Chapter 157: [Advice] [His Preferences]
[Leanna’s POV]
[Advice]
. . .
. . .
"Well?"
My eyes narrowed at Zoe, urging her to explain her relationship with Lawrence.
Since this girl was avoiding me, I cornered her in her dorm with Estela’s help and dragged her in a restaurant near our school.
"U-uhm . . ." Zoe rubbed the back of her head as she shifted her eyes. "T-the truth is . . ." She was fidgeting in her seat, looking unsettled.
"W-we’re . . . kind of . . . just friends?" she mumbled with reddened cheeks.
"Friends?!" I asked through the space of my gritted teeth, feeling my veins popping out.
"You mean like, friends with benefits?" Estela giggled until I shot her a ’shut up’ glare.
Zoe fumbled her fingers as she shifted her eyes here and there while she murmured barely audible answers.
"W-well . . . we haven’t exactly talked about it. I’m just happy that I got to see him again. I just . . . I’m just happy to be near him . . . is all."
. . .
. . .
I knew I couldn’t possibly stay mad at her when she was sporting that kind of helpless, love-struck face.
I saw in her eyes that she genuinely loves Lawrence –– but that’s even more the reason that I should tell her what’s on my mind.
I took in a mouthful of air and exhaled it slowly out of my mouth.
"Zoe, I’ll only talk about this to you this time. After this, I won’t open this topic again." I straightened my back and looked at her seriously.
"You and Lawrence are both important to me, so that’s why I don’t want you two to get hurt or regret anything."
"Leanna I––!"
My hand shot up, stopping her.
"Just hear me out first," I said, interlocking my fingers on top of the table before I explained.
"Zoe, you know Lawrence is just a twelve, soon to be thirteen-year-old kid, right? Even though he’s mature for his age, it still doesn’t change the fact he’s still –– a kid. Do you know what that means?"
Zoe flashed a helpless smile. "You’re saying that Lawrence is still immature, and if ever we do end up in a relationship, I’ll be the one adjusting for him because I’m older, right? I get it. I’m completely prepared the moment I laid my eyes on him."
I stared at her with a hard expression.
"No, Zoe. You’re wrong."
Zoe’s eyes snapped at me as her brows meet in one line.
"Did Lawrence ever act immature towards you?" I asked.
. . .
. . .
It took a while before she shook her head.
"And that’s the problem I’m talking about, Zoe."
When the girl’s tight-knit browse didn’t lessen like I was a complicated book she was unable to decipher, I continued.
"Zoe, I know Lawrence ever since he was a child. He might have a laid back personality, but he has an enormous sense of responsibility. He believes that he’s the next head of the family since he’s the second male next to my father."
I reached for her hand because I knew she was not going to like what I was going to tell her next.
"Zoe, I know Lawrence likes you. Believe me . . . I know. But ever since you showed up, he’s making you his responsibility because he had taken your virginity. He has this mental notion of taking care of you for the rest of your life."
I squeezed her hand when tears pooled beneath her eyes.
I knew she also felt it. She just didn’t want to admit it.
"Zoe, Lawrence has a life ahead of him. Please don’t make him feel trap. That’s all I’m asking of you . . . But if you two still decided to be together . . . then, I won’t be against it. And this will be the last time you’ll ever hear this from me."
. . .
. . .
Zoe sniffed before her sobs broke her control, and tears rolled on her cheeks as she attempted to dry them with her hands.
She nodded in silence, and I squeezed her shoulder. "We’re good then."
"Hi!"
Our head rose and found the blinding beautiful face of Emery Jansen, staring at us in full smile.
"Hello," Estela greeted when Zoe and I froze by her radiant beauty.
"May I sit here?" Emery inquired with her more than friendly tone.
We nodded without knowing. She had that charm.
Emery sat next to Estela. Her eyes never left mine.
"How are you, Leanna? How is your leg?" she asked, and I was transported back to reality.
I gave her a timid, "Fine."
. . .
. . .
"Actually . . . ," Emery started, eyes flicking on the table, looking uneasy. "Y-Your . . . your brother . . . What does he like?"
. . .
. . .
"What?"
I think I misheard her.
SLAM!
"Which brother?!" Zoe snarled. Ready to wage war against Emery.
Emery’s eyes rocked left and right as she said with a soft voice, "Lance."
"Oh."
Zoe’s battle stance melted, and she slumped on the couch, looking all bored. Her enthusiasm deflating.
"What for?" I asked, didn’t hide my displeasure because I knew she likes Lance.
But with a peerless beauty looking at you with big doe-like eyes and shining shimmering face, I found myself drawn to her.
"Uhm . . ." She tucked a hair behind her ear, and I never knew a woman who could do it with so much grace as she did.
"I’m planning to get him a present for his birthday," she said, cheeks reddening as she smiled.
SLAM!
"That’s right! It’s Lawrence’s birthday this Friday!" Zoe yelled without a care that we were in a public place.
