~~Yellow eyes~~

/A few days later/

\~\~ Mark's POV \~\~

"I'm bored\~" I whined for the sixth time as I continuously poked Henry on the shoulder with my head resting on his lap. He ignored me and continued to read his mysterious book which he always carried around with him. It's been with him for as long as I can remember but I never got the chance to take a look at it.

I watched him as his dull eyes moved from right to left, then vice versa and his brows furrowing from time to time. My curiosity arised.

I reached out my hand towards his book, trying to snatch it away but he caught my wrist easily and turned his gaze from the book and down towards me, allowing me to stare back at into his dull eyes.

"Hmm?" He asked, raising an eyebrow to which I smiled.

I finally caught his attention!

"What's in the book?" I asked, sitting up straight as he let go of my wrist. I turned to face to him and looked at him with big doe eyes, hoping that he would let me have a look. "Can I have a look at it?"

To my surprise, a smiled tugged on his lips before he raised his free and hand place a pat on my head, clearly treating me like a child. I huffed as he shut the tiny book and got up to his feet before walking away without a single word leaving his lips. I was left alone in the TV lounge once again.

Two things were confirmed official, one; Henry won't ever let me take even a peek of the mysterious book and two; that I'm hella bored.

I sighed, laying back down on the carpet only to twist and turn again and again as it wasn't comfortable at all.

"Mark, I pay the maid to do that." I heard Ryan sigh as he entered the room. I turned my head to the side to look at him. He was wearing a long black bathrobe and some black night slippers that kept his feet warm.

"You pay the maid to roll around on a carpet?" I laughed. He rolled his eyes and grabbed the morning newspaper from the side table, only to throw it towards me.

I immediately got up to a sitting position and grabbed it before it could hit me. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed?"

"The assignments are killing me." He yawned and flopped down into the sofa before running a hand through his wet red hair, moving it away from his eyes. I got up to my feet and joined him.

Our assignments have been piling up since the last three days, leaving us with no time to enjoy. I had finally managed to complete all of them an hour ago, only to find myself in this current state.

Leo and Henry managed to complete all of their assignments within a day, leaving them enough time to make plans while the remaining two of us complained non-stop on how life was so unfair.

Sighing once more, I let my head drop back on the soft cushion, resting my eyes on the ceiling. A minute later the tapping of heels made its way to my ears but I didn't turn to look until the source spoke up. "Tea?"

Ryan's maid, Charlotte, a blondie with green eyes and a perfect figure which was curvy on all the right edges, graced us with her presence as always making me still wonder

what a girl like her or should I say, a girl who can be easily mistaken as a model, doing here as a maid of all things? But when I look back to when we first met her in a club, I know she is way better off being here than in that club. But from a bartender to a maid?!

She could have been a model instead.

I blinked a few times, pulling myself out from the train of thoughts and turned my head to look at Charlotte who was now pouring tea for Ryan—who was busy reading the morning newspaper.

It's gonna be a long day.

/Meanwhile, on the other side/

\~\~ Jay's POV \~\~

"I'm sorry but could you repeat that once more?" I asked in a softer tone — slightly above a whisper — not wanting to cause a scene first thing in the morning.

Even though the Ajumma and Jimmy are fast asleep and the apartment door is blocking out our current conversation, there is still a 30% chance of them walking up. And so I am trying, so hard, to keep my voice down but this guy here isn't helping at all.

A lumpy guy—maybe in his twenties—with coco messy hair and brown eyes, stands with a distance of four feet before from me. He pushed his tiny glasses back up to his eyes, refraining them from slipping down before opening his mouth to answer, "it's exactly as you've heard, Miss." He said carefully, not wanting to trigger my anger but oh boy did he trigger it.

"Don't you 'miss' me, Trey!" I almost shouted, causing him to flinch at my sudden outburst. Either he was surprised at my sudden impoliteness or me calling by his name for the first time in 3 years. Probably both. "I am not going to pay for the newspapers I never got!"

"Well, technically you got them but you just threw them back on my door step."

