Vin's POV:
Sigh~~~~
Erin left…again.
Carl took her. Again!
She didn't even get to eat dinner with me. At least she had her breakfast. Haha, Silly doctor!
I was sitting sadly in my living room dying my hair when someone came...
"Signorino? It's time for study!" Rob's voice ruined my mood.
I unwillingly went with him to the main hall. All the guards stood alert and hello-ed me with their heads, I ignored them as usual. As soon as I saw too many papers spreading on the table my head felt dizzy.
"Do I have to memorize all of them?" Eyes widened in horror, I looked at Rob who just rolled his four eyes at me.
"You don't have to know everything. I've sorted out those assignments and notes according to your syllabus outline. You only need to learn the important ones." He explained calmly though it didn't change anything.
"Alright, then throw away the useless ones. Or let's just burn them. Guards!" I ordered while calling someone to burn the notes.
"No!" Rob raised his voice, I glanced at his face, raising a suspicious brow at him. "Signorino, we can't do that." He said in his usual voice.
I picked up a page from the corner with my first two fingertips as if it were a used tissue paper. I looked at the paper more closely just to see if there was something extraordinary about it.
Rob is not someone who can be flustered about anything, he's the most poised guy around me. Huh! Poised is another word for boring in my dictionary.
He opened his iPad to see something while I read a few lines on the paper. How boring! I was going to throw it on the table when something caught my eye. At the corner of the paper, a small doodle was drawn. I looked closely and it looked like three mountains with a waterfall.
I looked at it for a while...
Ya, still boring! I throw the paper on the table. Rob raised his eyes from the iPad to look at me but didn't say anything. Well, I dare him to complain!
.
I was eating the snacks while Rob was telling me about some Middle Age Period. I was surprised when it didn't turn out that boring. Even Dane was listening carefully while eating my snacks. Rob was relaxed as if he knew I wouldn't run away this time. I had an urge to prove him wrong. Hahaha
He was not using his iPad like last time. He was holding up some papers and reading everything from that. Maybe he made some notes on history for me. What a true nerd! Sometimes I feel bad for him.
After he made sure that he told me all the important points and that I'd memorized everything he began the real torture where I have to repeat everything, he just taught me.
He asked me questions one after one and I answered.
"European history, Middle Age also known as Medieval Age, lasted from 5th to 15th century, it began when Roman civilization collapsed, then later transitioned into Renaissance age."
Everyone was watching our Quiz show excitedly. As I answered all of his questions proudly, Rob looked slightly impressed by me. Well, I'm happy for him. Haha!
"What is another name for the Middle Ages?" He asked, pushing his glasses up.
"I have already answered that." I yelled, "The Medieval Age!" I looked around, everyone nodded their stupid heads to confirm.
"Signorino Middle and Medieval are almost the same word, I'm asking for another name."
I narrowed my eyes to think then I finally sighed in defeat.
"Hint please!"
Everyone sighs together at that - a little disappointed. Rob blinked a few times but I saw his lips twitch at the corner. Did he just... smiled?
"What was the Anglo-Saxon age called?" He asked.
"Hey, Robot! Don't change the question, just give me a hint." I pointed at him with my chips and then ate it.
"Hint is... that the answer to both questions is the same." He said calmly.
"..." I furrowed my brows.
Then I uncrossed my legs.
Then I sat straight.
Then I leaned forward to place my elbows on my knees.
Then I lick my fingers and taste the chips' spice on them.
Then I looked at Dane for help who just waited for me to answer so that he could finally put the chips - he was holding for a while - in his stupid mouth.
Everyone was looking at me anticipating an answer - correct or not. Some of them seem to have started betting on me.
Sweet heavens! Too much pressure!
I closed my eyes to revise everything about the Anglo-Saxon age.
I don't recall the teacher asking me this question otherwise I would be able to remember it.
Did anyone else answer this question before me?
Suddenly a face appeared in front of my still-closed eyes looking at me with dark black eyes... I opened my eyes at once.
A wide smile appeared on my face.
"My answer would be The Dark Ages!"
Drumrolls! All the eyes were fixed on Rob to see his reaction.
"Absolutely... correct!" He said excitedly.
Then the main hall echoed with the sound of hooting and applauding. Some of them whistle loudly. I stood up to receive all the appreciation.
From the corner of my eye, I saw two old figures at the door - Dad and his assistant Benjamin. I looked at my dad and tilted my chin high proudly, he just smiled back and clapped his hands a few times without making any sound.
Huh, useless clap! It would be a lot better if he asked Ben to whistle for me.
.
.
I washed my dyed hair. And my hair turns into a beautiful light blonde shade.
Wow, amazing! I look freaking awesome.
I didn't ask Dane to blow dryer my hair, let them just dry on their own, to prevent damage.
.
After dinner, all of us go to my arcade. It's one of my favorite places in the mansion.
I have many arcade games here like Pac-Man, Claw Machine, Bubble Bobble, Crazy Taxi, and Moto Racer and then I had to buy Ms. Pac-Man so that my Pac-Man wouldn't feel lonely.
I have Street Fighter too, but I hate it. For one, I don't like to play with the system player.
For two, no matter with whom I play, they always try their best to beat me up badly. I don't want anybody to vent their frustration on my machine because of me.
There's a mini projector, a Dance Dance Revolution, sound system, a karaoke machine, and a portable mic system.
This place is a part of heaven itself, even guards like to come here often - only the young ones actually.
.
Laure was playing Street Fighter with Dane, while on the other side Enzo was busy with some files and documents.
Leà was pulling Nero to the Dance Dance Revolution, maybe she wants to have a dance battle with my nosy brother. Haha good luck with that!
