Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

Chapter 182  Inder Sephtis [7]

In the dining hall, a family of three, along with two other guests who joined them, all sat together eating quietly.

"How are things going in school, Inder?" the man sitting opposite the black-haired boy asked, glancing at him.

"Normal," Inder replied, shrugging, "well, except Senara breaking someone's nose."

The girl sitting beside him coughed, glaring at him, "That 'someone' was bullying you."

Inder glanced at her, letting out a tired sigh, "...She was just asking for my number."

"And that's bullying." Senara scoffed, "How could she ask that when I was standing right beside you?"

"Come o—"

"Both of you, quiet down," Inder's mother said, glancing at them with her beautiful blue eyes, "there is no need to bicker over everything."

"Say that to him," Senara grumbled, pointing at Inder, "...Just because he grew a little taller, he stopped acting like a good boy."

"You're upset because you can't tease him anymore," Senara's mother chimed in, glancing at her.

"That too," she accepted, nodding her head, "...He doesn't even let me hug him now."

Inder gave her a skeptical look, which she replied to with a bright smile.

"Don't try to avoid her," Inder's mother advised while making eye contact.

Her gaze moved toward Senara, and she grinned, "and you, don't be like those childhood friends from dramas, losing in the end."

"I'll smash their heads open before anyone can try to get close to him," Senara replied, raising her hand for a high-five.

"...I'm at a loss here," Inder's father grumbled, rubbing his temples, "...When did they grow up so much?"

"You are getting older," Inder commented, looking at him, "Old man."

"Yeah, yeah," his father replied dismissively before he let out a tired sigh, "...I would've tried to spend more time with you guys, but well, too much stress from work."

"Did something happen?" Inder asked, concerned.

"Well, a new and big company appeared in the market," he replied, gazing down, "...They're taking over every sector they can, and it's getting hard for many other companies to survive."

"...Isn't that concerning?" Senara's mother asked, "How can they take over everything?"

"Like I said, big company," he replied, shrugging, "They also offered me a job, and I might join them."

"Which company?" Senara asked, feeling left out.

"It's called Pleroma ," he replied with a light smile, "...They mainly make games and stuff."

"...I see," Inder whispered softly, feeling a sense of déjà vu from the name but unable to remember.

"Who wants ice cream?" Senara asked, standing up after finishing her food.

"All of us," Inder's mother replied, smiling at her.

"Hmm." Senara nodded before messing with Inder's hair, "Let's go, get some ice cream."

"...Yeah, give me five minutes," Inder replied, finishing the last of his dinner.

Nodding, Senara moved out of the house while Inder stood up after finishing his meal.

Wearing a jacket over his shirt, he walked toward the main door.

"Inder." But before he could open it, a voice called him.

"Yes, aunty?" Turning around, he asked, looking at Senara's mother.

"...Um, how should I say this?" She fumbled, placing her hand in her pocket, "...How is your relationship with Senara going?"

"We're on good terms?" he replied, confused.

"No, I mean 'that' kind of relationship," shaking her head, she said.

"What kin—Ohh!"

Realizing her words, Inder's face turned awkward, "It's going...good," he whispered.

"Hmm, they do teach you about that stuff in school, right?" she asked, making him even more awkward.

"I'm fourteen, aunt."

"No, no, I'm not saying anything, I'm just concerned." She shook her head vigorously, trying not to make eye contact, "You know, young people do make mistakes."

"...I will not do anything like that," Inder replied reassuringly.

"It's not you." She replied, rubbing her eyes, "It's Senara... She's just obsessed with you, and I don't know what that stupid girl will do."

"...I will try to make sure she doesn't go overboard," Inder replied awkwardly, nodding his head.

"I'm not against your relationship." She tried to clarify, "I just think everything has its right time, and—"

"It's fine," Inder replied, smiling lightly, "Don't worry, I won't do anything that will hurt you or Senara."

Her awkwardness melted as she reached out, patting his head, "...Thank you for being there for her, and please look after my little girl."

Inder smiled, nodding gently before turning around and opening the door.

"What took you so long?" Senara asked, extending her hand. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Inder looked at her, asking, "What?"

"Hold it." Leaning forward, she grabbed his hand with hers, "I don't want you to get lost."

