"So you're finally going to go get her?" Eric Chan said as he leaned against the door frame of his cousin's room.
"Whatever." Al said as he waved his hand.
He was busy packing for the trip and preparing for the annual celebration for the Reyes Group.
Since his identity was made public years before, Al had been forced to attend every event with his father.
As the heir there were certain behaviors expected from him.
Al even went as far as dating a few girls, but he would change every month to make sure that none of them built enough feelings to latch on to him.
"When will you admit that you still love Cara Jao?" Eric chuckled as he walked into the room and fixed his tie in the mirror.
He too would be attending the event.
As a matter of fact it would be the first time that Eric Chan would be attending the event as a performer rather than as a family friend.
Two years ago he spoke to their uncle Ram to train him and prepare him to become a performer. He wanted to be an actor and a singer, he had the talent for it and just needed the training to truly shine.
Ramon Abad was reluctant at first, but when Eric wouldn't back down he finally let Eric train under the condition that his mother allowed him.
Eric grumbled saying he was almost eighteen anyway, but Ram refused.
After just six months, Eric had finished his training and was deemed a successful graduate of the Abad family's latest agency, EC.
Eric had tried to speak to his mother and convince her to let him debut, but Katerina Chan refused. She pointed out that he should enjoy his youth as ordinarily as possible.
A year ago he managed to convince his mother to allow him to follow in his father's path and become an actor.
"Yes, I love her, fine." Al said as he threw a pillow at his cousin, who caught it and laughed.
"It's amazing to hear you say that in person." Eric teased Al as he walked over and helped him pack. "So when do you leave?"
"Tomorrow morning." Al answered as he did a final check, making sure that he had everything packed. "Uncle Andres gave me a call and said that he told Cara everything."
"How did she take it?" Eric asked his cousin.
"Better than I expected, I guess." Al said with a shrug as he sipped up the bag and closed it. "At least she let him speak. I thought she would slam the door on his face."
"She was probably doing it for Pandora." Eric teased, making Al roll his eyes in annoyance.
"Let's go." Al said as he dragged his cousin out of his room.
His father, mother, and siblings were already waiting at the foyer when they arrived.
"You boys ready?" Ray asked as he checked if the two young men had actually dressed up properly.
There had been some events where Al had intentionally messed up his clothes in order to be late or for his father to tell him not to go.
"I wouldn't mess this one up." Al grinned at his dad as he walked over to his car.
"I'm riding with Al!" Eric volunteered as he quickly chased after his cousin.
"Really?" Al grumbled as a driver tossed him the keys to his sports car.
He rarely brought this one out, but since it was a special occasion he decided that it was fine to be flashy every once in a while.
"Hey, I want to arrive in the nicest car, I need it for my star power." Eric winked at his cousin as he got into the car.
The first two cars before them drove off. The first one probably had Al's parents and the second had his siblings.
Al and Eric were the last to leave.
Al made sure that there was a significant distance between him and his family, he wanted to stretch the legs of his car since it was rarely used.
"This is too flashy for you." Eric teased as they finally entered the city.
"That's why it only gets brought out on special occasions. I regret asking dad to buy it for me." Al answered Eric as they drove up to the hotel.
There was a line of cars, Al could see his parents step out of theirs as his siblings' pulled up behind them.
"You trust the valet with this?" Eric teased Al.
"Of course, the Valet is Leon." Al chuckled as it was their turn to make an entrance.
"Ready?" Al teased as a wave of flashed came at them, trying to capture the moment the cousins stepped out.
Eric took a deep breath as he looked out the window.
Normally when he made appearances there weren't these many members of the press, but today was a unique event.
"Ready." Eric said with a nod.
"Just think of it as your debut all over again." Al teased.
"My debut wasn't this big. Let's get this over with." Eric said as he smiled his most charming smile.
Al nodded, killed the engine, and stepped out of the car.
He tossed the keys to Leon, who nodded a greeting.
"Mr. Lawrence! Mr. Chan!" The members of the media shouted as they tried to get the two young men's attention.
Al walked to the red carpet and smiled at the media.
He could see as his cousin Emilio's car drove up and the Reyes Heir stepped out, drawing another wave of flashes.
"Couldn't you have waited?" Al teased Emilio who winked at his cousin.
"I don't want to walk this carpet alone, you know that." He pointed out.
Normally Emilio rode with Al, but Eric took that spot this year.
"Mr. Lawrence, why are you going stag tonight? Normally you have your latest girlfriend on your arms!" A reporter asked catching Al's attention.
"What are you going to do?" Eric whispered to his cousin.
"Answering his question." Al said as he shrugged Eric off.
"Trust him." Emilio said with a smile as they watched Al approach the line of reporters.
Al smiled and waved for the man to approach.
"Repeat your question." Al said slowly.
"Mr. Lawrence, why are you going stag tonight? Normally you have your latest girlfriend on your arms." The man said, his voice trembling.
"Let me make things clear, I've never had a girlfriend." Al announced, much to everyone's shock as reporters gasped and whispered among themselves.
Behind him, both Eric and Emilio grinned from ear to ear.
"My heart has belonged to only one woman over the years, and I hope you will meet her soon." Al said with a smile as he turned and left, leaving everyone shocked at his revelation.
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