Underneath the bold letters "Xaviers' Bungalow" was another line in a smaller font- "William Xaviers and Katherine Xaviers."

Do his parents also live here?

Jonas suggested giving me a tour around the exterior of the house before entering, so I followed him along the stoned winding trail across the mini yard which surrounded the house. The bungalow was about a quarter of the total Valdez Mansion in terms of size.

"Who lives there?" I asked, pointing towards the decorated wooden door of the first storey.

"Mrs. Arabella. And her three cats, of course. Xav Bro and I live on the second."

I assumed Mrs. Arabella was a tenant since Jonas didn't provide any further description.

"Oh wait," he seemed to be planning something in his head. "On that note, you can actually give this cat to her. She would be over the moon on getting another one. She loves pets."

That indeed seemed like a pretty good idea. I probably couldn't handle a second pet; Bruno already needed so much care and attention.

Jonas decided that he'll hand over the cat to the lady called Mrs. Arabella after we finish our important mission- convincing Mr. Detective.

There were a few floral bushes along with the naturally growing mosses and ferns bordering the edges of the yard like a fence. The walls were painted in three different shades of a light color, the name of which I didn't exactly know. The only attraction of the bungalow would be the vintage veranda that protruded from the second storey, providing a satisfying shade to the parking lot. The slanted roof reflected the golden shafts of the morning sunlight.

We took the staircase alongside the parking lot and climbed up to the second storey. Jonas unlocked the door with a key he took out from the back pocket of his jeans. He took the lead, and we entered the house as a known figure came into view.

Kelvin Xaviers.

"Miss Amyra Valdez," he addressed in his usual official tone, recognizing me.

"What brings you here?" he questioned after a momentary silence.

"Xav Bro," Jonas decided to speak on my behalf, "Amyra isn't safe in that house. You do know that someone has been planning multiple attacks on her."

Mr. Detective shifted his jade green eyes towards Jonas for a second, examining him, and then back at me.

"Say something at least," Jonas whispered, nudging me by the elbow.

"Hi- Kelvin," I tried to be casual, putting my right hand forward for a handshake.

He furrowed his brows to that. First impression negative, I thought.

"I mean- Hello Mr. Xaviers," I mended my statement.

He crossed his arms and continued staring at me intently with an expression that I could not interpret.

I gulped and glanced away, avoiding direct eye contact with him.

"Hi," he finally said with a mysterious smile curving across his face.

I took back my hand swiftly and repositioned myself, feeling offended. Rejected my handshake, how rude.

"Hope you both had a smooth journey," he jested.

"I'm going to the bureau now, and I hope you will drop Miss Amyra safely back to her house before I return," he adjured, turning his face towards Jonas.

He prepared to leave when I jerked rapidly and stopped at a position where his face was directly opposite mine.

"Mr. Xaviers, please," I requested, but he showed no sign of response.

"I'll be killed if I stay there. I've no one to seek help from....not even my parents. Let me stay here, please. Just a few days. You're my only hope," I ended with tear-filled eyes.

His facial expression changed at that. Not sure if it was for good or bad, but he seemed to give it a second thought. Did I just get carried away by emotions? No, I shouldn't. I recalled June's words: 'act like I'll-get-things-done-in-my-own-way'.

I straightened up a little, trying to keep my face intact.

I decided to continue in a more solemn tone now, "By the way, don't think you're helping me for free. I'll be paying you, of course."

"Don't you have your classes?" he questioned after a deep thought.

'Do I look that young?' I wondered.

"I'm done with my high school," I answered. "I'll be applying for my university in a few weeks."

"And what's up with these cats and dogs by the way?" he questioned, raising his eyebrows.

The two furballs were now rolling on the floor.

"Oh that dog is Amy's pet Bruno, and the other one is Mrs. Arabella's future cat," Jonas answered for me.

"Very-" Mr. Xaviers opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it.

"Never mind."

I'm not sure what he concluded in his mind, but he simply made his way past me while folding the sleeves of his shirt and left.

"Should I consider that a Yes?" I asked Jonas with a perplexed look.

"Well, as long as he doesn't kick you out, you may consider yourself safe," he giggled.

Jonas gave me a little tour around their little house; I was right in assuming it to be a bilocale. The two rooms were just opposite to each other, and I took a liking to the room at the left.

"Can I take this one?" I asked with a little enthusiasm.

Jonas gave an artificial cough.

"Amy, that's Xav Bro's room," he revealed with a chuckle. "You can take mine."

"That angry young man," I commented.

Jonas tried his best to suppress his laughter but eventually failed. Well, there couldn't be a better opportunity for taking revenge from him for the rejected handshake than taking over his room.

"Who cares," I said in a tone that replicated Mr. Xaviers', "I'll do whatever I wish."

I stood crossing my arms the way he does, to give a perfect mimic.

Jonas laughed out really hard at that. He brought a first aid box for me from his own room and then left downstairs with the cat, giving me some time to customize my new room.

The room was quite organized and tidy to my surprise; I hadn't expected two bachelors' house to be anything less than a mess. Well, considering how disciplined Mr. Xaviers seemed, it made sense. There was a single bed at one end of the room, marked by an outsized window to its right which was shrouded by ocean blue curtains.

Did I share a favorite color with that angry young man?

Well yea, even though I had always been treated like a princess getting all pink treatments, it was not my favorite color as many would assume.

There were two dumbbells on the other side of the room, although I had seen more of them in the space between the two rooms. That space looked more like a small gym; there was even a treadmill. Well in no way Jonas looked like he could lift more than one of those dumbbells, so they must be Xaviers'.

On the bedside table, there were a plethora of books of different varieties and notepads with numerous scribbles. There was also an old photo frame placed at the center. I walked closer to find out that the picture in the photo frame was of a middle-aged man and woman, smiling broadly with a little boy between them.

Maybe they were Xaviers' parents. Where did they live?

I glanced around to see if there was something else prominent in the room when I noticed something unexpected at a corner of the room. It was a guitar. A broken guitar.

I wonder who plays that. Why was it broken though?

Bruno hopped around the room merrily, intrigued by the new surroundings. I placed my backpack beside the bed and took out a packet of Bruno's treats to feed the hungry pet. His fur was of a hazelnut-hue, although it had a bit of golden tint at some spots. I soaked a ball of cotton wool in antiseptic and applied it over my scratched skin after feeding him. I took a bit of rest afterward.

Jonas knocked at the half ajar door in the evening. He brought in two plates of chicken steak with mashed potato servings.

"Who cooks in your house?" I asked curiously, scooping a spoonful of the mouthwatering food into my mouth.

"Good question," he replied with his usual zeal.

It turned out that the tenant living in the first storey was a middle-aged widow whom Mr. Xaviers had once saved from some kind of danger. She was really fond of cooking, so Xaviers had offered her to cook for them every day as an alternative to the rent since it wasn't possible for her to pay.

"That's some really good idea indeed, the food is worth it," I remarked with a smile as I took the last bite.

Just then, Mr. Xaviers made his way into the room but came to a sudden halt when he saw me.

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