Chapter 7

"Is there any bar here, sis? Or anything fun to go to?" she asked while checking her face in the mirror.

"None, so whatever you are planning, don't ever do it. Manhattan is much better than here; a lot of pubs. And I know you, you're a spoiled brat who can't be ruled by her mom that easily. You can't do anything here, so why did you come here, huh?"

She rolled her eyes. "You're such a mean, Lush. I feel that my eyes will be gratified with such Adonis faces and abs when we head to Paris. Maybe this is the time to kneel if I behold a perfect one for me here."

I looked at her unbelievably. Are we really cousins? This one is a hell'a wild rather than me.

"Just to remind you, Dey...I still have classes to attend so I can't go wherever you want to go. But don't you worry, we only have a week before the break."

"Can we at least go to the winery?" she begged and lay beside me. "Mom said that the wines that your dad produced were the best in the world. I wanna taste some."

"Alright. Well, you can probably have wine in this house. You know, we have a stock here too."

She shook her head and glanced at me. "It's better to taste it freshly made. And I'm curious what a winery looks like."

"It's just full of barrels, strong smell, grapes, and so on. Not really special."

She just nodded and closed her eyes until I heard her little snores so I grabbed the opportunity to take a picture of her, and giggled to see her open her mouth, drooling like she was already dreaming of a sexy guy. This will help me in the future if I need to blackmail her.

Deylia is only a year older than me. In spite of her legal age, she still acts like a kid. When she reached 18 years of living, she became wild and adventurous. She loves going to the bar, joining a catfight, traveling, boy hunting, and the crucial part is that she also likes breaking the rules. She doesn't wanna limit herself from everything and what is best for her is to be unrestricted. And take note, books are deemed to be boring for her—including me. Maybe that is the reason why she likes pulling me out of my comfort zone.

And that's why she is constantly grounded in their home. Deyl is the closest cousin of mine and the coolest one I've ever had.

I decided to take a shower while my cousin is sleeping. She's really exhausted from the flight.

I just wear a gray tee and denim shorts, then brush my curly black hair which lengths down to my waist. Am I getting fat? I stared at the mirror. Should I start working out? Maybe I can do it since Deyl is here, and she can accompany me.

A little later, I went downstairs to eat. I will be having brunch, breakfast-plus-lunch, because it's already noon and I didn't take my breakfast earlier so it's better to have two in one go.

In the middle of a brunch session, my phone vibrated, notifying me of a new message. So, I quickly read the text.

Unknown Number: How are you doing?

My brows creased and simply sent a question mark. Why is my number becoming so popular nowadays? I bit my bottom lip, remembering the caller earlier.

Unknown Number: This is Xalent. Didn't you save my number?

My jaw dropped, almost muffled by the food in my mouth, I immediately got the glass of water and drank it straight.

This is odd. What am I feeling?

I shut down my phone and took a deep breath. That guy is really weird! A concerned human being like him must have a hidden agenda, right? Like who would have thought that we just met days ago then now he's behaving that we have known each other for years!

Oh gosh, Lushiane! Stop thinking about it. Ignore him, skip it, forget him!

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It's already Monday and I am currently studying the notes that I have prepared here in the library because tomorrow will be the start of our hellish week—examination week. But, I can't really focus right now because of Aisie. She has been doodling something on her pad since the time we got here.

"Can you just stop it and just read your notes?" I whispered. She just looked at me and got busy with her pen and paper again. I heaved a sigh and proceeded to memorize the parts of the microscope.

"So Deylia is going to visit us later?"

I glanced at my friend. "Yeah."

"Glad to see her again. I wanna get some suggestions from her on how to stalk well, and how to tame a badass."

My brows furrowed and I just facepalmed at her wishful thinking. And suddenly remember the lumps on my forehead when it aches a bit. What a stupid move to do.

Ocular Lens…

Eyepiece Tube…

Diop…diop…holy cow! What is it again? I peeked at the book. Oh, right! Diopter adjustment.

A few minutes later, the bell rings. I stretched my arms, and put my things back in my bag. My phone vibrated with a text that came from my cousin.

