05. Challenge Accepted!

      Challenge accepted.

“If what you say is true, then you probably have some love for her.” Rein breathed in relief. Was he thinking that I approved of his relationship with Rica? Not so fast dude. I will have to test you through the burning blazing furnace before I ever see whether or not to think on if or not I should approve you or not.

“So...” once I started, he looked up at me with the look of “I thought you were over with this for God's sake.” But I just kept my straight face. I was infuriated that the grimaces he made with his face had little effect on me. It looked cute but not as cute as it would have if I wasn’t upset with him.

He dared to tell me that I don’t know what love means. If I didn’t then how would I have known if he was genuine or not? He said that only to speak more gibberish about appreciation towards her. I don’t blame him though, I blame Rica for being too obvious in front of this dubious man. It’s clear that after seeing how much of a lost cause she was in front of him, loving him when he knew he will never love her, he had to do the only thing that could make her happy... Ask her out.

Dating her, for a whole good 2 years, wow. That takes lots of stamina for men like him? How did he do it? Probably the whole sex in in their relationship. I mean it will make only sense if it was the sexual pleasure he derived in the relationship.

But that was trash!

Nonsense! I still can’t pinpoint where exactly Erica went so stupid not to know that her fiancé doesn’t love her. I still don’t get it how the obvious thing that all could see was so oblivious to her.

I am the clumsy one between the both of us, the one that doesn’t reason between the both of us. Yet somehow I’m wiser than her and I reason better than her in most things.

“So I’m giving you a chance. Prove to me that you love her. Gain my approval and support because as of now, you are nothing in my eyes but a man that just wants an eternity of ultimate sex from my sister and I won’t let it happen. Gain my trust... Seduce me!” I told him.

Oops!

Did I say “seduce me”?

Crap! He must be thinking the other way round. And when I mean the other way round... Oh Lord I don’t want to think about it.

I studied his face and it was blank for a minute then a bold smile was carved on his face and I nearly panicked in embarrassment. I was totally red in embarrassment... He probably heard it the other way round... I hate these animes so much. I learned the statement from an anime that I was watching and now...

“Kidding! Haha! Haha! Hehe!” I began to laugh awkwardly, hoping he could take my dry joke. Well I was a little serious but seeing the way he misinterpreted the whole thing... I can’t even imagine him trying to make me fall in love with him.

But then when I think of it, I wonder how it will feel like, a guy and another guy, in love... Shit! No! No! No! No way! Get off your head, Eric!

I was still laughing when he stood up from the ground, removing his hand that covered his jaw. It was red from the super man punch I gave him. Oh Lord! I’m so dead!

“Hey... D-don't c-come a-any c-close o-ok. I-I j-just w-was worrying y-you a-and f-for t-the p-punch I-I'm s-so s-sorry.” I stuttered, staggering back as he walked closer, steadily, still with the smile on his face. I wanted to say something but I feared another smile will come on his face. I heard smiles are more terrific than frowns and that is true for people like him that frown a lot.

My back met with the blue painted wall, my dead end and I made a silent prayer.

He was far, so I could make a run for it. He was walking towards me, say North East direction, so I had to take the opposite direction.

But before I could make a run for, he stopped me, blocking me with his right hand. The other was raised above me, over my head. I looked up in his void eyes with fright, yet ready to fight back if he wanted to put up a fight. I wasn’t going to chicken because of this man.

It just wasn’t my pride as a man but this man, his aura sent shivers and tingles across my spine. Every part of my bones could be crushed by his intimidating presence, including my bone marrows.

At this point, I silently hoped for a miracle to happen. Maybe, Erica bursting through the door and saving me from whatever that man was to do to me...

My mind flashed immediately to a scene where President Ren had his PA in this very position when he was about to kiss her.

Wait!

Why was I thinking about that scene?

I get it that this position was a tempting one, especially with the way he drew close to me, just looking at me in the face with a smile on but his eyes being a true friend by not revealing whatever motives he had in his mind.

It was then I noticed his pink luscious lips and the beauty mark underneath his eye. His lips were pink, soft and wet, a tempting invitation to taste it. I feel my head trying to or maybe actually moving at a slow unnoticeable pace to his, my lips, drawn by his.

“Challenge accepted!” He said and I shook my head vigorously.

“Huh!” I didn’t seem to get him well.

“You asked me to prove to you that I truly love your sister right. So challenge accepted. I accept your challenge. J'accepte ton défi. Sfida accetare, desafio aceitado, desafìo aceiptado!” I didn’t understand what the other words meant but from the French I heard he was translating the challenge accepted.

I couldn’t say anything because I found no courage and lacked the words to express myself. The position in which we were standing was tempting especially as I was breathing from his sweet cologne. It felt like time stood still and just watched the both of us look into each other's eyes. At the moment, the smile on his face reduced to a straight face. He just looked at me blankly until he broke the eye contact as he looked down and quickly withdrew.

His smile came back on immediately and he waved before walking out of the room.

What was that feeling?

Did I really want to kiss him on the lip?

It felt as though I wanted to.

I was so drawn to his seductive lips that I didn’t bother to think if someone walks on the both of us. It was quite bizarre but I lusted after those lips for some seconds or more. Time ticked slowly while my eyes looked into his, a chemistry I wasn’t understanding but hopefully, he had broken off the eye contact and walked out.

The clock on the wall struck my eyes. Damn! Did my talk with him really stay that long?

        ***

I could hear chuckles from outside as I walked out, the sounds increasing with each step I make to the outside from where the loud chuckles came from.

It was just our little family but everyone was so engrossed with each other's conversation, laughing out as if the other said something super funny or as if ir was a grand party.

My eyes just searched for Erica and I found her on our swing, seated beside Rein. I got a glimpse of their face sides and saw the smiles on their faces as they chatted happily. A smile lit up my face, seeing my sister happy. He maybe wasn’t sincere, but at least, Erica is happy and that is all that matters.

“Eric!” Miss Layla's voice resounded in my head and I just closed my eyes tight.

Please, let her not come this way.

Please, let her not come this way.

I prayed but my prayers weren’t answered as she came and linked her arms around mine. It seems to be a natural habit of hers of always wanting to hold anybody by the arms.

However, she wasn’t my worry. Her brother was. The awkward moments of today couldn’t just get off my mind.

The closeness, the burning heat, the weird sensations... The thoughts were fresh in my mind.

I wonder why I am thinking of it when he himself isn’t thinking of it. He just smiles happily as he is discussing with his future bride. Just the thought of Erica being his “future” not even “bride” already gets my stomach boiling in anger.

Maybe I am just making a big deal out of it. It’s nothing, right!

“Your aunt says you don’t have a girl in your life. Isn’t it cool? I don’t have a man in my own life as well.” She rushed and I hissed, slightly irked by her stupidity.

If there was any iota of attraction for this psycho then it died.

Way to go, Layla Jackson.