Chapter 2

I looked at him with dagger eyes as I walked down from his Aston Martin. He took me to Panorama Heights in Nivel Hills. I glanced at the simple logo of Anzani Restaurant above the entrance as we walk towards it. As far as I can remember, this is a Mediterranean cuisine.

I wonder where did kuya held his celebration? Damn, Gavin Wyatt, you gotta feed me good.

The staff welcomed us when we enter the place, I scanned my eyes around and to my surprise, I noticed that they’ve changed a lot of details in its interior. We were guided to an exclusive table for two and I must say that the ambiance became more elegant and cozy.

“Thank you.” Gavin said to the crew who assisted us. We both sat down and fell silent. I crossed my arms over my chest and looked at the glass mirror beside me, but I can still see him on my peripheral vision.

The waiter handed us both the menu. On my super frustration, I did not open it. “Homemade open spinach lasagna, and arugula salad. I want Dom Perignon for my champagne.” I said and laid the menu on the table while still facing the mirror. Wyatt stopped to look at the menu and looked at me.

“Ah, yes, ma’am, right away.” The waiter took my menu to the table.

“Spiced Moroccan organic chicken and Parma ham tortellini.” Gavin said and the waiter repeated all our orders before he took the menu from Wyatt.

The waiter said appetizers will be served first and we’ll wait for another 5-7 minutes before the main course arrives.

On my peripheral vision, I saw him also fold his arms and lean his back in his chair while staring intently at me. I was devastated by the effect of his eyes on me. I was determined not to speak out of annoyance and if this was all he wanted, I can definitely play silent for hours.

She sighed. “Look,” he started, but I still wasn’t looking at him. “I didn’t mean what I’ve said earlier, I’m sorry, Bernice.” His low baritone voice filled my ears. I turned to face him and met his serious eyes.

I raised an eyebrow at him. That’s it? I’m sorry?

“You really can’t remember me, huh?” My forehead frowned. Whatever you’re saying, I’m sure I was young then, I don’t remember.

And, hello? We didn’t grow up together. I don’t even see him at our family gatherings.

“No wonder you did…”

My eyes widened at him. Our appetizers arrived so he hung up on what to say. When the waiter left, I swallowed my own saliva.

“…that.” he continued.

I was blown away raw by the wind as there was a ghost of a grin on his lips. Seriously? Will he really slap me with that?! I laughed sarcastically and leaned closer to the table.

“Why? You haven’t got over it?” I sarcastically laughed. “Well guess what? You’re wrong, Wyatt.” His smirk slowly faded, “Even if I knew you were my cousin… nothing will change, I’d still come to you and repeat what I did. You know why?…” I traced as I uncrossed my arms and put my elbows on the table and rest my chin at the back of my intertwined fingers.

“Because you’re hot.” I shamelessly said. Of course, I wouldn’t do that if only I knew earlier that we’re cousins! I just had to save my pride!

Her eyes went dark, as if I had said something that cut off her patience. I saw his jaw move and his clasp tightened. Now it’s my turn to smile. A ghost of amusement is surely evident on my face.

I was going to tease him when the main course came, so I smiled while eating. I opened a topic about the race earlier and our conversation became normal. Sometimes I joke and sometimes we get along with those we want to ride.

“So you finished engineering?” I asked.

He nodded while he was busy with his main course.

“Civil. You?”

“Incoming grade 12 this year, but I’ll take business, probably.” I answer while chewing. He was stunned at me. He even stopped getting his food.

“How old are you?” He asked.

“Seventeen.” I answered confidently.

He blinked and his lips parted slightly, I raised an eyebrow at him so he shook his head and continued to eat.

“You?” I asked him back.

“21.”

“Oh, just my type.” I smiled at him. He looked at me with suspicion, “What?” I asked while laughing and he just shrugged. “Where did you study?”

“Australia.” Oh, that’s why I’ve never seen him in our reunions.

“Where will you work then?”

“Manila.”

“Why are you here?”

“Lorenzo wants me here for his wedding.”

“He’s older than you, call him ‘kuya’.” I said.

“You’re not even calling me that.”

I was stunned, well… “Do you want me to call you ‘kuya’?”

“No.”

“See? Anyway, do you have a girlfriend?”

“Eat now, Bernice.”