The Evildoer Deylia: Sis! I'm already at the cafeteria. Believe it or not, the guard didn't let me pass into the gate since I don't have your school's ID. So as a clever human being that ever existed in the universe, I found a way to get in by climbing a tree that is just behind the wall of your school garden. Amazing, right?!

My jaw fell in disbelief. "Is she out of her mind?"

"What happened?"

I shook my head and handed her my phone to see what my cousin just texted me. Aisie instantly burst into laughter causing us to be sush by the librarian. I squinted my eyes and snatched back my phone at her, she's such a fan of Deylia.

"Your cousin is really incredible!"

The librarian abruptly slams a book on her desk. "The two of you on the left wing, if you keep on shouting, please leave this place. The library is an abode for students who want to study in peace, not for gossiping!"

"Will do, Ms. Librarian!" Aisie shouted back and dragged me out of the place. "That old hag is really strict."

I heaved a sigh and walked with her on the way to the cafeteria. When we reached the cafeteria, I instantly caught my cousin talking to a tall boy. Probably a varsity player because he's wearing the basketball varsity uniform, and is holding a ball.

"Deylia," I warned.

The guy looked at me and smiled at my cousin, saying, "Talk to you later." Then he sprinted away.

"How'd you get Justine? You know, he's one of the campus' heartthrobs," Aisie mumbled.

Massaging my nose bridge, I stood up and went to the counter to buy food. Also, I can't handle their 'girly' talks. So many men they wanna have in their hands.

I only bought a biscuit and a canned drink before going back to our spot.

"You won't believe it, Aisie. After sneaking into this academy, I saw a guy, possibly a year older than me and he was hot! I approached him with my killer beauty and did my best to seduce him, but he didn't even take a glance at me—consider it a failure." She gasps and fanned herself using her hand. "That's quite disappointing with a professional player like me. Duh! Who would have thought that there's a man that doesn't show any interest in my beauty, right? Well, unless he's already in love with someone else. I'm wondering how that girl caught his attention. He seems hard to get."

For the ninth time on this day, I shook my head at my cousin's lengthy story when I sat on the chair. They didn't even notice me because they were busy chattering about a guy.

"That's awful. Well, he's such a snob then."

My face crumpled. They really understand each other. So I am the outsider here and they are the real cousins, huh? I rolled my eyes and continued to bite my biscuit.

"Oh look, speaking of the devil, he's here!"

"Hey."

I glanced at the person who greeted us and almost dropped my jaw on the floor. Xalent is standing in front of us with his natural snobbish face, looking directly at me.

"Seems like you know him, girls," my cousin retorted.

Normally, I'll be reacting like I don't know him or what. But because of everything he did to me, I don't know what is the right response to his efforts toward me. Seriously, I am not yet ready for what I should say when I see him again. That is why I'm speechless right now.

"Hi, Mister. Do you recognize me? I am the girl—"

"How are you, Lushiane?" he suddenly raised a question, not minding the people at this table. I swallowed hard and glanced at the girls. They were dumbfounded yet giving me that suspicious look.

"I'm f-fine," I replied without looking at him.

"Mister, you can sit with us if you don't have any companions." I bit my bottom lip and darted my eyes at my cousin who's now beaming at me. Why is she staring at me like that? I don't even know why this guy is talking to me, wanting to know if I'm good.

"Thank you," Xalent casually said and sat beside me, making me stunned in my seat.

"Hi, I'm Deylia, Lushiane's cousin from Manhattan. What's your name?"

"I'm Xalent, I'm sorry for being rude earlier—"

"Well, you thought I was some kind of a die-hard crazy fan, right? It's fine tho," Deylia playfully answered and stood up. "Let's go, Aisie. Let's get some snacks."

"Wait, let me—"

My words have been cut by Deylia. "You already bought your food, right? So it's our turn now. Xalent is here so you're not gonna be bored."

My eyes widened. "Wait!—"

I was left alone with Xalent, and it feels like those two just betrayed me.

"How was your injury?"

"This?" I pointed out my lumps. "Well, it doesn't hurt that much anymore. Only when I accidentally pat it with pressure."

"Good to know."

How to not make words awkward?