Chapter 13 – The Uninvited Guest

“Hm… Thank goodness he didn’t come to the apartment after all,” Jeslyn muttered as she stepped out of her car and headed toward the trunk, opening it. But before she could grab her suitcase, a strong hand took it for her.

Jeslyn immediately turned to see who it was, and her eyes widened in shock at the sight of Leonel, one hand casually tucked into his pocket.

“You?” Jeslyn sounded irritated to see him.

“I didn’t decline your offer to visit the apartment,” Leonel said with his trademark smile, already walking toward the elevator while dragging her suitcase behind him.

Jeslyn slammed the trunk shut and locked her car. “Hey… Who said you were invited? I don’t remember ever asking you to come here!” she protested.

“Hmm… I usually invite myself,” he replied nonchalantly.

This alligator! Jeslyn cursed inwardly, feeling both annoyed and flustered.

She hurried to catch up with Leonel, her steps brisk and filled with frustration. That man truly acted as if he had every right to be part of her life.

As soon as the elevator doors opened, Leonel stepped in first, still pulling her suitcase without the slightest sign of guilt.

Jeslyn followed him, her expression sour. Once the elevator doors closed, silence filled the air, broken only by the soft chime of the elevator and the loud thumping of Jeslyn’s increasingly erratic heartbeat.

“What floor?” Leonel asked, glancing at her.

“Seventeen. But you’re only going as far as the door. After that, you’re out,” Jeslyn huffed.

Leonel pressed the 17th-floor button without argument, though a sly smile crept onto his lips. “We’ll see about that, Jessy.”

“Jessy? My name is Jeslyn!” she snapped.

“Just think of it as a pet name from me,” Leonel replied casually.

“Stop acting like I’m your girlfriend, brother-in-law. I’ve tolerated you until now, but you’re really crossing the line,” she said, her tone sharp.

“Crossing the line, huh?” Leonel said as he began to move closer.

Seeing him approach, Jeslyn instinctively backed away, but Leonel kept advancing until she was pressed against the elevator wall.

“W-What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, retreating slowly until her back hit the wall.

Leonel cornered her further, their eyes locked.

“There’s a CCTV, don’t try anything funny!” Jeslyn warned.

Leonel reached up and gently tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Jeslyn’s heart pounded wildly, and she swallowed hard, unaware of her own reaction.

“Who’s really crossing the line? A woman who barged into my room and threw herself at me, even harassed me,” Leonel whispered, making Jeslyn’s face flush bright red.

“And you know what, Jessy? I’m not the kind of man who easily forgets what people do to me. Especially what you did—it’s something I’ll always remember,” he added, brushing his fingers along her cheekbone, making her hold her breath.

“So before you accuse me of crossing any lines, maybe take a look at yourself first, okay?” he teased, leaning in closer so that his warm breath tickled her skin.

“You’re mine, Jessy. Even if you’re engaged to someone else, you belong to me. Don’t forget that,” he whispered before lightly kissing and nibbling on her earlobe.

Ding!

The elevator doors slid open, and Jeslyn immediately shoved Leonel’s chest, storming out ahead of him while he remained behind, grinning at her flushed face.

Jeslyn stormed down the hallway of the seventeenth floor, her steps unusually heavy as her chest thudded uncontrollably. Her face was beet red, not just from his overwhelming words, but—unfortunately—because she couldn’t deny how her body responded to his presence.

“What a jerk…” she muttered under her breath while pulling out her access card and opening her apartment door.

Leonel followed at a relaxed pace, still pulling her suitcase. As he stepped inside, his eyes swept the minimalist space. It felt warm, clean, and oddly comforting—just like Jeslyn herself.

“Not bad,” Leonel mumbled, closing the door with his elbow.

Jeslyn placed her handbag on the couch and turned to face him. “Okay. You’ve seen it. Now leave.”

Leonel set her suitcase down by the dining table and approached her without hesitation. “But there’s no warm tea or snacks. Tsk, turns out you’re a terrible host.”

“Leonel,” Jeslyn warned. “I’m serious. Get out.”

“And I’m serious too,” Leonel replied, staring deeply into her eyes. “I carried your suitcase all the way up here. Is this how you say thank you?”

Jeslyn sighed. Leonel was just so stubborn—and infuriating.

“I’ll make you coffee,” she grumbled, walking toward the small kitchen.

Leonel continued to glance around the cozy room. His eyes soon landed on Jeslyn, who was now busy with the coffee machine. Her face was sulking, and her cheeks puffed out like a pufferfish. Without meaning to, Leonel chuckled softly.

Jeslyn immediately shot him a glare sharp as a blade, only making Leonel want to laugh more from how adorable she looked.

“What’s so funny, huh?” she snapped.

Leonel raised both hands, feigning innocence. “Nothing. I just realized… you look like a little tiger trying to bite—but you don’t have your sharp teeth yet.”

