Chapter- 4

Chapter- 4

Julia heard the conversation that Naomi recorded last night. Once the audio ended, Julia’s lips curled in a smile.

“He’s so cute,” she said.

Naomi smiled, seeing how much she’s into Jorge.

“And don’t call my brother a jerk, even if it is true,” Julia says, hearing the last part of their conversation.

“Sorry, I won’t say that,” Naomi apologizes with a smile.  

“That’s okay,” Julia smiles.

“What do you think?” Naomi asks.

“Hmm, I don’t know what to say, but I am kind of happy now,”

“Really, for what?”

“Because he got no crush on anyone,”

“But there’s also a chance that he will never accept your feelings,” Naomi points out.

“Come on Nat, why are you disheartening my feelings?” Julia frowns and there Naomi regrets her words.

“I am sorry Jules, I am saying that because I don’t want you to be hurt in any way,” Naomi sincerely apologized.

“You don’t need to apologize, Nat. I have told you already, nothing is going to hurt me. Just help me that’s all I want from you,” Julia says.

Heaving a sigh, Naomi thought she should keep her morals aside in this matter. It’s not only for Julia but also for her. This thought that Nicholas is forbidden for her affection is what makes her restless all the time. She needs to abandon this thought and wants to let her heart go to all the extent she’s afraid to touch.

“Fine, Jules. Now I am saying. I will do anything for you in this matter, okay,” Naomi says as this is her first step towards that forbidden path in which she’s afraid to place her feet.

“I know, Nat. You will help me. You are my sweet sister,” Julia smiles and wrapped her hands from her shoulders.

They were talking about this while standing outside their school. None of her brothers were around them and it’s not crowded there.

“Jorge is going to be curious if you ask questions again. Will you do it again?” Julia asks.

Naomi gave a helpless expression, “I don’t know but I will try my best not to utter your name. But you know what he will find out easily because he knew the only girl whom I talk with is you,”

“Don’t worry, he won’t find out. He’s just like every other guy, he has high hopes on girls who don’t even notice him but will never think of the one person he meets every day,” Julia says like an experienced person. Naomi really needs to take lessons from her.

“I know what I have to do after this,” she says and there Naomi remembered about Nick and the deal they have made.

“Hey what did your brother say,” Naomi asks.

“He… I failed, Nat. I couldn’t get anything from his mouth. He’s too stubborn,” she replies.

Naomi’s face lit up in a smile because that’s what she expects from him right now. She can’t hear his preferences and feel bad that she doesn’t have those qualities. It will hurt her a little. There she was struck by this thought that she’s too curious about Nick’s love life just like how Julia is into Jorge’s.

“What exactly did he say?”

“I asked the same question that you asked Jorge, and he asked me to mind my own business,” Julia frowns.

Naomi can’t help but laugh. “Don’t laugh at me. You know you are right, my brother is a jerk,” she frowns.

“Leave it,” Naomi says.

“But I know what kind of girl he prefers,” Julia says Naomi turns her gaze towards where her finger points.

“He likes someone like her,” she says pointing at Lisa talking with her friends who are just like her. Unapproachable and privileged members group.

“Look at her, she’s tall, smart, popular, blonde, sexy, lovable, and shows off as a good person,” Julia says. She’s right, Lisa is School’s crush. Every guy has an eye on her but she never accepted anyone’s proposal and always stayed as hard to get.

Naomi’s face saddens to know that she could be his possible preference because he even asked about her last night.

“How do you know that?”

“Every guy will love to date someone like her. My brother or your brothers aren't an exception,” Julia says.

“Hey, don’t give your opinions to hide the fact that you have lost in the bet and now you need to buy me something,”

“What?” Julia exclaims. “I have already spent all my pocket money,” she says. 

“Fine, it’s on me today, but next month you should take me to that Mexican restaurant,”

“Deal. Now let’s have a dessert and coffee,” Julia agrees and they walk to the car.

