Chapter 145

**Acacia Point of View**

I thought of many scenes how this short trip to Phoenix would end. But I did not think that it would end on such a difficult and different note.

One, because it is not just Damien but all my other friends are also accompanying back to Tuscon with me.

Two, I could feel the strange currents going on between Damien, Ruby and her fiancée, whose name I just came know as, Callum Arrowdayn.

Callum Arrowdayn is a businessman who inherited a clothing company from his family. You can say that their clothing brand has good name in the country.

Apparently, Callum's mother and Ruby's aunt were college classmates and has been friends since then. So when her aunt heard Callum's mother's grievances of how her son is not interested in dating or getting married, she immediately told her about her niece who might a good match for Callum.

So they arranged an accidental meeting followed by an accidental blind date which led to the both of them to get interested in each other.

And so, after tiptoeing around each other for a while, they finally started dating seriously and even decided to get married recently.

I don't know if this sudden meeting between Damien and Ruby is meant for their reunion or final closure but I only hope both of them live well and happy no matter where and with who are with.

I glanced at the couple and found Callum showing something on his phone to Ruby and whispering in her ear while Ruby is being unobvious obviously awkward as she stole fleeting glances towards Damien every now and then while still having a happy chat with Callum.

Damien is trying very hard not to look at her or even give her a fleeting glance with his face expressionless and calm.

I, Carter and Anne exchanged helpless knowing glances, as we decided to act blind and watch out of window.

"Ahem, so if you tell the area you live in, I can book hotel in the same locality." Although Carter was asking me, his eyes couldn't help but look between the awkward trio.

"You don't have to. Ww have enough rooms for you all. But if you are not comfortable with it, there is still my house. Since I'm staying with my parents now, the house is empty so you can live there. There are enough rooms for all of you."

Carter nodded and said they prefer to live in my house so as to not trouble my family. I looked at Ruby and Callum, who nodded their heads accepting Carter's decision.

"I have already asked someone to clean the house for your stay. Why don't you come with me to Winters residence first, have lunch and dinner and then go back to rest?" Hearing my plan, everyone hummed in agreement.

I texted mom about the guest and she was more than happy to cook for my friends. She even asked me about their food preferences.

The enthusiasm she is showing right now can be only seen when is so obsessively cooking for Igses. I and Liam were never able to get such treatment from her.

She must be really happy for me to bring my friends over that she is losing her mind over cooking her best dishes. My mouth curved upwards when I think about how my petite mom would be jumping in the kitchen like a rabbit in order to prepare food.

It would be a lovely and funny sight to watch. Even Igses noticed this and laughed with me before about it.

"Have you been to Tuscon before?" I asked no one particular but I got the answers nonetheless.

Carter and Anne has never been here before while Callum was with Ruby here a few times because of Callum's business dealings.

"I heard you and your team are working on a large resort project?" Anne asked, her eyes blinking with sparkles.

"Um hmm. It was a mountain range valley in the outskirts. It was already a beautiful nature scenic place and a perfect place for spending time." I immediately pulled out my ipad and scrolled through the pictures of the valley and showed them.

"It is really a great place. Just looking at it, one can tell that this place is the closest to raw natural beauty." Anne gasped as she looked through the pictures.

Carter and Ruby leaned over and glanced at the pictures, gasping every now and then whenever they saw something beyond beautiful.

Carter, who is a travel freak, absolutely got hypnotized by the pictures and asked if they can visit some time possible.

"Of course. Alright, we are only a street away from my parents place." I put the ipad away and stretched my head out of the car window.

It was a cloudy day and the sky is getting darker every passing minute. I would rain at least for day with how heavy and dark the clouds are. On top of that, it is even windy enough to uproot a tree.

Seems like it will rain cats and dogs.

The cab finally stopped in front of my parents' house and we hurriedly got out. It is already thundering loudly and streaks of constant lightening can be seen.

"Let's go in first. It's too windy here. " Carrying our luggage, we got into the house and only then could we breathe a sigh of relief.

"You are back?" Before we even stepped inside the house, Liam hollered from living room.