“What part of that is funny?! You’re absolutely insufferable!” Jeslyn barked, pouring the coffee into two cups with quick, emotional movements—but still precise. She was too much of a perfectionist to spill just because she was mad.

Leonel slowly walked over to the small dining table with only two chairs. He pulled one out and sat down, lounging comfortably.

“Annoying, huh? Yeah, I’ve always been annoying, Jessy,” he admitted casually.

Jeslyn placed the cup in front of him with a slight slam. “Don’t call me Jessy.”

Leonel picked up the cup and blew gently on the steam. “Okay, I won’t call you that—at work. Outside of that, I’ll call you Jessy whenever I want.” He sipped calmly.

Jeslyn glared daggers at him. She was too exhausted to argue.

“Hm. Not bad,” Leonel said after sipping the coffee. “As expected from a café owner.”

Jeslyn sat down across from him, arms crossed. “So? When are you leaving?”

Leonel set down his cup and stared at her intently. His gaze made Jeslyn feel uneasy—or rather, too aware of his presence.

“Maybe after you make me a bowl of instant noodles. Or spaghetti,” he said.

“Wow, never had such a demanding guest before,” Jeslyn muttered, shooting him a glare.

“I’m starving, you know. After carrying your suitcase all the way here,” he said dramatically.

“You dragged it, not carried. And I could’ve done it myself,” she snapped.

“Yeah, I know. Still, I’m hungry now,” Leonel said with a wide grin.

Jeslyn let out an exaggerated sigh and rolled her eyes before standing. “Fine. But after you eat, you have to leave. I don’t care if you’re starving or pass out.”

Leonel only shrugged as if her cold tone didn’t bother him. He watched her back as she moved toward the kitchen cupboard, pulling out a packet of instant noodles and cooking with practiced efficiency. Even irritated, her movements were neat and orderly—proof that she was used to handling things alone.

“You know, you’d make a great wife,” Leonel remarked casually.

Jeslyn turned around, spatula in hand. “And you’d make a great homewrecker.”

Leonel chuckled. “Maybe. But who knows? I might change if the wife I’m talking about… is you.”

Jeslyn’s face turned red instantly. She quickly looked away, returning to her cooking, trying to ignore her now erratic heartbeat. Spending time near Leonel for too long might just give her a heart attack.

A few minutes later, a steaming bowl of noodles landed on the table, the savory aroma filling the room.

“Eat. Then leave,” Jeslyn ordered firmly, sitting back down and folding her arms again.

Leonel pulled the bowl toward him with a pleased smile. “Thanks, my fierce little wife.”

Jeslyn glared. “Call me that again and I’ll dump the noodles on your head.”

Leonel just chuckled and began eating happily. Silence fell, broken only by the clink of the spoon against the bowl.

Secretly, Jeslyn watched his handsome face. He looked oddly adorable while eating. She quickly looked away and smiled without realizing it.

“Oh? Did you just smile? You’ve been frowning this whole time. What a rare sight,” Leonel teased.

“Ck… I wasn’t smiling,” Jeslyn grumbled.

“I saw it. If only there were a CCTV, I’d replay that moment over and over,” Leonel said.

Jeslyn sighed. “I just felt sorry for you. It’s true what they say—men look pitiful when they’re eating.”

Leonel held back a laugh, watching her with an amused smile. “Oh, so now I look pitiful to you? Incredible. From annoying flirt to sad, hungry man.”

Jeslyn raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that a fact?”

Leonel shrugged. “If it makes you pay more attention to me, I don’t mind. I’ll take it.”

“Pay attention? Where?” Jeslyn hissed, her face turning red again—worse this time. She tried to hide it by sipping her coffee, but Leonel clearly noticed how red her cheeks had gotten, like a boiled crab.

Leonel simply smiled and continued eating his noodles.

“Oh, by the way. There’s something I want to ask you,” Leonel said.

“What is it?”

          "That night… when you came into my room, you were already heavily drunk. And the reason you got drunk was because you saw Jefran with another woman, right?" Leonel asked, making Jeslyn freeze as the painful memory came rushing back.

"Maybe she was just his friend," Jeslyn replied quickly.

"Are you sure it was just a friend? You must've drawn your own conclusion—enough to get completely wasted," Leonel said. "What I don’t understand is why you’ve stayed silent all this time and acted like nothing ever happened. Didn’t you try asking Jefran about it directly?"

"What for? I’m not going to make a big deal out of it. Because that same night… I betrayed Jefran—with his own brother," Jeslyn answered, turning her face away.

"Oh, so you're just going to pretend none of it ever happened?" Leonel asked.

"Maybe we’re even now. Though, honestly… it’s not fair to Jefran," Jeslyn said quietly. "If you're worried about your little brother, then stop interfering in my life. Go find another woman who can make you happy. I’m your brother’s fiancée," she added firmly.

***