So today, Naomi was accompanied by Julia who was always there with her. Somedays her twin brothers take her to eat spicy foods and a lot of times she and Julia will be accompanied by Jorge and Derek. Occasionally, Magnus would come with her only when Nickolas wasn’t there. This is why she never had a thought to get friends. They are enough for her.

They went to the nearby café with Julia’s driver/bodyguard. That time, Naomi got a call from Derek.

“Where are you?” he asks. She said her location and Derek questions, “Is there anyone with you?”

“Yes, Julia is here with me,”

“Can I come there?” Naomi finds that odd when he asked permission.

“Of course, Derek. We will be waiting for you,” Naomi ends the call.

“Is Derek coming here?” Julia scowls.

“Yes, Let’s not order until he comes, okay,” Naomi said and leaned back on her chair.

“Oh, Nat. I thought of discussing boys but he’s going to ruin our time,”

“Boys? You are only going to talk about Jorge, so let him come. You know he is like me. He doesn’t fit with the other boys,”

“Yeah, I know," Julia nods and their talk turned towards Derek, "But he’s the smartest among them. Most of the time, he would be left behind when others went to their sports practices,” Julia says what she has noticed in all these years.

“Yes, I think he’s a good companion to spend time with. Whenever I study with him, I feel so energetic. I like his company and he likes to spend time with me too,” Naomi smiles but she also felt weird to say that.

Julia nods, God only knows what’s going on in her mind.

“Did you notice Uncle Dylan, last time when I saw him, he looked not well,” Naomi says, “All our fathers were discussing something during that diner.”

“It’s about a trip,”

“Trip?”

“Don’t you know, your father, my father, brother, and Uncle Dylan have gone to Italy,”

“Oh, I didn’t know that everyone has left, and even Nick? Why did he go with them?”

“I don’t know. You know about this Omerta that’s going on in our family. Whenever I ask about this they just go silent and will never actually talk about that matter,” Julia says.

“Yes, you are right. Maybe they will say to us when the right time comes,” Naomi ends the topic there even though she wanted to know what Julia knew about the shady business. Right now, the time isn’t good. Anytime, Derek will be here.

“Why do you love, Jorge?” Naomi changed the topic.

“Not love, I just like him so much,” Julia says, not accepting that she has fallen in love.

“That’s love. Trust me, I have read all my mom's novels. There isn't a big difference between crush and love,” Naomi says, “If someone could pull the strings of your heart in a strange way then that person could possibly be the one. Separating terms like crush and Love is foolish,” Naomi says. 

“You have feelings for him, that’s it.”

“I know, I read those novels too,” They exchanged giggles. 

“Don’t you have a crush on anyone, Nat,” she asks.

She doesn't know what to say. “I don't know, I have never felt that way before,” Naomi lied. 

“I see,” 

“But I always wanted to know whether someone is having a crush on me,” Naomi says. 

“I think, you are quite popular too,” 

“Really? How is that?”

“I mean, you are popular because you are smart,” Julia says.

“Oh,” Naomi nods. She knows she can’t be popular with this crazy witch's looks. Her peculiar color of hair and eyes are weird and no way it matches the beauty standard of these people.

Seeing her face, Julia says, “Look at you, you look like a mermaid, Nat. I don’t know about others, for me you look beautiful,”

That brought a smile to Naomi’s face. “Thanks, that made me feel a little happy,” 

That time, Derek came there so they stopped their talk. 

“Hey, girls,”

“Derek, I asked your Math notes, when are you going to give me?”

“Leon is having it. I will get it from him tomorrow,” he replies and turns to Naomi with a smile. She smiles back at him. He's handsome just like her brothers and got both his parents' good looks.

''You asked for his notes too?"

"Yeah, yours are complicated and Derek's will be easy," Julia answers.

Naomi nods. That's the reason Leon and Elijah won't ask for her notes.