Inder sighed as she intertwined her fingers with his.

The sun was slowly retreating across the buildings, but it wasn't dark yet. It would be soon, but even so, they moved slowly.

"How much time until your birthday?" Senara asked as they walked on the streets.

"Six months," Inder replied, "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. Anything your family planned?" she asked, glancing at him.

"Maybe Disneland." He replied, shrugging, "Ask your mother, she'll be the one to arrange it."

"What about going to pray for once?" she asked, sticking close while placing her head comfortably on his shoulder.

"You believe in God?" Inder asked, curiously.

"I do."

"One guy? In the sky? With superpowers?" Inder asked, feigning disbelief.

Senara chuckled, "Not exactly like that, idiot."

"Then what?"

"Hmm, it's hard to explain, but oh well, think of Him as someone who's helping us all." She replied, looking at him, "You know, 'Helped by God.'"

"Whatever," he replied, shrugging, "I don't believe in it."

She let out a quiet laugh. "You're always so—"

"Handsome?" he asked, interrupting.

She laughed louder now. "I was gonna say cheesy."

"Ugh, whatever." He grumbled, shrugging.

"I'm kidding," she replied, bumping her shoulder into his. "You are handsome as well."

Inder didn't reply but quietly looked at her.

Her head still lay comfortably on his shoulder.

"Question!" Senara yelled abruptly, making him flinch.

"What?" he asked, irritated.

"What do you like the most?" She asked, raising her head to look at him, waiting expectantly for his answer.

"Urgh, it's hard to say, you go first." Inder replied, shaking his head.

"You," she said, smiling, a dimple forming on her left cheek.

Inder blankly looked at her, his mother's words flashing in his mind.

He turned serious, staring at her with his beautiful blue eyes.

"What?" she asked, tilting her head.

"My turn to ask a question," he replied, "Complete this: We're both in this room alone. What will your feeling be...?"

"Like I have to pee," she interrupted, smiling.

"You really hate talking about serious things, don't you?"

"Have you ever had to pee really bad?" she asked, "It's a serious thing. You could cause serious damage to your bladder by—"

"Do you really have to pee?"

"No."

"Answer the question," he grumbled, glaring at her.

"Okay, hmm." She looked down at the street as she replied, "I would feel scared."

He tilted his head, asking, "Why scared?"

"Because you would do something bad—"

"Come on, be serious," he replied firmly.

"Okay...I would be happy," she replied, nodding slowly, "and maybe a little out of control."

"Why out of control?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Think about it we're alone in one room," she replied, gazing at him, "and you know, I like to see things coming. I like to plan ahead."

"...Yeah," he replied, giving her a skeptical look.

"Hey, don't look at me like that, I am smart as well," she replied, glaring at him.

"Of course. What flavor do you want?" he asked as they reached the ice cream shop.

"Choco chips," she replied instantly, losing her grip on his hand.

"Okay," he replied, walking toward the shop.

Senara looked around the place until her gaze stopped at the park.

She stared there for a while before she said, "Qais."

Inder turned around to look at her, "Yeah?"

"Go without me," she replied, walking toward the park, "I'll be back in five minutes."

"Be home before sunset," Inder said, and she nodded.

Entering the park, she looked around the place until her gaze landed on the swing.

...And there she sat alone on the swing.

Senara walked closer, "I thought I'd find you here."

Her crimson eyes glanced up at Senara.

"Why are you sitting here, Delilah?" Senara asked, sitting on the swing beside her.

"There's no one at home," she replied softly, "I'm always alone most of the time."

"What do your parents even do?" Senara asked, swinging.

"Father owns a company, and mother..." her words trailed off.

Senara didn't ask further, silently looking down.

She had known Delilah for a few years, meeting with her occasionally, but she never understood her.

She never told Inder about her, nor did she let them meet, in fear that Inder would have another panic attack.

"Why do you look like a doll?" Senara curiously asked, glancing at her.

"...That boy," Delilah whispered softly, "...Do you like him?"

Senara eyed her seriously before she replied, "...I do."

"...You'll break his heart," Delilah whispered cryptically, staring at her.

Senara stared back, not saying anything for a while before she stood up.

"Doesn't matter," she replied, smiling, "Even if it's broken, his heart will still be mine."