I rolled my eyes and took a spoonful of my food, if you don’t want to answer, just say so! “So, you’ll live in our house until then?”

“Probably yes, but if you don’t want me there, I can book a hotel.”

“It’s fine, if you want you can even come to my room.” I teased.

He took a deep breath and looked at me. “You child,” he began, I was a little hurt there, child my ass.

“Kidding!” For my recovery, he is too serious.

He drank wine then he took a table napkin and wiped his lips. “Now, it’s my turn to ask.” He said when he placed the napkin back on the table and crossed his arms over his chest again. “Do you normally do that?”

I blinked, “Do what?”

“You see, you said you didn’t know me but you almost stripped in front of me while people are watching. Have you done that before?” He asked seriously.

I cleared my throat and smiled. “No, it was my first time last night. I often do kiss and dance with men, that’s all.” I explained. It took him a while to understand my words before a ghost of smirk flashed through his lips. Just a moment later, he raised a brow before he nodded and went back to eating.

“You’re still young, I don’t know how you minors managed to go there, but don’t do that again.” This is like a teacher lecturing his student dinner for us, but I liked it somehow.

When we finish, we went home. I don’t want it to be called a mansion because it’s cringe worthy when heard. It’s still a house. Here he will stay while waiting for kuya Lorenzo’s wedding, there are many guest rooms. When the car stopped in front of the house I spoke.

“About what I’ve said earlier, I didn’t mean that. I really wouldn’t do that if I had known you were my cousin. I’m sorry, Wyatt.” He looked at me and lick his lower lip while nodding slowly.

“Sure you don’t.” He agreed. I smiled at him before I opened the door and getting out of his car.

The next day, I woke up early to workout at our gym downstairs. I took a shower first and put on a gray sports bra and black leggings. I paired it with a black x gray Nike varsity compete. I tied my hair up then put my airpods and sang along with J Boog as I played his ‘Let’s do it again’.

I went down to the kitchen to drink water and I also got extra bottled water to take to the gym. I ran all the way there and pushed open the glass door.

“Nice to nice to know ya let’s do it again, how we did it on a one-night stand- oh one night stand!” I was gripped in my chest when I saw Wyatt lifting weights. He stopped what he was doing and turned to me.

“I can’t do that with you.” He joked then went back to working out.

He’s wearing a white sleeveless and black Nike training shorts paired with a Nike Airmax alpha. That’s also what kuya Sage uses when working out here. There was also a white towel hanging around his neck.

I exhaled sarcastically and went straight to the treadmill to warm up.

“Where’s Sage?” I asked while running.

“Rehearsal.” He replied.

I just shrugged and didn’t answer.

I turned up the volume of the music to be able to concentrate on working out.

I spent half an hour in warming up then I proceeded on enhancing my abs.

I did some cable rotation, weighted plank row, standing side plank and Russian twists. I was so sweaty when I finished, I couldn’t even use the equipment because I was stuck on the mat.

I stood up and started a butt workout. I started with ski squats and positioned my feet. I clapped my palms together and started to squat.

I was four feet away when Wyatt suddenly removed one of my airpods. Irritated I turned to him. “What the… can’t you see I’m concentrating?” I spat on him.

“You can’t hear me, I said you’re doing it wrong.” He said.

I exhaled fantastically and looked up at him, because I was only up to his shoulder. So you’re watching me, huh?

“Hey cousin, I’ve been doing this for a long time and I know what I’m doing so please don’t- hey!” He grabbed me tightly by my shoulder and turned me away from him.

He also removed the remaining airpods in my ear and threw them to where ever. “What squat are you doing?” He asked at my back. He was still holding my shoulder.

I frowned and tried to look at him but he fixed my back in front of him so I just sighed and rolled my eyes.

“Ski,” I replied lazily.

“Close your legs a bit.” He commanded and I obliged. “More.” I blew air and followed him. “Now go on.”

He let go of my shoulder and I started to squat, just lifting me up when he applied his palm to my exposed back. My eyes widened and I stood up straight.

“What the?”

“What? About face, I’ll teach you.”

“You just want to touch me eh!”

He raised an eyebrow at me. What the?! “Aren’t you the one who almost undressed in front of me, cousin?” He was teasing.