As for me I want to sing some songs but Rob was not here to set up my portable mic system. Before I start to feel bored, I tried to set the system myself. How hard can it be...?
I clicked and turned everything I saw on the machine but nothing happened. I pushed one thing then said mic testing. I've tried many times but nothing happened. I was about to throw my mic away when...
The door opened, and Rob appeared with a folder file and iPad in his hands.
Oh boy! I tightened my grip on the damn mic and ran to hide. If this study thing continues to go like this... At the end of the year there would be two nerds in the house.
One my Robot obviously and the other...
No no no I don't even want to imagine that disgusting thing. I felt goosebumps all over my body as I imagined myself in a vision glasses.
I was holding my breath and mic while hiding. Enzo turned to look at me, because I was hiding behind the couch on which he was sitting and working. Thanks to my brother's broad shoulders he covered me completely.
"Dane! Where's Signorino?" I heard Rob's voice.
"I don't know, I was busy with Miss Laure."
"Haha, tell him how many times I beat you up!" That jolly voice belonged to Laure.
"Has anyone seen signorino?" Rob asked louder.
I heard many NOs even the guy who saw me hiding said No with a serious face. Haha, I will give him double salary this month.
"Master Enzo, do you know where signorino is?" Rob asked my half brother who doesn't know how to lie. Damnit!
Enzo was hesitating, so I had to poke him from behind with my mic's end. I pretended like I was holding a freaking gun.
"Ahmm, I was busy, Robert." He cleared his throat before answering in his deep voice.
"Alright, I will look for him somewhere else." I heard Rob's footsteps. I think I should wait for a few minutes.
"Psst Enzo, has he left already?" I whispered but he didn't reply. "Hey Enzo?" I tried again.
"..." He remained silent. Is he mad that I poked him and made him lie?
"Has Rob left? Answer me damn it!" I whisper-shout but... something is not right.
I tried peeking behind my brother's shoulder and... oh fish, that nerd is still here.
"Signorino, I'm here. And I know you're hiding. Just come out already." Rob said in his robotic voice. I took a deep breath and stood up.
Everyone was looking at me like I was walking on the red carpet to get a freaking Oscar for my excellent performance. I dare everyone to try laughing at me, humph. So what if I don't like studying. Who does anyway! A beautiful face comes to my mind and I shake my head. Not now Amy.
Laure and Dane were laughing, but before Laure could hit his shoulder, he stepped aside, making her lose her balance. She almost kissed the floor then she stood up straight and kicked Dane from behind. Instinctively, my strong boy grabs her leg and keeps holding it while Laure fumbles and hops around on one leg, laughing.
At least these two are having fun!
Seeing Laure and Dane messing around, all the eyes went to my half brother m, the future capo who was so engrossed in his documents that he didn't even notice what's going on around him.
Well now I don't feel that bad about earlier. When he didn't answer me when I was calling him while hiding right behind him.
Dane was stunned by his own action, he respectfully put Laure leg down, and apologized. She kicked my boy playfully and smiled. One thing I liked about my future sister-in-law is that she treats everyone nicely and… over-friendly. A trait that is being frowned upon in our famiglia. But she's fun and we get along fine. Which is a half-life but anyway. The point is… I've never seen her belittling anyone in the mansion and she cares. And that makes her perfect as the other half of the future capo, in my opinion. Sometimes her playfulness turns extreme but...
"Signorino, let's go!" Rob said near my ear making me jump in startle. I placed my hand over the heart and gave him a death glare, he just looked at me while blinking.
I saw Leà giggling like a little girl and my quarter brother Nero grinned too much just to annoy me. I took a deep breath before facing my Robot.
"You want to study that bad! Alright, come here we will read and learn together." I placed my arm around his shoulder like we're freaking best buddies. He didn't say anything.
"How did you find me? Who betrayed me?" I whispered in his ear while looking around the room.
"You told me yourself." He sounds bored.
"?"
"You were holding the mic..."
"Mhm, I am still holding the mic, so what?"
"When I was going back, I saw your mic system in the middle of the room, so I was just putting it in its place. Then I noticed that some idiot messed up its button setting. As I was tuning it back to normal, I heard your voice - loud and clear." He explained everything and gave me a look like I was the dumbest guy he had ever seen. And I didn't tell him that I was the idiot he just mentioned in his explanation.
I cleared my voice. "Ahm ahm very good. You did a good job now let's talk business... I mean study." I looked around and everyone was looking at us, my family members were laughing but the guards tried to hide their smiles.
"Umm signorino? You're still holding your mic." Rob informed me.
I slightly gaped at the object then brought the mic near my mouth and whispered. "Can anybody hear me?"
Everyone nodded their head in Yes. If there was someone else in my shoes, he would be embarrassed to hell but me...? Hahahaha
"Good! I see! Everyone is giving me too much attention." I said on the mic "Then why don't we all do some study..." I grinned happily. "Dane! Lock the door. No one can leave this place... Not until our lovely Rob get satisfied."
I see some stupefied faces. Rob pushed his glasses up on his straight nose, a corner of his lip curled up. Enzo tilted his head in confusion then shrugged as he was already busy doing stupid work. Laure gave me a ridiculous look. Nero was the first one who tried to leave the room but Dane stopped him while towering over him. That's my tall boy!
"Nero, let's just wait here for brother Vin to finish. I want to see him study." Leà said while holding Nero's arm. He looked at her hands then just rolled his eyes and turned back to sit somewhere.
"Signorino? Study time!" Rob reminded me calmly. And I was like…Gawd, I am already dying to leave this place.
****