Chapter 5

After the class, I packed my things up, ready to go home. I had nothing to do and I was thinking of meeting Royal, though I still felt awkward whenever he was around but I knew I would get over with it.

"Don't you have any plan of approaching Janrez?" Asked Angelika as I finished packing up my stuff and I turned to her sluggishly.

"Why me? She's the inconsiderate here. If she only knows what it feels to love someone who can't love her back, maybe she'll understand me."

She sighed in dismay. "You know she's not into romance."

"That's my point here." I abruptly replied. "She's innocent and naïve to love that's why it's easy for her to conclude that way." I rolled my eyes in frustration. "But what about me? No consideration at all?"

All I ever asked was they would understand me. Were they really my friends? It was not easy to pricking move on from that dickhead.

She sighed again.

"And you know what?" I clutched my bag behind my back and turned to her. "She should be the one to talk to me." I rolled my eyes and stormed out. I really hated talking to her that way. It's pissing me off. And it's better to go away than uttering harsh words because if I could not control my feelings, it would be dangerous.

I marched down the hallway when a familiar face came into view. He's with his squad and of course, with his girlfriend.

"Hey!" A familiar man greeted me between his smiles. He's Rocco.

All of them stopped in front of me and I wanted to cower because of embarrassment.

"You sure you won't be there for the pool party?" Rocco asked and I turned to him but because my eyes were betraying me, I eyed Gero.

"I'm busy. Besides, it's no fun." I explained.

"But why? Everyone will be there." Gero interrupted, making me gulp once because I could feel my feet wanting to collapse.

"And your friends will be there too." Riley butted in and I turned to him whose cheeks are reddening.

"I-I know but..."

"Mayhaps you're avoiding someone?" Gero concluded and it made me flinch a bit.

"But who could that be?" Rocco asked innocently and when I turned to him, a hint of mischief lingered in his eyes.

Did they know about my past with Gero? I mean, of course they would, right? For he was their best friends. Best friends told secrets to each other.

"I-I'm just... busy this Saturday," I elucidated. "I'll be with Royal."

"Royal," Rocco mouthed, nodding. "I guess I know him." He added then turned to Gero who looked back at him. "Royal Mocetti, you mean?" He turned to me with his blunt smile.

"Yeah." I replied sluggishly.

"I got it!" He exclaimed like he won something big. "What if we will invite him?" He propounded.

"It can be," agreed by Riley while nodding. "Ria's my cousin. I guess she'll be there too."

What's the connection? Tss.

"Then that would be great." I scoffed and they turned to me with their nosy eyes. "But you can't still convince me to go. My parents won't allow me."

"I'm sure Mr. Raphael Marcos can't say "no" if my parents will be the one to ask permission." Gero declared with confidence.

I clenched my jaw tight, getting pissed.

"Why don't you have a pool party by yourself? You know I'm not into pool, Gero." I gave emphasis to his name and he gulped once because he knew what I was talking about.

I never lied to him. He knew the story of my life when we were having a connection. And he did to me as well. He told me his story and I was glad he trusted me.

But the f? Didn't he know how to consider my feelings?

"You'll change your mind soon, Raphaela," Rocco declared with confidence. "Someone will win over you."

"You wish." I rolled my eyes and past by behind them. I gripped my bag tight as I was trying not to break down into tears. I was hurt... so much hurt because they didn't know how to consider my feelings.

I restrained myself from crying because I would look like a fool in the eyes of everyone. So I inhaled deeply as I marched the way out of the campus. And as soon as I stepped out, I saw a familiar vehicle, a black 4X4 truck. And I knew who owned it. My heart suddenly palpitated inside my chest.

A familiar man stepped outside the truck and wandered his eyes around. He removed his round eyeglasses and rubbed his eyes. I couldn't help but adore his physiques because he's goddamn hot in his black v neck shirt, black ripped jeans and black shoes. He looked fresh with his new haircut which was slicked back and I noticed his shaved jaw which makes him more strikingly gorgeous that every girl would die for.

He stopped his eyes on me and my breathing twitched because I knew deep in my heart, and at this moment, I wanted to own everything in him. That I wished I could be that lucky he would love for the rest of his life.

My heart hammered twice as he stepped forward towards me, piercing his deep coffee eyes to mine like he's a predator and ready to attack his prey.

"W-What are you doing here?" I asked, stammering. I looked away and cowered a bit. I hoped he would not notice how nervous I was right now.

"To fetch yo," he curtly said and I looked up at him and gulped once.

"You're not... busy?" I asked, straining not to stammer. Good thing it was a good shot.

Behind my back, I was pinching myself, hoping I would wake up from daydreaming. Or maybe the ground would open up and swallow me.

"Nope. Are you hungry?"

I licked my lower lip. I could feel my feet melting. I felt like I wanted to collapse and I hoped he would catch me if I fell.

"Not totally." I looked away. I could no longer breathe because of the intense feeling.

"Okay. Do you need to finish something? I mean, do you want me to take you home or you'll stay in my house?"

Those lines made my ear explode like what?! Why couldn't I reply him quickly?

"It depends on you." I bowed down, feeling embarrassed and he chuckled which made my cheeks burned into red.

"I'm not going to eat you, A. You look like a scared cat."