"Why aren't you in university?" I narrowed my eyes at him when I saw video game console in his hand.

"It was in news that there will be cyclone and lightening attacks in the city for two days. So the university is closed until the cyclone is passed." Oh!

"Then where is Igses? His school must be closed too right?"

"Yep. He is with his grandpa Abby attending a class with Noemi. They are just next door, will be back for lunch."

"Right, Liam, this is Carter, Anne, Ruby and her fiancée Callum Arrowdayn." I turned to my friends and introduced them one by one.

"Guys, he is brother, Liam." By the time they said their hellos to each other, mom and dad walked into the living room.

After introducing everyone to everyone, I showed them to the guest rooms. Damien and Carter share a room, Anne has a room for herself while Ruby and Callum shared a room.

Unexpectedly, there was no flicker of emotion on Damien's face; as if he did not mind, as if he did not care, as if he gave up.

I could only sigh and give him some time and space to adjust to the sudden changes.

Once everyone went to their assigned rooms to freshen up before having lunch, I told mom, dad and Liam what happened in Phoenix.

"As harsh as it may sound, I think there is no future for Damien and Ruby together." Mom spoke.

"Huh? Why?" I almost cried in exclamation. I'm still hoping to see them together.

"Ruby sure seem a little out of sorts but I don't think she will ever leave her fiancée. After all, the memories she recovered are memories from past. She does remember them in her mind but physically, she is not attached to them anymore. While her relation with Callum has both physical and emotional bonding that currently exists."

What mom said makes sense!

"But what about Damien?"

"It's similar to Ruby's case. He does have lingering feelings from the sudden memories, maybe he is a little more attached to these feelings than Ruby, but just like Ruby, when Damien finds someone he loves and wants to share his life with, it will be settled."

So there is no need to worry about them?

Hmm, mom might have a point!

Although facing Damien, Ruby was awkward but her attention and attraction towards Callum was not disturbed. I noticed that.

Seems like I don't have to worry about them. Like what mom said, they just need time and everything will get back to normal.

"I think what you said is right. But I still feel sad that they are not together anymore because of me."

"You think too much. I'm younger to you, but even I can see things better than you. Did you exchange your brain with a pig?" The sadness suddenly went away, replaced by anger.

Liam, you pig-head.

"How can you not understand a simple concept called fate and destiny? Why don't you go and get your pig brain checked once? With how much mud is filled up inside your head, it only needs some seeds and a tree will grow out of it. You don't bother with helping my nephew with his school work. I will do it; given the sudden death of your brain cells, even that little boy can beat you in times tables."

Slap after slap, he gave me invisible slaps with every work he spat. Liam, that good for nothing brother of mine sure has way with his words.

How dare he call me mental?

How dare he call me pig head?

I was driven mad to the extent I can tell that my whole face is boiling red. I raised my leg and kicked his knee but that pig-head Liam pulled back his leg in the right time causing me to kick nothing but air.

He grinned ear to ear and pulled on a teasing face at me before running away and I was so riled up by him that I ran after him to catch him and beat him to pulp.

Today, I will punch him for sure. Iill pull his hair, pinch his ear and pull his stumbles one by one.

"Stop right there, you dog." I yelled, chasing after him.

"Will I stop just because you said so and let you beat me? Am I you?" Nay, beating him will not be enough.

"I'm your elder sister but you dare to scold be rudely? If I don't teach you a lesson today, my name is not Acacia Dawn Winters." Shouting, I leaped over sofa to catch him but he still got away.

"That good. I always felt that name is too beautiful for you. How about you change it to 'Pig Brain Winters' or 'Pork Roast Winters'?" I am going to kill him!

Promising myself that, I blindly with blinding rage chased after that blind rat of a brother until my whole body crashed into a wall which caused me to bounce back like a soft ball.

I was almost and ready to fall back and hit the floor but the wall grew hands and wrapped around my waist, stopping me from becoming a meat patty.

And when I finally came back to my senses, my eyes landed on the certain wall, who looked like a familiar man, looking down at me with a pleasant smile.

Why is this Jerk here?

**~*~*~*~*~*~

Hello Sweeties,

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