Something About Us

In what felt like a blink, almost three months had passed. The online furor surrounding Rhys and Heather had gradually subsided, buried beneath the ceaseless tide of celebrity gossip and breaking news. Rhys, while diligently fulfilling his professional obligations, maintained a steady stream of communication with Heather, their connection a lifeline in the midst of their forced separation. Text messages and hushed phone calls became their primary means of contact, a fragile thread connecting them across the distance imposed by their companies.

Heather, meanwhile, had settled into a quiet routine, spending her days at her aunt's house, her primary focus on caring for baby Dave while Tony and Marjorie were at work. The quiet domesticity was a stark contrast to the whirlwind of her previous life, but it provided a sense of stability, a refuge from the storm.

It was a Saturday, a rare day off for both Tony and Marjorie. They decided to spend the day with baby Dave, enjoying the simple pleasures of family time. Rhys, also enjoying a well-deserved day off, was upstairs, engaged in a lively card game with Heather. The atmosphere was light, filled with laughter and playful banter, a brief respite from the anxieties that had plagued them for months.

The sound of the doorbell shattered the quiet afternoon, a sudden intrusion into their peaceful sanctuary. Marjorie answered the door, her expression shifting from casual warmth to a flicker of surprise.

"Honey... We have a visitor," she called out, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty.

"Who is it?" Tony asked, carrying a giggling baby Dave.

"He said he's here for Heather," Marjorie replied, her gaze lingering on the man standing at the door.

Tony looked up, his eyes widening slightly as he saw Chris standing behind his wife. "Good afternoon, Sir," Chris greeted, his voice polite and respectful.

"Good afternoon," Tony replied, placing baby Dave gently back in his crib. "Chris, right?"

"Yes, Sir," Chris replied, extending his hand for a handshake.

"Please, sit," Marjorie offered, placing a glass of water on the coffee table. She then settled onto the couch, her eyes fixed on Chris with a mixture of curiosity and caution.

"Thank you," Chris said, taking a sip of water.

A tense silence settled over the room, broken only by the soft coos of baby Dave. They waited for Chris to elaborate, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on some unseen point in the distance.

"And? What is your purpose in wanting to see Heather?" Marjorie asked, her voice laced with a gentle but firm inquiry.

Before Chris could answer, a sudden squeal echoed through the house, followed by the sound of someone running down the stairs.

"Slow down, or I'll fall!" Heather shouted, her voice filled with playful exasperation. Rhys, carrying her piggyback-style, ran down the stairs, both of them grinning widely. They entered the living room, their laughter abruptly silenced as they saw the three pairs of eyes fixed on them.

"Uhm... Put me down," Heather whispered, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Rhys, his eyes fixed on Chris, hesitated. He wanted to turn around and retreat upstairs, but Heather pulled his hair, her voice laced with a playful threat. "I said, put me down," she hissed.

"Hold on," Rhys muttered, squatting to let Heather slide off his back.

As Heather straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair, Chris suddenly spoke, his voice clear and confident. "I'm here because I want to court Heather. As her guardians, I wanted to get your permission..." His gaze lingered on Heather, his expression earnest.

The room was filled with stunned silence. Rhys clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. Heather's eyes widened in surprise, her mind reeling. Tony and Marjorie exchanged bewildered glances.

"Why? We only met a few months ago. We barely even spoke to each other," Heather said, her voice laced with confusion.

"Yes, I know we only met a few months ago. We barely spoke with each other in those three days at the resort, but I can't get you out of my head since," Chris confessed, his voice sincere. He paused, gathering his thoughts. "You said then that you're not in a relationship." He then looked at Rhys, his gaze challenging. "And I wanted to take this chance. Unless, you're already together now?"

"No. We're not," Heather replied, her voice barely a whisper.

Rhys moved closer to Heather, his voice low and urgent. "Are you sure you want to be with this guy?" he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

"I don't know," she mumbled, her eyes darting between Rhys and Chris. "We'll see..."

"We'll go to our room so you young people can talk," Tony said, pulling Marjorie out of the room, leaving Heather, Rhys, and Chris in an awkward silence.

Rhys sat on the couch beside Heather, his arm casually draped behind her, a subtle assertion of his presence. "So..." Rhys said, his voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. "You want to court Heather. Why?"

Heather elbowed Rhys lightly, her voice a low warning. "Behave."

"Like I mentioned earlier, I can't stop thinking about her since I met her at the resort," Chris replied, his smile unwavering.

"Really now," Rhys said, his tone laced with skepticism.

"Yes," Chris said, turning his attention to Heather. "Will you allow me to court you, Heather?"

Heather looked at Chris, then at Rhys, then back to Chris, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. "Uhm..." she stammered, unsure how to respond. "To be honest, this is a little sudden." She paused, searching for the right words.

Chris nodded, his expression understanding. "I understand. Then, how about we try going out on a few dates while you're staying here? And if you do leave so you could continue your studies, we can be in a long-distance relationship. I can visit you whenever I'm free." He smiled, his eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.

Heather considered his proposal, her mind racing. "I'll need more time to think about it. Is that okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah. No problem. You can take all the time you need," Chris replied, his smile widening. He stood up, his gaze lingering on Heather. "I'll wait for the good news." He winked at her, a gesture that sent a shiver down Heather's spine.

"Leaving already?" Rhys asked, his voice laced with a hint of mockery.

"Yeah, I still have a magazine photoshoot. Don't want to be late," Chris replied, his smile fading slightly.

"Cool. I'll show you out," Rhys said, standing up and leading the way to the front door.

After seeing Chris out, Rhys returned to the living room, his expression unreadable. He sat beside Heather, his gaze fixed on the glass coffee table. "So... Are you going to see him?" he asked, his voice low and intense. "You'll be his girlfriend?"

Heather sighed, closing her eyes and leaning back against the couch. "I don't know," she murmured. She opened her eyes and looked at Rhys, his expression still fixed on the glass.

"You can go out with him on a few dates. If you really like him, then be with him," he said after a long silence, his voice flat.

Heather touched his leg, her touch hesitant. "Should I?"

Rhys finally looked at her, a forced smile playing on his lips. "Yeah. Why not?"