I hit him but he grabbed my hand and used it to turn me around. He grabbed one of my shoulders and the other he put back behind me. “Now squat, Bernice.” He said in a low tone.

“Urgh screw you-”

“Squat.”

I could not calm down. I swallowed while squatting, disgusting.

“Lower.”

I’m even lower

“Lower Bernice.”

I was still lowering.

“Up.”

I stood up and repeated that. He released me after three squats. “Repeat that for 40 seconds.” He said before turning his back on me. I followed what he said and then did other squats.

After that, I toned down while he was sitting on a weight bench and drinking water. I watched him drink as a few beads of sweat dripped from his hair and neck.

When I finished, I approached the treadmill and picked up the phone I had placed there.

I walked over to the wall fixed mirror and took a mirror shot, took my whole body and I intentionally included Wyatt who’s wiping his sweat at my back. I secretly smiled when I saw the photo.

“Hey, Wyatt,” I called while staring at my shot. He didn’t answer. “What’s your ig?” I asked.

“Why?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why ask.”

“Just that…” I tapped the search icon. “Hey, just tell-” I turned to him and almost jumped when I saw him standing behind me and holding my bottled water. “M-me…”

He looked at me with his signature dark eyes. He looked down at my phone and grabbed it from my hand, he replaced the water bottle there instead.

I let him do whatever he wants on my phone while I’m drinking the water. After less than 10 seconds, he held my other hand and handed me my phone.

I was just dumbfounded until he turned around and carried his gear before leaving the gym. I bent down and looked at what he had done.

Elraven • following

I smiled and posted my mirror shot and mentioned him without any caption.

“I can’t believe this!” Brianna yelled back when I told them everything. “I mean, how can you just strip in front of your cousin, Azalea Bernice! Oh my god, you sinful bitch!” I winced at what she said.

“It already happened, alright, I can’t do anything about it now… and besides, we’ve already sorted things out. We’re cool.” I explained.

“Is he staying in your mansion?” Cora asked. We are here today at Bo’s Coffee to get my stuff from her but they chopped me up with questions.

“Yes.”

“Oh my god, you heard that, Cora?! They’re living under the same roof!” Brianna said. I tasted their Froccino Mocha.

“Calm down, bitch, she’s just here for brother Loren’s wedding.” I said while drinking.

“Do you like him?” Cora asked all of a sudden. What I was drinking stuck in my throat so I put it down and started coughing one after another. The cold in the nose.

“O-of course not! We’re cousins!” My defense. Cora handed me some tissue and I accepted it.

“Anyway, you can’t fall fast just because of looks, eh.” Brianna.

I smiled and nodded. “Right!”

Cora sighed when her cellphone rang. “Hmm, Ken.”

I just ate while Brianna and I talked about her new lover.

“But isn’t that Moli’s ex?” I asked.

“Yes, but don’t worry. I don’t like him either.”

I nodded.

“It’s okay, I’m used to it.” Cora’s cold answer to the phone. I stopped cutting the cake and Brianna looked at her. “I said I’m fine. Don’t worry about me and focus on your work. After all, that’s all that matters to you.” She turned off the call and dropped the cellphone on the table, much to our surprise.

“U-uh…” Brianna.

“I’m sorry, I need to go now. I want to rest.” Cora excused herself.

Bri and I nodded quickly. “Yeah, sure.” I said.

“Take care, girl.” Bri said goodbye to her. Cora just smiled hardly and walked to leave.

“I told you, Ken is no good for her.” Bri whispered.

“Let’s let them be. I know Cora knows what she’s doing.” I said and continue eating.

“Anyway, where do you want to go to college?” She asked.

I was about to answer her when my phone vibrated and I saw a notification from my ig. I opened it and saw that Wyatt followed me back. He viewed my story and sent me a message. I immediately opened it.

Elraven: You stole a shot of me.

I smiled and replied.

Azaleanor: Why? Will anyone get angry? It’s alright, besides we’re cousins, right?

Next time, I’ll steal your heart too. My smile immediately faded when I realized what I just thought. Oh, God, help me. I turned my phone off and didn’t wait for his reply.

I turned to Brianna again and thought about what Wyatt and I had talked about last night that she would be working in Manila.

I felt excitement so I smiled at Brianna. “Manila.” I answered to her question.