Introverts Lifeguide in Apocalypse

Exiting the car, I turned my head to the interior. Am I supposed to receive guests in that chaos? 

I was thinking about what to do that I saw the beautiful flower garden yet again. It should work. I have beach umbrellas and I can bring the tea table and chairs from the gazebo. Closing the door, it should look honorable enough! 

Putting the tableware, teapot and three tiered pastry tray on the table, I distanced myself to get a better look. It looked pretty good.

'Elina's style! Grandmother should really see this...'

I was taking a picture that I heard stepping sounds from two different sides. One coming from the road in front of me, the other coming from behind the car. I hurriedly put the phone in my packet and ran to close the door. Turning around from the door, I saw a handsome man with black hair looking around thirty and Mr. Jerald staring at each other. 

Putting on a business smile, I walked towards them.

"Hello sirs! I have been waiting for you! Please sit down." I said, holding the smile with nervousness as they both sat down. The chairs didn't look sturdier enough, but held on.

Pouring tea for both of them, I sat on the opposite side of them. Putting a cream puff and a crème brûlée donut on my plate, I gestured for them to eat, too.

"Please enjoy!" I said, as I took a bite of the crème brûlée.

Mr. Jerald topped his plate, but the man looked down at me with a stern, aristocratic behaviour.

"I am not here for a tea party."

I frowned. The donut was too sweet for my taste. I put it back on my plate and cleaned the corner of my mouth with a napkin. Then I took my cup and took a sip, staring back.

"Oh, excuse me for not realizing I was the one who invited himself because I had business with the host who woke up early in the morning and prepared painstakingly and without even having had breakfast!" I bombarded him with an arrogant and confident tone.

Cough! Cough! The old man choked on the pastries he had stuffed in his mouth. I poured him another cup of tea, smacking him on the back with the anger from waiting two hours in cold.

The old man held his hand up to show he was okay, as he looked at me as if he had seen me in another light. Shock, admiration, and disappointment were the emotions I could read from his eyes.

I glare at the man's sky-blue eyes and then at the pastries.

"Have you not learnt that you should show curtesy to the host? Eat or leave!" I said with a raised brow and thug like tone, sounding like Grandfather.

Unbelievable, the man actually rolled his eyes at me! Is our situations the same as I think it is or am I the one indebted and in need of help? He ate a donut, looking like he was swallowing sand. It made me lose my appetite and glowering him angrily.

He drank the tea in one go, then started talking again.

"Can we talk about business now?" He said, staring at me again, with the same charisma as earlier. My brow twitched with anger as I stared at him to continue.

" I am here to ask you let us use the hot springs water."

He just said that and stare at me quietly. I held my mouth with one hand in thought. Was that all?

"Is that all?" we both turned to Mr. Jerald who had cleaned the three tiered tray and said that with a cream smeared mouth.

"Yes." He said looking at me.

I smiled hysterically. Closing my eyes, I took three deep breaths before glaring at him.

"Let's not rush things. First thing first, apologize for intruding and scaring my family member!"

He looked at me neutrally. 

"I didn't do it, so I have nothing to apologize for!"

"What?"

"Go ask your family member! It is my first time coming here!"

Wow.

"Okey. Let's rephrase it. Go bring the ones who broke into my greenhouse, made a giant hole in it and scared my house's small one! Then I will consider thinking about the usage of my hot spring."

Then I stood next to his chair and gesture with my hand to go away, but before he could stand up, I pushed him down forcefully. Staring down at him.

"If I am not happy with the sincerity you show, I might get violent, so you know I am a genuine believer of a tooth or tooth and an eye for an eye and a building for a building. Next thing you know might be that big car crashing into you house..."I said, patting on his shoulder a few times as I emptied the way for him to go.

"Noted..." He said, in lower volume as he went the way he came. Sizing Cusseta with his eyes on his way.

Clap! Clap!

With the clapping sound came Mr. Jerald's voice.

"That bastard is really lucky to have such a capable granddaughter. Aren't ya a scary woman?" 

I gave him a small bow, loosening my facial expression. 

"Should we go now?" I asked, taking the buckets in my hand.

He looked at my hands with confusion, and it made me confused too.

"Where is your instrument? Didn't Samuel tell you to bring one? I can lend you my flout if he hasn't!" he said, touching his pockets.

'Was Grandfather serious? I should borrow one from Lucas!' I thought as I refused the flout, one of the few instruments I was a stranger with.

"No, no need. I just forgot to bring it... it's inside!" I said as I backed down towards the house. Mr. Jerald followed me inside.

"It's upstairs..." I said before climbing the stairs. He nodded his head, stroking and analyzing the walls.

Lucas's room door was still open, but there was no bed on the floor. Going inside, I didn't see him, so I knocked on the only other door in the room. After a few seconds, Lucas came out with moist hair and changed clothes.

"Good morning! Did you sleep well?" I greeted him with a smile.

He nodded.

"Morning..." he said but then showed his left arm with a frown.

"Yeah, but my left arm hurts, as if it hit somewhere!" He continued massaging it.

"Maybe you hit it somewhere!" I said with a guilty conscience, knowing it was most likely because I dragged him up the stairs.

"Maybe..." His confused voice made me feel even more guilty, so I changed the subject. 

"Lucas, I must water my grandfather's tree garden with Mr. Jerald. I need to borrow a musical instrument if possible..." I asked, looking at the row of instruments displayed in his room. 

He looked at me suspiciously but took a violin and walked towards me. So violin it is.

"I am coming too. Take whichever you want. The cases are in the closet." He said as he passed me and my extended arms, and went out the door.

Taking my eyes off his back, I went closer to the instruments. Unexpectedly, I saw another violin. Old but in good condition and clean. Is he a violist? Seeing that he had taken this instrument, I childishly took the same.

It wasn't only his room, which was in more harmony than mine, but also his closet. Everything was tidy, even the instrument cases!

However, the color ranges were even less than mine. Everything was black and white or dark blue! 

"Speed up, we don't have the whole day!" Hearing Mr. Jerald's shout, I took my eyes off his closet, placed the violin inside the case, and hurried out.

Downstairs, I saw Lucas coming from the kitchen's direction, with a sandwich in his hand and the case on his back. Rushing past him, I ran to the kitchen and took a package of water bottles. Locked the door and again ran to the front door.

Locking the front door, I saw Mr. Jerald behind the wheel and Lucas hugging the violin next to him. The difference in size was hilarious. Getting in, I hugged my case, too.

From the looks of it, we were on our way to the "my babies!" of Grandfather. The roads were bumpy but very green and beautiful. After 10 minutes, Mr Jerald stopped the car. I couldn't believe my eyes! What am I seeing...