"Because I don't read any and neither does the old hag!" I said, standing my ground. We've had this argument a million times before but he just doesn't get it. "Just because you are our neighbour doesn't mean that we are gonna be all nice to you and pay for the things we never asked for."

"Well..." Trey started but I raised my hand, ordering him to stop which he did, thankfully.

Lowering my hand slowly, I gave out a sigh. "Mr. Colin, it's 8 in the morning, and I was just heading out to college and let me tell you this." I looked directly into his eyes making him fidget under my pressurising gaze. "I do not wish to have a foul mood to start my day with."

And just like that, I pushed past him and then headed down the stairs onto the street, knowing that he wouldn't dare to ring the door bell again for at least a week.

Trey and his aunt shifted to the apartment next to us 3 years ago and they've been nothing but trouble. It's either random drunk guys mistaking our apartment door to theirs or it's the annoying son who's either falsely accuses us for stealing his aunt's pie every time she makes one or ruins our peaceful morning by ringing our door bell and tells us to pay for the newspapers that we never wanted.

Those neighbours are gonna make me do something so brutal that I would be spending my whole life in prison.

I thought to myself as I hoped that they would shift out soon before it's too late.

/Later that day/

"Come on." I called out tiredly, as I continued to hold out my left arm which was starting to ache.

Right after college had ended, I had practically ran towards the cafe, ready to get my monthly pay from Mary which, she had provided it to us — without any delay as always — along with some extra tips which I was extremely grateful for.

I took the opportunity to go and buy a gift or two for Ajumma and Jimmy from the tip I got and leave the rest to buy some new groceries. I had planned to head straight to the closest gift shop after my shift got over but it didn't work out that way.

Here I am, in a park, crouched down beside a bench, calling out to a cat who's tail I accidentally stepped on, not too long ago. "Come on kitty." I try again, as the pair of yellow eyes stare back angrily. Raising an eyebrow, I gave it a hopeless smile. "You won't let me apologise, huh?"

"Boo!" I practically jump a mile when a hand grabbed my shoulder making me bolt to my feet only to hit my head against something hard.

"Ow!" Wincing, I crouched back down while moving my hands to the top of my head as I heard some else grunt which was then followed by cursing.

Tilting my head a little, I turned to look at the person towering over me and felt my eyes widen as the source continued to rub his forehead, probably trying to lessen the pain from the impact. "The hell?!"

"Nice to meet you too." Mark mumbled out, wincing a bit. "Are you okay though? You didn't hurt your head just now, did you?"

"I've been told I'm quite thick headed to the point where I won't even feel a dozen bricks smashing down my head nor an aeroplane." I said in as-a-matter-of-factly tone while rolling my eyes.

Mark chuckled at my sense of humour before shooting me an apologetic smile, "I apologize for asking such an obvious question."

"You should be."

"It's was extremely stupid of me to do so."

"Yes. It was."

Smiling wider, Mark shook his head a little at my bluntness, before stretching out a helping hand towards me. "Here."

Shooting him a 'really' look, I then lifted myself up and I dusted myself off, leaving the man to retreat his hand when he noticed that his help wasn't needed. "So you really don't do handshakes?"

I ignored him and leaned forward to grab the strap of my bag, before pulling it over my shoulder. Ignoring the questions that kept leaving his lips, I started to walk away only to stop when a 'meow' reached my ears. With the feeling of déjà vu lingering in mind, I turned my gaze down towards my feet only to meet with a horrified sight. I had shamelessly stepped on the tail of the same cat, yet again.

I am the worst!

Within the next second, I slouched on the bench with my head buried in my hands while Mark continues to laugh his head off. I lift my head from my hands to glare at him only to notice tears in his eyes as he clutched on to his stomach while laughed like a maniac.

I looked at him confused.

Was stepping on a cat's tail that funny?

I am guessing that he noticed my confused expression as he creased his laughing for a moment and cleared his throat. "I uh... I've been here since an hour ago and..." He turned to look at me as if he wanted me to figure something out.

But what?

I thought about it for a few seconds before it finally clicked me. I felt my cheeks heat up instantly.

He watching me this whole time!