I bit my lower lip again. Maybe it's just me who felt this way. I knew it. He only saw me as his sister, younger sister because he had none and I didn't have any brother or older brother because I was the first born of the Marcos family.

"You're scaring the hell out of me." I squawked silently.

"Hmm," he hummed and I looked up at him and saw a hint of amusement in his eyes. "But why? I'm doing nothing here."

I mocked at him. "Stop playing innocent, Royal. I tell you. I'm no good when I'm mad."

"Try me harder, baby." He gave me a wicked smile and I rolled my eyes instead of making issues for calling me "baby". I was used to it but now? I didn't think it still meant of being his sister. I thought of it more like an endearment.

Oh, Goddess Alpha. What were you even thinking?

"We better go. I'm hungry." He whined under his breath and faced his back at me and walked down the way to his truck. While me, I did nothing but to watch him leave. How I wished I had the reason for him to stay.

Tears pooled over my eyes. I was crazy. I knew this was crazy. I was starting to dream of me, walking down the aisle to him. I was starting to think that someday we could be together. Like you knew, he wouldn't see me as his little sister anymore but as his wife.

I shook my head and looked down. I could feel millions of jellyfish stinging my heart. It hurt to think that I was feeling this way while he's treating me as his younger sister.

"I'm sorry," a familiar voice whispered and suddenly pulled me closer to his chest, making me break down into tears because I could no longer hold back my feelings. They were so overwhelming to the point that I was drowning with them. I got lost and I had nowhere to go.

I heard his heavy breath sighed out while comforting me. I knew I was a mess. I was his responsiblity which didn't make any sense but it only gave burden to his life. How I wished school year would end so he wouldn't have to do these things for me 'cause I was moving to my grandma's house. He didn't have to see and think of me because he knew I was safe with my grandma. There, I could find some times for myself, think about all the things I had been through.

I felt him move and just a couple of seconds passed, he loosened up from me and I looked down, ashamed of myself.

"Tell me what's wrong." He demanded soothingly. It broke me though. His words stung my heart vigoriously.

"N-nothing..." I sniffed and looked away. "Maybe I just miss my grandma."

Really, Raphaela? Did you think your grandma was the reason why were you like this?

"You said you'll visit her this summer." He stated like he was reminding me of something I forgot.

"Yeah..." I murmured. "And I wish it'll happen soon."

After that dramatic scene, he took me home and I locked myself inside my room and cried heartily. I couldn't understand myself anymore. From the very beginning of this story, I wished nothing but to have an older brother. And then I met Royal. He's caring, overprotective and a loving brother. I gave no meaning to it. He was just doing it because he treated me as his younger sister. But look at now? I was starting to feel weird emotions. Suddenly I woke up from reality that I did not see him anymore as my brother. That I wanted him to love me as much as I did to him.

My phone rang that made me flinch. I wiped my wet face and sluggishly grabbed my phone from the bedside table. Just when I saw his name on my screen, my heart hammered as I frantically fanned myself. I cleared my throat first before I answered his call.

"Yes, fratello?" I greeted, trying to sound good.

"Are you busy?" He asked in his deep voice.

"Ahm," I paused for awhile, trying to catch a word in the air. "Nope. Why?"

I clenched my jaw tight and bit my lower lip. I got off from bed and opened the electric fan so I could breathe properly but it didn't make any sense. I was till panting.

"N-nothing." He said like he wanted to dismiss the topic. "C-Can I see you?"

I paused for a while. I could feel the pain in his voice like he was hurt because of something.

"Yeah, s-sure." I replied with a heavy breath.

"Thanks... I just need someone to comfort me right now."

"W-What do you mean?" My heart hammered at my question. Is he okay? "Do you... want me to come over to your house?"

"No," he quickly replied. "I'll be the one to come over."

"Yeah, sure. I'll wait for you." I pursed my lips together.

"I know you will." He said in his baritone voice and just a couple of seconds passed when I heard my phone rang, signalizing he hung up already.

I placed my phone on my chest, staring at nowhere. I felt my heart breaking. I knew something was wrong. I knew something was making him feel this way and I wanted to know it.

I took a quick shower and changed my clothes into a sweat pants and a loose shirt to make me feel comfortable. And just when I finished doing my stuff, someone knocked on my door and I hastily moved, assuming it's Royal.

I opened the door and a familiar face came into view. Without any word, he hugged me tight which caught me off guard. He hugged me like he was afraid of letting go someone he loved the most and I wished it would be me. But I knew it's too impossible. He had Ria. Ria's the best for her. She only deserved Royal.

I heard him sob. I slowly moved my hands up and contacted it on his back and soothingly ran down them to comfort him. I felt his wild heart beating as mine.

"Shsh," I shushed him, hoping he would feel better. I hugged him back and he hugged me even tighter. "R-Royal," I whispered in pain. His tempting scent sent shivered down my spine, radiating like tidal waves into my heart. And I could hear nothing but the sound of my heartbeating. My feet wobbled and I knew it wasn't good anymore.

He loosened up and looked down, feeling dejected. I, on the other hand, waited for him to speak up.

"Let's have a seat first." I offered and he nodded as agreement and walked past by me. I remained at my position until I recovered and whirled around to face him, who knocked his body off to my bed and I licked my lower lip with a sigh because something was playing inside my head. I had a cue of what was happening to him.

Did I have to celebrate? I guessed I shouldn't.

Oh, goddess.