Chapter 4

Sunny:

As I arrive at Mike's father's house, it's still early in the morning—7:30 a.m.

My heart is racing just parking my car at the front of the gate. I pick up my phone and call Mike to let him know that I am at his home.

"Hello, buddy. Are you sure that your parents won't holler at me when they see me here? It's still early," I ask him, as we have something we're both working on online.

"They won't bother you. Besides, it's my birthday and I want you to help with the preparation. What more?" Mike replies bluntly, like he's unaware that his mother told him to warn us to stop coming to his house.

"Alright. I just arrived. Let me drive in," I say, knowing it's better that I greet Mike's parents first, before they leave for work. Though my parents aren't around since they traveled for a business trip, which gives me free liberty to do as I please.

As I honk my car, I watch the security man step out to see who it is. Recognizing me, he's an old man—Jasper, I think Mike calls him.

Jasper goes back to the gate and pulls it open since he's been working for Mike's father for a long time, since Mike was 16 and we were in high school.

I draw a sharp breath and park my car in the driveway. Mike's parents are successful too. I take a look at his parents' cars, before I turn off my car and get out.

The early morning wind blows my hair, and I peer at the balcony at the side of the house.

There, I see Maryann standing there, dressed in a short white nightdress and watching me.

My breathing hitches as I see how beautiful she looks—how the white nightdress frames her body and how big her breasts are.

I cannot take my eyes off her as I feel my throat run dry and blood gush through my veins just from admiring her. Her long blonde hair hangs loosely and falls behind her back. The early morning wind blows around her face and makes her hair fly in the wind.

Maryann is stunning, but before I can say hi to her, I see her parents rushing out of the house.

As soon as Mrs. Ella's gaze locks on me, her expression turns grim as she frowns.

"Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew," I greet them, knowing they're off to work.

Mike's mother looks pissed off seeing me. She's overprotective of her daughter, especially knowing her daughter is beautiful.

"Why are you here early? Why didn't you wait until the party starts at six?"

Before I can reply, Mike rushes out of the house like he already knows his mother will send me away.

"Mom, you and Dad are going to be late for work. Sunny and I have something important to work on our laptop, so I invited him over."

Mrs. Ella peers at me like she's contemplating her son's words. "Stay away from my daughter. I don't care if you are Mike's best friend or not. Just keep your distance from my little angel."

"Mom, how can you say that! Sunny sees Ann as his sister. You are just too paranoid. Get going and stop bullying my friends!" Mike shouts back, and Dad warn him.

I don't like how Mike talks back to his mother, but I know that she can be overbearing.

"It's okay, Mike. Your mother is right. Besides, Maryann isn't a little girl anymore. I will keep my distance from her," I say to clear the tension. The atmosphere becomes lighter as Mrs. Ella nods and rushes to her car with her husband.

Once they get into their different cars, as Mrs. Ella enters her black Jeep while her husband hops into his black car, they drive off.

"Why will you say that to my mother? You make it look like her suspicions are right?" Mike complains as he leads me back to their living room. He's unaware that Maryann stands at the balcony listening to us.

I'm not happy that I also blurted I will only treat Maryann as my sister. She's not related to me. We are not siblings, and I don't plan to keep to my word.

Before I can enter the living room, Maryann isn't at the balcony anymore. I wonder if she heard my response to her mother. If she still has any crush on me or if she also sees me as her brother, even though we are unrelated.

I draw a sharp breath as the living room smells nice, like home.

"I don't have anything to say to make your mother comfortable. You know she is protective of your little sister. Where is she?" I ask as I walk to take my seat on the black couch like I own the place.

"My mother is protective of Maryann, but she's already 18, so she can mingle now or have a boyfriend. I won't stop her," Mike says as he moves towards the grand stairs in the living room.

"Where is she?" I ask, as I still want to get a perfect view of Maryann.

"She's in her room. What do you want with her? You should keep off. The event planner will soon be here to start with the decorations." Mike starts to climb the stairs, and I ask him, "Wait, have you had breakfast? I am famished because I didn't eat from home. Jessica wants to see you, and she wants to attend your party. But I slipped off."

"I don't want your sister here. She's a bully. Fine, wait. Let me have my bath. I will come downstairs to make tea for us," Mike quickly rushes upstairs, and I sigh and pull out my phone to see the text messages I have.

My girlfriend, Victoria Owen, is the one texting me. She lives around, and we met during my year in high school. She is a junior, but a year ahead of my sister's class.

Victoria is tall, fair-skinned, and among the junior soccer cheerleaders. She is also studying business management, and she believes she will help me control my father's company when we get married.

Little did Victoria know that I don't plan to marry her. We are just in a relationship, which doesn't mean I must marry her. She is too extravagant, but I cannot blame her since we all came from wealthy homes.