CHAPTER NINE
ROSY TIME AT WATTS ESTATE
"Michael!!", Sylvester hollered when they met Michael inside the living room. He was already on his feet waiting for them to come in. He wasn't wearing a cap. He just wore a simple white tee and baggy pants. He also had a very beautiful smile on his face when he saw them.
"Heyyyy!!! Guys!", Michael matched their energy as he gave them warm hugs while Miss Hena stood aside watching them with smiles on her face.
"Michael, how are you, man?", Kelvin asked when they disengaged.
"I'm fine", Michael replied holding Kelvin's hand. "How were you guys able to locate this place?" he asked, looking from Sylvester to Kelvin.
"We checked the internet", Sylvester replied immediately, nodding his head while Kelvin did the same. "A cab brought us here".
Michael nodded. ", Let's go to my room...it would be more comfortable there", he suggested.
"Miss Hena!", he called out.
"Yes, Darling", she answered sweetly.
Kelvin and Sylvester exchanged quick glances. Then, Sylvester hands over the bag he was holding to Michael.
"We got these for you. From LuxLux Stores. Michelle picked out the apples for you herself",
"Wow! Thanks, gu...", he paused and looked up at them. "That's right. Michelle didn't come with you guys?", his expression slightly changes.
Sylvester nudges Kelvin; Miss Hena sees the exchange.
"Um! She...um! Her aunt picked her up after school. So that's why she couldn't come with us", Kelvin explained.
"Oh!", was all Michael said. Miss Hena smiled and walked up to him.
"Darling, let me help you with that." she collects the bag from him. "You go upstairs with your friends. I'll be in your room in a very short while, okay?", she gives him a hug.
"Okay", turning to others. "Let's go".
While they were walking up the spiral stairs, Kelvin asked,
"What about your dad?",
"He has to travel to go see my radiologist. He would be back by tomorrow afternoon if he took a night flight", Michael replied.
"You never told us you were a Watts...like I was in awe when I saw your dad!", Sylvester said with excitement.
"Your reaction now is the reason I didn't tell you", Michael said and they all laughed as they entered his room.
"Wa-aoooow!", was their reaction.
The room was beautiful. The bed was so big and cozy. And it had the shape of a teddy bear. The room was spacious, almost as big as accommodating about three standard bedrooms. There were pictures of him and his father on the walls. Some even looked like small paintings. Michael went to sit on the bed and Kelvin followed suit. Sylvester was onto everything in the room.
"Are these real paintings?", Sylvester asked, touching one of them.
Michael replies, "Yeah! I painted them",
"Huh!" the other two chorused, looking at him.
Michael blinked twice, "Are you so shocked? It's a side hobby tho. Just to keep my mind busy sometimes", he said, standing up. "Here's my painting room." he walked up to another door inside the room and pushed a button beside the door, revealing a password code. He touches the numbers.
"How's school?", he asked.
"Everyone misses you, Michael. Including the teachers", Sylvester said as he watched Michael put in the password.
He chuckles softly. "Have I become that popular?",
"Oh! Yes, you have. But then, why does this place have a password?", Sylvester asked.
Micheal turned to him while the door opened.
"This place is the only privacy I have away from Miss Hena and my dad. Every other thing has been invaded".
The other two burst into laughter. Miss Hena entered immediately with the two housekeepers. They pushed in a huge tray that had different food, snacks, and drinks.
Miss Hena even saw that he opened his painting room.
"Please, make yourselves comfortable", Miss Hena told them.
"Yes, Ma'am", the two boys bowed.
The three of them strolled back to where the tray was. Miss Hena and the two girls left the room.
"I love Coke!", Michael said heartily while collecting one small bottle of Coke from the tray.
Sylvester laughs. "That's Michelle's favorite, too," he said as they ate from the food tray. Michael only smiled.
"What about your health, Michael? We've been so worried", Kelvin asked.
"I've been on drugs since the incident. My doctors even came around because I hadn't had this kind of situation since the first time it happened. I was eleven then. But it wasn't as serious as this one ", he explained.
"What about your phone?", Kelvin asked.
"Oh! I'm sorry. By the time Dad brought it home, it was broken. I've been on rest since that's why I haven't contacted you guys", he apologized.
"We just wanted to be sure you're okay, and we can't wait to have you back in school," Kelvin said.
"Michael, would you take me on a tour around Watts house?", Sylvester asked immediately.
"Oh! No! Vester. This place is so big and large. By the time we're done, I'd be exhausted and out of breath", Michael said, and they all laughed.
"I wonder what it's like living here? ", Kelvin wondered.
"I just know the room, where Miss Hena stays, Dad's office, and his room—and oh! The living room. There's also the tennis court where I watch my dad play with his friends or Mr. George. I spend most of my time at the company or my painting room".
"You've never dated?" Sylvester asked, popping fries into his mouth.
Instead of answering, Michael rolled back in laughter and suddenly, Kelvin and Sylvester joined him.