Naomi and Derek were similar in so many things. They both are smart, silent, shy, and not so interested in outdoor sports.

Derek is a great chess player, he has got a lot of prizes participating in many competitions. He aspires to become an architect just like his father. He works part-time in his father's company now itself. Other than that he hangs out with the boys and Naomi. Compared to when he’s a kid, Derek has changed a lot in these recent years. He becomes quiet and avoids seeking adventures like the others. Puberty has hit him in a different way.

They placed their orders and talked about the plans for this vacation. Julia wanted to go somewhere out of this country and Derek said he can’t go anywhere as the college entrance tests were nearing. 

Then after drinking cappuccinos, muffins, and cookies their discussion went to the people they know in the school. 

In the middle of it, Derek got a call from his best pal, Jorge.

“Jorge wants to meet me so I have to go,” he got up from the chair. 

“Where’s Jorge?” Julia asks.

“He’s at my home,” he replies.

“Oh, okay. Go,” she says. 

Before leaving, he turned to Naomi and said, “I want to study with you tomorrow; let’s meet in the library,”

“Sure,” Naomi nods. 

They say that two equally intelligent people can’t be friends, but on the contrary, Naomi and Derek will prefer to study together.

Sometimes, he will get higher scores than Naomi but she wouldn’t take that seriously. She knew that compared to her, he’s way more talented.

“Let’s continue our talk on crush,” Naomi says once he leaves. 

“You want to know who got a crush on you? I have a way for you,” Julia smiles.

“What is it?”

“It’s not that easy, you need to take some risks,” 

“What do I need to do?”

“You should ask the person right away if you doubt that he’s having a crush on you,”

“Hey, don’t joke. I am asking you seriously,” Naomi frowns. 

“It’s simple, Nat. Just follow your instincts. If a person has a crush on you, he will look at you when you aren’t looking at him. He will smile at you for your stupid jokes, he will hang out with you if he gets a chance, and finally, he will find out everything you do either by asking you or from others,” Julia finishes.

Naomi nods contemplating those in her head. She couldn’t think of anyone doing that. 

“You have to wider. Don’t leave anyone as if you know them. Preassumption is bad here because we don’t know who’s having feelings for you,” she says.

Naomi agrees. 

“Do you think anyone having is a crush on me?” she hesitantly asks. 

“I can tell you but that could be wrong,” 

“It’s okay, tell me,” Naomi smiles in excitement.

“I think Derek is having a crush on you,”

Hearing that, Naomi’s face instantly changed because she didn’t expect that at all. 

“No way,” Naomi crossed her hands.

“This is what I said before. Don’t exclude anyone. You don’t know his heart,” Julia counters. 

“Derek?” Naomi again frowned at the idea but the things that Julia said were kind of true in the case of Derek. Now Naomi sees it in a different way.

Is he? she thought. 

“I have never seen him anywhere without you. You know about Derek, he’s not that kind of guy who will be so interested to hang out with girls but in your case it’s different. Even now there’s no reason for him to come here. He likes you, Nat, and a lot of times I have noticed him while he was staring at you.”

“Really?” Naomi exclaims. She can’t believe these things. If this is the case, all her brothers were the same. Maybe Julia is confusing, she thought.

“Yeah, I was hesitant to say this to you for quite some time,”

“Hmm, this could also be a total misunderstanding,” Naomi states. 

“Maybe,” Julia agrees but she’s sure that Derek is having some special feelings for Naomi. 

“Anyways, Don’t forget about our deal. You need to inform about Jorge, time to time,” Julia leans on the table. 

“Okay, okay,” Naomi nods. 

“Do you know when will our fathers come back?” Naomi asks as she’s curious to know when will Nick come back.

“Papa said, he will be back in three days,” 

Naomi thought why they took Nick with them? Why they left Magnus here? There must be a reason but she’s afraid to ask. She doesn’t want to intrude in this matter that might upset her father. 

With that thought, they left the cafe and went to their respective homes.