Chapter 156: The AWE
"Mommy, are we really going there on the weekend?"
"Are you really going to come with us?"
"Is that a promise?"
"Mommy, a promise is a promise. You will not break it, will you?"
Lola thought of the twins’ questions before she tucked them into bed, smiling at the expectant look they had given her. Just from their expressions, she knew their hearts would be broken if she didn’t fulfill the promise.
After all, unlike what she expected — that they would request to go to outer space — the twins asked for something very simple. So simple, she wasn’t sure if it broke her heart or brought her relief, since it was something achievable.
Leaning against the railing on the second floor of the penthouse, she stared at the person who had just arrived.
Damn it...
Lola cupped her face, watching Atlas take off his blazer and drape it over the armrest of the couch. After that, he quietly unbuttoned his sleeves.
"Goodness," she whispered, tilting her head with her palm still pressed against her cheek. "I shouldn’t be wasting my brainpower thinking about this, but just look at that guy — wow."
"I know, right? He’s so dreamy... wow, just look at that. I can see the outline of his body through that shirt."
Lola froze, slowly sliding her eyes to the corner, only to catch Slater copying her. He was also leaning against the railing, arms on it, his hand cupping his face, his rear sticking out.
Slater grinned at her, like her little guardian devil, catching her fantasizing about Atlas. "Sis, I just caught you admiring my brother. Wedding, when?"
"Slater, for your information, I am a very — VERY
observant person. So sometimes, you’d catch me looking at someone like this," she mused shamelessly, as if he hadn’t just heard her comment. Lola cleared her throat and pursed her lips, watching Atlas walk from the lobby to the kitchen.He wasn’t gone long before he came back with a glass of wine in hand, sitting down in his usual spot. As always, Atlas scrolled through the tablet while taking sips of wine.
"Wow..." Slater and Lola muttered in unison, catching themselves looking at each other.
"What?" Slater blinked. "It’s my first time actually watching my brother like this. Didn’t know he’s this elegant."
Lola narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously before setting them back downstairs. "Elegant?" she hummed. "You call this elegant?"
"Sis, even if you say that, I can smell your pretentiousness from here." He scrunched his nose. "It’s okay. No one’s going to blame you if you admire him just a little."
"I’m not being pretentious, though," she twirled her finger around her loose hair. "I mean, he’s not that bad."
Slater’s face twisted even more — not because Lola was deliberately downgrading his brother, but because of her pretentious giggle. Shaking his head, he refocused his attention on Atlas.
For the next few minutes, they didn’t say anything as they just watched Atlas’s every movement. And each time, they couldn’t help but let out a united, "Wow..." as if they were watching a circus act.
"That’s AWE," Slater remarked while she nodded. "A-Atlas, W-Watlas, E-Etlas."
"Wow, Slater." Lola nodded, eyes still on Mister AWE. "Didn’t know you’re kinda smart."
Atlas, who was trying to ignore the "ridicule," couldn’t help his brows from twitching a little. The vein on his forehead started to protrude bit by bit. He tried to ignore the two on the second floor, but the way they were staring — and the way their "awe" echoed in the silence — was unbearable.
Slowly, Atlas cocked his head back and looked up at them. By the time his eyes reached the second-floor mezzanine, he caught both of them ducking and hiding.
"..."
Tilting his head to the side, the corners of his lips curled up.
Meanwhile, Lola and Slater felt their hearts racing in their chests. They panted, eyes wide with dread.
"What — what — why are you hiding?" Slater stuttered. "Didn’t you say you’re a very observant person?"
"I don’t know, but I panicked." Lola blinked, panic flashing across her face. "Instinct, maybe."
Instinct?
The two of them looked up, thinking it over. After a second, they looked at each other and nodded. They had no problem observing Atlas and being in awe of his grace, elegance, and beauty. But somehow, getting caught by him felt like a sin. It felt like being caught red-handed in the middle of a criminal act.
"That’s it for me today." Lola’s face soured as she crouched down in front of Slater. "Too much of your brother today. I need sleep."
Slater also nodded. "Me too."
Having said that, they took their first steps while still in a crouched position. After all, standing up would risk getting caught by the guy downstairs. However, while sneaking away, they froze.
From the corners of their eyes, they caught a pair of legs standing just a few paces from them.
Beads of sweat quickly formed on their foreheads, pouring like rain. Slowly, Lola and Slater turned their heads and lifted their eyes. There, standing near them, was Atlas — the very man they had been spectating without shame earlier.
"Sis!" Suddenly, Slater grabbed Lola’s shoulder and turned her to face him squarely. His expression was grim, solemn, as he nodded at her.
Lola’s eyes shook at his abrupt action, but the second she saw the look on his face, she shook her head even before hearing whatever he was about to say.
Slater then smiled sweetly. "You’re the big sis, right? And as a big sister, you should protect your little brother no matter what!"
And by that, he meant Lola sacrificing herself.
His words hadn’t even sunk in when Slater disappeared from his spot in the blink of an eye.
"Eh?" Lola blinked, snapping her eyes toward the loud click of the master bedroom door shutting and locking. "Wa — wait —"
Her mouth opened and closed in horror, staring at the bedroom door. If this were an apocalypse and she were with Slater, she was now certain that guy wouldn’t even let her inside, letting the zombies eat her brains.
"..." Lola gulped, still crouched down like a fool, sensing Atlas’s presence just a step from her side. Again, she looked up at him before a defeated smile formed on her face.
"Hehe..." came out as a weary laugh. She pointed at the bedroom. "It was Slater who dragged me here and made me watch you. See how he ran away? Guilty."
Atlas let out a shallow breath, resting his hands on his hips. "What do you think of the idea of sharing the bed tonight?"