it was clear to everyone that it was primarily an intercessory prayer for the well being of Richard's Mother. Then we followed suit afterwards and not only was I having difficulty avoiding the eerie glances surreptitiously committed by Richard's father, but Richard's mom was having a slight difficulty touching her meal and her actions were beginning to make everyone feel uncomfortable especially Ben and Hillary.

"Come on, Miriam, the food will get cold", Out of all of us, it was Richard's dad that spoke to her first.

"I don't have an appetite", She replied and dropped the fork on the plate.

"Can't you see I specifically ordered the servants to cook this dish for your health?", "I know it's nutritious but you shouldn't have brought so many dishes at once", "So, are you implying I did wrong thinking about your current condition?", "Stark...that isn't what I meant", Miriam replied, searching for comfort in our faces as we stared at her. We had stopped eating as soon as the argument erupted between them.

"Fine, I won't bother you if that's what you want", Mr. Stark retorted, wiping his hands with a napkin as he was preparing to leave. He was about to get up to leave when the chunk of the food I was eating got stuck in my throat which almost choked me. Richard came to my rescue by giving me a glass of water and it suddenly became too awkward for Stark to leave the table the moment I became the center of attraction.

"You're alright?” Richard asked me to rub my back with his palm after I drank the cold water to ease the pain I felt in my throat and I nodded shyly.

"Don't eat too fast otherwise you could get your throat hurt", Richard advised and went back to eating his food while the others stared at us in shock. Mrs. Miriam was shocked as well and slowly went back to eating the same meal that had been the bone of contention. Mr. Stark wasn't amused at this and gave me a cold stare after I had placated down but he awkwardly decided to remain in his huge seat to continue his meal. Breakfast ended quietly but briefly afterwards and the four of us went outside to have a stroll at the beach when it was afternoon, leaving Stark to help his wife retire to the upstairs bedroom already prepared for her by the servants.

Richard and I were holding hands together as we strolled on the sandy seashore far behind the other lovebirds, enjoying the windy breeze that kept brushing the ringlets of hair as well as Richards white shirt which he unbuttoned to savor the cool refreshing summer wind hovering around the ebbing seaside. I peered far into the distant horizon and watched a few surfers surfing in the unsteady waves but there was disappointment written in both of our faces in spite of the beautiful scenery of the beach that was sparsely crowded with people during the hot afternoon.

"I'm sorry he acted like that", "It's okay. I already know it will be difficult for him to accept me", "He will in time. He's just like that because he knew about the incident with Lori", Richard replied gently, squeezing his eyes to avoid being blinded by the sunlight as we trailed Ben and Hilary who were ahead of us. They seemed so engrossed in their personal discussion that they barely had little time to recall that they had left us behind the first time we came to the beach. "Really? How did he find out?"

"Ben told him about it and I was really mad at Ben for betraying my trust", "I guess I really have a lot to put up with from now on", "Don't be too hard on yourself just to please him. It doesn't anyway matter to me if he accepts you or not", he replied and glanced towards the far end of the beach as we fell silent for a while. I clung on Richard's hand and he smiled wistfully. I wanted to enjoy the moment but then something crossed my mind as we kept our slow but steady pace on the beach.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you something during the trip", "What did you forget?" he questioned without looking.

"I think I have seen your father before", "That's absurd", "No, it's not.

"Really?, Not even Clyde let alone Linder had seen him once and Dad rarely visits us in Houston, so how come you of all people see my dad without me knowing about it, huh?", "I'm sure I have seen him somewhere", "If you are so insistent, where did you see him?", "Uh...Somewhere around a Tennis Court, I think he was the guy that showed us the neighborhood where we now live two months before I started as a freshman in Houston High", "Is that true?", He questioned once again and this time he turned to look at me but kept on walking beside me on the dry sand.

"I'm definitely sure that he's the same person", Richard stopped abruptly and thought for a while. He must have remembered something as well judging by the way he looked. After much thought, he resumed his walk taking me by the hand. "I think you're right", "What do you mean?", "He paid Mom a surprise visit at the hospital two months back and we both played tennis together at a lawn court around the neighborhood near your house. Back then, school hasn't resumed yet for the new semester and Ben wasn't around but he never visited us since then", Richard explained, swerving my hand forward and beaming a lovely smile at me. I flinched nervously and wasn't quick to realize that he was about to make a run for it.

"Ben! Wait up!" he called out to his elder brother and took his heels pulling me along before I could read his intentions of racing on the beach to meet Ben. All four of us really enjoyed spending time together at the beach and it was from our discussion with Ben and his fiancée that I found out that Ben had earlier phoned Hilary about the trip like Richard had did but he had told her to take a flight directly to Hawaii instead of coming to leaving with us from Houston.