I flopped my head back into my hands again, mentally beating myself up. It was stupid enough for me to step on the cat's tail and then expect it to forgive me right away but this....

This is a whole new level of embarrassment!

\~\~ Mark's POV \~\~

I was caught off guard upon catching her, of all people, become a blushing mess but I didn't dare to show it nor point it out as the girl, already looked like she was going to bury herself alive just because she found out that I had watched her step on the poor cat's tail twice.

Not knowing how to comfort the girl, for the first time of my life, I was left with the choice of waiting until she came around and took the time to study her. Jay was wearing a black and white striped sweater with long shelves that were enough for her fingertips to hide in — along with some skinny plain black jeans and some white sneakers. Her auburn hair was tied up into a ponytail just as always, with a few stray strands escaping from the front, giving her an adorable look.

Watching how her shoulders continued to rise and fall according to the rhythm of her breathing, it was clear that she wasn't planning to raise her head from her hands any time soon. Not that I mind though as I was satisfied enough about the fact that she didn't run away like she's been doing ever since we crossed paths.

A smile crept onto my lips as the image of

Mr. Albert's sister came to mind. Indeed, these two girls were quiet similar.

The laughing voices of children made me look away from Jay and towards my surroundings to noticed dozens of children playing in the sandpit while others fought on who gets to sit on swings next while their parents gossiped or walked around the park while making sure to keep a close eye on their kids just in case one of them decides to imitate a stuntman. The park was getting crowded by the minute as it was merely eight in the evening and the beginning of a weekend.

Noticing a movement below me, I tore my eyes away from the crowd and towards to creature at my feet to see a pair of yellow eyes stare back with caution. We had a little staring contest which lasted for not more than a few seconds before it decided to snuggle against my feet.

Adoring the little creature, I leaned over and gently grab hold of the cat, making sure not to scare her, before hoisting her up and placing her onto my lap.

She was uncomfortable at first but when I gently ran a hand through her black soft fur a couple of times while keeping in mind to scratch the place beneath her ear every now and then, she instantly relaxed. It didn't take her long to curl up in my lap.

"Do.... do you like cats?" I started, trying to make a conversation with the slouching girl beside me with my gaze still fixed on the creature on my lap.

Jay stayed silent, letting me know that she wasn't interested in allowing the conversation to go my way. That's what a though at first until I heard her murmur something under her breath which I had failed to catch. At this point, I wasn't even sure if she did speak up or was it just my head just playing tricks on me.

"Sorry but did you say something?" I asked carefully, afraid that I would end up annoying her or worst, triggering her to walk away. I tensed as a sigh escaped her lips and refrained to whip my gaze towards her when she finally lifted her head from her hands only to voice out a curt 'no'

Getting to her feet, Jay looked over her shoulder and towards her bag only to pull the strap over her shoulder, ready to walk away but I held her back from doing so.

"Why don't you pet it before you run away again?" I offered, making sure my grip around her wrist was gentle enough for her to easily snatch it away which of course she did not a second later.

Expecting her to walk away, I was rather shocked when she did the quiet opposite. We stayed like that for almost a minute, making me all shifty as I couldn't help but want to know what she was planning on doing next. "Would—!"

"The only time I'll stop 'running away' is when you people stop appearing before me." She declared, irritated at the fact where we thought that she was 'running away' like a coward she is which wasn't true as she had been 'avoiding' us rather than 'running away with her tail between her legs.' Due to my wrong choice of words, a misunderstanding had been created within her mind and she no doubt, ended up hating her more.

Waiting to correct myself, just as I began to explain, Jay turned around and hastily stomped away resulting in a simple 'ah!' leaving my lips. I heaved from the bench, ready to run after her only to recall the the little creature sleeping on my lap. Glancing down at the said creature and then up towards where Jay had began to merge with the crowd of families, a let out a sigh.

Slowly sitting back down, I brought my attention back down towards the tiny creature and ran a few gentle and comforting strokes on her back, earning a continuous purr which was soon followed by her stretching a bit before melting right into my touch.

A smile unconsciously tugged on my lips.

I guess it's not so bad to go for a walk every once in a while.

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