Now I found myself being stared by two horny felines, pressuring me with their hopeful, eager eyes.
"You guys do realize my brothers are only twelve, right?"
"Yes."
They said in unison, not one-bit bothered by what I just said.
*sigh . . .
My brothers’ charms amaze me.
----
[Leanna’s POV]
[His Preferences]
". . ."
". . ."
"Well? Can you do it."
I asked. My impatience evident in my voice when Zhane didn’t react to what I said.
"Princess . . . Do you know what hacking Cain Fay’s information means?"
Zhane gulped on the other end of the phone.
"I just wanted to know his likes and dislikes," I said, a bit defensive. "Can you do it?"
"Princess . . . Let me be honest with you. No man in this world is better than me in hacking than he is."
Frowning, I closed my eyes as my hand put more pressure on rubbing little Pluffy’s chin, which delighted the little furball.
"Then, you can’t?"
"I can’t! And even if I can –– I won’t! You’re practically asking me to die for you!" he exclaimed.
". . ."
"Why don’t you ask him yourself? I’m sure he’ll be more than happy to tell you."
". . ."
"Princess?"
*sigh . . .
"Useless . . ."
"Wha––!"
I ended the call, looking dejected as I stared into little Pluffy’s big puppy eyes.
I guess I have no choice but to ask him directly.
Little Pluffy just tilted his head and wagged his tail.
----
I turned sideways, my back facing Cain, who was sitting on the bed, typing nonstop on his laptop.
I made sure that he wouldn’t see my notepad and fountain pen as I pretended to sleep under the comfy comforter.
". . ."
". . ."
I cleared my throat and started, "You know . . . in our country, I like this sour flavored soup which has lots of vegetables and tastes mouthwatering when paired with rice."
"Mmm . . ."
"How about you? What’s your favorite dish?"
"Anything you love to eat."
. . .
. . .
Alright, I expected that. Let’s try this again.
"How about sweets? Do you like sweets?"
"I love milk, vanilla flavored with lots of nuts."
. . .
. . .
That’s what I like! You copycat!
"You know, I always love pastel colors, it’s soothing and calms the soul. How ’bout you?"
"Pastel colors."
. . .
. . .
An angry vein popped out.
My hand stomped on the bed as I faced him.
"Cain, will you please be serious in answering me?" I placed my arm on my waist and challenged his teasing eyes.
Cain put his laptop on the bedside table and turned sideways to face me.
"I am serious," he said with all seriousness, yet suppressing a smirk on those luscious, sensual lips of his.
. . . Okay, focused, Leanna!
I snapped. "No, you’re not! How can you have the same likes as I do?! If it’s just one, it’s fine. But . . . this?"
"Leanna, I’m telling the truth." He reached out and tucked some of my hairs behind my ear.
I brushed his hand away.
"No, you’re not! You better tell me honestly or I’ll . . . I’ll . . ."
Cain’s brow rose in a dare. "You’ll what?"
My lips purse as my cheeks puffed, looking like a tomato that was about to burst.
"I won’t let you touch my breasts!"
I said and smiled in triumph when his smirk turned into a frown.
. . .
. . .
"Alright . . . I guess I’ll just have to burn those pictures then." He motioned to get out of bed.
I clung to his waist, desperate to stop him.
"N-no!" I screamed. "Anything but that! I’ll believe you! I’ll believe you!"
I probably would have kneeled before him if not for my injured leg.
"Hmmm . . ." He smiled and pinched my cheek. "I’m glad my wife is this trusting." He chuckled and kissed my forehead.
I bit my lips, and with an aggrieved face, I turned away. My back was facing him. I couldn’t win against this man, so I did what I mostly did when I was up against him –– act all spoiled, keep silent, and pretend I was dead.
My body curled to comfort myself.
. . .
. . .
He hovered over me, and I closed my eyes tight. Letting him know that I was annoyed at him.
"You’re so cute when you’re angry –– adorable even." He stifled a laugh and kissed my forehead again and again.
I maintained my corpse-like act.
He contented to lay down beside me, hugging me closer to him. His leg tangled mine in a possessive embrace.
"I’m not picky when it comes to food. I’ll eat anything as long as it’s not spicy," he murmured as he planted small kisses on my hair.
"I don’t like sweets. The only sweet I love is your taste."
His hot breath tickled my ear enough for me to clenched over and over again.
"Other than that, I’ll eat if it’s not that sweet. I don’t like bold and flaunty colors. I like the colors I’m usually wearing. I don’t like anything cute. I prefer the exotic ones. I like doing extreme sports. I don’t like noises and parties. I like tea, and most importantly . . ."
He wiped away the strands of hair on my face before he brushed his nose against my neck, inhaling my scent.
"I love you, and I love everything about you. That includes all that you love."
. . .
. . .
"Really?" I faced him and hugged him back.
"Really."
"Honest?"
"Honest."
I giggled as he nuzzled his nose against mine.
Hehehehehe 💗
